Our Food Pantry emphasis for February is CEREAL (dry) . Please note that some the recipients are homeless and do not have can openers. Snap-off can tops will be a real help to them. The Food Pantry collection barrel is located at the end of the hallway in the education wing. If you know of a family in need, you can send them to the church office for a referral to the Hopewell Food Pantry.
Helping Fund Church Ministries
The Virginia United Methodist Credit Union invites church members to partner with them and earn donations to support the ministry efforts of First United Methodist. There will be a one-time event held at the church on Feb. 7 following the 11 AM service with VUMCU staff on hand to accept membership applications. For each church member that joins by opening a prime savings account (minimum deposit of $35), the credit union will donate $20 to First United Methodist. This is an opportunity to support the ministry efforts of our church, and, at the same time, work toward strengthening your personal finances.
Virginia United Methodist Credit Union operates as a financial cooperative that, when membership grows, has increased opportunities to serve the financial needs of churches, clergy, agencies and individual church members of the Virginia Conference.
UMW NEWS:
We invite ALL women of the church to be involved in the United Methodist Women. Our purpose is "to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church". We have three circles: Helping Hands meets on the 2nd Monday in the morning; Guilders meets on the 4th Monday in the evening and Wesley meets on the 2nd Monday in the evening. Our next general meeting will be on Feb. 22nd at 7:30 PM in the church fellowship hall. Our program will be "A Call to Prayer and Self-Denial". Come and visit with us! We would love to talk with any woman seeking to know more about UMW. Please contact either Kim Taylor (458-0921) or Carol Elmore (458-0947).
Our annual district Lenten retreat will be on Saturday, March 6th at Blackstone. This is a wonderful day for personal reflection and a reminder of this season of the Christian year. The cost is $17.50, which includes breakfast and lunch. For further information, contact Kim or Carol. Registration deadline is Feb. 14th.
Thank you to Josie Cuffe for four wonderful years serving as our president. We also thank Carolyn Hoagland, Nancy Karabaich and Bobbie Lee for your service and dedication to the UMW!
LET'S EAT!
We will have a covered dish luncheon on Sunday, Feb. 7th following the 11:00 service. Please bring a LARGE prepared favorite dish and join in on the great food and fellowship!
ATTENTION PARENTS!
There will be a Confirmation class this winter for youth 6th grade and older who have not been confirmed as church members. The class will meet during the Sunday School hour each week. The first meeting will be February 14th with breakfast at 9:45. Parents are invited to come along with the youth to the breakfast. Confirmation Sunday will be on Palm Sunday, March 28th. Parents are asked to encourage your youth to participate in this meaningful time of their Christian life.
There will be a "First Communion" training class for children in first and second grades held on February 21, February 28 and March 7 during the Sunday School hour. There will be a special communion service for these children at 11:00 a.m. on March 7. This class is designed to teach children the meaning of Holy Communion, the Lord's Supper.
HELPING THE HOMELESS
What are you doing after church on Sunday, March 7th? No matter what your age is, you are invited to participate in a very humbling experience! We will be traveling to Monroe Park in Richmond to give lunches and personal care items to approximately 100 homeless men and women. Before we can go though, your help is needed as items need to be purchased. If you would like to donate men's socks, washcloths or bars of soap, a collection container will be at the end of the main hallway. Monetary contributions are greatly needed to purchase the lunch items. Please mark your check "homeless" and give it to the church office.
YOU are invited to help pack lunches on Sunday, March 7th at 9:00 AM and then travel to Monroe Park after the 11:00 service to meet with these folks and offer them lunch and items. Let us all be Christ-like in this wonderful outreach ministry!
LENTEN SEASON
We will begin Lent with a Pancake Supper on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 6:30 PM. Join us on Wed. Feb. 17 at 7:30 for our Ash Wednesday service. We will once again have our Wednesday night dinners at 6:30 PM. beginning on Feb. 24 th. A different group will be responsible for providing the dinner, which will be followed by a guest speaker. Mark your calendar and plan to attend this wonderful time of fellowship and reflection.
February Stewardship
Ushers this month: Doug Patrick, Rocky Anderson, Todd Butterworth, Bill Garvin, Kenny Hines, Dave Johnson, and Milton Martin
Community News
There is an information service available to help keep you and your family safe, informed and connected to the community 24/7. Nixle is a Community Information Service that will send you up to date alerts on traffic, weather, etc. by cell phone, e-mail or on the web. Sign up at www. Nixle.com
UNITED METHODIST MEN
The February breakfast meeting will be on Saturday the 13th at 8:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. All men of the church are invited to come and enjoy this special time of fellowship.
FLOWER CALENDAR
The 2010 Altar flower calendar is on the bulletin board outside of the church office. Sign up to place flowers on the altar in honor or memory of loved ones. Most dates are still available. If you have any questions, contact the church office (458-8076).
Missions Committee Monthly
As the temperature outside is slowly dropping into the low 20's, I'm sitting in my warm house with a nice cup of hot coffee and eating cheese crumb coffee cake - - MAN, life is so good. Many times I fail to remember how blessed I am to have just the simple comforts of everyday life. This is not the situation for so many of our fellow human beings, not only here in our community but worldwide.
The Missions Committee is now in the process of drawing together plans for support of FUMC's missions. During the next several months, we will be informing our church family about the different missions and asking for help with projects. Giving of one's time is as important as giving monetary donations. Both are very much needed. Please be in prayer not only for our Missions Committee work, but also what you can do to help with these charitable projects.
Mark your calendars for February 7th, for a cover dish lunch and information about joining with Virginia United Methodist Credit Union in benefiting both our missions funding and your personal financial success. Be a part of United Methodist working together for the good of mankind and glory of God.
First United Methodist Missions Committee
Faith Promise Mission Sunday, Feb. 28th
First United Methodist Church has been and continues to be very active in supporting various missions’ needs. We all pull together in time of need such as the wonderful turnout of ladies to help assemble health kits for the victims of Haiti. Between now and February 28th, Faith Promise Mission Budget Sunday, please be in prayer for our missions and your monetary pledge for support. Enclosed are three cards and one self-addressed envelope. After deciding what your annual pledge amount will be towards the Faith Promise Mission budget, write the amount on all 3 cards (just the amount, no name). Then put 1 card inside a self-addressed envelope and put the envelope along with 1 of the other 2 cards in the offering plate or turn them in to the church office. Please keep the 3rd card as a reminder to yourself of your pledge. Reminder cards will be mailed in the fall with the 3rd quarter statements.
EMAIL PRAYER LIST
Please contact Carol Elmore at teecbe@yahoo.com if you would like to be included in FUMC’s email prayer chain or if you have a prayer request.
Children’s small wooden chairs need to find a good home! Maybe you or a family member used to sit in these in Sunday School years ago! For a donation to our Pioneer Club, you may take one or more home with you! For more information, contact the church office.
THANK YOU NOTES
On behalf of the two families our church family "adopted" this past Christmas, a heartfelt thank you goes to each of you who so generously gave! When the gifts were delivered, both mothers were overwhelmed! Your love and support helped to make this a very special Christmas for both families. May God bless you!
To my First Church Family,
Please accept my heartfelt thanks and gratitude for the many expressions of concern, calls, prayers and offers of assistance we received while I was in the hospital and during my recovery at home. Your caring thoughts were much appreciated. May God abundantly bless you.
Love to all,
Bill Crafton
Dear Church family,
We want to thank everyone for their prayers, cards, visits and help since Ellen’s been hurt. She is doing much better and hopes to be home soon. The outpouring of Christian love has been wonderful. Once again, thank you for everything.
Sincere thanks,
Ellen and Bill Garvin