Director of College-Age Ministry Kenny Bray Director of College-Age Ministry kenny@fumcgt.org Kenny, his wife Debbie, and their two sons, Ethan and Adam, have been members of FUMC since 2001. Prior to joining the FUMC staff, Kenny was an active volunteer with the youth for several years, going on mission trips, participating in youth activities, and leading small group Bible Study for Jr. High boys. In 2016, he sold his coffee and catering business of almost 25 years to follow his heart and pursue a calling in full-time youth ministry. He is determined to surround the youth with an unconditional love that fosters genuine relationships that will help build, strengthen, and grow their faith journey. One of his favorite things to do is support the students by attending activities such as sporting events, fine arts performances, and academic achievements. In his spare time, he loves vacationing with his family, playing golf, and watching sports. Next Item Previous Item

Audio-Visual Team Emelia Bruton Audio-Visual Team Emelia is a Georgetown native. She has been attending FUMC Georgetown with her family since 2012. She is the oldest of three children. As a child, she was part of the children’s choir and handbell ensemble and is currently a member of the church orchestra. Before being officially hired, Emelia edited the pre-recorded services posted during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. She continued to do odd jobs during this period, including the production of the virtual chancel choir and church orchestra performances released on FUMC’s Youtube channel. In August of 2021, she was officially hired and began creating the slide presentations used in every worship service. Every Sunday, she can be spotted in the sanctuary balcony, running the slideshow or manning the cameras for that service’s livestream. Emelia is studying English at Southwestern University and plans to graduate in 2025. She works at the Southwestern Library as a library assistant, and the Debby Ellis Writing Center as a writing consultant. She plays French horn and is a member of both the wind ensemble and the Band of Pirates, Southwestern’s pep band. Additionally, she is a member of the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega and serves on the university’s Honor Code Council. In her free time, Emelia enjoys reading, watching television shows, and thinking very hard about the things she reads and watches. Next Item Previous Item

On May 14th, we had the opportunity to see and hear the Rwandan Youth that FUMC Sponsors: Meet Claudine and her family. She is a part of FUMC's Unity Group in Rwanda. ZOE Empowers Since 2023, First United Methodist Georgetown has partnered with ZOE Empowers, an organization that equips orphaned children and youth-led families with solutions to overcome extreme poverty -for good. Zoe Empowers equips orphaned and vulnerable youth to overcome poverty for good through a three-year, community-based empowerment program. Through mentorship, education, vocational training, and support, youth are equipped to become safe, healthy, and financially independent while building sustainable futures for themselves, their families, and their communities -knowing they are deeply loved by God. ZOE'S Beginnings Founded in 2004 in response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in Zimbabwe, Zoe Empowers began through feeding programs, medical care, and relief efforts for vulnerable children. In 2007, Zoe was introduced to a radically new way of empowering orphaned kids and youth-led families to become self-sufficient. This approach was designed by Epiphanie Mujawimana with a group of Rwandan social workers responding to the 800,000 orphaned children created over 100 days during the 1994 genocide. Rather than creating long-term dependency on aid, Epiphanie and her team focused on helping youth-led families become self-sufficient through a three-year, community-based program where participants lead their own journey out of poverty. Today, Zoe Empowers has impacted more than 246,300 vulnerable children across 11 countries, with each program locally led and community-driven. Meet our ZOE Youths Stars Beginning in January 2024, our "Stars" group is comprised of 32 households and 83 orphaned youths in Rwanda. As they enter the last year of the ZOE Program, all the families are eating 2 meals a day, and all the siblings are back in school with health insurance. Many are actively growing food and livestock businesses, and are becoming more self sufficient. They are thankful to God and refer to FUMC Georgetown as 'their parents.' Unity Comprised of 26 households (90 youths and children) our Unity group is entering their final year in the ZOE program. These youths are solidifying their income projects, with 85% of their businesses expanding! They are now able to provide for the basic needs of their families (food, housing, medical insurance.) They prepare and eat regular, nutritious meals for their families. Good hygiene is critical, and most have repaired or built latrines to maintain their hard-won health. Supreme Beginning in January 2025, this third group is comprised of roughly 93 youths and children from 20 households. They are still quite vulnerable, but have already received training in business, agriculture, and livestock. They can grow their own food and sell any unused food for more income. Their training in health and hygiene aims to reduce waterborne illnesses, prevent teenage pregnancy, and avoid the spread of HIV. Government health insurance covers their needs, and any unsafe housing have been repaired or they have moved into a “new” home. Unity (26) Started in 2026, our newest ZOE group has just begun their ZOE Empowers trainings. This group is comprised of 30 households and a total of 99 youth and children. We are excited to share their progress soon! ZOE and FUMC Learn about our history with the ZOE Empowers Ministry. 2023 Christmas Eve Offering Starting with our Christmas 2023 offering, we aimed to support a single group of orphaned youth for one year of the ZOE Empowers program. Due to the immense generosity of this church, we were able to raise enough to support our first group for the full three years, plus enough to begin to support a second group into their first year of the ZOE Program. 2024 Christmas Eve Offering For our 2024 Christmas Eve Offering, we continued to give away our entire Christmas Eve Offering, which finalized our commitment to our second group of Rwandan youth, and gave us the ability to begin a third group. 2025 Christmas Eve Offering For Christmas 2025, we were able to finalize our 3-year commitment to our third group, as well a fully fund a fourth group of Rwandan Youth all through the three years of the Zoe Empowers program. This means that in three years of Christmas Eve Offerings, FUMC Georgetown was able to fully fund four groups of orphaned youth in Rwanda. 2026 Trip to Rwanda In February 2026, we sent 5 members of FUMC Georgetown to Rwanda to witness firsthand the impact of ZOE Empowers and meet some of our youths in person. 2026+ The Future This Christmas, we hope to once again give our entire Christmas Eve offering to Zoe Empowers. Thank you to all have supported this important mission, and to those who will contribute their support in this year’s Christmas Eve offering. ZOE Empowers in Rwanda Rwanda is one of 12 countries where the ZOE Empowers mission works. For decades, the global response to help orphans in Rwanda has been largely relief-based, yielding recipient dependency, donor frustration, and little transformation to support children in their area of need. ZOE Empowers works to identify vulnerable youth outside of the major cities, bicycles and motorcycles provide the bulk of transportation for food, materials, people and water. Identifying Vulnerable Youth Vulnerable youths start as outcasts, homeless, and hungry. They are invited into peer groups by local community leaders. The groups help them develop a sense of safety, community, and trust. Weekly Training Classes Each week, the Heads of Households gather for a training meant to educate and uplift. Zoe Empowers focuses on 8 key areas of education. If an individual in the group stumbles, their peers lift them up, help them correct what went wrong, and they continue on their developmental path. They find their voices, care for each other, and transform their lives and the lives of their communities. At the end of 3 years, the youths 'graduate' and are able to live , safely and independently. They are regarded as leaders in their communities, and they have the training, knowledge and means to sustainably support themselves and their siblings. 8 Key Areas of Training Secure Food & Housing Youth are immediately taught about nutrition, safe food storage, agriculture, and animal husbandry. Within twelve months, they’re growing and buying food, plus selling or sharing surplus. Hygiene & Healthcare Youth learn hygiene and disease prevention, such as hand washing, mosquito net installation, and latrine construction. Many children enter the program suffering from illnesses, so Zoe staff facilitate access to medical care. Child Rights Youth are trained about human rights and gender equality. Up until this point, many participants are unaware they have rights and lack the resources to enforce them. With support from Zoe Empowers and their peers, they become advocates for themselves, and in some cases, receive assistance to seek justice. Access to Education By year three, many of the program participants already have sufficient funds from their business profits to pay for their own education, and their sibling’s, school fees and supplies. Some even go on to attend college and beyond. Business Skills & Financial Fluency Youth receive a small grant at the beginning of the program in conjunction with business training. Children develop a business plan and are provided guidance in executing their vision. Subsequent lessons are given on accounting, investing, and how to leverage their funds for long-term success. Vocational Training Youth are encouraged to pursue individualized training in their vocation of choice using resources from their group, this might include writing a business plan, raising livestock, growing crops, tailoring, beauty shops/barber shops, weaving, transportation and more. Zoe graduates often become mentors in their community and/or employ other vulnerable youth, amplifying the ripple effect of empowerment. Community Reintegration with Agency Youth experience a sense of comfort and belonging in their Zoe Empowers peer group, and their customers bear witness their talents and transformation. As their businesses succeed, the children grow increasingly independent and confident. Spiritual Strength While Zoe Empowers is a religiously non-restrictive program, children experience the gospel in both action and words in ways that are always inviting but never coercive. The majority of participants find joy and meaning in collective prayer and feel confident attending worship. ZOE Empowers Case Studies Jean Marie FUMC first met Jean Marie in 2024 when he was selling 6 live chickens at local markets. By 2026, he had 20 chickens on his bike, ready to sell them to restaurants in a major city (Huye) (who-yee). He was taller and healthier. His business, now thriving, includes 60 chickens, one cow, 2 pigs, 2 goats, and 12 sheep. His family eats 2 meals a day. He owns a bike, and his dream is to own a motorbike to improve his deliveries. Ettiene Ten years after graduating from Zoe Empowers, Ettiene employs over 100 full-time Zoe graduate basket weavers with a fair, living wage weekly, fulfilling large orders and exporting. In 2014, he was exporting through a distributor for Target in the US. Get Involved with ZOE Empowers Give Monthly Pledge a monthly amount to help empower our Rwandan Youths. Empower a Half Group Pledge $4,750/year for 3 years. (30+ vulnerable youth) Empower a Whole Group Pledge $9,500/year for 3 years. (60+ vulnerable youth) Visit our ZOE Youth Interested in traveling to Rwanda to witness the impact firsthand? And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:24

Facilities Director Mike Robertson Facilities Director mike@fumcgt.org Mike has been serving as a day porter at FUMC since 2016. He enjoys his job and especially the people around him (staff and congregation). Mike has lived in Georgetown for 30 years. In his free time, he enjoys doing work around the house and taking care of his cats Next Item Previous Item

Who We Are The Learning Tree Preschool is a part-time, Christian preschool located in Georgetown, Texas at First United Methodist Church. We believe all children learn best through play. Our classrooms are filled with experiences in literacy, math, science, imagination, engineering, and social and emotional development. Our Philosophy Staff and parents work together to create a loving, accepting, and nurturing space for families, where children can explore, create, and grow with confidence. At The Learning Tree, we believe that children learn best through active engagement with their environment. In cooperation with parents, we aim to foster a positive self-concept in each child, encourage curiosity, and inspire a love of learning. Since 1975, First United Methodist Church has offered this program with the vision that God is a God of love, allowing children to experience this love through positive relationships and supportive learning experiences. We closely follow the Georgetown Independent School District school year calendar: Download Calendar Frequently Asked Questions When is registration and how can I enroll my child? Enrollment is easy! We utilize Brightwheel for all enrollment and student management. Please contact our office for more information. Registration is held in January for current students for the following year. Priority is given to children who are presently enrolled, members of First United Methodist Church, or siblings of enrolled children. A waiting list will be maintained after classes have been filled, including a list of children currently attending classes who would like to move to a different schedule. What are your hours of operation? We’re open from 8:45 AM to 2:15 PM, Monday through Thursday. You can drop off your little one between 8:45 and 9:00 AM, and pick-up happens from 2:00 to 2:15 PM. We follow a school calendar that runs from late August to mid-May. Do I need to schedule an appointment to tour your preschool? Yes, we recommend scheduling a tour! It gives us a chance to focus on you and your child, answer any questions you might have, and show you all the wonderful things our school has to offer. What is your safety and security policy? We take safety seriously! All faculty and staff are background-checked have completed Ministry Safe Training. We also have monthly fire drills, and tornado and lockout/intruder drills happen 4X a year meant to acquaint your child with emergency procedures. Do you offer part time care? Yes, we do! Pre-k children must attend is a 4-day program. There are limited 2 and 3-day program options for other classes. Parents can register for individual programs at the time of registration. What holidays do you close for? We follow a traditional school calendar, so you can expect closures for major holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break. You’ll get a full calendar at the start of the year so you can plan ahead. What is your teacher-student ratio? We maintain ratios that are lower than state standards and in line with NAEYC standards, ensuring each child receives the attention and care they need to thrive in a nurturing environment. Is your staff trained in CPR/First Aid and Background Checked? Yes! Every staff member is CPR and First Aid certified, and all undergo comprehensive background checks. We want you to feel confident that your child is in capable, caring hands. Are meals included? We ask parents to pack a nutritious and balanced lunch for their child. Not only do children benefit physically, but they can also learn principles of good nutrition. If your child has a special diet or allergy to food, please note this on registration forms. What schools do you pick up from? Unfortunately, we don’t provide transportation services or school pick-ups. Our focus is on early childhood education and care within the center. Do the children play outside everyday? Yes, we make sure kids get plenty of outdoor playtime! Each class enjoys 45 minutes of outdoor fun daily, weather permitting. When it’s too hot or cold, we have indoor large motor activities to keep them moving. Do you offer a sibling or family discount? Yes! If you have more than one child enrolled, we offer a $25 discount for each additional child. Please contact our office if you have any questions or would like to inquire about enrollment. Aged-Based Curriculum The Learning Tree’s curriculum is based on the belief that children learn through play. Developed by experienced teachers, it focuses on hands-on, play-based learning with a balance of structure, free choice, and active/quiet times. Activities promote sensory, motor, perceptual, and language skills, blending child-centered and teacher-directed approaches. Emphasizing the process over the product, it fosters accomplishment and pride, with materials and activities suited to each child’s developmental stage. Infants Our infants' curriculum is all about early growth and discovery! Each month brings new focus areas, like building strong bonds, exploring movement with fun activities, and sparking early literacy skills. It's a warm, engaging start to learning meant to foster a spirit for exploration and curiosity for years to come. Twos Split into two groups, our "Twos" curriculum is packed with fun ways for kids to explore their feelings, learn to collaborate with others, and build physical skills like jumping and cutting. We dive into early literacy and math basics, like shapes and grouping, all through exciting monthly themes and activities that keep learning fun and engaging! Threes Our "Threes" curriculum makes learning fun with monthly focuses on letters, writing, rhymes, and all kinds of literacy fun! Kids dive into math with shapes, numbers, and counting, while exploring big ideas like family, community helpers, and caring for our world. Every month is packed with engaging, joyful learning adventures! Pre-Kinder Our Pre-K curriculum brings learning to life with monthly focuses on early literacy like phonics and rhyming as well as math skills like counting, measuring, and patterns. Kids delve deeper into themes of family, community helpers, and caring for our world—all while creating a joyful, hands-on learning experience as they transition into school. Meet the Director: Sarah Pyle-Shackelford Sarah Pyle Shackelford has been an educator for 24 years and a cherished part of The Learning Tree community since 2010. Over the years, she has taught every age group, served as an administrator and board member, and experienced the school as a parent, giving her a deep and well-rounded understanding of what makes The Learning Tree so special. Born and raised in Georgetown, Sarah brings both hometown pride and a lifelong passion for early childhood education to her leadership. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Houston–Clear Lake and a Master’s degree in Education from Texas State University. A member of First United Methodist Church since 1998, Sarah is deeply connected to the faith community that has supported and shaped The Learning Tree since its beginning. She has played a vital role in preserving our play-based philosophy, ensuring that children learn through exploration, imagination, and joy. Outside of school, Sarah is married to her husband, Ronan, and together they have three children — twin boys (8) and a daughter (12). She’s a Disney lover, an avid gardener, and a collector of children’s books who finds inspiration in the magic and curiosity of childhood. With her warmth, creativity, and years of experience, Sarah leads The Learning Tree with heart and dedication, continuing to make it a place where children love to learn and families love to belong. We closely follow the Georgetown Independent School District school year calendar: Download Calendar Enrollment We are open Monday – Thursday, 8:45 AM-2:15 PM, September – May. We serve children ages 6 months (by September 1) through Pre-Kinder. Registration is held in January for current students for the following year. Priority is given to children who are presently enrolled, members of First United Methodist Church, or siblings of enrolled children. We would love to visit with you to answer any questions about enrollment. Please contact learningtree@fumcgt.org , with any questions. Tuition Payments Have questions about tuition payment options? We'd love to hear them! Contact The Learning Tree office for tuition payment options. 512-863-6323 or email learningtree@fumcgt.org Waitlist If you'd like to sign up for our Waitlist, please contact learningtree@fumcgt.org We look forward to you joining our Learning Tree Family. Notice of Non-Discriminatory Policy The Learning Tree Preschool admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, and other school-administered programs. Our Team At The Learning Tree, our team is united by a deep passion for childcare and early development. Each staff member brings a unique blend of expertise and heartfelt commitment to nurturing young hearts and minds in a loving, faith-centered environment. We believe in fostering not just academic growth, but also spiritual and social development, guiding each child on their individual journey. Together, we create a safe and engaging atmosphere where every child can thrive, explore, and grow in their faith and learning.

Care Advocate Georgianne Hewett Care Advocate georgianne@fumcgt.org Georgianne grew up in the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in a family devoted to service. Her paternal grandfather served as church treasurer. Her grandmother was active in United Methodist Women, and her parents volunteered as adult leaders for Sunday School and Methodist Youth Fellowship. That foundation shaped her passion for mission, ministry, and communities of faith. Georgianne found her career path advocating for mission-driven organizations by cultivating relationships, communicating values, securing resources, and providing strategic direction. She served three United Methodist affiliated organizations before joining FUMC Georgetown in 2024 – Texas Methodist Foundation, Southwestern University, and The Wesleyan. In her work, she noticed how people struggle with change. In 2012, she invited change into her life by leaving a job she loved and setting out on a mid-life adventure. She sold her car, moved across country, and went back to school. She earned a Master of Science degree in learning and organizational change from Northwestern University (another institution founded by Methodists). Today, her personal ministry is helping people identify what they want, the choices available to them, and how to navigate the necessary changes to get there. Spare time is an oxymoron to Georgianne. She believes every moment in life should be held like a precious gift whether reading a good book, hiking the trails of Georgetown, visiting with a dear friend, writing (which fits under her definition of fun), or simply sitting quietly with God. Next Item Previous Item

MUSIC MINISTRY At the center of the FUMC Music Ministry is worship. We offer a diverse array of opportunities for individuals of all abilities and interests. Our hope is that everyone who participates will deepen their connection with Christ and experience God’s unconditional love. Please contact Marc Profant, Director of Worship Arts at Music@fumcgt.org for more information or to get involved in our Music Ministry! Chancel Choir The Chancel Choir sings at the 8:30 AM and/or 11:10 AM worship services in the Sanctuary from September through June. The Chancel Choir also presents larger works with instrumental accompaniment during the major occasions of the church season, including Advent, Christmas, Holy Week, and Easter. All musical levels are invited. Chancel Choir rehearsals are Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 PM during the fall, winter, and spring. If you have thought about joining the choir for the first time or are coming back to the choir after some time away, now is a great time and we would love to have you join us in choir this season! Handbell Choir FUMC Georgetown has an amazing and talented handbell ensemble. The ensemble plays during worship at during special times of the church season in the Sanctuary from September through June. Rehearsals are Wednesdays at 5:30 PM. This talented group of ringers is awesome and has some amazing music to rehearse and share with our congregation. We are always on the lookout for new ringers to join us! Orchestra The FUMC orchestra rehearses on Sundays at 12:15 PM in the choir room immediately following the 11:10 AM service. From tubas to violins to oboes, we have a wonderful group of musicians that come together to play for worship several times throughout the music season under the skillful direction of Mick Pierce. Praise Band Our contemporary praise band, The Stirring, leads the 10:45 AM Contemporary Worship Service in the McKinney Christian Ministry Center. If you enjoy singing along with contemporary music and feel at home in a contemporary service, this group is for you! The Stirring is supported by a group of volunteers who help run the Audio/Visual side of things. If you are interested in getting involved within the contemporary service, please contact mandi@fumcgt.org.

MISSION MINISTRY There are many ways to serve at FUMC Georgetown. You can serve in any of our ministry areas: Children, Youth, Adult Discipleship, Music, and Worship arts. If you are looking for more outward facing opportunities, our Mission & Outreach team can help you find a place to serve. We have several Mission Ministries that are primarily run by our own church members, and other partner organizations that we support financially and with volunteers. For more information about these and other opportunities, email missions@fumcgt.org. INTERNAL MISSIONS UMCOR Disaster Relief and Recovery Disaster Relief and Recovery is dedicated to providing critical support and assistance in the wake of emergencies. When disaster strikes, United Methodists have a long legacy of helping their neighbors and communities, and this team continues that tradition by site clean-up, home repairs, resources, and compassion to those affected. For more information or to volunteer, email DisasterRelief@fumcgt.org or call (512) 863-2370. CLICK HERE to learn more about this mission. Georgetown Helpers Georgetown Helpers is an all-volunteer service group made up of men and women of our church, providing minor home maintenance and repair services with a key focus on safety issues in the home. Most of our work supports seniors and those with disabilities. For more information or to volunteer, contact Russell Burton at GeorgetownHelpers@gmail.com Project Transformation Project Transformation is a summer literacy camp for children in our community. It operates M-TH, during the months of June and July. We need people to provide breakfasts and lunches each day, as well as readers who can sit with children, while they read, between the hours of 10am and noon each day. For more information or to volunteer, contact children@fumcgt.org. Quail Valley Neighborhood Ministry The Quail Valley Neighborhood Ministry focused on providing meaningful recreation and social opportunities for kids and families within the greatest area of need, the Annie Purl Elementary attendance zone. We provide monthly social opportunities, meals, and other events each month. All events are located at the corner of Quail Valley and Katy Lane unless noted. For more information or to volunteer, contact bobkalka@gmail.com or sign up HERE . PALS Place PALS Place (Patience And Loving Support) is a ministry of FUMC Georgetown to our members as well as the Georgetown community. The ministry offers four hours of respite care on Mondays to persons who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. The time away also gives needed rest to the spouse or other caregiver. For more information or to volunteer, contact Kathy Pena at care@fumcgt.org. Micah Workers The mission of the FUMC Georgetown Micah Workers is to provide scriptural and historical education about justice to inspire and encourage involvement in creating God’s beloved community. For more information, email Missions@fumcgt.org. FUMC Benevolence Fund Our FUMC Benevolence Fund provides temporary financial aid for basic needs such as food and utilities for people in crisis. Getsemani Community Garden Getsemani Garden, founded in 2012, is operated at our Getsemani property at 412 E. 19th St. The community garden grows food for those in need, offers neighbors a place to garden, and provides lessons on how to garden. Volunteers meet Tuesday and Friday mornings at the garden, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM. For more information please contact missions@fumcgt.org. FUMC Blessing Bags Each Thanksgiving, our Open Table College Ministry works to collect and distribute Thanksgiving Meals to local families in need. For more information or to volunteer, contact Kenny@fumcgt.org EXTERNAL PARTNERS Education Connection Education Connection has a mission to have every child reading by the end of 3rd grade. Volunteers meet with one child once a week to help them improve their reading skills. We provide over 25 volunteers each year, to our neighborhood school, Annie Purl Elementary. For more information or to volunteer, visit https://www.education-connection.org Faith in Action Faith in Action Georgetown is a non-profit organization helping seniors maintain their independence and quality of life. Volunteers are needed to provide transportation to medical appointments, grocery stores and various other errands. For more information or to volunteer, visit https://www.faithinactiongt.org/volunteer Sleep in Heavenly Peace Sleep in Heavenly Peace builds and delivers free beds to families with children who do not have a place of their own to sleep. Their mission is simple: "No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town!" For more information or to volunteer, contact Ben Lake at ben.lake@shpbeds.org The Wesleyan Senior Healthcare The Wesleyan Volunteers utilize their skills and talents to nourish the mind, body, and spirit of those who call The Wesleyan home. From providing personal companionship to grounds beautification, there are ample service opportunities for individuals, church congregations, civic groups, and local businesses. For more information or to volunteer, contact Life Enrichment Director Carly Gurgin at Carly.Gurgian@wesleyanhomes.org UMCOR- National The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is the global humanitarian relief agency of The United Methodist Church, responding to natural disasters and humanitarian crises around the world. Through UMCOR, FUMC supports this work by sending financial gifts, relief supplies, and trained volunteers, helping bring immediate aid and long-term recovery to communities in need, without regard to race, religion, or background. For more information, email missions@fumcgt.org Backpack Buddies Backpack Buddies is a volunteer organization that provides food each weekend to food-insecure students. There are approximately 110 volunteers from 10 Georgetown area churches that pack food bags for all the Georgetown ISD schools—currently over 900 bags per week. For more information or to volunteer, contact info@georgetownbackpackbuddies.org For more information or to volunteer, contact info@georgetownbackpackbuddies.org The Caring Place The Caring Place has provided for the basic human needs of all people in our community since 1985 in a welcoming, respectful and caring way. With the help of FUMCGT and other churches, The Caring Place is a community-based, community-supported, and community-serving organization. For more information or to volunteer, contact Rita Turner at rturner@caringplacetx.org . ZOE Empowers Our church supports several community groups in Rwanda, through ZOE Empowers. This ministry equips orphaned children and youth-led families with solutions to overcome extreme poverty—for good. Through this three-year educational experience, the youth learn trades, human rights, healthcare, and more. At the end of the three years, these youth are self-sufficient with the skills to take care of their families. For more information on how you can support these youth, email missions@fumcgt.org. CLICK HERE to learn more about our ZOE Empowers Ministry. Isaiah 117 House Isaiah 177 House provides physical and emotional support in a safe and loving home for children awaiting placement. The mission of Isaiah 117 House is threefold: reducing trauma for children awaiting placement, lightening the load for child welfare services, and easing the transition for foster families. They need volunteers to offer support and care for the children on a short term basis. For more information, please contact missions@fumcgt.org. Meals on Wheels Meals on Wheels is a senior nutrition program that provides hot, nutritious noontime meals to local seniors in need, Monday through Friday. Volunteers deliver meals to homebound seniors, and offering in-person meals in a congregate setting for seniors who can get out and about in the community. For more information or to volunteer, owbc-tx.org/volunteer or call (512) 763-1400. Texas Ramp Project Texas Ramp Project is a nonprofit that provides handicapped ramps for low-income adults and children with disabilities as identified by local healthcare providers. We have regular build dates and can use volunteers of all abilities. For more information please contact Larry Baird at baird102746@gmail.com. Carver Center for Families Carver Center for Families is a family resource center (FRC) that nurtures the health and well-being of children, youth, and families, and builds on the strengths of our community’s parents, caregivers, and residents, as well as the organizations that support them. For more information for to volunteer, visit https://carvercenterforfamilies.org. Helping Hands of Georgetown Helping Hands of Georgetown is a mobile food pantry dedicated to breaking down barriers to essential resources in our community. We provide crucial food support to those in need, ensuring that everyone in Georgetown has access to nutritious meals. For more information or to volunteer, contact Sasha Christensen at Executive@helpinghandsgtx.org Dress a Girl (or Boy) If you like to sew, we have a group of seamstresses who meet monthly to create dresses for girls across the world. As part of Hope 4 Women International, Dress A Girl groups dream of a world in which every girl has at least one new dress. We want girls to know that they are worthy of respect, and that they are loved by God. For more information contact missions@fmcmgt.org or visit https://www.dressagirlaroundtheworld.com/ Kairos Kairos is an non-denominational organization that provides a 4 day experience in prisons, designed to start building the Christian community inside the institution, and help inmates begin to build a better life. It takes a team of folks both inside and outside the prisons to make these events happen 2X/year. For more information, please contact Gary Buchler at gbhawkeye@icloud.com. Camp Sunshine Camp Sunshine is a week-long New Mexico Conference camp for physically and/or mentally challenged adults aged 16-60+. The mission team assists in providing a safe, loving, fun Christian environment where campers can be themselves leaving behind the stress of societal expectations. The camp takes place between late June and early August each year, in Sacramento, New Mexico. For more information or to volunteer, contact care@fumcgt.org.

Finance Director Honey Habingreither Finance Director honey@fumcgt.org Honey was born and raised in Lufkin - situated deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas. After graduating from Lufkin High School, Honey attended The University of Texas at Austin. Following a brief 1.5 years in Dallas, Honey returned to Central Texas to marry her college sweetheart, Jason, and has remained in the greater Austin area since 2001. Honey and her family have been members of FUMC Georgetown since 2018. Prior to joining the FUMC staff in May 2023, she has enjoyed serving as Treasurer for PTAs throughout Georgetown ISD and booster clubs at Georgetown High School as well as volunteering with student ministries at FUMC Georgetown. Honey also serves as a member of the Micah Workers for Racial Justice at FUMC Georgetown. She is excited to join the staff and will primarily assist Children and Student Ministries. Next Item Previous Item

Contemporary Worship Coordinator Mandi Griffin Contemporary Worship Coordinator mandi@fumcgt.org Mandi is a native Texan and has been a Georgetown resident since 2014. She is a Southwestern graduate and has been an Elementary teacher for the past 18 years. Her love of music has been a theme throughout her life and thankfully led her to join The Stirring in 2015. She has been a member of FUMC Georgetown since then and has been blessed with two boys, Wesley and Justin, who both enjoy the Children’s Ministries at the church. Mandi loves helping with the music during VBS and co-directing Music Camp in the summer. She hopes that her love of worshipping God through music brings joy and peace to our church and the community. Next Item Previous Item

HOME OUR MISSIONS WEEKLY GATHERINGS GET INVOLVED SUPPORT US UPCOMING EVENTS Menu Close The Open Table Missions Thanksgiving Blessing Bags Each year, the FUMC Open Table Young Adult Ministry organizes Thanksgiving meals kids for local families in need who have students attending local schools. Last year, we were able to grow this outreach to serve over 1300 people across multiple schools. Together, we aim to make Thanksgiving special for more families in our community, sharing God's love and joy with those who need it most. Green Bag Food Drive The Open Table partners with the Neighborhood Food Project to collect healthy, non-perishable food for local food pantries. Donations will support local Georgetown residents through the The Caring Place, Helping Hands, and Southwestern University’s Pirate Pantry, helping provide food for our neighbors in need throughout our community. Building Beds The Open Table partners with Sleep in Heavenly Peace to help build and deliver free beds to families with children who do not have a place of their own to sleep. Their mission is simple: "No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town!"

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY At First United Methodist Church, we are nurturing children's growth in grace through a developmentally appropriate environment. Our Children's Ministries offer opportunities to grow in and learn about God's grace all through the year; through Sunday morning studies, summer camps, missions, and the Learning Tree Preschool. For any additional questions or concerns, contact children@fumcgt.org Connect with us by joining the Children's Ministry Facebook Group! @FUMCGTchildren During construction, many of our Sunday School classes have changed times & locations, please visit our Building page for an updated list on these changes. Children's Sunday School Join us for Children's Sunday School at 11 AM Children's Sunday School Topics January 11th January 18th January 25th February 1st Our Children’s Sunday School provides a welcoming, age-appropriate environment for PreK-4th grade children. Kids gather in Room 203 for engaging lessons designed just for them, while parents are welcome to attend an A dult Sunday School class during the same hour. Children's Church Join us for Children's Church from 10:00 -10:45 AM For our 5 year-olds - 3rd graders, Children’s Church is an extension of our regular worship service, designed especially for kids! Here, they can participate in worship at their level while still being connected to the larger church community. 9:45 AM MCMC Service – During this service, children are invited to the front for a Children's Moment. After the Children’s Moment, Children’s Ministry staff will lead them across the street the ALC building Room 203 for Children's Church. Pick-up is at the end of the service from Room 203. Please Note: Children’s Church does not meet on the first Sunday of each month so that children may take communion with their families. Nursery Care Nursery Care is available for Ages 4 and Under For our youngest members, we provide a safe and loving nursery from during the Sunday School hour and all services. Our nursery is located in Room 123 in the ALC and is open from 8:30 AM -12:30PM. For questions or concerns, contact children@fumcgt.org Volunteer in our Children's Ministry We are always looking for volunteers to help with Vacation Bible School, Mission Mondays, Children's Sunday School and much more! Contact children@fumcgt.org for more information on how to volunteer. All volunteers must be MinistrySafe Certified prior to volunteering. CHILDREN'S EVENTS FUMC Trunk or Treat Oct 25, 2026, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM FUMC Georgetown More info Learn more Learning Tree Jingle Mingle Dec 03, 2026, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM McKinney Christian Ministry Center More info Learn more