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Now at Decatur First United Methodist Church!
E. Malone Dodson Award
Congratulations to our very own Dr. David S. Naglee for being this year’s E. Malone Dodson Award recipient.
The E. Malone Dodson Clergy Person Award is an annual award given by Wesley Woods Center on Aging in honor of The Reverend Doctor E. Malone Dodson for the purpose of recognizing the clergy person of the North Georgia Annual Conference who best exemplifies visionary and committed leadership with respect to older adults.
We are so proud!
Honey Baked Ham Fundraiser 2011-2012
The time has arrived. The music ministry is offering HoneyBaked Ham gift cards for sale. There are three ordering deadlines. The first, before Thanksgiving, is November 13. The second, before Christmas, is December 11. The third, before Easter, is March 25. A full 20% of your purchase will directly support Music in Mission! Click here to reserve your certificate.
Joining Jubilee and New Member Lunch
Have you been considering joining Decatur First UMC, but are a bit nervous about coming up in front of the whole congregation? Well here at Decatur First UMC, at all services, we have a event called Joining Jubilee, when people are invited to join the church together in a group. The 11 o’clock services is followed by a New Member Lunch for all those who have joined the church in the last year. If you have any questions about the next Joining Jubilee event or joining the church, please contact Katy Hinman, khinman@decaturfirst.org, 404-378-4541 ext 102.
Café Decatur Still Serving Spiritual Food in 2012!
In the fall, Decatur First offered light meals each Wednesday night. Occasionally there was special programming, but more often than not the meal was the program. It was a time to bridge generational divides and enjoy the company of the church family. It was a great time of fellowship, and something our church has missed for some time.
Ministry Leadership Council has decided to offer the meal once again for 2012! Our first Wednesday back in the Café will be January 11, 2012. You can bet Chef Sara (aka Sally Winter) will be cooking up some of her beloved soups and sandwiches to nourish your body while enjoying the company of your church family nourishes your soul.
Joining us for fellowship is easy. No reservation is required, and the cost is donation only (we suggest $5-$6 per person). Special kids meals are always available, assuming John Cowden doesn’t eat them all. We hope to see you at the grand opening of Café Decatur on January 11!
Decatur First Forum
Once each month we will continue our special programming following Café Decatur, called Decatur First Forum. On January 25 we will have our annual Decatur First Has Talent Show; on February 1, there will be in an informational session on General Conference led by Alice Rogers and Matthew Pinson; and on April 25 the program will be the Staff Skit written by our own John Cowden. Look for information about our March Decatur First Forum in February's edition of Inside Decatur First.
Ministry Leadership Council
Ministry Leadership Council (MLC) meetings will now be on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. The dates are January 11, February 8, March 14, April 11, May 9, June 6, August 8, September 12, October 10, November 14, and December 12. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact Melinda Mobley, Chair of MLC, at 404-373-4139. All meetings of the MLC are open to the congregation.
General Conference
In May of 2012, the General Conference will convene. This is the only body that officially speaks for the United Methodist Church. The conference convenes every four years for a ten-day session. The delegates come from each Annual Conference throughout Methodism, 500 are laity and 500 are clergy. The General Conference sets the goals for the church at large and alters the Book of Discipline.
On Wednesday evening, February 1, we will have two delegates to the 2012 General Conference share with us some of the legislation and issues coming before the Conference and what effect they would have on our church. Join us for dinner at Café Decatur that evening and stay for this presentation on General Conference.
2012 Small Group Studies
A new set of Bible study classes (and other small groups) for adults will begin in January and February 2012. You need not be a member of Decatur First to participate in one of these groups. Click here for more info.
Events
Calling All Visitors and New Members! Decatur First 201
February 12, 19 & 26
Want to get a more in-depth look at Decatur First? This three-session class for visitors and new members will give you an introduction to United Methodism and the ministries of Decatur First, and a more in-depth look into the Sunday school classes, small groups, Ministry Action Teams, and mission opportunities where you can get involved. Classes will run February 12, 19, and 26 from 9:45-10:30 a.m. in the Music Room (Room 301 in the main church building). For more information, please contact Dr. Katy Hinman at khinman@decaturfirst.org or 404-378-4541 ext. 102.
Café Decatur and Ash Wednesday Service
Come on out Ash Wednesday night, February 22, at 5:45 p.m. for soup, salad, sandwich, and dessert at Café Decatur. No price is set, though we ask for your donation to help cover the cost of the food, about $5-$6 per person if you are able. The Ash Wednesday Service will be held after supper at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.
Spiritual Passageways Wednesday Night Series
February 29 - March 28
5:45 p.m. Dinner
6:30 p.m. Program Fellowship Hall
Wednesday nights in Lent (except for Wednesday of Holy Week), we will explore further “Roads Less Traveled: Spiritual Passageways,” the Sunday morning sermon series on spiritual disciplines. The programs are varied; each offers an opportunity to put into practice the spiritual discipline from the week before.
February 29: Fasting - Jonathan Brown and the Youth Ministry
March 7: Communion Burrell Dinkins and David Naglee
March 14: Prayer - Katy Hinman and the Intercessory Prayer Group
March 21: Scripture - Sharon Brewer and the Drama Action Team
March 28: Acts of Charity
Special Needs Seminar
February 28
Join us on Tuesday, February 28, from 6:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m. for a seminar on hospitality and teaching strategies for children and youth with special needs. This seminar will be lead by Rev. Catherine Boothe from Northside UMC. For more information or to R.S.V.P. contact Kiera Stegall at kstegall@decaturfirst.org.
Happy Hearts Auction, Dinner and Musical Program
Thursday, March 22
The Preschool and Kindergarten of Decatur First Methodist Weekday Children’s Ministries invites you to attend our Happy Hearts Auction, Dinner and Musical Program on Thursday, March 22nd. The fun begins at 5:15pm.
The Silent Auction, held in the church gym, opens at 5:15 pm and closes at 6:55. The spaghetti dinner lasts from 5:30 to 6:45 pm. The musical program starts in the sanctuary at 7pm and lasts around 30 minutes.
Auction items include a week at a cabin in Maine, a beach trip to Edisto, as well as Braves tickets, art work and gift certificates and items from local businesses as well as church members and preschool families. If you would like to make a donation, please contact the preschool at 404-377-5784 or dfumpreschool@yahoo.com.
If you have questions, please call Joanne Hauserman at 404-377-5784 or e-mail dfumpreschool@yahoo.com. Thanks for your support!
SERIES ON THE UMC GENERAL CONFERENCE
Beginning April 21 in Tampa (FL), the United Methodist Church will hold its quadrennial global meeting called the General Conference. This meeting of 1,000 church leaders evenly split between laity and clergy is the only body of the UMC that can make policy and laws and adopt resolutions on current moral, social, public policy and economic issues. It also approves plans and budgets for churchwide programs for the next four years.
Anyone interested in knowing more about the General Conference and some of the more important issues that will be discussed and decided are invited to attend a series of meetings during the Sunday School hour as follows:
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March 11 – How does the General Conference work and why is it important? -- Phil Schroeder, Associate Director, Connectional Ministries of the North Ga. Conference UMC
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March 18 – Marriage Equality – Rev. Phillip Thomason, Minister of Outreach and Pastoral Care, St. Mark UMC
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March 25 –
- Capital Punishment Amelioration -- Josh Noblitt, Ordained UM Deacon
- Church organization and governance -- Lyn Powell, former Lay Leader, N. Ga. Conference UMC
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April 1 – Divesting UMC retirement funds from companies that are profiting from the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian people – Dr. Elizabeth Corrie, assistant professor, Candler School of Theology
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April 8 – Summary discussion
All classes will be held in room 305 and begin at 9:45am.
For more information or if you plan to attend, please contact: qhudson@hudsongroupinc.com
Music ‘N More - It’s a week full of musical fun and praise!
June 25 – 29
The Decatur First Music Ministry is excited to offer Music ‘N More camp this summer!
This jam-packed week full of musical experiences offers a quality musical, spiritual, and social program to the children of the church and the community. During camp, the children will not only sing exciting music, but they will also have the opportunity to participate in other areas of the fine arts such as:
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Drama: Come join in the fun as you expand your imagination and enter the world of acting. A special musical production will be shared with family and friends on the last day of camp.
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Hand chimes/Hand bells: Have you ever listened to the hand bell choirs and wondered how do they do that? If you think ringing is fun, you’re right! This class will give you the chance to play hand bells and learn a little music at the same time.
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Orff: 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4, Fabulous rhythm class using xylophones, metallophones, glockenspiels, drums and lots of hands- on rhythm instruments.
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Art: Explore your creative skills in an atmosphere of fun. Make a craft to take home as a camp memento. Add your handiwork to the staging backdrop.
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Making Musical Instruments: Toot-toot! Learn how to make and play instruments.
There will be a small cost per family to cover camp supplies, snacks, and a camp T-shirt.
Calling all adults and youth who would like to teach or assist and have fun with us during Music ‘N More. We can’t do it without you! Contact Michele Wright at MWright@decaturfirst.org or 770-339-4566 to join the Music ‘N More team today.
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