THE GROWING SEASON
FIRST UNITED ME THODIST CHURCH
GROWING TOGETHER
Have you ever watched something grow? Growth is not always easy to notice. Sometimes the changes are small and sometimes the changes take a long time. Sometimes the biggest changes are not even visible to the eye at all. Growth is a necessary part of life. At First Church, the growth we seek is a spiritual growth. These are changes of the heart and mind; a strengthening of our soul that occurs as we focus on becoming who God has called us to be as individuals and as a family of faith. Our faith is a spiritual journey, and growth is a necessary part of this journey. At First Church we have five core visions that guide our ministry: Worship, Christian Education, Missions & Outreach, Evangelism, and Stewardship. These five visions are based on the basic ministries of the church, and help us to grow as disciples of Christ by putting our faith into action. Our primary purpose at First Church is worship, and through worship we learn that creation is made whole as we come together to glorify God. Through Christian Education, we discover who we are as followers of Christ and learn what it means to be a Christian. Service in missions & outreach challenges us to love our neighbor and love God. Evangelism encourages us to live out the Gospel in our interactions with everyone around us. Through stewardship, we respond to God in love and devotion by sacrificially giving to God. Whether you are a life-long member of First Church, or a first-time visitor, we are all called to Christian discipleship. This booklet is designed to give an overview of the five core visions of First Church and encourage everyone to take their next step toward discipleship. As a family of faith, let us embrace this season, and grow together in love and devotion to God each and every day. May God be glorified through our lives and in this, our growing season.
FAITH IN ACTION • Commit to attending worship services weekly. • Invite others to worship with you at First Church. • Volunteer in worship by serving on the Worship Committee; singing in the choir; or serving as an usher, greeter, lay reader, communion server, or communion steward. • Read and meditate on the lections before Sunday worship. CONTACT: Dr. Rick Branch | Minister of Music RBranch@FUMCPensacola.com
WORSHIP
Christian Worship is at the center of everything we do at First Church. Every Sunday morning, we gather together as a family of faith to acknowledge the holiness of God, hear God’s Word, offer prayers, and celebrate the sacraments of the Church.
CHRISTIAN LITURGY
Liturgy is the set of ceremonies, words, etc. used during our public worship. Every service at First Church has meaningful Christian liturgy rooted in the traditions of our faith. To encourage participation and an understanding of the liturgy, printed bulletins are available for each service.
HOLY COMMUNION
As United Methodists we practice open Communion. We invite “all who love God, who earnestly repent of their sin, and seek to live in peace with one another” to partake. There are no conditions for church membership or completion of a class required. At First Church we celebrate Communion weekly at all four Sunday worship services.
BAPTISM
Through Baptism, God commissions us to use our gifts to strengthen the church and to transform the world. In Baptism, God initiates a covenant with us, announced with the words, “The Holy Spirit works within you, that being born through water and the Spirit, you may be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ.” All are invited to be baptized and join our family of faith.
PARTICIPATION IN WORSHIP
All are invited to be active participants in worship at First Church. You are encouraged to help lead in worship by serving as a lay reader, communion server, communion steward, usher, greeter, or by joining the choir or worship committee.
MUSIC & WORSHIP ARTS
Methodists are known for their love of singing and music. At First Church, we have an active music ministry including choirs of all ages, praise bands, and instrument groups that provide beautiful music at each of our services.
REVISED COMMON LECTIONARY
The Revised Common Lectionary is a three year cycle of weekly lections (liturgical readings). The Lectionary is built around the seasons of the Church Year, and includes four lections for each Sunday, as well as additional readings for major feast days. During most of the year, the lections are: a reading from the Hebrew Bible, a Psalm, a reading from the Epistles, and a Gospel reading. You can find the current and next week's lections in the bulletin each Sunday. The lectionary for the year can be found on our website.
Pictured: Deion Crews, acolyte for the 11:00am Main Sanctuary service.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
At First Church we believe that growing and learning is a lifelong process. It comes through study, worship, and learning together. In order for us to be challenged in faith, grow in our understanding of the Bible, and become followers of Christ, we invite all ages to actively engage themselves in the Christian Education opportunities we offer.
CLASSES & STUDIES
First Church encourages continued faith development by offering numerous classes throughout the year in three major areas: Bible Study, Faith Formation, and Christian Living. Classes range from six to eight week sessions, year round. Course catalogs are distributed and placed online before each session.
COMMUNITY GROUPS
As Christians we are called to be connected to one another in community. If you want to meet people and grow in your relationship with God, being a part of a Community Group is the best place for you. Community Groups are intimate groups that commit to meet and connect with each other during the week. They encourage one another to grow in their understanding of the Gospel as they live out their faith.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
First Church offers Sunday School Classes for all ages. Classes meet from 9:30 to 10:30am each Sunday and vary by topic and format. These classes encourage us to strengthen our faith through study, service, and group connection.
FORUMS & SEMINARS
First Church offers additional educational and spiritual formation opportunities throughout the year ranging from one-time classes to church-wide events. Past guests have included Bishop Will Willimon, Deaconess Clara Ester, and Charlotte Thomas from the United Methodist Children’s Home.
Pictured: Lisa Bond, participating in the Thursday morning Mom’s Bible Study.
FAITH IN ACTION • Join a Sunday School class. • Find a Community Group. • Register for Christian Education classes during Fall, Advent, Winter, Lent and/or Spring Sessions. • Attend an education forum or seminar. • Volunteer to teach a class, lead a Community Group, or serve on the Christian Education team. CONTACT: Lisa Bond | Director of Children & Families LBond@FUMCPensacola.com
FAITH IN ACTION • Volunteer to serve with a missions & outreach program at First Church such as Serving the Hungry, Suit Yourself, and others. • Attend and promote missions & outreach events throughout the year, such as The Great Day of Service, The Great Day of Giving, Designing Women Luncheon, and other events. • Go above and beyond your tithe by contributing to a missional offering or donating directly to missions & outreach projects.
CONTACT: Rev. Brandon Bures | Associate Pastor BBures@FUMCPensacola.com
MISSIONS & OUTREACH At First Church we strive to be the hands and feet of Christ through missions & outreach. Through acts of compassion, volunteering, and missional giving, we make a positive difference in our community and around the world.
MINISTRY WITH THOSE IN NEED
Christ calls us to be in ministry with the poor, marginalized, and those in need. At First Church we reach out to those in need in a variety of ways. Our Backpack Ministry provides food for hungry children in our community. Twice a week, First Church provides a hot meal and clothing as part of our Serving the Hungry program. Located in our Outreach Building, Milk ’n Honey Outreach Ministries is a program designed to reach out to inner city children and youth with mentoring and counseling activities. Suit Yourself, a ministry of the United Methodist Women of our church, provides work attire for women in need who are reentering the work force.
MISSION RELATED EVENTS
Throughout the year, First Church has mission specific events designed to raise awareness and encourage congregational support for local and global missions.
WORKING TOGETHER
First Church supports a variety of local and global mission organizations through individual and group contributions and volunteer support. In 2015, First Church contributed over $30,000 to local and global missions outside of our church.
MISSIONS AROUND THE WORLD
As a local congregation of The United Methodist Church we do our part in supporting the missional work of our denomination around the world. Every year the UMC contributes millions of dollars towards missions focused on engaging in ministry with the poor, improving global health, developing principled Christian leaders, and creating new and renewed congregations. In 2015, First Church contributed approximately $222,000 through connectional giving to The United Methodist Church.
Pictured: Janis Hand, volunteering for the Serving the Hungry program.
EVANGELISM
As a church we strive to invite, welcome, and care for others so that all may find a spiritual home and discover for themselves a life in Christ. We believe that God’s evangelistic message of love and redeeming grace is best shared through showing hospitality, being invitational, being inclusive, being an example, and sharing with others personal testimonies of God’s transformational story.
SHOW HOSPITALITY
BE AN EXAMPLE
BE INVITATIONAL
SHARE YOUR STORY
At First Church we see hospitality as a means of sharing the love of God and strive to practice hospitality as a way to welcome, receive, and care for others. We are a welcoming church that opens our hearts and our doors to everyone, inviting all to become a part of this family of faith.
First Church invites others into relationship with God and into our church community. Being invitational is more than merely inviting people to church; it means investing in their life in a way that makes them feel welcomed, invited, encouraged, and loved.
Evangelism is showing Christ’s love to all people so that they, too, desire to experience, know, and share this love with a community of believers and with all others. As individuals we strive to live as disciples of Christ who are known for love, compassion, and works of justice.
Stories help us to better know one another and open doors to deeper and more meaningful relationships. Sharing stories of God’s transformative work in our lives is a powerful way to invite others to experience the same transformative work of God for themselves.
BE INCLUSIVE
We are committed to being an inclusive church. We acknowledge and celebrate the diversity that exists in the community in which we live and serve. God cares deeply for all people, offering new life, meaning, and purpose. At First Church we strive to do the same by welcoming all people into Christian community and discipleship.
Pictured: Greeter Margie Taylor (Right), welcoming member Mary Mock (Left).
FAITH IN ACTION • Invite someone to worship, attend a Christian Education class, or come to a First Church event or activity. • If you have a story of how God has impacted your life, consider sharing your story with the Communications Department at First Church by emailing Communications@FUMCPensacola.com.
CONTACT: Rev. Brandon Bures | Associate Pastor BBures@FUMCPensacola.com
FAITH IN ACTION • Complete an Estimate of Giving Card and commit to financially support the ministries of First Church for the next year. • Go above and beyond your tithe by financially giving towards debt relief or the First Church Endowment Fund. Contributions to these funds help First Church to continue in ministry for years to come.
CONTACT: Liz Noyes | Director of Finance LNoyes@FUMCPensacola.com
STEWARDSHIP
Stewardship is our opportunity to respond in love and gratitude to God. Christian stewardship is a realization that our life is a gift from God and our talents, time, and financial resources are to be used to express our gratitude for that gift.
BE A GENEROUS PEOPLE
Giving generously is a spiritual act of worship in which everyone can participate. Giving becomes a celebration when we discover the joy of generosity, which grows out of God’s grace.
SUPPORTING MINISTRY
One vital aspect of stewardship is our giving to Christ’s work in the world. Without faithful financial and volunteer resources, the ministries and missions of First Church would not be possible. Your stewardship supports all the missions and ministries of First Church including Worship, Christian Education, Missions & Outreach, and Evangelism.
PROVIDING SPACE TO WORSHIP
Programs and ministries need facilities to survive and grow. Providing a pleasing, safe, and secure campus with First Church’s 120,000 square feet of beautiful and historic buildings requires resources. Your financial giving keeps buildings maintained and provides space to grow and continue ministry for years to come.
COMMITMENT MATTERS
Financial commitment helps us to grow spiritually while supporting the church’s missions and ministries. Giving can be most effective when we commit ourselves to give a proportion of our income as an offering to God. For many, this proportion is one-tenth, or a tithe. Whatever the amount, there is joy in setting aside a specific percentage of your income for God.
ABOVE & BEYOND THE TITHE
Going above and beyond the tithe is one way to generously give back to God while also ensuring the continued financial health of First Church and its ministries. If you are financially able, you are encouraged to give towards debt relief or donate to the Endowment Fund in addition to your financial tithe.
Pictured: Annabelle (6 years old), daughter of members Kristi and Geoff Layne.
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6 East Wright Street | Pensacola, FL 32501 850.432.1434 | FUMCPensacola.com