12-11-20 FUMC Updates
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12-2-20 FUMC Special Update
In spite of a pandemic in our world, WE ARE A PEOPLE OF FAITH who, in the waters of BAPTISM, are claimed as children of God, as part of His family! This means we do not live in this world SEPARATE from each other – we weep together and laugh together and we worship together in all circumstances! For everything there is a season … a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing. (Ecclesiastes 3)
We have made the difficult decision to close our buildings for another week. We will evaluate the increasing COVID numbers and hospitalizations each week and update the prayer chain and email you as soon as decisions are made. We will also do everything possible to prepare our buildings for a safe return as soon as possible! Your church leaders are exceptional people who have prayed diligently together as decisions have been made and I applaud their character and decision-making in these difficult times.
Because it IS important that we DO weep and cry and worship together we will, of course, continue to broadcast live at 10:50 on Sunday mornings – this Sunday we will also have communion together so please prepare your sacred space and have your elements ready.
Wayne Horton’s CELEBRATION of LIFE will take place this SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5th, NOON at the Old City Cemetery (enter from the Blackjack gate) … it will be different from what we hoped it would be but we will STILL honor Wayne and support his family and friends with our prayers and, some of you, with your presence.
Let us pray!
Pastor Debbie
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11-23-20 FUMC Updates
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! With our church buildings closed again, at least through November 30th, it was fun being in the drive through again … thanks to all of you who came by! I will also post devotionals on Facebook again (click here to watch it or you can listen on the website here.) It is also attached if you want to read it. My thoughts are of you all this Thanksgiving!
M&M’s for our BACKPACK MINISTRY … with so many kids in our own community who will not have access to school breakfasts and lunches during Christmas, we’re very excited to share a gift of mini-M&M’s with you and give YOU the joy of returning it with quarters ($10-$12) for the BACKPACK Ministry! Come drive through on Monday and I’ll give everyone in your family their M&M’s, and then just return the container with your quarters, cash, or check, make checks payable to FUMC. Please return your donations by December 13th!
A PURPOSE DRIVEN CHRISTMAS … OUR ADVENT BIBLE STUDY STARTS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2nd, 10 AM and 6:30 PM… please plan to join our 3 week ADVENT Bible study at either 10 am or 6:30 pm on Wednesdays, December 2, 9, & 16 via ZOOM … here is the link to join but it is also on the website calendar each day. This 3-week class will focus on the purpose of Christmas: a time for celebration, a time for salvation, and a time for reconciliation and I’m really looking forward to this very interactive conversation!
HOW CAN WE GET THROUGH THE NEXT PHASE OF COVID? Please take this ANONYMOUS 4 quick question survey and help know your thoughts in moving forward. CLICK HERE
PRAYING FOR OUR COMMITMENTS TO THE LORD in 2021 … 2020 has been a blur and I’m sure we’re ALL looking forward to a wonderful NEW year! If I didn’t see you in the drive through yesterday, we mailed your cards today so please give some intentional thought to how YOU want to grow in your faith in the new year.
This Sunday we begin ADVENT … Advent is the beginning of the Church Year for most churches in the Western tradition. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, which is the Sunday nearest November 30, and ends on Christmas Eve (December 24th). The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival” and the focus of the entire season is preparation to celebrate the birth of Jesus the Christ in His first coming, AND the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in His second Advent. Advent typically reflects an emphasis on the second Advent, including themes of accountability for faithfulness at His coming, judgment on sin, and the hope of eternal life.
Now more than EVER we need Advent, a season marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation, of longing. Yes, we have a yearning for the coronavirus to be GONE and for our lives to return to “normal” but let’s turn this yearning into a deeper desire for JESUS! The spirit of that expectation should be captured with a joyous sense of expectancy and we should celebrate with joy and happiness as we await the coming of the King!!
Join us on FACEBOOK LIVE this Sunday at 10:50 and let’s sing some Christmas songs and praise the newborn King! Please let us know you’re there so as I read your names, we’ll know we’re together!
Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel!
Pastor Debbie
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11-19-20 FUMC SPECIAL UPDATE
As I’m sure you’re all aware, the cases of coronavirus in our East Texas communities are rising, our hospitalizations are increasing and infections within the schools are spreading. (CLICK HERE to go to the Net Health statistics page.) We have been extremely diligent in our church to maintain 6′ distancing, sanitize hands and, require mask-wearing in and out, and I am not aware of ANY reported cases of people in our church. We had 2 church members in nursing homes test positive but were asymptomatic and both recovered quickly, thank God!
However, the spike that is creating hot spots all around the world has prompted our Bishop, Mike McKee, to send a very direct mandate to all the churches in the North Texas Conference requiring masks to be worn in ALL spaces at all times. SEE ATTACHED LETTER. So, out of an abundance of caution and with the Thanksgiving holiday right around the corner, we will be pausing all church worship, Sunday school classes and, activities for 2-week. All buildings will be closed beginning today through Sunday, November 29th. Worship will be online ONLY on 11/22 and 11/29 and, the church leaders will monitor the situation closely hoping to be back for worship on December 6th. When we do return, masks will be required to remain on through the service and in all gatherings.
The Church Council has not made this decision lightly but we are aware of covid outbreaks in some of our neighboring churches who have also had to make these same difficult decisions, so we are all working together in these difficult decisions.
UNTIL WE KNOW MORE … please take this ANONYMOUS 4 quick question survey and help know your thoughts in moving forward. CLICK HERE
Let us pray for spiritual endurance and continue to care for one another and check in on our neighbors!
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” ROMANS 5:3-4
Pastor Debbie
First United Methodist Church Winnsboro
301 Church Street, Winnsboro, TX. 75494
CLICK HERE for our Facebook
CLICK HERE for our website
(903) 342-6172 (PASTOR EMERGENCY or TEXT 972-896-5254)
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