Join Us for dinner!

Youth Sunday!

What an incredible Sunday we had as the church was led in worship by our youth. They came together with our Praise Band and we watched as they acted out the story of the Prodigal Son. They opened up our hearts to the love of God and the Holy Spirit moved through us all and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Leslie, our youth minister, has done so much for our kids and it showed as they taught us about love, mercy and forgiveness.

If you have a youth in your family then come and join us. Be a part of a dynamic group of young men and women. Meet, Leslie, who loves kids and has a passion to teach them what it means to live a life of abundance.

We are here…we hope you will be too!

Blessings,

Rev. Jim

An Amazing Thing

Sometimes we are so hurried by our daily lives that we miss the little things that matter so much.  I was noticing the wind and how strong it was yesterday.  I took time at the end of the day to just stand in my back yard and feel it blow over my face.  I watched as it blew and shook the trees and everything around.  I noticed the clouds and how surreal they looked and at that moment I had this overwhelming sense of how beautifully God has ordered this world.  The most important thing, though, was I stopped to notice it.

Today, just stop!  Look around.  Take a deep breath.  Smell all the nuances of spring.  Take in the beauty of God’s creation.  Then give Him thanks for that small gift.  Thank Him for letting you slow down enough to appreciate all He has given you.

Have a blessed day!  It is beautiful out there…so are you!

Take A Look

We have just changed our website and we like the look and hope you will too!  Take a look around, explore, see what is new.  Be patient though we will still be updating things on the site…nothing is perfect.  I was telling the leaders of the church the other day that nobody is perfect and that people are going to make mistakes.  The question is are you afraid of making those mistakes.  When I mistakes I like to own them.  The reason for this is because at least I can say that I tried.  When I dive into ministry and service I am always going to fail some of the time, that is just the way life goes.  But I keep digging in and trying.  I never stop.  I keep signing my name on the dotted line.  I keep putting both feet in.  

These times are tough, but never give up.  Do not be afraid of failing.  Do not be afraid of missing the mark.  Remember your Lord is with you, He loves you.  Never forget that!

New to Stockbridge

So you have made the decision to come? Great! Let us give you a heads up on a few things before you come. Check out the directions, service times, parking and other information. But don’t stop there! The more you know, the more at home you’ll feel at Stockbridge FUMC. So browse away and if you have questions, call the office at 770-474-4111.

DIRECTIONS:

Check out the directions by following this link. It will guide you in safely, we promise!
View Larger Map

SERVICE TIMES:

Worship services are every Sunday morning

8:30 Traditional Service: Come and enjoy an early morning service with music, singing, prayer and a wonderful message. Then try one of our Small Group Sunday Schools at 9:45 a.m. You wil be glad you came.

9:45 Contemporary Service: We are excited to introduce our new Contemporary Service. Hear exciting music, a great message and be with wonderful people. It is sure to stir your soul.

11:00 Traditional: After attending your Small Group Sunday School Class come and worship at 11:00 a.m. You are sure to enjoy the music, prayer time, liturgy and the message proclaimed. We look forward to seeing you there!

 

PARKING:

This is a big deal at this church. We have two lots. The upper lot, on the main road, is generally filled by 9:00 a.m. So if it is full, don’t leave us! There is another huge lot behind the church. Park anywhere and even on the curb if you have too. We don’t care. You can even block the pastor in…he is here all day anyway!

If you decide to park in the upper lot, just come in the front doors. Greeters will be there to show you the way. If you decide to park behind the church in the lower lot, come up the walkway between the playgrounds and a greeter will get you to the sanctuary level.

OTHER INFO:

Have a good time! Come with an open heart. Be ready to feel the presence of God. We are friendly, loving and ready to welcome you and your family. You will be glad you came!!

Stockbridge First United Methodist Church

4863 North Henry Boulevard Stockbridge, Georgia 30281

Sermons Online

Below is a wonderful way to listen to messages that have inspired you or messages you might have missed. The fields below will direct you to sermons by title, scripture and the rest. You can even search by a key word.

Throughout January we will be looking at:

YOUR QUESTIONS – GOD’S ANSWERS

This will be a compilation of all the hard questions that were asked of Rev. Jim during the last year.  The world is searching for truth, but the only truth that is real comes from the mouth of God.  The world has tried to convince us of many lies and a lot of us have been sucked into them.  Get the real truth.  Understand what God is saying about life and how to live.  YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU CAME!

The next sermon can be found on the home page.

Listen to previous sermons here

Prayer Requests

THE PRAYING HANDS MINISTRY TEAM wants to be in prayer for you. The team meets every Tuesday evening to pray in the sanctuary. They will lift up the name of the person and ask for specific healing in that person’s life.

Below is an easy way to add someone to the prayer list.  Just follow the instructions or call the church office at 770-474-4111.

We know God hears our prayers, so let us be in prayer for you, your family and friends.

Children

STOCKBRIDGE FIRST CELEBRATES OUR KIDS! 

Our love for our children is pure and unconditional. Jesus expressed his love for the children of the world in Matthew 19:14 – “Let the little come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” We share Jesus’ love through LEARNING, SERVICE, WORSHIP, FUN and FELLOWSHIP. Our Children’s Education Ministry grows on a weekly basis and we have a wonderful team behind us to build enriching classes, service projects, festivals and much more in our journey to learn more about our Lord & Savior. Your kids will not want to miss a beat!

Are you receiving our NEW weekly KidzConnection eNewsletter? Sign up for these important faith updates by submitting your email address under eNews on the right-hand side of this page

A NEW YEAR
In 2010 we have some very exciting programs that will not only captivate your child’s imagination, but as they learn about God they will learn how to live Christ-like in their everyday lives! Our guiding principle is: Shaping our children to live as citizens of the kingdom of God. Stories of God, local and international community, and church history will intersect with our children and speak to one another in many ways. Our children will learn what it means to be in solidarity with the poor, how to care for the environment as an act of faith, what everyday life was like in the Old & New Testaments and the three simple rules for following Jesus: a Wesleyan way of living. And this is only a few of the many NEW programs we have planned! Join us for an amazing year of spiritual formation!

Click  here  for a 6-month calendar of events

Our annual Easter EGGstravaganza is here!

Saturday, March 27th from 4pm – 6pm we invite all children up through 5th grade to come and enjoy an afternoon of celebration with inflatables, games, arts & crafts, concessions, and let’s not forget, the Easter Bunny! Please bring a non-perishable food item for our local food pantry to support our ongoing local missions project and your child will receive a special door prize.

Easter Egg Hunt at 3:30pm – Sanctuary level for all children ages Kindergarten and under. Don’t miss it! 
 
Candy and medium plastic egg donations are accepted! Look for baskets in hallways.

WORSHIP

ELEVATE Worship Service!
Starting on March 21st: Treaure Quest: A jungle expedition through the life of Christ! Deep in the heart of the jungle two daring adventurers search for what could possibly be the greatest treasure of all time. But what they find along the way will be more valuable than any chest of gold and jewels. Come along on their journey through the jungle and through the life of Jesus.
All children ages Kindergarten through 5th grade are welcome after the Children’s Moment in 11am Service.

Coming soon in May 2010 – Elevate in 8:30am service!

LEARNING

B1 – one being, being one
B1 is a fasting event for children & youth, which raises money to empower the poor and disempower unjust systems sustaining poverty in our world. B1 connects our kids to the issues facing our impoverished sisters and brothers around the world, and the ways The United Methodist Church can help eradicate poverty through The Advance. Wednesday evenings, 6:30pm-7:15pm. Note: If you are interested in participating in our fasting event during Holy Week please contact Stacey Doremus (stacey_doremus@yahoo.com) or Leslie Hand (lellyb77@aol.com).

“GOD GIVES US ALL WE NEED” IN SUNDAY SCHOOL
Over the next three months, our children will learn that God gives us His special son, a wonderful world and what we need to live.

GOD’S GARDEN - NEW series starting on March 14th! To the Depths

Join Pogo, Spike and Lacey on an underwater adventure. With the help of Captain Nic, the trio will dive into the stories of Jesus and discover some of the greatest treasures of all time. All children ages 3-5 years are welcome after the Children’s Moment in 8:30am and 11:00am services.

We are still in need of volunteers to aid our little ones in their spiritual growth. What greater joy is there than seeing children become aware of God and His love for them?! If you feel called to help out in God’s Garden during 8:30 or 11:00 am service once very 2 months, please contact Dee Kirby at kenny_dee@charter.net.

 SERVICE (Smiles for Jesus) 

Matthew 25:40 – “..I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”

COOKIES FOR OUR SOLDIERS
This winter our local Girl Scouts teamed up with our SFUMC Warrior Angels to send cookies to our soldiers overseas. Over 100 boxes were sold and shipped! What a wonderful gift for our soldiers. Thanks to everyone who make this ministry a reality!

FRIENDS OF THE POOR: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC CLOTHING DRIVE
One of our kids asked me on Sunday, while we were packing clothes to send to the Dominican Republic, why we don’t collect clothing all year round for the kids. My response – I don’t see why we shouldn’t! What a great idea! Within the next couple of weeks we will be placing clothing collection boxes in each of the Sunday school classrooms. We will accept spring and summer clothing, sandals and flip flops for children of all ages ALL year round. Just imagine what a few minutes of closet cleanup could bring to those in need

BURST: Green Church
Repent.Reclaim.Reduce.Reuse.Recycle.Rejoice!
Every year BILLIONS of drink pouches end up in dumpsters and landfills across America. TerraCycle, Capri Sun and Honest Kids are working together to put an end to this awful loss of resources. As an eco-friendly innovator, TerraCycle converts the used drink pouches into unique fashion bags, tote bags, pencil cases, and other items for kids and adults! TerraCycle is proud to team up with the largest producer of drink pouches in the country, Capri Sun, and a young organic entry into the market, Honest Kids, to help address this problem! Together with your help we CAN make a difference!
 
Stockbridge First United Methodist Church has partnered with East Lake Elementary School in the TerraCycle Drink Pouch Brigade™ program in an effort to save drink pouches from taking up space in landfills. For every drink pouch they receive, TerraCycle will donate $.02 to East Lake Elementary. What a great way to support one of our local schools! Green boxes are located in all 2nd floor Sunday school classrooms.

CLASSROOM WISH LIST
The SFUMC Nursery/Toddler Room is in need of some items for our little ones. If you would like to donate any of the items listed below, please drop them off in the Nursery on the 2nd floor:
 - Lysol spray
 - Clorox Wipes
 - Anti-bacterial wipes
 - Baby wipes (refill)
 - Goldfish
 - Pretzels
 - Cheerios
 - Animal Crackers
 - Capri Sun Juice Pouches
 - Step Stool
 - Diapers / Pull-Ups
 - Used toys (good condition)
 - Spare clothes (sizes 2T-4T)

FUN & FELLOWSHIP

NEW PROGRAMS!
KIDS’ FELLOWSHIP NIGHT
All ages through 5th grade are welcome to enjoy an evening of fun and fellowship at SFUMC. Advance reservations are encouraged by calling 678-727-6413. All dates are from 6pm – 10pm.
19 March – Pizza and Movie Night
16 April – Games,Sports (includes Dinner)
21 May – Trivia Board Games (included Dinner)
 
Cost is $20 per child; $15 per additional child.
 
MOM’S MORNING OUT
Enjoy some time for yourself while your child is in loving care at Stockbridge First. Children ages 1-4 years will enjoy a themed program while they are with us. Advanced reservations are encouraged by calling 678-727-6413. The following dates are open in our Church Toddler Room from 9am – 12pm: 
17 March- St. Patrick’s Day
31 March – Easter Egg Hunt
14 April – April Showers
28 April – Earth
12 May – Flowers
26 May – Summertime
 
Cost is $12 per child; $8 per additional child.
 
MOMS MEET-UP
Don’t go it alone! Tag along with other Moms and their children and enjoy a wonderful day out. Scheduled event dates:
26 March – Atlanta Children’s Museum Outing
09 April – B’fast and Playtime @ Eagles Landing Chick-fil-A
23 April – Mt. Carmel Park
07 May – Zoo Atlanta
14 May – Stroller walk @ Clark Park and Library
28 May – Botanical Gardens
04 June – Aquarium
18 June – Panola Mountain Park and Trail Walk
09 July – Clayton Park and Beach
23 July – Stroller Walk @ Clark Park
30 July – Stroller Walk @ Clark Park

ARTZY KIDS
Saturday, March 13th we will be doing an Klimt portrait Art. Remember, if you are new, you don’t have to have any experience. Katherine will go step by stepto help you create your very own piece of art. The class schedule is as follows:

April 10 – Greek Pottery
May 8 – Anime Water Color and Pen and Ink

Note: All Classes are held in SFUMC Room 214 from 3pm-5pm. Ages 8 years – 14 years welcome!
RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW! katherinekick@msn.com
Each month you will need to reserve your child’s spot by e-mailing Katherine. Mention that you are a member of SFUMC and receive free admission to the class. Non-members cost $25. We have a limited number of spots each month so reserve your spot early. If you sign up and unable to make the class for any reason, please notify Katherine so another student can fill that spot. Thanks!

REGISTER FOR VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL NOW!!

(Click here)

GALACTIC BLAST: A Cosmic Adventure Praising God

Date: June 6th – June 10thTime: 6-8:30pm
Ages: 4 years – completed 5th graders
Volunteers Needed: Contact Stacey Doremus 

At GALACTIC BLAST, your children will become cadets on the starship Galactic Praise as we learn more about our wonderful, incredible, amazing, magnificent, awesome God. Our kids will connect with a powerful but personal God, a creator whose acts resonate throughout the universe and a friend who touches our lives in small, intimate ways. These exciting and engaging messages will inspire our cadets to praise God throughout and long after Vacation Bible School:

-Our God is wonderful! Praise God!
-Our God is incredible! Praise God!
-Our God is amazing! Praise God!
-Our God is magnificent! Praise God!
-Our God is awesome! Praise God!

The children will begin their cosmic adventures on the starship Galactic Praise where they will meet Starship Commander and Galileo – a gorilla who just happens to be sporting green fur after an accidental encounter with green food in the starship cafeteria. During each session, Galileo promotes a “green” idea that helps our cadets be more aware of taking care of the planet that God has given us. With the help of the VBS GPS (Galactic Praise Satellite) our cadets are given a glimpse of the wonders of space and connects an object found in space to the session’s Bible teachings. Cadets will “spacewalk” with their mission pilots (adults traveling with the children) to various destinations experiencing Bible stories at Good News Galaxy, science demonstrations at the Orbital Observatory, craft projects at Cosmic Crafts and grab a bite to eat at the Astro Bistro. To round out our adventure each day the cadets will have reflection time before everyone heads home for a well-deserved night’s rest.

 

Adults

As adults we face pressures from all angles. Whether you are single, a parent, young, older or anything in between life can be difficult. At Stockbridge UMC we are dedicated to bringing ministries that empower people, love people and help people grow as Christians in this world. Our ministries are wide and broad reaching and we hope you will take time to read about each, but also want to know more.

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

The United Methodist Women, or UMW, is a group of women who come together once a month for two main reasons: mission and fellowship.

HE IS RISEN FOR YOU!

What a great Easter Day we had! In fact, what a wonderful Holy Week journey. The services were filled and I know the Lord touched your hearts as we heard the love of God proclaimed through music and word. There are some things you need to know about our risen Lord. Because of Jesus’ Resurrection you have a GOD THAT LOVES YOU. Because of Jesus’ Resurrection you have a GOD THAT FORGIVES YOU. Because of Jesus’ Resurrection you have a GOD THAT IS WITH YOU. This is Good News for you and me. We have a God that loves us that much. Now the big question…how will you live it?

There is so much to learn about Jesus. There is so much to understand about what it means to be His disciple. At Stockbridge First we are doing just that. We have so many opportunities for you to learn and grow. We have a growing church family that is filled with the Holy Spirit and continues to reach out in ministry. Come and be a part of it and never let the Easter Spirit fade away. Instead, nurture it, let it grow, continue to let it burn bright for all to see.

Come join us…we are here. You will be glad you came.

Happy Easter To All!

Rev. Jim