This Week@FUMC Allen
September 6 2020
Greetings!

September always brings with it a sense of the new and the possibile. Even in the midst of this pandemic, God is doing new things. And now, after 26 weeks of online worship, we are pleased to announce that on Sunday, September 13, our doors will be open at 11:00am for in-person worship.

Here's what you can expect for that Sunday:
  • If you are coming for in-person worship, we ask you to RSVP. Watch your email next week for an invitation to RSVP. Or you can make your reservation from our website as early as Monday September 7.
  • If you have not been receiving weekly communications from us, please contact Alison Thomas, alisont@fumcallen.org. Our email server had a significant glitch earlier this summer, and many subscribers were inadvertently dropped from the newsletter mailing lists.
  • All worshipers will be required to wear masks and social distance upon entering the building. Masks will need to stay on throughout the worship service. To accommodate social distancing guidelines, 50 percent of our pew space has been cordoned off. Family groups may sit together with a limit of two family groups per pew.
  • Our nursery will be open for children, ages 4 years and younger, with a reservation. Elementary age children, ages 5 and older, will worship with their families.
  • Children will not come forward for children's time. Children's time will continue to be a prerecorded video with Miss April, Miss Trish, and friends.
  • In-person worshipers may sing behind their mask. We encourage you to participate in the music in other ways (e.g., clapping, raising hands, movement) as you are able. Our instrumentalists will be masked throughout the service. Our singers will be masked until they lead the singing, and then, they will sing from behind plexiglass shields.
  • BYOB (Bring Your Own Bible) All items have been removed from the pew racks. We won't have printed bulletins. Electronic offering platforms remain available, but you may place your tithes and offerings in a locked "offering box" found at sanctuary exits.
  • The worship service will be live-streamed. Some portions of the service will be pre-recorded, including children's time and the scripture reading.
  • At the end of the service, ushers will dismiss worshipers by section. We'll ask that you leave the building as quickly as possible and refrain from shaking hands and hugging. We do encourage you to greet others outside in the courtyard while observing social distancing practices.
Detailed information about our safety and sanitation protocols may be found HERE on our website.

We look forward to being with you in new ways in the weeks and months to come.
And Now an Update from Children's Ministry

Miss April and Miss Trish have a lot of exciting things happening in Children's Ministry this month. Here's what they have to share with you for the next week:

First Kids Connect
On Sunday, September 6, Children's Ministry introduces a new Sunday school curriculum for First Kids Connect. Parents will continue to receive an email every Friday with more details about each week's lesson, and an in-home video premieres on our YouTube channel each week.

This curriculum will transition over to the new Faith & Family night, which launches on Sunday, September 13, at 5:00pm. You can read more about Faith & Family below.

Nursery
On Sunday, September 13, our nursery workers return to open the nursery at 11:00am for children ages 4 years and younger. We ask that families of these young children make a nursery reservation when they RSVP to attend worship each week.

Worship
Children ages 5 years and older will attend services in the sanctuary beginning September 13. However, we realize that sometimes children need a break from sitting in the worship service in the sanctuary. So on our first Sunday of in-person worship, Children's Ministry will open a “Wiggles and Giggles” room for families with school-age children.

If your child needs a break, your family is welcome to come to the children’s large group area where we'll be watching the live-stream service. And wiggles and giggles are allowed!

Questions? Contact Trish Morehead or April Kwan.
Registration is now open
Faith & Family Launches September 13

Family and Family launches at 5:00pm on Sunday, September 13.

This one-hour weekly event is designed for families with children and youth. We'll have music, prayer, games, and a message that will equip families to serve as the place where spiritual growth and discipleship are nurtured.

Watch for more information in next week's newsletters.
Watch our website/social media in case of rain
Morning Watch Returns This Sunday

A glorious yet unexpected thunderstorm caused us to cancel Morning Watch on August 30, but we'll be back this week at 8:30am in the east parking lot.

If you are someone who is not yet ready for inside or if you prefer an earlier worship hour, our Morning Watch team will be here for you

We are excited to see our church family worshiping together, either in our cars, inside the sanctuary, or on livestream chat.
THIS WEEK IN WORSHIP
Sunday September 6 2020
Communion Sunday
Fear...and Faith
Week Two
Mark 5:1-20 NRSV
Rev Mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch, preaching
11:00am
(select from links from home page)

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THIS WEEK'S ORDER OF WORSHIP

CLICK HERE TO WATCH LAST WEEK'S SERVICE

Join us in worship this Sunday. The livestream begins at 11:00am, and you can engage in worship and watch live at firstallen.org/livestream-worship.

Later on Sunday and during the week, you can watch the service at any time at https://firstallen.org/sermons/solid-week-five/ as early as 1:30pm.
If you know of anyone having trouble receiving their church emails, please have them contact Alison Thomas, alisont@fumcallen.org, so she can help them get back on the Constant Contact mailing lists.
Week of September 6 2020
Prayer Concerns

We Grieve with . . .
The family and friends of Treva Wolfe.
The Mark Brant family in the death of his father.

We Pray for . . .
Earlane Hendrix
Betty Matthews’ daughter
Betty Matthews’ sister
Rita Reynolds
Deann Riley
Mike Schindler
Chris Schulmeister
Alison Thomas' sister
Here are the latest opportunities to strengthen
your faith and connect with your community.
SUN SEP 6
MORNING WATCH. 8:30am. East Parking.

FAITH BUILDERS SUNDAY SCHOOL. 8:30am. VIRTUAL.

YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL. 10:00am. RSVP required. VIRTUAL.

WORSHIP: FEAR...AND FAITH. 11:00am. VIRTUAL.

GOING DEEPER TOGETHER. 12:00pm. VIRTUAL.

FIRST KIDS CONNECT. 5:00pm. VIRTUAL.

YOUTH FELLOWSHIP. 5:00pm. Courtyard/W257.

YOUNG ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL. 6:30pm. Onsite.

MON SEP 7
LABOR DAY. Church office closed.

TUE SEP 8
MENS BIBLE STUDY. 6:30am. Fellowship Hall.

FIRST DAY OF PLAYDAY. 9:00am. Children's Wing.

GRIEVING HEARTS GROUP. 10:00am. VIRTUAL.

WED SEP 9
MEN TALKING. 10:15am. Chapel/VIRTUAL.

RUTH CIRCLE. 10:00am. Community Room. Contact Phyllis Eix jpeix@hotmail.com

YOUTH SMALL GROUP. 5:00pm. Courtyard/W255.

FRI SEP 11
PLAYDAY MAKE-UP DAY. 9:00am. Children's Wing.

SAT SEP 12
NCD UMW CELEBRATION. 10:00am. ZOOM. RSVP for meeting code and password.

WOMEN UNPLUGGED. 1:00pm. N191.
SUN SEP 13
MORNING WATCH. 8:30am. East Parking.

FAITH BUILDERS SUNDAY SCHOOL. 8:30am. ZOOM.

YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL. 10:00am. RSVP required.

IN-PERSON WORSHIP: LUKE: JESUS FOR EVERYONE. 11:00am. Sanctuary/VIRTUAL.

GOING DEEPER TOGETHER. 12:00pm. VIRTUAL.

CORNERSTONE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 1:00pm. Fellowship Hall.

FAITH AND FAMILY. 5:00pm. Courtyard/C170/Nursery/ W257/Sanctuary

YOUNG ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL. 6:30pm. ZOOM.

MON SEP 14
LADIES BIBLE STUDY: SURRENDERED. 9:15am. S207/211.

TUE SEP 15
MENS BIBLE STUDY. 6:30am. Fellowship Hall.

WED SEP 16
MEN TALKING. 10:15am. Chapel/ZOOM.

BIBLE STUDY: 400 YEARS OF SILENCE. 7:00pm. Chapel.

BIBLE STUDY: THE PARABLES OF JESUS. 7:00pm. S207/211.

YOUTH SMALL GROUP. 5:00pm. Courtyard/W255.

FRI SEP 18
RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE. 9:00am-3:00pm. Fellowship Hall.
UpcomingEvents
ALL DATES ARE TENTATIVE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Sep 20 Third Grade Bible Parade
Sep 22 Grief Support: Loss of A Loved One
Sep 29 Touching Lives in College Packaging Event
972.727.8261
Morning Watch
Sunday 8:30am
Livestream Worship
Sunday 11:00am