Our United Methodist Women have been busy this week creating pillows for local breast cancer patients. The UMW have been making these pillows for many years and have donated several thousand pillows.
Tucker First UMC Weekly News
September 17, 2021
“The Explosive Power of the Spirit”


11:00 am Worship

Rev. Gerald Varner, Preaching
All worship service videos and live-streamed services are located on the church website or the Tucker First UMC YouTube channel.
Join Us Every Week for
Sunday Night With The Table

Are you looking for a new in-person worship experience at Tucker First? Please join us for Sunday Night With The Table @ TuckerFirstUMC. The service will combine modern music with sacred rituals and focus on real relationships. The worship service will be on Sunday nights at 7:00 pm in the Chapel. Questions? Contact Anne Cumings at anne.cumings@ngumc.net.
Healing Service Every Second Sunday

We are all in need of healing at some point in our lives – physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual. Join us for a service of music, communion, and healing prayer every second Sunday at 7:00 pm in the Chapel.
Special Offering Sunday for
Wellroot Family Services

For 150 years, Wellroot Family Services has relied on the support of local churches to care for children and families in need. This Sunday, September 19 is the time when we recognize Wellroot with a special offering. Your Faith Promise pledge has already allowed our church to contribute to Wellroot. However, if you would like to make an additional donation, you can indicate “Wellroot” in the memo line of your check.
News and Notes
Safe Sanctuaries Training Sessions

There will be three Safe Sanctuaries training sessions in September and October in Jenkins Hall. All paid workers and volunteers that work with children, youth or vulnerable adults are required to be Safe Sanctuaries trained. This includes but is not limited to some Great Day of Service volunteers, all youth counselors, chaperones, Sunday School teachers, and home bound visitation volunteers. The training dates are:
 
Monday, September 20 at 7:00 pm
Wednesday, September 22 at 5:30 pm
Sunday, October 17 at 2:00 pm
 
Please RSVP to Mimi Sanders at mimi_sanders@tfumc.org and make sure you specify the date of the training class that you would like to attend.
Electronics Recycle Day

We promise not to tell anyone how much old electronic stuff you have been hoarding.

As part of the Great Day of Service on Saturday, September 25, we will be having an electronics recycling event from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm. Volunteers will be on hand at the Wesley Center’s loading dock to help unload your electronics. Please do not drop off recycling items earlier in the week. A list recycled and non-recycled items are listed below. For a more complete list of recyclable items, go to


Accepted items for recycling include computers, flat screen computer monitors, laptops, tablets, fax machines, keyboards, copiers, mainframes, disk drives, LED lights/bulbs, cables, telephones, cell phones, VCRs, radios, cassette players, batteries, CD/DVD players, satellite dishes, telecommunication systems, iron, steel, and aluminum.

Items that are not accepted include hazardous materials (any infectious or pathological wastes), material that could pose an environmental or health problem, any equipment containing radioactive components, equipment containing asbestos or mercury, any CRT computer monitors, or TVs (old box type), flat screen LED/LCD televisions, large household appliances (refrigerators, ovens, stoves, dishwashers, washers, and dryers), lamps, and light bulbs.

Good News! The electronics recycling company will remove and shred all of the hard drives that come into the recycling event for free.
Special Christmas at Tucker
Choir Rehearsal

Christmas at Tucker is Tucker First's annual gift to the community. It is presented each December with special music and a wonderful drama.

If you are interested in singing in the choir, we invite you to come to a special choir rehearsal on Sunday, September 26 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm in the Music Center. This is an opportunity for the choir to "dig in" to the music and get a good jump on singing the parts.

Additionally, the choir rehearses the Christmas at Tucker music every Wednesday night from 7:30 - 8:30 pm in the Music Center.

We would love to have you! If you are interested in participating, please contact Tom Moore at tom_moore@tfumc.org.
Children's Ministry Staffing
Kids Zone at Taste of Tucker

Once again, our Tucker First Children's Ministry will be staffing the Kids Zone at Taste of Tucker on Saturday, October 2 from 12:00 noon - 7:00 pm. Taste of Tucker is an annual street fair located on Tucker's Main Street. This family-friendly event allows you to sample food (with purchased tickets) from local Tucker restaurants and vendors.All proceeds from Taste of Tucker support NETWorks and Camp Kudzu.

Volunteers are needed in the Kids Zone to help with setup, supervise games and crafts, and assist with breakdown and cleanup. Each shift on the sign-up is for one hour. This year the Kids Zone activities include Putt-Putt, a Giant Connect Four, Spin Art and Sand Art. To sign up, click on the button below. Questions? Contact Mimi Sanders at mimi_sanders@tfumc.org.
Blessing of the Animals

There will be a Blessing of the Animals on Saturday, October 9 at 10:00 am in the Wesley Center back parking lot. Bring your furry, feathered, or scaly friends to receive a special blessing.

Questions? Contact Stephanie Shanholtzer at sshanholtzer@tfumc.org.
New Classes and Bible Studies
"Love Thy Neighbor"
New Adult Sunday School Class

Are you looking for a new adult Sunday school class? This class will not only explore what it means to Love Thy Neighbor, but we will also focus on growing our faith through friendships in Christ. This class is suggested for people ages 30s-50s, married or single, parents or non-parents.

There will be a Meet and Greet that will include a light breakfast and an opening devotional on Sunday, September 26 at 10:00 am in the Chapel.

Contact Beth Allen at ballen523@gmail.com or Stephanie Shanholtzer at sshanholtzer@tfumc.org if you have any questions.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. – Matthew 22:37-39
Working It Out, a Bible Study on James

Pastor Anne will lead a six-week Bible study looking at how the Letter of James calls us to actively live out our faith. The class will be on Monday nights in Jenkins Hall starting October 4 at 7:00 pm.

Contact Rev. Anne Cumings with questions or to RSVP for the class at anne.cumings@ngumc.net.
We Are an Acts 1:8 Church
United Methodist Men Sponsoring Clothes Closet Workday

On Wednesday, September 29 @ 6:30 pm, our United Methodist Men (UMM) will be having a workday at the NETWork’s Clothes Closet located at the Northlake Church of Christ. Volunteers are needed to sort and arrange clothing so that local families can find the clothes they need.
 
Clothing Donations Needed
 
Additionally, the UMM are asking for donations of slightly used clothing items. Most needed are clothes for infants, toddlers, youth, and teens as well as adults. This includes but is not limited to socks, underwear, shoes, gloves, and hats. All sizes are appreciated, but there is always a lack of smaller men's clothing. Winter clothing will be much appreciated in the coming month. Please bring all items to room 209 between now and September 29. If you have time to sort and label the items, it will help the UMM’s efforts.
 
Questions? Contact Andrew Carlton at adcarlton81@gmail.com.
Register Today For the 2021 Great Day of Service
Our Annual Great Day of Service will be on Saturday, September 25 from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm.  On this day, multiple teams will take part in service projects in and for the community to meet the needs of our friends and neighbors.

Some of the activities include fill flood buckets with supplies (goal is fifty buckets), clean up Henderson Park, visit shut-ins at Benton House, create waterproof mats for the homeless, paint fire hydrants, play games and do crafts with young children, painting inside the church and weeding and mulching in the Tucker Mission Garden.

Everyone participating in Great Day of Service 2021 must register by clicking on the button below.

Questions? Contact Ellen Griffith, ellen.griffith@yahoo.com or Becky Burnett, rsb1950@gmail.com.
Church Office Notes
Face Mask 2
Please Wear Your Masks While at Tucker First

The CDC updated their COVID-19 guidance to protect people from the Delta variant and now recommends that everyone wear masks indoors in public buildings. DeKalb and Gwinnett Counties are experiencing transmission rates that reflect the CDC’s new recommendations.

We are requesting everyone honor the CDC's recommendation while inside the church buildings by wearing masks. At this time, we will also continue to sing while wearing masks and provide sections of the sanctuary where physical distancing is required in addition to masks. The CDC’s updated guidance can be found at
Part-Time AV Technician Position

Tucker First is seeking a part-time (5-8 hours/week) Audio Visual (AV) Technician. The AV Technician will be responsible for ensuring high quality sound, video, and livestreaming for two Sunday worship services (11:00 am and 7:00 pm). You may view the job description in its entirety at


To apply, please send resume to Rev. Anne Cumings anne.cumings@ngumc.net.
Did you know that you can download a weekly Spotlight from the Tucker First website?

The Spotlight includes a lot of the information found in the weekly newsletter, but also includes current prayer requests, weekly church calendar, and prayer emphasis. It is also easily printable for sharing.

Click on the graphic to go directly to the home page of the website and then click on Sunday News Spotlight.
This is a publication of

Tucker First United Methodist Church
5095 LaVista Road
Tucker, GA 30084
770-938-3030