The Vision of First United Methodist Church is "To Know Christ and to Make Him Known" by addressing the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical needs of our church family through the ministries of the Caring Team.

The Flower Ministry at FUMC is one way in which our church family lets those who are sick, hospitalized or in need of care aware that their church family cares. The flowers which are placed in honor, or in memory or to the glory of God on the altar for our services on Sunday are used on Monday to brighten the day for others. Thanks to a committed group of individuals who rearrange the large arrangements on the altar, approximately six members of our church family receive flowers each week.

Homebound Communion is a very special ministry for all involved. The homebound communion teams go out to visit and take communion to our shut-ins and members in nursing homes on the first Sunday of each month. As United Methodists, we celebrate Christ’s love and grace through the receiving of the Sacrament of Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month and during other times in the church year. The elements of the Sacrament of Holy Communion are symbols of Christ’s body and blood. They remind us that God loves us so much that he came and dwelt among us in Christ Jesus; that through Christ’s death we see there are no limits to God’s love for us; and through the resurrection that God’s love conquers all, even death itself. As we share in these elements, we are not only reminded of what he has done, what he does and what he will do for us, but we experience anew his grace. Everyone needs to experience anew God’s grace through the Sacrament of Holy Communion and the good news that we are not alone for God is with us.

The Nursery Home Visitors are a group of individuals within our church family who visit the families of newborns and to take a rose. It is one way in which our church family acknowledges the importance of children at FUMC. We must never forget the words of Jesus, “Let the children come unto me, do not hinder them, for to such belongs the Kingdom of God.” These same individuals who visit the families when they are blessed with a new child, stand with the family on the day the child is baptized and present them with a cradle cross and card.

The Intercessory Prayer Group is a dedicated group within our church family which gathers every Tuesday morning to pray for joys and concerns lifted up in the services of worship, turned in on prayer request forms, phoned in by friends and family of FUMC, e-mailed to staff or shared with members of the prayer team verbally or in writing. These prayer warriors know that prayer is an important part of a growing and vital church. Together, they meet and pray for our church, our staff, our congregation and others as a body on Tuesday morning and throughout the week on an individual basis.

The Stephen Ministry is “a complete system for training and organizing laypersons for caring ministry in and around our congregation.” It provides our church family “with the structure, training, and resources to set up and administer a complete system for lay caring ministry.” In our congregation, “lay caregivers (called Stephen Ministers) provide one-to-one Christian care to the bereaved, hospitalized, terminally ill, separated, divorced, unemployed, relocated, and others facing a crisis or life challenge. Stephen Ministers help the pastor and congregation provide quality caring ministry for as long as people need it.”

The TOB’s, affectionately known as Tough Old Birds, are a wonderful group of individuals who gather regularly to provide Christian fellowship and support those who have suffered a loss or are alone. They summarize their ministry as one of “relief from grief, friendship and encouragement”. They meet once a month for fun, food and fellowship.

The Van Ministry Team is a wonderful ministry that seeks to bring those who are homebound, in the nursing home or experiencing handicapping condition to the services of worship each Sunday. FUMC is committed to this ministry and purchased two comfortable buses to enable this ministry to take place. The buses are well maintained and parked in their own facility when not in use. One bus is standard while the other has a lift for those with handicapping conditions. Arrangements may be made by contacting the church office. Those who are members of our church family and wish a ride, or anyone else in the community who needs a ride and wishes to worship with us, is invited to take advantage of this ministry.

The Care Bears are members of our church family who prepare meals for those who are recovering from a medical illness, have experienced the loss of a loved one, a new baby being born or some other circumstance where someone may need a helping hand with their meals for a short period of time. If you would like to help with this ministry, please contact Pat Munoz in the church office at 562-1900.

The College Ministry Team is made up of members of our church family who get together approximately four times a year to prepare care packages to send to our college students who are away from home. Birthday cards are also sent at the appropriate time of the year. The team also welcomes new ideas as to how we can better communicate the love of God and of our church family to our college students. If this is something you would like to get involved in, please call Pat Munoz in the church office at 562-1900.