Winter 2009 Classes
Strengthening Our Faith

Was one of your New Year’s resolutions getting better connected to your church family? Are you looking for a way to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ? Do you enjoy small group opportunities for learning and fellowship with others? If you answered yes to any of these questions, keep reading...

First United Methodist Church is offering a wide variety of small group class offerings this winter designed to help you grow in your relationship with God. These courses include:

• New Members class – This is for all those who are interested in learning about the membership expectations that come with joining First UMC.
• A Life Worth Living – 9 week Bible study based on the book of Philippians using DVD talks from Nicky Gumbel of the Alpha program
• Mall Walking Bible Study – Led by Pastor Debby, participants will walk around Mid Rivers Mall and walk through the Bible in 2009.
• Parenting Small Group – Using Biblically based, practically driven curriculum parents will receive support and encouragement as together we seek to faithfully raise our children.
• Living Fully, Dying Well – Led by Pastor Robin, this class will assist us in making careful, wise and prayerful preparation for meeting life’s important moments.
• Invitation to the New Testament – Pastor Jimmy and Dan Hopmann will lead people through this introduction to the New Testament using the Gospel of Matthew as a guide.
• Book-A-Month Club – This group, led by Stephanie Bearce, meets once a month to read a popular Christian book, discuss it together, and enjoy dessert.
• A Generous Orthodoxy – Pastor Glen will facilitate this study for anyone seeking to walk through the many traditions of the Christian faith, bringing to the forefront a way of life that draws us closer to Christ and each other.

Dates, times, and more information is available about all of these classes in the church bulletin or on the church’s website. The deadline for registration is Sunday, January 18. If you are interested in joining any of these classes, please contact Jimmy Cooper at (636) 947-0066 or by email at jcooper@fumcstcharles.org.

Ground Hog Supper

It’s time again for the annual Ground Hog Supper here at FUMC! So named because we serve ground hog sausage on the Saturday closest to Groundhog’s Day, your favorite fixings will be available on January 31 from 3-7 p.m.

The menu includes sausage patties, mashed potatoes, green beans, gravy, freshly made biscuits, applesauce, and desserts made by our church members and friends. Carry outs and sausage by the pound are also available.

Tickets will cost $8.00 for adults, $4.00 for children ages 6-12, and children 5 and under are free. Advance tickets are available between services on Sundays and in the FUMC offices during the week. There will also be tickets available at the door on the 31st.

The supper is a great time for the whole family. Bring your friends and neighbors too! This is a wonderful community gathering that many look forward to each year.

If you want to help and make this dinner a success, we will need people to help out with shifts in the kitchen, dishwashing, setting up, or clean up. Sign-up forms are available in the Church Office or in the Church bulletins.

We ask that you provide your mailing address, as postcards confirming your assignment will be mailed to you. Child care is provided for workers only. Workers must stay for the entire shift time.

If you have any questions, please contact Sharon Silver at 636-441-1822 or Mergie Adams at 636-922-1231.

MLK Day Worship Service

The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday will be celebrated at a special community worship service on Monday, January 19, 2008. The service will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be hosted this year by St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church at 601 N. Fourth Street in St. Charles.

Eleven congregations will be sponsoring this inter- denominational celebration, including First UMC.

We encourage people to come to this service as we praise the Lord, enjoy stirring music and commemorate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. Community leaders shall also recite the famous “I Have a Dream” speech by King. Refreshments will be available after the service.

Walking on Water: WOW 101 (Jan. 18)

Would you like to learn how to walk on water with faith like Peter? Interested students are encouraged to join the Connections Class on January 18 as they begin a study using materials entitled If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat, by John Ortberg. Students will be challenged to follow Peter out of the boat and across the water to a closer fellowship with Christ. The Connections Class meets on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in Room 303. Please note: The course does not include a lab period. Students are encouraged, however, to practice the skills learned independently and report progress back to the class.

Upcoming Youth Events

What are the youth up to these days? Just in case you’re wondering about that very question – here’s some of the things the youth will be involved with in the upcoming months.

January – Confirmation starts for all 7th and 8th graders. All youth will have the opportunity to attend WOW – the conference sponsored youth gathering where nearly 3,000 youth will come together to worship and learn.

February – Youth will participate in the 30 Hour Famine, collecting pledges to help end world hunger and fasting for 30 hours. They will also be doing mission work in the community to help those closer to home. Youth will have the opportunity to participate in Reaching the Ultimate Goal, a conference training which will prepare youth to lead in their churches and communities.

March will find our Confirmands participating in the Bishops Days where they will visit a Jewish Synagogue, a Roman Catholic Mass and the Greek Orthodox church. They will meet with the Bishop for worship and also have some fun at the City Museum. March also brings our annual Dinner Theatre.

As you can see, the youth are busy growing in their faith and serving God in many ways. If you have questions about these opportunities, please call Nancy Cooper, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries.