Welcome to First United Methodist Church Winnsboro, where all people are welcome all the time!
9:30 a.m. ~ Sunday School
8-1-18 FUMC Updates
Thanks so much to PAIGE BABER who made the decorations for the Ice-cream Social and Pot Luck on Wednesday night … the Middle School Ministry raised $261 to get them started for the rest of the school year! The food was EXCELLENT and we all had a GREAT night! The pictures are on Facebook and it was a really fun night!
WESLEY HALL is MESSY right now … IN A GOOD WAY!! Thanks to the Trustees who are working hard to freshen up the facility with fresh pain and new flooring! So many people showed up to help remove hardware and baseboards last week in order to keep costs down, and I am oh, so grateful for your willingness to jump in and help!!
I’m also excited to tell you that we will be donating $545 in GIFT CARDS, 1/2 to the Middle and ½ to the High as requested by the Superintendent who explained that the elementary schools get TONS of supplies from the community. Everyone was VERY supportive and I thank you all for your generosity!
This past Sunday, we also consecrated 16 members of our CARE TEAM … our new CARE TEAM is the fulfillment of one of our VISIONS for 2018 and most of these people have been through training to understand the sensitive role they play in LOVING others as God has called US to love Him … and we have room for more!
Some of them will be writing notes and making phone calls to people who can’t GET to church or who have not BEEN here in more than 4-5 weeks (so please let us know if you’re gone for an extended period of time so we don’t worry about you!), some will be going into hospitals and nursing homes, assisted living centers, visiting the homebound and some will be watching pets if someone has to go into the hospital unexpectedly. (We need a few more PET SITTERS PLEASE!)
Please pray for them all!
Angie Hollingsworth John Hargus
Clint Cooper Cindy Hightower
Betty Craddock Pat St. MiKlossy
Art Simmons Jo Porterfield
Mary Tom McLemore Don Beaty
Jerry and Janat Erwin Sandra Thompson
Mike Ewert Sandra Strickland
OUR SERMONS are NOW ON FACEBOOK LIVE EVERY SUNDAY!
Many thanks to Ken and Connor whose technology skills and passion for sharing the Gospel outside the walls of the church have allowed us to broadcast, in a simple format, our Sunday sermons on Facebook. When the sermon is over, it will post and save so you can go back and send it to a friend, listen again to something you missed, or watch in if you can’t be in church.
We DID NOT PROMOTE this last Sunday as we wanted to see what had to be done (1st Baptist GRACIOUSLY allowed us the borrow a camera, they have 4, for a few weeks!) but I WILL promote it this week on Facebook.
One of the BEST ways to spread the word that we will be “live” is to use the Facebook app on your Smart Phone and “check-in” on Facebook … when you check-in, Facebook will put up a MAP of where you are and then you can write a post with it, something like: “Seeing all my friends at 1st UMC Winnsboro – sermon starts live in 30 minutes!” or “Just got to church and the message today is from Daniel 9 – come join us or watch live on Facebook in 3o minutes!”
BEFORE YOU COME SUNDAY …
- Download the Facebook app from your Apple or Android APP store
- Once downloaded, sign into Facebook which will bring you to your own page
- Scroll down past your picture and your name and your information and just BELOW the words ABOUT PHOTOS FRIENDS, you’ll see your profile picture, in a circle, and to the right you’ll see WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND … click WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND
- Scroll down to Check In
- Here you will see a list of places/businesses near you …
REMEMBER HOW TO DO THIS SO WHEN YOU COME ON SUNDAY YOU’LL REMEMBER
To check into our church on Sunday when you come on Sunday …
- Sign into Facebook on your phone
- Scroll down past your picture and your name and your information and just BELOW the words ABOUT PHOTOS FRIENDS, you’ll see your profile picture, in a circle, and to the right you’ll see WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND … click WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND
- Here you will see a list of places/businesses near you and First Methodist Winnsboro should be on the top so click that
- You will then have the OPTION of tagging your FRIENDS so they know you are at 1st UMC Winnsboro! (Click lots of people you’d like to see the worship service broadcast!!)
5.Click NEXT which will bring you to a map of where the church is located and THEN, write a little something like “So glad to be with all my friends at 1st Church – come join us!” Or … “IF you can’t be here we’ll miss you but watch the Facebook live stream in about 30 minutes!”
LOOKING AHEAD: DEADLINE TO REGISTER is 8/13 HERE or call Susan Anderson at 940-497-2707. … The international Bishop’s Council has been hard at work to redefine the language in our guiding principles (the Book of Discipline) regarding the questions surrounding same sex marriage in our denomination and you are encouraged to learn more … see attached letter from the Bishop. Read the petition now … CLICK HERE.
GET CONNECTED THIS WEEK: Click here for Calendar details
MONDAY, 1-3 PM …Knitting Group, MOVED TO ASBURY HALL
TUESDAY, 8 am … Quilters, 9 am crafters
11-noon … NO BIBLE TALK, now on hiatus for the summer
WEDNESDAY, 9 am …Community Women’s Bible Study
Debbie Lyons, Pastor
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7-24-18 FUMC Updates
WHEW, our sermon series on the Book of Daniel took a wild turn this week and I’m so glad we’re all on the ride together!
The focus of the sermon series took a dramatic turn today as we go from a story of biographical HISTORY to apocalyptic PROPHECY. The first 6 chapters told the story of Daniel’s deportation to Babylon and his adventures in the courts of various pagan kings where again and again, facing danger and death, he had UNSHAKABLE FAITH. The last chapters detail 4 visions given to Daniel in the last 20 years of his life and let me tell you … the BEST (and the WORST!) … times are yet to come so get ready for a wild ride!!
We’ll dive into DANIEL CHAPTER 8 this Sunday, THE BATTLE GOES ON … call us for the study notes! If you missed the sermon on Sunday it will help you to hear about Chapter 7 as we move into Chapter 8 … as you know, we record most sermons and you can find them on our website.
CITY VISIONING… TUESDAY, JULY 31, 6:30 at the City Civic Center … I am honored to be working with the City Manager and the Superintendent of Schools on this city wide visioning process … our Christian voices matter so come you’re your thoughts on the future of Winnsboro!
LOOKING AHEAD: The international Bishop’s Council has been hard at work to redefine the language in our guiding principles (the Book of Discipline) and you are encouraged to learn more … call us for the letter from our Bishop.
GET CONNECTED THIS WEEK: Click here for Calendar details
MONDAY, 1-3 PM …Knitting Group, Family Ties
TUESDAY, 8 am … Quilters, 9 am crafters
11-noon … BIBLE TALK, Psalm 23
WEDNESDAY, 9 am …Community Women’s Bible Study
THURSDAY, 8:30 am … Community Women’s Bible Study, Clara Ida Frances Loft: Mary Magdalene
Debbie Lyons, Pastor
First United Methodist Church Winnsboro
301 Church Street, Winnsboro, TX. 75494
CLICK HERE for our Facebook
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7-16-18 FUMC Updates
I am so VERY excited to tell you that our CARE TEAM is up and running!! This was one of our VISION focuses for 2018 and what an amazing group of people have stepped forward to share God’s love!! We have people who have volunteered to visit hospitals, visit nursing home and our homebound, to be “drivers” to doctor appointment or other errands, write cards, and make phone calls and communion servers! We have also added a “PET CARE” team so that if someone has to go into the hospital we can make sure that their animals are cared for!!
We will be having a consecration service in church in a few weeks for these amazing volunteers and we’re organizing a care system now, but if you feel a call to help, we need some additional help in all areas but card writing. Please let us know if you’d like to be plugged in!
BUT PLEASE KNOW THIS … as much as I WISH that I had special powers to know when someone needs extra prayers, or is having surgery or needs some extra help, I don’t know unless you tell me so please let me know if you ever need something!! Our Care Team is excited to get started visiting and staying in touch so please say some VERY special prayers for this group of people called to serve!!
Just another reminder that we are ALL called to “love our neighbors” and with our directory on the website, you can always call or send notes to ANYONE at anytime … people who sit near you and haven’t been in church for a while, people we pray for in church on Sunday, etc. Find the directory on the website …. The PASSWORD is FUMC309.
WE’RE COLLECTING GIFT CARDS for back to school teacher donations …Family Dollar, Dollar General, Walmart or wherever! Since every church and bank in town asks for “supplies” we’re filling in the GAPS and helping the teachers get what they need. You can drop your cards in the offering plates or drop them at the office through JULY 29th!
5th SUNDAY POT LUCK & ICE CREAM SOCIAL … 7/29, 5:30 PM, Family Life Center … bring your favorite covered dish and your homemade ice-cream (although Bluebell would be fine too!), for a fun night of fellowship and summer celebration! Sign up to bring ice-cream in the Sunday school classes or in the lobby of the church on Sunday.
VISIONING for the CITY OF WINNSBORO: Tuesday, July 31st, 6:30 PM, CIVIC CENTER …calling all people who LOVE their community and want to see an exciting future for the City! I have been honored to be working with the City Manager, City Council and School Superintendent on creating a new vision and mission statement for the City of Winnsboro. Like we did when we were visioning for our church, our first gathering will give people in the community a chance to dream about the future for the city … YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND!
Have you taken the SPIRITUAL GIFTS TEST yet? Know your Spiritual Gifts and your passion and joy for serving will explode! To take the test go to our website and then let me know what YOUR gifts are!! CLICK HERE
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN HISTORY? The United Methodist has a rich history and since 1859, our church has been PART of that history … CLICK HERE to read the current history information on file. If you enjoy history and would like to consider being a historian for OUR church, please let me know … check out what a historian does HERE.
NEXT FELLOWSHIP DINNER this Wednesday, July 18th, 5:45 PM … bring your friends and join us for SPAGHETTI!!
YOUTH: 6th through 12th … it’s DONUTS, DINNER BACK TO THE FUTURE III: Wednesday, 7/18 5:15 – 8:30 … gather your gang and come out to the FLC for an awesome night of fun!!!
MIDDLE SCHOOL POOL PARTY: Wednesday, August 1st, 5:30-7:30, Beaty’s Home, 208 Marion … in 2019 the middle school is transitioning to 6-8th grades and since we don’t have any 5th graders, we’re making the transition NOW and kicking it off with a SPLASH BASH!!! Parents we’d love your support so when asked to serve, please say yes!!
PLANNING AHEAD: Listening for a “Way Forward” … 8/18, 9am-2:15pm, Carrollton … The Conference Committee on Lay Servant Ministries along with the Board of Laity of the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church announces the 4th annual conference-wide laity event on August 18, 2018, at Aldersgate UMC, 3926 Old Denton Road, Carrollton, from 9:00 AM to 2:15 PM. The main focus of the meeting will be to discuss the possible revision of every paragraph of the Book of Discipline concerning human sexuality and explore options that help to maintain and strengthen the unity of the church. Some of our members have already been actively involved in the conversations with the Bishop on this topic and I’m grateful to everyone who is willing to pray about this!! Let me know if you’d like to ride with me or carpool with others! For more, see the UMC website HERE
GET CONNECTED THIS WEEK: Click here for Calendar details
MONDAY, 1-3 PM …Knitting Group, Family Ties
NEXT Monday 7/23, 9 am … Prayer Quilt Ministry, Asbury
TUESDAY, 8 am … Quilters, 9 am crafters
11-noon … BIBLE TALK, “PSALM 139”
WEDNESDAY, 9 am …Community Women’s Bible Study (through 8/8)
5:15 pm … Youth (6th-12th) Donuts, Dinner and a Movie, The Loft
5:45 pm … Fellowship Meal in FLC
THURSDAY, 8:30 am … Community Women’s Bible Study, Clara Ida Frances Loft … we have 2 more session until we take an AUGUST break before resuming after Labor Day so please come!
DANIEL CHAPTER 7 this Sunday … call for study notes.
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7-9-18 FUMC Updates
What a wonderful week I had in beautiful Northwest Arkansas these last few days! My daughter and her husband had a fabulous honeymoon in Jamaica and my grandson and I had an ENTIRE week of fun! I am, of course, exhausted, but I am looking forward to getting back to work to REST, ha ha!
CONGREGATIONAL CARE KICKS OFF THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT, 8/11, 6:30 PM in Wesley Hall … as you know, we have had a lot of pastoral care concerns in the last few weeks and you can always CALL and send NOTES to people using the directory on the website …. call the office for the password. But please come Wednesday night and help us be INTENTIONAL about all our care concerns!
5th SUNDAY POT LUNCH & ICE CREAM SOCIAL … 7/29, 5:30 PM, Family Life Center … bring your favorite covered dish and your homemade ice-cream (although Bluebell would be fine too!), for a fun night of fellowship and summer celebration! Sign up to bring ice-cream in the Sunday school classes or in the lobby of the church on Sunday.
WE’RE COLLECTING GIFT CARDS for back to school teacher donations …Family Dolalr, Dollar General, Walmart or wherever! Since every church and bank in town asks for “supplies”, Kelly Knight thought gift cards would be a great way for teachers to “fill in the gaps” for their students. You can drop your cards in the offering plates through JULY 29th!
LOOKING FOR FULFILLMENT IN YOUR SERVICE TO GOD? Know your Spiritual Gifts and your passion and joy for serving will explode! CLICK HERE
In the next few weeks I’d like you to be prayerful about the incredible gifts given to you by the Holy Spirit. Scripture teaches that when we are baptized in the Spirit, we receive gifts of the Spirit….“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully”. Romans 12:6–8
Note that it says, “We have different gifts.” Each is important, each worth using … each given “according to the grace given us.” We are to take what He has placed in our life and seek to multiply it!!
Some of you are already using the gifts God has given you so you KNOW how fulfilling it is to respond to God’s call in your life – some of you may be busy doing work for the Lord but you don’t feel a joy in your service … perhaps you’re not using the gift God gave you! Please take the spiritual gifts test on our website HERE … when you answer the questions, don’t OVER-ANALYZE …in a few weeks we’ll explore this even deeper!
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN HISTORY? The United Methodist has a rich history and since 1859, our church has been PART of that history … CLICK HERE to read the current history information on file. If you enjoy history and would like to consider being a historian for OUR church, please let me know … check out what a historian does HERE.
NEXT FELLOWSHIP DINNER … Wednesday, July 1th, 5:45
GET CONNECTED THIS WEEK: Click here for Calendar details
MONDAY, 1-3 PM …Knitting Group, Family Ties
TUESDAY, 8 am … Quilters, 9 am crafters
10-11 am … Personal prayer time in sanctuary
11-noon … BIBLE TALK, “Job Chapter 1: Tested By God”
WEDNESDAY, 9 am …Community Women’s Bible Study
5:30 pm … Congregational Care, Wesley Hall
THURSDAY, 8:30 am … Community Women’s Bible Study, Clara Ida Frances Loft: “Sapphira … Lying to God”
DANIEL CHAPTER 6 this Sunday … call the office for a copy of the study notes!
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6-21-18 FUMC Updates
What an AMAZING Fellowship Dinner we had last night with SO many people that the last few people in line were gracious enough to eat chicken nuggets because we served all the burgers! (The kitchen crew is committed to making sure we have MORE than enough food on July 18th and I’d guess NEXT month will be even BIGGER and BETTER!!)
YOUTH!!! One of the most EXCITING things about last night was seeing TWENTY FIVE, (yes 25!!) YOUTH all piling into the loft to watch Back to the Future II AND have chocolate fondue! (I don’t think the KIDS call it that but dipping yummy things in chocolate is what I call it!!) So many of our kids brought their friends so it says a LOT about the sense of belonging those kids feel … to see our young adults, Kimberly Noe, Conner Ragsdale and Paige Baber step up to help was also very exciting! THANKS TO EVERYONE who is creating safe, loving space to nurture our kids!
METHODISM I was then BLOWN AWAY by how many people stayed for the “speed” class on Methodism … we zipped through history, organization, some doctrine, beliefs and MORE and it was so heart-warming to see the interest! When I began the class by asking how many people were there from backgrounds NOT Methodist, the great majority of hands were raised so what a JOY to talk about why we CHOOSE to be Methodists!
WHAT ARE YOUNG “SEEKERS” LOOKING FOR? Now that it’s summer, I’d also like to encourage you to keep your eyes open for someone God puts in YOUR path who might need the connection to a faith community that we’re lucky enough to have! I read a fabulous article on UMC.org that said the top motivators for considering a church for spiritual “seekers”, 25-49, are: knowing that everyone will be welcomed (32%), making friends and nurturing friendships (29%), support during difficult times (28%) and learning more about God (27%). Isn’t it true that we ALL want to feel like we belong? CLICK HERE to read the whole article.
DANIEL CHAPTER 3 … Battle of the Gods This Sunday we’ll dive into one of the most well-known stories of the Bible as we see Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego thrown into a fiery furnace because they won’t bow down and worship a false god. EMAIL US if you’d like the worksheet.
JOINING DAY, this Sunday, June 24th … If you are joining the church this Sunday, let me say an early welcome as you joyfully make this commitment to God! I’ll invite you to come forward during the closing hymn at the end of the service but if you would like to be baptized, please let me know before Sunday.
HELP US CLEAN OUT THE LIBRARY in WESLEY HALL: This TUESDAY, June 26th, 1:30pm … The trustees are making plans to do some renovation in Wesley Hall so we’re cleaning UP and cleaning OUT and we’d love your help! The library hasn’t been used in MANY years so we are going to re-purpose the space and have a BOOK GIVEAWAY later in July. BUT FIRST … we need volunteers to help us clear out everything in the library and move everything to tables in the Wesley Hall. JOIN US FOR LUNCH AT 12:15 at SUBWAY(Bible study is from 11-12 if you want to make a day of it!!) and then we’ll get to work!! It won’t take long – many hands make light work!
GET CONNECTED THIS WEEK: Click here for Calendar details
TUESDAY, 8 am … Quilters, 9 am crafters
10-11 am … Personal prayer time in sanctuary
11-noon … Bible Talk, “HOW HARD TIMES HELP” 1 Sam 17
12:15 pm … Lunch at Subway
1:30 pm … Cleaning out the library, Wesley Hall
WEDNESDAY, 9 am … Community Women’s Bible Study, Asbury
6:30 pm … Community and Congregational Care, Friendly Seekers
THURSDAY, 8:30 am … Community Women’s Bible Study, Clara Ida Frances Loft (WOMAN AT THE WELL)
HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL SUNDAY!
Debbie Lyons, Pastor
First United Methodist Church Winnsboro
301 Church Street, Winnsboro, TX. 75494
CLICK HERE for our Facebook
CLICK HERE for our website
(903) 342-6172
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