First United Methodist Church of The Colony is a United Methodist congregation at 4901 Paige Rd. in The Colony, Texas. It is known for one gathered Sunday worship service at 10:30 a.m., a broad path of Christian formation for children, youth, and adults, and practical work to address spiritual, relational, and nutritional insecurity in the neighborhood. Sunday School begins at 9:15 a.m. The church's mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, and its vision is for a loving church in which people work together toward that goal.
One Sunday Gathering at 10:30
First UMC The Colony worships in its Sanctuary at 10:30 a.m., with one regular Sunday service. The invitation is broad, covering people who arrive through a friend's encouragement, a major life change, trauma, or simple curiosity. Worship is understood as a time to celebrate, pray, lament, sing, and share songs of praise, bringing people into connection with God and with one another.
For those unable to attend in person, worship is livestreamed through the church's YouTube channel.
Arrival, Parking, and Dress
The church has ample parking, and anyone may use an available space. Designated guest parking is in the middle row near the light poles. Families can drop children near the main entrance before parking, and welcoming members and guests are available to help visitors find their way.
Dress is casual. Jeans and a button-down, a skirt or dress, shorts and a T-shirt, and even a coat are all common. The pastor and choir wear robes throughout the school year but generally choose more casual clothing during the warm summer months. The priority is that worshipers feel comfortable.
A Traditional Order with Modern Elements
The 10:30 service follows a traditional Order of Service with some modern songs and elements woven into it. That blend gives the congregation a familiar liturgical rhythm while allowing contemporary music and practices to remain part of worship. The church describes worship as a vital part of spiritual formation because gathering to pray, sing, listen, and lament together keeps people connected as a congregation.
The word religion is connected with the idea of re-ligament, or reconnecting. For First UMC The Colony, that connection has both a spiritual and a relational dimension. People come together to meet the divine, but they also come together with one another. The formal Order of Service and the relaxed setting are not separate identities; they are part of the same Sunday gathering.
Children in the Middle of Worship
Children of all ages are welcome in the service, wiggles and all. Families who need to step out can use the Family Room at the back of the sanctuary. It is reached through a door in the Narthex just outside the sanctuary, and the room allows parents to see and hear worship while a child moves and plays. Ushers are available to help families locate it.
Rainbow Corner keeps younger children engaged during worship with low tables and chairs on the east side of the sanctuary. A different activity is prepared each week. The service also includes a Young Disciples segment designed to help children learn to live and love like Jesus.
Nursery care is available for babies and toddlers from 9:00 a.m. until after worship, ending at approximately 11:30 a.m. Paid nursery staff are trained and Red Cross CPR-certified. Volunteers who assist in the nursery have completed safety training and background checks. This allows families to attend either Sunday School at 9:15 a.m. or the 10:30 worship service with young children in care.
Sunday School meets every Sunday throughout the school year and summer. Classes for all ages begin at 9:15 a.m., using the Sparkhouse curriculum, with lessons that combine Jesus, Scripture, humor, and playful activities. Occasional parties are part of the class rhythm. The invitation to participate is simple: come as you are.
Grace is the church's ministry for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. It meets monthly between Labor Day and Memorial Day, usually after Sunday worship, and includes mission projects. Church membership is not required. Children also take part in Vacation Bible School, a one-week immersive program in mid-July using Cokesbury curriculum. Every child is invited.
The children's calendar also includes an Easter egg hunt, a summer water party, church camps, blessing of backpacks, a back-to-school gathering, trunk-or-treat, and a Christmas party. Parents' Night Out gives adults an occasional Friday evening away while certified adults and volunteer youth provide dinner, games, crafts, and snacks for children. The church's preschool ministry is New Hope Preschool.
CrossFire Youth: Dinner, Fellowship, and Devotion
CrossFire Youth gathers middle-school and high-school students from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. each Sunday for dinner, fellowship, fun, and devotionals. Its activities include different forms of worship, games, varied devotional styles, laughter, and grace. The group seeks to help young people grow in faith and become a blessing to others. Church membership is not required to participate.
CrossFire students also join Sunday School year-round at 9:15 a.m. in Youth Room C6. The curriculum draws on Sparkhouse and United Methodist resources, with additional Advent and Lent studies when appropriate. Coffee and doughnuts are part of the gathering, while leaders encourage lively discussion and honest questions.
Confirmation classes are offered to young people ready to remember their baptism and identify as members of the body of Christ. The multi-month class includes field trips and mentors before culminating in Confirmation Sunday. Other recurring youth rhythms include retreats and camps at Bridgeport, a Shrove Tuesday pancake supper, lock-ins, a senior celebration, mission trips, service at Vacation Bible School, a back-to-school breakfast, mission projects, and seasonal parties.
Chancel Choir, Joyful Noise Ringers, and CrossFire Choir
Music is woven through the life of First UMC The Colony. Dr. Gary Pyland, Director of Music and Worship, leads the Chancel Choir, a mixed adult ensemble that provides music regularly for the 10:30 service. The choir rehearses in the Sanctuary at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays.
The Chancel Choir's repertoire ranges from contemporary choral settings and traditional hymns to gospel music and choral pieces with an ethnic flavor. Instrumentalists and narrators accompany the ensemble, which also leads congregational worship for special services during the church year. Inspirational cantatas are a particular part of Holy Week and the Christmas season. Amateur, professional, and developing instrumentalists are welcome to play during worship and at other church events.
Joyful Noise Ringers meet at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays in the Sanctuary. This handbell ensemble ranges from the bass-clef bell to the treble-clef bell, and its distinctive sound provides another way for congregational music to take shape.
CrossFire Choir gives students in grades 6 through 12 their own musical setting. It meets from 5:15 to 6:00 p.m. on Sundays in Choir Room C7. The ensemble develops self-confidence, listening, teamwork, breath control, artistic expression, and musical fundamentals while singing in harmony and occasionally joining the Chancel Choir. Dr. Min Kyung Kim serves as the church's pianist.
Adult Learning and Small-Group Fellowship
Adult Christian education begins with Sunday School classes at 9:15 a.m. The church offers both information-based study and fellowship-based experiences for people with different interests and needs.
- New Testament Class provides an ongoing, in-depth study of the New Testament, with newcomers able to join at any point.
- Pathways is a discussion-oriented class that studies a current or relevant book chosen by the group.
- Bad Girls in the Bible is a women-led discussion for supporting one another through study and the sharing of life experiences, led by Kathy Perry.
- Ladies' Bible Study, weekly devotionals, confirmation, and short- and long-term Bible studies provide additional formats for learning and reflection.
- Walk to Emmaus Reunion Groups meet weekly to support one another in their ongoing walk with Christ.
United Women in Faith, formerly United Methodist Women, gathers on the second Saturday of each month at 9:00 a.m. for brunch and fellowship. Its purpose is to know God, experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ, develop supportive fellowship, and participate in local and global mission. The group's annual rhythm includes a retreat and periodic outreach.
United Methodist Men gathers on the second Saturday of each month at 8:00 a.m. for breakfast and fellowship. It provides opportunities for service to the church and community, including home-maintenance work for people in need and support for Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops sponsored through the church. The organization welcomes people connected by interests such as cooking, music, fishing, camping, sports, and outdoor life.
Some conversations continue beyond the church building. Margarita Monday is a casual first-Monday gathering for women at Angelina's in The Colony at 7:00 p.m., with no agenda and no roster. Pub Theology meets on the last Thursday of each month at Balanced Rock Brewing for people with questions about God and faith who are not ready to raise those questions in Sunday School. The men's Walk to Emmaus group meets weekly on Mondays at 7:00 p.m.
Care for Rides, Food, Funerals, and Grief
Caring for one another in Christian love is foundational to life at First UMC The Colony. The Congregational Care Team is the first point of contact for people seeking prayer and support, while the pastoral staff also participate in the church's care ministry. Care is expressed through presence, food, cards, phone calls, and other practical forms of attention.
Specialized teams meet particular needs. The Communion Team brings communion elements on the first Sunday of the month or the following Monday to people unable to attend worship. Catch a Ride volunteers provide transportation to and from appointments. The Funeral Team supports church families during memorials and funerals, which can include refreshments and setup or teardown before and after a service.
GriefShare groups meet on Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The 13-week course is open to anyone experiencing grief and offers practical advice from people who have been there, help in understanding what comes with grief, and ways of coping with life after the loss of a spouse or loved one. Participants do not have to attend every meeting, and the setting is intended to be a safe place for community.
From Paige Road to the Food Pantry
Service in Christ's name is a vital part of Christian discipleship at First UMC The Colony. The church's vision of eradicating spiritual, relational, and nutritional insecurity is pursued through congregational service, support for community partners, and volunteer teams both inside and outside the church.
Gimme a Second Chance collects plastic grocery bags that are taken to the North Texas Community Food Pantry for packing food. Donated bags can be placed in the Missions Corner in the Narthex on Sundays. The simple collection directly addresses both food insecurity and the amount of plastic entering the waste stream.
The North Texas Community Food Pantry began in The Colony in 2007 and serves more than 450 families each month. Guests may visit once a week for supplemental groceries and can choose items according to their household's needs. Available food can include frozen or canned meat, peanut butter, fresh fruit and vegetables, and nonperishable canned goods. The pantry is an approved affiliate of the North Texas Food Bank and works with local restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries, and corporate kitchens to rescue usable food that might otherwise be discarded.
Next Steps is another community partner. The nonprofit assists people in The Colony who are in crisis or who need coaching and resources to avoid a crisis. First UMC The Colony occasionally volunteers on projects and provides financial support.
Inside the church, the Hospitality Team greets people and directs them through the building, the Media Team runs the livestream and assists with worship slides, sound, and lighting, and Sunday School teachers serve children and youth. The United Methodist Men add home-maintenance service, while scouting groups connected with the church include Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Girl Scouts.
The Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, and rooms for groups of approximately 5 to 20 can be reserved for church and community events. Available setup options include Wi-Fi, a television and DVD player, chairs, and tables.
Giving as a Spiritual Practice
First UMC The Colony treats money as a spiritual matter because money touches nearly every part of life. The church teaches that managing and making money can reveal the grip of money as an idol, while also expressing trust in God as the true provider. Careful stewardship of the church's money and resources is intended to produce the greatest kingdom impact.
Giving is one part of a larger discipleship that includes prayers, presence, service, witness, and gifts. The congregation receives an offering every Sunday during worship. Other ways to give include:
- One-time, recurring, or irregular donations through the church's secure online giving service;
- Checks or cash, with the intended fund identified on a check's memo line;
- gifts to the Permanent Endowment Fund;
- planned financial gifts that provide a lasting legacy;
- memorial or honor gifts that acknowledge a loved one or a meaningful occasion; and
- annual estimates of giving as a way to practice generosity intentionally.
Open Communion, Baptism, and the Church Year
Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of every month and during special holiday services. The United Methodist understanding is that the Lord's Supper conveys the real presence of Christ. The table is open to everyone: children and adults, baptized and unbaptized, confirmed and unconfirmed, believers and people who are still questioning their faith.
Baptism signifies incorporation into and adoption within the Christian faith family. The church understands God's grace as extended whether a person is baptized as a child or chooses to accept Christ later in life. Because God does not revoke the grace bestowed in baptism, the church baptizes a person only once, while offering renewal of baptismal vows as an option. The senior pastor handles baptism arrangements for adults and children.
The worship calendar gives the congregation a yearlong rhythm:
- Advent marks the four weeks before Christmas with church decorations, an Angel Tree, a litany, and other holy and fellowship traditions.
- Lent is a season of intentional reflection and contemplation in which the congregation scales back and prepares for the new life of Easter.
- Easter includes extra instrumentalists, Holy Communion, high-church worship, praise, and thanksgiving.
- Confirmation Sunday welcomes a class that openly professes faith in Christ, usually in late spring.
- The Blessing of the Animals is an outdoor, pet-friendly communion service held around the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi in early fall.
- Laity Sunday celebrates the laypeople who help the church function and serve.
- All Saints Sunday, usually on the first Sunday in November, commemorates church members and their immediate family members who died during the preceding year.
- The Christmas Cantata gives the choir a chance to present music during Advent, and Christmas Eve includes a family-friendly late-afternoon service followed by a more traditional evening service with Communion and candlelight.
Pastor Taylor Smith and the Formation of the Whole Person
Senior Pastor Rev. Taylor Smith studied at McMurry University and Duke Divinity School. He is drawn to theology, philosophy, honest questions, and a faith connected to real life. His interest in the connection between body, mind, and spirit grew partly from his experience as a CrossFit coach, and he believes good theology and good food are best shared around a table. He is a husband, father of three, and dog owner.
Smith's pastoral writing uses a disciplined rhythm of Read, Reflect, Consider, and Practice. Each movement moves from Scripture toward honest attention and a small concrete step. The intention is to integrate head, heart, and hands, allowing discipleship to develop through repeated practices rather than a single dramatic decision. The same conviction shapes the church's broader understanding of formation.
The church's Methodist theology understands grace as active throughout a person's life. Prevenient grace comes before conversion, while justifying grace marks the moment a person is set right with God. That beginning point also launches sanctifying grace, the continuing work of growing in Christ's likeness and holiness of heart and life. This process includes emotions and the whole self, not only outward behavior.
At its most basic level, discipleship at First UMC The Colony is the continual cultivation of love, mercy, compassion, and justice. That whole-person vision is the shape of the church: one sanctuary for worship, many ways to learn and serve, and a shared commitment to love God, neighbor, and community through worship, education, music, care, and practical service.