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WELCOME TO FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WINNSBORO!

All are welcome at Winnsboro’s First Church so dive on in! We are a warm and welcoming congregation where you can meet people, celebrate life, grow deeper, stronger in your faith and turn energy into action that transforms the world. EVERYONE is invited and if you’d like us to meet you at the door, email us HERE and we’ll be there!

Sunday Morning Worship

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

10:50 a.m.

Worship on FACEBOOK LIVE or In-Person

CLICK HERE to go to our FACEBOOK page for updates and to

watch past Sunday services and/or devotionals.

Looking for a Sunday Small Group?

CLICK HERE

6-9-20 FUMC Update

Posted on Jun 9, 2020 in HomePage |

What a beautiful first day back to the sanctuary! Sunday was absolutely amazing for me, Ken, Elaina and Kade who have been sitting in an empty church for three months but I hope it was even MORE amazing for the 51 people who were in the sanctuary! I want to say thank-you, thank-you, THANK-YOU to our usher team for helping us stay safe in the re-opening process and to your Church Council leadership who has worked hard to create guidelines to help us. Yes, there are some annoyances (wearing masks in and out, sitting six feet apart, limiting sanctuary attendance to about 60, no singing out loud, etc.), but slowly and safely we are coming back!

As always, if you don’t have Facebook, you can listen to the worship (all the worship or just the message) on our website HERE.

Because of limited attendance requirements, if you weren’t able to join us but are ready to come back, please let us know as our sanctuary occupancy is limited to approximately 65 depending on the combinations of families/couples/singles. We have a back-up plan to WATCH in Wesley Hall if we run out of space, but we’d rather plan ahead if we have to.

FACEBOOK WORSHIP CONTINUES ONLINE ~ I’m so sorry about the video problems we had on Sunday. It was a CAMERA problem that we didn’t discover until worship was about to begin. Ken knows what the problem is and the GOOD NEWS is we hope to have it fixed by this Sunday!

BRING A CAN OF LYSOL OR SOME CHLOROX WIPES WHEN YOU COME TO CHURCH ~ Every time I go to the Dollar Store (it seems the only place I can find it!), I buy a can of Lysol (or similar) disinfectant. But because I can only buy ONE it goes quickly. The next time you see a spray can of disinfectant and you already have enough for your home, please buy one and bring it to the church.

BIBLE TALK ~ Wednesdays this Summer, 10 a.m. ~ If you’re missing the interactive fellowship of Bible study, step into the LION’S DEN with us this Wednesday, June 10. You can always find sign-in details on the calendar but it’s simple:

Join Zoom Meeting ANY Wednesday morning at 10am:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/451285222?pwd=aFBPMlFNUkhvS0g4QjdEVzhYVms5Zz09

Meeting ID: 451 285 222

Password: 486447

BLOOD DRIVE IN WINNSBORO, Saturday, June 20, 10 a.m.~3 p.m. ~ First Baptist Church & First Methodist Church of Winnsboro are pleased to sponsor the Carter BloodCare Bus coming!

Rock Building Parking Lot, SE corner Broadway (11) and Main (37), Winnsboro

CLICK HERE to make an appointment

Every donor will receive a T-Shirt!

ALZHEIMER’S VIRTUAL EVENT ~ Saturday, June 13 ~ The Dallas Alzheimer’s group will be hosting a Caregiver Conference VIRTUALLY for East Texas. The program begins at 9 a.m. and includes presentations on Effective Communication, Managing Sundowning, and Legal Considerations. You may register at this link: https://tinyurl.com/ALZTYLER

LAST CHANCE TO HELP US UPDATE THE DIRECTORY ~ We try to update quarterly, but we’re a bit behind. So please see the directory, and let us know if you have changes before next Monday. If you want to send a HEAD AND SHOULDER individual picture or a close-up family picture, please send those too!

OUR HOMEBOUND FRIENDS WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU (See Attachment) ~ A special note or a call means the world to people who can’t get out, especially those in our assisted/nursing homes! Please drop a note!

THIS SUNDAY ~ God in the Movies, 10:50 a.m. ~ We’re bringing the movies to FUMC, and if you didn’t see AMAZING GRACE (not the Aretha Franklin movies but the William Wilberforce movie about a leader of the British abolition movement), it’s a wonderful movie. You can find it on Amazon or YouTube for $3.99. I’ll be showing movie clips so you don’t have to see it, but Amazing Grace chronicles the epic struggle to pass a law to end the slave trade in the late 18th century in Great Britain. And yes, the song, AMAZING GRACE chronicles that story!

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices –

mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

~ Matthew 23:23

Many blessings to you all!

Pastor Debbie

6-4-20 FUMC Quick Update

Posted on Jun 5, 2020 in HomePage |

First, a quick invitation to please consider giving the gift of life! Thanks to Jerry Calvert for helping to coordinate the Carter Bloodmobile coming back and if you missed the last time or want to give again (yes, enough time has passed since April 18 if you gave then), you can make an appointment now and get the time that’s best for you!

First Baptist Church & First Methodist Church of Winnsboro are pleased to sponsor the Carter BloodCare Bus coming!

Rock Building Parking Lot, SE corner Broadway (11) and Main (37), Winnsboro

CLICK HERE to make an appointment. Every donor will receive a T-Shirt!

REOPENING REMINDERS: I am so very excited to see those of you who are coming back to church on Sunday, June 7. Front door will open at 10:20 am. We will worship, some in-person and some online TOGETHER, and I support those of you who will be staying home a bit longer! For those of you coming, please forgive me for the repetition but we want worship to be very special and you can help:

– Only the FRONT DOORS of the church (Corner of Church and Elm) will be open, and we will open the doors at 10:20 a.m.

– Please wear a face covering entering and leaving the building. You can remove it after you are seated.

– When you arrive, the ushers will squirt Purell in your hands, and you will then take your Fellowship Communion Cup and the plastic baggie under it with you to your seats. They were been placed on the tables in the lobby on Tuesday. As we have not been given dispensation to do online communion, we will respectfully wait until the END of the service to consecrate the elements.

– I recognize more than anyone that most people like to sit in the same seats they always sit in. And believe me, when you aren’t IN your seats you throw me off! But we’re ALL going to be thrown off for a while because every other pew is blocked off to assure 6-foot spacing. I know everyone will be happy to be getting back to church, and our ushers will be doing their best to seat everyone. Please be sure to THANK them.

– At the end of the service, the ushers will dismiss you by rows. And as hard as it may be not to gather in small groups after church, please maintain at least 6 feet of distance between one other.

Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look! I’m making all things new.” He also

said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Rev. 21:5

“See” you in person or online Sunday at 10:50 – LIVE!

PASTOR DEBBIE

6-2-20 FUMC Update

Posted on Jun 2, 2020 in HomePage |

It was an almost PERFECT new day on Sunday with beautiful weather and so many people (56!) gathering together to worship God, celebrate our seniors, and remember the power of Pentecost! The only thing that could have made it PERFECT is if everyone could have been there! But alas, we know this time will come!

Thanks to Ken and Elaina Ragsdale for hosting our beautiful worship and to Kade Martin for helping with all the set-up! These three amazing people have been with me on Sundays all through the COVID-19 shut down and I am more grateful to them than they will ever know!

REMINDER, the Picture Directory is Online ~ If your information is not correct, please let us know as we will be updating it in the next week or so.

ZOOM BIBLE TALK: Wednesday, 10 am ~ It’s all about Daniel 3. Come join us!

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/451285222?pwd=aFBPMlFNUkhvS0g4QjdEVzhYVms5Zz09

Meeting ID: 451 285 222 Password: 486447

SUNDAYS in JUNE WE’RE BACK IN THE SANCTUARY, 10:50 AM! Thanks to everyone who has RSVP’d and let us know you’re coming! I know how strange it is to only have 40% occupancy in the sanctuary and to have to wear a mask in and out, and ONLY use the main front door, but it’s a start! I support so many of you who are staying home a bit longer, and we’ll “see” you on Facebook. Be sure to sign in when you get there!

SUNDAY SUMMER WORSHIP SERIES: God in the Movies starts June 14 ~ Since the movie theaters have been closed through COVID-19, let’s go to the movies together this summer! You won’t have to have seen the movies to make the sermon relevant because I’ll show lots of clips and tell the stories. We will try to pick a variety of CLASSIC and POPULAR movies where the voice of God speaks loudly and clearly!

We’ll start with one of the most powerful movies I’ve ever seen: AMAZING GRACE. Based on the true-life story of William Wilberforce, a leader of the British abolition movement, Amazing Grace chronicles his epic struggle to pass a law to end the slave trade in the late 18th century. Along the way, Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) meets intense opposition from members of Parliament who feel the slave trade is tied to the stability of the British Empire. Several friends, including Wilberforce’s minister, John Newton (Albert Finney), a reformed slave ship captain who penned the beloved hymn “Amazing Grace,” urge him to see the cause through.

WANT TO WATCH IT? Amazon Prime or YouTube $3.99

SUNDAY in our SANCTUARY … God is making all things new!

Pastor Debbie

5-25-20 FUMC Update

Posted on May 26, 2020 in HomePage |

It’s a NEW day!

For the last few months we have made adjustments to change the way we worship, study, serve, and pray together because our buildings have been closed and our activities have been postponed. We’ve all had to learn new things, and we’re STILL learning new things (as you could see by the glitch in broadcasting our sermon yesterday … you can watch on Facebook HERE.)

Now … we’re learning NEW ways to gather again!

Yes, it will be different for a little while (see attached guidelines). We will be staying 6 feet apart from each other, we won’t be shaking hands or hugging each other, inside we will be wearing masks in and out of our seats, we won’t be hanging out in close crowds before or after worship or Sunday schools, we’ll be squirting our hands with Purell, we won’t be singing together for a few weeks, and MANY of our friends will not even be joining us yet!

But it IS a new day because this Sunday we will begin to gather again! This Sunday is also Pentecost Sunday, the new day that Jesus sent His Holy Spirit to be with us through the end of time. And it’s a new day for our Seniors who are graduating! How appropriate that our first day back will have LOTS to celebrate!

THIS SUNDAY, MAY 31 ~ 8 a.m. at the Ragsdale’s Home, 270 CR 4228, Winnsboro ~ WEAR RED! Thanks to all who have let us know you’ll be there (it’s not too late – we’ll bring chairs for you!) We’ll be celebrating PENTECOST and recognizing our three seniors:

Julian Anaya, Landry Deaton, Grant Newton

From the intersection of Church Street and West Broadway, travel west three blocks to FM 852 West. Turn left (west) on FM 852. Go 2 ¾ miles. Turn right (north) on County Road 4228. Go 1400 feet to 270 CR 4228 (driveway on the right; stay on the pavement, don’t go past driveway on dirt road; there will be orange arrows on the county road and driveway)

TUESDAY, MAY 26, Facebook Devotional, Jeremiah 1: Excuses, Excuses, Excuses ~ While getting ready for our Bible study on Wednesday, I became fascinated with this incredible prophet who led me to explore why we make excuses NOT to follow God’s will. The video will be on Facebook before noon and the audio will be on the website by Tuesday afternoon.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, ZOOM Bible Talk, 10 AM ~ CLICK HERE for the calendar with sign-in instructions. If you haven’t given ZOOM a try, please join us through the summer as we dive DEEP into the chapters that help us connect the overall picture of the Bible. This week we’ll meet Jeremiah, known as the WEEPING Prophet or the RELUCTANT Prophet, and we’ll look at WHY God’s will and our CHOICES matter.

SUNDAY, May 31, 8 AM ~ Ragsdale’s Home

SUNDAY, May 31, 10:50 AM ~ Facebook LIVE with Bishop McKee

SUNDAY, June 7, 10:50 AM ~ Partial Worship in the Sanctuary, Doors will be open at 10:20 AM ~ Thanks again for letting us know you’ll be here as seating will be limited to keep 6-foot distances. WE WILL ONLY BE USING THE FRONT DOOR on Elm/Church Street, so if you are able, please park leaving the spots closest to the front door for others. (NOTE: Facebook LIVE will ALWAYS be broadcast live too!)

DO YOU NEED A FACE COVERING? We have men’s, women’s, and children, so please call the office if you need one! Love offerings welcome! (903) 342-6172

I had a wonderful SHORT trip to NW Arkansas this weekend to have some amazing mother-daughter time and see my grandchildren. I always love coming home but I must admit, this time was hard leaving. I continue to PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, that you all remain safe and well, and that this virus is controlled and, ultimately, destroyed!

Pastor Debbie

5-21-20 FUMC Reopening Plan

Posted on May 21, 2020 in HomePage |

The Church Council met this week and we’re very excited to SLOWLY but SAFELY begin partial gathering!

Details are on the attached document and I, for one, hope these restrictions will NOT have to be in place for a long time!

Here are the important dates:

May 24, 10:50 a.m. ~ Memorial Day Worship, Facebook Live

May 31, 8 a.m. ~ All Church OUTDOOR Worship at the Ragsdales (270 CR 4228, Winnsboro) ~ If you have not yet let me know, please REPLY to this email and let me know how many chairs you will need or if you will be listening in your car. MANY THANKS to the Ragsdale family for sharing their home and beautiful meadow with us!

May 31, 10:50 a.m. ~ Facebook Live Worship with Bishop McKee

June 7 and ongoing in Phase 2, 10:50 a.m ~ RETURN TO THE SANCTUARY ~ We will worship together in the Sanctuary (and Facebook LIVE)! Please reply to this email and let us know if you’ll be attending so we know how to seat people! I truly do recognize how sitting in the same seat every Sunday is part of the comfort in coming to church and sitting with your pew neighbors. Please know we want to get back to “normal” as soon as possible; but in this interim, please be kind and supportive of the amazing ushers who are willing to work very hard to seat as many people as SAFELY as possible.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR PHASE 2 of Returning to the Sanctuary ~ Again, we hope these adjustments will NOT be “forever” but we hope that being together will far outweigh the minor safety inconveniences.

Here is a recap of what you’ll want to know ~

1. If you are 65 or older and/or have any underlying health conditions, we will support your decisions to stay home until you feel safe. We will continue Facebook LIVE and ZOOM Wednesday Bible studies at 10 a.m., so please make decisions that are best for YOU! (See CDC guidelines here.)

2. I want to thank Trustee Chair Danny Moss and Custodian Deloris Loftin who are doing everything they can to be sure everything is disinfected and that we will be separated by 6 feet to keep everyone safe.

3. I also want to thank Worship Chair Penny Boice and Communion Chair Sue Gross and ALL of our wonderful ushers who are working hard to make sure worship is joyful, sacred, and SAFE! I hope we will all come to worship cheerfully and leave worship inspired by God, but we will come and go wearing masks, and we will be seated and dismissed without gathering before and after church. (If you need a mask, let me know. We do have some children’s masks too!) An usher will squirt your hands with disinfectant when you arrive and seat you, maybe not in your regular seat, and help you leave safely by row squirting your hands as you go.

Again, details are attached and please let me know if we have any questions. We will do the best we can with what we know at the time and as we know more we will try to do better! We will weather these changes TOGETHER, just like we have in the last two months since COVID-19 forced us to close our buildings … because …

GOD IS WORKING FOR GOOD!

Stay well and HAPPY MEMORIAL WEEKEND!

Pastor Debbie

First Methodist Church Winnsboro

We’re easy to find in Winnsboro!

6-9-20 FUMC Update

6-4-20 FUMC Quick Update

6-2-20 FUMC Update

5-25-20 FUMC Update

5-21-20 FUMC Reopening Plan