We are excited to announce that this past Sunday we had Mark & JP Pankratz join our family of faith! Make sure to give them a warm First UMC welcome next time you see them!

Last Sunday we also celebrated Jeremy, Jennifer and Matthew Tavares becoming members of our church, as Matthew received his baptism. Please welcome the Tavares family and congratulate them on Matthew's baptims the next time you see them!

Join us for our Live Nativity on December 20th from 5:30-7:00pm!
Celebrate the season with an evening of joy, reflection, and community. Enjoy a heartfelt nativity experience filled with the spirit of Christmas. All are welcome - bring family, friends, and neighbors as we gather to share the love and hope of the holiday season!
We will be located in the labyrinth area on the south side of the FLC parking lot.

It is the longest night of the year, and for many, the season of Christmas can feel shadowed by grief, exhaustion, and the absence of those we love most. If loss has marked your life this year, we invite you to come and heal with us on December 21 at 7:00pm in the Sanctuary. Our Blue Christmas service is a gentle, quiet time of worship created for those who need space to breathe, reflect, and be held by the hope of Christ.
 
This years’ service will include a simple Ritual of Remembrance, where worshipers can write the name of a loved one on a blue ornament and hang it on our white Remembrance Tree. This act of love and memory helps us acknowledge our grief while trusting that God holds every name and every story.
 
No matter where you find yourself this season, the message of Christmas still speaks hope into the darkness. Join us for this meaningful service as we seek comfort, healing, and light, together.

Every year, Christmas Eve worship meets our longing for hope, peace, joy and love. This year, on December 24, we’ll offer three services. At 3:00pm, we’ll worship in the Family Life Center with a beautiful blend of contemporary music and rooted traditions. At 5:00pm and 7:00pm, we’ll worship in the Sanctuary with traditional music and lovely liturgy. We’ll receive Communion at all three services and then light our candles as the lights dim and we sing, “Silent Night!” If you are in town, we hope you’ll join us at one of these services. 

The Missions Committee annually chooses a ministry or organization to receive the Christmas Eve Offering, and this year they are excited to announce our congregation's Benevolence Ministry as the recipient.

This ministry provides emergency financial assistance to our neighbors who find themselves in crisis throughout the Stillwater community. In 2025 alone, this fund supported 64 households, representing more than 168 individuals, with nearly $24,000 in vital aid for utilities, rent, and other essential needs.

This ministry remains one of the most direct ways our church is able to respond to real and immediate needs throughout our community. As we gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the night when hope took on flesh, we ask you to generously support this ministry so that our congregation may continue shining Christ’s light through tangible support for those who need it most, when they need it most.

Thank you for helping us share His love in meaningful and life-giving ways!

On Sunday, December 28, we’ll join together for one worship service at 10:00am in the Family Life Center. Breakfast provided. Menu: French Toast Casserole, sausage, fruit, coffee and juice. If you have extra Christmas goodies to share, please bring them. Our mission project is a Book Drive (children’s books) for Hope House. If you have new or gently used children’s books to share, bring them with you on December 28. Our livestream will run at 8:30am that morning, with a replay of the December 29, 2024, worship service.

Our church hosted an OBI blood drive on Sunday, December 14. Total units collected: 26. Donors were mostly church members, but there were a few from the community. Most donors had an appointment, but there were 7 walk ins. Hospitals as far away as Amarillo and Little Rock benefited from the blood donated this past Sunday. Our largest percentage of donors were A+, closely followed by O+. Thank you to everyone who donated on Sunday!
We are grateful for the dedication and commitment of our staff all year long. Thanks for your generous support of this offering during this special time of year!

Earlier this month our UWF held its Annual Christmas Tea.  Keegan Rose blessed them with a music program, followed by recognition of "Angels" who they've have lost in 2025. Irene Upson led them in the installation of 2026 officers, and they feasted on Christmas goodies provided by the UWF women. Many guests were in attendance. They will meet again in January - wishing all a wonderful Christmas season!

We closed out the year with a joyful shopping day, serving 21 foster care families and 51 children. Thanks to your generosity, families received essentials including:

A large number of diapers and wipes
Winter coats and clothing
Shoes and socks
Toys, books, and festive pajamas

We are deeply grateful to our volunteers, donors, and church family for making this possible. Your support ensures children in foster care are cared for, comforted, and celebrated this holiday season.