Dear First Family,

I hope you’ve had a great week, like I have. I’ve been able to meet with people more than a dozen times over the past few days. It’s always a blessing to hear your stories, process life situations with you, discuss the church’s future, and pray with people in the hospitals. God blesses me every time I’m with one of you.

Once a month, the entire church staff meets to pray together, share what God is doing in our various ministries, and to make sure our calendars are all in sync. During our meeting this week, three or four staff members shared testimonies of different people they’ve encountered recently who have sensed God’s presence here. As the Holy Spirit moves amongst us, my prayer continues to be that God will form each of us into the holy people He desires us to be. This includes both each one of us and the congregation as a whole.

This Sunday, worship will have a meaningful component: The blessing of the backpacks. As students of all ages prepare to head back to school, our desire is pray over them for the Lord’s guidance throughout the school year. In addition, we’ll also pray for teachers, professors, and everyone else involved in education. My hope is that all students will bring their backpacks with them to worship! 

I also hope you’ll join us at noon in the Family Life Center for our Back to School Bash. It’s always a good day when we can share a meal with others in our church; this time it’s good, old fashioned hot dogs. Don’t miss it!

Last Sunday I announced that on Sunday, August 16 at 6:00pm we’re going to have a special worship service of Healing and Wholeness. The Lord can heal us in many different ways: physically, emotionally, spiritually, and even relationally. I’ve sensed that many of you have been dealing with issues that need a healing touch from the Lord. If you’re dealing with something in your life that you’d like to ask God to heal, I hope you’ll join us. If not, I hope you’ll join us to surround those who are in need of God’s miraculous touch.

In Colossians 3:17, Paul writes, “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do it as a representative of our Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Wherever we go, whomever we meet, and whatever we say, we’re called to represent Jesus. One of my prayers for our church is that we’re filled with people who represent the Lord simply by how we live our lives. This comes from laying down our agendas so we might live according to God’s agenda for us. May each of us yield to the Lord so He might live through us.

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

Deep peace in Christ,

For the FirstKids, FirstYouth, and FirstWomens newsletters, click the buttons below.

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 June'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

Per our Financial Institution’s request, please make checks payable to First Methodist Church Waco. Please mail to 4901 Cobbs, 76710, as the PO Box is no longer active. Notation to special groups can follow that or be noted on the memo line. Thank you.

Jacque Schuster, Margaret Elliott, Danny Bostick, Kim Jung, Dave & Joan Rumph, Patrick & Margie Smith McMillin, Kendall Nowotny, Liesel Murray, Carly West, Dave Guyer, Lois Wandless, Tommy Attaway, Berry and Joy Voges, Stuart Feiner, Harriet Johnson, Jared Burroughs, Scott McDowell, Kristin Randall, Betty Fason, Theresa Frederick, Kyle Kilpatrick, Sandra Sheffield, Leonard Elliott, Shelley Pryal, Sandra Hancock, Kermit & Evelyn Brock, David McAlexander  

Stan and Wilma Poel in the passing of his sister, Marilyn Zuiderveen.

• Main Campus | 9:30 am Contemporary | 11 am Traditional
• Speegleville Campus | 11 am Traditional
• Online Campus | Live Stream | 9:30 & 11 am | Youtube.com Facebook FirstWaco.com
• Past Messages On-Demand FirstWaco.com YouTube Spotify First Waco App

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9:

Rev. Dr. Mike Voigts | God Is ... Our Comfort; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5| 9:30 & 11a | Main

Rev. Dr. Gary Torian | God Is ... Our Comfort; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 | 11a | Speegleville

Backpack Blessings & Back to School Bash | Bring your backpacks

Promotion Sunday

MONDAY, AUGUST 10:

Health Shapers | 9:30a | Chapel

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11:

Prayer Team | 1p | Prayer Room 

Pickleball Open Play | 10a & 6p | Family Life Center

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12:

Band of Brothers | 7a | Chapel

Mahjong @ First | 10a | Chapel

Prayer Room with Pastor Nick | Noon | Live on YouTube

Youth Department Student Planning Meetings | 6-7:30p | Youth Room

Traditional Choir Rehearsal | 6p | Chapel

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13:

Health Shapers | 9:30a | Chapel

In Stitches | 10a | Room 110

Joy Club | 11:30a | Chapel

Pickleball Open Play | 10a & 6p| Family Life Center

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14:

Church Offices Closed

Men's Bible Study | 9a | Speegleville Campus

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

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

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16:

Carter BloodCare Blood Drive | 8:30a-12:30p | Main

Service of Healing and Wholeness | 6p | Sanctuary

AUGUST 21-22:

ILI International Leadership Institute Module 2 | 9a - 5p | Main

THURSDAY, AUGUST 27:

Mahjong @ First | 6p | Chapel

SEPTEMBER 8-13:

Missions Week

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8:

Women's Missionary Dinner | 6p | John Wesley Room

SEPTEMBER 9 - October 14:

Wednesdays | Fall Midweek

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, 4901 Cobbs, Waco, 76710.

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