Recent News
The March 2021 Spotify Playlist is here! Click here or copy and paste this URL into your browser: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5rbHEYEfHei97cUI8rjwNJ?si=AAumRDWASuGsr6-31f7FpQ.
We will be sharing a new playlist the first Wednesday of each month. For Spotify users, search for the user First UMC of Mechanicsburg, and click on the playlist titled “Where Words Fail, Music Speaks”.
If you don’t have a Spotify account, you can easily create one for free. Enjoy and thanks for listening!
First Church is pleased to announce that the Third Friday Food Trucks will be returning Friday, April 16! The trucks will serve in the church parking lot from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m.
At this time, the food will be takeout only, and guests are asked to follow physical distancing guidelines.
We will be welcoming the following food trucks: Mad Dash, Vampire Taco, Philly Hoagie, Potato Coop, Italian Job, and Sugar Whipped Bakery.
Mark your calendar now for upcoming Food Truck dates on May 21, June 18, July 16, August 20, September 17 and October 15.
Please Like our Facebook page at First United Methodist Church of Mechanicsburg, Pa. for updates and future events.
First Church will hold a Rejoicing Spirits worship service on Sunday, February 28 at 4:00 p.m. All are welcome!
Once again, we will be worshipping via Zoom video conference. If you had ever wanted to attend, but were not able to, this is a great opportunity. The service will include music, scripture, prayer and a brief message. To join in the service, please contact Pastor John Shellenberger at pastorjohn@fumchurch.com before Sunday afternoon.
The service is specially designed and adapted for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families.
Rejoicing Spirits services are held on the fourth Sunday of each month.
The church building may be closed, but our ministry is alive and active!
We encourage you to access the following letter from Pastor Denny, announcing our plan to regather for in-person worship beginning March 7, 2021.
Click here to read the letter about our regathering plans.
Visit the “Resources” tab for more information about our upcoming services and activities.
2 Timothy 1:7 – For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.
First Church invites the public to view an online worship service in honor of the Annual Day Pampering on Saturday, Feb. 27.
Day of Pampering is an annual outreach held to celebrate and recognize women who serve as the primary care provider for a loved one with extraordinary needs. This can include the mothers of children who have special needs, or women who are caring for a husband with health issues.
The church and the community come together to share God’s love in a most special way with all of those in attendance. For more than a decade, First Church has transformed its building into a beautiful retreat for the day-long event that includes a featured speaker, a served lunch, fellowship and networking, and an afternoon full of personal services such as manicures, pedicures, massage therapy, health screenings, and a tea room.
In adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols, First Church will not hold the Day of Pampering in person this year. But we will make available a pre-recorded worship service for anyone who wants to participate. The service will include worship, music, a guest speaker, and an opportunity for an interactive Blessing of the Hands ceremony.
The service is available here for viewing. Viewers are encouraged to prepare a small bowl of water and a towel before watching the service. You can find the program for the service here.
First Church invites the public to join us online for a worship service in honor of Ash Wednesday on Feb. 17.
Ash Wednesday is the day when Christians gather to begin and prepare spiritually for the 40 days of Lent, leading up to Easter. It is traditional for Christians to have ashes placed on their forehead by clergy members in observance of this special day.
In adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols, First Church continues to hold all of its worship services virtually. Because we will not meet in person for Ash Wednesday, our pastors have prepared a brief instructional video on how to prepare your own ashes. Click here to watch the video in advance of the service.
We will also be observing Holy Communion at this service. Remember to bring your own crackers or bread and fruit juice.
The Ash Wednesday Service will be available to view anytime after noon on our website at fumchurch.com on Wednesday, February 17. See the Ash Wednesday bulletin here.
The pastors of First Church will present a series of sermon messages on the “Seven Last Words” of Jesus during worship services this Lenten season.
The messages, based on the book The Hope of Glory by Pulitzer Prize winning presidential historian and lifelong Episcopalian layman Jon Meacham, reflect on the gospel accounts of the final words of Jesus during the six hours he suffered on the cross. The “words,” or more accurately statements, of Jesus convey in a powerful way the message of the Savior’s radical love. May we experience anew the depth of his love for us, and discover the meaning of his words for us today.
In addition, Senior Pastor Denny Keller will lead a Bible study based on the new book Seven Words: Listening to Jesus From the Cross, by Susan Robb. Robb is the Senior Associate Minister at Highland Park United Methodist Church. The group will meet via Zoom on Wednesday evenings beginning Feb. 24, from 6:45 to 8:00 p.m. To register, please email pastordenny@fumchurch.com by Feb. 21. Participants are invited but not required to order a copy of the book.
First Church offers worship via Livestream on Sunday mornings at 8:15 a.m. on our website at fumchurch.com and our Facebook page at First United Methodist Church of Mechanicsburg, PA. Recordings of our services can be viewed anytime on our website at fumchurch.com.
You do not have to be a member of First Church or of any church to worship with us or participate in the Bible study. Find the Daily Bible Reading plan here, which corresponds to a personal reflection in the 2021 Lenten Devotional Booklet. For more information, call or email the church office at 717.766.4611 or office@fumchurch.com.
Are you looking for some new meal ideas? The Youth Fellowship Group of First Church will hold two fundraisers in conjunction with Strock’s Catering Barn in Mechanicsburg this month. Freshly-prepared, ready-to-eat meals for adults and kids can be pre-ordered and picked up on the following dates:
Thursday, Feb. 18
Slow-roasted brisket sandwich or legacy pork barbecue sandwich, with sides of mac & cheese and coleslaw. Or, kid’s meal of chicken nuggets, mac & cheese, applesauce and cheese stick. Cost: $13/meal.
Order by noon on Feb. 16 online at https://www.strockenterprises.net/product-page/fumc-youth-2-18-pick-up-meal
Thursday, Feb. 25
Charcoal roast pork or marinated grilled boneless chicken breast, with sides of scalloped potatoes, green beans and dinner roll. Or, kid’s meal of meatballs, noodles, applesauce and cheese stick. Cost: $13/meal.
Order by noon on Feb. 23 online at https://www.strockenterprises.net/product-page/fumc-youth-2-25-pick-up-meal
Meals for both dates must be pre-ordered by noon on the Tuesday before pickup. They can be picked up from Strock’s Farm on Williams Grove Road between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. on the designated dates.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Youth Group and its mission endeavors.
For more information, call or email the church at 717.766.4611 or office@fumchurch.com, or visit www.strockenterprises.net.
We have put together a special playlist for February! Click here or copy and paste this URL into your browser: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5rbHEYEfHei97cUI8rjwNJ?si=JESfX6DxTqyq3f8SIynh_A
We will be sharing a new playlist the first Wednesday of each month. For Spotify users, search for the user First UMC of Mechanicsburg, and click on the playlist titled “Where Words Fail, Music Speaks”.
If you don’t have a Spotify account, you can easily create one for free. Enjoy!