The season of Advent is underway, and students from our Youth Ministry are excited to share their Advent devotional videos with you! Every Wednesday during Advent, we will post a short devotional video from one of our students on our Youth Ministry’s YouTube channel - dfumcstudents. We’d love for you to journey with us by watching and sharing these videos with others. And don’t forget to subscribe so that you will be notified whenever we post new content.

Join us on Wednesday, January 7th, as the following evening activities resume at Duluth First UMC:

• Wednesday Night Dinner: 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall, 2nd floor of the 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 the Sheldon Family Life Center;
• DuluthKids (ages Kindergarten through 5th grade): 5:45 to 7 p.m. in the Dorothy L. Rainey Fellowship Hall;
• 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 F207, 2nd floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center;
• “The History and Archaeology of the Bible” Class for Adults: 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in room F145, 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center;
• Yarn Art 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;
• Handbell Ensemble Rehearsal: 6 to 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary;
• Wednesday Night Food Drive: 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. outside of the main entrance to Hinton Hall, 2nd floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center;
• Chancel Choir Rehearsal: 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Don Lee Music Suite.

Our Food Ministry staff, along with our amazing Dinner Belles and Beaus volunteers, prepare excellent meals at very reasonable prices. Enjoy fellowship around the table with family and friends.

The menu for Wednesday, January 7th, is herb-roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, squash, rolls, and dessert. For the kids – chicken tenders and fries.

Dinner service hours are 5 to 6:30 p.m., 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.

On January 7th we ask you to bring peanut butter and jelly. 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.

Do you participate in Sunday School, Small Groups, or Fellowship Groups at Duluth First UMC? Please let us know more about them and what other types of studies you would like to participate in! Don’t participate in any groups? Let us know a topic or type of group you would be interested in participating in.

Please take a moment to fill out the survey by clicking on ADULT SMALL GROUP SURVEY. Print outs of the survey can be found on the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center. If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Dr. AnnaKate Rawles, Associate Pastor, by e-mail at arawles@duluthumc.org.

What is it that allowed Mary to say, “Let it be?” Do you remember a time when you received a blessing that helped you be present to a change that arrived? The United Women in Faith invite all women to join them on Saturday, January 10th, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to take time for one day, after Christmas and during Epiphany, to find a place where other women see you, welcome you and help you to be there for what comes next.

This casual retreat is an opportunity to relax after all the Christmas activities. Lunch, drinks, and snacks will be provided. We will meet from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Dorothy Rainey Fellowship Hall. Please sign-up during December at the United Women in Faith information tables located around the church to help us prepare for handouts and lunch. Please bring a pint size clear glass jar/Ball jar to use for one of the art projects.

The retreat will include readings and art from Jan Richardson’s book How the Stars Get in Your Bones. You may bring a donation of $7 to be sent to Jan Richardson for “Sanctuary of Women” to be shared with the A21 Campaign, an organization devoted to ending human trafficking and providing sanctuary and healing for those rescued from slavery.

Look at the stars of your world, your life, your family and see how they get into your bones. Look around to see another who might need a blessing from you.  We will come together with art, readings, comfort, and a challenge to find something of sabbath rest to find the stars of your life. Perhaps there will be something that stretches you to a new place or invites you to think in a direction of an uncharted sky for your spirit. We will delight in blessings and prayers, share in a meal and in conversations of laughter, concern, sighs, and joys.

Blessings and joy for advent as you prepare the way for the Christ child to shine in your heart, to see the stars and count your blessings.  Celebrate all you have done with a retreat together on January 10th to find your blessing. For additional information contact Terrie Adkins by e-mail at ttadkins@sprynet.com.