<![CDATA[FIRST UMC OF SEALY - Announcements]]>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 03:20:07 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[April 2021 Worship Updates]]>Thu, 01 Apr 2021 13:41:10 GMThttp://www.fumcsealy.org/announcements/april-2021-worship-updatesPicture
Our 8 am Worship Services resume for Easter, April 4, 2021! This 8 am service will not be broadcast or recorded. We encourage those over 60 years of age to attend this service.
  1. 10 am worship service: this service is now a more contemporary experience. It will continue to be live on Facebook Live for those who prefer to worship from a distance.
  2. Masks are not required, but are very much encouraged if you are immune compromised.
  3. An offering will be received, but the offering plates will not be passed. (Plates can be found near the front doors.)
  4. Communion will be distributed by the pastor to limit contact among members. If you do not feel comfortable receiving Holy Communion in the sanctuary, please contact Pastor Mike to set a time for you to celebrate separately, at your home.
  5. We encourage the at-risk population to watch or participate remotely. The at-risk population is defined as “those who are 65 or older, especially those with chronic lung disease; moderate to severe asthma; chronic heart disease; severe obesity; diabetes; chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis; liver disease; or weakened immune system.”
  6. If at any time, you are are under the weather in any way, you are advised to please stay home.
]]><![CDATA[Worship Updates: No 8 am worship]]>Thu, 02 Jul 2020 07:00:00 GMThttp://www.fumcsealy.org/announcements/worship-updates-no-8-am-worship
Picture
This has been a uniquely challenging time for all of us. A few weeks ago, we were excited to re-open and carefully planned what live worship and gatherings would look like ... including the suggested protocols to ensure a safe environment for us all. But, because of low attendance at our 8 am worship service, we are cancelling it until further notice

Please join us at our 10 am service! If you haven't already heard, the service is now a more contemporary experience. It is still live on Facebook Live for those who prefer to worship from a distance. Following the service, if you are subscribed to our weekly newsletter, you will also receive an email containing a video of worship that you can watch on your phone or in your own home ... or even listen to it while driving down the road! 

The 10 am service is still limited to 40 people, in order to maintain safe distancing (every other pew is taped “closed”). We ask that you come and sit in “family” groups with people with whom you already have close contact ... or by yourself (couples or singles may safely distance at far ends of a single pew).

There is still no choir and no gathered children’s time. An offering is received, but the offering plates are not be passed. (Plates can be found near the front doors.)

We still strongly encourage the at-risk population to watch or participate remotely at 10 am on Facebook or subscribe to our weekly newsletter. The at-risk population is defined as “those who are 65 or older, especially those with chronic lung disease; moderate to severe asthma; chronic heart disease; severe obesity; diabetes; chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis; liver disease; or weakened immune system.”

If at any time, you are are under the weather in any way, you are advised to please stay home.
]]><![CDATA[Just in time for Pentecost: WORSHIP TOGETHER]]>Fri, 29 May 2020 07:00:00 GMThttp://www.fumcsealy.org/announcements/worship-together-just-in-time-for-pentecost
Picture
We will be officially gathering for worship this Sunday, May 31, Pentecost Sunday, at 8 am and 10 am, in our sanctuary. Pentecost is the second highest Sunday of the Christian year, behind only Easter Sunday. We will celebrate Pentecost by reading together the story of the birthday of the Church, from Acts chapter 2, and by sharing in Holy Communion together.

During our “Greeting & Announcements” time we will pause for a prayer of thanksgiving to God for bringing us back together, and we will observe a moment of silence for those who have succumb to the virus sweeping through our world.

I want to encourage as many of you as possible to come to the 8 am service because we are going to have to limit ourselves to 40 people at any particular service, in order to maintain safe distancing (every other pew is taped “closed”). We ask that you come and sit in “family” groups with people with whom you already have close contact ... or by yourself (couples or singles may safely distance at far ends of a single pew).

In order to serve communion safely, you will remain in your pew, and I will bring the elements to you. The bread will be cut into cubes, and each cube will have a toothpick in it for you to grasp. The communion cups will be in our regular trays but spaced in such a way that they will not be touched by anyone except the person who drinks it. There will be a foil pan in each pew for your discarded toothpick and communion cup.

If you want to sing (and I hope you do!) I ask you to wear a mask while you sing or if you do not have a mask please cover your mouth with your hand as you sing like you would for a cough or a sneeze (coughing, sneezing, and singing are very similar in their projections).

At the end of our 10 am service, our Confirmation Class will enter the sanctuary, and those present will have the opportunity to proclaim our responsibility and our intention to continue to help these young people grow in their walk with Jesus. We will have a private service for our Confirmation Class and their families at 11 am.

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday or as soon as you feel comfortable returning. I am also willing to bring communion to wherever you are. Please pray for everyone’s health and safety.

Your Brother in Christ, Mike
]]><![CDATA[Church Opening Updates:]]>Thu, 21 May 2020 20:56:33 GMThttp://www.fumcsealy.org/announcements/church-opening-updatesFirst UMC Sealy is taking small steps out of quarantine to resume worship in our sanctuary. With Governor Abbott’s and our County Judge's approval, our sanctuary is open for worship on Sunday mornings, with limitations. If you decide to come inside the sanctuary, we ask that you follow these guidelines/suggestions and please, please do your best to keep everyone safe.
  1. On May 31 (Pentecost Sunday) ... If things continue to remain safe and our visitors remain healthy ... we will again hold our 8 am service. It will not be broadcast or recorded. We encourage those over 60 years of age to attend this service.
  2. We will continue our 10 am service, but this will be a more contemporary experience. It will continue to be live on Facebook Live for those who prefer to worship from a distance.
  3. Maximum attendance in our sanctuary is limited to 40 individuals at this time.
  4. Social distancing is still mandated by the Governor and by medical leaders. So those who join us onsite are asked to wash their hands, use hand sanitizer, maintain six feet distances from each other. Family groups are allowed to sit together, but please maintain distances between groups. The six feet distance means that we ask you to keep empty pews between you and people sitting directly in front or behind you. Please be especially aware of distances as you enter and depart from worship. Masks are not required, but are very much encouraged.
  5. There will be no choir. No gathered children’s time. An offering will be received, but the offering plates will not be passed. (Plates can be found near the front doors.)
  6. Communion will be very different. The pastor will distribute communion to limit contact among members. If you do not feel comfortable receiving Holy Communion in the sanctuary, please contact Pastor Mike to set a time for you to celebrate separately, at your home.
  7. We strongly encourage the at-risk population to watch or participate remotely. The at-risk population is defined as “those who are 65 or older, especially those with chronic lung disease; moderate to severe asthma; chronic heart disease; severe obesity; diabetes; chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis; liver disease; or weakened immune system.”
  8. If at any time, you are are under the weather in any way, you are advised to please stay home.
]]>