Christmas for a Soldier 2021: Through November 28th
As we gather together with our families to celebrate Christmas this year, there will be many families missing loved ones who are serving our country overseas.  It is important for us to remember, as we celebrate Christmas while in the safety and comfort of our homes, the contributions and sacrifices our military are making on our behalf.  Many of our troops do not have the family support to send them holiday greetings. Join us for Christmas for a Soldier 2021, our 18th Christmas supporting our troops, and let’s come together and send them some holiday cheer.

Items needed for the Christmas care packages include:
Christmas Cards (handmade or retail)
Thousands of deployed troops would love to receive a card from you with holiday wishes and letting them know we are thinking about them at this special time of year.
Please no glitter on the cards! It does not travel well over the 10-14 days it takes for items to get to the troops.
Snack Items
Hot chocolate and apple cider packets
Microwave popcorn
Holiday candy and gum
Trail mix, nuts, sunflower seeds, granola bars
Slim Jims, beef jerky
Other Items
Holiday-themed items (small and unbreakable)
Ziploc bags used for packing food items
A new pair of socks (white/black athletic); caps (warm winter); gloves (preferably black winter gloves, one size fits all)
Puzzle books (Crosswords, Sudoku, Word Find)
Holiday-themed writing pens or pencils
Holiday-themed lip balm

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 UMC with Hugs for Soldiers in the memo section, or through the ONLINE GIVING page on the church’s website – duluthumc.org. Click on MISCELLANEOUS GIFT and specify Support Our Troops/Hugs for Soldiers.

The deadline for donations is Sunday, November 28th. A donation box is located inside the back entrance to the Family Life Center. Join us on Saturday, aDecember 4th, at 10 a.m. in the Scout Hut (located at the back of the church property) to help us assemble and pack the Christmas care packages.

For further information, please contact Angie Doerlich by e-mail at hugsforsoldiers@gmail.com or call 404-316-8183. You may also visit the Hugs for Soldiers website at hugsforsoldiers.org. Thank you for your continued support.  God bless our troops!

Wednesday Night Dinner in Hinton Hall: December 1st

Join us for Wednesday Night Dinners in Hinton Hall, as the Dinner Belles and Beaus prepare excellent meals at very reasonable prices. Enjoy fellowship around the table with family and friends. December 1st is Taco Night. The menu includes tacos (chicken or beef) with flour tortillas, choice of refried beans or black beans, yellow rice, lettuce, tomato, cheese, salsa, chips, guacamole, and dessert. For the kids – the same.

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:

$8.00 for adults; $7.00 for seniors; $5.00 for children under 11 years of age; $23.00 for family meals (immediate family members only); $5.00 for salad bar only, which includes the salad bar, a choice of baked potato or sweet potato, dessert and a drink.

Missions Ministry's “Drive-Up Food Drive” Food Collection for the Hands of Christ Duluth Co-op: December 2nd

Our church’s Missions Ministry will be hosting Drive-Up Food Drives for the Hands of Christ Duluth Co-op, a local missions ministry, on every-other Thursday. The next Food Drive will be held on Thursday, December 2nd, from 10 a.m. to noon.

The food drives were hugely successful when Wednesday Night Drive-Thru Dinners were offered, and we are excited to continue to offer a meaningful and safe way for your family to serve our community. We will be collecting a variety of goods at a donation station set up underneath the portico in the back of the Family Life Center.

A listing of critically needed food items for the food drive on December 2nd will be posted closer to the date of the food drive.

To learn more about the Duluth Co-op, please click on Hands of Christ.

Children’s Ministry Movie Night - “The Star”:  December 3rd        

Children, ages Pre-K through 5th grade, are invited to join us on Friday, December 3rd, from 5 to 7 p.m. for a night at the movies! The Children’s Ministry will be showing “The Star” in the Youth Center (“The Fish Tank”), located on the 1st floor of the Family Life Center.  For just $5.00 your child will spend a few hours with friends eating pizza and watching a movie about a small but brave donkey named Bo, and his new friends as they follow the star on a big adventure!

Please enter through the back door of the Family Life Center under the portico. Your child is encouraged to bring a pillow, blanket or anything they would like for comfort while watching the movie. Please bring a new puzzle (wooden or less than 20 pieces) for a donation to Christian Beginnings Preschool & Kindergarten.

For additional information, please contact Leslie Yokeley, Director of Children’s Ministries, by e-mail at lyokeley@duluthumc.org, or call 770-476-3776, ext. 138.

An Old Fashioned Christmas:  December 4th
Everyone is invited to An Old Fashioned Christmas on Saturday, December 4th, beginning at 2:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. There will be Christmas Carols, Christmas readings, and our special guest, Santa Claus. The event will be live streamed on the Duluth First UMC Worship page on YouTube.com.

Afterwards, join us in the Fellowship Hall for cookies and hot chocolate. An Old Fashioned Christmas is presented by the United Methodist Women of Duluth First UMC.

Our COVID-19 Policy
Based on the latest guidelines from the CDC, Duluth First UMC’s COVID protocol is revised as follows, effective immediately. This applies to worship and all other church events and to all areas of the campus:

• For those who have been fully vaccinated, masks and social distancing are not required.
• For those who have not been fully vaccinated, masks are required and social distancing is encouraged.
• The church will continue to make masks available for all who want or need them.
  

Many thanks to everyone for working together so graciously to be the church during this pandemic--from the time we went to online only on March 15, 2020, through our re-opening on June 28, and into this next phase starting right now and going forward.

Your cooperation in loving your neighbor as yourself is helping us to help people follow Jesus.