Welcome to the Family!

WELCOME to First Church!  We hope that you will want to be a part of all that we have planned for kids and families and that you will invite your friends to come with you.  We are excited about our schedule of activities and events, from Sunday School and weekday programs to special events throughout the year. A great bunch of volunteers have signed on to make things fun for all. 

CHILDREN'S SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM

8:15 AM
  Nursery care for Infants through 4 year olds in Room 155

9:30 AM
Nursery care and Sunday School for children through 5th grade

11:00 AM
Nursery care for babies, toddlers, and 2 year olds in Room 155. Children 3 years old (as of Dec. 1, 2007)  through 3rd grade begin in worship, then go to classes following the children's moment.  3s, 4s, and Kindergartners are grouped together and 1st-3rd graders are grouped together.  4th and 5th graders meet in the Children's Center for God's Kids Youth Group

5:00 PM
Nursery for Infants through Two year olds in Room 155
3 and 4 year olds (by Dec. 1, 2006) through 3rd graders begin in worship, then go to classes following the children's moment. 
 

       
Love is…?
 FaithWeaver lesson for May 18

God has given people many talents and gifts. Some people are very smart.  Some are good writers or painters or singers.  Some are great at sports.  All of those abilities are nice to have, but the Bible tells us they aren’t worth anything unless we love people. The Bible says I can be the most talented person in the world and do all kinds of amazing things, but if I am mean to people and don’t have love in my life, all of those talents don’t matter.  Love is the most important thing.   A famous passage in the Bible tells us how to love--you love someone by how you act. Be patient--a loving person slows down and takes time for others.  Be kind--a loving person helps people instead of pushing them out of the way. Don’t envy--a loving person isn’t jealous of what others have. Don’t boast and don’t be proud--loving people don’t think they are better than others and they don’t brag about themselves all the time. Don’t be rude--treat each other with respect. Don’t be self-seeking--loving people  are generous to others and don’t put themselves first. Don’t get easily angered --try not to get so mad at people. Everyone makes mistakes. Give people a second chance.  Keep no record of wrongs--Don’t keep track of the wrong things people have done or focus on things that bother you about someone.

Aren’t we glad that God has given us rules to help us love each other!  

IF KIDS WERE IN CHARGE…

Children’s Ministry would like to know what kids think about what we do for kids at First Church! Think about the following three questions and turn in your thoughts and ideas to the Children’s Ministry office. Our email is children@fumcbirmingham.org.

 1. If you could change one thing about church, what would it be?

2. What is your favorite thing about church?

3. If you could be the boss of the church for one day, what would you do?

Hope to hear from you soon!

 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL registrations are being accepted for this year’s“Power Lab---Discovering Jesus’ Miraculous Power” VBS.  Dates for the half-day program are June 23-27, 9 am to noon.  Children age 3 (as of Dec. 1, 2007) through fifth graders are invited to participate.  We also need older youth and adults to be crew leaders and to fill other volunteer positions.  Forms are available outside the CYF office, or contact the Children’s Ministry office at 248 646 6407 ext. 3124. Click here for a registration form

AROUND THE WORLD IN HALF AN HOUR

On Sunday, June 1 as part of our Pentecost celebration, people of First Church will get a look at the different places  that people from our church go to do mission work.  There will be a big tent on the church lawn where there will be displays about different mission projects and people to talk about them. You will receive a special “Passport to Missions” which will be stamped at each “country” you visit. 

JUBILEE PROJECT WORK CAMP FOR Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Graders

Want to do something really special this summer?  Sign up for the Kids’ Mission trip to Sneedville, Tennessee, July 16-19.  You will travel by bus to the mountains of Appalachia where you will work together on projects to help the people there.  It is a wonderful opportunity for young people to learn what it is like to work in the mission field--and to swim in an old-fashioned swimming hole!  This will be our fourth trip to Sneedville.  Pick up a registration brochure outside the Children’s Ministry Office.  For information contact Jan Mistele at 248 646 6407 ext. 3131.

SUMMER BASKETBALL FUN IN THE CLC

It’s basketball in the summer for elementary kids!  First Church member Matt Manter, a teacher and coach with Birmingham Public Schools, will be leading basketball camps for kids in kindergarten through fifth grades this summer.  Two sessions will be offered--July 14-18 and July 28-August 1.  K-2nd graders will meet from 9-10:30 am and 3rd-5th will meet 10:30-12:30 pm.  Cost is $30 per session and includes a camp t-shirt and snack.

A Word about Mother’s Day

Each year the United States sets aside the second Sunday in May to celebrate Mother’s Day. Julia Ward Howe, writer of The Battle Hymn of the Republic, had been inspired by a woman named Ann Jarvis who organized “Mothers Work Days” during the Civil War to help people on both sides of the war. She attempted to establish a Mother’s Day for Peace in 1870 to honor women like Mrs. Jarvis, but her efforts were not successful.  However, a number of years later, on May 10, 1908, Ann’s daughter, Anna Jarvis,  organized the first Mother’s Day celebration at the Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, where Ann Jarvis taught Sunday School for many years. The custom of setting aside a day to honor mothers soon caught on in other states, and in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother’s Day as a day for American citizens to honor those mothers whose sons had died in war. On Mother's Day we celebrate and say thank you to all moms on Mother’s Day.  

FUN FACT:   Mr. Chris Hall’s mom was a member of the same Jarvis family as Anna Jarvis--which means he is related to the founder of the first Mother’s Day!

Congratulations to the Confirmation Class of 2008!

On Sunday, April 27 at the 11:00 a.m. worship service forty-five middle school students were confirmed at First Church.  Confirmation is when a person becomes a member of a church.  The students began attending the Confirmation process back in September.   Students learned about the history of Christianity.  They learned about John and Charles Wesley and how  the United Methodist Church began.  They heard from different ministers what it means to be a United Methodist  They helped with service projects and went on retreats.  Some asked faith friends to join them at different activities. Students also presented Confirmation projects at interviews with church staff members. During the Confirmation ceremony the confirmands answered questions about their belief in God.  They will promise to participate in the life of the church and to support the church.  Confirmation is an important and exciting time in the life of a Christian.

Thanks for supporting the BISHOP’S SEAT COVER PROJECT

Thanks for your donations of “seat covers” (underwear) for children and youth.  We collected lots of NEW underwear to take to the Detroit Annual Conference meeting in May.  They will be distributed to various locations throughout Michigan.  Thanks for helping to cover many "seats!"

get ready for it...the lemonade stand revolution....coming this summer....

              First United Methodist Church
 PRESCHOOL AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
 A great place to learn!
Our church’s Preschool and Enrichment Program is currently full for next September but we are placing prospective students on a waiting list.   Since 1959 our program has provided a great first school experience in a Christian setting.  If you know of parents who are looking for preschools for their little ones, please tell them about our program.