Follow Us on Instagram!
You can now follow us on our newest social media platform - Instagram! Search
@firstchurchsd
to check out what's going on around, above and beyond church - literally (see 5/22's "launch" post!). A big thank you to our AV-tech, Will Cain, who is spearheading this effort. We are looking forward to a new dynamic church experience. You don't want to miss it.
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A Message from Rev. Trudy (May 28, 2020)
My dear friends,
I was just beginning to recognize your faces and remember your names when we went into this shelter-in-place. I know that we are experiencing something very unique and troubling. I have heard from many of you as you express your deep desire to come back to the church, to sit together in worship and to see one another’s faces, and you plan to take the risk. I have heard from many others, as you express your desire to be together again, but it is couched in the hard realization that you are vulnerable, and you will not risk gathering together in the face of this horrible virus and the potential of how it could easily spread and quickly devastate. I have watched the staff as they have quickly navigated what it means to work from home, balanced with tending to their families and their own well-being, and many are homeschooling their children. I am so proud that they have adjusted to the daily influx of new needs and restrictions that puts everything in a state of unsettled discomfort, and they have valiantly created new ways to be the church. I personally feel the deep tension between going back to the way things were and knowing things will never be the same, and the responsibility to discern what the church needs to do to prepare for what we will become.
Your pastoral and ministry staff have put together a plan for regathering across the four stages of recovery from this pandemic. That plan was adopted by the Church Council Leadership Team, and will go before the Church Council as a whole on June. Once approved, it goes before the District Superintendent for the final step before implementation. Then, we will be ready to share that plan with the congregation. As thorough as the plan might be, there are still quite a few steps that need to be taken before we see much change, steps that are dependent on many things beyond our control.
I ask for your patience and prayers. Things are moving quickly. And we are called to move deliberately. I pray that the movement we make will be faithful to the gospel and to the call to be the church.
God bless us all.
~Rev. Trudy
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Covid-19, First Church & You
Simple steps to stay physically, spiritually, and emotionally well in an age of the corona virus.
Stay up-to-date with the latest information from First Church.
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New Beginnings Membership Class
Sunday, June 7 | 12 - 2 PM | Online via ZOOM
Sign up today for this personal conversation with Revs. Trudy Robinson and Jessica Strysko. Together we will explore: What does Church membership mean? What is First Church all about? The blessings of company on our Christian journey. The responsibilities of belonging to a community of faith.
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ZOOM with us THIS WEEK
June 1 - 7
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"What we don't always hear"
Pastor's Bible study
Wednesdays though June 10
There is always more information to share about the scriptures than can fit in a sermon. We dive deep into Sunday's scripture to gain an appreciation for the text and a richer experience as you hear the sermon.
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Prayers of the People
Wednesdays, 9:30 AM
Ongoing
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Conversations
New Study:
"
What to Do and What to Say
"
Wednesdays, 7:30 PM
Waters Edge study group
Ongoing
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The Enneagram - Understanding Ourselves, Others & God
Thursdays through 6/4
10:30 - 11:30 AM
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Heart of Christianity
New Book Study:
“
The Time is Now
” by Joan Chittister
Sundays, 10:30 AM
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"It's OK that You're Not OK "
Grief Support Group
Sundays through 6/7
11 AM - 12 PM
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Mission Outreach Thrift Store Open Again!
New Open Hours: Monday - Saturday, 11 AM - 4 PM
Our thrift store is now back in business with new, temporary, open hours: Monday - Saturday, 11 AM - 4 PM. We are very happy to once again greet our customers and to serve the community. To keep our customers and ourselves safe, increased sanitation, social distancing and face masks requirements are in place. Our online sales and curbside pickup have been very successful and will continue. Check our
facebook for new postings. Currently we can only acccept limited donations. Please email Store Manager
Brenda Blake or call
619-528-0026
for more information. Read the
special welcome letter from Brenda.
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A Big Thank You!
to the Wilde Family!
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The Wilde’s used part of their stimulus money to buy food for Food ministry.
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Food Ministry Continues,
Thanks to Your Generous Support
Although this pandemic has caused many of our mission ministries to shut down, our Food Ministry has seen a dramatic increase in guests each week. We have adapted to work with Wesley Community Service Center (Wesley UMC) to provide food five days a week with upward of 1600 bags of food distributed weekly. Our primary need has been canned goods and protein, both of which have to be purchased from the food bank. Thanks to generous donations from several of our church members, we have been able to meet the need despite the added cost. I am also happy to share that we received a grant from the United Methodist Commission on Relief (UMCOR) to "assist racial and ethnic minority groups and other vulnerable communities around the world who have been directly impacted by the coronavirus." With the monies received, we will be able to purchase pallets of canned goods and continue to provide the much sought after eggs and milk (as they become more readily available) that makes our Food Ministry unique. Thank you for your continued support of all of the missions of First Church, but most especially of our Food Ministry. "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink." - Matthew 25:35
Pastor Melissa
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What is happening in your ministry?
Is your group meeting via Zoom? Do you need help starting a Zoom meeting? Are you "Zomed out?" Do you have a story to share? Let us know -
communications@fumcsd.org
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Tips for live-stream worship:
Go to our
Live Stream
page - check out the
buttons on this page in advance to:
Gather and
light a candle to signify the holy presence of Christ.
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Lead Pastor
Rev. Trudy Robinson
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9 AM | Rev. Trudy Robinson | Communion/Love Feast*
The Enemy
*
Love Feast - This brief ritual is offered as a way of breaking bread in place of partaking in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
10 AM | Rev. Jessica Strysko
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Do you have problems finding our live-stream or a link is not working?
- Go to Youtube.com
- Search First Church San Diego
- "Bookmark" or save the First Church San Diego as your "favorite"
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VBS in a BOX!
July 20 - 24 | At your place | $15 | Preschool - Grade 5
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic the Vacation Bible School will be different this year. Instead of meeting every day at church we will bring you
VBS in a BOX
filled with exciting and age-appropriate games and crafts.T-shirts are also included in the cost. Remember to register by July 6.
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Children and Youth Ministries Sunday Schedule
For more information contact the Dir. of Discipleship for Children & Youth
Kenton Reaves Hundley
, 619-297-4366 x118 or Asst. Dir. of Children & Family Ministries
Daniel Froman
619-297-4366 x140.
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Calling all high school and college grads!
Graduates will be recognized in future worship, eNEWS and printed newsletter.
If you or a family member is graduating from high school or college, please send information to Demmie Divine at
ddivine@fumcsd.org
. Please give name, high school and future plans or college and degree received.
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Kids First Sunday Zoom
Sunday School Zoom meet-ups follow 9 AM
live-streamed worship.
Check your email on Friday for a Zoom link each week from
Daniel Froman
Students 1st
Zoom Meet-ups
Wednesday evenings at 7PM. Email
Kenton Reaves Hundley
to receive link for our weekly virtual gathering.
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We are in the business of hope!
Staff at First Church share daily stories of hope on our Facebook page. If you don't have access to Facebook, stories are also available on our website.
Read All Stories Here
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Stay connected through First Church Facebook
Our First Church Facebook page is another community to visit for uplifting stories and information.
Join us!
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Live-streaming from OB
With the celebration of Pentecost yesterday, we are even more mindful of the ways that God's Holy Spirit unites us as a faith community. The connection we have in spite of this time of physical distancing is showing up through generous support of service ministries, compassionate connections by phone or porch-dropped supplies, and virtual celebrations of the Lord's Supper - reminding us that we are one body in Christ, called to both care for one another and be in ministry to all the world. As we begin the month of June, the Water's Edge is working to set up live-streaming capabilities from our OB campus. When we eventually return to modified in-person worship, we want to ensure that those who are unable or uncomfortable coming in person still have access to worshiping with us - we are one body. We celebrate our multi-site connection which enables us to livestream from Mission Valley in the mean time.
Blessings, Jessica
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CHURCH BUSINESS & NOTICES
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Office Closure until further notice
The church office remains closed until opening modifications are instructed by county and state authorities. We will respond according to recommendations at that time. Staff continues to work from home and are available via email or the church voicemail system.
How to give when the church office is closed and worship is online?
- Give online using your credit/debit card or ACH transfer from your checking account. Gifts can be one-time or automatically recurring each week or month.
- TEXT to Give. Just text MYCHURCHGIFT to 73256 and see how easy it can be!
- Mail your check directly to the church via US postal service: First United Methodist Church of San Diego, 2111 Camino del Rio S., San Diego, CA 92108.
Thank you again as we work to keep everyone safe this season and work to meet the church's ongoing expenses. Please let
Jason Tucker
know if you have any more questions about giving and tithing to First Church.
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Giving
Operating fund income which includes: pledges, record of giving, unrestricted gifts, interest earnings, and contributions from the Children's Growing Center, Ocean Beach and our leased properties at both locations.
BUDGET FOR TOTAL INCOME as of 5-24-2020:
$899,857.00
ACTUALS FOR TOTAL INCOME as of 5-24-2020:
$789,577.00
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Weekly Attendance
Sunday attendance at Mission Valley Youtube Live Stream 5/24/2020:
During the live-streamed services on 5/24 Sunday we had 816 in-real-time viewers with an average watch-time of 24 min. on the
First Church YouTube channel. We currently have 463 subscribers to our channel! If you would like to be a subscriber: log in to your Gmail account, go to our YouTube channel and click on the subscribe button to the right on the page. As a subscriber you can choose to be notified every time we are live-streaming.
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Altar Flower Donations April - May
4/12: Cheryl Wootton Brierton in honor of her mother Elizabeth Wootton for her 95th birthday on April 9
4/26: H.E. Reichert in memory of his grandson, Kevin Reichert, for his birthday April 26.
5/ 3: Friends of John Hermann for his birthday May 4.
5/10: Cheryl Brierton in honor of her mother, Elizabeth Wootton, and by the church in honor of all mothers!
5/24: Charlie and Carol Garrison in honor of their wedding on May 23.
If you wish to donate altar flowers, please contact
Demmie Divine
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Deaths:
Check our website
for weekly updates regarding deaths, memorial services and funerals.
Sponsor a Prayer Quilt for someone in need of prayer-- whatever the reason. There is no charge for a prayer quilt. Submit a request below.
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619-297-4366
2111 Camino del Rio South,
San Diego, CA 92108
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