WELCOME TO FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WINNSBORO!
10:50 a.m.
1-26-21 FUMC Updates
There are NO WORDS to tell you how much I appreciate what Ken Ragsdale does for our church (AND FOR ME!!) every single Sunday morning! When I moved here in November 2017 and asked if he could record audio of our sermons for the website, he had it done the 1st Sunday I preached! When I asked him if we could broadcast on Facebook LIVE about 2 years ago, he had it set up a week later! Yesterday, when Facebook locked us down because of a “forced log out after a configuration change”, I watched him run up and down from the balcony trying to do everything he could to keep worship streaming and I was so thankful we had someone so passionate about keeping everyone connected in whatever way possible!
Sadly, we couldn’t overcome Facebook on Sunday but as always, the AUDIO recording worked great and it IS on the website if you want to stay caught up on the Gospel of Mark. (CLICK HERE). THE GOOD NEWS? We don’t anticipate this problem again and we SHOULD be back to normal this Sunday!
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL came to me from an article I read about the WORD OF THE YEAR … apparently, dictionary publishers always choose one word that represents the year gone by, but how could they ever pick ONE WORD that would signify what happened in 2020? Well, Oxford couldn’t … I have attached the devotional that shares, from a Biblical perspective 2 words that I wasn’t familiar with! Or you can watch on YouTube or Facebook too.
COVID VACCINE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: As you know, there is a lot of conversation in the news about the new, more infectious strains of COVID starting to spread but the vaccines are coming! (NET Health updates.) I have heard from many of you on the PRAYER TEAM who have taken advantage of the “act now” links to appointments when I learn they are available, but you DO have to act quickly. Net Health has a page that explains who is ELIGIBLE and how to get on a vaccine waiting list there also … CLICK HERE. We are fortunate to have a public health agency that serves our county! Looking for where to find the COVID vaccine on your own? The Texas Division of Emergency Management updates a vaccine map daily indicating exactly where vaccines have been distributed and which vaccines they have. As you can imagine, the vaccines are being used in QUICK-TIME so be ready to go and be diligent in continuing to check the map. Click the OK button in the lower right corner to get to the map. To access the availability map, CLICK HERE.
HAVE YOU TAKEN THE CORE VALUES SURVEY YET? This is the last week you can have YOUR opinions matter as your Church Leadership Team will begin strategizing plans for the future! Please take this survey which lists 30 CORE VALUES that would typically be associated with churches – we want to find out what YOU see as OUR Core Values! For each value, you’ll mark whether you think we are CONSISTENT in that value, INCONSISTENT in that value, or if you feel it’s a value we SHOULD ASPIRE TO and work MORE toward! You’ll be asked for your email address so everyone can only answer once but your answers are anonymous. When you are finished, you’ll see the current results. Thanks so much for your input!
UPCOMING EVENTS: rather than waste your time with ongoing things, you can always go to the website CALENDAR. Yes, the sanctuary is open on Tuesday mornings, 9 – 10:30 for PRAYER and yes, we have BIBLE TALK every Wednesday at 10 AM. (This week we’re looking at what happens when Jesus interrupts your life -Acts Chapter 9)
THIS SUNDAY: we’ll dive into the 1st half of MARK 4, THE PARABLES … I have attached the reflection questions from this past Sunday, chapters 2 and 3.
Many blessings – stay safe!
Pastor Debbie
Read more...
1-21-21 COVID Vaccine Info
As you know, the COVID cases in our community are rising rapidly and expected to continue to rise as this new, more infectious strain starts to spread. (NET Health updates.) Net Health has a page that explains who is ELIGIBLE to get the vaccine and you can also get on a vaccine waiting list there also … CLICK HERE. We are fortunate to have a public health agency that serves our county!
Looking for where to find the COVID vaccine? The Texas Division of Emergency Management updates a vaccine map daily indicating exactly where vaccines have been distributed and which vaccines they have. As you can imagine, the vaccines are being used in QUICK-TIME so be ready to go and be diligent in continuing to check the map. Click the OK button in the lower right corner to get to the map. To access the availability map, CLICK HERE.
Pastor Debbie
Read more...
1-18-21 FUMC Updates
Today is MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY and with so many other things going on this seems to have “fallen through the cracks”! I did my devotional this morning with King in mind because as Christians, how DO we respond to senseless violence? On this Martin Luther King Day, we need a reminder of the power of NON-VIOLENT expression of ideas more than ever before! We ALSO need to remember that the LORD IS OUR SHEPHERD! You can watch it on FACEBOOK or on YOUTUBE, also attached (CLICK HERE).
TODAY: Monday, 1/18, 11 am – 2 PM … Please support HYPE (Helping Young People Excel) at MLK Park today from 11 – 2 and pick up some CHILI to go in the drive-thru, and make a generous love offering! Let’s show our love and unity as ONE community by supporting this effort!
COMMUNITY CHRONICLE and UPPER ROOMS in the RED BIN by the church office door… I wrote my article for this month’s Community Chronicle on the 23rd Psalm because of the many funerals we have had in the last few weeks. I realized that, while no one had ever asked me to focus my message on this beautiful text until Daniel Davis’ service, it is printed often on memorial bulletins because it offers such comfort … oh, is that important! If you haven’t been coming to church, please come by and pick up your Upper Room devotionals too!
PRAY WITH US ON TUESDAYS, 9 am – 10:30 am: Take a few minutes on Tuesday mornings and come PRAY safely in the sanctuary – our souls need prayer, our country needs prayer, our church needs prayer we ALL need prayer … come and go for a minute or an hour …
BIBLE TALK, WEDNESDAYS on ZOOM, 10 AM: We had a great kick-off to our ZOOM Bible Talk last week as we’re moving into what I refer to as part 4 of the Bible, the growth of the church. This week we’re digging into Acts 2 and we’ll meet SAUL who became PAUL, and we’ll see how God used him to change the world! Sign-in instructions on the website calendar as always.
CHILDREN’S CHURCH PAUSED: With COVID cases increasing so fast we have decided to put our Children’s Church on PAUSE for a few weeks … this is temporary because we DO have a ½ CHILDREN’S MINISTER position budgeted for this spring so we’re looking forward to things getting BETTER! Until then, I’ll be doing a Children’s Moment at the beginning of our worship so the kids can tune in for at least a few minutes with you on Sundays!
MARK REFLECTION QUESTIONS ATTACHED (CLICK HERE): we had a great conversation on Mark 1:14-28 yesterday so take some time and think about what we talked about, (YouTube here if you missed it.) This Sunday we’ll be moving into the 1st part of Chapter 3 so please read chapters 2 and 3 in preparation for this week’s message.
GRACE & PEACE,
Pastor Debbie
Read more...
1-11-21 FUMC Updates
Speaking of COVID, I’m sure you all heard the joy in my voice during Sunday’s worship when I reported that quite a few of you have already received your 1st of 2-part vaccine for coronavirus – I hope this means that as more and more people are safe from the virus we’ll start SLOWLY seeing more and more people come back to church! BUT … as my attached devotional addresses (you can watch it on YouTube HERE), HOPE often comes with PATIENCE!
JAMES CLARK’S GRAVESIDE SERVICE: Thursday, January 14, 2 pm, Maple Springs Cemetery in Leesburg. James’ son, Jim, has been extremely sad that we can not all gather the way we WANT to gather to remember and celebrate the people we love, but they are very COVID conscious and want to be sure everyone is safe. Jim has written a beautiful obituary (CLICK HERE to read it) and asks that anyone attending the graveside service wear masks and remain socially distant. To send a note to the family:
Jim and Shana Clark – 2215 Owens Blvd – Richardson, TX. 75082
COME PRAY IN THE SANCTUARY, Tuesday mornings, 9 – 10:30 AM … come to find solace in a safe, sacred space to pray! There will be prayer guides, if you want some help getting started, in the front pew in front of the pulpit (please take them home with you). There is MUCH to pray about!
ZOOM BIBLE STUDY STARTS BACK WEDNESDAY, 1/13 at 10 am! We’re diving into the Book of Acts, chapter 1 this week and everyone is welcome! Want to give ZOOM a try … CLICK THIS “TEST” LINK and try it!! Before joining a Zoom meeting on a computer, tablet, or mobile device, you can download the Zoom app from the Download Center HERE. Otherwise, you will be prompted to download and install Zoom when you click a join link … get the link to join on the website calendar HERE.
HAVE YOU TAKEN THE CORE VALUES SURVEY YET? Your Church Leadership Team will meet this month to begin strategizing this unusual new year and we need your help! Please take this survey which lists 30 CORE VALUES that would typically be associated with churches – we want to find out what our folks see as OUR Core Values! For each value, you’ll mark whether you think we are CONSISTENT in that value, INCONSISTENT in that value, or if you feel it’s a value we SHOULD ASPIRE TO and work MORE toward! You’ll be asked for your email address so everyone can only answer once but your answers are anonymous. When you are finished, you’ll see the current results. Thanks so much for your input!
CAN YOU FIND 1 ½ HOURS, 1 DAY EVERY OTHER MONTH TO SERVE OTHERS? Pat St. MiKlossy is reorganizing our commitment to MEALS ON WHEELS and people in OUR COMMUNITY need your help … just 1 Tuesday every OTHER month from about 11 am to 12:30 … yes, you can make a BIG difference to people who might go hungry without the drivers who deliver the meals. Grab a friend or your spouse and help out – you’ll pick up the meals at Pine Street and deliveries are all local! CONTACT PAT ST. MIKLOSSY if you are willing to serve.
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN MEETING on Thursday, 1/14 CANCELLED … they hope to resume in February as the COVID numbers decrease!
MARK WORSHIP SERIES CONTINUES … the reflection questions from 1/10 are attached (CLICK HERE) … this Sunday we’ll look at the second half of chapter 1. INVITE A FRIEND to join us … share the posts on our Facebook or Instagram!
DID CHRISTMAS COME & GO & YOU MISSED A FEW THINGS IN YOUR KITCHEN? You can order from RADA all year long from our website and the United Methodist Women share ALL their fundraising income with the community!! In 2020 the United Methodist Women gave over $1200 to charities! THANK YOU, UMW!! CLICK HERE to go to our website and connect to the catalog – you can browse, shop, pay and ship all online!
ALL THE WAYS YOU CAN STAY CONNECTED: if you use these resources frequently be sure to bookmark them and save them so you can return to them easily. If you have church friends who do not use any of these resources, PLEASE CALL THEM and keep them updated!
– Weekly emails … you can also find them on the bottom of the website HOME PAGE
– Website
… Calendar
… MARK Sunday morning worship series
… BIBLE TALK weekly Bible Study details
… Audios of sermon messages
– Prayer chain (occasionally used for important all church announcements) … to sign up for FUMC Prayer Team notifications, please visit HERE or send THIS MESSAGE: @pray-now to THIS NUMBER: 81010.
– Facebook has all kinds of updates, not to mention Sunday morning sermons LIVE, or you can go back and watch if you miss one.
– YouTube now has the sermons (not the whole worship service) for anyone who doesn’t use Facebook, now you can watch devotionals and sermons, usually posted a day or 2 after they happen.
– Instagram is also NEW for those of you who like the short & sweet visuals.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Debbie
Read more...
1-4-21 FUMC Updates
-What makes us different from other churches?
-What is it that attracts people or turns them away?
-Why are you at this church?
-What are people here looking for?
WON’T YOU PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING YOUR CHURCH? We have 3 opportunities for you to serve God in important ways …
- SUNDAY MORNINGS, 10:30 – NOON, CHILDREN’S CHURCH … we always want to have 2 adults working together when our kids are gathering and now that the holidays are over, we hope the kids will come back when we start the NEW YEAR on January 10th. We will provide the Ministry Safe training and background checks and ideally, we need 3-4 adults who could join as “helpers”! (You don’t have to plan or organize, just be present!) Contact me, please!
- SUNDAY MORNINGS, 10:30-NOON, USHERS … we’d like to bolster our hospitality team and get ready for what I know, will be a deep desire for people to come BACK to church when this pandemic is over. Let us know how often YOU’D like to serve, and we’ll try to be flexible! Again, please contact SHIELA HAYNES, Worship Leader, if you are available.
- TUESDAY MORNINGS, 2-3 hours/week, OFFICE HELP … if you are very organized and good at filing, please contact me directly … we only need 1 person.
UNDERSTANDING SOME OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL CHAPTERS IN THE BIBLE, Wednesdays starting 1/13, 10 am ZOOM …Bible Talk starts back into the New Testament chapters that focus on what happened AFTER Jesus died. We’ll begin with Acts 1, then the next week, Acts 2 so mark your calendars – the schedule is attached (CLICK HERE). You can always find sign-in info on the website calendar.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Pastor Debbie
Read more...