Welcome to First United Methodist Church of Washington.  First United Methodist Church is a lively, friendly, and exciting church.  We welcome visitors into our fellowship and invite you to make First United Methodist Church your church home.  We have programs for all ages, including strong children and youth ministries, an exciting music ministry, an active seniors' ministry, men’s and women’s studies, Sunday School for all, and vibrant worship. 

We have a newly remodeled nursery for our youngest members and a newly painted, large room for 3 and 4 year-olds.  During the school year we have a through-the-week Pre-k program for 3 & 4 year olds and a Mothers Morning Out program on Tuesdays and Thursdays for children 18 months to 3 years.  If you would like your child to participate in our Pre-K program or Mothers Morning Out, please call the office and ask for a application. 

Our children not only have a dynamic Sunday School program to attend, but on Wednesday nights they learn Bible lessons and participate in outreaches such as Angel Tree at Christmas.  They also participate as Acolytes in worship and have their own Children's Choir with special programs at Christmas and Easter.

Reaching out into our community, nation and the world with the love of Jesus Christ is an important focus of First United Methodist Church.  We reach out into our community with assistance programs and we both lead and support the newly  expanded and relocated  God's Marketplace, Inc., Community Food Pantry and Thrift Store.  We help families with bills, maintain a house for families in transition and provide students with backpacks filled with supplies;  these are just a few of the ways we reach out into our local community with the love of Jesus Christ. This spring we took chain saws and cleaned up neighbors yards where tornado's tore through and this summer we went to Pearlington, MS, to help residents fix up houses damaged by recent hurricanes.   Not only adults but youth and children participate in outreach. This summer some of our Youth went to Pearlington, MS, while others reached out at River of Life in Lincolnton.  They deliver meals to homebound members on Wednesday nights.  The Wednesday before Thanksgiving found our youth joining youth from several area churches in our new fellowship hall preparing and delivering 171 Thanksgiving meals to community friends.

Our music ministry, under the leadership of Minister of Music, Shay Harris, not seeks to address all of the musical needs of our congregation but is one of the most outstanding aspects of our church.  Worship wouldn't be worship without music and Shay blends new contemporary musical selections with tried and true old favorites and hymns.  Shay directs our chancel choir which is made up of talented men and women in our congregation who led us in worship on Sunday mornings and special performances during the year.  Seeing the need for a bell choir, Shay has started one that meets on Wednesday nights at 5:30.  Also Shay directs the Children's Choir that practices and presents two special programs, one in the fall and one in the spring.  The Children's Choir is a ministry outreach to the entire community.   Shay is working with the Youth to develop their talents in music and in drama. 

Our seniors program, under the leadership of Lewis and Ann Cook, offers seniors the opportunity to travel, fellowship and have fun together. They recently traveled to North Carolina to see the leaves and purchase apples and fall vegetables.  In the Spring they'll take another trip!  We have a great seniors Sunday School Class, called the Willing Workers, where our seniors fellowship and care for one another.

We have two women's circles that each meet once a month and sponsor outreaches in our community and overseas.  They both have Christmas events planned where they will fellowship and encourage each other.  We have a lively men's group that meets once a month for breakfast on Sunday morning.  They enjoy chicken bar-be-ques, golf outings and programs that inspire and encourage.  Our women's and men's groups provide many opportunities for fellowship and friendship.    

What about classes to grow in your knowledge and experience of Jesus Christ?  At present we are resting from special studies, but we plan to offer a variety of programs after the new year.  At present we have a dynamic, Sunday School program that serves the needs of all ages.  Recently we started a new Sunday School class:

The Shepherds Sunday School class is for parents of small children. It focuses on learning excellent parenting skills.

Do you find worship boring?  You won't be bored in ours.  We enjoy singing all types of songs, effectively blending a variety of worship styles.  Then we have an interactive sermon where you might be asked a question or you might be encouraged to follow the sermon by filling out a listening sheet.  The service is designed to provide a worship experience that will appeal to all ages, occasionally challenge us to raise the bar, and always remind us of God's great love for each of us through the life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

First United Methodist Church of Washington is a great place to worship and grow in your relationship with God.  Come and join us as we all strive to become the best disciples for Christ that we can be!

Rev. Gale Seibert, Pastor