Recent News
First Church will hold a Rejoicing Spirits worship service this Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, 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.
The long-awaited Messiah finally arrived, only to be betrayed and sentenced to death. Why would Jesus knowingly do this for us? Come to discover afresh the good news of the gospel!
First Church will host “Jesus: Understanding His Death and Resurrection,” a Precept Ministries study on chapters 14 to 16 of the Gospel of Mark.
The six-week, no homework study, led by First Church members Juanita and Ken Guise, will be held on Sunday mornings beginning Jan. 26 during the Sunday School hour from 9:30 to 10:30. The cost is just $5, for the workbook.
All are welcome. You do not have to be a member of First Church or of any church to attend.
For more information, call or e-mail Tina Eaton, Director of Adult Ministry, at 717.766.4611 or adultministry@fumchurch.com.
First Church is offering “The Holy Spirit Unleashed in You,” a men’s Bible study by Precept Ministries based on the book of Acts.
Led by First Church members Ken Guise and David Mengle, the group meets on Sunday evenings at 6:15. Classes run for 60 to 75 minutes. The class is on-going. Participants can join in at any time.
All men are welcome. You do not have to be a member of First Church or of any church to attend.
For more information, call or e-mail Tina Eaton, Director of Adult Ministry, at 717.766.4611 or adultministry@fumchurch.com.
How did Jesus spend his final days? And just what happened when Jesus died and rose from the dead? Come to find the answers in “The Savior of Sinners,” a study of chapters 17 to 24 of the Gospel of Luke.
The seven-week study Precept Ministries will be led by First Church member Juanita Guise. Classes begin in February. Thursday morning and Thursday evening classes are available. The $15.75 cost covers the workbook.
All are welcome. You do not have to be a member of First Church or of any church to attend.
For more information, call or e-mail Tina Eaton, Director of Adult Ministry, at 717.766.4611 or adultministry@fumchurch.com.
If you are looking for real love, real hope, real friendship and the real message of Jesus, join us for “Alpha” this winter! First Church will offer the 10-week course, in search of the real answers to life’s biggest questions.
Three class times are being offered:
- Sunday mornings, 9:30 to 10:30, beginning Jan. 26. Led by Tina Eaton, Director of Adult Ministry.
- Wednesdays 11:00 a.m. to noon, beginning Jan. 29. Led by Pastor John Shellenberger. Dutch-treat lunch to follow for those who are interested.
- Wednesday evenings, 6:45 to -8:00, beginning Jan. 29. Led by Pastor Dennis Keller.
The study is free and open to the public. All are welcome. You do not have to be a member of First Church or of any church to attend.
For more information, call or e-mail Tina Eaton, Director of Adult Ministry, at 717.766.4611 or adultministry@fumchurch.com.
Raising children is both beautiful and challenging, and having a network of other moms to lean on is a life-giving part of God’s plan! That’s why Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) connects moms to a community of women who meet to laugh, support and embrace the journey together.
If you are the mother of a young child, you won’t want to miss this special opportunity! Every group meeting will include fellowship time over a light breakfast, teachings/lesson time, small group discussion time, encouragement and support from mentor moms, Christian devotions and quality childcare.
Between monthly meetings, fun outings/play-dates, creative projects and/or service opportunities will be organized for those who are interested.
The next meeting is Friday, January 24, 2020 at 9:15 a.m. If you would like to attend, please call the church office at 717-766-4611 for information on how to register.
Children ages three through sixth grade and their families are invited to attend the fall session of the Wonderful Wednesday family fellowship program.
This unique program, held weekly on Wednesdays, provides Bible study and fun activities for children, and allows families to spend quality time together. The spring session starts January 22 and concludes with the Annual Passion Play on April 8. Meetings last from 4:45 to 7:00 p.m.
Non-church members are welcome to attend, but all participants must be pre-registered. The cost is $20, per child per semester, which includes meals. Click here for the 2020 registration form.
For more information, call or e-mail the church office at (717) 766-4611 or office@fumchurch.com.
Registration is now open for the annual Men’s Retreat, to be held Friday to Sunday, March 6 to 8, 2020 at Wesley Forest in Weikert, PA. See the Wesley Forest website here: http://wesleyforest.org/.
All First Church men are invited and encouraged to attend, for a weekend filled with fellowship, fun, great food and spiritual renewal. Register by January 19 to enjoy the early bird fee of just $80! After that date, the fee is $95. For more information, call or e-mail the church at 717.766.4611 or office@fumchurch.com. You can find the registration here.
First Church will hold the 2020 Day of Pampering on Saturday, Feb. 29. This is a special day to honor primary care providers…..mothers of children with disAbilities and wives of husbands with disAbilities. After giving so much of themselves, it’s their turn for some pampering, connecting and renewal.
Morning refreshments are provided, followed by worship and a guest speaker. The women are then served an elegant luncheon. Following lunch, women are pampered for the afternoon! They can enjoy manicures, a massage, relaxation techniques, hair styling and other services, as well as a tea and dessert room, all at no cost!
Service providers are still needed! In particular, we still need 1 Hair Stylist, 2 Table Massage Therapists, 3 Chair Massage Therapists and volunteers to assist throughout the day. If you are willing to volunteer your time, please call or e-mail the church at (717) 766-4611 or office@fumchurch.com.
The Little Friends Preschool at First Church is now accepting registrations for the 2020-21 school year.
Little Friends is a non-profit, Christian-based preschool that offers classes for children from 18 months to pre-kindergarten. All students receive quality instruction led by caring teachers in a safe, nurturing environment.
To register or for more information, call or e-mail Maria Petrilak, Little Friends Director, at (717) 796-0723 or lfns@fumchurch.com.
If you enjoy cooking, please join First Church for Soupy Saturday on January 25, beginning at 9:00 a.m. We will meet in the church kitchen to make delicious homemade soups and muffins to share with friends, neighbors and homebound church members.
All are welcome! You do not have to be a member of First Church or any church to attend.
For more information, call or e-mail Janice Bowen at the church, (717) 766-4611 ext. 112 or wecare@fumchurch.com.
The United Methodist Women of First Church invites volunteers to help prepare feminine hygiene kits on Saturday, Jan. 18, in the church Fellowship Hall starting at 8:30 a.m.
Feminine hygiene kits provide basic necessities to young women in underdeveloped nations, allowing them to continue in school all month long. The kits are being assembled and distributed through Mission Central in Mechanicsburg. See information about this initiative here: https://www.daysforgirls.org/dfg-kits.
Specifically, volunteers are needed to help sew several items to be included in the kits. Instructions and materials will be provided, but volunteers are asked to bring sharp scissors, rotary cutters, quilting rulers and cutting mats as able.
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.
To participate or for more information or to donate items to make the kits, call or e-mail the church at 717.766.4611 or office@fumchurch.com. To learn more about Mission Central and the Feminine Hygiene Kits, visit www.missioncentral.org.
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 a 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, Jan. 15, 2020, 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, Jan. 15, 2020, 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 or e-mail the church office at 717.766.4611 or office@fumchurch.com.