Recent News
Little Friends Preschool of First Church will hold a Fall Festival and Silent Auction on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Games and other fun activities for children, and a variety of great items to place bids on! See the flyer here.
Little Friends is looking for items for the Silent Auction. If you have something to donate, please contact Maria Petrilak at lfns@fumchurch.com or 717-796-0723. All proceeds benefit the preschool.
First Church will celebrate All Saints Day on Sunday, Nov. 3 at our 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. worship services.
Celebrated annually, All Saints Day allows us to remember the glory of God in the saints who have gone before us. We use the New Testament definition of saints meaning, “all Christian people of every time and place.” Time will be set aside during both services to call out the names of those church members lost in the past year. Loved ones of those members are invited to come forward and light a candle in their memory.
All are welcome!
The pastors of First United Methodist Church will present “LIVING THE DREAM!”, a new sermon series on how we can use our financial resources to honor God and further His plan for our world. The public is invited and encouraged to attend!
The American Dream is a dream of financial prosperity and success, as well as upward social mobility for our children and grandchildren. Being prosperous and successful is not wrong, but Jesus calls us to a dream far bigger and more compelling than the dream of just accumulating more stuff.
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, gave simple advice on how to use money in ways that honor God and help God’s big dream become a reality. “Gain all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can.” In this series, we’re going to focus on Wesley’s principles on money as we commit ourselves to God’s dream in and through our church.
The following sermons will be presented during the 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday worship services:
Oct. 27 “If You Could Ask for Anything”
Nov. 3 “The Excellent Gift”
Nov. 10 “You Can’t Take It With You”
Nov. 17 “Living the Dream at First Church”
For an audio recording of the sermons and all sermons presented at First Church, click here.
The pastors of First United Methodist Church will present “REVIVE”, a new sermon series on persevering through life’s struggles and difficulties. The public is invited and encouraged to attend!
The toughness of Navy Seals has become well known through movies and books. Becoming part of this elite group requires surviving grueling tests of mental, emotional, and physical toughness. And then there is the infamous bell. The bell is ever present while the Seal trainees endure the intense exercises; and all they must do to quit and receive a nice meal, hot shower, and clean bed is to ring it three times. The temptation is always there to say, “I quit!”
Sometimes, we may feel like ringing the bell and saying, “I quit!” To a discouraged young pastor named Timothy, Paul writes, “…revive God’s gift that is in you!” (2 Timothy 1:6). Paul’s practical guidance in the opening chapter of this letter points the way for Timothy, and all of us, to experience a vibrant life in Jesus.
The following sermons will be presented during the 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday worship services:
Oct. 6 “Be Connected” (2 Timothy 1:1-6)
Oct. 13 “Be Bold” (2 Timothy 1:7-9)
Oct. 20 “Be Grounded” (2 Timothy 1:10-14)
For an audio recording of the sermons and all sermons presented at First Church, click here.
First United Methodist Church is seeking an organist/accompanist. Responsibilities include playing for our 8:15 am Sunday morning worship service, and other special services (as needed), and accompanying an adult choir. Some of these duties may be shared with another organist/pianist. Send resume, including education and work history via email to office@fumchurch.com or by mail to First United Methodist Church, 135 W. Simpson Street, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055.
First Church will hold a Rejoicing Spirits worship service on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 4:00 p.m. All are welcome!
The service is specially designed and adapted for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families. An informal atmosphere, brief messages, and lots of music and fellowship opportunities.
Rejoicing Spirits services are held on the fourth Sunday of each month.
Mission Central will hold a 5K Run/Walk on Oct. 26, with a 9 a.m. start time. The event will be held at the Mission Central Warehouse, 5 Pleasant View Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA. All are invited to participate.
Mission Central, a warehouse and affiliate of the Susquehanna Conference of The United Methodist Church, collects and distributes relief supplies and humanitarian aid locally, nationally and internationally as needed in response to natural disasters and other crises.
Mission Central moved nearly $7 million in resources through the warehouse in 2018, and reached more than 4.1 million people with assistance.
Proceeds from the 5K will benefit Mission Central’s work. For more information, visit www.missioncentral.org for details.
The First Church Bell Choirs will host a chicken barbecue fund raiser on Saturday, Oct. 12 from 11 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Each meal includes a ½ chicken, baked potato, applesauce and roll for $9. Drinks and desserts will be sold separately. Sign up for tickets on Sunday mornings at the Welcome Desk or by calling the church office at 717-766-4611.
Proceeds benefit trips the Bell Choirs take to workshops and festivals.
The Sierra Leone Mission Team wants to say thanks for your support and prayers. Stop in to meet the team of five women on Sunday, October 13 between worship services at the Welcome Desk, and pick up a delicious baked good. The team will be traveling to our sister church in Sierra Leone in March 2020 to help paint the building that First Church funded. Learn more about their trip and how you can continue to support and pray for our sisters and brothers in Christ in Taiama, Sierra Leone.
First Church will observe the annual Children’s Sabbath on Sunday, Oct. 20 during the 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. worship services.
The United Methodist Church designates a Children’s Sabbath each October. The national observance encourages congregations to renew and live out their moral responsibility to care, protect and advocate for all children.
All are welcome and encouraged to attend!
The Children’s Department invites you to stop in to play a game and get a treat at the Mechanicsburg Chamber’s annual Streets of Treats on Saturday, October 19 from 10:00 am to 2:00 p.m. The event features safe trick-or-treating, crafts, games, and other activities. We will be located just steps away from the Rosemary House on Market Street. For more information about Streets of Treats, visit the website at: http://www.mechanicsburgchamber.org/event/streets-of-treats/.
The Third Friday Food Trucks return to First Church on Oct. 18, the final time for 2019. Join us in the church parking lot from 4:30 to 8 p.m.
In addition to good food and music, the event offers a fun time to meet and socialize with other community members. First Church will provide tables and chairs, and free parking including handicapped accessible parking.
Check out the Facebook page at First United Methodist Church of Mechanicsburg, Pa. for details, and an updated list of food trucks for each event.
First Church is pleased to support Isaiah 61 Ministries, a local organization that serves the needs of the homeless in Dauphin County. They provide a variety of services including soup kitchen, clothing bank and Life groups.
Specifically, First Church members help serve meals to the homeless in downtown Harrisburg on the third Wednesday of each month. The next volunteer opportunity is Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. A carpool leaves from First Church at 6:00 p.m. for those who are interested.
All are welcome! To volunteer, call or e-mail the church at 717.766.4611 or office@fumchurch.com.
Join us at Mission Central on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 6:00 p.m. to help sort and bag donated groceries. The groceries are then transported to the Bethesda Mission shelter in Harrisburg to be shared with residents in need.
Mission Central, a warehouse and affiliate of the Susquehanna Conference of The United Methodist Church, collects and distributes relief supplies and humanitarian aid locally, nationally and internationally as needed in response to natural disasters and other crises.
First Church members volunteer at Mission Central the third Wednesday evening of every month to prepare the groceries.
For more information or to volunteer, call the church office at 717.766.4611.