FIRST UNITED METHODIST, DECATUR NEWS – November 18, 2020
We will be worshipping on Facebook Live Sunday November 22, 2020. Due to COVID risk, we will not be meeting in the sanctuary.
During this time of “social distancing” join Pastor Amy each morning on our Facebook page for a devotion, scripture and prayer.
The FIRST UMC DECATUR MARCH 2020 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center.
We will study the Transfiguration on Sunday, February 23, then usher in the season of Lent with a United Methodist Discipleship series “Selah: Life in a Minor Key” focusing on the Psalms. We will begin Lent with an Ash Wednesday reflection and the imposition of ashes on February 26.
The FIRST UMC DECATUR FEBRUARY 2020 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center.
The FIRST UMC DECATUR JANUARY 2020 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center.
The FIRST UMC DECATUR NOVEMBER 2019 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center.
We will be worshiping with the United Methodist Discipleship Ministries series Abiding in the Reign in the month of November
The FIRST UMC DECATUR OCTOBER 2019 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center.
The FIRST UMC DECATUR SEPTEMBER 2019 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center.
Director of Worship Arts Job Description
HIRING Director of Worship Arts
The FIRST UMC DECATUR JUNE 2019 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center.
The FIRST UMC DECATUR MAY 2019 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center
The FIRST UMC DECATUR APRIL 2019 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center
The FIRST UMC DECATUR MARCH 2019 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center
We begin our “Return to Me with All Your Heart” UMC Discipleship Series for the season of Lent with our Ash Wednesday worship on March 6, at 7 pm
We begin our See All the People UMC Discipleship Series on February 10
The FIRST UMC DECATUR FEBRUARY 2019 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center
The FIRST UMC DECATUR JANUARY 2019 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center
The FIRST UMC DECATUR DECEMBER 2018 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center
We honored our veterans on November 11 – and were honored to have Cameron Collier share the message. 
The FIRST UMC DECATUR NOVEMBER 2018 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center.
The FIRST UMC DECATUR OCTOBER 2018 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center.
The FIRST UMC DECATUR SEPTEMBER 2018 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center.
The FIRST UMC DECATUR AUGUST 2018 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center.
We celebrated our YOUTH Sunday, August 19. They led by example, participating in the July summer mission trip as the hands and feet of Christ.
August 12 found us worshiping with the neighborhood in the church parking lot. We also blessed the backpacks and new school year and shared a summer cookout together. Thanks Praise Team for the great music! Greater things are yet to be in Jesus’ name!
The FIRST UMC DECATUR JULY 2018 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center.
July is VBS Month – Rolling River Rampage! 
The kids shared their experience during Praise and Worship – watch a video!
The Children are busy memorizing the books of the Bible – do you have them memorized?
The FIRST UMC DECATUR JUNE 2018 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center.
The FIRST UMC DECATUR MAY 2018 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center.
The FIRST UMC DECATUR APRIL 2018 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center.
The FIRST UMC DECATUR MARCH 2018 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center.
The FIRST UMC DECATUR FEBRUARY 2018 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center.
February 14 is Ash Wednesday and we begin our season of Lent. We will be participating in The United Methodist Church Discipleship Ministries Lenten series REHAB.
“A Disciples Path” study begins January 14
The FIRST UMC DECATUR JANUARY 2018 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center at church.
We celebrated our children’s Christmas Program, two Holy Baptisms and five new members one December morning. Giving thanks and praise to God! That evening we hosted the community for the Agape Puppet show, “Three Christmas Littles”
The FIRST UMC DECATUR DEC 2017 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center at church.
Our Advent series is “The Star – A Journey to Christmas” Devotionals are available at The Connection Center – you can view a sample by clicking this link TheStar_Devotional_Sample. We are also celebrating Advent at Fishes and Loaves each Wednesday night as well. Who will you invite to share the experience of Advent?
We closed our church calendar year with the UMC Discipleship series “Season of Saints,” culminating in Christ the King Sunday. Pastor Amy shared a powerful message and asked “Have we made Jesus Lord of our lives?”
Connect in Community, Grow in Faith, Serve in Love – all three were fulfilled at our Thanksgiving praise and worship at Golden Meadows. Pastor Amy helped the residents grow in faith as she shared a special meditation on Psalm 23. The residents enjoyed treat bags decorated and filled by our children, and everyone enjoyed singing led by Wuaneta Reinhart.
The FIRST UMC DECATUR NOV 2017 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center at church.
First UMC, along with Grace Fellowship, served in LOVE as we held our second annual Trunk or Treat – complete with music from our Praise Team, a prayer station, hot chocolate and tons of fun and candy
The FIRST UMC DECATUR OCT 2017 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center at church
The FIRST UMC DECATUR SEP 2017 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center at church.
The FIRST UMC DECATUR AUG 2017 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center at church.
We kicked off our “CHURCH CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE” campaign with church in the parking lot. It was all good, thanks and praise to God – beautiful morning, an awesome witness to those driving by, several families from the neighborhood joined in, and we enjoyed a delicious cookout – thanks for cooking Boyds!
Youth Sunday – our Youth shared their experiences from the mission trip to Copperhill, TN
Hero Central VBS – we shared God’s amazing love and power with over 120 children this summer through Hero Central – glory be to God!
The FIRST UMC DECATUR JULY 2017 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center at church.
We are pleased to announce we have 8 persons signed up for the Redbird Mission trip in September
The FIRST UMC DECATUR JUNE 2017 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center at church.
The FIRST UMC DECATUR MAY 2017 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center at church.
A beautiful and blessed Easter morning
Our children learned about the Last Supper on Passion Sunday during Junior Church
The FIRST UMC DECATUR APRIL 2017 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center at church.
The FIRST UMC DECATUR MARCH 2017 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center at church.
The FIRST UMC DECATUR FEBRUARY 2017 NEWSLETTER is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center at church.
The first-umc-decatur-january-2017-newsletter is available for you to download and read or print. You may also pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center at church.
We give thanks to God for a very blessed and full Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. We connected in community and grew in our faith, and reached out to our community. Praise be to God! See some of our highlights below and keep in constant touch by liking our Facebook page
New Year’s Day offered a message of light – the light we have in Christ, and how once we have that light, we can and must offer that light to those in darkness.
Christmas morning was bright and sunny and a big attendance as we encouraged our Church Family to attend – No Excuses! – Even if they were still in their pajamas after opening Christmas presents! Our photo booth and fun props offered families and friends a great chance to capture Christmas morning as a family and Church Family.
We celebrated the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, with candle light, Christmas carols, and a message of Hope on Christmas Eve.
Ugly sweaters and Agape Family Puppets on December 18 as we connected in Community and Grew in our Faith as a Churh Family and beyond.
We enjoyed “The Animal’s First Christmas” Children’s Christmas Program on December 11. Written by Jolie Lee, the play told the story of the birth of Jesus through the eyes of the animals in the stable and the fields. Thanks to all involved. Afterwards, we shared a pizza lunch and played some super fun games at our Happy Birthday Jesus family party. Check out the video!
Advent and Christmas series “The Redemption of Scrooge” Join a class!
The first-umc-decatur-december-2016-newsletter is available for you to download and read or print. Or pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center.
The first-umc-decatur-november-2016-newsletter is available for you to download and read or print. Or pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center.
We had a super turn out for our first Trunk or Treat – we passed out 700 glow sticks, over 1000 invitations to our Glow Party and shared our Christmas calendar with all the trick or treaters. Connecting in Community to help Grow in Faith and Serve in Love. Let’s pray for this outreach as we seek to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of our world.
We celebrated our 50 (and 50-Plus) year members as we marked our 175th anniversary.
The first-umc-decatur-october-2016-newsletter is available for you to download and read or print. Or pick up a paper copy at The Connection Center.
Look for older news on our archive page
We celebrated our Wesleyan heritage on September 18 with a visit from John Wesley! It was awesome! “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long […]
Our 4th annual “all you can eat” fish and tenderloin dinner was a huge success, raising approximately $4,700 with the bake sale and silent auction included. Thanks to everyone who donated items to sell, baked something for the bake sale and for the countless hours doing all things fish and tenderloin!
First UMC participated with United to provide free laundry for Decatur residents on Saturday, April 30. Check out United’s blog post. It was a great day of serving, sharing, caring and building relationships in our community. We fed quarters to the machines (did you know the standard washer is $2, next size up $3 and […]
Our new Discipleship Pathway Brochure gives information to those in our church, and those new to or visiting our church, about how they can Connect in Community, Grow in Faith and Serve in Love as followers of Jesus Christ. It’s important to be connected in some way other than worship to grow closer to God […]
Here are some of the awesome items up for bid
Click this link to visit our history photo album on Facebook Click the links below to download the bulletin inserts. Enjoy our heritage, but more importantly, pray for and be open to God’s future for First UMC here in Decatur! FIRST UMC DECATUR 175TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY MAY INSERT FIRST UMC DECATUR 175TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY TRIVIA […]
We enjoyed having Bishop Coyner, our DS, David Neckers, and his wife Darlene, and Rev. Dick Garmen and his wife, Mary Ellen, with us on Sunday, April 10. Bishop Mike shared a great message based on Revelation 21:1-5. “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new…” At the end […]
Jolie Lee wrote our Children’s Christmas program for December 2015. “The Christmas Gift” was a charming tale of how a grandfather and grandson together discover the true meaning of Christmas. Thanks to all our actors, choir, musicians and Jolie!
Our 8:15 am Chapel Service has been blessed for many months to have Mary Witte provide the music. Mary’s last Sunday with us was Easter Sunday where she organized a special Sunrise praise selection for our 7 am service. Thank you Mary for your warm smile, your encouraging way, and the love of Christ you […]
Tana Sheets, Director of Kids First Child Care Ministry and our Kids First Ministry were highlighted in the annual report for Purdue Extension. Pretty cool to see how our ministry, and Tana specifically, are getting recognition for the service to families and the way they are helping children Grow in Faith. Check it out on […]