Do friends often come to you to talk about their troubles? If you answered yes, you are most likely a good listener with a tender heart for supporting those who are hurting. Your compassion and “being there” for others in their time of need may make you a good candidate to train as a Stephen Minister!

Duluth First United Methodist Church is looking for (men and women) Stephen Minister candidates to go into training for providing confidential one-to-one Christ-centered care, support, and encouragement to those in our church and community who are hurting or going through difficult times. No previous experience is needed, only the desire to serve God and share his love! The training for candidates is excellent and equips them to care for people who are grieving, coping with divorce, experiencing a job crisis and facing countless other crisis and life challenges.

If you would like to explore serving as a Stephen Minister, we want to hear from you. Please contact Rev. Dr. C. Kay Fuino at ckfuino@duluthumc.org or talk with any of the Stephen Ministers.

Applications can be found in the Atrium or can be downloaded by clicking on 2024 Stephen Minister Application. Completed applications are to be placed in a sealed envelope, marked Attn:  Rev Dr. C. Kay Fuino, or Stephen Leader Ann Fleming, and placed in the the Staff Drop Box located in the Atrium by Sunday, September 22, 2024. The training for Stephen Minister candidates will begin in October.

He comforts us in all our troubles, so we can comfort those in any trouble

with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.      2 Corinthians 1:4

Duluth First United Methodist Church is excited to be offering new small group opportunity for anyone interested in what it means to live a missional life, or is interested in mission and service in our community and beyond. This missional group will meet weekly on Sundays from 6 to 7 p.m. in rooms F204/205, located on the 2nd floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center.

We will gather for devotionals and small group time on Sunday evenings and will serve somewhere in the Gwinnett County area one Saturday a month. For more information, contact Rev. David Burchett by e-mail at at dburchett@duluthumc.org.

Students in the 6th through 12th grades are invited to join us on Sunday nights for Sunday Night Gatherings from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Youth Center (“The Fish Tank”), located on the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center. Sunday Night Gatherings include great dinners, fun games, amazing worship, inspirational and relevant messages and life-changing small groups.

Our schedule for the month of September is:

• Sunday, September 29th: Sunday Night Gathering at  5:30 p.m. in the Youth Center (“The Fish Tank”)

Please click on YOUTH MINISTRY for more information.

Questions? Please contact Rev. Min Lee, Director of Youth Ministries, by e-mail at mlee@duluthumc.org.

Come join us for Simply Psalms, a Bible study of the Book of Psalms, led by Rev. Dr. C. Kay Fuino and Rev. Beth Brown Shugart. Each week we will study one Psalm during the one-hour class. The same class will be offered twice a week:

• Tuesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. in room F145, located on the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center;
• Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. in room F207, located on the 2nd floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center.

The upcoming schedule is:

• September 24^th and 25^th:  Psalm 38;
• October 1^st and 2^nd:  Psalm 39;
• October 8^th and 9^th:  Psalm 40;
• October 15^th and 16^th:  Psalm 41;
• October 22^nd and 23^rd:  Psalm 42;
• October 29^th and 30^th:  Psalm 43;
• November 5^th and 6^th:  Psalm 44;
• November 12^th and 13^th:  Psalm 45;
• November 19^th and 20^th:  Psalm 46.

Following the Christmas and New Years holiday, Simply Psalms classes will resume on January 7th and 8th, 2025. For additional information, please contact Rev. Beth Brown Shugart by e-mail at bshugart@duluthumc.org, or call 770-476-3776, ext. 128.

The Dinner Belles and Beaus prepare excellent meals at very reasonable prices. Enjoy fellowship around the table with family and friends.

The menu for September 25th is Chicken Piccatta, noodles, fresh zucchini, English Peas, garlic toast, and dessert. For the kids – chicken tenders and French fries. Dinners are served from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall, with to-go boxes available from 6 to 6:30 p.m.

The prices for Wednesday Night Dinners are:

• $10.00 for adults (including seniors and from 11 years up);
• $7.00 for children 10 years and younger;
• $30.00 for family meals (nuclear family members only – husband, wife, their children under 18 years);
• $7.00 for salad bar only, which includes the salad bar, a choice of baked potato or sweet potato, dessert and a drink.

Credit/debit card payments, as well as cash and checks, are accepted.

The Wednesday Night Food Drive at Duluth First UMC for the Hands of Christ Duluth Co-op is our weekly mission project, combined with the many Wednesday evening activities offered at the church.

Items requested during the month of September are:

• September 25th: Cream Soups or Tomato soup
  

Join us for a delicious dinner and fellowship in Hinton Hall, pick up a to-go dinner for your family, join us for any of our Wednesday evening activities, and drop off food items to help other families in need. We thank you for your support.

Join us at Duluth First United Methodist Church on Wednesday evenings for activities for all ages:

• Wednesday Night Dinners:  5 to 6:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall, 2nd floor of Sheldon Family Life Center;
• Book Bunch for kids (ages 3 – 4):  6:15 to 6:30 p.m. in the Louise McDaniel Memorial Library, 2nd floor of Sheldon Family Life Center;
• DuluthKids (ages Kindergarten through 5th grade): 6 to 7 p.m. in the Youth Center (“The Fish Tank”), 1st floor of Sheldon Family Life Center;
• Youth Bible Study (grades 6 – 12): 6 to 7 p.m., room F149, 1st floor of Sheldon Family Life Center;
• “Simply Psalms” adult small group studies: room F207 (new location), 2nd floor of Sheldon Family Life Center;
• Parent Connection Group: 6 to 7 p.m., room F145 (new location), 1st floor of Sheldon Family Life Center;
• Happy Sacks: 6 to 7 p.m., room F152, 1st floor of Sheldon Family Life Center;
• Yarn Art Ministry: 6 to 7 p.m., room F205, 2nd floor of Sheldon Family Life Center;
• Handbell Ensemble rehearsals: 6 to 7 p.m., Sanctuary;
• Chancel Choir Rehearsals: 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Don Lee Music Suite.
  

GriefShare Support Group, led by the church’s Stephen Ministers, will walk alongside you through the loss of a loved one. GriefShare is a safe, welcoming place where people understand the difficult emotions of grief. Through this 13-week session, you’ll discover what to expect in the days ahead and what’s “normal” in grief. Since there are no neat, orderly stages of grief, you’ll learn helpful ways of coping with grief, in all its unpredictability—and gain solid support each step of the way.

GriefShare Support Group meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in rooms F153/154, located on the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center. You will gain access to valuable resources to help you through your grief. GriefShare also offers Bereavement Candlelight Services the Monday before Thanksgiving, and a “Surviving the Holidays” class on Wednesday, November 20th.

For more information, please visit the GriefShare website at griefshare.org, or contact Tracy Brinker, Bereavement Coordinator, by e-mail at tbrinker@duluthumc.org, or call 770-476-3776.

Mark your calendars and save the dates for the 41st Annual Duluth Fall Festival being held Saturday, September 28th, and Sunday, September 29th. Duluth First United Methodist Church and its congregation take an active roll in the Fall Festival each year.

The Fall Festival kicks off on September 28th with a parade through downtown beginning at 10 a.m. On, September 29th the Duluth 5K Donut Dash race, a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race, starts at 8 a.m. and finishes in downtown Duluth on Hill Street. The race attracts both the serious competitive racer and the occasional runner/walker, and provides an opportunity for participants of all ages to help this year’s race beneficiary, Wellroot Family Services, supporting their vision of a world where every child is raised in a loving, compassionate, and nurturing home. For additional information about Wellroot Family Services, please visit their website at www.wellroot.org. To sign up for the Duluth Donut Dash, please go to www.duluthdonutdash5k.org.

Join us for Worship on the Town Green on September 29th with a community worship service beginning at 10 a.m. at the Duluth Town Green. Duluth First United Methodist Church’s Rev. David Burchett and Rev. Terry Tippens will be leading the morning’s worship service, with the church’s Contemporary Worship Praise Team leading the worship music.

PLEASE NOTE: On September 29th, our Contemporary Worship Service will take place at 10:00 a.m. at the Duluth Town Green for the Duluth Fall Festival’s Worship on the Town Green with Rev. David Burchett preaching. The 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship service and 11:00 a.m. service WILL MEET in the Sanctuary with Rev. C. Kay Fuino preaching. Sunday school classes for children and youth will not be held on September 29th. 

The Dinner Belles and Beaus prepare excellent meals at very reasonable prices. Enjoy fellowship around the table with family and friends.

The menu for October 2nd is post roast with gravy, oven roasted potatoes, fresh carrots, fresh broccoli, rolls, and dessert. For the kids – hamburgers and French fries. Dinners are served from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall, with to-go boxes available from 6 to 6:30 p.m.

The prices for Wednesday Night Dinners are:

• $10.00 for adults (including seniors and from 11 years up);
• $7.00 for children 10 years and younger;
• $30.00 for family meals (nuclear family members only – husband, wife, their children under 18 years);
• $7.00 for salad bar only, which includes the salad bar, a choice of baked potato or sweet potato, dessert and a drink.
  

Credit/debit card payments, as well as cash and checks, are accepted.

BSA Troop 419 will hold their 8th Annual “Cars for Campouts” Fundraiser Car Show, Cruise In, and BBQ on Saturday, October 5th, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the church’s parking lot. If you have a special vehicle (all years) – muscle cars, classics, resto-mods, exotics, bikes, and one-offs – if it rolls, please bring it and participate. New to this year is the BBQ part of the event. Enjoy great food, hots dogs, BBQ (available on-site or for take home) snacks and beverages.

Preregistration by October 4th is $20, and registration on the day of the show is $25. Register at https://tinyurl.com/cars4campouts-2024. Sixty participant-judged awards will be presented. If you just want to see some cool vehicles, feel free to attend as admission for spectators is free. Food and beverages will be available.

If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to carshow@bsatoop419.org, or call Mike Ringham at 770-815-4206. All proceeds from the event help make BSA Troop 419’s program one of the best in the council, and with your support, will continue to do so.

Join us Sunday, October 6th, at 4:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary as Lux presents a concert entitled Kindred Spirits. Their concert program draws connections between past and present. It brings listeners on a journey that will leave them asking, “What type of life do I hope to live? What legacy do I hope to leave behind? How will my connection to the people around me and the world I live in push me to live a life of love, truth, joy, and grace? One full of friendship, sacrifice, and richness.” Lux (Latin for “light”) is an advanced, auditioned treble (soprano & alto) ensemble based in Northeast Georgia.

The concert is free and open to the public. Find them on the web at https://www.luxsings.org.

Register now for Christian Beginnings Preschool & Kindergarten’s 2024-2025 school year. Christian Beginnings, offered Monday through Friday during the school year from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for children ages 1 through 5 years, provides a loving Christian atmosphere for the growth and nurture of each child. They will have fun and make friends while attending our accredited, award winning school. Christian Beginnings won the “Best of Gwinnett” award in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023! We also won the “Gwinnett Daily Post Reader’s Choice” award in 2019.

If you would like more information regarding Christian Beginnings Preschool & Kindergarten, or you would like to set up a tour, please contact Pat Szathmary by e-mail at pszathmary@duluthumc.org or call 770-497-1743.

Click on CHRISTIAN BEGINNINGS REGISTRATION FORMS to download copies of the forms.

Information Station is a 3-week course especially for new members and those interested in becoming members of Duluth First United Methodist Church. Join us on the following dates from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Conference Room on the 3rd floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center to learn more about what Duluth First UMC has to offer you!

Sunday, October 20th

• Tour the 3rd floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center;
• Learn about the United Methodist Church and the history of Duluth First United Methodist Church.
  

Sunday, October 27th

• Tour of the church and the surrounding campus.
  

Sunday, November 3rd

• Learn about the opportunities for growth, fellowship, and service in the church.
  

Please make plans to join us!  If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Beth Brown Shugart, Associate Pastor, by e-mail at bshugart@duluthumc.org.

Halloween is coming! Start making plans to get your vehicle’s trunk ready for giving out Halloween treats! Join us on Sunday, October 27th, for Trunk-or-Treat, a fun and safe trick-or-treat experience at the church from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the church’s front parking lot.
 
Bring your friends and family to our Trunk-or-Treat event. Come in costume, park your car, and pop the trunk! Set-up time begins at 4:30 p.m. and trick-or-treating begins at 5:00 p.m. Share a trunk load of goodies with your friends and neighbors, or just join in the fun as a trick-or-treater!
 
A hot dog supper will be offered in the Dorothy L. Rainey Fellowship Hall, and donations will be accepted.
 
Want to help?  Here’s how:

• Donate bags of candy. Place your donations in bins located in the Dorothy L. Rainey Fellowship Hall or on the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center.
• Help with logistics that night (give out treats, direct traffic). Please contact Rev. Beth Brown Shugart to volunteer.
  

Whatever you do, make sure you join us on Halloween for this fun filled, family-friendly event! This is a great way to reach out to the community. Come be a part of the fellowship and check out the amazing trunks and costumes.

If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Beth Brown Shugart by e-mail at bshugart@duluthumc.org, or call 770-476-3776, ext. 128.

Crafters, potters, artists, and bakers of all kinds – your talents will be needed in the near future! Saturday, November 9th, and Sunday, November 10th may seem a long time from now, but they really aren’t and it is not too soon to be thinking about our annual missions fundraiser, Bundle Up for Buffalo.

All proceeds from the Bundle Up for Buffalo fundraiser help our sister church, Seneca Street United Methodist Church in Buffalo, NY, keep the heat on their facility during the winter months which fall from October 2024 through April 2025. This helps provide a safe, warm, after-school location for neighborhood children to go to.

You have been so faithful in prayer for this “pocket of poverty” in the North for many years. Please consider what you can make, and something that others would enjoy purchasing.  For more information, please contact Beth Intondi by e-mail at Beth.intondi@outlook.com or call 404-408-1657. Thank you for your support.