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.

Sunday Night Gatherings schedule for January 2026:

• Sunday, January 11th: Sunday Night Gathering at 5:30 p.m. in the Youth Center (“The Fish Tank”);
• Sunday, January 18th: Sunday Night Gathering at 5:30 p.m. in the Youth Center (“The Fish Tank”);
• Sunday, January 25th: 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.

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 14th, is pot roast, roasted potatoes, carrot medley, sautéed spinach, roll, dessert. For the kids – hamburgers and French 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.

Join us on Wednesday evenings at Duluth First UMC for the following activities - we have something for all ages!

• 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.

GriefShare Support Group, led by the church’s Stephen Ministers, will walk alongside you through the loss of a loved one. Our weekly classes meet each week on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in room F153, located on the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center, you will gain access to valuable GriefShare resources to help you through your grief.

For more information, please visit the GriefShare website at griefshare.org, or contact Tracy Brinker by e-mail at tbrinker@duluthumc.org, or call 770-476-3776.

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 14th we ask you to bring canned fruit. 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.

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 21st, is smothered pork chops, rice, collards, candied carrots, cornbread, and dessert. For the kids – hot dogs and French 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.

We are excited to participate in the Spiritual Life Retreat (SLR), a North Georgia UMC Conference Retreat, hosted by the Glisson Camp and Retreat Center, for our youth spring retreat! It will be an incredible weekend with a guest speaker, a band leading worship, and small groups to dig deeper into the message and understand how God is providing support and direction on the spiritual journey. Each year, there is a different “theme” that guides these worship and small-group times.

Another unique design of the Spiritual Life Retreat is that students from different churches are placed in small groups and journey together all weekend long. It provides a great opportunity for students to get to know and build relationships with students from other churches.

The dates for the Spiritual Life Retreat are Friday, March 13th, through Sunday, March 15th, at the Glisson Camp and Retreat Center in Dahlonega. The cost is $195 per student (You can pay in cash, check, or online). We want every student to be able to attend—scholarships are available if needed.

Please register for the Spiritual Life Retreat by clicking on YOUTH SPRING RETREAT by Sunday, January 25th. If you have questions, please contact Rev. Min Lee, Director of Youth Ministries, by e-mail at mlee@duluthumc.org.

For additional information about the Glisson Camp and Retreat Center, please visit their website at https://glisson.org.

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 28th, is lemon herb catfish, dirty rice, corn-on-the-cob, stewed tomatoes, rolls, and dessert. For the kids – fish sticks and French 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.

Are you new to Duluth First UMC as a guest or new member? Have you wondered about the United Methodist Church and our church’s history? Are you looking for groups to get involved in? Join us for Information Station on Sundays, February 1st and 8th, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Conference Room, located on the 3rd floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center. We will drink coffee, talk about the church, and discuss ways you can get involved!

For additional information or to RSVP, please contact Rev. Dr. AnnaKate Rawles, Associate Pastor, by e-mail at arawles@duluthumc.org.

Every 2 seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. All blood types are needed now to help save lives. Spring into action and give patients a fighting chance by donating blood.

An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held at Duluth First UMC from 3 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 4th, in the Dorothy L. Rainey Fellowship Hall. Please consider donating blood as winter weather across the country is causing a decline in donations. With more severe weather predicted, blood donors (especially type O) are needed to give to prevent a shortage. Patients need your help now!

To schedule an appointment:

• Click on BLOOD DRIVE ONLINE REGISTRATION;
• Call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767);
• Contact Tracy Brinker by e-mail at tbrinker@duluthumc.org, or call 770-476-3776, ext. 112.
• Last, but not least, be a “walk-in” on Blood Drive Day.

On Sunday, February 8th, the United Women in Faith will be selling chocolate candies and goodies just in time for Valentine’s Day. All the proceeds will go to Street Grace, an organization that fights human trafficking. Founded in 2008, Street Grace been chasing one ambitious vision - ending the sexual exploitation of children. Thanks to the help of their generous partners and supporters, they are making serious progress.
 
Street Grace works on four areas to make changes:

• PREVENTION to help all of us recognize and stop exploitation before it starts;
• PROTECTION to make survival sustainable;
• PURSUIT to help law enforcement identify predators, protect victims and prevent future crimes;
• POLICY which makes safety the standard, shapes laws, training and systems that protect children long before a crisis begins.
  

So won’t you say YES because change begins with you! Come to the Dorothy L. Rainey Fellowship Hall on Sunday, February 8th, buy chocolates, and help put an end to human trafficking! For additional information about Street Grace, please visit their website at www.streetgrace.org.