Church,

I want to keep my message to you short this week and invite you to make sure you read over the message below from our new Lay Leaders, Michael and Erin DuBois! I am so thankful for the generosity of the church to offer sabbaticals to our clergy. It is a huge gift and blessing both to the pastors and to the church!

This Sunday is a special one. We will be honoring our graduating college seniors on the Downtown Campus at 11am and sharing an uplifting video from them at all our other services of worship. First Methodist has made a tremendous investment in ministering to college students in Waco. It is a life changing ministry that has impact for decades ahead. I am thankful to all the staff and our wonderful volunteers who serve so faithfully in so many ways for our college students.

Thank you for all you do to make First Methodist such a wonderful place!

In Christ,

Ryan Barnett

Lead Pastor

Dear First Methodist Family,

We hope this letter finds you all well. Please forgive the length of this letter, but it is full of valuable information. 

We want to send an update from your Lay Leadership and the Pastor Staff Parish Relations Committee (PSPR). To begin, we want to introduce ourselves as your new Lay Leaders. We deeply love First Methodist, are humbled to be serving in this role, and cherish your prayers as we follow God’s direction for our wonderful church. We should all join together in gratitude to Debbie and Jeff Wooley for their many years of service.

In addition to the two of us, your PSPR committee consists of the following members.

Sylvia DuBois

Garrett Foreman 

Ann Hornung

Marcia Kelly

Ryan Kolar

Aldo Morell

Stephen Reed

Mark Stewart

Cody Turner

Nadine Welch

Debbie Wooley

We thank each for their willingness to sacrifice their time and talents for the betterment of our congregation. The goal of our committee is for transparency in our leadership and the first step is for everyone to be aware as to who is serving! We will be sending out updates to the entire congregation throughout the year as key decisions are made.

On to our first PSPR update for 2024! We met last week and unanimously approved sabbaticals for all full-time clergy. Sabbaticals are an important part of looking after the mental and spiritual well-being of our clergy. The GMC has policies in place to encourage and allow for these periodic respites. The timing of these sabbaticals is still being determined as approval is required by denominational leadership. To begin this process for First Waco, we were able to go ahead and approve the timing for Pastor Gabe Dominguez’s sabbatical. He will be leaving on his sabbatical beginning Monday, April 22nd for 6 weeks. We are thrilled for Pastor G to have this gift of dedicated time with our God and for physical and mental rejuvenation. Please know that part of a sabbatical is a true break from the work of the church. The rest of the clergy are ready and willing to fill in for any of his responsibilities, so reach out to the other pastors if you need something. We hope that our congregation will join us in praying for our clergy and their sabbaticals throughout the coming months. As timing is determined and approved, we will be sure to update everyone with specifics. 

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have questions, concerns or just to say hello!

In His Service,

Erin & Michael DuBois

Click the logos below for the latest news with First Kids and First Students:

• Downtown Campus | 9 am Traditional | 11 am Contemporary
• Main Campus | 9:30 am Contemporary | 11 am Traditional
• Online Campus | Live Stream | 9:30 & 11 am | Youtube.com Facebook FirstWaco.com
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Thank you so much for generously giving to God’s Kingdom! The church cannot operate without you, so thank you for helping us serve the Kingdom well! Below, you’ll see March's income and expenses.

If you would like to help strengthen the ministry of Christ at First Methodist, you can do so by clicking HERE – or if you have any questions about the church's finances, I’d love to hear from you! – Bev@firstwaco.com

March Average Worship Attendance: 1247

Margaret Elliott, Cindy Knapek, Danny Bostick, Harriet Johnson, Linda Laughlin, Kim Jung, Gail Wade, Mike Sly, Larry Pennington, Nancy Summers, Hilda Rylander, Dave and Joan Rumph, Gene Leuschner, Sandra Thomas, Dave Guyer, Paula Hendrix, EW Burdette, John Fadal, Doris and Stuart Feiner, Leslie Kinchen, Mary Lynn Roden, Patrick McMillin, Willie Morris, Kaylie Wardell, Jane Moreno, Sandra Crosslin, Archie Hoffpauir, Evelyn Brock, Mike and Sharon Nelson

SUNDAY, APRIL 21:

• College Senior Sunday | 11a | Downtown Campus
• Men for Missions Luncheon | 11:00a-12:30p | Main Campus
• Sunday Night Youth @ South | Middle School 5-6:30p | High School 5:30-7p | Contact Chris

MONDAY, APRIL 22:

• HealthShapers |9:30a | Chapel | Main Campus
• Afternoon Bingo with Joy Club | 1:30-2:30p | Chapel | Main Campus

TUESDAY, APRIL 23:

• Prayer Team | 1:30 p | Prayer Chapel | Main Campus
• GriefShare | 4-6pm | Chapel | Main Campus

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24:

• Band of Brothers | 7-8a | Chapel | Main Campus
• Main Campus | 11:30a-1p | Main Campus Closed
• Midday Worship Service & Lunch | Noon | Downtown Campus
• Midweek Family Dinner | 4:45-6p | Main Campus
• First Kids Choir | 5:30-6p | Chapel | Main Campus | Contact John
• Midweek Discipleship Classes For All Ages | 6p | Main Campus
• Youth Grades 6-8 grades | 6-7p | Small Groups Only | Main Campus
• Youth Grade 9-12 grades | 7-8p | Small Groups Only | Main Campus 
• Traditional Choir Rehearsal | 6p | Chapel | Main Campus
• Orchestra | 7:15p | Chapel | Main Campus

THURSDAY, APRIL 25:

• Men's Prayer Breakfast | 7-8a | Commons | Main Campus
• HealthShapers |9:30a | Chapel | Main Campus
• In Stitches Knitting Group| 10-11:30a | Room 110 | Main Campus 

FRIDAY, APRIL 26:

• Church Offices Closed
• Men's Bible Study | 9a | Speegleville Campus

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

MONDAY-THURSDAY | 8:30a - 4:00p | Main Campus

WEDNESDAY | 11:30a-1p | Main Campus Closed

SUNDAY, APRIL 28:

• Senior Sunday | 9:30a | Main Campus

THURSDAY, MAY 2:

• National Day of Prayer | Noon | Chapel | Main Campus

SUNDAY, MAY 5:

• First Look:

1. Main Campus | 9:30 & 11a | Prayer Room | Contact Sara
2. Downtown Campus | 10a | Fellowship Hall | Contact Sara

SUNDAY, JUNE 2:

• Third Grade Bibles | Both Campuses | All Services

SUNDAY, JULY 21-25

• Vacation Bible School | 6p | Churchwide Main Campus

OCTOBER 25-29, 2024

• The Ark Encounter | Cutoff date to register | July 10 | Contact Pastor Steve

NOVEMBER 16:

• Women's Fall Event featuring Lisa Harper | Contact Pastor Joann

To reach the pastors by email, click here or call the church at 254.772.5630. To reach the Business Office, call 254.772.5630 x202 or Accounting@firstwaco.com. To give to church ministry, click here, use the app, or call the church. Mail checks to First Waco, PO Box 7736, Waco, 76714. You may text to give at 254.306.0810.

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