Sunday, June 11, will be a double celebration!

1) We will bid a fond farewell and godspeed to the Johnston Family as Jarrod accepts a new appointment.

2) We will see and hear from our Vacation Bible School students.

We will have a COMBINED worship service at 10:45 in the gym. We will eat brunch together at 9:30 in the gym.

In the Book of Acts, Chapter 17, the Apostle Paul, is deep into his second missionary journey, after leaving Jerusalem. He and his companions traveled far to bring the good news of Jesus to those who’d never heard of him before, courageously getting into trouble again and again. At one point, Paul and other Christians are dragged out of a home, and Paul’s opposition declares, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have also come here!”

The movement of the church has taken many twists and turns in our 2,000 year history and the Book of Acts introduces to many of those first changes, as the Holy Spirit empowers the disciples to become apostles … who make more disciples … of every nation, race, gender, age, ability. As you can imagine, and we can read, the church overcame many conflicts in the first few years of its existence from within and without and came to many crossroads as opportunities arose to share the Good News that Jesus came to love all people.

It turned the world upside down then, but how about now? Could we find our way to acting as the church of then to be the church God’s needs for today?

On Sunday, April 30, join us for a combined worship service, with the Downtown and Connections communities, in the sanctuary to celebrate 180 years of Methodism in Paris, Texas!

During the celebration we will also be dedicating our restored sanctuary!

We will be lead in worship by the Chancel Choir, the Connections Worship Team, and our newly-formed Children's Choir.

Immediately following worship, we'll have an all-church lunch in the Youth and Ministry Building to continue to celebration together.

During the school year, Midweek Momentum on Wednesday nights at FUMC Paris is a time to fellowship, learn, and grow as disciples of Jesus, for all ages and stages! There's a place for everyone to join in:

- Pastor’s Bible Study - 6-7pm in the Downtown Fellowship Hall.

- Children’s Programming - 6-7pm in the Children’s Building.

- Youth Night - 6-7:30pm in the YAMB (meal included) - with our new Youth Pastor, Rev. Katrina!

The Fellowship Hall will open at 5:30pm for those that want to bring their own food and eat before discipleship programs begin!

Join us for a night to build the momentum we need to keep growing together!

On April 23, Shelley Bulls, our Connections Worship Leader, and certified United Methodist Lay Servant will be delivering her first sermon! You won't want to miss this special morning!

Join us for our modern and casual worship service, with coffee, donuts, and community, featuring the Connections Worship Team!

Food with Friends is also back on April 22, from 11am-1pm at CitySquare Paris!

Join elbow to elbow to serve and dine with our neighbors!  The food theme is ham and southern sides.  Bring a dish to share and serve. Setup begins at 10:30am!

During the school year, Midweek Momentum on Wednesday nights at FUMC Paris is a time to fellowship, learn, and grow as disciples of Jesus, for all ages and stages! There's a place for everyone to join in:

- Pastor’s Bible Study - 6-7pm in the Downtown Fellowship Hall.

- Children’s Programming - 6-7pm in the Children’s Building.

- Youth Night - 6-7:30pm in the YAMB (meal included) - with our new Youth Pastor, Rev. Katrina!

The Fellowship Hall will open at 5:30pm for those that want to bring their own food and eat before discipleship programs begin!

Join us for a night to build the momentum we need to keep growing together!

For the last couple of months, youth from Connections and Downtown have been gathering together to learn about what it means to be Christians, studying our basic beliefs, church history, and asking questions of leaders and mentors. On April 16 at 10:45, having completed their studies, our Connections students will be confirmed as members of our faith community (Downtown students will be confirmed the following week in the traditional service)!

Make plans to join us in worship and celebrate the work these students have done and the commitment they're choosing to make to Jesus and his church! There will be baptisms! There will be a word from Pastor Kat! God is doing amazing things, right here, right now.

During the school year, Midweek Momentum on Wednesday nights at FUMC Paris is a time to fellowship, learn, and grow as disciples of Jesus, for all ages and stages! There's a place for everyone to join in:

- Pastor’s Bible Study - 6-7pm in the Downtown Fellowship Hall.

- Children’s Programming - 6-7pm in the Children’s Building.

- Youth Night - 6-7:30pm in the YAMB (meal included) - with our new Youth Pastor, Rev. Katrina!

The Fellowship Hall will open at 5:30pm for those that want to bring their own food and eat before discipleship programs begin!

Join us for a night to build the momentum we need to keep growing together!

5:30pm: Fellowship Meal provided by the Connections Community
5:30pm: Youth Parent and Student Meeting in the North Room
6:30pm: Worship and Imposition of Ashes

Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. On this night, we emphasize two themes: our sinfulness before God and our human mortality. It doesn't stop there, though, as realizing our own brokenness helps us to understand our triumph through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Join us for a powerful night of worship, offered by the Connections Community in the heart of downtown Paris. Here, you always belong!

If you would like to help with the meal (soups and breads), please contact Rita Gaither at shootarita@gmail.com.

(FUMC Paris will also host a short mid-day service at 12:15pm in the Sanctuary.)

What are you doing this Christmas Eve? Are you looking for a place to hear THE story that changed the world? Will you be looking for some place warm to hang out? Do you want a place to enjoy some fellowship and sing the songs of the season?

Join us for Christmas Eve Worship at Connections!

We'll sing. We'll celebrate. We'll share in communion and light our candles to invite the Light of the World, Jesus, into our hearts. We'll share cookies and hot chocolate too.

It.Will.Be.Magical. And you need to be where you belong - with us!

Join us this Christmas Eve at 6pm in the gym of our Youth and Ministry Building for a modern Christmas Eve service.

Connections is joining in the annual Christmas Parade again, right here in Downtown Paris!

The theme this year is TOYLAND.

Information about decorating help will be on the way soon! But, there will be room to ride, we'll need people to walk, and we'll be handing out invitations to our FUMC Paris Christmas Eve services.
Stay tuned for information on when we'll be lining up and make plans to join in for this city celebration!

St. Francis of Assisi once said, “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” We sometimes take for granted the power of lighting a candle in the dark and how it can point us forward. The light of God’s grace has been given to us for the sake of lighting the way for others.

This Advent and Christmas, we invite you to consider how we are called to this work of Lighting the Way of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love as we read the stories of the one called to bring all of those things into the world.

Can we listen to the stories of, about, and from Jesus and dream together of a world where light and love are all around us and for all of us? Can we invite Jesus into our hearts and lives this season and share the gifts he brings?

Join us for our Advent Series: Lighting the Way and dream wonderful dreams with us

Our annual Hanging of the Greens in the Youth and Ministry Building will be after worship on November 27, the first Sunday of the Advent Season. Help us to get the space ready for the Advent and Christmas by putting up trees, hanging lights, and the general spreading of merriment! Lunch and fun will be provided!

During the four Sundays of the Advent Season, leading up to Christmas, join us for a morning book study with a new book from Adam Hamilton, Prepare the Way for the Lord: Advent and the Message of John the Baptist.

"In each of the Gospels, the story of Jesus is intertwined with that of his cousin John, the one whom the prophets foretold would come to “prepare the way of the Lord.” When we hear the message of John the Baptist, it makes us and our world ready to receive Christ."

If you've been looking for an opportunity to plug in and get to know people within the Connections Community, this is the time! Pastor Jarrod will be leading this study in the YAMB. Email him at pastorjarrod@connectionsparis.church for information!