Weekly News
The News usually changes on Wednesday.
Get January’s Potty Poster Here —> January 2025
News for the week of 1/12/25
First Church News
FAREWELL AND RETIREMENT PARTY FOR RONNIE DAWSON: Come join us for an appreciation potluck lunch today to celebrate our good friend and brother in Christ, Ronnie Dawson, who is retiring after 20+ years of serving First Church as our custodian and maintenance employee.
SPECIAL FOOD OFFERING: Today is #10 Can Sunday! Your donations support the Halifax Urban Ministry daily hot meal program for our hungry and homeless. We provide canned goods, meat, and other items to provide that nutritious daily meal. Please donate to the ushers in the lobby or with your regular giving.
HELP PUT DECORATIONS AWAY: Please consider helping Store the Greens on Sunday, January 19th at 12pm. We need help removing lights and ornaments from the trees. The more people we have the faster it will go. Thank you for helping serve our church in the completion of the Advent Season.
EXERCISE CLASS AT FIRST CHURCH: Low impact instructor-led exercise taking place at First Church every Thursday. Focus on strengthening, stretching and improving balance. Open to everyone. KidMin building 10a-10:30a.
FREE GOSPEL MUSIC CONCERT FEATURING CHUCK CRAIN 2/6/25: . Chuck is currently a tenor singer in a gospel quartet in the Presley’s Music Show in Branson Missouri. He has been a member of The Blackwoods and The Navy’s Blue Jacket Choir. Concert starts at 7p. A love offering will be collected.
CONFIRMATION CLASS 2025: Confirmands (graduating 5-12 graders) will learn about the basics of their Christian faith; Methodism; and the vows they’ll profess. Class starts on Feb 7-8 at our Confirmation Retreat to Warren Willis Camp. The class is offered weekly for 10 weeks. For more info and to register, click here.
4E LEADERSHIP SUMMIT: Bishop Tom Berlin will be our keynote speaker. Special breakout sessions will be offered for those wanting to learn more about church council/finance/lay leader/sprc/trustees. This will be our first in-person leadership event since redistricting in July 2024. We hope that you will register here to attend and connect with other leaders in the North East District.
RED ROBIN FUNDRAISER: We are having our next Red Robin Night on February 5th! Dine in/take out lunch or dinner (invite your friends) to support our preschool. Mention our preschool and 20% of your bill gets donated back to us.
SPRING CLEANING & TEACHER WORK ROOM REMODEL: First Church Preschool is seeking helpers for our Spring Cleaning project March 17-21, 2025.
We will be remodeling and beautifying our teacher workroom. We have donated upper and lower kitchen cabinets and a countertop for our remodel, but need some extra hands to help install them. Handy with a hammer? Come help.
VISION, BP, BLOOD SUGAR SCREENING: Free Screenings will again be available in Hanstine Fellowship Hall on Sun, January 19th from 8:30p to 12:30p. Vision does not include eye drops or eye touching and ages 2 to 99 may be screened. Blood sugar does not require fasting as the American Diabetes Association’s guidelines are followed. Call Hank Lunsford, 941-284-3241 for info.
LAST CHANCE TO APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP: Lion’s Club Youth Exchange Scholarship is still open to high school seniors. It is available for College as well as trade school (RN, LPN, Electrician, Plumbing, ETC) as well as overseas travel and exchange students. Email [email protected]
SAVE THE DATES:
APPALACHIAN SERVICE PROJECT MISSIONS TRIP: June 7-14, 2025
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: June 16-20, 2025
WARREN WILLIS SUMMER CAMP 2025: June 23-28, 2025