The building is closed. There's no Sunday morning worship in the Sanctuary, or Sunday School in the classrooms. There's no Wednesday WINDOWS. No Wednesday night dinner, Bible study or book clubs. The Choir Room is empty and silent. The Learning Academy is eerily quiet. 

But First United Methodist Garland is not closed. Because our church is not a building. It's the people. It's us. The church - our church - is who we are, not where we go. 

As we shelter in place, doing our part to slow the spread of COVID-19, we continue to do the work for which we are tasked as disciples of Christ. 

We worship together on Facebook (Sundays, 11:00am) with Senior Pastor Valarie Englert.* Some of our Sunday School classes meet via video conference. 

We share "The Faces of Easter" (Wednesdays, 10:00am) and "Parables" (Fridays, 10:00am) with Associate Pastor Caroline Noll, also on Facebook Live. 

Director of Music Ministries Kitty Williams and the Chancel Choir harmonize online and Artist-in-Residence Eldred Marshall shares his gifts on the piano, both on Facebook. 

Josh Medlock, Director of Student Ministries is in fellowship with our First Youth via video conference at least twice a week. 

We pray for one another. 

Your pastors and church staff are connecting with church family and friends by phone, text, email and Facebook to stay connected and to address pastoral care needs when humanly possible under these extraordinary circumstances. 

In short, we're all in this together. We are all responsible for carrying on the work of the church, even when there's no sanctuary and no church building available to aid us. 

First United Methodist Garland is shuttered, but not closed. Now more than ever, we are the church. 

* Recordings also available on YouTube.