Sunday Mornings | https://www.havenfirstumc.org/ | Worship at 9:00 am; Coffee House Style Worship at 10:45 am in Fellowship Hall
Weekly Announcements
These announcements are from the weekly bulletin and/or bi-monthly newsletter. You will find here information on regular announcements (i.e., signing up for newsletters, online giving) to special events scheduled. Please take some time to review these announcements.
Prayer Opportunities | Prayer is such an important part of a church's life. FUMC offers many opportunities to strengthen your prayer life. Please check out our prayer ministry page. We offer prayer groups, a prayer chain, an intercessory prayer group, and many other opportunities to kneel before our Lord and Savior and share your burdens and worship and praise. For what other great nation has God so near to it as the Lord our God is whenever we call to him?
~Deuteronomy 4:7 (NRSV)
Sunday Preaching Schedule (schedule may change without notice). Pastor Fisher preaching unless otherwise noted.
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Pastor Christopher Fisher
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September 24 - "Who is Jesus, Why Does He Matter?"
October 1 - "Why did Jesus die?" (Holy Communion)
October 8 - "How can I have faith?"
October 15 - "Why and how do I pray?" (Laity Sunday: Ministry Celebration Day!)
October 22 - "Why and how should I read the Bible?"
October 29 - "How does God guide us?"
November 5 - "The Gift of the Holy Spirit" (All Saints Day)
November 12 - Anniversary Sunday (10AM) - Guest Preacher: D.S. Rev. Hun Ju Lee
October Communion Offering
2024 Mission Trip to Puerto Rico
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The Mission Committee is organizing a mission trip in January 2024 to help rehab a sister church in Dorado, Puerto Rico. This is in response to a request for more help from Rev. Rosa Santos, Lisi's aunt.
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If you would like to participate in the PR mission trip, please contact the office or sign the clipboard in the narthex. Team leaders will be in touch as they begin organizing for the trip.
Fall Alpha Schedule | Each session begins at 5:30 PM
September 24 - Week 2 - Who is Jesus?
October 1 - Week 3 - How Did Jesus Die?
October 8 - Week 4 - How Can I Have Faith?
October 15 - Week 5 - Why and How Do I Pray?
October 22 - Week 6 - Why and How Should I Read the Bible?
October 29 - Week 7 - How Does God Guide Us?
November 4 (Saturday) - Long Day - Holy Spirit - Alpha Day Away
November 12 - Week 8 - How Can I Resist Evil?
November 19 - Week 9 - Why and How Should I Tell Others?
November 26 - Week 10 - Does God Heal Today?
December 3 - Week 11 - What about the Church?
Methodist Women Events | We will continue to meet the second Tuesday of the month at 1:00 PM in Fellowship Hall unless otherwise announced. Our focus continues to be local mission work. All ladies are welcome. Please let us know of any ideas you have or issues that you would like more information.
Methodist Women will be hosting a bake sale on September 24 in the Cafe between services. Wide selection of sweet treats! Come taste and see!
Bakers wanted - if you would like to donate items, call Jean or tell her on Sunday.
Sing-along at Providence Place, Pine Grove on November 14. Methodist Women will be collecting the following items for the residents until November 12th:
- Chapstick
- Bags of peppermints or lifesavers
- Shampoo
- Toothbrushes & paste
- Deodorant
- Soap
- Colored pencils
- Puzzle & coloring books for adults
CROP Walk | Sunday, October 1
The Walk begins at 1PM at the Schuylkill Haven Council of Churches Food Pantry with registration at 12:30PM. Route will be the same as last year with breaks at Jerusalem Lutheran Church and First United Methodist Church.
If you would like to volunteer to be at the church on October 1 to welcome participants with water and a bathroom break, please call the church office.
Registration packets for FUMC will be in the Narthex throughout September. If you have questions, please contact Bernice Machamer, Liz Wallace, or the church office.
Celebrating 121 Years
Anniversary Dinner
Sunday, November 12
10 AM Service with dinner following
Meal will be catered by Mission BBQ & includes:
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Pulled Pork
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Pulled Chicken
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Sliced Brisket
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Mac & Cheese
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Cole Slaw
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Baked Beans
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Sliders and Cornbread
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Assorted Sauces
Please purchase tickets:
Age 16+ $10
Ages 7-15 $5
6 & Under Free
A count of children under age 7 is needed for seating purposes.
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The amazing journey of a simple Shoebox Gift begins with YOU and the results in Evangelism & Discipleship!
Children need great joy now more than ever. Most of all, they need the hope found only in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Will you partner with us to share that glorious hope of Jesus? Be on the lookout for the arrival of shoeboxes! Shoeboxes will be due by Sunday, November 12th!
Can't shop? For a $25 donation, you can build a shoebox for a child in need online. Just visit: https://www.samaritanspurse.org and click on Operation Christmas Child Build a Shoebox.
Requests for Prayer | Please remember to call the church office if you know of members in the hospital or if you are going to be in the hospital. A visit from our Pastor or visitation team can be arranged. Please continue to remember all those in the hospital, in mourning, and listed in the weekly bulletin in your prayers.
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Website Prayer Request Page: You may also submit a prayer request by accessing our prayer request page.
Weekly Prayer Ministry | Wednesdays at 6 PM
Our Prayer Ministry will also continue to run every day of the week with prayer partners meeting for one hour a day with a one-week-at-a time commitment. Please sign up in pairs to pray for one hour a day during your week for the Kingdom of God to come more fully in our church and our community and beyond. We will continue to promote the prayer team ministry on Sunday mornings with the prayer clipboard circulated periodically.
Please join us as we seek God together!
Missions Committee Evangelism CD | Jesus – Help in Times of Need Devotional CD
John Fatora and Irene Tomchik published a CD a few years back that shares the message of Jesus Christ in the spirit of John Wesley.
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It is the vision of the Missions Committee that this CD will be a continuation of the Discipleship process that we are pursuing as a church. We have been growing and training as disciples over the past few years and feel now is the season to begin moving beyond our church family into the community using this CD as a tool to help share the life of Christ with our neighbors and friends.
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Copies are available for drive-by pickup under the carport; or ask your small group leader for copies to give to friends who are open to receive them. Click here if you would like to listen or download the CD.
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If you have any questions, please contact the Church Office at 570.385.3941 or office@havenfirstumc.org.
Next Community Lunch is October 14 at 12 PM
All are welcome to share this time of fellowship. If you would like to sponsor a Community Lunch, please contact the Church Office at 570.385.3941 for contact information regarding available dates.
Men's Breakfast | October 21 at 8:00 AM
For more information, please contact the Church Office at 570.385.3941.
Prayer Shawl Ministry Update
Since 2011, this ministry has gifted 171 prayer shawls to men and women in need of prayer within and outside our church walls. Prayers are lifted over the shawls before gifted and often while in the process of being created.
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Can you knit or crochet? We could use your help. Would you consider creating a shawl for the church's prayer shawl ministry to gift to others in need of prayer? Please help us keep our shawl inventory plentiful. We need the talents of you, the church family, to help keep the closet full. It doesn't matter if it's one shawl or many; any will be appreciated and in being a blessing to another, you will also be blessed in return. If you are interested in this ministry, there are two ways to help:
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Let us know of a need through contact Donna Miles, Linda Wagner, or the Church Office
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Crochet or knit a prayer shawl wrap of any color or style. The rectangular shape measuring 15-18 inches wide by 5-1/2-6-1/2 feet long makes a comfortable wrap. Some donated yarn is available for your creation.
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We thank all who have created beautiful prayer shawl wraps through the years. Some folks have been thanked personally while others donated anonymously and with this note, we thank you so much. There are no church funds used for this ministry. These wraps are a gift from the heart and the blessings are many from the first stitch of the giver to the gentle touch of the receiver.
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For more information, please contact Linda Wagner, Donna Miles, or the Church Office. Thank you very much for supporting this wonderful outreach of our church and her ministries.
There are times when things are not going well for each of us, perhaps we ourselves are sick, perhaps there are loved ones who are sick or hurting, maybe there is a family emergency or crisis, during these times you don't need to be alone. Our Pastors, Minister of Visitation, or even our Lay Leader would be very happy to come and visit with you. Before you reach a place where you feel alone and that no one cares, please call the Church Office and let the office staff know that you are in need of a visit. The message will be passed along quietly to the Pastors and a time for a personal visit can be arranged. Others of us tend to prefer to weather these times quietly and by ourselves; if that is you, please be aware that there is a Prayer Ministry team that is willing to intercede and pray for you. You can access the Prayer Ministry through the website, by calling the church office, or prayer chain.
Most importantly, remember that you have a church family that is willing to walk along side of you at all times. Also, please know that you don't need to be a Pastor or Lay Leader to visit and care for your Brothers and Sisters in Christ. You can visit our homebound members. If you enjoy getting to know new people and would like to spend some time with members of our First Church family that can no longer make it to church on a Sunday morning, please call the Church office or simply put a note in the offering plate and someone will contact you. Thank you for taking the time to spend a few minutes sharing the love of Jesus with our members who can no longer come to church!
Did you know…?
FUMC saves Redner’s receipts
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Do you shop at Redner’s? If so, do you have a Save‑A‑Tape /Pump Perks/Rewards Card?
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FUMC participates in the Redner’s 1% Save‑A‑Tape program. Remember to use your Redner’s Save‑A‑Tape/Pump Perks/Rewards Card and put your entire receipt in the plastic containers on the table in the narthex marked Redner’s receipts.
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By using your rewards card each time you purchase merchandise (excludes, fuel purchases and items controlled by the federal or state government such as tax, milk, and tobacco products) at Redner’s Warehouse Markets, your receipt will be designated as a 1% Save‑A‑Tape customer receipt with a Save‑A‑Tape total printed on the receipt. Receipts that have been highlighted or written on are not eligible, so please do not mark or circle the receipts. Participating in the 1% Save‑A‑Tape program does not exclude your ability to receive gas points, etc.
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If you don’t already have a rewards card, you can pick one up at any Redner’s locations. The card is free and you DO NOT HAVE TO GIVE ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION to receive the card. Your name is not on any mailing list if you request a card.
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Our church gets 1% of the total of all receipts. For example, if the receipts total $5,000, we would get $50 to be divided between Christian Ed and the Youth Group. Please consider participating in this easy program.