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A New Chapter Begins
This month we begin a new chapter in our congregation's 182-year history: we have officially become a member congregation of the South Georgia Conference of the Global Methodist Church. I am offering a few personal reflections that will help us write the best opening to this exciting new season.
1. We offer our deepest gratitude to those who led us so skillfully to arrive at this point. I can’t say enough to express my heart to our Church Council, Discernment Team, staff, and pastors. Your diligent, sacrificial work has set a Christ-like example for us all to follow. I also thank you, the people of First Methodist. Your mature, God-seeking hearts have been the biggest blessing a pastor could ask for in a season of transition. Thank you.
2. We look back with thanksgiving and forward with love and expectation. Our church was founded in 1841 to be an outpost of the gospel for the growing city of Albany, GA. For the past 55 years, we have lived out that calling in partnership with the United Methodist Church. I look back and remember all the great things that the UMC has given me and our church during our many years of partnership. One of our lay leaders said it best when he said, "No matter what, I'm thankful for all that the UMC has offered us to help us become who we are and what we have offered to the UMC to help shape its ministry in South Georgia." I feel the same way. I look back with nothing but blessing in my heart. I pray that God will continue to use the United Methodist Church for His glory, and I wish them well in their endeavors. Join me in committing to pray for the greatest good of the United Methodist Church as we turn our attention to God's work through the Global Methodist Church. God has laid a beautiful future before us in our next chapter. Now we look forward with excitement for what lies ahead as we partner with the GMC and work together to invite the world to experience Christ in the Methodist way!
3. We have exercised some of our best muscles to arrive in this new season. You've often heard me say that I couldn't be prouder of how our congregation has engaged in this transition. Along the way, we've practiced one of the most critical skills that a body of believers could ever learn: discerning God's will together and following His leading. Let's keep it up! The Holy Spirit is speaking to us, and we're better positioned to hear God speak when we're listening together. Let's step into the future with a desire to “seek first the Kingdom of God!” (Matthew 6:33). Take the time to pray, listen, share, and rest in God's infinite care and hope for us.
4. Pay close attention to God and one another. God often does His most remarkable work at the turn of a chapter. You can see it in scripture in things like the account of Elijah's ministry after the encounter at Mt. Carmel, the resurrection of our Lord, and the first few chapters of Acts. This is a time to lean in and pay even greater attention to God. It's also an important time to pay close attention to one another. We have had a big year. Some people are energized by it, and others may have expended themselves in helping us get where we are. Some people are excited about our new chapter, while others may need more time to feel the same way. All of us experience change differently. The most important thing we can offer one another, no matter how we're experiencing the turn of the page, is tangible proof that we love each other very much.
We're continuing a story that God began 182 years ago. God saw fit that a people called Methodists should operate at the heart of our city. The story hasn't changed; we've just entered a new chapter. The cast of characters continues, and the setting remains consistent as we have new adventures together. We remain as we've always been--stewards of God's dream for the people called Methodist in downtown Albany.
Together we sought the Lord. Together we made a decisive choice. Together we live into our future with clarity of heart and unity of purpose. We are, as we’ve always been, First Methodist Church of Albany, GA, and we are “for the city!”
Yours in Christ,
Jim
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ADULT DISCIPLESHIP
Ladies’ Summer Bible Study - Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose
Daily struggles with anxiety and stress make it difficult to receive God’s peace. In this five-week study, author Rebekah Lyons draws from her own battle with depression and anxiety and shares a pathway to establish four life-giving rhythms modeled by Jesus that quiet inner chaos and make room for a flourishing life.
Tuesdays, June 27 – July 25, 10:30-11:30 AM, Sapp Conference Room. Study Guide: $13.50 or purchase from your favorite bookseller.
Foundations in Personal Finance: Rising high school seniors and college students, join us for a class brought to you by Dave Ramsey Solutions. You will receive an online access code for videos and a workbook. Wednesdays: June 21 – July 26, 6:00 – 7:30 PM Location: Sapp Conference Room, Facilitators: Rob Douglas and Jay Funderburk. Cost: $36. Sign up online or by calling the church office.
Dinner and Discussion for Moms of Preschoolers, Heart for the Home—Equipping and empowering women to create space for God in the everyday moments of family life. Join us on Wednesdays, July 5 – July 26, 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Sign up in church office or online.
Laurel Griffith, Associate Pastor
[email protected]
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SAVE THE DATE!
Sponsored by Women’s Ministry
First Methodist Albany
Women's Workshop—Tidy & Together
Saturday, August 26
Worship will be led by Leah George
Lunch and door prizes
Tara Bremer of House Peace
will be our keynote presenter.
Check out: www.housepeace.net
for more information about
Tara Bremer of House Peace.
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Men’s Fellowship @ Camp Kirksey!
Join the men of our church for fellowship and a meal together on Thursday, July 13! Supper is served at 6:00 PM but come as early as 5:30 PM to hang out around the grill.
Call the church to make your reservation by noon on Tuesday, July 11. Donations appreciated, but not required.
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SAM (Senior Adult Ministries) GATHERINGS - Due to poor weather conditions SAM was rescheduled, so we will still be leaving town for lunch! Sign up through the church office for a lunch trip to Yoder’s on July 20. We will leave at 10:00 AM for our adventure to Montezuma. Bring money for lunch and any pastry or take-home buys!
Brandon Keaton
[email protected]
| If you’d like to receive the First Word exclusively by electronic communication, please email Karyl Harris to remove yourself from our physical mailing list at [email protected] . | |
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Prayer Chain - Our prayer chain passes along urgent prayer needs. To activate the Prayer Chain after hours contact: Molly Strickland, 229-343-3011.
Minister on Call (after hours & weekends). Our pastoral staff now shares one on call phone. To reach the Minister on Call after hours and on weekends call 229-733-1075.
| GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP - Our Grief Support Group, facilitated by Mary Brown Heritage, continues to meet each Tuesday at 3:30 PM in Conference Room A. | |
A Prayer Testimony:
One of the wonderful blessings of prayer is answered prayer! This week a parishioner asked that I pass along a “Thank You” to our Prayer Team for the prayer card she received in the mail. One of the ministries of our Prayer Team is to respond to who has a prayer request to let them know their prayer has been lifted up to the Lord. She told me (paraphrased) ‘I had been wondering why I had such a smooth transition into the summer schedule. The prayer card reminded me of my prayer! I then knew the Lord had heard and answered. Please tell the prayer team thank you for praying with me and the card that reminded me God is faithful.’
Prayer Blessing:
I am grateful to celebrate having served in ministry with you for four years this June. What a blessing you have been and to get to know each of you so deeply. You bring joy to my life! I want to let you know how grateful I am the SPRC committee is allowing me a little extra time off in July to transition into a new home Keith and I have been building the last year. I humbly ask for your prayers for the transition. We have lived in our current home 27 years, and as much as we look forward to our forever home “on earth” that is, it will be difficult to leave a home we have so many memories. We will not be far! Just across town and we will be back the end of July. Until then, I want to offer a prayer and blessing this month of July. It comes from Psalm 121. May we all find joy in the journey and remember God is with us in new places, new people, and new paths this new season.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip — he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you — the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm — he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121
In God’s Love,
Pastor Anna
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SPECIAL MISSIONS OPPORTUNITY
The Wonderful Ways of First Methodist
It doesn’t take very long to go from Christmas Season to Summer Season in these busy days we live in. Walking, living, doing, and planning accomplish many wonderful works for the Kingdom of God. We cannot name all the wonderful things we did, but here are just some of the ways our church was at work for Jesus….
-A wheelchair ramp was built for a motorcycle accident victim who suffered a loss of limb.
-Read to children at Northside Elementary for Read Across America Week.
-Collected and hid thousands of eggs at the Northside Elementary Egg Hunt.
-Collected goodies and assembled 50 Easter baskets for the residents at Pruitt-Palmyra.
-Ministry Assistance helped over 110 people with financial assistance, guidance, and prayer.
Distributed over 100 Blessing Bags to those in need.
-Partnered with Theatre Ensemble at ASU distributing hundreds of items to neighbors at SEWN.
-Kiefer Property Clean-up Day was a great success; a lot of clean-up happened that day!
-Donated personal care items to nursing home residents at Pruitt-Palmyra.
-Sunday Evening with our Neighbors continues to be a strong ministry to our neighbors, sharing meals, smiles, and Jesus.
Upcoming Outreach Opportunities:
-It’s ASU Luncheon time and we need volunteers to help set up, serve, and have fun with the football team on August 9. Those guys love to see us, and it is a fun time with them! Monetary donations are needed as well to help cover the cost of food and gifts for student drawing.
-There are many ways to serve as a Partner in Excellence to Northside Elementary School. Please contact me for more information about getting started for the upcoming school year.
-We will continue to collect gently used children’s books for grades K-5.
-We need to restock our Mission’s Closet for our Blessing Bags. We will be collecting men’s and women’s socks, undergarments like t-shirts and boxers, fruit cups, travel size soap/shampoo/lotion/mouthwash/deodorant/tuna or chicken salad cracker snacks. Please place in Missions Baskets or drop off at church office.
-The Lord’s Pantry and The Rescue Mission needs canned goods and staple grocery items. The cost of food and the growing number of those in need has had a big impact on them. Clean out your pantry, grab a few extra items on sale at the grocery store, tell your neighbors and friends, and let’s work on getting some food stocked up from them. Make your donation directly to the facility.
-We will continue to collect gently used children’s books throughout the summer and deliver them to local schools for the upcoming school year. Drop off boxes will be placed in the Narthexes and outside the front office. Northside Elementary needs volunteers to sit with a child and let the child read to them. If you are interested in being a reading buddy, please email me for more information.
Thank you for all the Kingdom Work!
Blessings for a fruitful Summer.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. ~ Ephesians 2:10
Christy Winkel,
Director of Missions and Outreach
[email protected]
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Leave your checkbook at home!
Have your weekly or monthly contribution debited from your checking or savings account and transferred directly into the church account.
Click here to get started today!
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LOOKING BACK:
Historical Glimpses
from your Church Archivists
(Gordon and Meri Beth)
-At its January 21, 1991, meeting, the Committee on Finance voted to recommend to the Administrative Board an Operating Budget of $1,036,527. This was the first million-dollar budget in church history.
-Attendance cards in the pews were used for the first time on October 5, 1975.
-In 1998, 390 couples were listed as Boosters of the Hosanna Youth Choir.
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FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Instagram @first_methodist_aby_kids Facebook - @firstmethodistalbanykids
SUMMER FUN DAY (Rising 1st – Rising 6th) Our June Summer Fun Day has been rescheduled to Thursday, July 18! Rain, rain, go away this time! Meet in the Kid’s Building at 9:00 AM. We’ll spend the day at Rigby’s Water World in Warner Robins and return to the church at 5:00 PM. Cost per child is $45.
MOVE UP SUNDAY “Brace” yourself as we “jump up” and celebrate the beginning of a new school year on Sunday, August 6! We will gather at 9:30 AM - parents in the gym, kids in their age-divided Sunday School rooms. A light breakfast will be served for all kids and parents. This is an opportunity for kids to have fun and fellowship and parents to gain insight and information for the coming school year in kid’s ministry. Plan to join us. You won’t want to miss it! Parents of all ages are welcome.
Your child’s safety is important to us!
Before releasing your child into our care, please check-in through our electric KidCheck system or complete a peel and stick label and place it on your child. iPads for electric check-in are located in the sanctuary narthex and just inside the kid’s building entrance. Labels are located in the pew pockets in Walden Chapel and the Sanctuary. Thank you for ensuring the safety of your child!
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Allison Vandenbergh
[email protected]
| Preschool 2023-2024 registration continues! The registration fee is $95.00 per child. If you would like more information or would like to schedule a visit, please call Erin Loyd at 432-5512. |  | |
Welcome to July!
The students and those who help have been running hard since early May. We’ve had both choir tours, graduation, and Awanita completed already. We do still have Beach Retreat toward the end of July, but we also have many opportunities right here in town that students can take part in. We will meet on some Sunday nights, some Tuesdays, and even some other midweek events that will give everyone an opportunity to hang out and enjoy each other.
Thrive Student Ministries is in the process of developing and growing into a place where students have the opportunity to not just be led in the presence of God, but also to lead in the presence of God. We took a much smaller group to Awanita this year, but the growth in worship and the changes that I am seeing in students’ lives tells me that we are going in the right direction. Five of our own Middle School students shared their personal testimony with the group and what a powerful moment to see and hear what God is doing in the lives of these young people.
As we continue to grow, we are going to be looking for people who are willing to work with us to pour into this generation. As we get closer to a new school year, we are praying to see what God desires from us, and we are dreaming and planning so that we will be as prepared as we can be for it.
Come be a part of what is happening at Thrive!
Phillip George
[email protected]
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Sanctuary Choir—Join us for Choir rehearsal any Wednesday evening at 6:00 PM in the music suite. Summer is mellow and a great time to test the waters to see if you would like to be a part of our choir and music ministry. Contact Brandon Keaton for further information
Brandon Keaton
[email protected]
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Hosanna and Regeneration
Tour News - Hosanna our to Chicago was a great success! We visited missions and churches in Knoxville, Toledo, Mackinaw City, Chicago, Cincinnati, and Nashville. We had fun but also learned a lot about ministry to “the least of these.”
Brandon Keaton
[email protected]
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Travel Ministry
2023 & 2024
LAST CALL! DATE CHANGE!! TIME TO REGISTER FOR Fall 2023 Splendors of Egypt Tour. Join Brandon Keaton November 7-17, 2023, for a once-in-a-lifetime tour of Biblical Egypt. Due to the popularity of this tour, we have changed to this new date so that all of you who are interested to go with Brandon to Egypt can go! With stops in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Sinai, we will see many of the major sights of Egypt that are in the Bible. If you’ve ever wanted to visit the Pyramids or see the Valley of the Kings or see Mount Sinai in person, this is the trip for you. Brochures are available in the main church office. You may contact Brandon Keaton for a digital copy of the brochure and all the information for this tour with Educational Opportunities Tours, Inc. Deadline to register for this tour is July 1, 2023.
THE TIME TO REGISTER IS NOW!!
Holy Land January 2024: Journey through the Bible. We will be going back to the Holy Land January 23-February 3, 2024. We want to have a special tour made up of people from First Methodist and our families and friends. If you have never been to the Holy Land, or if you return regularly, you will always get something from visiting the sites of the life of Christ. Seeing the Sea of Galilee, the Mediterranean at Caesarea, or the first time you see the holy city of Jerusalem are things you will never forget. We will have Hussam Musleh, a devout Palestinian Christian as our guide. Hussam has had the privilege of guiding and preparing pilgrimages for two popes to the Holy Land. This will be a life-changing excursion that will make the Bible come alive to you. Physical brochures are available in the main church office. Contact Brandon Keaton for a digital copy of the tour brochure or for more information. Deadline to register for this tour is September 1, 2023. If you have already registered, let Brandon know ASAP!
Brandon Keaton
[email protected]
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