If you haven't considered it yet, we hope you'll consider joining us for our Ladies Tea TOMORROW at 2:00pm! Come hear a special presentation by Jane Estes on some historical fashion trends that are sure to wow you! Get your tickets at the door with a $7.50 donation or by contacting Rita Brooks today at (609) 668-0283 to RSVP!

Hats and gloves are optional, but welcomed! Hope to see you there!

The Missions Committee invites you to participate in an opportunity to help  The United Methodist Communities Fellowship Fund.  Please use the forms available in the Fellowship Hall to make your dedications to your Mother, Grandmother, Aunt, Sister, or someone special at a donation of $2.50 per dedication. 

The Fellowship Fund provides charitable care to residents of the Community whose resources can no longer cover the full cost of their care. 

Completed forms with payment are due by Sunday, May 6 and may be given to Peggy or Robin Reeve . If you have any questions, please call Peggy at 609-261-1420. 

All dedications will be in the bulletin on Sunday, May 13th. 

Please mark your calendar for August 13-17 from 9am-12 noon for First UMC's 3rd annual summer camp! The early bird sign-up price will be $25. A table with registration forms will be set up at Family, Friends, and Neighbors Day for all who are interested!

Join us every morning at 10am on Wednesdays as we continue our study of seven key women in Scripture and how their lives impact our world today!

"Hey everyone! My name is Kellie Donoghue and I am so excited to become a part of your Church community this summer. I graduated from Stockton University last year with my undergraduate degree. I am now attending Liberty University for my Master's Degree in Human Services Counseling with a concentration in ministry. I am looking to one day hold a leadership position in a church community and to stand boldly for God and his wonderful people. In my free time I love traveling, hanging out with my family and dogs! Above all I am blessed to know the one true God and I aim to grow more with him each and every day. I am so excited to be able to learn from the First UMC community and I hope I can be a light and blessing to everyone at the church and camp this summer!"

Thank you to everyone who donated blood during our Blood Drive in April. Because of you, we had 23 pints of blood given. Many lives will be greatly impacted by your generosity!

It has been seven weeks since I announced that I would be reappointed to Montville and Boonton UMC in north NJ starting July 1st, and saying goodbye to First UMC here in Mt. Holly in June.

As our closing hymn, "It is Well," was being sung the Sunday I announced this, I found myself crying to an unexpected extent and unable to sing as the joys, challenges, victories, and growth of this young pastor for the past three years flashed before my eyes as I stood on the stage of the first church I ever served as pastor, looking out upon people I had grown to love so dearly.

I have had numerous conversations with many of you about what the future holds—for Katherine and I, and for the congregation in Mt. Holly. These conversations will continue.

Know that I am praying for our church daily and am confident that Pastor Don Kim will continue to lead this church to new heights and greater levels of flourishing as he moves us forward in God's vision and will towards further Kingdom expansion in Mt. Holly as it is in heaven.

I remember the game many of us played with our hands as children— Here’s the church, here’s the steeple...open and doors and see all the people. I have a clergy colleague named Ron who would say that this is somewhat misleading. It should start at the end— See all the people and you see the Church. Pastor Ron thinks the picture above puts it all in better context, and I would agree with him. That is, the prayers of the parent to those of the child—one generation to the next. This is important to remember as we think about the church and where God is continuing to take us. In the midst of all the emotions over these coming weeks, we need to keep a larger picture before us. We need to remember the past, dream of the future, and bring both together in the present.

What a gift it has been to serve as your pastor these past three years. Transition is never easy, but I do know that, through it all, God is with us in the midst of the change and transition. I am so very grateful for all we have shared and all that God has done, and I cannot wait to see all God will continue to do in the years to come as First UMC of Mt. Holly continues to encourage disciples of Jesus Christ through advocacy, education, generosity, and outreach.