econnection masthead

First United Methodist Church
72 Lake Morton Drive
Lakeland, FL. 33801
WORSHIP
Sunday, October 14

Traditional Worship, Sanctuary
8:15 & 11am
Sermon: Stepping In
Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-19
Rev. Andy Whitaker Smith to preach.

Contemporary Worship, Fellowship Center
9:30 & 11:20am

9:30am
Sermon: Stepping In
Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-19
Rev. Andy Whitaker Smith to preach.

11:20am
Sermon: Uncontainable
Scripture: Philippians 3:12-16
Rev. David McEntire to preach.

Second Sunday Gathering
Join your church family for fellowship and refreshments in the
Welcome Center from 9am-12:15pm this Sunday.

Prayers and Praise:
Hospitalized as of October 14
Mary Ruth Chesson, Effie Gainer, Arthur Haer, Eleanor Powner and Matthew Rockhold
INVITE
Trunk or Treat 2018
Trunk or Treat 2018 is Sunday, October 28, from 5-7pm. This free event is open to the community and is possible because of your financial gifts and gifts of your time.
Ways to help:
  • Donate individually-wrapped candy in the bins in the Welcome Center and outside worship areas. Some choose to purchase candy in bulk online and have it delivered to the church – we’re grateful for each and every donation. Thank you!
  • If you’d like to serve as a part of the Trunk or Treat 2018 team, register at firstumc.org/ToT. If you register your vehicle as a trunk, Muriel Kuhn will be in touch with you. For all other questions, contact Diana Russell ([email protected] or 863-686-3163).

Pumpkin Patch
Our annual Pumpkin Patch for One United Youth Ministries is open Monday through Friday from 11am – 7pm and 9am-7pm on Saturday and Sunday. Funds raised make it possible for students to participate in youth activities all year. Another way to help our youth is to sign up for a shift at the patch. Share the love of Christ by greeting customers and making change. Youth earn credit for hours they work. Invite friends and family, too – credit for hours worked may be designated for a specific youth or the youth group at large. Shifts available through October 31 or we run out of pumpkins. To sign up, contact Stephanie Keen ( [email protected] or 863-687-9750).

Annual Charge Conference
Our Annual Charge Conference will be October 28 at 4pm at College Heights UMC (942 South Boulevard, south of Lake Morton). Our annual meeting will be part of a regional gathering that will include other Lakeland-area United Methodist Churches. The afternoon will include a time of worship, fellowship and a discussion of important individual church business matters. This year’s theme is “Equipping the Church for Resilience, Innovation and Growth.” Our District Superintendent, the Rev. Dr. Candace Lewis, will lead the event. All elected leadership is encouraged to attend.

Make your Church Directory portrait appointment for October 16-20
This is the last opportunity for portraits this year. Every family receives a free 8" x 10." To schedule, visit the tables outside worship areas, the information desk in the Welcome Center or schedule online here . The online scheduler is available Monday through Saturday. Your help is also needed next week serving as a host for portrait sessions Tuesday through Friday afternoon and evenings and on Saturday. To get involved, contact Carol Marsh ( [email protected] or 863-255-4968).

GROW
Our Brain Fitness Club begins in January 2019
This program, designed for early memory loss patients, will help them learn healthy brain activities and lifestyle adaptations. Each session is 14 weeks long and the club meets twice weekly. We need volunteers for Mondays and/or Thursdays from 8:30 - 11am and 11am - 2pm. Training for the volunteers will be held November 26 from 10am - noon. For information, contact Nina Rehberg ( [email protected] or 863-686-3163). Please consider volunteering for this important ministry.

PHOENIX Wednesday Evenings
Join us for a communal meal and fellowship. Dinner service begins at 5pm in the Fellowship Center. Dinner tickets are $6/adults; $3/child; $20/max per family.

Our Older Adult Ministry is filled with JOY!
A new luncheon program for adults 55+ is called JOY, J ust O lder Y outh. We plan to have luncheons and programs once a month filled with fellowship, food, and entertaining and enlightening programs. Our inaugural gathering will be Thursday, October 18, from 11:30am-1pm in Room C-201D. The program will be about our new Brain Fitness Club beginning in January 2019. Our guest speaker will be Vicky Pitner, Certified Dementia Practitioner and Brain Fitness Club Coordinator. The cost is $10/person for the meal. RSVP to Gloria Jenney ( [email protected] or 863-686-3163).

United Methodist Women
All women are invited to join the discussion on October 30 at 1pm in the Parlor on the book Pushout by Monique W. Morris.

All women of the church are invited to the November General Meeting of the UMW. Join us Tuesday, November 12, in the Fellowship Center at 10:30am for a program on “The Sacred Time of Memorials and World Thank Offering.” Lunch reservations ($4/person) should be emailed by November 7 to [email protected] .

Children's Department News

Sunday School at 9:30am:
  • Nursery 2 through fourth grade: We continue looking at families during October. This week we learn Joseph and his brothers had a very rocky relationship. Genesis: 45:4-5
  • Fifth grade: We continue to look at families. Joseph breaks the cycle of deception in his family and brings healing. Genesis 45:10

Sunday Evening: PK3 - fifth grade students are invited to join us from 5-7pm for You're Invited . $3/person for dinner.

Monday: NO Pray and Play since there is no public school

Wednesday:
  • Childcare is available 6:30-7:30pm for children six weeks through PK2 for families participating in events on campus. Reservations are required - click here for information.
  • Programming for PK3 through fifth grade is from 6:30-7:30pm and will be about Deborah's Story. Check in opens at 6:20pm.

Thursday: Early Connections, 9-10:30am

Contact Cristi Moore with questions ( [email protected] or 863-682-1912).

Youth Department News

Sunday Morning Bible Study (sixth-twelfth grades) at 9:30am in F-1: Join us for in-depth study and discussion.

Sunday Night: Join us from 5-7pm in F-1 for Youth Group. We will have a meal, recreation, worship, music, small groups and lots of fun.

Wednesday Night RECHARGE: 6-7:30pm in the Youth Game room. Join us for snacks, fellowship and a dynamic discussion on our callings.

Upcoming Events:
  • Sign up to volunteer in the Pumpkin Patch online or contact Stephanie ([email protected] or 863-687-9750).
  • October 16: Second Pumpkin Delivery at 4pm - volunteers needed
  • October 18: One United Serves Talbot House, 5-6:30pm - register here
  • October 20: Middle School Fellowship from 4:30-7pm at the Morris residence. Information and registration here.

Adult Education
Sunday classes are held at 9:30am. We welcome visitors to any of our classes. For more information contact Warren Pattison ( [email protected] or 863-682-1912). Can't make it to class? You can also call and listen live to Rev. Brian Tiffany's lesson with the Homebuilders Class by dialing 863-225-1968 at 9:30am on Sunday morning.

The BYKOTA Class is led by Dr. Doug Hallman who is teaching a series entitled “The Bible for All Seasons.” The October 14 lesson is “Autumn,” based on Jude 12: “They are … autumn trees without fruit, twice dead.” Room C-207
 
The Genesis class welcomes you as they explore the intersection of faith and life. Room C-202
 
The Homebuilders Class started in 1945 and is taught by Rev. Brian Tiffany. They follow the Adult Bible Studies curriculum. October’s theme is “God Destroys and Re-Creates” with texts from Genesis. Chapel
 
The Koinonia Sunday School class welcomes all who desire to grow in their love of God and neighbor. They are exploring the Gospel of Matthew, with Rev. Terry Knight leading. Room C-205
 
The Searchers Class is exploring John Ortberg’s book  God Is Closer than You Think , led by Martha Lou Luce . Room C-206
 
The Sendero class is studying Steve Harper’s book  Prayer and Devotional Life of United Methodists , led by Mary Anne Zimmermann. Room C-204
 
Storyline is an intentionally intergenerational class for young adults and other adults. They are having conversations on the topic of God’s call in our lives, using Kathleen Cahalan’s book  The Stories We Live . Jason Rogers leads. Room C-201C
 
The Vanguard Class is always eager to welcome visitors. During October, they are exploring the theme “God Destroys and Re-Creates,” with texts from Genesis. Rev. Charles Polstra is teaching. Room C-203
 

SERVE
Help Us Help Others
First United Methodist is sending a work team on the third Saturday of each month (October through September 2019) to assist in Florida Annual Conference Disaster Recovery. You do not have to be handy to help hurricane survivors - you simply need to be willing to serve. Dates for the rest of the year are October 20, November 17 and December 15. Departure and return times will be determined by the location of each project and communicated at least two days in advance. Paperwork must be filled out and back to Forrest at least two weeks before serving. The Conference requires youth be age 14 or older. Contact Forrest ( [email protected] or 863-686-3163) with questions.

Cuba Mission Team Meeting
Please join us on October 21 at 10:30am in the Parlor to talk about our ministry in Cuba. We invite you to prayerfully consider being a part of this 2019 short-term mission team to Camaguey. We will discuss potential dates at the meeting.
 
Hurricane Recovery Trip to Big Pine Key
Partner with the Florida Annual Conference to help survivors of the 2017 hurricanes. Leave January 1 and return January 6. During the trip there will be three long work days and a day to enjoy the Keys while supporting the local economy. The cost is $275/person and includes transportation, food, lodging and a donation to the Florida Annual Conference Disaster Recovery Ministry. College students and young adults are welcome! Contact Forrest White for more information ( [email protected] or 863-686-3163).

Project 1: Fundraising for Lakeland, Cuba and Haiti
Recently our Church Council voted to commit to a three-year fundraising project and raise $62,500 to support ministries in Lakeland, Cuba and Haiti. The Lakeland project is a partnership with several churches to build a new triplex at the Salvation Army Center of Hope to house three homeless families. Our portion of this project is $25,000. In Cuba we want to finish the Education Building for our sister church, Tabernáculo de la Unción, in Camaguey. Our goal for this is also $25,000. In Haiti we have a goal of $12,500 to provide several clean water wells, solar batteries for New Hope Hospital and funding for 10-20 micro-credit loans in Cap-Haitien. You will find small white churches in the entry areas each Sunday where you can place your gifts toward these projects.
 
Project 2: Peace River Center Holiday Care Packages
In October we are collecting combs and socks (for both men and women) for Peace River Center Holiday Care Packages. Peace River Center provides a broad range of mental health, victim services and substance use disorder services. Please place these items in the blue collection bins, located at each worship entrance and the Welcome Center.
 
'Our Giving Tree' Bookstore and Gift Shop is hoping to expand its hours. Volunteers are needed for shifts from 1:30- 5:30pm. Contact Carol Marsh ( [email protected] or 863-255-4968).

United Methodist Women Pecan Sale
Our Annual Pecan sale will begin November 11. Plan on using these pecans for your holiday baking. They will be sold outside the Fellowship Center and in the Fountain Courtyard November 11 and December 9. You may also order them from any member of the United Methodist Women. $9/cinnamon or chocolate; $12/pieces and halves.

Your Help is Needed to Deliver Meals
VISTE (Volunteers in Service to the Elderly) needs people to deliver home cooked Thanksgiving meals on November 21. You do not need to RSVP - just show up at the RP Funding Center, 701 W Lime St. between 3-5:30pm to pick up the meals and addresses. Contact Ashley with questions, 863-284-0828x6 or email here.

kidsPACK USA Meal Assembly
Mark your calendars now for our next meal assembly on Wednesday, November 7. Volunteers are needed at 9am to prepare and set up and at 4pm to pack the meals. No need to RSVP - just come to the Welcome Center. Contact Forrest White with questions ( [email protected] or 863-686-3163).