Register Now for Vacation Bible School 2022:

June 13th - 17th

Make plans to join us for Vacation Bible School 2022! Vacation Bible School is back in person the week of June 13th-17th from 9 a.m. to noon each day. The theme this year is Monumental: Celebrating God’s Greatness. Registration is now underway for kids going into pre-Kindergarten (age 4 as of September 1st) through rising 6th graders. Registration is underway and is FREE this year. Each day participants will learn a new Bible verse as they go to Bible story time, sing songs, play games, make crafts, and eat yummy 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. We often need substitute shepherds. Also, the nursery is available for the children of volunteers if you have a child who is not old enough to be a participant.
 
Everyone who registered by May 15th is guaranteed a VBS t-shirt and CD. All Vacation Bible School participant registration forms, as well as volunteer forms, are available online at vbspro.events/p/0902e6.

For more information, please contact Leslie Yokeley, Director of Children’s Ministries, by e-mail at lyokeley@duluthumc.org, or call 770-476-3776, ext. 138.

Missions Ministry's “Drive-Up Food Drive” Food Collection for the Hands of Christ Duluth Co-op: May 26th

Our church’s Missions Ministry is hosting Drive-Up Food Drives for the Hands of Christ Duluth Co-op, a local missions ministry, on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month through May, and then resuming in the Fall.


The next Food Drive will be held on Thursday, May 26th, from 10 a.m. to noon. Critically needed canned items for the food drive will be posted closer to the date of the food drive.


We are excited to offer a meaningful and safe way for your family to serve our community. We will be collecting a variety of goods at a donation station set up underneath the portico in the back of the Sheldon Family Life Center.


To learn more about the Duluth Co-op, please click on Hands of Christ.

Youth Summer Mission Trip: June 22nd - 26th

We are so excited to share about a great youth summer mission trip on June 22nd - 26th! Gainesville Aid Project is a mission opportunity in the Gainesville, Hall County area. Students and adult leaders will be in service for those in need of home repairs, wheelchair ramps, lawn care help, etc. during the days, and will participate in group activities, games, and worship around the circle in the evenings.

Please note that we have six slots available for this trip and it will be first come, first served basis. We will be in need of some adult volunteers to accompany us on this trip. If you might be interested in serving as a chaperone/leader/driver on this mission trip, please contact David Burchett by e-mail at dburchett@duluthumc.org, and/or Min Lee by e-mail at mlee@duluthumc.org.

The dates for the mission trip are Wednesday, June 22nd - Sunday, June 26th. We will leave approximately at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22nd, and return to the church at approximately 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 26th. There is no cost for the first six students to register, and the registration deadline is Sunday, May 22nd. For additional information, please visit the Gainesville Aid Project website at www.gainesvilleaidproject.com.

Prayer Bead Workshop:  June 26th

Join us on Sunday, June 26th, from 4 to 6 p.m. in Rainey Fellowship Hall, for a Prayer Bead Workshop, led by Kristen Vincent. You may remember that Kristen was our guest speaker at this year’s Ash Wednesday service. An award-winning author, speaker, and artisan whose passion is spiritual formation, including the use of prayer beads, Kristen is a graduate of Duke Divinity School and The Academy for Spiritual Formation.

All are welcome to attend this workshop and the cost is $10 per person. You will learn about the many types of aids people use to pray, and will have an opportunity to make a set of prayer beads. There will be activities for all ages. Please register by contacting Tracy Brinker by e-mail at tbrinker@duluthumc.org or calling 770-476-3776. Walk-ins are also welcome.

"The Story of the Bible” Bible Study Begins July 12th

A new summer Bible study entitled “The Story of the Bible” will be led by Pete Fleming starting Tuesday, July 12th.  This six-week course will be offered on Tuesday mornings from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in room F-147, located on the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center. The study begins July 12th and will conclude on August 16th.  Discussion will focus on the impact of the Bible on Western Civilization and in daily living.

Participants are should bring their favorite Bible. Pete will provide written guidance for upcoming discussions prior to each class, and will introduce many books on the subject. Discussions will be augmented by video presentations from Luke Timothy Johnson, Amy-Jill Levine, and Bart Ehrman, all recognized Biblical scholars.

Register by June 30th for this course by contacting Tracy Brinker by e-mail at tbrinker@duluthumc.org, or calling 770-476-3776.

Lunch and Learn: "The Bible and a Book" Study Begins August 7th

The Bible and a Book, a weekly course which combines reading the book Blind Spot: Hidden Biases of Good People with a study of 1 John, will be led by Rev. Beth Brown Shugart. The class will be offered in-person on Sunday afternoons in rooms F-147, located on the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center, from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. beginning August 7th and continuing through September 11th. Bring your lunch and stay for this class after worship.

 

Blind Spot: Hidden Biases of Good People is one of the most eye-opening and most helpful books I have ever read. I am grateful to Rev. Beth Brown Shugart for introducing me to it.

Our world is rife with questions about race, gender, and other classifications. God calls us to do our part to make our world more just and free for all of us.  I cannot think of a better response to God's call than educating ourselves with this book and joining this discussion together.

Rev. Terry Tippens

 

Please register with Tracy Brinker by e-mail at tbrinker@duluthumc.org or by calling the church at 770-476-3776.  To participate you will need to purchase the book Blind Spot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald.  It is highly recommended that you purchase a hard copy, rather than an e-book. Registration closes on Sunday, July 31st.

Christian Beginnings Preschool and Kindergarten 2022-2023 Registration is Underway

Registration for Christian Beginnings Preschool and Kindergarten’s 2022-2023 school year has begun!  What better way for your child, or a friend’s child, to learn their ABC’S, numbers, shapes, God’s love for us and so much more, than in a caring, loving, Christian environment. They will have fun and make friends while attending our accredited, award winning school.  We hope you will come join us!  If you know of anyone looking for a wonderful preschool, please send them our way.

Our preschool and kindergarten program is for children ages 6 weeks (by September 1st, 2022) through kindergarten.  Registration is underway and the registration fee will be $180.00 per student.


Registration forms are available for download by clicking on CHRISTIAN BEGINNINGS PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION FORMS.


If you would like more information regarding Christian Beginnings Preschool and Kindergarten, or if you would like to schedule a tour, please contact Pat Szathmary at pszathmary@duluthumc.org or call 770-497-1743.

Celebrating the Naming of the Sheldon Family Life Center

On Sunday, March 27, 2022, we named the Family Life Center the Sheldon Family Life Center. We are so thankful to Russ, Melanie, and Weston Sheldon for their generosity.

You will notice letters on the outside and inside of the church that say Sheldon Family Life Center, and also plaques just inside the back entrance on the first floor and also as you enter from the Atrium on the second floor.

If you were not able to be with us on March 27th, please take a moment to view a short video of the ceremony by clicking on Sheldon Family Life Center.

Current COVID-19 Policy

We are now back to our base-level COVID policy:

Based on the latest guidelines from the CDC, Duluth First UMC’s COVID protocol applies to worship and all other church events and to all areas of the campus:

  • For those who have been fully vaccinated, masks are not required.
  • For those who have not been fully vaccinated, masks and social distancing are required.
  • The church will continue to make masks available for all.

Many thanks to everyone for working together so graciously to be the church during this pandemic--from the time we went to online only on March 15, 2020, through our re-opening with masks on June 28, 2020, and into this next phase going forward.


Your cooperation in loving your neighbor as yourself is helping us to help people follow Jesus.


Terry Tippens,

Senior Pastor

Introducing a New Way to 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 Brian Overstreet, Church Administrator, by e-mail at boverstreet@duluthumc.org or call the church office at 770-476-3776.