Families & Fellowship

Support for families is an important ministry at Duluth First United Methodist Church.  Parenting classes with childcare provided offer help and support to families.  Activities for the family to do together are also a part of the church calendar.

A variety of events are offered for Christian fellowship for all ages – singles, couples and families.  Movie night, dinners, Trunk or Treat, and Christmas Caroling are just a few examples of the fellowship events at Duluth First United Methodist Church.


UPCOMING FAMILIES & FELLOWSHIP EVENTS



Wednesday Night Drive-Thru Dinner:  October 28th
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 October 28th is country fried steak, mashed potatoes, fried okra, turnip greens, biscuits, and dessert. For the kids (ages 11 years and younger) - hamburgers 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, October 23rd. 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 the Wednesday Night Drive-Thu Dinner Order 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.

Combined with the drive through dinner is our donation time of food items for Hands of Christ Duluth Co-Op. You can pick up dinner for your family and drop off canned goods and other items to support other families. A listing of critically needed food items will be posted closer to each date of the food drive.


Missions Ministry Hosting a “Drive-Up Food Drive” Food Collection for the Hands of Christ Duluth Co-op: October 28th
The Missions Ministry hosts weekly Drive-Up Food Drives for the Hands of Christ Duluth Co-op, a local missions ministry. We are excited to offer a meaningful and safe way for your family to serve our community during this uncertain time. We will be collecting a variety of canned, jarred, and boxed food goods, as well as personal care items, for the Hands of Christ Duluth Co-op.
 
The food drive will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. A listing of critically needed items will be posted closer to the date of the food drive.
 
We will have the donation station set up underneath the portico in the back parking lot of the Family Life Center. Please 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. If you are picking up Wednesday Night Drive-Thru Dinners, you can pick them up at the same time in the same location.
 
*SAFETY NOTE: In order to ensure the safety of all participants and adhere to CDC guidelines regarding social distancing, we will have one family at a time drive up to drop off their donations. Please pack your items in your car trunk, and our volunteers will collect the items directly from there. Thank you!


A New Way to Celebrate Halloween: October 31st
Our Halloween celebration will take place on Saturday, October 31st, at the back of the church campus. Drop by the church between 5 and 6:30 p.m. You are encouraged to bring food donations for the Hands of Christ Duluth Co-Op because It’s Spooky to be Hungry! We will also have photo booths available where you may take pictures in costume. And of course, you will receive a treat!

We look forward to seeing you in your Halloween costumes! If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Beth Brown Shugart (aka the Minister of Fun) by e-mail at bshugart@duluthumc.org, or call 770-476-3776, ext. 128.


Wednesday Night Drive-Thru Dinner:  November 4th
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 November 4th is turkey and dressing, sweet potato casserole, green beans, cranberry sauce, rolls, 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, October 30th. 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 the Wednesday Night Drive-Thu Dinner Order 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.

Combined with the drive through dinner is our donation time of food items for Hands of Christ Duluth Co-Op. You can pick up dinner for your family and drop off canned goods and other items to support other families. A listing of critically needed food items will be posted closer to each date of the food drive.


Missions Ministry Hosting a “Drive-Up Food Drive” Food Collection for the Hands of Christ Duluth Co-op: November 4th
The Missions Ministry hosts weekly Drive-Up Food Drives for the Hands of Christ Duluth Co-op, a local missions ministry. We are excited to offer a meaningful and safe way for your family to serve our community during this uncertain time. We will be collecting a variety of canned, jarred, and boxed food goods, as well as personal care items, for the Hands of Christ Duluth Co-op.
 
The food drive will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. A listing of critically needed items will be posted closer to the date of the food drive.
 
We will have the donation station set up underneath the portico in the back parking lot of the Family Life Center. Please 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. If you are picking up Wednesday Night Drive-Thru Dinners, you can pick them up at the same time in the same location.
 
*SAFETY NOTE: In order to ensure the safety of all participants and adhere to CDC guidelines regarding social distancing, we will have one family at a time drive up to drop off their donations. Please pack your items in your car trunk, and our volunteers will collect the items directly from there. Thank you!


Wednesday Night Drive-Thru Dinner:  November 11th
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 November 11th is beef tips, rice, broccoli, roasted brussel sprouts, 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, November 6th. 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 the Wednesday Night Drive-Thu Dinner Order 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.

Combined with the drive through dinner is our donation time of food items for Hands of Christ Duluth Co-Op. You can pick up dinner for your family and drop off canned goods and other items to support other families. A listing of critically needed food items will be posted closer to each date of the food drive.
 

In-Church Worship Services Have Resumed!

For In-Person Worship, Wear a Mask and Be Well!

As we have re-opened for worship services, we are looking forward to seeing you and worshiping together! Our worship services will be held at their regular times:

  • 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary;
  • 11:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship in Hinton Hall;
  • 11:00 Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary.

In order to protect everyone's well-being, your observation of guidelines in the following areas is needed. Each of us taking personal responsibility for this will help immensely.

MASKS

  • Masks are required to be worn for all worship services. We will have masks on hand if you forget yours.
  • If you do not feel comfortable wearing a mask, for the time being we must insist that you stay at home and do online worship only. We will continue to post videos from the worship services online (YouTube, Facebook, and the church's website).

GENERAL HEALTH

  • If you are not feeling well, please stay at home and do online worship only. Do not come to the church if your temperature is over 99.4.
  • Hand sanitizing stations will be located inside the entrances.

DISTANCING AND WORSHIP SERVICES

  • In the Traditional Worship services, pews will be marked off for social distancing of 6 feet, and bulletins will be placed where you and your family can sit. Families can sit together, but families and individuals must maintain at least 6 feet of distance from one another.
  • In the Contemporary Worship service, chairs will be spaced out for social distancing.
  • All children will worship with their families, including the very young. In keeping with pandemic health guidelines, we will not have a nursery or childcare available for the time being. When it is safe to do so, we will have a nursery.
  • Please do your best to observe 6-foot distancing, including no hugging, no handshakes, no holding the door for the person behind you, etc.
  • Hymns will be printed in the Traditional Worship bulletins, and the screens will continue to be utilized for Contemporary Worship.
  • Instead of passing offering plates, at the entrances we will have buckets/baskets for you to place your offering in when entering or leaving a service.

CHURCH CLEANLINESS

  • The cleanliness of our church's facilities has always been a high priority and will continue to be so.
  • Between the two Traditional Worship services, the Sanctuary will receive an extra cleaning.

The church offices have re-opened with social distancing being observed. Please bring a mask with you anytime that you come to the church so that you can put it on if needed. Masks are not mandatory for small groups or individuals coming to the church during the week, but should be worn whenever social distancing is not possible.

 

Sunday school classes will tentatively resume on September 13th. Please click on SUNDAY SCHOOL for more information.

We will continue social distancing practices indefinitely, and will not stop until a clear message that it is safe to do so is received. That way, everyone can feel safe coming to church.

We know how much you miss each other and long to be together. During these uncertain times, we are certain that loving our neighbor is the way of United Methodists. We give thanks for you and for the ways you are loving your neighbors.

Please check your e-mail and our church website regularly for possible changes to these plans.

Thank you.