Church Ministries
First Methodist Church offers a wide range of ministries—from Grief Share and Membership Care to Evangelism, Prayer Quilts, youth and children's programs, and small groups—serving diverse needs and life stages.
Evangelism Team
Share your love for Christ with others
In our workplaces, in our homes, in our recreation, and in our hearts, Christ expects each of us to put Him first and to share His good news with everyone. Here at First Methodist Church, we want all to know the joy we find in Christ Jesus.
Organized evangelism is a vital and effective ministry at FMC, but true evangelism begins with each one of us in our everyday lives. Join with us to learn more about His good news and how to share your love for Christ with others! Let them see Christ in YOU!
Here are some examples of how we show our love:
Hosting New Member Fellowship at Parsonage
Hosting Visitor Welcome Centers
We've got a lot of Evangelists at First Methodist Church of Livingston. In fact, we want everyone here to be an Evangelist! We make sure our visitors feel at home, and our members feel loved—and encourage both to become involved in God's ministries and to continue to learn about our awesome God and to be motivated to go out into the community and the world and bring others to Christ through their example.
We're a busy bunch! We warmly greet all who enter our doors, we bake bread for them and deliver it to their homes, we call, we write, we send newsletters, we provide lots of literature and goodies for them at our Welcome Centers that tell them about us and how they can join with us in God's ministries. We hold their hands when they join, we mentor them and help them find a place where they are most comfortable and want to be, we introduce them to our Christian friends, and invite them to fellowship with our Pastor at his home to learn even more about us and their place with us. We want them to be Evangelists too!
Prayer Quilt Ministries
Can you touch a prayer?
So often we hear of someone in our Church or Community who is suffering in body or mind, and we offer them our prayers. The gift of a prayer lap quilt is a tangible reminder of those prayers that the recipient can see, touch, and wrap themselves up in.
The idea behind these quilts is simple, yet powerful. A heavy thread is used to take stitches through the quilt layers, and the ends are left free to be tied with a square knot. As each knot is tied, a silent prayer is offered for someone in need of comfort or healing- someone who has asked the members of our Church to pray for them. The quilt is then given to that person. When they feel each knot, it is a reminder to them that someone has said a prayer for them.
What makes each quilt unique is not the pattern, color, or workmanship, but the fact that prayer is symbolically tied into each one. These "comforters" are a statement of faith, and a testimony to our belief in God and in the power of prayer.
Our prayer lap quilts are free gifts and can be requested for anyone who is experiencing physical, emotional, spiritual, or some other life crisis and who feels they could benefit from being "covered in prayer."
If you would like to request a prayer lap quilt for someone, please fill out a request form found inside our brochure on our table in the Northex, and leave it in the office or contact Sherry Holster at 936-223-9366.
How can you support this ministry?
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We always request and appreciate your prayers for our ministry—for the hands that make the quilts as well as the people who receive them! We also accept donations of supplies.
Cotton Fabric
100% Cotton yarn for the ties
Unfinished Quilt tops
80/20 Low Loft Batting
Quilt Blocks
Cotton Thread
Working Sewing Machines
Cutting Mats
Rotary Cutters and Blades
There is a tote at our table in the Northex to drop off any donations or contact Sherry Bennett.
There are some expenses that are incurred in completing and delivering the quilts, such as batting, solid color fabrics, sewing supplies, equipment maintenance, storage bags, etc. Monetary donations are always appreciated to help cover these cost.
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Please join us. If you can sew, or if you have experience quilting, or if you have never sewn before or if you want to have fun and fellowship while serving, we want you.
We meet the 2nd and 4th Monday
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fellowship Small
Membership Care
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was sick and you looked after me ..." -Matthew 25: 35 - 36Membership care supports our congregation by providing regular home, hospital, and nursing home visits and offering intercessory prayer for those in need.
We send prayer cards with signed notes to anyone who requests prayer and celebrate special remembrances—bringing cookies at Christmas and Easter to shut-ins and nursing home residents. We also send welcome cards to new members and celebrate life milestones by sending cards for births, graduations, and birthdays for members over 80. Through these actions, we nurture connection, comfort, and spiritual support across our church family.
Join us on Mondays at 10 a.m. in the Hope Room.
We invite all who feel drawn to this ministry to come and see what we do. If you would like to join, you are most welcome. Contact the church at 936-327-7100.
Library Ministry
The Belva Williford Memorial Library
“The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”
Proverbs 18:15Would you like to grow in Faith and knowledge? Do you love to read? Well, you are in the right place! The Belva Willaford Memorial Library is right here at FMC, Livingston! For those of you who are wondering, Belva Willaford is our library benefactor. What a wonderful lady to provide this amazing gift.
Did you know that the library has over 2,300 books to choose from? Not only do we have Bibles, Bible commentaries, and theology books, we also have biographies, Christian fiction (for adults, children, and teens), reference books, and self-help books. Thanks to Belva’s generosity and other donations, we frequently add new books, so you will want to visit often!
While you are in the library, you will want to “check-out” our Reading Rewards Program. That’s right, not only do you gain Faith and knowledge by reading, but you can also earn fun gifts too! The program is open to all ages (kids and adults), and you can find additional details posted in the library.
The library also has EXCITING NEWS to share. After plenty of hard work, the library reopened in July 2016, so we are about to celebrate our 10th anniversary! Be on the lookout for details of our upcoming celebration; you won’t want to miss it!
The library is just down the hall from the church office, and the library hours are the same as the church hours. Books can be checked out for two weeks on a self-serve system. You will find instructions on borrowing books in the library. The library is open to members and non-members of the church. Please stop in to visit this quiet, welcoming space and open your mind to the many wonderful discoveries here.
If you see any of the many members of the Library Ministry Team, please say hi. The team can also help if you have any questions. Look for Joyce Bemiller, Samantha Carter, Shirley Chadwick, Kim Joosten, Nancy Martin, Theresa Pleasants, Sharon Pollard, Tracy Steele, and Suanne Wilson.
If you are interested in being a part of this amazing ministry, we meet in the library on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 9 am. Please feel free to join us on this journey.
Library News
It is such a blessing to have the freedom to share with others, sharing not only in our church but far beyond our doors. Several of our Library Ministry team had the pleasure of attending the VCLA (Virginia Church Library Association) conference in Chester, Virginia. What an amazing gathering with seven states represented, Texas being the furthest. Many informative sessions were held, and new seeds were planted for upcoming ideas.
Very inspiring to say the least.
There were authors and book reviews and plenty of fellowship. One highlight was being a part of something very special and rare. Maxine J. Breach is an author who spoke and had a book signing. What a storyteller she is indeed. What is most striking is that Maxine is 100 years young.
One could listen to her and not get tired; she has a marvelous sense of humor as well as a deep spiritual heart. Meeting Maxine was an experience we will not forget!
“Look up! Laugh! Love and Lift!”
- Maxine "Mackie" J. Bersch
VCLA Conference, Chester, VAOur library is happy to feature books from the conference as well as other authors attending. Come in and check it out. Continued thanks for the overwhelming support and prayers. We are very blessed to be a small part of a big picture of a faithful journey.
Blessings... Your Library Ministry Team
Mothers Together
No mom left behind
Our prayer is that you will find Mothers Together a haven from the daily demands of life, a place to connect with other women and grow in your faith as we navigate the journey of motherhood together.
Our group is open to all moms looking for fellowship, sisterhood, and laughter. Childcare is provided.
September through May
First and Third Monday
9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Fellowship Small
Methodist Women
Actively building faith
The Methodist Women of First Methodist Church are actively building our faith through learning, being of service to others, and enjoying the fellowship of others.
We meet on the first Thursday of every month at 9:30 am in Fellowship Small. We take June and July off. Join the ladies with their many activities and dinners scheduled regularly throughout the year.
For more information, contact:
Suzanne Ganzer
936-327-2867
Pumpkin Patch
A community tradition
The Pumpkin Patch is an outreach to the church and community, providing a safe, beautiful place for families to enjoy and explore.
Funded by community and church sponsors, the patch offers activities like Family Fun Day and Trunk-or-Treat and hosts field trips for local schools and daycares. All proceeds fund local Polk County ministries (Helping Hands, Manna Fest, God’s House, etc.). The patch also provides volunteer opportunities for church members and community friends—everyone is welcome to help.