Missions at Urbana First
Be sure to check out the new minstires sheet. We're developing activities and other ways to expand our sharing the message of Christ to even more people.
Outreach Survey
Please take a few moments to complete a survey about new and continuing outreach projects at Urbana First, and submit it by email attachment to Melissa Applebee or Erin Whitmer, subject FUMC. Also, you can drop it by the Church office or in Sunday's offering plate. If you have any questions or ideas, please list them on your survey, or contact Melissa or Erin.
A Class for You and Your Needs
Our church has many small groups that can help you and your loved ones grow in faith.
- Preschool: Cindy Zarbuck, teacher, for toddlers 2-5 years old
- Kids of the Cross: Judy Krumwiede, teacher, for grades K-4.
- Middle School/High School: Melissa Applebee, teacher
- Parenting: Derek & Sherry Scroggins, teachers, geared toward parents of pre/school aged children
- Scripture Study: Dr. John, teacher, discusses the Scripture for the Sunday worship service.
- Fellowship/Galilean: Larry Jobe, teacher, adult class
- Nicene: Paul and Dolly DuMontelle, teachers, older adult discussion group.
- College: Help us develop this new small group!
A note from Alaska (August 26th)
Roberta Koerner writes from her mission trip:
Alaska, Aldersgate UMC and the people here are AWESOME! Exciting work (manual labor), caring people and very appreciative people make it worthwhile. This is our third workday ... an exhausting day, but we have completed painting the entire sanctuary, including the 35-40 foot high ceilings! The men have finished pouring the concrete to the tool shed here at the Church, as well as one third of the parsonage driveway. Needless to say, a little more than eight hours of work a day! This church is beautiful! No stained glass windows, howerever, large floor to ceiling windows behind the pulpit and beautiful pine trees as you look out. Just yards away, a beautiful blue-white glacier.
For those interested in nature ... it's alive here! Sunday we watched bears fishing for salmon ... not just one, perhaps a dozen .. not in the distance, but yards away ... they looked like children in a kiddie pool! Monday, I had the opportunity to watch whales from my room at St. Theresa's retreat ... three different sightings of humpbacks ... and today, while working here at the church, a fairly large brown bear was peering at us through the church window! Yesterday while driving to the church from the retreat at 7:30 am, we saw a number of eagles fishing while the tide was out ... So far no puffins or Northern Lights ...
We are in a rain-forest -- fog and mist nearly every day with some sunshine ... no lightning or thunder here ... temp has been around 55 degrees each day with cool nights ... wool blankets for instance. Great growing season here with sunshine -- yesterday was 15.5 hours of daylight ... columbine, lilies, peonies, roses, pansies in bloom.
I'm so grateful I was able to participate in this VIM experience! Sunday, we had Communion where we served each other (the twelve of us) ... very inspirational, meaningful and bonding. My roommate is 35 and VP of a bank in Springfield ... she's so much fun!
Our church service Sunday was wonderful ... no Sunday School though, because it was summer. I can't wait to share more, however, I wanted to drop a note. I miss everyone at Urbana First ... see you soon ... May peace be with you.
