May 28, 2026

Your FUMC Weekly

Newsletter


News and Updates

 

Worship


This Sunday in Worship


Farmville United Methodist Church

May 31, 2026

Trinity Sunday

GATHERING


WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS ------- Rev. Susie Thomas

RECEPTION of NEW MEMBERS -------------- Jonathan and David Trent-Carlson

COMMISIONING for MISSIONARY SERVICE --------- Macey Hutto


PRELUDE ------------------ Aria------------------ Dr. Gordon Ring ---------------------- Michael Burkhardt


AFFIRMATION of FAITH* -------- The Apostles' Creed---------------------------------------- Susan Kimbrough


THE SACRAMENT of BAPTISM -------------------- Cooper Leonard


HYMN* ------ UMH #64 Holy, Holy, Holy


PROCLAMATION OF GOD'S WORD


THE CHILDREN'S MOMENT -------------- Susan Kimbrough

Children are invited to come forward to the chancel steps


ANTHEM -------- Do Not Leave Your Cares at the Door ------------------------------------------------------------- The Chancel Choir


PRAYER for ILLUMINATION ------------- Susan Kimbrough


SCRIPTURE READING - Matthew 13: 1-23 - Susan Kimbrough


SERMON-“Parables of the Kingdom: Soil Test" - Rev. Thomas

RESPONSE TO THE WORD


HYMN* --- UMH #584 Lord, You Give the Great Commission


OFFERING OUR GIFTS ---- Louisa Lackey and Keith Spafford


OFFERTORY ------------------ Interlude ------------------ Dr. Ring

------------------------------ Gordon Young


DOXOLOGY* ------ Doxology #94, UMH


OFFERING OUR PRAYERS and THE LORD'S PRAYER ------------------------------------------------------ Rev. Thomas


SENDING FORTH


HYMN* ------ UMH #571 Go, Make of All Disciples

BENEDICTION* ------------------------------------------ Rev. Thomas


POSTLUDE ------------------ March in F ------------------ Dr. Ring

---------------------------------- G.F. Handel


*Please stand as you are able.

Last Sunday's Altar Flowers


This beautiful spring arrangement was given to the glory of God and in memory of Ann Gussett by her husband, Jim.



Pentecost Sunday at FUMC:

Come Holy Spirit!

Annual Conference 2026


Our Virginia Annual Conference will be held in Harrisonburg this year, from June 17 to 20. The "worshipful work" of our Conference will take place at the Atlantic Union Bank Center

at James Madison University.


Our delegation includes: lay delegate Sarah Porter, youth delegates Jack Porter and Noah Blakely, and clergy the Revs. Lyndsie and Josh Blakely and Rev. Susie Thomas.


Our new pastor, the Rev. Bob Michalides, will be ordained as an Elder at the Service of Ordination and Commissioning on June 20 at 11:00. YOU are invited to attend this very special moment in Pastor Bob's ministry! More details to come.


Worship with Us on Sundays on YouTube


To worship with us, live or later, go to https://www.youtube.com/@FarmvilleUMC_FarmvilleVA

Connect

Church Office Hours


Monday through Thursday

9:00 AM - 1:00 PM


HEY YOUTH!

The Week of Fun Begins THIS Sunday!

Put Vacation Bible School

on your calendar:

July 20-24,

9 AM to noon


If you'd like to volunteer at this year's VBS, please plan to attend our meeting after worship


THIS SUNDAY,


May 31 at 11:15 - VBS Interest Meeting and Safer Sanctuaries Training


Meeting will be held in the Fellowship Room, first floor.

Recent Prayer Concerns


Jim Gussett has not been feeling well - please hold him close in prayer


Pastor Bob and his family, and our director of discipleship, Clara Benson and her fiance, Michael, have landed in Farmville! Please hold them in prayer as they get to know our town, and prepare for their ministres here.


Our hearts are burdened by the continuing war in Iran – please hold our military personnel and their families, as well as the people of Iran and the Middle East, in your prayers.




Receiving Care at the Woodland Now:


Carl Blessing – Brantley Unit

Maureen Harris – Grace Unit 184a

Linda Hogan - Lee Unit - 140b

Rita Lawhorne - Grace Unit


All of the folks above would appreciate

a card or a visit!


The address for cards is:


The Woodland

(Unit Name and Room Number)

2005 Cobb Street

Farmville, VA 23901


Extending our prayers around the world, we pray for:



  • The people of Iran and of the Middle East in general, and our US military personnel
  • Our country and world, as we face a time of economic and political turmoil.
  • Migrants and refugees everywhere, and those who are oppressed
  • All who are lonely, grieving, in sorrow, or anxious.
  • The people of Ukraine
  • The people of South Sudan


Celebrations


Congratulations to our Fuqua School graduates:


Elie McLemore, Julia Belle Bennett and Jackson Hicks! May God bless you on your journey to college - and beyond!


In response to last Sunday’s love offering, we have raised over $2,000 for Shirley Childress! Thank you for your generosity and compassion for our dear Shirley.


Above: Our favorite seminarian, Jacob Farmer-Rylands, graduated last week from the Boston University School of Theology with his Master's degree! Congratulations, Jacob!

Welcome to Farmville UMC's Newest Member!


We were delighted to welcome Ann Fowler to our number yesterday in worship!


Ann has been attending our church for several months now. She is an avid gardener with a day lily garden to die for, and she is also a quilter. Ann's husband, Joe, carves beautiful wooden decoys and other items and has been recognized for his fine craftsmanship.


Ann comes to us by letter of transfer from Reedsville UMC.


Please say Hello and Welcome when you see Ann next Sunday!



Our May Birthdays

Cheryl Adkins, 5/1

Jimmy Paul, 5/1

Brad Fuller, 5/3

Carol Luke, 5/5

Laura Rice, 5/5

Patrick Holman, 5/6

Jeff Shanaberger, 5/7

Cole Rostan, 5/8

Warren Kernodle, 5/9

Spencer Postans, 5/9

Erin Evans, 5/11

Bea Williams, 5/11

Patricia Crute, 5/12

Lyndsie Blakely, 5/13

Willow Davis, 5/15

Beverly Spain, 5/16

Carleen Davis, 5/18

Lory L. Watkins-Carney, 5/18

Jeff Kinne, 5/21

Michele Parker, 5/22

Amy Eberly, 5/23

Pryor Green, 5/23

Sam Martin, 5/23

Ebie Baker, 5/26

Brandt Farley, 5/27

Daphne Mason, 5/31

Samantha McWee, 5/31

----------------------------------------------------------------

Happy birthday to all - and if we missed YOUR birthday, please contact Office Manager Nancy Alexander in the church office at officemgr.fumc@gmail.com and let us know!



Our June Calendar

May Church Council Report

Our Church Council, FUMC's governing body, meets the second Tuesday of the month at 6 PM, in the Fellowship Room, first floor. The meeting is open and all are invited to attend.

Serve

Deadline for UMCOR Hygiene Kits is THIS Sunday

Farmville UMC is a drop-off site for our District, and area churches are delivering their completed UMCOR kits to us this month.


Rev. Bill Greer, pastor at Olive Branch UMC, delivered hygiene, menstrual, and flood kits to our church this week.

Sewing for Missions Touches Lives in Farmville and

 Around the World

Our mission - minded sew-ers were at it again this week - making puppets for children here in Farmville, lap blankets for our homebound, and many more items, made with love. They also craft cloth diapers for our friends in Honduras, and they make beautiful crafts to be sold at our annual Christmas Mnarket.


YOU are welcome to join them! Look for dates and times in your Sunday bulletin. Sewing skills are welcome but not necessary!

It's Almost Over:

The BIG Cereal Drive

for FACES!


Healthy cereals and low-sugar canned fruit for FACES - collection bins in the sanctuary and in

the missions donations room.


Donation Drive Ends This Sunday!

FACES Needs Egg Cartons

The chickens are laying and FACES needs cartons! Can you help?


Please drop your dozen-size egg cartons in the closet under the steps just off Randolph Street, or in the

Missions Room.

Serve at FACES Food Pantry 

Every Fourth Saturday


FUMC members are invited to serve at FACES' food distribution the fourth Saturday of each month. We look forward to seeing our FUMC friends on the FOURTH Saturday, from 7:30-10:AM!


FACES new website now has a sign-up for volunteers! 

https://www.facesfoodpantry.com/volunteer


Thursday Service Opportunity


FACES has a need for food bag- packers on Thursdays. They need three or more volunteers to pack bags of produce and staples for 1 to 2 hours at 3 PM Thur. afternoons. Contact Joanna and Paul Bakerwith questions: joannahbaker@gmail.com

May 2026 Missions Opportunities


Low-sugar Cereal and low-sugar canned fruit for FACES….May project. Place items in the designated bins in the back of the sanctuary and in the Missions Center.


KITS FOR CONFERENCE: HYGIENE KITS, items and monetary donations ($12 per kit) are due to the church by SUNDAY MAY 31, 2026. Lists are provided at the church. Please use the drop-off bins provided at the back of the sanctuary and in the Missions Center.


Join the United Women in Faith at FUMC distribution day for FACES, Saturday June 27th, 2026, 7:30-10:30 a.m. All hands, feet and hearts are needed!


BETTER DAYS FARMVILLE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. The June BIG GIVE is Saturday, June 13th at 10:30. Community Volunteer Times for May are Thursdays, 10:30 – noon. The Orange door is open for donations any day. 


PE’s Kids seeks to provide Prince Edward County Public School students with assistance with needs like field trip money, appropriate clothing, hygiene items, etc. because we know that a little help goes a long way.  To Make a Contribution: By Mail: PO Box 524, Farmville, VA, United States, Virginia, (434) 414-1163 and PrinceEdwardKids@gmail.com Also, this is the link to the Amazon Wish List. Copy and paste. https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guestview/3L21T2T98CTWH?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_ggr-subnavshare_NF6X4WJBM1TNB7BE9XH5&language=en-US


Help Women of Faith (UWF) in collecting items for the recently released from incarceration, a program sponsored by LOC Family Services of Farmville. Especially needed: deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste. Items can include soap, toothpaste, mouthwash, a washcloth, deodorant, a hand towel, lotion, powder, a comb, pads or tampons, hand sanitizer and/or any other personal hygiene item you may wish to add. Collection bin is in the Mission Center.