First United Methodist Church 72 Lake Morton Dr, Lakeland, FL

WORSHIP

Sunday, January 17, 2021 8:15am Worship on the Lawn Bring a chair to the front lawn Masks are required Social Distancing will be observed Rev. Melissa Stump will deliver the message 9:30am and 11am LiveStream God is (Still) with Us: Through the Waters Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 45:2-3 Rev. David McEntire will deliver the sermon (You can watch the service either on FaceBook at First United Methodist Church or visit our website) To prepare for worship, click here to watch a video with Pastor Melissa

Hospitalized (as of January 11) Terry Atwell Judith Gordon Mary Ellen Rider Linda Schlacter Vera Strayer Jim Verplanck Death Larry Sullivan, December 31 Jose Bove, January 9

INVITE

Sunday School presentation on Human Trafficking. At 9:30am on Sun, Jan, 24, Stephanie Dow will present a lesson on Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention. This Summer, First United Methodist Church Council passed a resolution to be a Human Trafficking Free Zone. This includes educating our congregation about Human Trafficking and how we can work to bring an end to it. All are welcome to join Ms. Dow in the Koinonia Class via Zoom for this presentation. Email Warren to receive the Zoom link. Parenting Now presents Rebekah Gienapp on Raising Antiracist Kids. Join us for an important conversation with Rebekah Gienapp, author of "Raising Antiracist Kids.” We’ll discuss how to get comfortable talking about race with your kids, how you can take action as a family against racism, and raise antiracist kids at every age and stage. Our Zoom conversation will happen on Wednesday, January 27 at 7:30pm. Learn more and register. Our Giving Tree Bookstore and Gift Shop Our Giving Tree is decorated for Thanksgiving and Christmas and open for safe shopping by appointment! Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays between 10am and 1pm and Wednesdays between 5 and 6:30 p.m. For an appointment (2 shoppers at a time, masks required), click here for appointment or call 863-686-3163 and press *248 when the receptionist begins speaking. The message you leave on the phone will go directly to the bookstore managers at home. All proceeds go to Missions!

Explore First – Sunday, January, 31, 5:30pm For questions about the church and about First United Methodist, join us for Explore First where you have the opportunity to discover answers. Explore where you fit in and how to get connected on your faith journey. Sunday, January, 31 from 5:30 – 6:30pm we will meet outdoors in the breezeway by the Chapel as well as via Zoom. It is important to register so the link for the Zoom meeting can be sent to you if you do not wish to attend in person. Please register online at www.firstumc.org/membership/explore-first/. If you have any questions, email Diana Russell

Scholarships for college and higher education are now available. They are due no later than February 26, 2021. Please turn them in with everything in one package. They are available here

GROW

We have Bible study and faith formation resources for all ages available on our website. For more information on these opportunities, email Warren. Sunday School for Adults Many of our Sunday School classes are meeting online. Check the start times as some have shifted to accommodate in-person worship times. Visitors are welcome to participate in any of these classes. For more information on connecting with a particular class, email Warren. BYKOTA (Be Ye Kind One To Another) Rev. Dr. Doug Hallman will teach an Epiphany series called “Interviews from the Bible.” The January 17 lesson is Mark 8:22-26 - “The Blind Man Receives Jesus’ Healing Touch.” Meets via Conference Call to (863) 250-1152 or online (email Warren for link). NOTE MEETING TIME: Class starts at 9:00am Sundays. Genesis is exploring The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi by Kathie Lee Gifford and Rabbi Jason Sobel. They meet outdoors at the church, socially-distanced, in the fountain courtyard. Bring your own chair and hand sanitizer. Masks are required. NOTE MEETING TIME AND LOCATION: Class starts at 9:15am Sundays in the fountain courtyard. Homebuilders will be taught by Tiffany teaching from the Standard Lesson Series Bible study. January’s theme is “Jesus and Calls in His Ministry” with study texts from Luke, Mark, and John. Meets via Conference Call to (863) 250-1141 or online (email Warren for link). Class starts at 9:30am Sundays, call is open starting at 9:20am. Koinonia welcomes all who desire to grow in their love of God and neighbor. You are invited to join them for life application Bible study using the lectionary scripture texts and the Feasting on the Word curriculum. Rev. Terry Heck leads. Meets via Zoom. Contact Warren for Zoom link and more information. Class starts at 9:30am Sundays, call is open starting at 9:20am. Searchers are discussing questions such as What do Christians believe? Why does it matter? These are some of the questions the Searchers will explore as they study The Apostles’ Creed in Adam Hamilton’s book Creed. Martha Lou Luce leads the study. Videos are available through Amplify Media. Meets via Zoom. Contact Warren for Zoom link and more information. NOTE MEETING TIME- Class starts at 9:15am Sundays, call is open starting at 9:05am. Sendero is in a study of the fourth Gospel with John for Everyone by N.T. Wright, led by John Curtis. The class meets online. Contact Warren for more information. Class starts at 9:30am Sundays. Storyline class is exploring the book of Revelation, led by Jill Corbett. No book sis required other than your Bible. Contact Warren for more information. Class meets on Sunday Jan 10 at 1:30pm in the Fountain Courtyard. Vanguard class uses the Adult Bible Studies series. January’s theme is “The Good News” and explores the theme of Hope with lessons taught by Rev. Dr. David Brazelton. Study passages come from Isaiah, Luke, I Thessalonians, Romans, and Revelation. Supplemental videos for the lessons are available on Amplify Media. Meets via Conference Call to (863) 250-1038 or online (email Warren for link). Class starts at 9:30am Sundays, call is open starting at 9:20am.

Please contact Cristi Moore, Children's Director with questions and information for Zoom links Thursday Game Night on January 21 at 6:30pm on Zoom Join us for a short devotion and some time to hang out and play games!    Preschool Pals every Tuesday at 11am Preschool friends age 2 and up – this is for you! Join us Tuesday mornings via Zoom at 11am for a short Bible lesson and some fun activities.    Virtual Sunday School Rooms Don’t miss out on Sunday School! You can access this any time during the week  There are rooms for each age level that include Bible stories, activities, games, devotions and much more.  Teddy Bear Adoption Event | Free Event Our furry friends need your children’s help to get ready for Easter! Children 5th Grade and younger have the opportunity to adopt a teddy bear and read bible verses to their new bear and give them lots of love each day during Lent. Don’t worry. We will provide the verses, and it’s okay for you to join in on the fun. Our drive-thru adoption center will be open Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14, from 3-5pm. Find more information and reserve your bear.

SERVE

Protecting Your Loved-one from Information Overload This article was published in our Caregiver’s Corner in the fall of 2020. And now, as we witness the newest incident of unrest in our country, it seemed fitting to republish and hope you find it helpful. When you are caring for someone with a chronic illness, minimizing stress and anxiety makes for a healthier emotional environment for all. We are living in a time where scary and terrible things are happening in our world due to the pandemic and civil rights protests and we hear of tragedy every day. Whether your loved one over hears distressing conversations or watches the news and feels helpless to do anything, worry and agitation may result. It is even more disturbing for people living with dementia because they have difficulty processing information. Below are some tips to help keep you and your family member from experiencing too much information during our challenging times. Monitoring television watching for people living with dementia is crucial. They can be easily confused about news stories they hear or the violent videos they see, and may think the events are happening down the street or at their son’s house who is living in another state. Whether your family member is experiencing confusion due to cognitive decline, or are just not able to discuss events thoughtfully, anxiety can result and may present it as insomnia, restlessness, wandering, and even nightmares. Studies have linked viewing violence with an increased risk for aggression and anger. People who have memory loss will experience the bad event they see or hear about as if it were the first time they hear it every time. Be mindful of not sharing frightening or disturbing information repeatedly. When communicating with older adults, avoid overloading with information. Regardless of whether there is cognitive decline, studies show that older adults need more time to process information. As we adapt to the changes in our world, we hear and see more information than we can remember and process. Information overload can overtax our own working memory; the memory skill that gives us the ability to hold in our conscious awareness five to seven items. Imagine how frustrating is it must be for people who have difficulty forming thoughts or ideas or expressing their feelings. Watching television is an activity many older adults have embraced throughout their lifetime. Sitting and watching comedies, nature shows, or vintage movies with your loved one can offer opportunities to connect and share joyful moments. If you would like more information on our Memory Ministry or need tips on caregiving, please contact Vicky

****If you want more information or should you sign up for any of the opportunities, please contact Forrest White, Director of Mission Ministries, and let him know. The Salvation Army would like to thank our church and everyone who rang the bell this past Christmas at Grove Park. The total through all their kettles was $203,000. They were hoping for $200,000. First United Methodist collected $13,000. Thank you for helping others. Gleaning in 2021 Our friends with Society of St. Andrew have begun adding gleaning opportunities for 2021. click here to register. After you are registered, you'll enter your email address and name on subsequent visits and go straight to the Florida gleaning calendar. You will also receive emails when gleaning events are added. SoSA requires all volunteers to sign up through this system. Please let Forrest know whenever you sign up to glean in case there is a last-minute change in plans. Gleaning is a great way to serve for people of all ages. Children are welcome to serve with their parents! In 2020, SoSA Florida gleaned and moved more than 10.5 million pounds of food. Mobile Food Pantries Feeding Tampa Bay (FTB) Polk Mega Pantry – On Monday afternoons, we help with this distribution at the Lakes Church (1010 E Memorial Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33801). Arrival time is 3:05pm and we should be done by 6pm. Minimum age is 13. Masks required. Enter Lakes Church off Memorial. Go left. Continue toward the back of the church. You'll see FTB trucks as the road curves right and volunteer parking is straight ahead. FTB feeds about 900 families each week through this distribution.Link to sign up Lakeland Volunteers In Medicine (LVIM) –  Second and last Tuesday of each month from 10:30 am-1 pm at 600 W Peachtree St, Lakeland, 33815. Next opportunity to serve: January 26.  Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA) – Second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 4-6:30 pm at 4441 Academy Drive, Mulberry, 33860. First opportunity to serve in 2021: January 27 Salvation Army Lakeland – First and third Thursday, from 8:30 am-12:30 pm. First opportunity to serve in 2021: January 21

Talbot House First United's longtime ministry partner providing comprehensive services for homeless men and women has some chances for us to serve.volunteer application Talbot House contact is Erin Martinez  Food Pantry: help sort food donations and assemble boxes for distribution Clinic: in need of medical professionals (RNs, etc.) to support free clinic. Weekdays and some weekends Landscaping garden beds  Painting projects

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