Mark your calendars and save the dates for the 43rd Annual Duluth Fall Festival being held Saturday, September 26th, and Sunday, September 27th. Duluth First United Methodist Church and its congregation take an active roll in the Fall Festival each year.

The Fall Festival kicks off on Saturday, September 26th, with a parade through downtown beginning at 10 a.m.

On Sunday, September 27th, the Duluth 5K Donut Dash race, a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race, starts at 8 a.m. The race attracts both the serious competitive racer and the occasional runner/walker, and provides an opportunity for participants of all ages to help this year’s race beneficiary, Wellroot Family Services, supporting their vision of a world where every child is raised in a loving, compassionate, and nurturing home. For additional information about Wellroot Family Services, please visit their website at www.wellroot.org. To sign up for the Duluth Donut Dash, please go to www.duluthdonutdash5k.org.

Join us for Worship on the Town Green on Sunday, September 27th, with a community worship service beginning at 10 a.m. at the Duluth Town Green. Duluth First United Methodist Church’s Rev. David Burchett will be leading the morning’s worship service, with the church’s Contemporary Worship Praise Team leading the worship music.

PLEASE NOTE:

• On September 27th, our Contemporary Worship Service will take place at Duluth Town Green for the Duluth Fall Festival’s Worship on the Town Green with Rev. David Burchett preaching.
• The 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship services and WILL MEET in the Sanctuary with Rev. C. Kay Fuino preaching.
• Sunday school classes for children and youth will not be held on September 27th. 

For additional information about the Duluth Fall Festival, please visit duluthfallfestival.org.

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.

The Sunday Night Gathering schedule for September is:

• Sunday, September 27th: Sunday Night Gathering at 5:30 p.m. in the Youth Center (“The Fish Tank”).

The Sunday Night Gathering schedule for October is:

• Sunday, October 4th: Sunday Night Gathering at 5:30 p.m. in the Youth Center (“The Fish Tank”);
• Sunday, October 11th: Sunday Night Gathering at 5:30 p.m. in the Youth Center (“The Fish Tank”);
• Sunday, October 18th: Packing Thanksgiving boxes for the Hands of Christ Duluth Co-op at 5:30 p.m. in the Youth Center (“The Fish Tank”);
• Sunday, October 25th: Trunk or Treat from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the front of the church.

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.

Join us for a time of food and fellowship around the table with family and friends at our Wednesday Night Dinners from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall, located on the 2nd floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center. Chef Kenny Lewis, our Food Ministry Manager, along with our very talented and dedicated Dinner Belles and Beaus volunteers, prepare excellent meals at very reasonable prices.

The menu for September 30th is pulled BBQ pork on a bun, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, cole slaw, and dessert. For the kids – hot dogs and French fries.

Dinners are served from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall, 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 and 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.

Please Note: Menus are subject to change.

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. Donated food items can be left on the Food Drive table located outside of the main entrance to Hinton Hall, located on the 2nd floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center.

Items needed during the month of September are:

• September 30th: Cans of Mixed Veggies.

Items needed during the month of October are:

• October 7th: Peanut Butter and Jelly;
• October 14th: Boxes of Spaghetti and Pasta;
• October 21st: Canned Fruit;
• October 28th: Canned Peas.
  

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!

Parent Connection, our small group for parents of children of all ages, meets on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. in rooms F206/207, located on the 2nd floor of the Sheldon Family LIfe Center. Discussions will center around positive Christian parenting in a world that often seems to look to culture for a parenting model.

Please contact Rev. David Burchett by e-mail at dburchett@duluthumc.org for more information.

BSA Troop 419 will hold their 10th Annual “Cars for Campouts” Fundraiser Car Show, Cruise In, and BBQ on Saturday, October 3rd, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the church’s front parking lot. If you have a special vehicle (all years, makes, models) – muscle cars, classics, resto-mods, exotics, bikes, and one-offs – please bring it and participate.

Preregistration by October 2nd is $20, and registration on the day of the show is $25. Register at https://tinyurl.com/carsforcampouts2026. Sixty participant-judged awards will be presented. If you just want to see some cool vehicles, feel free to attend as admission for spectators is free.

Food and beverages will be available. Enjoy great food, hots dogs, pulled pork BBQ (available on-site or for take home), snacks and beverages.

If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to carshow@bsatoop419.org, or call Mike Ringham at 770-815-4206. All proceeds from the event help make BSA Troop 419’s program one of the best in the council, and with your support, will continue to do so.

The Missions Ministry is having a delicious fundraiser on Sunday, October 4th,  from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in The Dorothy L. Rainey Fellowship Hall. We invite you to come help support Duluth First UMC in being the hands and feet of Christ in our community by stopping and enjoying some hot, delicious cinnamon rolls.
 
Cinnamon rolls will be $5 each, and donations are always accepted. All proceeds will go toward supporting our local mission efforts which our general giving goes towards in the Duluth/Gwinnett County areas, such as the Hands of Christ Duluth Co-Op, the Duluth Care Team, Rainbow Village, Family Promise, and others.

Online pre-orders are available for individuals and Sunday School classes to place their cinnamon rolls orders ahead of time - just click on CINNAMON ROLLS to place your order. Payments can be made at the time of pickup. The deadline for placing pre-orders will be Thursday, October 1st, at noon.

Thank you for your support!

Bring your pets for our “Blessing of the Animals” service on Sunday, October 4th, at 3:00 p.m. on the Fellowship Terrace, located in front of the Dorothy L. Rainey Fellowship Hall. We will gather for a short service and offer a blessing for each animal individually. All friendly leashed, crated, or contained animals are welcome! Your pet not interested in being with other animals? Bring a photo or a special toy to have blessed!

In case of rain the service will be held under the rear portico entrance of the Sheldon Family Life Center. Please contact Rev. Dr. AnnaKate Rawles by e-mail at arawles@duluthumc.org with any questions.

Join us for a time of food and fellowship around the table with family and friends at our Wednesday Night Dinners from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall, located on the 2^nd floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center. Chef Kenny Lewis, our Food Ministry Manager, along with our very talented and dedicated Dinner Belles and Beaus volunteers, prepare excellent meals at very reasonable prices.

The menu for October 7^th is Chicken Parmesan, spaghetti noodles, Italian green beans, roasted zucchini and squash, garlic bread, and dessert. For the kids – spaghetti and meat sauce.

Dinners are served from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall, 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 and 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.

Please Note: Menus are subject to change.

We are excited to participate in The Rooted Retreat (North Georgia UMC Conference Retreat) hosted by the Glisson Camp and Retreat Center, from Friday, November 6th through Sunday, November 8th, for our youth fall retreat! It will be an incredible weekend with powerful worship experiences, dedicated youth group time, fun activities, and food and lodging at Glisson Camp and Retreat Center. We are looking forward to a meaningful and fun fall retreat together.
 
Information for the Rooted Fall Retreat is:

• Dates: Friday, November 6th - Sunday, November 8th;
• Location: Glisson Camp and Retreat Center (690 Camp Glisson Rd., Dahlonega, GA 30533)
• Cost: $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.
• Registration Deadline: Sunday, October 11th.
• Camp Glisson Website: https://glisson.org.
  

To register, please click on ROOTED RETREAT. If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Min Lee, Director of Youth Ministries, by e-mail at mlee@duluthumc.org.

Join us for a time of food and fellowship around the table with family and friends at our Wednesday Night Dinners from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall, located on the 2^nd floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center. Chef Kenny Lewis, our Food Ministry Manager, along with our very talented and dedicated Dinner Belles and Beaus volunteers, prepare excellent meals at very reasonable prices.

October 14th is “Breakfast for Dinner” Night and the menu includes ham and cheese quiche, a choice of bacon or sausage, hashbrown casserole, cheese grits, French toast sticks, fresh fruit, biscuits, and dessert. For the kids – the same.

Dinners are served from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall, 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 and 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.

Please Note: Menus are subject to change.

Join us for a time of food and fellowship around the table with family and friends at our Wednesday Night Dinners from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall, located on the 2^nd floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center. Chef Kenny Lewis, our Food Ministry Manager, along with our very talented and dedicated Dinner Belles and Beaus volunteers, prepare excellent meals at very reasonable prices.

The menu for October 21^st is honey-baked ham, sweet potato soufflé, macaroni and cheese, green beans, rolls, and dessert. For the kids – the same.

Dinners are served from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall, 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 and 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.

Please Note: Menus are subject to change.

Bring your friends and family to our Trunk or Treat event on Sunday, October 25th, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the church’s front parking lot. Come in costume, park your car, and pop the trunk! Volunteers are needed to host a trunk at Trunk or Treat as we welcome our community to Duluth First UMC for an afternoon of fun. We hope to have at least 35 trunks and YOU can be one! Decorate and/or have a game at your trunk for the opportunity to win the soon to be coveted Golden Pumpkin prize! Set-up time begins at 3:30 p.m. and trick-or-treating begins at 4:00 p.m.

Volunteers are also needed to help with set up, refill candy, run carnival games, and clean up. You sign can sign up to volunteer by clicking on DULUTH FIRST UMC TRUNK OR TREAT.

Candy donations (bags of individually wrapped candies) are needed for Trunk or Treat. Drop off any candy starting Thursday, October 1st, in the Trunk or Treat bins located around the church. You can help us be sure we have enough to share with our community!

Please contact Rev. Dr. AnnaKate Rawles by e-mail at arawles@duluthumc.org or call 770-476-3776, ext. 128, with any questions.

Join us for a time of food and fellowship around the table with family and friends at our Wednesday Night Dinners from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall, located on the 2^nd floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center. Chef Kenny Lewis, our Food Ministry Manager, along with our very talented and dedicated Dinner Belles and Beaus volunteers, prepare excellent meals at very reasonable prices.

The menu for October 28^th is baked Chicken Alfredo, penne pasta, steamed broccoli, Italian mixed vegetables, breadsticks, and dessert. For the kids – the same.

Dinners are served from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall, 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 and 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.

Please Note: Menus are subject to change.