Operation Christmas Child: Shoeboxes Available Beginning Sunday, September 22nd

We are gearing up for this year’s Operation Christmas Child, our annual participation in Samaritans Purse’s mission for God’s children around the world. Since the inception of the program in 1993, over 200 million Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes have been delivered to children around the world. This is a worthwhile and fun project for our Sunday School classes, Women’s Circles, our Youth Group, and families with their children to undertake.

Empty shoe boxes will be available beginning Sunday, September 22nd, in the Veterans Memorial Gathering Room, in the hallway by Hinton Hall, and on the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center outside of room F145. Inside each box you will find ideas on how to pack a shoebox gift, what not to include, and the adhesive box label. Completed shoeboxes need to be returned no later than Sunday, November 17th.

You can fill a shoebox online by selecting items and paying for it electronically! Duluth First UMC has a special website for you to use to complete your online shoebox and it is active now - just click on OCC ONLINE SHOEBOX. Please follow the website directions to “BUILD A SHOEBOX ONLINE NOW”. The cost of the Build Online Shoebox is $25. These online shoeboxes are delivered to address special custom and cultural needs of certain locations.

This year we have increased our online goal to goal 50 online shoeboxes and have expanded the timeframe. Help us make sure every Duluth First UMC shoebox is counted in our goal! For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Charlie Doerlich by e-mail at chaz3d@gmail.com or call 678-662-2115.

Train to Become a Stephen Minister: Completed Applications Due Back by Sunday, September 22nd

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

New Small Group Opportunity for Anyone Interested in Missional Life: Sunday Evenings

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.

Youth Ministry Sunday Night Gatherings

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.

Simply Psalms Classes: Tuesday Mornings and Wednesday Evenings

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

Wednesday Night Dinner: September 25th

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.

Wednesday Night Food Drives

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.

Wednesday Night Activities for All Ages

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 Meetings:

Wednesday Evenings

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.

41st Annual Duluth Fall Festival:

September 28th & 29th

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. 

Wednesday Night Dinner: October 2nd

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’s 8th Annual “Cars for Campouts” Classic Car Show, Cruise In, & BBQ:  October 5th

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.

Lux Treble Ensemble Concert:  Sunday, October 6th

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 the Christian Beginnings 2024-2025 School Year

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 - The Place to Learn About the Church:  Begins Sunday, October 20th

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.

Trunk-or-Treat is Sunday, October 27th

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.

Crafts, Pieces of Art, and Baked Goods Needed for “Bundle Up for Buffalo” Fundraiser

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.

Stay Connected with Your Church:  MinistryOne Mobile App

Duluth First United Methodist Church’s Ministry One app for mobile devices allows you to:

  • Watch sermons on your mobile device.
  • Make donations to the church.
  • Easily update your contact information.
  • Connect with other members through the online directory.

To install the app on your mobile device, just follow these steps:

  1. Go to the app store on your mobile phone and search for CHURCH MINISTRYONE. The icon is purple with a white cross in the middle of it.
  2. Once it is downloaded, open the app and enter “Duluth First United Methodist Church” in the box just above the blue FIND YOUR CHURCH button, then click the button.
  3. When the church’s name comes up, click on it.  It will move to a larger screen and at the bottom of that screen, click SELECT THE CHURCH.
  4. It will ask you to allow the app to send you notifications. We would recommend clicking ALLOW.
  5. In the bottom right, click profile.  Sign in with your e-mail (the one you use for church communications) and your mobile phone number.  The spaces for your e-mail and phone number are below the words E-MAIL and MOBILE PHONE NUMBER.  Do not sign using the username/password function.
  6. Click NEXT and it will ask you for a way to send you a validation code.  Click TEXT ME THE CODE.  Enter the code and click NEXT.
  7. After you do this, it will take you back to the menu screen and you should now have a 7th box that says PEOPLE.  This is the directory.

If you would like a copy of the MinistryOne app installation instructions to print out, please click on MINISTRYONE APP INSTRUCTIONS.


Having problems and need help? Please contact Director of Communications, by e-mail at kwilli@duluthumc.org or call the church office at 770-476-3776.