Church Family

Bible Study after Wednesday Night Suppers
Meet with Brother Richard for enlightening sessions on a selected books of the Bible. Join the discussions. Everyone in our church family is invited. Youth have special services.

Breakfast Meetings for Junior and Senior High Students. What a wonderful way to start the school day on Wednesdays! These breakfasts coincide generally with the school calendar. This year, they resume meeting August 13 at Zeig's Cafe at 7:30. Contact Beau Swafford if you need more details.

Breakfast Meetings on Wednesdays for men of the church. They usually meet at 8:30 at Zeig's Cafe. Contact Brother Richard for details.

Church Birthday Dinner
    In honor of our country's birthday, the traditional annual birthday party for the First United Methodist Church is held the last Sunday in June.
    Tables are creatively decorated for each month. Delicious birthday cakes reflect each table's festive theme. People are seated at the table decorated for their month. One of the reasons why our church family likes this event each year is that we eat at a table with folks with whom we normally might not have a meal. We develop friendships with people who share our birthday month. The fellowship is a refreshing experience for all.
    Hamburgers and hot dogs are furnished by the church and everyone attending brings the side dishes such as potato salad, baked beans, slaw, sliced tomatoes, sliced onions, pickles, catsup, mustard, etc. The cake at each table is the dessert!

Church Expansion The congregation is engaged in the large building program to take place over a period of many years.

Church History from 1838 - 2008
Lyle Certain has compiled a 1988 - 2008 update to Gene Barber's 1838 - 1988 history. Great appreciation is expressed for the time and research which have gone into bringing the church's history to life and sharing it with us. Both of the talented writers help us feel like we are watching the events unfold. So relax and enjoy your tour of the old days through recent times.

Church Parking Lot
   Glynn Academy Students who are members and/or their parents are members of Brunswick First may use the church parking lot during school hours. They need to come by the church office to pick up an application for a student parking permit. This includes students who will turn 16 at any time during the school year. After your application has been completed and turned in, you will be assigned a parking place. Permits will be given out prior to October 1, 2009, when the new parking policies will be enforced.

"First Annual" Enchanted Evening (Enjoyment and Entrancement)
    The youth and the Methodist Men of Brunswick First let all the stops out and provided about a hundred guests an evening full of entertainment on Saturday, February 7th in the fellowship hall of the church.
    The hall was cleverly and beautifully decorated with balloons, flowers and low lights giving an atmosphere for delightful dining and surprisingly good entertainment.
    The energetic youth did marvelous jobs making everyone feel welcome and serving the full four course meal to the happy guests.
    Chef Hollington and his selected assistants prepared the gourmet dinner that consisted of a tasty Caprisi salad, a bowl of hearty Leek and Lentel Soup, and an entree of delectable, mouth watering Five Cheese Lasagna with Steamed Vegetables. Dessert consisted of Raspberry Sorbet with Sopapias.
    Brother Richard served as master of ceremonies for the evening. He kept the diners laughing with his bits of humor, and he introduced the many artists who sang and entertained the appreciative crowd.
    George Ingram and Mark Howell each sang familiar ballads and both sang together the theme song of the evening, "Some Enchanted Evening." The United Methodist Men's Chorus wowed the audience with a great rendition of "Strangers in the Night." Three of the men wearing sailor costumes sang "There’s Nothing Like a Dame" that brought thunderous applause from the diners.
    Donna Nilsson and George Ingram provided soft piano music during the dinner hour. Neil Nilsson worked in the background controlling the lights and sound all evening. He also was one of the sailors in the trio and was wearing the hat he had in the Navy a bunch of years ago. A group, calling themselves "The Beatles," sang a tender rendition of the popular song, "I Wanta Hold Your Hand."
    Room doesn’t allow naming every person who helped make The Enchanted Evening a great success, but a great big high five goes to Britt Trevathan and each and everyone who made the affair a memorable one!

Glow Girls, the Ladies in the Cool Lime Tee Shirts!
    About 15 young ladies of Brunswick First, calling themselves "The Glow Girls" gather weekly for some serious Bible study. Their name comes from their purpose which is "Girls Living On the Word."
    Their colorful tee shirts were designed by Paul Medders, and one bold line on the back proclaims YOU GLOW GIRLS! A cross, made up of several verses of scripture, also is part of the clever design.
    This group of energetic ladies was formed in 2006 by Claudia Schnieder and has grown steadily ever since. An attempt is made to use popular courses of Bible studies designed by outstanding persons like Beth Moore of Houston, Texas.
    The group has travelled to Jacksonville to attend a Praise Conference led by Beth Moore. There were 14,500 persons present (mostly young women) in the Conference Center where the excitement was high and the women were greatly blessed.
    Moore is a highly motivated speaker who had little difficulty keeping the attention of the huge crowd with her fascinating approach to "Apprehending God." Note-taking could hardly keep up with her listing of those things that "Get in the Way" such as Dread (or disbelief); Comparison (or not staying focused); Conflict (not moving forward); and Other Difficulties (you never look back).
    Travis Cottrell, a well known religious music artist, supplied the praise music for the Conference.
    This local group shares experiences and study literature with other groups in Brunswick who attend other churches. When they talk about their joyous activities, their faces really do "GLOW" with their knowledge of a living God!
(from the Church Newsletter)

Keenagers COME JOIN!
    The Keenagers are our group for senior adults (ages 55 and over). The group meets on the third Thursday each month at 12 noon in the social hall.
    This is a time of fellowship with a prepared lunch and program of information, inspiration, or entertainment. The cost is $3.00. Reservations are needed for adequate planning.
    This group was first organized at our church in February 1971 and has continued each year to provide a special time for our older adults.
    We invite any First Church members who admit to being at least 55 years of age to join us! You may enjoy serving and/or participating. Just call the Church office at 265-4313 or Joyce Ference.

Members Who are Unable to Attend
    Would you be willing to spend a few hours a month sharing the love and concern of our church family with those who are unable to attend?  Some of our members (men and women) are homebound or have physical limitations that prevent participation in worship and fellowship activities of the church. Personal visits and contact by phone or cards can help them to feel connected and loved.
    Plans are being developed for persons (possibly in teams of two) to make monthly visits to the person(s) assigned to them. This can be done at any time that is convenient for the visitors and the ones being visited.
    Please contact Kathy Walker for further information or to volunteer to be a part of this important caring ministry.

Music Ministry
    On the Music Ministry page, read about the church family's congregational singing, the choirs, directors, and organist.

Prayer Chain by Email
The members of this congregation commit themselves to pray for one another. During those times of crisis one finds support in the prayers of those who are willing to set aside their tasks for the day in order to lift one another in prayer. To enlist these spiritual warriors to pray on your behalf, simply email James Walker and your message will be passed on so that your need can be lifted before our God in prayer.

Prayer Chain by Telephone
      The Telephone Prayer Chain of FUMC continues to be a strong, helpful ministry. It has been in constant use for decades and is ready daily to provide immediate support to persons in need. From time to time persons who serve on the chain move or have to drop off the chain for other reasons.
      We need more servers to volunteer now to keep the chain strong and long. As a server, you will receive a telephone call from another server with the name or names of persons wishing to be placed on the prayer chain. All you have to do is call the next person on your list and pass the request on. It’s as simple as that. You then add this name to your daily personal prayer list and lift that person up in your own prayers.
      This is one of the most valuable ways one can be involved in the ministry of this church. Age, mobility, and life style present no obstacles to this effective way to serve your church.
      Call Betty Certain and add you name as a server (link) in the Telephone Prayer Chain of First United Methodist Church!

Single Seniors Supper
Single Seniors in our church look forward each December to this lovely evening of delightful food, fellowship, and entertainment in the Fellowship Hall. The Covenant Class has great cooks and waiters for the event. They will also provide chauffeur service if needed. Invitations will be mailed. However, if you don't get yours, be sure to contact Melinda Hollington or the church office.

Summer Supper Club June, July, August
    We have a Summer Supper Club for 3 months to extend our Wednesday night Fellowship "habits" until September.
    Those signing up are randomly put into groups of 6 to 8 each, with one person named the host. The host decides when and where the group meets. One group may choose a covered dish supper; another may opt to meet in a local restaurant.
    The important thing is to be together in small groups for fellowship and to make new friends while continuing to enjoy the "old" friends.

United Methodist Men and
United Methodist Women serve the church family in many ways and are involved in other out-reach services.

Wednesday Night Dinners 6:00 PM
These are not held during June, July, and August when we enjoy the SUMMER SUPPER CLUB.
During the school year, the meals are prepared by Justin Hollington and his crew.
$5.00 per adult, $4.00 per child, $16.00 limit per family
Programs for children and youth; adult Bible study led by Brother Richard; lots of fellowship
Please make standing reservations.
    Deadline noon Monday to make weekly reservations or to cancel. Payment is expected if the deadline is missed to cancel.
You may sign up for a serving team or clean-up team through adult Sunday School classes or the church office.

Wednesday Youth Services schecule follows the local school schedule in regard to days in session. Services are from 6:30 till 7:30 after each Wednesday night supper.