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This focuses on the nursery-age children for the families that attend services and Sunday school classes for that age group. Nursery (Birth through age 4) [ The Little Children and Jesus ] People were also bringin g babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” ~Luke 18:15-17 While God's littlest blessings are most welcome in all worship services, our nursery provides an opportunity during the 9:00 AM Sunday morning worship service to allow parents to grow in their faith and experience God’s presence without the distraction of an active child. After all, God did not have “stillness and silence” in mind when he created children! Along with providing an opportunity for parents to grow in their faith, our nursery is an exciting place for these little ones to grow in their faith as well as they come to know, love and follow Jesus. This spiritual foundation begins in the nursery for your infants and toddlers, as they are lovingly cared for and enjoy busy active learning as our leaders make the Bible come alive in a meaningful and fun way! PLEASE NOTE...our nursery is a bug free zone! If your child has a fever, runny nose, cough, diarrhea, unknown rash, discharge from the eyes, illness being treated with antibiotics for less than 24 hours please keep them at home. We look forward to seeing them when they are feeling better. Little Blessings Nursery Policies & Procedures Hours of Operation & Age Limitations Only children from birth through 4-years-old will be allowed in the nursery. Parents of this age-group must be on-site in the event of an unforeseen emergencies. Parents are encouraged to check-in up to 15-minutes after the start of the worship service to reserve your child’s place and so that a nursery caregiver is available should you decide to utilize the nursery at any point during the service. If no children are registered by that time, the nursery may close allowing caregivers the opportunity to worship. Only attendants who have been trained under the Safe Sanctuary policy will be allowed in the nursery. Diaper Changing and Bathroom Trips Parents should supply diapers, wipes, a burp pad, and a change of clothing for their child each time they drop off their child. Due to Safe Sanctuary Guidelines, parents are the only ones permitted to do diaper changes. Children who are potty trained may use the nursery restroom on their own. Discipline Policies Physical punishment is forbidden for all nursery caregivers, including parents who serve in a room with their own children. The only discipline allowed in the nursery is time-out which should be limited to the age of the child (for example, 2 minutes for a 2-year-old). Scolding, harsh words and physical punishment of any kind is forbidden. If the child’s behavior could cause physical harm to another child such as biting, hitting, throwing things, etc., then nursery caregivers will get the parent from the service and require that the parent keeps the child with them in worship that day. Children who have been removed may return to the nursery the following week. Repeat offenders will not be allowed to return. Food Parents must label all bottles and sippy cups with the child's name. We DO NOT provide formula, bottles, or baby food for infants. We DO provide snacks (crackers, cookies, pretzels, etc.) for toddlers. Please make sure nursery caregivers are aware of any food allergies. Meals will NOT be fed to children, even if parents provide the food. Wellness Policy For the protection of all children and caregivers, neither children nor caregivers with any of the following symptoms within the past 24 hours will be admitted into the nursery: Fever Vomiting or diarrhea Untreated pink eye or other eye infection Rash Sore throat Runny Nose Persistent coughing or sneezing Drainage from ears Lice, including the presence of eggs or nits COVID, RSV or flu symptoms not listed above We understand that a child may end up getting ill during their stay in the nursery. If a Nursery Caregiver suspects a child does not meet the standards of the Wellness Policy, they will notify the parent and request that the child remains with the parent that week. If your child isn’t feeling well, we encourage you to worship with us online at: www.havencfc.org and look forward to seeing you next week! Medications Nursery caregivers CANNOT administer any medication (this includes Benadryl, teething or diaper rash ointments). If your child needs medication or treatment during their stay in the nursery, you MUST come to administer necessary medications. In the event of a sudden allergic reaction, parents will be notified immediately, and Benadryl will be available for parental administration until proper medical personnel can attend to the situation.

This page provides an opportunity to all to submit a prayer request to the church prayer chain with as much or as little information you're comfortable providing. PRAYER REQUESTS 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) tells us to "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." Are you or someone you know in need of prayer? How may we pray for you? God cares about you, your family, and your friends. Scripture tells us to give our problems and worries to Him. CFC and our Prayer Team would like to help you present them to God and ask Him to show His love to you by working in your life. CFC offers various ways to request and receive prayer for you and your loved ones. We offer: An active Prayer Chain. Prayer requests may be submitted by sending an email to prayer@havenfirstumc.org or be called into the Church Office (570.385.3941) Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Prayer request cards are available in the pews; you may complete a card on a Sunday morning & place it in the prayer card collection during the first hymn. Below is a Prayer Request Box. To help us pray for your specific situation, please take a moment to submit your request. All submissions in the Prayer Request Form are emailed to a member of the CFC Prayer Chain and then will be sent forth to have many people praying for you. Prayer Request Submit Thanks for submitting! We will be praying for you or the person(s) in your request.

Provides a list of committees and their responsibilities. COMMITTEES CFC is comprised of many committees and leadership roles. Serving on a committee is just one way to share your diverse gifts and interact with those who share your interests and values. Below is a list of leadership roles and committees. Leadership Roles Senior Pastor Lay Leader Saturday Night & Sunday Worship Coordinators Treasurer Office Manager Administrative Board is comprised of the Chairperson of each Committee and other church leaders. At the regularly scheduled meetings, the Board hears reports from the church staff and each of the active Committees. Committees Communications / Media & Technology | The purpose of the Committee is to be the responsible body for the timely internal and external communications about our church's programs, services, people, events, activities, outreach, and missions. This would encompass the faithful and spiritual implementation of all our church's marketing, public relations, and providing advertising information to committees for their individual needs. Our mission is to implement methods and means of communicating fully and completely about who we are and what we do as a church in order to strengthen our bonds as a Body of Christ, not only as members within our own church, but as evangelists to the community at large. The purpose of the Media and Technology Committee is to provide technological assistance for the service of the church's ministries. The scope of the Committee is to establish and/or maintain the different technological programs in the church's ministry, to include service multi-media operations, slides creation, satellite TV operations, website maintenance, and church IT protection. Community Relations and Outreach | The purpose of our Community Relations and Outreach Ministry is to reach those who are outside the walls of our church with the message and the love of Jesus Christ. We do this by providing opportunities to minister to all we meet. We are blessed to be able to serve in the mission field in our community as we partner with local organizations and communities to build relationships and provide opportunities to share God’s love and plan of salvation. Our vision is simple - to love God and love our neighbors! Discipleship | There are many different opportunities for members of all ages and stages to learn about the Bible's teachings and living the life of the gospel in today's world. The Committee is responsible for our Sunday School curriculum for youth and adults, as well as the summer Outreach program, the Annual Easter Egg Hunt, various Christmas programs, among others. The Committee: recruits teachers, chooses material, plans and runs the summer Outreach program along with volunteers. The Committee is always looking for members as well as dedicated Sunday School teachers. Anyone interested in becoming active in the education of both youth and adults within our church are welcome to attend and get involved in the education of all. Fellowship and Hospitality | Although the Committee is unique in its function, their goal is in bringing together the members of the congregation and their family and friends into one body to share and live out the Gospel. Fellowship’s function is to plan social activities for the congregation to come together as a church family. Finance | The primary responsibility of the Committee is to enable and support the ministries of CFC. The Committee evaluates the financial needs of the congregation with the preparation of the annual budget, reviews and advises AdBoard on giving patterns and the financial health of CFC, reviews and advises on the use of special gifts and memorials, supervises an audit of all financial records and procedures, and monitors invested funds. Another responsibility of the Committee is to promote good stewardship by leading the congregation to higher levels of proportionate giving as God has given us all that we have, let us give back to God first, as he commands us to do. Let our gifts enable our congregation to do God's work. Health and Welfare | Works in conjunction with the Parish Nurse in serving the congregation in different health-related areas and provides monthly blood pressure screenings. The Committee provides programs to improve the health of body, mind, and spirit. Some of the programs the Committee provided in the past to enhance the health of the congregation are "The Walk to Bethlehem", Medication Education, Advance Directives, "Get My People Going", established the Caregivers Conference, and played an instrumental part in getting the automatic external defibrillator (AED) for the church. Lay Leadership | Lay leadership is composed of professing members and the charge of this committee is to identify, develop, organize, evaluate, and monitor Christian spiritual leadership of the congregation. Members of the committee shall engage in and be attentive to developing and enhancing their own Christian spiritual life in light of the mission of the Church. Membership | Although the Committee is unique in its function, they share a common goal with the Evangelism and Fellowship Committees in the bringing together the members of the congregation and community into one body to share and live out the Gospel. Membership’s focus is to audit the membership and manage visitation. Missions & Social Concerns | This ministry of the church recruits and oversees the adult mission teams sent out by the Church, including Volunteer in Mission (VIM) teams; oversees support for missionaries and Christian organizations sponsored by the Church; oversees periodic missions conferences; provides support and connection for the various social and missional outreach programs of the church, including the Vineyard Ministry, Meals Ministry, and Community Lunch. Parish Nurse | Is a member of the ministerial team providing health services focusing on the holistic integration of body, mind, and spirit to the members of the church and the community beyond. The Parish Nurse does not provide medical treatment or hands-on care but is a Health Educator (providing educational materials and programs about health topics), a Health Counselor (increasing members' awareness of health issues), a Referral Source (providing information about and assists with community resource linkage), and a Resource (consulting/answering questions about health issues or navigation of the health system). SPRC | Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) is the administrative unit where staff and congregational interests are integrated to focus on the mission of the church. SPRC confers with the congregation and the staff/pastor about ministry direction, assesses the ministry of the congregation and the staff/pastor, supports continuing education for all staff, identifies and supports individuals from the congregation whom God seems to be calling for ordained ministry, makes recommendations regarding compensation, travel, benefits and housing to the church council, and recommends needed staff positions and develops written job descriptions and titles for associate pastors and staff. Trustees | The Trustees is responsible for taking care of the church grounds, buildings, and parsonage. The Committee's goal is to provide a safe and comfortable house of worship and to keep the church property in good repair. The Committee is responsible for routine repair and maintenance as well as any required capital projects (i.e., heating and electrical systems, roof, etc.). They also organize the "Church Clean-Up Day" which relies on volunteers to assist in pre-determined tasks. Worship | The Committee is comprised of willing workers who are committed and dedicated to providing a meaningful worship experience by overseeing the worship services throughout the church year; organizing the various choirs, praise teams, and hand bells; purchasing and scheduling of music; maintaining the piano and organ; seeking guest musicians and presenters for the services; providing palms, candles, communion elements, Bibles and hymnals for the pews, and coordinates the anniversary dinner. The Committee is also responsible for ensuring proper licensing and approvals are in place for streaming and/or recording music, scripture, etc. Youth Council | Youth Council is structured in a way to equip and empower our young people to be active leaders within our ministry and play a critical role in the planning and execution of our ministry and outreach. For more information on ways to get involved and serve with CFC Ministries, click here.

Answers to most commonly asked questions. FAQs Where do I park? Parking is easy for our visitors. As you enter the parking lot from Saylor Street, there is a drive that goes through the upper end of the lot that leads to a covered area for drop off at the main doors. You will notice the parking to the side of the church. Is there handicap parking? There are several handicap parking spaces available. As you enter the parking lot from Saylor Street, there is a drive that goes through the upper end of the lot that leads to a covered area for drop off at the main doors; there are two handicap parking spaces available there. At the parking lot to the side of the church there are several handicap spaces available there which enters into Fellowship Hall. There is an elevator available to take you to the sanctuary/office level. What should I expect? You should expect to find a friendly and welcoming church who will be glad to see that you have come to worship with us. You should expect to feel welcomed as part of the family during our worship services. You should expect a faith community that is Bible-believing, centered on the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and seeking to grow together in the knowledge and love of God. Attire? Church is no longer a formal affair. When it comes to church, attire doesn't much matter. They understand there is nothing particularly spiritual about a dress or a coat and tie. God is scarcely impressed by such things. "People look at the outward appearance," we are reminded, "but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7). The dress is varied at CFC; ranges from jeans/shorts and polos (semi-casual) to dress coat, tie, and dresses. May I attend services if I am not Methodist? Absolutely. Whether you are visiting, looking for a church, or simply want to stop in to see what we are about, we welcome anyone who wants to worship with us. What type of music is sung during the worship service? We offer a blended worship style that resonates with a wide variety of current and prospective congregants. To accomplish this goal, our Sunday morning service uses elements of both traditional and contemporary worship. We use a mix of hymns, use of the organ and/or piano, guitars/keyboard/drums, traditional hymns of the past along, contemporary music, worship choruses, and anthems by the choir. We believe that the blended service will offer the attendees ways to be led into a time of meaningful worship. May I take Communion if I am not Methodist? Yes. The United Methodist Church practices open Communion at God's table. We welcome all those who identify as disciples of Jesus Christ. "Christ our Lord invites to His table all those who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin, and seek to live in peace with one another." May young children take Communion? Yes. "All who intend to lead a Christian life, together with their children, are invited to receive the bread and cup." (Book of Worship) May I attend service but not take Communion? Yes. We do not want anyone to feel unwelcome because they do not choose to receive Communion. Simply remain seated when others go forward. Is childcare available during Sunday services? We offer a comfort room for parents to keep their children with them during worship without worrying about their child crying or being restless. We also have an attended nursery from birth to 4 years old; we follow Safe Sanctuary practices. What if I can't get to the Sunday morning or special holiday services? Streamed Recordings Beginning March 22, 2020, CFC started to livestream the worship services. These streamed services can be found through the website , through our Facebook page , on YouTube , or Vimeo . Podcasts We offer a library of podcasts from weekly and holiday services, for services prior to March 22, 2020; it contains just the scripture and message. How do I submit a Prayer Request? CFC has an active prayer life and offers many different avenues of prayer. If a prayer request is for yourself, you may have it announced in church and added to the church bulletin or prayer chain. If the prayer request is for someone else, please be certain that the subject person would approve the amount of information provided. There are strict HIPPA (Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) guidelines in place to keep a person's health information private and we do not want to violate that ethical standard. Prayer Cards : Prayer cards (located in the pews in the sanctuary) may be filled out on Sunday mornings. During the opening hymn, ushers come down the aisles to collect any prayer cards that are to be prayed for during the worship service. There is also a small check-box at the bottom of the prayer card if you would like the request included in the Sunday bulletin prayer list. These cards are not added to the prayer chain! These are only used during church services and to be added to the church bulletin, upon request. If the prayer request is of a confidential nature and you do not wish to share it aloud, drop it in the box at the back of the sanctuary. No one will read or distribute prayer requests on the cards in the box; God alone knows what you have written. Every couple months the cards are removed and destroyed unread. Prayer Chain : The prayer chain is designed to handle prayer requests any time, any day. A team of over 75 people have committed to praying for every request made to the prayer chain. Follow-up information is always appreciated so the team can know the progress of the person for whom they are praying. Plus, we love to hear praise reports of how God is working through the prayer life of our church! Prayer requests can be emailed to prayer@havenfirstumc.org or you can call the CFC office (570.385.3941) during their regular business hours. Once received, the prayer request is emailed to our prayer chain volunteers. Unfortunately text messages and Facebook requests are not necessarily seen in a timely manner as they are not checked daily. Website Prayer Request Page : You may also submit a prayer request by accessing our prayer request page. Prayer is an extremely important part of our church's ministry, and we make every effort to give each request our fullest attention.

This is a Bible study which concentrates and focuses on the youth. A Charlie Brown Christmas Party! Children ages 4 and older are invited to join us for pizza, games, a movie, & a craft on Sunday, December 10 from 4-7 PM while parents can get ready for Christmas or enjoy a night out. Registration is free but a must! Register by filling out the form below by December 3 . Registration for Charlie Brown Christmas Party Parent's First Name Parent's Last Name Email Phone Number of Children Attending Submit Thanks for submitting!

Welcome! We're so glad you're here! We understand that children & youth are not only the future, but also the present of the church. As such, children & youth are warmly welcomed into the Christ Fellowship family and invited to participate in a variety of programs to guide them in their faith to know Jesus as Lord & Savior. Children, Youth & Family Ministry at Christ Fellowship is embodied in FX—short for Family eXperience. We believe that parents have the greatest influence on their children's spiritual growth, but we also recognize they can't do it alone. That's why FX exists: to partner with families in building lifelong disciples for Jesus. FX is a dynamic environment where both parents and kids engage with essential truths about faith, family, and friendship. From Praise Packs, allowing children to worship alongside their parents, to MoMs—a small group dedicated to mothers and their little ones, to our senior high youth programs, FX offers a holistic discipleship experience that strengthens both families' relationship with God and each other. Want to learn more about your specific age group? Click on the buttons below. NURSERY CHILDREN YOUTH To learn more about children's ministry at FUMC of Schuylkill Haven, please contact our Church Office at 570.385.3941 or email office@havenfirstumc.org,

Details on our confirmation process. CONFIRMATION CLASS About Confirmation Confirmation provides the opportunity to affirm and own for yourself the faith in which your parents have raised you - to begin the steps toward your adult commitment to Christ. At the core of the confirmation process is discipleship- your spiritual development as you take up the call to be disciples of Jesus Christ in your lifestyle, beliefs, values, and witness. Students will have the opportunity to take classes and meet with Pastor Fisher. This will be a great time to ask your hard questions about life and God, learn why faith in Jesus Christ is justified, and take the steps yourself to confirm your faith as a Christian. You will also have the opportunity to develop a special discipling relationship with a mentor in a small group setting, who will serve as a guide and adult friend to you in your faith. Confirmation is for Youth entering 7th and 8th grades. If you have any questions about Confirmation, please contact the Church Office. Pastor Fisher will gladly answer your questions.

A word to encourage you and strengthen you in your faith, and to let you know what is happening in the life of our church. To access these video messages from Pastor Fisher, please click on the link of interest. December 23, 2021 Dear Members and Friends of Schuylkill Haven First UMC, Below is a link to the Pastor's Chat Dec 23 video for the Christmas holidays, with announcements about upcoming church events. Enjoy! https://vimeo.com/659520129 Merry Christmas and many blessings in the new year! Pastor Chris November 24, 2021 Dear FUMC Congregation, I invite you to view/listen to today's Pastor's Chat, for Wednesday, November 24, 2021. Here's the link: https://vimeo.com/649620149 Happy Thanksgiving! Please take a few moments to view the Pastor's Chat video for Thanksgiving (11/24) at the link printed above. It contains a short Thanksgiving devotion and highlights news about several upcoming events in the life of the church. Thank you!!. Yours in Christ, Pastor Fisher May 18, 2021 Dear FUMC Congregation, I invite you to view/listen to today's Pastor's Chat, for Tuesday May 18, 2021. Here's the link: https://vimeo.com/552045489 It includes updates on lifting more Covid restrictions at Church, including mask wearing changes in light of new CDC/PA Health Dept. Guidelines; plus Graduate Recognition Sunday (May 30), and preparing for a new floor in Fellowship Hall in early June. Closing with a short devotion from Hebrews and prayer. Yours in Christ, Pastor Fisher March 31, 2021 Dear Friends of First UMC Schuylkill Haven, Here is my Pastor's chat video for March 31, 2021, with updates on Holy Week and our latest church Covid quarantine policy update. Enjoy. Here's the link: https://vimeo.com/531501572 Happy Easter! I hope to see you this Holy Week! Pastor Fisher March 3, 2021 It contains updates on live worship and on small group ministry, with a short devotion from Luke 6. Here's the link: https://vimeo.com/519167415 Enjoy! Blessings! Pastor Fisher January 27, 2021 Pastor's Message with Devotions and Upcoming Lent Series It is 5 minutes long, and includes a brief devotion and news on our upcoming Lent series, which begins on Ash Wednesday, February 17. Enjoy viewing! December 23, 2020 Pastor's Message with Devotions and Christmas Season News Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus! Here is a link to a short video with news on Christmas Eve worship plans, re-assurances about Covid-19's impact on the congregation, and a few other year-end items of church news. December 9, 2020 Pastor's Message with Devotions and Christmas Season News Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus! Here is a link to a short video sharing devotions and Christmas season news, including an update on Christmas Eve worship plans. November 25, 2020 Pastor's Thanksgiving Message with Covid Worship Protocols Update Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus! Here is a link to a short video wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving and giving an update on our church's latest Covid protocols. November 11, 2020 Brief devotion on Psalm 128, some updates on our church's Coronavirus response, and highlighting this Saturday November 14 Thanksgiving Lunch at noon November 4, 2020 Psalm 121 devotion, Sunday 11/8 Anniversary Sunday update, and Wesley Covenant Association simulcast invitation for Saturday, 11/7 October 21, 2020 Pastor's Chat on Coronavirus Safety Measures September 30, 2020 Discipleship and Small Groups Ministry

This will provide information on Small Groups that meet on a Sunday morning or throughout the week. SMALL GROUPS (UPDATED 03/02/2021) FUMC promotes participation in Small Groups as a way to meet other Christians, participate in shared interests, support each other's needs, and build lasting friendships in a one-on-one setting with limited attendance. During the COVID-19 environment, we need the support of others and the ability to communicate with those of common interest. In the current environment, our Groups are in-person, virtual ( highlighted in this listing ), or blended (in-person and virtual ). If you have an interest in joining one of the groups below, contact the leader directly or if assistance is needed, contact ereed@havenfirstumc.org . If Group Leaders need to change their meeting information, contact ereed@havenfirstumc.org with updates. Life in Action Groups Our interest is in following Jesus' command to "go and make disciples". We study and practice within our Group and then go out into the community to make disciples. Recommended readings for this group are listed at the bottom of this page. Mondays Led by: Ellen Marino Study Book: Healing Where: Church Frequency: Weekly, 10:00 AM (temporarily filled) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tuesdays Led by: Ann Moyer & Nancy Kraft Study Book: Crucial Conversations Where: Church Frequency: Weekly, 3:00 PM Led by: JoAnn Daum Study Book: Crucial Conversations Where: Church Frequency: Weekly, 3:00 PM Led by: Wanda Langley Study Book: Crucial Conversations Where: Church Frequency: Weekly, 6:00 PM Led by: Dave Williams Study Book: Crucial Conversations Where: On-line (Google Meet) Frequency: Weekly, 7:00 PM (NEW ; starting 04/06/21) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thursdays Led by: Eydie Reed Study Book: Crucial Conversations Where: On-line (WebEx) Frequency: Weekly, 10:00 AM ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fridays Led by: Mary & Moffette Tharpe Studying: Parables Where: Home Frequency: Every other week, 6:30 PM (temporarily filled) Accountability Groups We are smaller groups which meet regularly to support and encourage each other in our walk of faith. Wednesdays Led by: Doug O'Connell Where: On-line Men's Class (Zoom) Frequency: Weekly, 6:30 AM ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saturdays Led by: Wanda Langley Where: Varies Frequency: Weekly, 8:00 AM (temporarily filled) Bible Study Groups Our interest is in-depth study of books of the Bible to better understand its teachings. Sundays Led by: Tom Reed Studying: Genesis Where: Church Frequency: Weekly, following worship service ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tuesdays Led by: Shirley and Lenny Yenilaitus Studying: John Where: Home Frequency: Weekly, 6:30 PM (temporarily filled) Led by: Bonnie Hawley Studying: Old Testament Where: Home Frequency: Weekly, 7:00 PM (filled) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wednesdays Led by: Ellen Marino Studying: Daniel Where: Church Frequency: Weekly, 10:00 AM ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thursdays Led by: Doug O'Connell Studying: Revelation Where: On-line (Zoom); contact D O'Connell for link Frequency: Weekly, 7:00 PM Focused Groups We have a variety of Small Groups with specialized interests. When: TBD Led by: Karen Shiffert Type: Caregiver Support Group (New ) Where: Church ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sundays Led by: Type: Alpha Course Class Where: Church Frequency: As needed ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thursdays Led by: Gerri Inama Studying: 12 Extraordinary Women Where: Home Frequency: First three Thursdays of each month, 6:00 PM Led by: Gerri Inama Meal & Chat: Women encouraging women Where: Church Frequency: Last Thursday of each month, 6:00 PM ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saturdays Led by: Don Bergen Type: Men's Breakfast Video Series on Defending the Faith Where: Church Fellowship Hall & On-line (WebEx) Frequency: Third Saturday of each month, 8:00 AM If you would like to start a new Small Group, please contact the FUMC church office at 570.385.3941 for more information. LIFE IN ACTION GROUPS RECOMMENDED READINGS (UPDATED 03/02/2021) The books listed below have been reviewed by the Discipleship Council and are recommended for the Life in Action Groups to use as a guide in their mission to create disciples in response to Jesus' command in Matthew 28:19a. These books are generally available at www.christianbook.com and through other providers. Discipleship Plan Components Component 1 - Experience God "A Firm Foundation" by Wesleyan Covenant Association Hope and Vision for a new Methodist Future "Alpha Course" by Nicky Gumbel Creating space to explore life, faith, and meaning "Healing" by Francis MacNutt Provides a context within which to understand healing Component 2 - Follow the Lord Jesus Daily Devotions Component 3 - Share Life Together "The Class Meeting" by Kevin M. Watson A fresh new guide to the theory and practice of the Wesley class meeting "The Band Meeting" by Kevin M. Watson & Scott T. Kisker Demonstrates that the band meeting is not merely another church program Component 4 - Serve the Body of Christ "Healing" by Francis MacNutt Provides a context within which to understand healing Component 5 - Invest in Others "The Starfish Movement" by Dan Grider Shows how to fully engage with the original Movement that Jesus launched (suggested reading for leaders of Small Groups) "Crucial Conversations" by Dan Grider Draws our attention to those defining moments that literally shape our lives, our relationships, and our world "God Space" by Doug Pollock Naturally create room - God Space - for spiritual conversations to happen in your everyday life

Lists many ways to serve within our church and to be the church to the world. WAYS TO SERVE The Holy Spirit and You Do you know what your Spiritual Gifts are and how you can use them at FUMC? As a Christian saved through acceptance of God's grace by the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit, we receive spiritual gifts to be used in service for God's greater glory. We are to use our unique personalities, traits, and interests to build up the church and to share Christ’s love with the world. You can use these gifts through the ministry of FUMC. Together we provide many opportunities to share God’s love with one another and with the world. Using your Spiritual Gifts is as easy as sharing your time and talents. Below is a list of areas that you can volunteer to serve FUMC: Acolytes | Confirmed youth and youth in the confirmation process are required to serve as acolytes until the age of 16. Acolytes light and extinguish candles. Acolytes receive their initial training and are scheduled by Sandi Berger. Choirs / Praise Team | FUMC offers several opportunities to worship and praise God. We offer an adult choir, a cherub/children's choir, and the praise team. For more information on our music ministry, please click here . Christ Servant Ministry | Certification with extra training and preparation for service in a number of helping ministries. Coffee Servers and Donations | Coffee continues with our new schedule of one worship service on Sunday morning. You can make a monetary donation on a Sunday morning, volunteer on the signup sheet to bring baked goods, you may purchase and bring canisters of regular or decaf coffee, individually wrapped tea bags, hot chocolate, coffee creamer, sugar packets, or other items that may be used to serve the coffee. If you have any questions or not sure what to bring, contact Karen Shiffert or the church office at 570.385.3941. Community Luncheon Sponsor or Server | For more information on our community lunch ministry, please click here . Community Relations and Outreach | For more information on our community relations and outreach, please click here . Communion Steward / Server | A communion steward provides the elements (bread and juice) and sets up for the communion service by placing the bread and cup on the Communion Table as directed by the Pastor (i.e., intinction or individual cups). A communion server assists the Pastor during the communion service by serving the bread and cup to the congregation. Exerettes | FUMC and Diakon's PrimeTime Health partnered to form the Exerettes to provide older persons with valuable knowledge and techniques to assist them in maintaining health, wellness, and independence. The program is particularly attractive to older adults because most of the dances and activities can be done either standing or sitting down. One of the goals of the Exerettes is to inspire others and to show that it is never too late to make life-style changes. The exercises not only promote balance but also flexibility, strength, and better. The Exerettes meet every Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10 to 11 am here at FUMC in Fellowship Hall. By the way, IT's FREE!! Come and join us!!! Greeters/Ushers are the people who say hello and hand you a bulletin when you come to church and have a very important part of our worship; as part of their responsibility, as an Usher they collect the offering(s) and direct people to receive Holy Communion. We welcome and encourage church members who would like to be greeters to contact the church office for available dates. Lay Home Communion Ministry | This group provides the Sacrament of Holy Communion on a regular basis, providing a bridge between the congregation and home-based members. These people have a sense of mission, are responsible, have compassion, are non-judgmental and can keep confidences. They are servants of the Lord who bring the blessings of their congregation to God's children with special needs. Lay Liturgists | Liturgists are congregation members who volunteer to open worship with announcements and to read the lessons during the church services. They serve on an occasional basis. If you are interested in serving as a lector, please contact the church office. Lay Speakers/Preachers | Is God calling you to help spread the Good News? Do you feel a burning desire to talk to others about the things of God? If so, then lay preaching may be the route for you. Lay speakers/preachers are given the work of speaking God's word, praying for others, and serving the congregation's needs. The lay preachers serve FUMC by sharing God's word with the congregation for the Saturday evening service or occasionally on a Sunday morning when the Pastor(s) are out of the pulpit. Media Ministry (media/sound booth) | For more information on our media ministry, please click here . Ministry Teams and Committees | There are many committees that lead FUMC and serve this congregation. Serving on a committee is just one way to share your diverse gifts and interact with those who share your interests and values. For more information, please see the Committees Section of this website . Newsletter Helpers | Bi-monthly, this group meets to help collate and sort the monthly newsletter. If you are interested in serving as a Newsletter Helper, please contact the church office. Prayer / Prayer Shawl Ministry | For more information on our prayer and prayer shawl ministry, please click here . Small Group Leaders | The Christian life is lived out with people. We understand that growing one's faith requires the support, attention and nurturing that only small group can provide. Trusting relationships allow us to know one another deeply and to be known. What we receive from God is always matured, tested and developed in the context of people, like you, in God’s Church. Here at FUMC we value the time-proven experience of Christians meeting in home groups for the purpose of Fellowship, Bible Study, Missions, and growing, nurturing, and discipling people to become dynamic followers of Jesus Christ. We offer short-term and long-term classes to allow you to connect with others as you walk together on your faith journey. Our small groups are a way to get to know each other. If you have a suggestion for a small group, or if you would like to connect with a small group, please contact the church office. Sunday School Teachers | Sunday School teachers are willing to spread the love of Jesus Christ with a group of 6-12 children on Sunday mornings from September through May, have the ability to plan and lead meaningful lessons for Sunday School children, and are willing to serve on a quarterly basis. Vineyard Ministry Volunteers | For more information on our Vineyard ministry, please click here .

Provides staff names and their titles. MEET OUR STAFF Leading Christ Fellowship Church of Schuylkill Haven is a team effort. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the pastor and church staff work together in a spirit of unity to fulfill the church's vision to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Senior Pastor | Rev. Dr. Christopher Fisher Rev. Dr. Christopher Fisher is an ordained elder in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church, and has served churches in Eastern PA since 1991. He has been the pastor of First United Methodist Church in Schuylkill Haven since 2005. Education: B.A., Lehigh University (1984); B.S., Lehigh University (1984); M.Div., Asbury Theological Seminary (1990); Ph.D., University of Edinburgh (2004). He has taught at Asbury Theological Seminary, United Theological Seminary, and served as Director of United Methodist Studies at Evangelical Seminary for many years. He has served as past president of the Eastern PA Evangelical Connection and as a past board member of the Eastern PA Wesley Covenant Association. Dr. Fisher's research specialty is the dialogue between science and faith. He is the author of Human Significance in Theology and the Natural Sciences (Princeton Theological Monograph Series, Pickwick, 2010). Dr. Fisher and his wife Elizabeth live in beautiful Schuylkill County. Other Staff Members Brian Reading Minister of Visitation Ann Moyer Parish Nurse Adam Kraft Treasurer JoAnn Daum Office Manager Cindy McClelland Minister of Music & Organist Marcy Hudock Sexton Pam Setlock Church Secretary Julie Saunders Choir Director Dave Williams Director of Youth Ministry Stacey Lehman Youth Ministry Administrative Assistant

Provides information on the Men's and Women's groups. MEN'S AND WOMEN'S GROUPS Men's Breakfast Group A fellowship opportunity open to all Christian men in the community. Meets the third Saturday each month at 8:00 am for inspiration, study, and fellowship. Methodist Women Methodist Women's Ministries formerly known as United Methodist women is a group whose goal is to show the love of Christ through its giving to local and national mission projects and doing hands-on mission work for the local community. Time is spent learning about social justice issues then walking the talk by raising money to aid those in need. The group also does various collections for local missions.