Sunday, November 15th

This Sunday, Pastor Max Wilkins will be preaching at Norcross First's Hispanic service, and Robert Viera will be preaching in the sanctuary, sharing the sermon: "Awake, Alert, and Anchored in Hope."



Join us this Sunday for a meaningful time of worship, fellowship, and encouragement as we gather together in the presence of the Lord! 

Through our Scripture readings from 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 and Zephaniah 1:7 and 12-18, we will talk about what it looks like to live faithfully as we prepare for the coming Day of the Lord. As Christians, we are not called to live in fear, nor to become spiritually complacent, but to remain awake, prepared, and grounded in the hope we have through Jesus Christ. 

Come and be encouraged as we discover what it means to live awake and ready, anchored in the hope of Christ!

Click here to see the Order of Worship

Financial Update as of 10/31/2026:

Donations received YTD : $1,041,602

Expenses YTD : $926,398

__________

Missions and Ministry Partner Support:

Because of your faithful giving to Faith Promise,

we have been able to send out $122,860 thus far in 2026 in support of our missions, missionaries and ministry partners locally, nationally and around the globe.

Join us in thanking the Lord!

Sunday, Nov. 15 - All Operation Christmas Child boxes must be turned in! Contact Marilyn Gates at marilyngates3@gmail.com with any questions.

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 10:00-11:30 - JOY Ladies Bible Study in the Choir Room (lower level).

Thursday, Nov. 19, 11:00-12:30 - Scarlet Hope Goody Bag Prep, Room 134. Join us to pack bags of supplies for our partner ministry, Scarlet Hope. Questions?: Contact Penny Carter at carter73@comcast.net.

Thursday, Nov. 19, 7:00-8:00pm - Community Christmas Cantata rehearsal, Choir Room (lower level). Questions? Email Troy Lucia at troy@norcrossfirst.org

Sunday, Nov. 22 - Stay and decorate the church for the Advent Season! Following the Sunday Worship service in the main sanctuary, everyone is invited to help decorate the church. MANY hands are needed--kids and adults! Questions? Contact Robin Buschell at robin@norcrossfirst.org.

Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 25 (a half day) through Friday, Nov. 27 - The Church Office will be closed to celebrate Thanksgiving! The staff will be back and ready to serve you on Monday, Nov. 30. Happy Thanksgiving!



A Glimpse Ahead: Some of the events of the Christmas season!

Saturday, December 12, 6:30pm - Save the Date! Join for "The Wonder of Christmas," a free Christmas music event for the family, presented by Norcross First's Community Christmas Cantata choir! This is a Spanish-supported event! This will be in the main sanctuary.

Sunday, December 13, 11:00am - "The Wonder of Christmas" will be offered during the Sunday worship service!

Thursday, December 24, 5:30pm - Multi-Cultural Christmas Eve service, in English and Spanish.

Thursday, December 31, 5:00pm - New Year's Eve Worship service. Join in worship to prepare our hearts for a new year with the Lord.

Ongoing weekly and daily activities

Sundays

* Worship services are held every Sunday at 11:00am in the Sanctuary (English service) or Chapel (Spanish service). We also welcome Christian Unity Church (a GLOBAL Methodist Russian-speaking congregation) to hold their Worship service from 1:30 - 5:30pm weekly in the Chapel.

* Disciple Fast Track class meets 12:30-2:00pm in the Fellowship Hall through April 18. Facilitated group discussions led by Sharon Grahn.

Tuesdays

* Watercolor Fellowship Class meets weekly from 5:00-7:00pm on Tuesday in Room 134. Contact facilitator Ruffin Booth for details.

* BSF Leaders meet weekly, 9:00-12:00, in the Fellowship Hall.

Wednesdays

* JOY Ladies daytime Bible Study meets 3 Wednesdays a month (1st, 2nd, and 4th weeks; 5th weeks when applicable) at 10am in the Choir Room on the lower level. Please note! The JOY Ladies will conclude their current study on Wednesday, Nov. 18 and then will be on Winter Break until Jan. 13, 2027.

* Throne Room Intercessors, the Wednesday afternoon Prayer Group, prays weekly on Wednesday at 1:00pm in the Sanctuary Prayer Room. Please note! The Throne Room Intercessors' next meeting will be on Dec. 2!

* Children and Student Ministry Club 3:16 for K - 12th grade students meets weekly on Wednesday 6:00 - 8:00pm following the Gwinnett County Public School 2026-2027 school calendar. Contact Robert Viera at robert@norcrossfirst.org

* Hispanic Ministry Bible Study is currently taking a seasonal break. Contact Robert Viera for more information - robert@norcrossfirst.org.



Thursdays

* Men's daytime Bible Study is currently on break! Meetings will resume on Thursday, January 14, 2027 at 11:45am at Berkeley Hills Country Club. Contact Tom Waits for information: waitsengrg@charter.net.

* Hispanic Ministry Praise Band rehearses weekly on Thursday beginning at 6:30pm in the Chapel. Open to new musicians and vocalists on a volunteer basis! Contact Robert Viera - robert@norcrossfirst.org. 

* Joyful Ringers Handbell practice holds weekly rehearsals on Thursday evening at 6:00pm. Contact Director of Music Ministry, Troy Lucia, at troy@norcrossfirst.org.

* Chancel Choir rehearses on Thursday evening weekly at 7:00pm in the Choir Room. Contact Director of Music Ministry Troy Lucia -troy@norcrossfirst.org - for music information.

* Young Adults Bible Study meets weekly on Thursday evenings, 6:30-7:30 pm in Room 134. Contact Dani Nauert with any questions: daninauert99@gmail.com.

* Weekly daytime Ladies Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), hosted at Norcross First GMC, with study groups on Thursday mornings, 9:15-10:45am. This year, BSF is studying Romans: From Guilt to Grace. For more information, contact bsfnorcross@gmail.com.

Weekdays, following the school calendar

* Norcross First Creation Kids Preschool 2026-2027 school year will follow the Gwinnett County Public School calendar. Please contact Janine Kays, Preschool Director, with any questions at 678-533-1321!

* Next Generation Focus afterschool tutoring program meets in our church Monday - Friday following the Gwinnett County Public School calendar. Contact Amy Sol with any questions at amysol@nextgenerationfocus.org.

Teams and individuals have been at work over the past several weeks to organize Norcross First's Annual Operation Christmas Child drive.

We are grateful for the leadership and stewardship of Marilyn Gates!

Please bring your packed boxes to church this Sunday, November 15th. There will be an area set up in the Fellowship Hall for the boxes.

Please do pray for the child who will be receiving your box--and for the children receiving all the boxes from Norcross First!

Thank you for filling OCC shoeboxes with gifts for children in need around the world. You have shared the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - It's all about Jesus! 

We are looking for a few more helpers for "The Wonder of Christmas"!

This is an event with a heart to bless our church community--and the wider Norcross community--during the Christmas season. The Cantata will be presented in English, with Spanish-language support.



Ways you can help support this outreach ministry event!:

• Attend--and bring a friend!
• Bring some cookies to share! We are looking for Cookie Helpers! We would like to provide cookies after both performances to have a warm environment for connections and conversations with our guests.
• Provide a special item for the Christmas drawings! Each guest will have a ticket to put into the box for the Christmas drawing! We are looking for items to give away to our winners! Perhaps a pie? A quilt? A painting? Do you have something we could give away as a blessing to a guest?
• Pray for this event to bring blessing to everyone who sings and listens!

Sign up to help this Sunday, November 15th in the narthex--you can also pick up event tickets at the narthex table to share with your friends!

You can also sign up to help by contacting Troy Lucia at troy@norcrossfirst.org.

If you have a desire to strengthen your spiritual life, perhaps have unanswered questions about your Christian faith, and understand that being a Christian involves responsibility and dedication to God in an ongoing manner, we invite you to a Walk To Emmaus weekend! The experience for each person is unique, but full of learning, typically spiritual AND fun. Walk to Emmaus is open to Christians age 18+.

North Georgia Walk to Emmaus is held at King's Retreat, Dallas, GA. Transportation for Pilgrims will be provided. For more information: https://ngwte.org/

There are three Emmaus opportunities:

• Walk to Emmaus weekends for adults
• a Youth weekend for ages 15 - 24 (Chrysalis)
• a four-day retreat for older adults (Face to Face)

Contact Gwenda Booth or Jiwon Stanfield for more information on the Walk to Emmaus!

Men's Bible Study and Lunch group:

Currently on break!

Meetings will resume on Thursday,

January 14, 2027!

Berkeley Hills Country Club

11:45am

Contact Tom Waits for more information..

JOY Bible Study meets on the first, second, and fourth Wednesday mornings (also fifth, when applicable) 10:00 - 11:30am for an interactive group study led by a facilitator.

The current study of the Gospel of Mark will conclude

on Nov. 18, then the group will be on Winter Break until Jan. 13, 2027!

Individuals have the option to go out to lunch together at a local restaurant following the morning study time for more fellowship.

Contact Bobbye Raye Kennison for more information on being part of this ladies study group.



The Young Adults Bible Study meets

Thursday evenings, 6:30-7:30pm in Room 134.

Contact Dani Nauert at daninauert99@gmail.com with any questions!

Scroll the North Georgia Global Methodist Church website https://ngagmc.org/

Norcross First is happy to offer a free resource for independent studies.

This media subscription is like the "Netflix of Video Bible Studies" and has a HUGE library of faith-based videos that you can access whenever and wherever you want—on your phone, tablet, computer, or on your TV at home. You will have FREE access to thousands of video resources

Create your free account:

1.  Click Here to create your private account and start watching right away!

2. Download the RightNow Media app for your smart phone, tablet, Apple TV, Roku, or Amazon Fire TV.

3. Log in to your RightNow Media account and explore the library of options!

We hope you enjoy this free gift subscription from Norcross First Global Methodist Church!

Adult Sunday School Offerings

We offer a class setting to suit everyone's learning style in growing in God's Word

year-round! Let us help you find a group to connect with.

Stop by the Welcome Desk outside the Sanctuary or contact Robert Viera

for class options and information.

Children and Students (K-12^th grades) Sunday School offerings

Creation Kids K-5^th grade weekly in-person 9:30-10:30am; Meet in Room 1/3 (on the lower level), then move as a group to Room 221/223 (Children’s wing upstairs)

Student Ministry 6^th – 12^th grade weekly in-person 9:30-10:30am; Meet in Room 1/3 and remain on lower level



Childcare for children younger than Kindergarten age is available on the first floor of the Children’s wing 9:30am – Noon.

Articles and Announcements

Submission of articles and announcements for the weekly newsletter must be received by Noon Tuesday to be included in the upcoming Friday newsletter.

Announcements will run a maximum of 4 weeks. You are welcome to re-submit updated info. Please email communications@norcrossfirst.org.

Options for how to give your financial gifts/tithes and offerings:

• Place your offering (cash or check) in the offering plate as it is passed in Worship. Envelopes are available in the pew racks.
• Drop your offering in the offering boxes located in the Sanctuary.
• Mail your offering to Norcross First GMC - ATTN: Nancy Garrison, 2500 Beaver Ruin Road, Norcross, GA 30071.
• Give online through the church website HERE.
• Give through your bank.

Contact Nancy Garrison in the Church Office with financial inquiries - finance@norcrossfirst.org or 770-448-4142 x1014.

Keep up with current events and share about our ministries through our website:

www.norcrossfirst.org

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