First United Methodist Church; Orange, Texas

Thank you for your interest in visiting FUMC. We hope you will consider personally visiting with us on Sundays and becoming part of our church family. Stop by before or after the service in our Fellowship Hall (first floor below the Sanctuary), get some refreshment, and talk with us about your church vision.

Our mission is to bring Christ into a changing world through worship, spiritual growth, and loving service. We invite you to join us as we worship God, experience the grace of Jesus Christ, and grow in faith. It is our prayer that all who enter will join us as we seek opportunities to share and grow together through worship, spiritual growth, and loving service.

In order to fulfill our mission we offer a wide variety of programs and ministries. You will find information about these programs ministries on the various pages within this site. We urge you to explore such pages as Childrens Ministry, Worship, Youth , Prayer, Stephen Ministry, and others.

Joining the church primarily involves three steps: being baptized, professing your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and then making a commitment to be loyal to the United Methodist Church and in particular First United Methodist Church (FUMC) - Orange. If you have already been baptized in another Christian community of faith then we gladly celebrate what God has been doing in your life and do not need to baptize you again. If this is the first time you are making a profession of your faith in Christ we will celebrate with you during this moment. And if you are transfering from another denomination or congregation we will primarily ask for your commitment to FUMC. There are no classes that you must take although there are some that could help you with many of your questions. Just come forward when you are invited to do so at the end of a worship service and we will welcome you and look forward to discerning the wonderful reason that God is bringing us together in this body.

Getting involved in a smaller group is important so that you can come alongside others in this journey that we call the Christian walk. Many ways to get involved are found throughout the pages of this website. Bible studies offer good opportunites to meet others as do Sunday School classes. Find something that looks interesting and dive in or contact one of the pastors and we can help direct you toward others with whom you might be most comfortable growing. Mostly just be open to where God leads you and be willing to respond to His convicting presence.

If you would like to learn more about our church or about becoming a member, we invite you to contact Rev. Rob Fisher or Rev. Terry Brown directly. Childcare is available.

What a pleasure it is to have you in this historic and dynamic congregation! Since its beginning in 1873 to the present day, First Church has always had something to offer her members and the community. It is my hope and prayer that you will find programs and opportunities for service that will interest you; that your relationship with this church will be a real source of joy; and that your faith in God through Jesus Christ will be nourished and strengthened in the days ahead.

In the meantime, let me urge you to become involved in the life of the church. By attending worship and Sunday school and participating in other areas of ministry, not only will you be living out your vow to uphold the church with your prayers, your presence, your gifts and your service, but you will quickly make new friends as well!

If I can help you in any way; especially if there is sickness or crisis in your family, please know that I care and am only a phone call away.

Again, welcome into the fellowship. We hope that your membership in First United Methodist Church will turn out to be one of the best things that ever happened to you.

Welcome and greetings to you and your family. I want to get to know you and your family better. You all will find this church is a community of caring and loving people. If you have not had a tour of our church facility, let me show you around. We can discuss the many ways this church ministers in this community.

You’ll find not only some interesting activities, you will find friendships and support. We want to minister and nurture our guests and our members. We become something of an “extended family” with one another. In addition to being an ordained Methodist Minister, I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

Our church has a tremendous history of “reaching out” into the community to “make disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” You’ll find we complete this mission with love and compassion. We hope you will actively join us in our ministries to one another and our larger community. You know, not only do we have “Open hearts, Open minds, and Open doors”, we also have open arms! We have meaningful ministries for real people.

Guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we will, through worship, study, prayer and witness:

Our Church Staff

Worship is at the heart of all that we do at First United Methodist Church. We offer three worship services on Sunday.

· 8:30 a.m. – An hour service that is held in our Slade Memorial Chapel. The order of worship follows the traditional United Methodist order of worship. The message is delivered by one of the ministers.

· 8:55 a.m. – A 45-minute “Celebration” service held in our sanctuary. The music and worship are of a contemporary nature, upbeat and inspiring for all ages. The message is delivered by one of the ministers.

· 11:00 a.m. - This hour service held in our sanctuary invites people to experience the grace of God through the sounds of the organ and Chancel Choir, through the beauty of the stained glass windows, the sacredness of scriptures, and the powerful messages brought by our minister each week. Though the services lends itself to the traditional United Methodist order of worship it is known for the friendship and caring expressed by the church family each week.

At First United Methodist Church - Orange, the sacrament of Holy Communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper, is an important part of our spiritual life and worship. Communion is celebrated the first Sunday of every month at all services. We practice an “open Table” which means if you are in attendance, you are free to receive what Christ has opened up to all people, regardless of church affiliation. If you have any questions about the sacrament, or why we do what we do, feel free to contact us anytime.

*Nursery care is available for all worship services and during Sunday School for infants and children up to Kindergarten. It is also available for special services as needed

The Wesley Players is a troupe of actors, directors, scenic artists and construction crews who produce a variety of plays, musicals, operas and other performances. Past performances include Amahl and the Night Visitors, Fiddler on the Roof, Jesus Christ Superstar, Fire of Hope, Rumors, Eyes Upon the Cross, The Comedian, Children of Eden, One Voice and others.

If you are interested in participating either on stage or behind the scenes, please contact the Director of Music and Fine Arts, Doug Rogers. He would be happy to hear from you.

Jesus said, “Let children come unto me for theirs is the kingdom of God” Matthew 19:14. We here at First United Methodist take to heart Jesus’ instructions. Children as young as three years old begin to experience Bible lessons, music, worship and crafts that all surround a particular theme. Children’s Sunday school continues for children through 6^th grade. Each class offers young people an opportunity to learn, share, grow, and have fun with friends and neighbors. First United Methodist strives to help children understand the Biblical lessons and apply the teaching of the Bible to their life. We are committed to helping children develop a personal relationship with God and Jesus Christ. A listing of children’s Sunday school classes may be found on in the description of the Sunday School classes.

One of our primary goals is to provide a fun and safe environment that children will beg their parents to bring them to. Here, kids will begin a life long relationship with Jesus Christ and will learn about His love through scripture, activities, prayer, praise and music.

At First United Methodist Church our babies are special. Our Nursery and Toddler Room reflect our care and love of young children. Professional childcare providers oversee the nursery. While in our nursery, children experience the love of caring adults.

Throughout the year, First United Methodist offers special programs for children:

UNITED METHODIST YOUTH FELLOWSHIP (UMYF) is scheduled for Sunday evenings from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for youth in the 7^th through 12^th grades. Youth

group meets in Tow Inn and the Youth Room in the Education Building. UMYF includes recreation, games, snack supper, and devotions. The UMYF also provides youth with various service and mission projects and fund-raising activities for our annual Christmas shopping trip for underprivileged children. Pictures from our Easter Youth activities.

SUNDAY SCHOOL is offered each Sunday Morning at 9:50. The Jr. High class meets in the Jr. High Room and the Sr. High class meets in the Youth/Game Room. The classes study a variety of topics such as prayer, personal faith building tactics, Biblical characters, the nature of God and ethical value structures, and more.

CONFIRMATION CLASS is taught once a year in the springtime to students 7^th grade and older. It provides an opportunity for the youth to ask questions, study together, learn and deepen their faith. This class concludes with a retreat weekend and an opportunity to become full members of the church. Picture of recent confirmation class

YOUTH CHOIR is led by Barbara Dardeau. This choir is made up of all UMYF members who share their faith through music. Practice is held during UMYF on Sunday evenings when preparing for seasonal performances.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE is offered Wednesday evenings from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the Spring and the Fall. Activities are available for 7^th-12th graders.

UM ARMY United Methodist Action Reach-Out Mission by Youth is a week long mission trip offered to students who have completed ninth grade. Pictures of recent teams

BIGSTUF CAMP A week long Summer Youth Camp in Panama City Beach Florida. A spirit filled week of worship, Christian music, beach prayer time and fun in the SON. Pictures of recent camps

For the safety of our children, all adults that work with children or youth are Safe Sanctuary trained and must pass a background check For more information about the many other opportunities we offer, contact our Youth Director at your convenience

Adult Ministries begin with our Sunday school program for adults. Every Sunday morning at 9:50 First United Methodist offers six different Sunday school classes for adults. Each class is different in size, age, identity, and study. On the following page is a description of each of the Adult School Classes. Please visit one or all of the classes. If you do not find a class that meets your particular needs, ask! We might start a class just for you!

Bible Study. Classes begin each fall. First United Methodist offers four different Disciple classes which is a 34 week study. Disciple I: Becoming A Disciple through Bible Study is the

basic course in which participants read over 80% of the Bible. Disciple II: Into the Word, Into the World is a study on the books of Genesis, Exodus, Luke and Acts. Disciple III: Remember Who You Are is a study on the books of the prophets and Paul’s Letters and Disciple IV. Other bible studies offered are the Beth Moore series,, Companions in Christ and other relevant studies .The purpose of each of these studies is to develop strong Christian leaders through regular in-depth study of scripture.

Christian Living Series is a series of short-term classes offered for adults. The goal of these programs is to provide adults an opportunity to grow spiritually, fellowship with other Christians, and learn to apply Christian principles to everyday life. Previous classes offered include: Grief Recovery, Positive Discipline with Children, Experiencing God - Knowing and Doing the Will of God, Search for Significance, James Dobson’s Video Series, a study about the Strong Willed Child, and a study on Relationships. Additional classes are currently being planned. Watch the newsletter for more information about Christian Living.

The Walk to Emmaus is a program of spiritual renewal sponsored by the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church. This 72-hour experience in study, prayer, fellowship and worship has blessed the lives of men and women (men and women go on separate weekends) of all ages, races, denominations and backgrounds. Chrysalis, the high school version of Emmaus, has brought blessings and life changing experiences to many youth. These young people, their friends and adults who have had the “Emmaus experience”, along with others who might be interested, join together for monthly “Gatherings”, times of praise and worship, as well as weekly small groups for “Reunions.” First United Methodist has many men, women, and youth who have been on an Emmaus weekend or Chrysalis flight. They return excited and eager to be involved in the church, this fulfilling the purpose of Emmaus, “for the training of Christian leaders in the church.” For more information call Sandy or Virginia Sanford at 883-4712 or the church office at 886-7466.

This ministry is to promote spiritual development through group “discipleship” activities. One aspect of this ministry is “WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE” that occurs 12 weeks during the fall and spring. A meal is served from 5-6 and from 6-7 a variety of programs are offered for every age. This is a great time for fellowship and study. The Discipleship committee is currently working on other spiritual outreach for our church.

United Methodist Women (UMW) is alive and well at First United Methodist. There are three circle groups. Two meet in the morning of the second Thursday of each month, with the other meeting on the third Sunday of each month in the afternoons. Members of UMW participate in a wide variety of mission and service projects. UMW supports local organizations such as Orange Christian Services, Soup Kitchen, GOALS, OCARC, Friends Helping Friends, Habitat for Humanity, Women & Children’s Shelter OF SE Texas, Prison Toastmasters, Wesley Foundation, Salvation Army, Pastor’s Needy Fund, FUMC Mission Team Trip, and Women’s Retreat. UMW also gives support to FUMC Youth and World Global Missions. This unit participates in district and conference retreats.

The Love Circle will continue to meet each second Wednesday of the month. In February, we made bags to go in the sanctuary for children to have while they are in church. Inside the bags are coloring books and crayons as well as tissues. During our March meeting, we made cards that were sent to shut-ins and other people who might need a pick-me-up. The Love Circle would “love” to have any women participate in the circle. For further information contact Dina Defrates at 886-5930.

Pictures of UMW Activities

One might wonder how men's ministry is any different from a woman's ministry or for that matter, any kind of ministry. After all, it would seem that ministry, if done in service for the Lord, is all the same regardless of the gender, age, or race of the individual serving.

Men's Ministry is the active pursuit of men in order to connect them to God, His Word, and other men for the purpose of winning, growing, and training God's man in Christ.

We know one thing for sure -- God will use the heart and life of anyone who chooses to make himself available to Him. The Bible says, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." This is the great commission spoken by Jesus Himself. In other words, Jesus Christ is commissioning His followers to go into the entire world and reproduce believers. This is a big calling.

This raises a question. How do we reproduce believers? Can a men's ministry enable a man to better understand his calling in life and how to achieve it? Can a men's ministry challenge a man to grow deeper in intellect, emotion, and spirit?

United Methodist Men (UMM) have a mission to assist men to know Jesus Christ, to serve Him, to grow spiritually and seek daily to do his will. On the first Tuesday of each month at 6:00 am is the UMM Breakfast and devotion. On the third Tuesday at 6:30pm there is a Bible Study and Dessert time. Both meet in Fellowship Hall. Pictures from Quarterly Orange County UMM Dinner

First United Methodist Church is a church that prides itself in caring for its members and its community. First United Methodist Church offers several avenues of ministry to its members.

We want to be available to minister to you when any need arises. If you have a special crisis situation, we have a group of specially trained individuals to minister to your needs.

This committee ministers to families who have experienced a crisis such as a death in the family. This group is available to furnish meals and minister to their needs in any way that they can.

In the event that you or a family member is hospitalized, please call the church office to let us know. Our ministerial staff will visit.

Our Caring Ministry or pastors will visit church members and relatives of members who may be homebound or in nursing or retirement homes.

First United Methodist has a wonderful group of people involved in the ministry of prayer. Prayer is our communication with God. Each week our Intercessory Prayer members gather at the church and pray for our church, its members, our community, and nation. The group encourages the congregation to pray by publishing prayer cards located in the pews to write their own prayers and concerns. Additional Information

Everyone goes through difficult times. Having someone to care, to listen, to share God’s love with you can help you get through the confusion, stress, or loneliness you may be experiencing. Stephen Ministries provides one-to-one caring relationships to those who are hurting so that they may receive the love and care they need to support them.

Kindergarten thru Sixth grade meets in Tow Inn at 9:45am for rotation Sunday School. Classes learn a bible story by rotating through seven stations(Rock of Ages Stages, Almighty God the Science Guy, Solid Rock Café, Gospel Games, Temple Tales, Church Mice, Thou Art). Children rotate through one station each week with the following groups.

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