6th - 12th grade students are invited to join us on Sunday, March 30th for a fun night of fellowship at Escape the Mystery Room, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.! We will team up to use clues and keys we find to solve the puzzles and make our escape before time runs out! We will meet at Escape the Mystery Room and pick-up will also be there. Escape the Mystery Room is located at Sugarloaf Mills Mall (5900 Sugarloaf Parkway, Unit 134, Lawrenceville). The closest entrance to Escape the Mystery Room is near the Bass Pro Shops. The cost is $15 per person.

PLEASE NOTE: We are ending our gathering on March 30th earlier than our regular ending time due to the mall’s closing time. Due to scheduling, dinner will not be provided at this event. Please have your child eat dinner before coming to this event or plan to eat afterwards. Thank you for your understanding.

Please sign up for this event by Wednesday, March 26th, so that we can plan accordingly - click on ESCAPE THE MYSTERY ROOM. Once your child signs up for this event, you will receive an e-mail from Rev. Min Lee with the link to sign the Escape Room’s release and waiver agreement.  If you have any questions regarding this event, please feel free to contact Rev. Min Lee by e-mail at mlee@duluthumc.org. We look forward to a great time together!

Our Youth Ministry is partnering with the Gainesville Aid Project (GAP) on Wednesday, June 4th, through Sunday, June 8th to serve those in the Gainesville, Hall County area. Students and adult leaders will serve those needing home repairs, wheelchair ramps, lawn care help, etc., during the days and will participate in group activities, games, and worship in the evenings. To register, please click on YOUTH SUMMER MISSION GAP. The cost is $75 per student. The registration deadline is Sunday, April 13th.

We are also looking for some adult volunteers to accompany us on this trip. Please contact Rev. Min Lee, Director of Youth Ministries, by e-mail at mlee@duluthumc.org if you would like more information or volunteer on this mission trip.

The Worship Committee invites you to remember or honor a loved one with a lily on Easter. The lilies will be used to adorn the Sanctuary and Hinton Hall on Easter Sunday, April 20th. The cost per plant is $20. You may pick up your lily/lilies following the Easter morning service you attend. Printed copies of the Easter Lily Remembrance/Honor listings will be available at the Contemporary Worship and Traditional Worship services on Easter morning.

All proceeds go to Seeds of Hope, whose funds are used to help meet the needs of God’s people living in Duluth and Suwanee--often strangers, widows, orphans, homeless, those who are lost, and those who are without hope--who come to Duluth First United Methodist Church seeking assistance. In 2024 the number of assistance requests through Seeds of Hope were higher than in past years. If you would like to contribute extra above/beyond the cost of your lily/lilies, we thank you for your additional support of Seeds of Hope.

You can place your order for lilies online with a credit/debit card payments. To order online please click on EASTER LILY ONLINE ORDER.

If you wish to pay by check or cash, order forms will be available:

• At the Information Centers;
• Available for download by clicking on LILY;
• Available in the Sunday Orders of Worship for all services on March 30th, and April 6th, and 13th.
  

Please place your form/forms, along with a check made payable to Duluth First United Methodist Church and marked Easter Lilies in the memo section, in the Church Staff Drop Box located in the Atrium, or send it to Duluth First United Methodist Church, Attn. Ken Willi, 3208 Duluth Hwy. 120, Duluth, GA 30096. NOTE: All orders must be received by Sunday, April 13th, at 5:00 p.m.

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 F147, located on the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center.

On Tuesday, April 1st, and Wednesday, April 2nd, we will study Psalm 59.  PLEASE NOTE: Theses dates will be the final time Simply Psalms classes will meet until they resume in August.

For additional information, please contact Rev. Beth Brown Shugart by e-mail at bshugart@duluthumc.org, or call 770-476-3776, ext. 128.

Join us for a time of food and fellowship around the table with family and friends at our Wednesday Night Dinner from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall. Chef Henry Roerig, our Food Ministry Manager, along with our very talented and dedicated Dinner Belles and Beaus volunteers prepare excellent meals at very reasonable prices.

April 2nd is Taco Night!  The menu is tacos (choice of chicken or beef), flour tortillas, choice of refried or black beans, yellow rice, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, salsa, chips, guacamole, and dessert.  For the kids – the same.

PLEASE NOTE: This will be the final Wednesday Night Supper in Hinton Hall until they resume in August.

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.

Join us on Wednesday evenings for the following activities at Duluth First UMC:

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

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 needed for upcoming Food Drive nights are:

• April 2nd: Spaghetti and pasta (dry).
  

A table for donated items will be located outside of the main entrance to Hinton Hall. 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.

Children of all ages are invited to join a special Easter Egg Hunt event being held at the church on Saturday, April 19th, at 11:00 a.m. We will meet in the Dorothy L. Rainey Fellowship Hall. Please be sure to bring your own Easter basket.

Donations of small prizes and individually wrapped treats are being collected through Sunday, April 13th, in wagons located in the Dorothy L. Rainey Fellowship Hall and the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center. Thank you for your support!

On Saturday, April 19th, our church’s Missions Ministry and Children’s Ministry will be hosting an Easter Egg hunt and Easter lunch for families of Rainbow Village and those families served by The Duluth Care Team of Duluth High School. We need your help in creating a special, memory-filled day for these families!

Rainbow Village, a local mission ministry supported by Duluth First United Methodist Church, works to transform the lives of families experiencing homelessness. Families are given hope and a chance to put their life back together in a positive way, helping them work on financial stability and becoming independent. The Duluth Care Team provides essential items for homeless high school students attending Duluth High School. Our church supports them with gift cards, personal items like shampoo, deodorant and soap that are not often available for the students in the temporary living locations.

Help is needed for the Easter lunch and Easter egg hunt in the following areas:

• Setting up, cleaning and resetting Hinton Hall;
• Serving food and drinks;
• Bringing in foods, deserts, and drinks;
• Greeters and hospitality folks;
• Providing supplies - small prizes, and individually wrapped treats - for the Easter Egg hunt (collection sites are located in the Dorothy L. Rainey Fellowship Hall
• and on the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center).
  

Please click on EASTER to sign-up to volunteer for the lunch and Easter egg hunt, or to sign up to bring food for the lunch. Additional information will be available as we continue our preparations for an awesome day of celebration and fellowship with our community. If you have questions or would like to head up a team, please contact Rev. David Burchett by e-mail at dburchett@duluthumc.org.

The Card Ministry is in need of volunteers to send cards to persons on the church’s “Timeless Blessings” homebound list.  In these difficult times, a number of people have been added to the list.  It is such a blessing for these people to know that they are not forgotten by receiving a greeting card once a month.

Volunteers will receive a list of no more than 3 names.  They will send a card with a brief note to each name once a month. Cards can be provided, or you may use your own cards.  You would need to provide the postage.

This is a simple ministry that provides such a large blessing. It does not require much time and can be safely done at home. If you are interested, please contact Ethel Sales by e-mail at csales1@bellsouth.net or call 770-441-0834.

Once again we will display our beautifully hand-painted butterflies on the front lawn of the church from Easter until Pentecost. If you would like to paint a butterfly, please contact Rev. Beth Brown Shugart by e-mail at bshugart@duluthumc.org. Completed butterflies must be returned by Wednesday, April 16th.

On Saturday, April 19th, we will come together to place this wonderful artwork on the front lawn. Please meet in the Dorothy L. Rainey Fellowship Hall at 4:00 p.m. if you would like to help.

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, located  on the 3rd floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center, to learn more about what Duluth First UMC has to offer you!

• Sunday, April 27th: Learn about the United Methodist Church and the history of Duluth First United Methodist Church.
• Sunday, May 4th: Learn about small group opportunities for growth, fellowship, and service in the church.
• Sunday, May 11th:  Tour of the church and the surrounding campus.
  

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.

If you have a student (or if you are the student) who is a member of Duluth First UMC and is graduating from high school, trade school, college, or graduate school, please send a picture of your student by e-mail to Ken Willi, Director of Communications, at kwilli@duluthumc.org AND Rev. Min Lee, Director of Youth Ministries, at mlee@duluthumc.org. Please put Graduate Recognition 2025 in the subject field of your e-mail.

Please be sure to include:

• the graduate’s name;
• the name of the school they are graduating from;
• their next step plans (i.e. college, military, trade school, graduate school, job).
  

All pictures and information need to be received by the end of the day, Sunday, April 27th.
 
PLEASE NOTE: Youth-led Worship Sunday in all three services is scheduled for Sunday, May 18th.

Register now for True North: Trusting Jesus in a Wild World, the 2025 Vacation Bible School (VBS) at Duluth First United Methodist Church. Registration is underway and True North VBS will be held Monday, June 16th, through Friday, June 20th. Vacation Bible School, held from 9 a.m. to noon each day, is for kids going into pre-Kindergarten (age 4 as of September 1st) through rising 6th graders. The cost is $30 per child with a maximum of $70 per family. Each day participants will participate in Bible story time, sing songs, play games, make crafts, and eat snacks.

In addition to registering participants, we are also registering adult and youth volunteers. We especially need shepherds. These are adult volunteers who are in charge of a group of 6-10 kids. Shepherds do not need to prepare anything in advance. They lead their group to the various activities where other volunteers are in charge. If you would like to help but are only available one or two days that week, you can put your available dates on your registration, as substitute shepherds are often needed. Also, childcare in Childcare Corner is available for the children of volunteers if you have a child who is not old enough to be a participant.

Everyone who registers by Sunday, May 25th, is guaranteed a VBS t-shirt and copy of the music. All Vacation Bible School participant registration forms, as well as volunteer forms, are available online by clicking on vbspro.events/p/005420.

For any of you who enjoy crafting, decorating and have creative ideas, we would love to have you join us! Decorating plans are already underway and if you would like to be involved with this fun project, please contact Leslie Yokeley by e-mail at lyokeley@duluthumc.org.

You are invited to participate in the 2025 Operation: Taste of Home, the Hugs for Soldiers Ministry’s 22nd annual “Gift of Caring: Cookies for Soldiers” Collection Drive of Girl Scout cookies for our military men and women. Girl Scout cookies are a great symbol of America, and in fact, they continue to be one of the most requested items by soldiers.

Show your support for our soldiers and your local Girl Scouts by purchasing an EXTRA box or two of cookies. This is a wonderful community service project for our Girl Scouts along with their families, friends, and neighbors to support our soldiers. Deployed soldiers are in stressful situations, but when they receive a box of cookies from home, it sends a message to the troops that America is thinking of them and their safe return.  
 
You may drop off your cookies in the collection box located inside the back entrance to the Sheldon Family Life Center. You can also attach a personal message to your donated boxes - 2” x 4” mailing labels work best.

Thank you for helping us put a smile on a service member’s face! If you have any questions, please contact Angie Doerlich by e-mail at hugsforsoldiers@gmail.com.

As most of you know, Dr. David Daniel, our Minister of Music & Worship Arts, will be retiring at the end of May. The church is planning a reception in his honor on Sunday, May 18th, so that our congregation will have the opportunity to formally say goodbye and thank him for his 18 years of ministry here at Duluth First UMC.  The reception will be held in the Dorothy L. Rainey Fellowship Hall immediately following the 11:00 a.m. worship services that day. A love offering will be taken. You can give by:

• Check made payable to Duluth First UMC with Dr. David Daniel Love Offering in the memo section;
• Online by going to the ONLINE GIVING page of the church’s website. Select Miscellaneous Gift and enter “Dr. David Daniel Love Offering” in the “Donation Made To” box.
  

Reverend Beth Brown Shugart has also announced her retirement for the end of June. A retirement reception in her honor will be held on Sunday, June 22nd, in the Dorothy L. Rainey Fellowship Hall immediately following the 11:00 a.m. worship services that day.  Please plan to stop by to thank Beth for her 11 years in ministry with our congregation. A love offering will be taken. You can give by:

• Check made payable to Duluth First UMC with Rev. Beth Brown Shugart Love Offering in the memo section;
• Online by going to ONLINE GIVING page of the church’s website. Select Miscellaneous Gift and enter “Rev. Beth Brown Shugart Love Offering” in the “Donation Made To” box.

The Christian Beginnings Kindergarten Class is in need of updated computers/laptops/tablets for the school’s computer lab. Our Kindergarten students use this lab once a week to enhance their computer skills, as well as to review educational concepts taught in the classroom.

We are looking for devices that are gently used and are working well.  They must have either mouse capabilities or a touch screen, working sound, headphone jack, and the ability to access the internet. We are looking for systems that are no lower than the Microsoft 10 operating system.

Please contact Emily Smith with questions at emandersmith@gmail.com. Thank you for your donations and contributions to this ministry!