What to Expect

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Attending Sunday worship at a new church can be a little intimidating and you might have a number of questions that we would like to answer to help make your first visit enjoyable, stress-free and meaningful. We at First United Methodist Church truly believe in having Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors. This is reflected in who we are and what we do.

Before you arrive...
Dress however you feel most comfortable. Some people wear ties and coats, or "office casual". Others wear Santa Barbara casual, including sandals! Whatever the case, please just come as you are comfortable.
Click here if you need directions to the church.

When you arrive by car...
For either our 9:00 or 10:30 a.m. worship service, you'll enter the church parking lot from the Garden Street entrance. You can park anywhere but we save a number of spaces by the church office door for our first time visitors.

If you have infants or toddlers...
Three choices are available: Infants and toddlers can remain with you in the service, enjoy the family corner in the back of the sanctuary with you, or can be signed in to the nursery, located in the Education Building. Quality child care in the nursery is available during both services. The sanctuary family area includes child size chairs, pillows, a book section, and an assortment of "busy bags" which can also be brought with you to the pew.

Children and Tweens (Preschool through 6th Grade)...
Are invited to attend Sunday school classes during the 9 a.m. worship service. Children share in the opening of worship and then at the appropriate time (as noted in the Bulletin), will be escorted to the Education Building for their activities and reunited with their families at the coffee hour. The first Sunday of the month, children and tweens return to the service for communion.

Youth, ages 7th grade through 12th grade, meet regularly Sunday afternoons from 4:00pm-6:00pm. Youth are encouraged to attend weekly worship with their families or may participate by serving as a liturgist, acolyte, greeter or usher.

When you enter the Sanctuary...
By the side or front door to the Sanctuary, you will be warmly welcomed by greeters and given a copy of the bulletin by an usher. The bulletin includes the Order of Worship and an insert which includes announcements, a calendar of "This Week at FUMC", and contact information. Please feel free to take the bulletin home with you.

Hearing assistance headphones are available at the back of the sanctuary. An usher will be happy to assist you with this apparatus or answer any other questions you might have.

Once you are sitting in the pew, you will see a red "Friendship Book" being passed along. Please sign in and pass it down the pew to your neighbor. We would appreciate your telephone number, home address, and Email address as we would like to contact you to see if we can answer any questions you may have or be of any special assistance. This is optional and meant as an informal opportunity to offer you additional information about our church.

During the Welcome and Informal Moments...
We will ask if we have any visitors. By raising your hand, you will be given a welcome gift to let you know we are glad you came!

Our Order of Worship...
Can be described as warm traditional and includes prayers, scripture readings and hymns. Sermons by our pastors are Biblically centered, seeking to inspire, uplift, inform and challenge us to be good stewards of both the glories and the gifts of God. Special attention is given to making sermons relevant to the world in which we live. An offering is collected at each Service. Please donate to our ministries as you feel led.

Music is an integral part of our worship service and includes inspiring offerings from our Chancel choir, masterful organ contributions, and frequent delightful hand bell choir selections. Often throughout the year, we have additional music by guest instrumental accompanists, ensembles, groups or soloists.

Holy Communion...
Is celebrated on the first Sunday of every month. Following prayer and blessing of the elements, the invitation to partake of the Lord's Supper is extended to the congregation. Ushers will help direct the congregation to the front in a smooth fashion. Gluten-free bread will be offered in addition to the fresh bread. Holy Communion is open to all who wish to partake, regardless of age or church membership. You may choose not to partake if you are uncomfortable or your beliefs prohibit participation - simply remain seated as others go forward. Please let an usher know if you would like to receive the elements at your seat.

After the Service...
You are invited to be seated for the Postlude music or go quietly in peace after the benediction. Coffee and goodies are provided in Fellowship Hall behind the church from 10 -11 a.m. Please join us after the first service or before the second service. During the summer months, we often have fellowship time under the Redwood tree, next to the church.

We want you to feel at home...
And hope you find First United Methodist Church to be a place where you can meet new friends, experience an inspiring worship service, and find many different opportunities that will help you continue on your spiritual journey. FUMC is "family friendly" and all generations are cherished. Whatever your background, even if you have never been to church before, WELCOME!