Our own Rev. Anne Cumings (left) and Rev. Deborah Haag, Pastor, Trinity UMC (right) joined other North Georgia clergy and laity in a peaceful march through downtown Atlanta.
North Georgia Clergy Participate in Peaceful March to Stand Against Racism
"This is about the gospel of Jesus Christ. ... The vision we work for is the great banquet where all people, all nations, all races sit together as equal. When one suffers we all suffer. When one person is not at the table we want to say move up to the table that God has set. ... May God make our church worthy of Him and His gospel." —Bishop Sue

Hundreds of North Georgia United Methodists joined Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson and the Conference Committee on Religion and Race for a peaceful, prayerful march as a witness to our commitment to stand against racism. The march began at Central UMC in Atlanta and concluded at Atlanta First UMC. More than 700 members of the Annual Conference registered as virtual marchers, promising to join in prayer on Friday..
Tucker First UMC News
June 13, 2020
" Prayers: From Problems to Hope "
Rev. Gerald Varner, preaching

Sunday, June 14 @ 11:00 am
Online at tuckerfirst.org

Stay Up to Date With the Weekly Spotlight

Where is the weekly church bulletin insert, the Spotlight? You can access a pdf version of the Spotlight by going to

http://www.tuckerfirst.org/worship-service-videos.html and clicking on the Spotlight download file.

YouTube Tip - stand up an be counted! Make sure you like the Sunday worship video. You might have to sign into YouTube to click the like icon.
News and Notes
Thank You For Completing the Church Survey
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to fill out the online church survey. This information is helping our church staff and leadership make decisions for Tucker First. I

f you have not already participated in the survey, please do so by clicking on the graphic. If you are having problems, please contact Stephanie Shanholtzer in the church office at sshanholtzer@tfumc.org .
Message From Bishop Sue:
"The Concept of We"
A video update from our own Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson about gathering in person, the work to end racism, and the concept of "we" has been posted on the North Georgia UMC website. Click on the logo to access the video.

This message was posted on the North Georgia United Methodist Church's website on Thursday, June 11.

Find out more about Bishop Sue and the Cabinet's recommendation and COVID-19 by going to

Tom Moore Appointed to Bishop's Task Force
Our own Tom Moore, Director of Music & Arts, was appointed by Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson to serve on a task force to look at best practices for churches as it relates to music for in-person gatherings for worship in response to COVID-19.

Tom, along with the other members of the task force, met several weeks ago via Zoom and have drafted a very comprehensive and conservative recommendation that was submitted to Bishop Sue on June 1. This group did extensive research and gathered information from leading doctors, scientists, and musicologists from all over the world. They also studied various reports from the CDC. 

The recommendations from the task force can be found here:


If you have questions for Tom about his research and the task force, you can contact him at tom_moore@tfumc.org .
As North Georgia UMC Conference leaders navigate planning for Annual Conference 2020 as responsibly as they can, they have determined that the organization cannot meet the needed safety measures that would be necessary to host an in-person Annual Conference in August. 

The Annual Conference will instead hold a virtual Clergy Executive Session on July 16 and a virtual Annual Conference Session on Saturday, August 29.

The virtual sessions will utilize a trusted online meeting and voting platform that will allow members to securely participate using an internet-connected device. The platform will also allow guests to view the Annual Conference session. A condensed agenda is being developed and will include only items before the Annual Conference that are essential at this time so that the session can be conducted in one day.
Conferences Delayed Due to Pandemic
Due to the pandemic, the following conferences have changed their dates.

General Conference | United Methodist Church | August 29 - September 7, 2021 in Minneapolis, MN,

Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference | United Methodist Church | November 10 –12, 2021 | Lake Junaluska, NC.
Where Are the Tucker First
Volunteer and Service Opportunities?
The needs of our community and the activities of the mission committee are vast and due to the number of ads and stories, we have once again moved the mission messages to a separate email coming out this weekend.

Can't wait? Check out the volunteer needs for the next Red Cross Blood Drive and for Children First Summer Lunch Buddys by going to http://www.tuckerfirst.org/news--events.html .
Connect With Your Church Online
Online Opportunities For You to Stay Connected
Whether it is a word from our pastors, a Sunday morning worship service, a children's Sunday School lesson, or an online meet-up with our youth, you can find connections and inspiration online for these troubled times. Go to www.tuckerfirst.org and see all the opportunities available.
Each Tuesday at noon, Pastor Gerald will provide a devotion as well as general church information, prayer, and in-home activities suggestions.
You do not have to be a member of Facebook or the church Facebook page to view the Facebook Live event each Thursday at noon.
Children's Ministry
VBS 2020 Cancelled at Tucker First
After consultation with our church staff, our Church Council, our Health and Welfare Committee, and our insurance provider, as well as consideration of the CDC guidelines, the North Georgia Annual Conference recommendations, and the results from our recent survey for Tucker First UMC, there is great concern regarding the potential risks of offering Vacation Bible School this summer. We have canceled the Vacation Bible School (VBS) program scheduled for June 2020.
Virtual VBS Programs in Atlanta
The Children’s Ministry has compiled a list of churches in the area of that doing virtual Vacation Bible School this summer. Go to www.tuckerfirst.org and look under the children’s tab.
Church Office Notes
Tell Us Something Good!
Are you celebrating a milestone birthday, anniversary or other life event during this time of quarantine?

Though we cannot celebrate with you in person, we want to send you a virtual hug or high-five and share your good news with the congregation in upcoming editions of the digital Spotlight.

Please send us your good news by leaving a message with the church office at 770-938-3030 or emailing Stephanie Shanholtzer at sshanholtzer@tfumc.org.
Simplify Your Summer
Giving by Going Electronic!
You are doing a great job of being faithful in your giving to Tucker First. Thank you!

This summer, please remember to not let your church offering slip. Here is how you can give online and also setup reminders for your giving.

On the web: Use this link to get started


The Give+ app on your phone or other mobile device . Look for it in the App Store or Google Play. Setting up and making payments are quick and easy.

Text-to-Give at 833-488-6350 . Simply type in the amount you would like to give and you will be prompted on how to complete the donation.

Remember - you can always drop your offering in the secure mailbox in front of the church.
Follow Us on Social Media
We have a church twitter account - #TuckerFirstUMC

Check out these Facebook pages.

 
 
 
 
 

Additionally, the websites of the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church ( ngumc.org ) and the United Methodist Church ( umc.org ) are great resources for messages and stories of hope.
Prayer Requests
How Can We Pray For You?
Our prayer ministry lifts your concerns in prayer. You can now submit prayer requests online at www.tuckerfirst.org or you may contact the church office at 770-938-3030 with your prayer request.
Prayer Requests for First Line Responders
Are you or someone you love working as a first line responder during this health crisis? Our prayer team would like to pray for you and your loved ones by name. Please send us these names by leaving a message with the church office (770-938-3030) or send an email to sshanholtzer@tfumc.org .
Tucker First UMC
5095 LaVista Road, Tucker, GA 30084
770-938-3030
In the wake of the pandemic, the church office is closed. If you need to drop your tithe off at the church, please use the locked mailbox in the front of the church. It is checked daily. All church staff receive an email notification when a voicemail is left on their office phone extensions, and they will still be available to the congregation by email. If you need their email addresses, you can find them on the church website at www.tuckerfirst.org .
Tucker First News is a publication of Tucker First United Methodist Church.