Welcome to the First United Methodist Church of Grove! Thanks for visiting us online. This is a growing church in a growing community. Grove is a wonderful place to live, serve and grow.

Our purpose is “Making disciples for Jesus Christ by building Christian community where the love of God is freely shared, the gospel of Jesus Christ is clearly encountered, and the Holy Spirit transforms life." 

In Christ,

Pastor Randall R. Hamill

On Purpose - Intentional Living and Ministry for the New Year
Living without schedules and a roadmap has a certain appeal in an over-booked world. But living without purpose is to have life without meaning. Living meaningfully begins by understanding your identity from God's perspective, and catching sight of purposes larger than yourself. If God made us for a reason and intends us to be part of his universal plans, discovering that reason and getting aboard those plans helps us make sense of everything else. We become people with a mission. In a sermon series for the New Year, we will focus on God's purposes for the individual and for our church. We will ask how that mission helps us focus on what we will do this year--individually, and corporately. Is your life ready for the ultimate in global positioning? Let's map out a purposeful year, together.

Sermon Schedule
01-10-10 Why--You Exist, and Do What You Do
01-17-10 Resolutions vs. Purpose & Goals
01-24-10 Our Church's Purpose
01-31-10 Ministry Focus For This Year
02-07-10 Where You Stand, Where You Go From Here

That Jesus' life ended on a cross is a matter of history.  When and how he did so are subjects of debate and learning. Why he was there is paramount to theological understanding.  But the result of his experience on the cross is a matter of life and death for all humanity.

What's the point? What's the benefit?  And why should we revisit this ritual year after year?  In a sermon series for Lent, we will take up each of these questions in light of the lectionary scriptures and the context of present living.  We will look not only at the sacrifice offered in Jesus and the sacrifices made by countless of his followers, but also consider what dimension of sacrifice is required of serious followers of Christ today.

Join us for Sacrifices beginning February 21st!

 Click here to donate online to Haiti

Volunteers and Health Kits
According to UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief), there will be a great need for volunteers to help rebuild once the initial crisis is past, but it is not safe or possible for volunteers to go to Haiti at the present.  However, UMCOR's two relief supply warehouses are asking United Methodists to provide health kits to send to Haiti.

If you would like to put together health kits, the FUMC Mission Team will receive them through the end of February and coordinate their delivery to UMCOR.  You may also donate $12 or write a check with "Health Kits" in the memo line (the Mission Team will purchase items and assemble).  Instructions for assembling and shipping health kits are available here: Health Kits.

Donations
We are grateful that donations continue to come in online (see link above).  Donors may also contribute by placing a check in the offering plate during worship (please put "Haiti Relief" in the memo line) or by mailing it to UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087. Checks mailed to UMCOR should indicate "Advance #418325" in the memo line.

Safe Sanctuary

Our congregation’s purpose for establishing a Safe Sanctuary policy and procedures program is to demonstrate our absolute and unwavering commitment to create within our ministries a “safe sanctuary” that will foster healthy growth and development in spiritual and other dimensions as we have opportunity to provide ministry. Please click here to read more about it and complete the required documents.

Youth Confirmation Classes to Begin

Confirmation classes begin Sunday, January 24- February 14. Randy Mathews, Youth Director, will teach the class at 10:45 a.m. during The Lync on the four scheduled Sunday mornings. The class is offered to 6th grade youth but is open to any youth interested in learning about the basics of Christianity and the United Methodist Church. Participants in the class will have the opportunity to profess their faith and make commitment to a life in Jesus Christ and their church during Confirmation Sunday services February 21.

The Confirmation retreat February 12-13 at Camp Egan, has been changed. The new dates will soon be announced. Cost for the retreat is $30 per person and parents are encouraged to attend. The Confirmation Dessert is Wednesday, February 17 following Ash Wednesday services.

For more information about Confirmation classes and events contact Randy Mathews, 786-5148 or email randym@groveumc.org.

Prayer Participants for the Christian Medical Clinic

Have you resolved to be a more active witness for Christ in 2010?  The Christian Medical Clinic is in need of lay persons to offer prayer for patients.  One thing that makes our clinic so unique (as compared with clinics in other cities) is our devotion to the "Christian" nature of the clinic.  Every patient visiting the clinic for any reason meets with a prayer participant who talks to them about their spiritual needs, listens to their hearts, and offers a brief time of prayer with them.

This ministry is a huge blessing to the patients.  Many look forward to this one-on-one time even more than their chance to see the doctor!  Not sure if you would be comfortable doing this?  Come and shadow one of the existing prayer participants to see what takes place.  You'll be surprised at the blessing you receive.

Pastor Hamill is responsible for the prayer effort at the clinic and has a guideline for each particpant, both lay persons and pastors.  Shirley Talley does most of the coordination and scheduling.

For more information, contact Shirley Talley, Nancy Flowers (Clinic Admin.), Don Cox, Gerald Hoffman, Alvin Bland, or Pastor Hamill.  Please login to Access/ACS or call the church office for their contact information and to pick up a copy of the guideline.