Members of the church and community are invited join us for Hope for the Holidays - A Candle Lighting Service of Remembrance, a program of reflection followed by candle lighting in memory of your loved one(s), on Monday, November 23rd, with services at:

• Noon, in-person in the Sanctuary;
• 7 p.m., in-person in the Sanctuary, as well as streamed online on the Duluth First UMC Worship page on YouTube.
• Childcare will be provided for both services.

We understand the holiday season may be a challenge for individuals and families who have lost someone special. Duluth First UMC has established a meaningful time for people to come together…to reflect, to remember and to honor those lives that have meant so much.

PLEASE NOTE:

• If you plan to attend either of the in-person services, masks are required to be worn.
  
• People will be asked to call out the name(s) of a loved one/loved ones, and a Stephen Minister will light a candle/candles in honor of the loved one(s).
  
• Families can sit together, but families and individuals must maintain at least 6 feet of distance from one another for social distancing.
  
• Please do your best to observe 6-foot distancing, including no hugging, no handshakes, no holding the door for the person behind you, etc.

For more information, please contact the church at 770-476-3776.

The Hugs for Soldiers Ministry is collecting care package donations for soldiers serving overseas.  Please help us spread some holiday joy to troops who can’t be home during the holidays. Many soldiers do not receive any mail or this is their first time being deployed away from home.

This year volunteers WILL NOT meet as a group to sort and assemble care packages as we have in past years. We need YOUR help in making up snack bags from the safety of your home. Pack 4-6 items in a sandwich/quart size Ziploc bag or holiday party bag. Include any combination of the following items, as well as a small card or handwritten note inside the bag to let the service members know you’re thinking of them.

Snack Bag Suggestions: Granola bars, trail mix, peanut butter or cheese crackers, nuts, fruit snacks, Slim Jim’s or beef jerky, gum, single-serving cookie packages, hot chocolate, apple cider packets, assorted flavors of tea bags individually wrapped in pouches.

Other Items: Christmas ornaments (lightweight and unbreakable), card games (Uno, Monopoly Deal), small handheld games, small puzzle books.  These items can also be assembled in a separate Ziploc bag.

The deadline for returning the snack bags to the church is Tuesday, December 1st. Christmas items may be dropped off in the Hugs for Soldiers donation box located inside the back entrance to the Family Life Center.
 
Monetary donations are appreciated to help purchase items not received and to help with shipping costs.  Donations may be made by check to Duluth First United Methodist Church with Hugs for Soldiers written in the memo section, or go to the ONLINE GIVING page on the church’s website – www.duluthumc.org – click on MISCELLANEOUS GIFT and specify “Support Our Troops/Hugs for Soldiers.”

For further information or if you have any questions, please contact Angie Doerlich by e-mail at hugsforsoldiers@gmail.com or call 404-316-8183.

Thank you for your continued support.  God Bless our troops!

We know you love our Wednesday night dinners at Duluth First UMC. Due to social distancing and wearing masks, eating together in Hinton Hall is not a viable option at this time, so we are offering Wednesday Night Drive-Thru Dinners! They are similar to curbside pick-up at your favorite restaurant where you order ahead, pay online, and drive by to get your dinner.

The menu for December 2nd is Chicken Parmesan, spaghetti noodles, zucchini, roasted brussel sprouts, garlic bread, and dessert. For the kids (ages 11 years and younger) - pizza. Prices are:  adults - $6; seniors - $5; family - $19 (parents and their children only); children (ages 11 years and younger) - $4.

All reservations must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, November 27th. In order to keep everyone safe, we are taking orders for meals and payments online only. A link to the online order and payment form can be found by clicking on Wednesday Night Drive-Thru Dinner Order and Payment Form.

Please pick up your meals between 5 to 6 p.m. underneath the rear portico of the Family Life Center. Enter the rear parking lot from the rear-side entrance off of Norman Circle and pull under the portico from that side. You will be directed to pull in under the portico after the previous vehicle has pulled out.

In the beginning it seemed like we would take a short break to allow the virus to go away. Then it stayed, and stayed, and stayed.  Now we are in a new normal of guarding our health and those we love by doing things differently.  We wear a mask to show our love and care for ourselves and others.  We wash our hands more frequently and longer. We exchange our closeness of distance for closeness of spirit by allowing the space to be filled with love.  We don’t share hugs, or food, or drinks together and so we try to find a new way to share in the communion meal.

You are invited to a time of Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month at 9:30 a.m. on the Fellowship Terrace, the outdoor space in front of the Fellowship Hall.  You must bring your own elements, bread and juice, to join in the Thanksgiving celebration with others in our congregation.  Please do not share with anyone other than your own family.

You will still need to social distance. You may sit on the wall or bring a chair. Families may sit together but please refrain from being close to others.  We want to continue our safety protocols that have kept us healthy and allowed our church to meet in person.  If you enter the church you will need to have on a mask.  In case of bad weather we will attempt to meet under the large portico at the back of the church.  Watch for updates on the church website. For any questions please contact Rev. C. Kay Fuino by e-mail at ckfuino@duluthumc.org, or call 770-476-3776, ext. 117.

We know you love our Wednesday night dinners at Duluth First UMC. Due to social distancing and wearing masks, eating together in Hinton Hall is not a viable option at this time, so we are offering Wednesday Night Drive-Thru Dinners! They are similar to curbside pick-up at your favorite restaurant where you order ahead, pay online, and drive by to get your dinner.

The menu for December 9th is pot roast, oven baked potatoes, carrots, squash casserole, rolls, and dessert. For the kids (ages 11 years and younger) – hamburgers and fries. Prices are:  adults - $6; seniors - $5; family - $19 (parents and their children only); children (ages 11 years and younger) - $4.

All reservations must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, December 4th. In order to keep everyone safe, we are taking orders for meals and payments online only. A link to the online order and payment form can be found by clicking on Wednesday Night Drive-Thru Dinner Order and Payment Form.

Please pick up your meals between 5 to 6 p.m. underneath the rear portico of the Family Life Center. Enter the rear parking lot from the rear-side entrance off of Norman Circle and pull under the portico from that side. You will be directed to pull in under the portico after the previous vehicle has pulled out.

We know you love our Wednesday night dinners at Duluth First UMC. Due to social distancing and wearing masks, eating together in Hinton Hall is not a viable option at this time, so we are offering Wednesday Night Drive-Thru Dinners! They are similar to curbside pick-up at your favorite restaurant where you order ahead, pay online, and drive by to get your dinner.

The menu for December 16th is chicken fried chicken with white pepper gravy, mashed potatoes, butter peas, green beans, biscuits, and dessert. For the kids (ages 11 years and younger) – chicken tenders and chips. Prices are:  adults - $6; seniors - $5; family - $19 (parents and their children only); children (ages 11 years and younger) - $4.

All reservations must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, December 11th. In order to keep everyone safe, we are taking orders for meals and payments online only. A link to the online order and payment form can be found by clicking on Wednesday Night Drive-Thru Dinner Order and Payment Form.

Please pick up your meals between 5 to 6 p.m. underneath the rear portico of the Family Life Center. Enter the rear parking lot from the rear-side entrance off of Norman Circle and pull under the portico from that side. You will be directed to pull in under the portico after the previous vehicle has pulled out.