First Methodist Church Winnsboro

What a beautiful All Saints Day service we had to remember those in our church family who died this last year! Thanks to Elaina Ragsdale and Julie Lewis for decorating the chancel so beautifully.

It was also a joy to welcome Pastor Sue Gross to our church family membership! Sue retired in July and is excited to get plugged in at FUMC. She’s passionate about mission and service, Emmaus and RV camping, and she’s already working with Mike Ewert and Janet Zachary on our new PRAYER MINISTRY.

PRAYER MATTERS!  Tuesdays, 9 am, Sanctuary through December

Jesus lived and died to build his church, 

which is to be a house of prayer (Matt. 21:13). 

As we vision toward a new year, and prepare for the Season of Abundance, followed by the holy season of Advent and Christmas, we are going to focus on PRAYER through the end of December. Won’t you please join us on Tuesday mornings at 9 a.m. (wear a jacket because the sanctuary will be cool). You will NOT have to pray out loud, and there will be written prayers available in the first pew if you want direction. Come to pray for guidance as we strive to make disciples for Jesus Christ. Pray for those on our prayer list, pray we can serve the people He brings to us,  pray that we can end this year by giving all the glory to God for what He is doing in our midst, or pray for whatever God puts on your heart! While our worship attendance is waning, our spirit is committed and we are EXCITED to be the Church that God calls us to be!

DON’T FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK THIS SATURDAY NIGHT, November 2, WHEN YOU GO TO BED!

CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK, November 9 ~ All hands on deck! Our crafters and quilters have worked hard to make the biggest church fundraiser of the year a grand success and even if you didn’t craft or quilt, you can still help! THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO IS MAKING THIS HAPPEN!

MAKING CRAFTS AT HOME? Thank you! Please bring them to the craft room in Wesley Hall no later than Tuesday, November 3. If you want to price them, please do so before you bring them. If you have a “minimum” price, let Carla know (903-347-6012).

Friday, November 8, noon ~ Meet at Wesley Hall to load up the items being sold and take them to the Civic Center; then return to FLC to help get the food ready for the stew luncheon on Saturday.

Saturday, November 9, 9 a.m. ~ 3 p.m. ~ Men who will be helping set up the lunch tables and serve/clean up for the stew contact DON BEATY  (903-752-1181). If you want to work  at the sale tables, contact CARLA CHITSEY (903-347-6012).

WE’RE UPDATING THE ONLINE DIRECTORY! Jim Dyson will be taking individual and family pictures on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings, November 6, 9, 10 and 13.  OPTIONAL: If you’d like to have an updated picture for your family, for $20 you can buy an 8 x 10 and two 5 x 7’s. And after printing costs, the money will be donated to the church!

DEVOTIONAL LIFE in the WESLEYAN TRADITION ~ November 16 and 23, 9 a.m. ~ 3 p.m., at Tinney Chapel, $10 ~ Make your reservations NO LATER THAN this Wednesday if you’re interested in growing in spiritual “means of grace” (prayer, scripture, the Lord’s Supper, fasting, etc.). Email LORI MASSEY at lori.mass@yahoo.com.  CLICK HERE to order the book.  (Please don’t wait to register as classes will be canceled without a minimum attendance.)

THANKS TO THOSE WHO SENT PICTURES OF ABUNDANCE ~ It’s not too late to send us YOUR pictures! We won’t be using “people” pictures but look around at all the abundance you see outside of your family and send those pictures this week!

WHAT DO METHODISTS BELIEVE? Wednesday, November 13, 4-5:30 p.m. ~ Whether you’ve been a Methodist for years or you’re from another denomination, come for a crash course in the history, organization and major doctrinal beliefs that set us apart.

WE STILL NEED TWO VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE OUR KIDS ON SUNDAY MORNINGS ~ Just one Sunday a month and YOU can make a difference! Reply to Laquita and she will send you details on getting Ministry Safe trained.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 

~ John 10:10 

SEE YOU 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 (TEXT 972-896-5254)

How exciting to welcome ELLEN McMAHON as a new member of the Church!  Ellen is already plugged into choir and LOVES this church. Be sure you let her know how much we love HER too!

As I’ve been talking with people over the last few weeks about the new RETIREMENT/SENIOR Ministry we’re starting, I’ve heard LOTS of excitement and LOTS of ideas! Our vision for this new ministry is that it will be a life group, a community of people who have LIFE in common and are looking for ways to do life together! I have had a few people ask about planning some RV weekends, others mentioned a monthly CLASSIC MOVIES night would be fun, others have said they want to do weekend getaways to places they would never go alone. Some would love to be in a dinner group, others have said it would fun to gather for games! (I even commented that I’ve never been to a rodeo but would LOVE to go with a group!) OH THE PLACES WE’LL GO!

I hope you’ll join us at Ted and Shiela’s house next Friday night, October 25, 5 – 7 p.m. Call or text Shiela for gate code instructions, (972) 322-9694

Ted & Shiela, 1620 Charlya Drive, Scroggins (in Pine Valley subdivision on Lake Cypress Springs) 

CHILDREN’S CHURCH IS OFF TO A GREAT START!  Would you please consider “sitting in” on a children’s class occasionally? Paige is very excited to plan the lesson, the craft and the activities, but as a Ministry Safe Church we want a second adult in the room with them. Please, please, please, won’t you please give the kids a Sunday or two?  (You can watch the sermon anytime during the week on Facebook!)

WEDNESDAY, October 16, 5:45 pm ~ Ken Atkins is making his famous barbeque chicken and Wanda is making her amazing potato salad! After dinner, 6:30 pm, we’ll move to Wesley Hall for the annual business meeting so please join us. 

ALL SAINTS DAY: Sunday, October 27 ~ We will end our We Believe worship series by celebrating our belief in “the resurrection of the body!” I can’t think of a better day to celebrate ALL SAINTS DAY than remembering our church friends and family members who have passed away in this past year who now know how real this belief truly is! As in years past, we will have candles ready for family members to light in memory of their loved ones. At the end of the calling of names, we will invite anyone who wants to come forward to remember someone special to also come forward and light a candle. While Laquita and I have done our best not to leave anyone out, if we have missed a name of a church member or close family member who has died in the last year, please let us know so we can be sure to honor ALL our Saints!

Delbert Todd
Galena McMahon
Mike Zachary
Pam Turrentine
Roddy Gillis
Clinton Kelly
Duane Darby
Philip Cason
Kathryn Clark
Tom Taylor
Kathryn Phipps
Carolyn Cannaday
James Harris
Barry Davis

ABUNDANCE!!  What does ABUNDANCE look like to you?  What does a wonder-FULL life look like?  During the month of November, I want to scroll your pictures before the worship service so please – think beyond your family and friends and think about ALL the blessings around you! PLEASE SEND ME PICTURES of what a rich, full life means to you! And if Art Simmons asks you to give a 60 second video testimony for our November sermon series, please oblige him! Think about what REALLY makes you feel joy and fulfillment? How has Christ impacted your life and how has your Church given you a place to belong?

DEVOTIONAL LIFE in the WESLEYAN TRADITION: November 16 and 23, 9am-3pm, at Tinney Chapel, $10 ~ One of the benefits of being a connectional church is that we are blessed to have experts from all over North Texas who provide GREAT learning experiences for us. If you’re interested in growing in spiritual “means of grace” (prayer, scripture, the Lord’s Supper, fasting, etc.), please make your reservation ASAP by emailing LORI MASSEY  lori.mass@yahoo.com.  CLICK HERE to order the book.  (Please don’t wait to register as classes will be canceled without a minimum attendance.)

DO YOU GIVE ELECTRONICALLY? As you know, we started providing online and text giving about a year ago and when we did we provided cards, in the pews with the giving envelopes, for people who wanted to experience a connection to the offering time during worship. No one used the cards back then so we stopped putting them out, but now, 17% of our giving is electronic and several people have asked if we would make them available again.  THEY ARE TRULY OPTIONAL but they are there for your participation! CLICK HERE if you want to learn more.

This Sunday it’s ALL about the Holy Spirit … we missed a lot of you this past Sunday so I hope to see you back!

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 (TEXT 972-896-5254)

Debbie Lyons, Pastor