First Methodist Church Winnsboro

What a hard week it was for our church family as we celebrated the life of Kay Atkins.  Honestly, though, I saw soooooo MANY droplets of grace, everywhere I’ve turned!!  I looked at all the incredibly, amazing, selfless people who prayed, cooked food, sent cards, made cookies, served lunch, greeted the family, made donations to our church in Kay’s name … wow, what a LOVING congregation this is!! I want to thank you for loving the Atkins family through your service … quite wonderful!!

I am FINALLY going to see my Dad in South Carolina this week … I’m leaving today and coming back Saturday night.  And I’m so excited that Vic Casad, our District Superintendent is coming to preach for us and I can wait to be his “wing man”!  Please make sure we show Vic the true energy and Spirit of First Church Winnsboro – the last time Vic was here was last October for Pastor Carolyn’s memorial service and I think you’ll be putting a HUGE smile on his face when he sees how God is working here!

WANT TO JOIN THE SERVING SAINTS? If you’d like to get on the list to be called for family meals and bereavement lunches, Betty Craddock would LOVE to add some new people to her list of generous people!  She has coordinated meals for 7 years and she’d love to see some new faces! Contact Betty at 903-975-5639

CLICK HERE FOR OUR CALENDAR

NO BIBLE TALK THIS TUESDAY … we’ll resume next Tuesday at 11:00 when I return

LOOKING FOR A WAY TO GROW IN YOUR FAITH? Let’s talk about building a Congregational Care team!  MONDAY, May 15, 6:30 PM Asbury Hall… we have a core team of loving people who are VERY excited about loving God by CARING for others and we want to be in touch with people who have not been to church in a long time, who are unable to get to church anymore, who are having surgeries or medical challenges, are in retirement living, or who just need to hear a friendly voice or see a friendly face! LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!

SENIOR LUAU … Tuesday, May 15th, 6:15 pm …thanks so much to Tina Satterwhite and the Family Ties Class and everyone who helped set-up for the Luau yesterday and for keeping this great tradition going! Help us celebrate the Senior Class of WISD by greeting, serving or cleaning up this Tuesday!

WEDNESDAY NIGHT FELLOWSHIP is back this Wednesday, 5:45 … I heard a rumor there will be SMOTHERED PORK CHOPS and stay for games after dinner!

REMINDER: Prayer Blanket Ministry meets 2nd and 4th MONDAYS at 9 am … their next meeting will be Monday, May 14th

ANNUAL CONFERENCE: June 3-5, First UMC Richardson … On a mountain top in Galilee, the risen Christ commanded the eleven disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and forming them in the Way of Christ. Today, we have been given this same Great Commission, and all across the North Texas Conference clergy and laity are embracing the challenge to go, gather new faces in new spaces, and grow these new faces in discipleship.  What is a new space? It can be a small group that meets in a local coffee shop or store or …. Come to Annual Conference and find out more!  To register: http://ntc2018.org/

ERT Training at FUMC Kaufman …UMCOR ERT Basic * Cost: $15 …Saturday, May 12, 2018,   8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.  This class will provide you with the Basic information you need about Early Response Teams. Early Response Teams (ERTs) fill a specific need in the early days after a disaster to clean out flood-damaged homes, remove debris, place tarps on homes, and otherwise help to prevent further damage, while providing a caring Christian presence. All ERT members are trained by authorized UMCOR trainers, and are given identification badges as evidence of successful completion of the basic class. Lunch is provided, and dress is casual.

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 2:35

It is with a mix of sadness and joy that I reflect on the passing of KAY ATKINS … I am so sad for Ken, Misty and Todd and their family and close friends, but I am so full of joy knowing that Kay is in heaven and she is cancer free, has no more worries or fears, and SHE IS WITH JESUS!!

We are honored to join the ATKINS family in celebrating Kay’s life this week … please call Betty Craddock (903-975-5639) if you can help make cookies or prepare lunch at either of these events:

– Tuesday, May 1, 6-8 PM …

Family visitation & reception in the Family Life Center

– Wednesday, May 2, 10 AM ...

Service of Celebration at BEATY CHAPEL, family lunch follows in FLC

THERE WILL BE NO WEDNESDAY NIGHT DINNER THIS WEEK!

GREETING CARD MINISTRY (Or should I say “therapy”?)

Some of you know that I love to make GREETING CARDS … it all started at my former church when we would gather together several times a year to make cards for the people receiving chemotherapy at the hospital in Greenville. It was a simple act of agape love, “willful delight in showing love unconditionally.”  Eventually, someone stated teaching card classes and I found myself enthralled with the therapeutic nature of die-cutting shapes, embossing backgrounds, choosing colors and stamping special greetings. 

As you know, Laquita has updated our data base and those of you who gave us your birth date MAY be getting a card from me!  I say MAY because while I try my best NOT to miss anyone, it MAY happen!  It will happen, if Laquita doesn’t have your information!  Thanks for providing me a VENUE for therapeutic joy and an avenue to let YOU know that on your birthday, I WILL be praying for you! 

PLEASE CHECK THE CHURCH CALENDAR on the website for details on upcoming events:

TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE TALK: 11 am Tuesdays, ongoing …Men and women are invited – bring your study Bibles and come as we go verse by verse through important chapters that form our faith! 

LAST THURSDAY at CLARA IDA FRANCES, 8:45-9:45 … this Thursday we’re tasting CHOCOLATE and pondering how “people are like a box of chocolates … where does God want YOUR garden to grow?

National Day of Pray, May 3rd, NOON at City Hall … please plan to come out and PRAY, PRAY, PRAY for our nation, our city, our schools, our families and our churches!

UMW QUIET DAY:  May 5th, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm… bring a sack lunch and meet us at Jackie Ford’s home, 3165 Hwy. 11, Winnsboro.  Come join us for this special time of “meditation”!  Also, UMW will not have their regularly scheduled meeting in May.   

SENIOR LUAU, Tuesday, May 8th, 6:15 … set up this Sunday after church … Contact Tina HERE to get involved!

Debbie Lyons, Pastor