Announcements

September 3, 2020

With the additional hours added to Pastor Marsha Vincent’s role at First UMC and the evolution of our online and in-person mulita-media practices, many ministry responsibilities have been shifted among the church’s pastors and staff. Please scroll down to the Staff area to see a listing of ministry focus areas for you to refer to when you have questions or needs.

June 23, 2020

We have updated our guidelines for in person gatherings at the church building!

The First United Methodist Church Leadership Board continues to work diligently on reviewing and redeveloping guidelines of meeting, social distancing, and disinfecting in order to gather in our church in the most safe and effective ways possible. If you have questions, please call the church office or email me and I would be happy to explain how and why we have come to these guidelines as best practices at this time.
 
  1. We will continue to have limited seating for all activities and worship services in order to maintain the social distancing protocol of 6’ distance between family groups.
  2. We will continue to discourage handshakes, hugs, or elbow-bumps in order to prevent the spread of Coronavirus through contact.
  3. We have chosen to require that face masks be worn during worship, Sunday school classes and small group meetings for your protection and the protection of others from airborne Coronavirus. If you do not like masks, or if they make you uncomfortable or anxious, we will continue to have online worship services uploaded to First UMC’s YouTube Channel, Facebook page and website that you can watch at your convenience. The Sunday morning services will be available to view same day in the afternoon.
  4. Hand sanitizer will be made available and encouraged.
  5. If you have any symptoms (fever, congestion, cough, body aches, etc.), please stay home until you have been symptom free for at least 14 days.
  6. Small groups and Sunday School classes may resume in-person meetings provided that social distancing protocols are followed (6’distance between family groups, wearing face masks, limiting contact, disinfecting of tables, chairs, etc.).
  7. For Sunday worship, the sanctuary will open for seating at 9:45am and you will seat yourselves. Please pay careful attention to not sit in the pews marked as closed, so that 6’ distance can be maintained between family groups.
  8. No food or drinks will be served.
  9. We have chosen to not hold Children’s Church or have the Nursery open during Sunday morning worship because our children have the greatest difficulty understanding and adhering to social distancing. Time will continue to be assigned during the worship service for Kid’s Corner. All children must stay seated with their families. Materials will be provided for kids ages 4 years old to 4th grade during the worship time. Please take all materials including packaging home with you after worship as the church will not reuse it. Please leave the clipboards in the pews. We will sanitize them before the next use.
  10. When the worship service ends, please maintain social distancing protocols as you exit the building.
  11. We will celebrate Holy Communion together on the first Sunday of the month. You may bring your own bread and juice that you keep with you and your family in the pew and Pastor Kathy will consecrate it from the chancel area and we will all take it at the same time. Bring only enough bread and juice for your family members. Individual portions are best. Individual, pre-packaged communion (wafer and grape juice) cups are available to pick up as you enter the sanctuary if you do not bring your own communion elements.
  12. Bibles, hymn books, bulletins, and other “flat surface” materials will continue to not be used in order to prevent hand to surface contamination.
  13. We have chosen to continue to not engage in congregational singing as advised by the National Association of Teachers of Singing. We will continue enjoy pre-worship music, special music and soloists. This guideline will continue to be reviewed and updated as new information develops and is tested.

Please take good care of yourself and don’t forget to wash your hands!

Office Hours
Office hours are 9am-12noon Monday – Thursday.
In an effort to continue to keep everyone safe and healthy we are still practicing social distancing protocol; please call first if you need anything.