Family Camp: For more than 30 years, First UMC families and friends have gathered at Fall Creek Falls State Park on Memorial Day Weekend (Friday night through Sunday afternoon) for play, socializing, fun, and worship. Registration for the limited spaces occurs in early May.

 

Shalom: is a ministry for and with the widowed men and women, and those who live alone. Shalom Team members maintain contact, offering support to those grieving, information, resources for transportation and household needs, and the support of the congregation.

 

"Souper": Suppers begin in October, matching interested individuals and couples into groups of 6-8 for small group meals and conversation through the winter months.

 

Body and Soul Women’s Exercise: The Body and Soul exercise class meets every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 8:00-9:15 in the gym of the First UMC and is open to everyone in the community. Many of our regulars are members of other churches. We do weights, light cardio, and floor exercises. We start off by gathering around in a circle and having a devotional, and then we ask for prayer requests and many times share praises for answered prayer. It is a fun time for all that attend. We have all made new friends and have a great time with lots of laughter as well as exercise. So come and join our group. For more information, call the church office or Linda Counts.

 

Music: With the praise of God as our chief purpose, the First United Methodist Church ministry offers the opportunity for all ages to serve through music including:

 

Choirs

· Carolers for children age 3-1st grade "

· Choristers for children grades 2-5. . Both groups meet on Wednesday nights August-April at 6:15. In late fall they prepare together for a Christmas musical drama; in March and April they prepare and present biblically based musical dramas. "

· Chancel Choir The 40 member volunteer choir which leads in music primarily at the 11:00 service, and once monthly at the 8:30 service twelve months of the year. They sing from a wide repertoire including 'classics' of choral literature, to arrangements of contemporary Christian music as well as well-known traditional hymns of the church. They rehearse on Wednesday evenings, primarily at 7:15-8:30. "

· Early Service Ensemble An emerging volunteer choral group who sings at least monthly at the 8:30 service.

 

Instrumental music

· Carolers Melody Bells The Carolers ring simple songs in worship throughout the year.

· Choristers Chimes: The Choristers have just received a 3 octave set of chimes and introduced them to the congregation on September 24, 2006. There are currently 13 ringers.

· Youth Bells Eleven youth began ringing in August 2006. They rehearse on Wednesday nights at 6:15.

· Brassnotes Handbells were first introduced to First UMC almost 30 years ago, and several in this group has been ringing ever since, although the group now includes one teenage boy. They prepare and ring for worship, for local groups and residential facilities, and they participate annually in the Epiphany Handbell Celebration in Murfreesboro.

· Praise Band Our Youth Praise Band, organized by one of our youth assistants, has led not only in our worship services, but also at area "Mobile JAMs." They are always looking for new members, both instrumentalists and vocalists.

· Hands of Faith is a bell group that only began practicing in August of 2007. Although many of them had never attempted to read music before, they have made phenomenal progress and become very good musicians. This group is made up of 10 members and have already played several times in church. They are very excited about the music and continue to practice and improve in order to make a joyful noise unto the Lord!!

 

Ministries