The Academy is a place where Christian faith is challenged, deepened, stretched, and confirmed all in the context of a shared experience led by faculty presenters, who invite you to reflect on your own spiritual journey and how God is at work in your life. For more information, check out the Academy or call the church office.
Author Archives: beckyclarkfl
Walk to Emmaus
Retreats offer us an opportunity to build an intimate relationship with Jesus by giving him our undivided attention for a week or weekend. This highly structured weekend is designed to strengthen and renew your faith and, through you, your families and congregations.
WHAT HAPPENS ON THE EMMAUS WEEKEND?
The Walk to Emmaus is a 72-hour experience of Christian spiritual renewal and formation. You will enjoy three busy days singing, learning, laughing, praying, worshiping, and participating in small groups. Discussions center around fifteen talks given by laity and clergy. The theme of each talk is God’s grace, how that grace comes alive in the Christian community, and how it expresses itself in the world. You’ll also discover how grace is real in your life, how you live a life of grace, and bring grace to others. You will have the opportunity to participate in the daily celebration of Holy Communion and to understand more fully the body of Christ. You will experience God’s grace through the prayers and acts of anonymous service offered by the Emmaus community. You will leave with an experience of Christian love in action that will equip you for new levels of grace-filled service and leadership.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARD?
You are invited to walk with Christ for the rest of your life. Those who attend a Walk to Emmaus are encouraged to servant-leadership and to:
• expand their own spiritual lives through worship, study, and active participation in their local church.
• become more active disciples of Christ in service to the world.
To nurture this process of discipleship, the Emmaus movement offers specific opportunities. First, groups of four to six people meet weekly to reflect on their spiritual journey and encourage one another in accountable discipleship. Second, there are monthly community gatherings where Emmaus participants meet for fellowship, worship, and instruction. Third, through a newsletter, members become aware of support needs for upcoming Walks and other opportunities for servant-leadership.
THE PURPOSE OF EMMAUS
The purpose of Emmaus is to develop leaders for the church. Emmaus will inspire, challenge, and equip participants for Christian action in their homes, churches, and places of work. Emmaus lifts up a way for our grace-filled lives to be lived and shared with others.
WHO SHOULD GO TO EMMAUS?
Emmaus is open to members of any Christian denomination. Emmaus is for the development of Christian leaders who:
• Are members of a local church;
• Have a desire to strengthen their spiritual lives;
• May have unanswered questions about their faith;
• Understand that being a Christian involves responsibility;
• Are willing to dedicate their everyday lives to God in an ongoing manner.
What’s Happening at First Boca
Besides special events shown on our home page, our campus is full of events throughout each week. Please check our church calendar below for specific meeting times. If you have any questions, please contact the church office at 561-395-1244. To find your way around our large campus, check out this MAP of the buildings.
Welcome!
I’m glad you’re here! I hope you will be able to find everything you need on our website to help you take the next step and actually visit our church (CLICK HERE for DIRECTIONS). We are excited about how God is at work in our life together as a church family, and how God is using us to make a difference in our community.
Whether you are a lifelong United Methodist, are from another denomination, or perhaps have no church background at all, you are welcome at First Boca. If there is anything I can do to help you find your way in, let me know. You can call me at 561 395-1244 x 128, or email me.
I hope to see you Sunday,
Rev. Dr. Craig Nelson
Senior Pastor
Scouting at FUMC
First United Methodist Church is affiliated with Troop 336 (boys) and Troop 2336 (girls).
BSA Scouting is for boys or girls 11 – 18 years old. The Troops offers a great opportunity to learn life changing skills, experience one-of-a-kind adventures, build life-long friendships and for each to have the best time of their lives along the way. They meet Tuesday nights at 7:00pm at Don Estridge High Tech Middle School during the school year. For more information, contact John C.
What To Expect
We offer two welcoming services on Sunday morning, each with its own unique style and atmosphere.
Sunday 9:30am
Meet in the Gathering Place for a casual setting . Our contemporary band will lead lively praise music.
- Sunday School prek3-5th grade
- Childcare available infant through 3 years old.
Sunday 11:00am
Join us in the Sanctuary for service. Traditional music is led by Arlene Sparks, our Director of Music.
- Childcare available infant through 3 years old.
Come as you are, really. There’s no dress code. From laid-back to a little more dressed up, you’ll find it all here. What matters most is that you feel comfortable and welcome.
We know visiting a new church can feel unfamiliar, but you won’t have to figure it out alone. Our team is here to help every step of the way, so you can relax and feel right at home.
Connection goes beyond Sunday. With groups, studies, and events happening all week, there are plenty of ways to get involved. Connect our office to learn more.
Welcome Home!
About Us
At First United Methodist Church in Boca Raton, we find ourselves in an exciting new season of a long journey that began in 1926, a new season driven by our purpose statement—“making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” Guided by that statement, we are building a caring family of believers, who are experiencing how much fun we can have following Jesus together.
We take the process of becoming disciples seriously, calling our church family to weekly worship and daily devotional time; to connection with each other in accountability and mentoring relationships; to generosity of self and resources; and to service within the church and beyond the church in the community and world.
Our definition of discipleship comes from John 15:5, 10-12 NKJV:
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing. . . If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
Ultimately, we seek to love our neighbors with a missional love that invites them to discover Jesus as Savior and join us in the lifelong journey of becoming his disciples.
We serve our neighbors in a wide variety of capacities with the goal of transforming our communities and our world through Christ’s compassion and love. You will find us in schools and medical facilities, in food pantries and prisons, on sports fields and mission fields in the U.S. and overseas. We call it “Love—in action” (and we have the t-shirts to prove it).
We welcome newcomers and invite you to join us on this journey that gets more and more exciting as we abide and obey and serve and love together.
Leadership Council
Since 2012, the leadership structure of the church has been updated to create better communication and allow decisions to be made in a more timely manner. The Leadership Council meets the third Monday of each month beginning at 6:30pm in the Center Room of the LEC building. All meetings are open to the congregation.
Music Ministry
Thank you for your interest in the Music Ministry of FUMC Boca and for taking the time to check us out. There are many opportunities for people of all ages to develop and use their gifts and talents in music to praise our Lord, and bring hope to our community and beyond.
Let us encourage you to explore each area of the Music Ministry web page, and feel free to contact us if you find a particular area that interests you, or with any questions you might have.
Blessings, and we look forward to hearing from you!!
Chancel Choir
Our Chancel Choir is open to all adults who like to sing! No auditioning is needed. The choir practices one day a week on Thursdays at 7:00pm in the Music Suite. The choir sings every Sunday (except in August) at the 11:00am Traditional Worship Service. The choir is a warm and friendly group of people who are like family to each other. The mission of this musical group is to praise God and share their faith through song.
For more information, please contact Arlene Sparks, Director of Music at 561-395-1244 ext 134.
fumcbocaraton.org 