Tucker First UMC Weekly News
January 14, 2022
|
|
Worship at Tucker First UMC |
|
Sunday, January 16
"Are You Able … To Do What Jesus Says?"
Rev. Gerald Varner, Preaching
|
|
The 11:00 am worship service is live-streamed over the church's YouTube channel, or you can attend in person. All worship service videos and live-streamed service links are on the church website or the Tucker First UMC YouTube channel.
|
|
Human Relations Day is one of six churchwide Special Sundays with the UMC offerings. The special offering coincides with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday this coming Monday. Human Relations Day calls United Methodists to recognize the right of all God’s children in realizing their potential as human beings in relationship with one another. The special offering benefits neighborhood ministries through Community Developers, community advocacy through United Methodist Voluntary Services, and work with at-risk teens through the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program.
Through your Faith Promise pledge, you have already contributed to this offering. If you would like to contribute an additional gift, please write “Human Relations Offering” on the memo line of the envelope and make your checks out to Tucker First UMC.
|
|
Lenten Devotional Call for Submissions
For the coming Lenten season, we would like to offer a daily devotional with entries written by members and staff of Tucker First. Entries for the devotional should, in some way, reflect the 2022 church theme, Endorsing Jesus. We want to hear about your encounters with Jesus and what they have meant to you. Please include the following in your submission:
- Title with a byline
- Scripture reference (optional)
- Devotional body, 300 words or less
- Short prayer (optional)
Devotions must be submitted by January 31.
|
|
Conversations on
Tucker Worship
If you are interested in joining the discussion concerning restarting a second worship service, please join us every Sunday morning starting January 23 at 9:00 am in the Chapel. Questions? Contact Anne Cumings at anne.cumings@ngumc.net.
|
|
Join Us for An Audio-Visual Open House
Do you enjoy working with audio, video, lighting, and equipment? Come find out more about the Audio-Visual Team and what it's like behind the scenes producing live stream broadcasts and web content.
On Saturday, February 5, from 10:00-11:00 am in Jenkins Hall, Tucker First will host an Audio-Visual Open House. We would love you to be part of the team and help us use technology to share the good news. Questions? Contact Stephanie Shanholtzer at sshanholtzer@tfumc.org or 770-938-3030.
|
|
Beloved You
2022 Women's Retreat
March 4-6
Join us March 4 – 6 for a special weekend away with women of all ages and phases of life. This time of refreshment and renewal will focus on our identity as God's beloved. You won't want to miss this weekend of fun, fellowship, and spiritual connection!
The retreat will be at Shocco Springs Conference Center in Talladega (www.shocco.org), and the cost is $145 per person, including meals. Scholarships are available.
See what great love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1
|
|
|
Disciple II Classes Postponed
The Disciple II Bible Study, originally scheduled to begin in January, has been postponed until the fall.
|
|
"Seeking Jesus"
Open Door Sunday School Class Study
The Open Door Sunday School class invites you to their next group discussion, “Seeking Jesus” through various activities and actions called the “means of grace.” The class meets Sundays at 9:45 am in Room 209. Visitors and regulars are welcome to come, listen, and/or join the discussion. Questions? Contact Joe Kilpatrick, Sr. at jkcpa71@gmail.com.
|
|
"When the Spirit Moves"
A Study on the Book of Acts
Join Pastor Anne for six weeks studying the book of Acts. We will explore how the good news of Jesus spread through the church's earliest days and consider how the Spirit moves us today. The study will be on Mondays at 7:00 pm in Jenkins Hall beginning February 21. If you have questions or would like to RSVP, email Pastor Anne at anne.cumings@ngumc.net.
|
|
"The Stranger in the Lifeboat"
New Women's Bible Study
Please join us for a new women's study based on the book "The Stranger in the Lifeboat" by Mitch Albom. The story is about a group of survivors of a ship explosion that pull a stranger into their life raft who claims to be the Lord.
The book study, led by Becky Burnett, will begin on Wednesday, January 19, in Room 202 at 6:30 pm. This book study is a short-term study that will finish on February 23. The first meeting will be organizational, and you will need to obtain the book on your own. In-person and Zoom options are available. Please RSVP to Becky Burnett at rsb1950@gmail.com.
|
|
With the temperatures dropping last week and this week, our cold-weather shelter and church office has been very busy caring for those in the community that needed a warm place for the night. A few highlights:
- Other local organizations that work with the homeless have contacted our shelter personnel or the church office to ask for help when their facility is at capacity. There is a great sense of community when everyone works together to help people in need.
- Magnolia Room Cafeteria has provided meals for the guests at the shelter and the families staying in the hotel.
- Knights Inn on Lawrenceville Highway is where Tucker First places the families for the night. Some of the larger families required two rooms. The hotel staff has been accommodating and cooperative in working with these families.
- One family that was helped this week with shelter assistance (Knights Inn) from Tucker First found out soon after that their shelter application to the County was approved for a 90-day room. The application process with the County is a long one and there might not be a room available even if they are approved.
- Another family that received shelter assistance (Knights Inn) from Tucker First had finally been provided an apartment through the County, but the funds would not be available for several days.
- Other families that received shelter assistance (Knights Inn) from Tucker First are still waiting for their application to be approved by the County.
Here is a breakdown of the guests that came to the shelter in January.
- Thursday, January 6 - Three men, one woman, and one family (consisting of one woman with three children).
- Friday, January 7 - Two men, three families (consisting of two adults with four children, one adult with six children, and one adult with three children).
-
Saturday, January 8 - Three families (consisting of two adults with four children, one adult with six children, and one adult with three children).
-
Sunday, January 9 - Three families (consisting of two adults with four children, one adult with six children, and one adult with three children).
- Monday, January 10 - Five men and three families (consisting of two adults with four children, two adults with six children, and one adult with three children).
- Tuesday, January 11 - Seven men and three families (consisting of two adults with four children, one adult with six children, and one adult with three children).
- Wednesday, January 11 - Two families (consisting of two adults with four children and one adult with six children).
|
|
Need for Overnight Volunteers
As you can see, the need in the community is great, but without your help, we cannot keep the doors of the shelter open.
Men and women volunteers are needed to stay overnight at the shelter, which opens at 7:00 pm, and the guests are required to leave at 8:00 am. A minimum of two men and one woman is needed each night the shelter is open.
Please consider volunteering for this vital job. No experience is necessary, and we will team those with no experience with an experienced team leader. You can contact any of the following persons to volunteer:
|
|
Additional Areas Where You Can Help in 2022
Change things up and volunteer in a new ministry area for 2022! Please consider donating your time to one of the groups listed below by contacting the coordinator listed or using the sign-up genius provided.
Ushers and Greeters – share your gift of hospitality by being a greeter, usher, or outdoor courtesy cart driver on Sunday mornings. You don't have to serve every Sunday, and you never miss any of the service.
Trinity House – Every fourth Sunday, Tucker First provides a meal at Trinity House, a drug treatment facility in downtown Atlanta. The Trinity volunteers work as a team, so the group members divide the meal responsibilities. The monthly commitment is approximately 4-5 hours (time includes traveling to and from Trinity House and any food prep and cooking time).
.
Red Cross Blood Drive – Helpers are needed at the monthly blood drive to register donors and maintain the snack table. The total commitment is two hours a month.
|
|
On January 4, Brian Heck was appointed and sworn in as a Magistrate Judge for Hall County.
Michelle Penkava was recognized as a City of Tucker Citizen of the Month for January for her service to the City as a commissioner. You can read more about the recognition here.
|
|
Special Offering Sunday | Human Relations Day
Sunday, January 16
Church Office Closed for
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
Monday, January 17
Red Cross Blood Drive
Thursday, January 27 | 2:30 - 7:30 pm
AV Open House
Saturday, February 5 | 10:00 – 11:00 am
Share the Love Preschool Fundraiser/Spaghetti Dinner
Wednesday, February 16
Watch for online order forms coming soon.
United Methodist Men Pancake Breakfast
Saturday, February 26
Vacation Bible School 2022
June 20-24, 2022
|
|
Catch All the Church News - Download the Weekly Spotlight
Did you know that you can download a weekly Spotlight from the Tucker First website?
The Spotlight includes a lot of the information found in the weekly newsletter and includes current prayer requests, weekly church calendar, and prayer emphasis. It is also easily printable for sharing.
|
|
Health & Welfare Committee Update
The Health and Welfare Committee met on January 5 to discuss the current surge in COVID-19 cases in our area attributable to the Omicron variant. Tucker First will continue to worship in person and ask worshipers to wear masks indoors.
We also encourage everyone to be vigilant in response to the virus's contagiousness by observing the following guidelines.
-
Refrain from coming to church if you do not feel well in any way. Please join us on live stream, www.tuckerfirst.org, and return to in-person worship when you feel better.
-
Observe proper mask-wearing guidelines in which the mask remains over your nose, mouth, and chin. The act of wearing a mask protects your fellow worshipers as much as yourself. Here is a link to the CDC's mask-wearing guidance: https://tinyurl.com/CDC-Face-Coverings.
- Because of the inability to wear a mask when we eat, we ask that you refrain from eating on the church campus or ensure that you stay physically distanced from others while eating.
- Please know that seating sections on the main floor and balcony require physical distancing and mask-wearing.
- We ask ministries and small groups to make decisions regarding in-person meetings based on their circumstances and attendees. When a group does meet in person at the church, please be extra vigilant as listed above.
The Health and Welfare Committee thanks you for your continued thoughtfulness and care for each other as we walk through this pandemic together as a church family.
|
|
Our prayer ministry lifts your concerns in prayer. You can submit prayer requests by clicking on the graphics or contacting the church office at 770-938-3030. |
|
|
We continue to collect for our "Water From Around the World" project. We invite you to collect water in a small, sealed container and write your name on the container along with the state or country. You may drop it off at the church office. |
|
|
Our Tucker First Weekday Preschool teachers have created a wish list on Amazon, and we would encourage you to donate to the Preschool program. |
|
|
The church office will be closed on Monday, January 17, observant of Martin Luther King Day holiday. |
|
This is a publication of
Tucker First United Methodist Church
5095 LaVista Road
Tucker, GA 30084
770-938-3030
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
