Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
First United Methodist Church
823 Merchant, Emporia, Kansas 66801
Phone: (620) 342-6186
WORSHIP SERVICES
Sunday Morning
8:15 a.m. and 10:35 a.m.
Sunday School 9:15 a.m. (all ages)
Nursery provided for birth to age 3
The 10:35 service is broadcast live on KVOE (1400) AM radio and live streamed. Click HERE for live streaming. If you would like to be on our email list for our e-newsletter, The Connection, then please let the office know your email address, or click HERE to sign-up yourself. Our location is Handicap Accessible.
HALFTIME CLASSES
Halftime is our Wednesday night classes and fun for all ages. We begin with a light family supper at 5:30 and begin all classes at 6:00 pm. Our next session of Halftime has begun. Join us on Wednesday’s now through March 6, so mark your calendars now! There will be classes and activities (Fruits of the Spirit) for kids preschool – 5th grade and nursery for those younger. eMERGE (for those in grades 6-8) will continue to meet as well.
The first adult study, led by Ron Harris, Karla Sheffy, and Kurt Cooper is titled United Methodists Divided by Dale McConkey.
The first step forward is understanding one another. It is not an overstatement to say that the United Methodist Church is facing the biggest crisis of its 50-year history. At the center of the controversy is a debate over the church’s stance toward homosexuality. United Methodists Divided provides a fair and impartial overview of the major issues facing the church as it approaches a special session of General Conference in February 2019, where the fate of the denomination will be determined. United Methodist Divided includes:
- A balanced application of both traditionalist and progressive perspectives
- An analysis of homosexuality using the Wesleyan Quadrilateral: Scripture, tradition, experience, and reason
- Details of all three plans (One Church, Connectional Conference, Traditionalist) presented in the final report of the Commission on a Way Forward
- Basic information on the upcoming special session of General Conference
- End-of-chapter questions suitable for personal reflection or group discussion
- Helpful appendices for people not familiar with the structure of the United Methodist Church
If you are looking for an impartial book that fairly presents both sides of the crisis at hand, United Methodists Divided is the book for you. (Books are in the office or contact Ron or Karla, Cost is $13 per book.)
The Women’s study is Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis.
Each chapter of Girl, Wash Your Face begins with a specific lie Hollis once believed that left her feeling overwhelmed, unworthy, or ready to give up. As a working mother, a former foster parent, and a woman who has dealt with insecurities about her body and relationships, she speaks with the insight and kindness of a BFF, helping women unpack the limiting mindsets that destroy their self-confidence and keep them from moving forward.
From her temporary obsession with marrying Matt Damon to a daydream involving hypnotic iguanas to her son’s request that she buy a necklace to “be like the other moms,” Hollis holds nothing back. With unflinching faith and tenacity, Hollis spurs other women to live with passion and hustle and to awaken their slumbering goals.
Mark your calendars and join a small group in the new year. Small groups can be a believing faith community. Faith, hope, and trust can be contagious within a faith community! Please join us!!!
TAKE THE FLAG by Rob Fuquay
A Church-Wide Lenten Study Coming Soon!
The spiritual life is often compared to a race. Pastor Rob Fuquay sees a parallel between the flags used in auto racing and the signals God sends us in our fast-paced lives.
The purpose of Take the Flag is not to turn readers into race fans but to help them become stronger disciples of Jesus Christ by paying attention to the signals God gives us each day.
In this Bible-based, 7-week churchwide series, Fuquay uses the flags from auto racing as a way to discuss different aspects of our life of faith:
-Green flag (start): How do we start our journey of faith?
-Yellow flag (caution): The decisions we make can sometimes put us in danger. How do we learn to heed God’s caution?
-Red flag (delay): Finishing well involves pit stops. How does God help us get the most out of these breaks?
-Blue flag (yield): Each of us may run our own race, but we also need to respect others. How does God help us focus on others’ needs?
-Black flag (disqualification): What happens when our own violations take us out of the race, and how does God help us get back in?
-White flag (final lap): As we head toward the finish line, how do we steer according to God’s will?
-Checkered flag (victory): If we persevere—navigating the hazards, managing the pit stops—then victory is ours. But how does God want us to experience victory?
ROAR!
Vacation Bible School is Coming!
Vacation Bible School at FUMC is scheduled for July 21-25, 2019. You can pre-register now by clicking HERE!