Congregational Care

At First UMC, we care for our family and friends through the ministries of Congregational Care. Below is a list of the many teams currently in place to help folks whether celebrating a joy or going through trying times. A continuum of care and communication is provided from a guest first visit on through all aspects of participation and membership.

The Congregational Care Team is chaired by Debbie Dixon; she can be reached at 345-7008 or click here to email.

Following are the current team members and a list of the ministries under their care. Please feel free to contact Debbie or the Church office at 243-5646 if you are in need or would like to become involved in our Congregational Care Team. Volunteers are the heart of the care we give to others.

Visitor Orientation - Barbara McRae
1. Visitor follow up
2. “First Impressions” Church tours
3. Coffee with the Pastor
4. “First Steps” What would Christ have us be?
5. “Spiritual Journey” Maturing as Christians

Nurturing - Beth Sanchez
1. E-Care: Prayer Lists
2. New Member Social
3. Share Bears
4. Greeters
5. Spiritual Gifts Survey
6. Meals for Funerals

Membership Care - Traci Remington
1. Senior Care Centers
2. Bulletin Prayer List Update
3. Prayer e-mail chain
4. Stephen Ministries
5. Extended Care/cards
6. Parish Nurse
7. Celebrate Recovery

Fellowship - Diana Jackson
1. Dinner for Eight
2. Pictorial Directory
3. Dine Around
4. First Opera
5. Sports
6. Golf with the Pastor
7. Potluck with Purpose
8. Monthly Birthday Cake Celebration
9. Senior Adult Fellowship

Nurturing Team
The nurturing team is one of the teams within the congregational care team and has the responsibility of providing many important nurturing ministries to our members. Within the nurturing team there are six ministries: Greeters, Meals for Funerals, Spiritual Gifts Survey, E-care, Share Bears, and New Member Socials.

The greeters program is championed by Bob and Bettye Rae Francis. Greeters is a program where volunteers greet members and visitors at the various doors leading into the church before the first and second services. The volunteers are scheduled for a three month period for either the first or second service and Bob and Bettye Rae check with each volunteer at the end of the three month period to see if they would like to continue greeting. Bob and Bettye Rae make the schedule for three months in advance and send it to the greeters for their review and approval. After this, Bob and Bettye Rae send out a final copy of the schedule.

Meals for Funerals is championed by Gwen Poe and Barbara Vanderpool. This ministry provides meals for the families of church members who have passed on. Meals are provided by either Sunday school classes, the choir, or by Gwen and Barbara.

Spiritual Gifts Survey is a new ministry we are working at developing. Linda Lucas is the champion for this ministry and Gretchen Shipley is assisting. The Spiritual Gifts Survey is a survey given to church members to help them find what their spiritual gifts are. The survey evaluates individuals in different spiritual gift categories and shows them where their talents lie. It is a focusing and enlightening tool. The survey is best taken in a group atmosphere and takes 1½ to 2 hours to complete. We plan to give the Spiritual Gifts Survey quarterly.

E-care is a new ministry. Volunteers email or snail mail our service persons on a regular basis. We have two volunteers who are writing to three service persons at this time. We are looking for more service persons to write, so please contact the church office (243-5646) if you know someone that would like to receive correspondence from FUMC. We are also looking for a champion for this ministry.

Share Bears is a ministry in which teddy bears are given to the church by members to be placed in the pews on Sunday mornings. Members and visitors are then welcome to take the bears home with them or to someone who needs comfort or cheering up. We are looking for a champion and for volunteers at this time.

New Member Socials is combined with Potluck With a Purpose. It is a ministry where volunteers call and invite our new members to the potlucks at which new members are introduced. We are looking for a champion and for volunteers for this ministry.

If you know someone who needs “nurturing” please let us know. Also, if you are interested in being a volunteer or a champion for any of the above ministries in need please contact Beth Sanchez .

Fellowship Circle
The Fellowship Circle of the Congregational Care Team at First Church has been doing lots of fun and exciting things. We have seen excellent results from our champions who are working diligently to develop and expand activities that bring about opportunities for Christian fellowship. You are invited and most welcome to participate in any and all of these activities. If you would like more information please call the church office to be put in touch with one of the team members who would love to provide you with details.

Potluck with a Purpose has had three successful events. Champion Linn Furnish has organized the food service and kept our serving tables amply stocked and the lines moving efficiently. Gwen Poe’s Youth Class has been most helpful at each potluck by bundling and placing the napkins and place settings on the tables.

Some speakers at our Potlucks have been: Attorney General, Patricia Madrid; John Taylor, a local historian; Reverend Raquel Mull; Congresswoman and First Church member, Heather Wilson; and Dr. Paul Hopkins from the Samaritan Counseling Center.

Birthday Cake Service now alternates monthly, following the early service (9:30 a.m.) one time, then the late service (noon), the next, to give everyone an opportunity to visit with fellow church members over a piece of cake, a cup of punch and celebrate the birth of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Champions Linn and Mike Furnish graciously continue bringing the cakes to the Church and each month a Sunday School Class takes on the serving duties. All are welcome for this monthly treat.

Dine-Around, under the direction of champions Janice and Odie Goodgion is meeting monthly at various restaurants in town to enjoy an evening out with friends from church. The date and place vary each month, so please call the office for the schedule.

Dinner for Eight is being renewed by champion Linda O’Neal. It is likely that no activity will be planned until early fall. Linda has plans to match people with similar interests in convenient areas of town for this fellowship program. Linda would love to place you in a dining group. Please call the church office to register.

After doing so much eating, we Methodists need some exercise!

Summer Baseball, headed by champion Mark Humble, plays weekly at the Albuquerque Sports Complex. They are having a winning season but are always looking for new recruits to add depth to their line-up. They could also use a few more supporters in the stands. So, if you enjoy baseball, or just enjoy an outdoor summer evening, they play every Tuesday. Check the newsletter for times. There has also been some talk of a church bowling league. That possibility will be explored after the summer baseball league wraps up its schedule. Mark also organizes the Blood Drives that we have quarterly at First.

Again, please call the office if you enjoy sports and would like to play.

Being well-rounded Methodists is important.
So, in addition to sports, we also enjoy fellowship in cultural pursuits.

First Opera, hosted by champions Sheldon and Pat McGuire took a trip to Santa Fe, August 4, for the Mozart opera, Cosi Fan Tutte.

Senior Adult Fellowship is being resurrected by champion Bonnie Hughes. The first outing she has planned is a trip to The Albuquerque Museum for the Fabulous Fifties exhibit on Wednesday, August 13. It is coming up soon and all are welcome, so please call the church for more information.

Last but not least, we Methodists are a truly lovely group
and, hopefully, aren’t camera-shy.

The Pictorial Directory should go into pre-production with pictures being taken in early October. Sign up sheets will be available in the reception area beginning in September. Champion Calvin Williams has been taking candid shots all year of groups and activities. Julie Ethredge is working on a design for the cover. The book should be complete by the end of November. This would be a wonderful opportunity to have personalized Christmas cards made with family photos for your friends and extended family.

For more information on any of these activities, please call the church office and the champion of the event will be happy to provide further details.