WELCOME TO THE MAY NEWSLETTER

Like us on Facebook
Rome Newsletter Header

A Monthly Newsletter Published by 
Rome First United Methodist Church

May Sermon Series 






Sunday, May 1 will be our last Fantastic First Sunday for the 2015-2016 school year.  We will be celebrating with pizza, ice cream and inflatables in the Wilder Center.  Please bring $2 for pizza and join us from 4:30-6:00 pm.

FOSTER CARE COMMUNITY INFORMATION GATHERING
 

Sunday, May 1,  10:00am -10:45am,  in the Wilder Christian Life Center 
Dining Room
Allison Watters will have an information gathering about the Foster Family Care Community Model. All are invited and encouraged to attend. We will learn how to support Foster Care Families through an innovative model of care. For more information, or to schedule your group for a follow-up session, contact Allison Watters at allisonwatters@bellsouth.net or 706-506-9608.
 
GRADUATE RECOGNITION

Sunday, May 8, 9am & 11am services
Join us as we honor our 2016 graduates. A reception will be held at 10am in the Courtyard.  All are invited.

ADULT SPRING LUNCHEON
yellow_spring_daffodil.jpg

Tuesday, May 10th, 12:00noon, in the Wilder Christian Life Center Dining Room
"A Time Together with Music and Stories"  Presented by Rev. Andy Woodworth.  Menu: $10.0-Duffy's Chicken Salad Sandwiches - Broccoli Salad - Chips - Brownies
Reservations by Monday noon April 9th to the Church Office 706 291-8590
or churchoffice@romefirst.org

GENERAL CONFERENCE WORSHIP SERVICE LIVE STREAMING

Tuesday, May 10th, 2pm, Wilder Christian Life Center Dining Room
Through the power of technology, you can be part of the 2016 UM General Conference. Rome First will be offering the live streaming of the opening worship service. It will begin immediately following the Adult Spring Luncheon.

ONE BOARD MEETING

Thursday, May 12
6:00pm
Room A203, Education Building

Everyone is invited to attend
 
UMW  GENERAL DINNER MEETING

Thursday, May 19th, 6pm, in the Wilder Christian Life Center Dining Room,  Cost: $10
Domestic Violence with Susan Stroup
Bring new children's books for Hospitality House
All women invited!
Reservations to the Church Office by noon on Monday, May 16th for dinner and childcare  (706-291-8590 or churchoffice@romefirst.org)

IN THIS ISSUE
QUICK LINKS

» SERMONS AND MEDIA

» NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

» A CALENDAR OF EVENTS

» MANAGE YOUR GIVING

» PRAYER CONCERNS

» BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERS.

»  

» READ THE BIBLE IN A

   YEAR

MINISTRY QUICK LINKS

» PRAYER MINISTRY 

» VOLUNTEER MINISTRY

» WOMEN'S MINISTRY 

» CHILDREN'S MINISTRY  

» YOUTH MINISTRY

NEW MEMBERS
new members welcome
BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION, STAR WARS & VISION/PATHWAY FOR ROME FIRST
WHAT DO THEY ALL HAVE IN COMMON?
 
In the Baptismal Covenant that we use to celebrate Confirmation I ask the Candidates the following questions concerning their renunciation of Sin and Profession of Faith -
On behalf of the whole Church, I ask you:
Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin?
I do.
Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?
I do.
Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the Church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races?
I do.

We celebrated the reception of the Confirmation class of 2016 a few weeks ago and baptized three new members into the Body of Christ. As we shared together in worship and the confirmation class and those being baptized were asked the historic questions that allow them to publicly profess their Faith in Jesus Christ, I was reminded of STAR WARS and the recent Vision Pathway Team Report. Here's how -

GIFTS OF STOCKS TO ROME FIRST

As of May 1, 2016, the RFUMC stock account at Wells Fargo used for the transfer of stock gifts will be closed. Our new agency will be the Benjamin Edwards Co. The new Account # is EBA 024018. The DTC # is 0443. Our contact person at Benjamin Edwards is Marsha Mayben, direct phone - 706-292-3612.

Please give this new information to your investment broker as you make future stock gifts. If you have questions, please contact me in the Church Office. Barbara Mull, Finance Manager

"DOWNTOWN CHURCH BLOOD DRIVE

Our next "Downtown Church" blood drive will be May 11th at St. Peter's Episcopal Church from 4:15pm - 7pm.

In spite of exceptionally strong collections in February, Floyd County still used nearly 150 units more blood than it collected during the first quarter.  Donations typically take a big dip in June and July so lets have a strong May drive at St. Peter's to ramp up inventory heading into Summer.  Remember, just one unit can save up to four lives.


CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED

The Church Office will be closed on Monday, May 30 for Memorial Day.

memorial_day.jpg

SERVICE OPPORTUNITY WITH ACTION MINISTRIES

Rome Action Ministries (RAM) is in need of  volunteers for an upcoming fundraiser. Just in time for Independence Day, RAM will be selling  fireworks in the Wal Mart parking lot. They  anticipate raising nearly $8,000 over the course of 8 days. If you are able to volunteer some time to sell fireworks and help Rome Actions Ministries raise money between June 27th and July 4th, please contact Evan McElreath at

DO YOU LOVE HAVING YOUTH AT ROME FIRST?

Can you help support our youth ministry for just one evening?

Provide a meal: If you are able to provide a meal for Breakaway one Sunday evening this Spring, please
contact Renee Webb at reneewebb3@comcast.net.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

June 13 - 17, 9:00 am - noon
VBS is open for children age 3 years through 5th grade. (PRESCHOOL CHILDREN MUST BE POTTY TRAINED TO ATTEND VBS.) You may register at http://www.romefirst.org/events/vbs . If you are interested involunteering at VBS please contact Dawn Daniel at 706-291-9331 or ddaniel@romefirst.org.

FAIR TRADE 

Coffee, Tea, Chocolate, Snacks, Olive Oil
Order Deadline:  June 1  Fair Trade Form

Any questions?  Call Sondra Wilkins at 706-291-1945.  
Sondra is at the church on Thursday from 10-2 if you want to stop by then.

MURPHY-HARPST AUXILIARY

If you are interested in being a part of the Murphy-Harpst Auxiliary pick up a brochure. These can be found in the Church Office lobby or in the Wilder Center lobby.

ONLINE GIVING - NOW AVAILABLE AT ROME FIRST

Electronic giving offers convenience for you, and you never have to worry about forgetting your checkbook again. Giving online is easy and allows you to set up automatic recurring contributions from your checking or savings account. We also can take credit card payments and payments via PayPal. Simply follow these easy steps:

□ Visit the website at www.romefirst.org.
□ Click on the "Take Action" button.
□ Choose giving using the Rome First Access or use your PayPal personal account.
□ If you choose the Rome First Access, you will see a list of contribution funds, but first click on the "Create
    Your Own Profile" to the far right.
□ Follow the instructions to create your online profile and to schedule your recurring contributions.
□ If you use your PayPal account, choose the amount you want to give, then log in to your own PayPal
    account.
□ Be sure to note in the comments section how you want your contribution designation - e.g. Capital Fund,
   General Tithe, or the specific ministry of your choice.
□ Also be sure to save your contact information so Finance knows you contributed!

If you have any questions, please contact Barbara in the Church Office.

KIDNEY DONOR NEEDED

A member of our community is looking for a kidney donor with Type A or Type O blood.  Rome First has been asked to help communicate this need.  If you might be interested, please call Barbara O'Neal at Piedmont Hospital to have a confidential conversation about what is involved with being a donor.  Her number is 404-605-4128.  If you talk with Mrs. O'Neal and decide you want to move forward, please let one of our pastors know and we will connect you with the person in need.

SUPPORT ROME FIRST BY SHOPPING!

Did you know there are three ways you can support Rome First UMC by shopping?  First, if you have a Kroger Plus card, you can link this to the Kroger community rewards program.  A portion of what you spend at Kroger will be donated back to the church to support our ministries. Go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com and either sign in or create an account.  Once you've done this, select
Community right-arrow-icon4.gif Community Rewards at the top of the page.  On the next screen, you will enter our non-profit number: 37489.  We are listed as First United Methodist Church (if more than one are listed, be sure you pick the one with the Rome address!).  That's it.  Every time you use your Kroger Plus card, you'll automatically be supporting Rome First.  Be sure to share this with your church friends who shop at Kroger.

Rome First is also a part of Amazon.com's "Smile" program.  If you shop at Amazon regularly, please be sure go to www.smile.amazon.com and select Rome First as your charity of choice.  A portion of your purchase will be donated back to Rome First.  Again, we are listed as First United Methodist Church 
(Rome GA).

A third way to shop and support Rome First is through UMC Market.  Hundreds of online stores participate in this program and donate a portion of your purchase back to Rome First.  Simply create an account at www.umcmarket.org, select Rome First UMC as your charity, and then go to this site first whenever you are shopping online.


NEED TO CONTACT US?
Rome First United Methodist Church
202 East 3rd Ave, Rome, Georgia 30161  |   churchoffice@romefirst.org  |   (706) 291-8590