THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2
7 a.m. Men’s Breakfast - Bob Evans Restaurant
12 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous - 1st Floor Lounge
12:10 – 12:50 p.m. Brown Bag Study Group – Library
5:30 p.m. Kappa Phi – Student Lounge, 2nd Floor
6 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous – Room 3
7 p.m. Disciple O.T. Bible Study – Richland U.M. Church
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3
5:30 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous - Room 6
5:30 p.m. Korean Student Bible Study - 1st Floor Lounge
6 p.m. Kid’s Movie Night – Student Lounge, 2nd Floor
6 p.m. WSC Cultural Exchange Meal – Fellowship Hall
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4
6 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous - Room 6
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5
8:45 a.m. Worship Service – Chapel
9:15 a.m. Donkey Sunday School (Youth Grades 7-12) – The Donkey Cafe
9:30 a.m. Sunday School Classes for All Ages
10:30 a.m. Worship Service – Sanctuary
2:30 p.m. Korean Congregation - Chapel & Fellowship Hall
4 p.m. Korean Congregational Dinner – Fellowship Hall
4 p.m. Bishop Ough at Richland UMC
5:10 p.m. O.V.I.S. Stage – Sanctuary
6 p.m. Worship Service – Appalachian Behavioral Hospital
MONDAY, OCTOBER 6
12 Noon Monday Lunch - Fellowship Hall
5:30 p.m. Boy Scout Planning Meeting – Fellowship Hall
7 p.m. Troop 71 - Rooms 3
8 p.m. Kappa Phi Cabinet – Student Lounge
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7
12 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous - 1st Floor Lounge
6 p.m. Growing Tree Potluck – Fellowship Hall
7:30 p.m. Council on Children’s Ministries – 1st Floor Lounge
9 p.m. CCC Bible Study – Student Lounge, 2nd Floor
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8
12 Noon Overeaters Anonymous - 1st Floor Lounge
3 p.m. Consumer Empowering Committee – 1st Floor Lounge
4 p.m. Kappa Phi Prayer Time – Chapel
6 p.m. Handbell Choir Rehearsal – Music Room, 2nd Floor
6 p.m. WSC Guitar Group – Student Lounge, 2nd Floor
7 p.m. Wesley Student Center Fellowship - Student Lounge, 2nd Floor
7 p.m. Korean Congregation - Chapel
7 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal - Room 6
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9
7 a.m. Men’s Breakfast - Bob Evans Restaurant
12 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous - 1st Floor Lounge
12:10 – 12:50 p.m. Brown Bag Study Group – Library
5:30 p.m. Kappa Phi Degree of Pine – Chapel & First Floor Lounge
6 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous – Room 3
7 p.m. Disciple O.T. Bible Study – Richland U.M. Church
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10
5:30 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous - Room 6
5:30 p.m. Korean Student Bible Study - 1st Floor Lounge
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11
9 a.m. Scrapbook Workshop – Fellowship Hall
6 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous - Room 6
Alternative Worship Experience, O.V.I.S. Stage – New Time and Location! O.V.I.S. Stage (Outward and Visible of the Inward and Spiritual) provides an “interactive worship gathering” for all ages. It includes contemporary music, prayer, spiritual encouragement and Communion. Starting September 14. O.V.I.S. Stage will be held in the Sanctuary at 5:10 p.m. every Sunday. All are welcome! If you’d like to help Rick set up, he welcomes your help any Sunday immediately following the 10:30 service.
Hey, Kids, Movie Night Is Back – October 3rd It’s more than a Movie Night on the First Friday of the month - and they’re going to be held right here at FUMC! Preschool-aged through 6th grade are invited to the church where we’ll have snacks, games, crafts, you can hang around with friends and watch a movie. The first one is Friday, October 3rd, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. up in the Student Lounge on the 2nd Floor. Bring yourself, a friend or two, sleeping bag, pillow (you can even wear your pajamas, if you’d like). We’ll be watching A Bug's Life, focusing on how little people can make a difference. Even if you’ve seen the movie before, come and watch it again with “God eyes” and learn what God might be saying through the movie. Parents are welcome to stay with your children or drop them off and enjoy a little “child-free” time. For more information, contact Carrie Saunders – 589-2073 or carrie.saunders@bcsengineering.com)
Bishop Ough to Visit Athens October 5, Richland UM Church, 4 p.m. We are blessed to have Bishop Bruce Ough as our leader of the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. This visit will provide the setting where Bishop Ough can share his thoughts about how we continue to grow into a “Love First” Conference through 4 areas of missional focus. What is God calling us to be and do? How do we faithfully and fruitfully accomplish the mission of Jesus Christ? Today’s gathering is open to everyone – pastors and laity.
New Member Class Meets October 12 If you would like to become a member of First United Methodist Church, we invite you to the next New Member Class October 12 following the 10:30 service. The class begins with lunch in the Student Lounge on the 2nd Floor. If you plan to attend, please note that on the white pew card today or contact the church office. The new member ceremony will take place during the 10:30 service on October 26.
Hey, Parents, Need a Night Out? How about Friday, October 17, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.? The Wesley Student Center invites you to have a night out. Children aged 2 years and up are welcome! On the 17th, they will be providing child care in the Growing Tree Preschool room in exchange for a donation to go towards their alternative spring break work trip to New Orleans.
There will be a minimum of six college students at this event to provide supervision, games, and entertainment. The director of WSC will also be in the building. There will be a form for you to fill out when you arrive so that the group knows about any special considerations or instructions you may have.
This offer is only for Growing Tree families and families of the Church. No need to R.S.V.P. Just show up that evening. When you pick up your child(ren) just give a donation for whatever you feel the night was worth.
If you have any questions, please call the WSC Intern, Laura Coombs in the office at 593-3977x17. She can also be reached via e-mail at wsc@firstumcathens.org.
Our Annual Charge Conference: Sunday, October 19, 2008 3:00 PM at The Plains United Methodist Church This year our new District Superintendent is guiding us to worship together for Charge Conference. There will be 18 other sister churches gathering with us, and we have organized a worship service of our varied styles. Athens First will have the Low Brass Ensemble as our offering. You will want to come and see how God is working in the midst of the Foothills District and be encouraged by Rev. Dennis Mohler, our District Superintendent.
Adult Education Opportunities
In addition to the Trinity Class and the Library Class, these opportunities are also available:
The Seekers’ group meets in the Student Lounge on the 2nd Floor at 9:30. They practice what is known as the Taize method - each week they read over a short Scripture passage, followed by a meditation or reflection on the passage. After reading and reflecting on the message, members of the class freely share their own thoughts as they feel comfortable. The class is very casual, and there is no out of class preparation. Just come and listen, think and share.
When you bring your child(ren) to Sunday school, why not feed your mind and your soul, too? Blessings could be waiting for you.
Looking for Something to Do During After-Church Children’s Activities? Sharon Fink invites you to join her and spend some intentional time together while you wait for the rehearsals to end. There’s no homework and no pressure to be there every week. We may share a devotion, Scripture, explore some thought-provoking questions, and, for sure, pray together. It’s always fun to see where God leads us each time we gather. While we meet for the entire hour, those who need to leave after Children’s Choir concludes can easily do so.
We meet in the 1st Floor Lounge at 11:45 a.m. and meet whenever rehearsals occur. The next gathering is scheduled for October 12.
Lectionary Studies Pastor Mary Jo makes it a practice to preach on Scripture from the Common Lectionary. Every month we make available a printed version of these (One Plus the Power of You) in the tray outside her office and on the window ledge of the last window in the Sanctuary. They are also noted each week in the Calendar portion of the Bulletin Announcement Insert. There are two groups that study these each week - The Men’s Prayer Group and the Brown Bag Study Group:
The Men’s Prayer Group meets for breakfast every Thursday at 7 a.m. at Bob Evan’s.
The Brown Bag Study Group meets Thursdays in the Church Library from 12:10-12:50 p.m. They have been on break for the summer but will resume on September 11. Bring your lunch, if you’d like.
For more detailed information about these studies and other Adult Ministry offerings, please visit our web site at www.firstumcathens.org/adult or contact Sharon Fink (593-3977 ext 11 or fink@firstumcathens.org ).
Sermons Broadcast Live on WATH Remember, if for some reason you can’t be in worship on Sunday, tune in to WATH (970) at 11 a.m. and hear that portion of our service broadcast live on the radio. Sometimes they begin the broadcast at 10:30 a.m., so be sure to tune in a little early.
Prayer Chain If you have prayer requests, please call 593-7471 or 593-6853 to have your request placed on the church’s Prayer Chain.
Sunday Scripture Texts As Pastor Mary Jo prepares the worship services and her sermons each week, she will select the Scripture readings from these passages. We offer these to you as you prepare for your worship experience:
Oct 12: Exodus 32:1-14; Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23; Philippians 4:1-9; Matthew 22:1-14
Oct 19: Exodus 33:12-23; Psalm 99; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22
Oct 26: Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Psalm 90:1-6, 13-27; Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Matthew 22:34-46
Free Parking on Sunday Mornings Parking in the Municipal Parking Garage is free on Sundays. IMPORTANT – Unless you’ve been given special parking privileges, be sure you park in a space that has a parking meter!!
Men’s Breakfast Group Meets on Thursdays The Men’s Breakfast Group meets every week at Bob Evans for breakfast, study and prayer from 7 to 8 on Thursday morning. Newcomers are always welcome!