Hello First Methodist,

Holy Guacamole, the business sign Taco-ver was crazy last week and went VIRAL! Keep liking, commenting, sharing, and subscribing to our VIRAL VERSES and LETTUCE spread the Word of God.

Going VIRAL this Sunday...Matthew 16:24-25

HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK:

• Costa Rica Mission Night with Wil Bailey - Aug 22 in the Loft @ 6pm
• Chancel Choir is rehearsing on Thursdays at 6:30pm and Handbells will rehearse on Tuesdays @ 6:00pm. If you are interested, please contact Phil @ phil@firstmethodist.life.
• Myles Spencer in Concert on Sunday, Aug 25 @ 4pm
• Stories from the Camino de Santiago on Wed, Aug 28 @ 6pm

Costa Rica Mission Night

Thursday, August 22

6-7pm in The Loft

Come and celebrate our partnership with Wil Bailey and Costa Rica Mission Projects. Wil Bailey will be here in person to speak about the history of our relationship and his hopes for the future! Hear from former FMC team members about their experiences! Learn how you can support Wil and his team by participating in a future FMC Mission Trip or by offering support from here in the US. Light refreshments. Kids are welcome to attend! 

Myles Spencer In Concert

Sunday, August 25th @ 4:00pm

Join us for a Live Concert with our Music Intern, Myles Spencer. He will be moving after August and we want to offer this opportunity to bless you with his music and to bless him with a love offering and to give thanks for his service and continued journey in his ministry.

Stories from the Camino De Santiago with Kathy Swanzey

Wednesday, August 28th @ 6:00pm

We are delighted to invite you to a special event featuring Kathy Swanzey, who will be sharing her transformative spiritual journey on the Camino de Santiago. Kathy has graciously agreed to share and recount her experiences along the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage known for its spiritual and personal significance. Her story is sure to inspire and uplift all who attend. A simple complimentary dinner will be served to those who confirm a reservation either online or in the church office. We look forward to sharing this memorable evening with you.

We need ADULT volunteers to help staff a mission project at Crystal Coast Palooza - as part of the Palooza youth will have the opportunity to visit our booth and help to pack Hygiene kits for homeless men and women in our area. The event runs 10-4 and we will need help from 9-5 to include set up and clean up. Sign up for a two hour shift or for the whole day!

At the Crossroads Sunday Small Group

Grow in your knowledge and faith of God. Strengthen bonds within families, friends and within the community. Parents and Youth in Middle and High School, meet us in the Loft on Sunday mornings at 9:45am. We will gather together for prayer, scripture, devotion and then break into separate sessions for parents and youth to connect and reflect individually.

Women's Picnic

All women are invited to a Picnic Lunch on Monday, September 9th @ 11:30am in the Fellowship Hall. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy delicious food, great company, and enriching conversations. Guests are welcome, so feel free to bring along friends or family. For our working women, we’d love for you to join us during your lunch hour—come and take a break with us! This is a free event, and if you need a ride, just let us know—we’d be happy to arrange transportation. RSVP online or at the church office by August 30th. 

Women's Ministry of First Methodist Church

Monthly Meeting on Sept 9th @ 12:30pm

The purpose of the First Methodist Women's Ministry is to encourage one another in our church and faithful service to our community through loving as Christ loves all.

We meet the first Monday of each month at 12:30pm in the Stanley Harrell Classroom. Please consider attending a meeting to learn more about our group.

Beaufort Families

You don't have to cross the bridge! Anyone interested in a monthly gathering in Beaufort to eat, pray and study together… come to Pastor Sarah’s House on Sept 13th at 6pm. Kids are welcome. RSVP to by sept 8th by contacting Pastor Sarah at swilliams@firstmethodist.life.

Confirmation Meeting

Sunday, Sept 15th @ 4:30pm

As young people begin to explore faith, we here at First Methodist Church want to offer a path of support and encouragement, teaching and practicing faith, all leading to a personal decision to entrust their life to Jesus and begin to walk as his disciple day by day.

Confirmation has classically been a group process for youth 10-14 years of age. We are embracing a new path – fully individualized as a youth is ready and genuinely interested in exploring faith. Each youth will be paired with an adult mentor from our congregation who will meet regularly to listen and talk over questions of faith. Teaching sessions will be provided by the pastors both in print and by video. Activities of worship, service, and discipleship will be offered. Parent conversations will be integrated into the process.

This is a year-round opportunity. It begins and ends according to the youth’s interest, participation, and decision. When they are ready, baptism (if needed) and profession of faith will be scheduled in a worship service.

If you are interested in knowing more so you can share with your son or daughter and gauge their interest or mentoring a youth, or you are in the process of mentoring, this meeting is for you.

Sojourners Bible Study Group

Starts September 19

As Autumn rolls in it is time to begin a new Bible Study…..Marjie, Sherry, Susan, and Kitty are looking forward to studying an 8 week study with you on “The Psalms” by Sandra Richter. We will begin on September 19th at 10:30am this year in the Stanley Harrell Classroom.

If you decide to join us for the study on Psalms, we welcome you all for spending time in GOD’s WORD and fellowship together. 

Register here or in the church office and we will order a book for you.

HOW I LOVE ALL YOU LADIES AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL AGAIN!

Kitty Simmons

WaveRunners are ready for a new year!!

Mark your calendar for the following adventures:

September 24th - Lady Swan Sunset Cruise

October 10th - New Bern Tryon Palace (Historic Tour and Mum Fest)

November - TBD

December 3rd - Mike’s Farm

January 8th - Cary, Lantern Festival (Walking tour)

February 9th - Valentine Dutch Lunch @ Southern Salt

March 19th - Wilson Whirligig Exhibit

April 3rd - Rudy Theater, Selma - Easter Jubilee

*Times and more information will be coming soon.

Pastor Sarah's Six Week Bible Study

Starting Oct 6th

Wednesdays @ 5:45pm

The Bible can be daunting. It’s ancient, enormous, and sometimes challenging to understand. Long Story Short opens up the Christian Scriptures by sharing the biblical narrative in a way that requires no prior engagement with the Bible. It traces the big story of who God is and how he is saving the world through six simple movements: Creation; Fall, Israel; Jesus; Church; New Creation. With this framework in place, readers will not only understand how the little stories of the Bible fit together into a seamless whole, they will also be compelled to step into the drama to be part of its performance. You can order a study book below at Seedbed.

National Night Out 

NEW DATE: OCTOBER from 6-8pm

Carteret Community College

We're excited that The Extended Table will be at this year's National Night Out in Morehead City serving up delicious hamburgers and hotdogs for all to enjoy. It's a fantastic opportunity to come together as a community, support this ministry, and spread love throughout our neighborhood. Let's gather for a fun-filled evening of good food and even better company. Your presence and support mean the world as we continue to serve and care for our community.

See you there!

Women's Retreat

Finding My Place In The Son

First Methodist is hosting a women's retreat on Friday and Saturday, October 18th and 19th. You are invited to join this event and can register using the sign up sheet.

Our Daily Bread Devotionals

Due to the inconsistency of receiving the Upper Room devotionals, Pastor Patrick and his team have researched and carefully selected Our Daily Bread as a devotional resource for our church. Quarterly booklets should arrive in 2 weeks.

You can also subscribe to daily video devotionals using this link:

https://ourdailybread.org/videos. To learn more view this video.

Small Groups meeting throughout the Summer

Monday Coffee and Conversations: Monday @ 10am - The Library

Tuesday Men’s Bible Study: Tuesday @ 6:30am - Fellowship Hall

Tuesday Bible Study & Communion: Tuesday @ 3pm - Jackie Eure Classroom

If My People - Women’s Prayer Group: Thursday @ 9am - The Loft

Walking with Jesus - Fort Macon Trail: Fridays @ 8:15am

Kids and Youth in K, 2nd, and 6th will receive bibles as they are promoted on Sunday, August 25th. Promotion will take place in all 4 of our worship services. Are you feeling called to encourage and teach these kids to learn about their bible? Click the link to sign up to help in Sunday School and Sunday Nights. Shanna will guide you and equip you lead even if you have no experience!

We need ADULT volunteers to help staff a mission project at Crystal Coast Palooza - as part of the Palooza youth will have the opportunity to visit our booth and help to pack Hygiene kits for homeless men and women in our area. The event runs 10-4 and we will need help from 9-5 to include set up and clean up. Sign up for a two hour shift or for the whole day!

Sunday Nights are KICKING OFF on September 8th! This year Kids and Youth of all ages are meeting from 5:30 - 7:00pm and dinner is included. If you would like to make a difference in the life of our youth click the link below!

MEMORIALS AND HONORARIUMS

Donations in honor or in memory of friends and church members are a thoughtful way to share with families that loved ones are special to you. First Methodist recently received gifts in memory of Andy Lloyd and in honor of Patrick Whaley and Julia Taylor.

ALTAR FLOWERS

THE FLOWERS ON THE ALTAR are given to the glory of our God and in memory of Rachel Mundine from all that love her and miss her.

Week of August 22 - August 28

22 Chuck Pfaff

22 Janna Jackson

22 Jennifer Hill

22 Parker Morris

22 Savannah Bailey

23 Bill Avon

23 Tommy Price

23 Hunter McCall

24 Mason Cox, Jr.

24 Margaret Wade

24 Anne Upchurch

24 Steve Price

24 Justin duMont

25 Robby Oakes

25 Hubbard Stack

26 Al Willis

26 Ann Bobbitt

26 Mike Toler

26 Timothy Tucker

26 Crystal Clement Gann

26 Mary Parker Henry

27 Judy Perry

27 Suzanne Scott

28 Linda Kenan

Adult Sunday School Classes

We are excited to welcome new members to our Adult Sunday School Classes! Classes are open throughout the year and meet at 9:45am on the second floor of the atrium building. To find the classes, simply use the stairs or elevator and follow the hallway to the office reception area. From there, take the hallway to the left and you will find the following Sunday school classes in the order listed below:

Classroom 1 - Faith and Life: Fletcher Poulk - Book of James

Classroom 2 - Jackie Eure Class: Lynne Miller, Janet Roberts, Joyce McCollum - Daniel

Classroom 3 - Buck Matthews Class: Rodney Kemp - Romans

Classroom 4 - Stanley Harrell Class: Stanley Harrell - Purpose Driven Life

Large Conference Room - Bible Study Class: Thor & Kay Coole - Chronological Study of the Bible

We hope you will join us for a time of learning and fellowship!