The Chimes Magazine - Sept/Oct 2019

F I R S T

THE CHIMES U N I T E D

M E T H O D I S T

C H U R C H

SEPT/OCT 2019

CUE THE

confetti

FALL BAZAAR CELEBRATES 41 YEARS

FUMC CELEBRATES 190 YEARS

MEET THE SWEET SPIRIT SINGERS GET TO KNOW THE FACES OF FIRST FUMCMONTGOMERY.ORG

LOOKING FOR WAYS TO JUMP IN AFTER LABOR DAY? WE'LL GET YOU PLUGGED IN

BACK TO SCHOOL AT ECDC & FIRST SCHOOL

WELCOME

WORSHIP 8:45 & 11 AM | SANCTUARY

Friends, what an exciting time to be a part of this church and our community.

Since July 1st, my first day as your senior pastor, the staff and I have committed ourselves to providing an array of opportunities for you to connect with Jesus Christ and find your spot to serve so that we may all make a difference for Jesus Christ in Montgomery. I believe, as Bishop Graves often says, the best is yet to come for those who follow where Christ is leading. Together, we are changing our corner of the world. In this new communication magazine called The Chimes, which will be produced every other month, you will hear stories of how Jesus Christ is changing hearts through the ministries of FUMC. You will read about stories of transformation, you will find connection points ranging from age levels to various skill sets. From the pages of these articles you will gain a sense of how God is calling us, inspiring us, equipping us, and leading us. This is your official invitation to join the movement happening at FUMC Montgomery. We are not whole without you!

With Joy!

NEW HERE?

Jay

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT

WWW.FUMCMONTGOMERY.ORG TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN GET PLUGGED IN

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 1 | What Is Your Story?

8 | What Is Our Story?

15 | Where Will Our Story Lead Us? 22 | Music & Worship Sunday 29 | Rev. Lucas S. Tribble, Commissioning Sermon

6 | One With Christ 13 | One With Each Other 20 | One In Ministry to All the World 27 | RENEWAL: Prayers

YTD BUDGETED GIVING YTD ACTUAL GIVING $2,713,040

$2,711,850

SUNDAY SCHOOL 10 AM | VARIOUS LOCATIONS

www.fumcmontgomery.org/sunday-school

WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUPPER 4:30-6:15 PM | FELLOWSHIP HALL

www.fumcmontgomery.org/wednesday-night-supper

BE OUR GUEST ENJOY ONE FREE WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUPPER FOR YOU & YOUR GUESTS ON US! WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUPPER IS SERVED FROM AUGUST 8 - JUNE 12

PLEASE BRING COUPON WITH YOU TO REDEEM

FACES OF FIRST

190TH ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY, 9.15.19 FELLOWSHIP HALL 10:00 AM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FUMC MONTGOMERY SUE LOFTIS MEMBER SINCE 1961

Sue has served FUMC Montgomery in many ways over the years. She spent 15 years volunteering with the Youth Ministry, and has fond memories of youth trips to Germany, Switzerland and Austria. A fun fact about her is that she played flute and piccolo in the University of Alabama Million Dollar Band.

FIRST CONNECTS FIRST FIRST GROUPS GROUPS

FIRST FIRST SERVES SERVES

First Connects is all about equipping you for ministry, no matter your walk of life

Learn more: Rev. Gillian Walters, GLWalters@fumcmontgomery.org TYRONE HAYES

JAVA WITH JAY

MEMBER SINCE 2019

Though a newer member of FUMC Montgomery, you may already know Tyrone for his beautiful voice! One of Tyrone's favorite things about this church is how giving the choir members are of their talents, prayers, kind words and time. He also appreciates the true sense of "agape love" shown. A fun fact about him is that he is the youngest of 8 siblings.

SUNDAYS, OCT 13 & DEC 8 | 10 AM FELLOWSHIP BUILDING ROOM 203

Join us for coffee & a conversation with the Senior Minister, Rev. Jay Cooper

Rev. Lucas Tribble, LTribble@fumcmontgomery.org

WEEKDAY CHILDCARE F U L L - T I M E

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P A R T - T I M E

P R O G R A M S

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M O N T H S

Name: Mary Etta Wiggins Years at ECDC: 40 Favorite Part about Your Job: I have been blessed by God that he started me on a journey of loving and caring for children at FUMC 40 years ago. I have had the privilege of caring for multiple generations of families. My favorite part of the day is singing with the children, and seeing their smiling faces as they learn.

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P R E - K 4

Name: Janice Maxson Years at First School: 26 Favorite Part about Your Job: My passion for the children is to learn good manners, to share, to develop in their verbal skills, to love school, to love one another, and most of all to know Jesus and his unconditional love. For me, it is not a job but a ministry.

FALL IS IN THE AIR There is always excitement and anticipation associated with the beginning of the school year.

Although summer has been full of fun at First School and the ECDC with water days, the Fourth of July picnic, movie outings to the Capri, Chapel, and other summer activities, the feel of fall and the start of a new school year can’t be beat! The children’s anticipation of moving up to a new classroom with new teachers, old and new friends, and new adventures in learning is contagious! The teachers have been planning and preparing with their own anticipation of a wonderful year. September and October are rich with learning activities, along with special occasions such as the Grandparent’s Day celebration, Parent Picnics, outings to the Pumpkin

Patch, and Octoberfest, just to name a few! As Directors of the ECDC and First School, we are grateful to be able to lead an amazing group of children during their most influential years. It is an honor and commitment we hold very close to our hearts. The staffs of both FUMC schools work tirelessly to provide days that support the development of the children academically, spiritually, and emotionally. We thank the staff and congregation of First United Methodist Church for the many years of support they have given, financially and prayerfully, for over 40 years! We pray that 2019-2020 will be a school year for our church’s schools to shine bright with JOY for Jesus Christ.

VICKY MOORE

BETH MANTOOTH

ECDC Director vmoore@fumcmontgomery.org ECDC Hours: 7:00am-5:30pm

First School Director bmantooth@fumcmontgomery.org First School Hours: 9:00am-1:00pm

WWW.FUMCMONTGOMERY.ORG

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY SSIM T'NOD

O C T O B E R F U M C

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pumpkinfest

2019 CAMP LEE B y

D a p h n e

J o h n s t o n

( P a r e n t )

As a parent, it was a spiritual gift to chaperone the Children’s Ministry annual trip to Camp Lee this July.

Complete with plastic mattresses, spiders, and tons of folks waiting for one shower, Camp Lee was a true summer camp setting. However, all this paled in comparison to what I experienced and observed on this camping trip.

As I watched our high school and college counselors interact with our children, it dawned on me the years of spiritual nourishment our church family has continuously fed to these young adults. Chaperones Victor Trotter, Webb Newman, Chip Blake, Caleb Borders, Leah Grace Borders, and Matthew Blake have all been raised here at FUMC. They have been loved and guided in a variety of different ministries such as Sunday School, fellowship dinners, small groups, Vacation Bible School, children’s minutes, mission trips, and community projects - all under the mentoring skills of each one of you in the pews. Through your prayers, presence, offerings, and examples over the years, these young adults were a living, tangible example of the body of Christ for our children at Camp Lee. I enjoyed observing 8th grade chaperone Matthew Blake include all the boys in his cabin in every event and activity. He and the college chaperones herded their campers to all stay together and leave no one behind. Is that not what they have learned through years of being a part of our church family: include everyone and encourage one another?

It was a true blessing to witness our youth, who have been molded by the different ministries here at FUMC, circle back and model for our children how to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

SUNDAY MORNINGS

Sunday School | 9:45 am Children's Church | 8:45 & 11 am

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS

Children's Choirs | 6:00 pm Summit Kids XTreme | 6:40-7:10 pm

WWW.FUMCMONTGOMERY.ORG/CHILDRENS-MINISTRY

YOUTH MINISTRY

COSTA RICA MISSION TRIP B y

E l i z a b e t h

K l e i n

( H i g h

S c h o o l

S e n i o r )

During my time in Costa Rica, I began to understand and experience God’s love in a new way. One of our main projects while working with the Rice and Beans Ministry was delivering food bags to impoverished neighborhoods in Costa Rica. At the beginning of the week this idea terrified me, but after the first day of delivering food, my perspective was changed completely. During our first day, we walked down into a neighborhood that was on the mountain. There was more of a slope for a street than stairs, creating a safety hazard during the rainy season and an obstacle to those too old or injured to climb back up. Hundreds of people lived in this neighborhood, and their houses were what most would consider “a hole in the wall,” complete with dirt floors and leaking (if even covered) roofs. Here we saw dozens of children from the school we taught VBS at earlier in the day. There, they were sporting nice uniforms and singing along loudly to our songs. Here, they were running around in tattered clothes and asking us for food.

Despite all of these obstacles and circumstances, after entering the first few homes I soon began to realize that these were the most selfless people I had ever met. They invited us into their homes with open arms and when asked how we could pray for them, one of the responses was always “we want to pray for you." At one house I even watched a lady take the shirt off her back and give it to Mrs. Katie Bradshaw, just because she had complimented it.

I could go on and on about the fascinating and eye-opening things that happened throughout the course of the week, and it would all go to show how astounding the unconditional love for their community and for us was. I quickly realized that though we may have "more," in worldly terms, than them, most of them have a stronger faith and understanding of what it means to love your neighbor. Ever since the trip, I strive to think as selflessly as the people in Costa Rica. The kind love they showed me was truly amazing and life-changing.

SUNDAYS

Sunday School | 9:45 am Methodist Youth Fellowship | 5-7pm

SMALL GROUPS

Contact Anne Chandler, achandler@fumcmontgomery.org to learn more

WWW.FUMCMONTGOMERY.ORG/YOUTH-MINISTRY

ADULT MINISTRIES ADULT MINISTRIES B y

B i l l

E l l i s

When we became members of First Church several years ago, we were determined to honor our commitment to support its ministries with our prayers, presence, gifts, and service. With the many programs and ministries available, we had no problem becoming fully immersed immediately. However, something was missing. I had (and still have) a hunger for spiritual growth that needed to be addressed. We found the Disciple Program satisfied this need in ways we never imagined. In addition to learning the history of our faith through a total immersion in both the Old and New Testaments, we have grown immensely in our ability to apply God's word in our daily lives.

After 3 years of study with the same core group, we have formed friendships with our fellow Disciples that will last a lifetime. We have gone through births, deaths, marriages, divorces, sickness, and recovery. Through all of these trials, our Disciple Family bond has grown stronger. I look forward to my "senior" year of Disciple study this fall, and to the exploration of other ways to satisfy my never-ending hunger for the Holy Spirit.

50 PLUS IS ON THE MOVE - WE JUST NEED YOU!

In their heyday, the Wesley Wanderers traveled near and far on their many trips, the “Wanderers” being one of many thriving parts of the Fifty Forward Ministry. Today, that ministry is called 50 PLUS and we are ready for the next adventure! Since our revival in August 2018, we have enjoyed Bluegrass music and bagpipes at luncheons. We have watched movies and eaten wonderful food. We have laughed together, cried together, served side by side, and have had meaningful work area meetings. In March, we journeyed down to The Big Easy, DISCUSS THE BUDGET aka New Orleans.

ACQUIRE INFORMATION

STEP 1

STEP 2

ABOUT THE BUSINESS

AND FINANCES

This group toured the St. Louis Cathedral, Longue Vue House and Gardens, and the famous World War II Museum (complete with a 1940s matinee performance from some beautiful belles of song). We lodged right off of the French Quarter at the infamous Bourbon Orleans Hotel. We also enjoyed a jazz cruise on the Steamboat Natchez and ate fabulous food, including food prepared in a delicious and informative class with New Orleans School of Cooking’s finest chef. We all had so much fun together, and made memories that will last a lifetime.

The adventure has only just begun, as we prepare to travel to "The Big Apple" - New York City - this winter. All we need now is you! Email Adrian Borden, Director of 50 PLUS Ministries, to find out how you can get involved.

WWW.FUMCMONTGOMERY.ORG/ADULTS

SEP TEM BER SEPTEMBER AT FUMC

F A L L

9 / 4

K I C K O F F

All age-level programming begins

High School Parents 5:30-7 pm Epworth Room

A D M I N .

B D .

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9 / 1 8

N Y C

Tech Workshop 9 am-Noon Epworth Room

9 / 1 5

W I R E D !

O X Y G E N

H I K E

C Y B E R

S E N I O R S

Tech Workshop 2-4:30 pm Epworth Room

9 / 2 2

W I R E D !

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9 / 2 1

AL Nature Center 8:30 am Millbrook, AL

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S E N I O R S

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Middle School Parents 5:30-7 pm Epworth Room

Charge Conference 6:30 pm Epworth Room

C Y B E R

T A S T E

Dessert & A Show 4:oo pm Fellowship Hall

9 / 8

W I R E D !

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Elementary Parents 5-6:30 pm Epworth Room

LEARN MORE:

W W W . F U M C M O N T G O M E R Y . O R G / E V E N T S

( 3 3 4 )

8 3 4 - 8 9 9 0

Please visit the church website to view the full master calendar

9 / 2 2

OC TO BER OCTOBER AT FUMC

4 1 S T

F A L L

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B A Z A A R

www.fumcmontgomery.org/bazaar

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P L U S

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P A Y N E

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Register Online

O X Y G E N

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H I K E

Chewacla State Park Auburn, AL

Y O U T H

M Y S T E R Y

C H I L D R E N ' S

E L M O

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Grades 3-5 | 5-7 pm Wesley Hall Gym

A D M I N .

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6:30 pm Epworth Room

P U M P K I N F E S T

1 0 / 2 0

Trunk-or-Treat, Costumes & Fun! 4-5:30 pm FUMC North Parking Lot

M A N S I O N

1 0 / 2 7

5:30-7 pm

LEARN MORE:

W W W . F U M C M O N T G O M E R Y . O R G / E V E N T S

( 3 3 4 )

8 3 4 - 8 9 9 0

Please visit the church website to view the full master calendar

ADULTM IMINISTRIES SSIONS SHEDS FOR MICHAEL Our "Sheds for Hurricane Michael" project is underway. Two days have been spent here in Montgomery building side walls, front walls, and back walls. We are grateful for John Foshee, who designed the sheds that were first built in Pass Christian, MS for victims of Hurricane Katrina, and for Brad Norris, who is responsible for resurrecting the plans and preparing our materials list for the current project.

We have built and assembled two sheds at Parker United Methodist Church in Parker, FL (a suburb of Panama City). Rev. Jon Laughlin and his wife, Kristina, hosted our first team while there. Six people were able to go and take part in building the first two sheds. Working with Parker UMC and the Alabama-West Florida Conference Disaster Response and Recovery Ministry, we are now ready to go back to Panama City to build nine more sheds.

Would you help us assemble the sheds in Florida? We need people with a variety of skills and abilities - some who can lift heavy pieces of the sheds, others who are able to operate tools, volunteers who can move concrete blocks, and more. We would love for you to be the hands of feet of Christ in this way, as we offer a small piece of hope during this time of rebuilding for so many.

Are you wondering what is involved in putting up a shed? First, we will put down five concrete blocks so the shed will not be in contact with the ground. The floor of the shed will be built on site (aren’t nail guns a great tool to have?). Next, the side, front, and back walls fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Once the walls are set, the rafters go on. Add a few hurricane clips, the roof sheathing, and a metal roof to finish the shed!

We are already planning our next shed-building trip! Will you go with us?

WWW.FUMCMONTGOMERY.ORG/MISSIONS

FALL BAZAAR FOR MISSIONS The Fall Bazaar at FUMC Montgomery has been a long-standing tradition for more than forty years.

In 1979, the ladies in Margaret Walter’s United Methodist Women's (UMW) Circle held a festive event in the church breezeway called “Christmas in July.” The success of the event inspired the UMW to adopt the project as a fundraiser for missions and the Fall Bazaar has taken place annually ever since. With growth and more involvement every year, this event has become a churchwide staple!

Over the years various additions and changes have taken place. A luncheon was added in 1981 and Bazaar shopping was moved to the new Wesley Hall in 1996. Today, the Bazaar also includes a silent auction with dozens of wonderful gifts, trips, sports tickets, art, and more. It also includes a churchwide barbecue, featuring live entertainment by bluegrass band Bama Skiffle.

This 41-year tradition has become an annual fall event that welcomes the community to participate in fun and fellowship at FUMC Montgomery. Because of you, the Fall Bazaar raised over $30,000 for local missions last year. Join us this year for a wonderful event, and let's raise even more!

2019 FALL BAZAAR

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2 SHOPPING - 1 PM-7 PM LUNCHEON - NOON BBQ DINNER - 4:30-6:30 PM FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SHOPPING, MEAL TIMES & TICKETS, VISIT F U M C M O N T G O M E R Y ., O R G / B A Z A A R

(334) 834-8990

ALL PROCEEDS SUPPORT LOCAL MISSIONS

MUSIC MINISTRY

THE SWEET SPIRIT SINGERS B y

R o g e r

W i l l i a m s

Over the last eighteen months a new music ministry has formed, bringing moments of worship through song to those in our congregation who may be home-bound, in a hospital, in other care facilities, or are unable to worship within the walls of our sanctuary. Each visit by this small group opens with prayer and these words sung in unison: "There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place, and I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord; there are sweet expressions on each face, and I know they feel the presence of the Lord." It is from this comforting hymn, #334 in our Methodist hymnal, that the Sweet Spirit Singers take both their name and purpose.

The Sweet Spirit Singers have traveled in groups of four to seven singers, and have visited dozens of members of our congregation. From the critically ill, to the home-bound, to those in the hospital in recovery, the respect for each person’s situation is observed and the reaction of those receiving the visits, including their caregivers and family, demonstrates the power of our Lord through music.

Recently, the Sweet Spirit Singers visited a long-time member of the congregation who had been in hospice care. She had been non-responsive for most of the day. After her family members welcomed the singers and they all began to sing, something beautiful and worshipful occurred. This faithful church member who had been silent for days, began to sing aloud Amazing Grace with her family and newfound friends. For everyone gathered in this small room, a holy moment of worship took place.

Anyone who wishes to engage a visit from the Sweet Spirit Singers for a loved one is encouraged to inform a congregational care pastor by emailing pastoralcare@fumcmontgomery.org. Anyone wishing to join the Sweet Spirit Singers and minister to those in need through the power of music is encouraged to contact Dr. James Seay, Director of Music, at jseay@fumcmontgomery.org. You will be blessed in ways unexpected as you depart with "Praise God from whom all Blessings Flow" still echoing in your heart!

WWW.FUMCMONTGOMERY.ORG/WORSHIP-SERVICES/MUSIC

FIRST CARES

THE SIDE-BY-SIDE CHOIR A special concert brought a packed house this summer at First United Methodist Church, but it was the singers that got all the attention. The concert was put on by the Side-by-Side Choir. This choir is part of FUMC Montgomery's Respite Ministry, which exists to provide community and belonging for those living with memory loss diseases. It also serves as support for the caregivers of those with memory loss. "We all know that music is one of the last things to leave the brain," Assistant Director of the Respite Ministry Laura Selby says, "so we have developed a choir that is for people across the city."

The choir is made up of people who live with memory loss diseases like dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, and Alzheimer’s. Caregivers are also part of the choir. Members say being a part of the concert gives them a sense of purpose and belonging. "It energizes you and it gives you lots of joy," singer Gloria Walker says. "It’s like a big hug," Cyndi Carter says. "Everybody’s singing together so we are all just having a good time. The audience sings, all of us sing." Those in the audience also sang along, many who came to support their family and friends. "People say, 'oh it must be depressing,' but it's not," audience member Winifred Stakely says. "It’s just heart-filled and everybody has such a loving time and the people feel like part of a group."

The Respite Ministry gives caregivers a break, and allows those with memory loss a chance to shine.

"We just come together, have songs that we can sing and remember the words to, and enjoy time together," Selby says.

Dothan First United Methodist Church recently contacted Laura to learn how to replicate the choir for the city of Dothan! Not only has the Respite Ministry replicated their volunteer model in 15 new programs and four more to open this fall, the choir will now become a model for the faith community on how to provide fellowship, meaning, and purpose for the Alzheimer’s community.

First United Methodist Church has long been known as a “mother church,” by sharing all we develop and learn with other churches so that they might build ministries to serve their communities for the transformation of the world. Thanks to Laura Selby, Jack Horner, Micky McInnish, and an army of volunteers, the Side-by-Side Choir will join the list of resources we offer to share the love of Christ!

WWW.FUMCMONTGOMERY.ORG/RESPITE-MINISTRY

DID YOU KNOW? “OH GOD, THE LORD OF HISTORY” B y

L y n

F r a z e r

In January 1979, the year of our church’s sesquicentennial, a year-long celebration was launched, with events planned for almost every month.

They included a two-act original drama, written by Huntingdon professor and church member Martha Frazer Rankin; the publication of a yearbook, A Year of Jubilee; an old-fashioned camp meeting featuring dinner on the ground and a circuit rider on horseback; and the composition and performance of a new hymn.

P i c t u r e d

a b o v e :

J o h n

D r e s s l e r

The composer of the hymn was the music director at the time, John Dressler. Dressler served as music director for only a short time (1976-79), but his relationship with our church began providentially when he was a boy in post-World-War-II Austria. The church of his father, the Reverend Johann Dressler of St. Polten, Austria, received assistance from our church beginning in 1946.

Mrs. Pattie Westcott was the moving force in collecting and shipping clothing and other items to Austria and other European countries to help relieve the abject poverty and destruction experienced by their citizens after the war. Mrs. Westcott visited these countries, and met those she had corresponded with and assisted. Our aid to Pastor Dressler’s church continued at least until the mid-1960s.

Dressler’s relationship with our church came full circle when he moved to the United States and was hired as our church’s music director. He played an important role in the musical events of the sesquicentennial celebration, including providing entertainment and accompaniment on his accordion at the camp meeting, and, more importantly, composing a hymn, which was sung by the choir at church services beginning in January 1979. Dressler’s hymn, Oh God, the Lord of History, reminds us that:

Through toil and tribulation, through heartache, guilt, and tears, With faith undimmed by dark despair, we’ve triumphed through the years.

WWW.FUMCMONTGOMERY.ORG

CONTACT US REV.

JAY

REV.

GILLIAN

REV.

LUCAS

REV.

BEN

GLENDA

ANNE

COOPER

WALTERS

TRIBBLE

MCDAVID

CHANDLER

BORDEN

DAPHNE

JOHNSTON

CLAIRE

DR.

ALYSSA

ED

ASSOCIATE

MINISTER

ASSOCIATE

MINISTER

SEAY

TAYLOR

MINISTRY

YOUTH

MINISTRY

PLUS

MINISTRY

RESPITE

MINISTRY

MISSIONS

MINISTRY

MUSIC

MINISTRY

COMMUNICATIONS

REIFENBERG

VICKY

BETH

MOORE

MANTOOTH

CARE

CHILDREN'S

50

SMITH

JAMES

MINISTER

CONGREGATIONAL

ARGO

ADRIAN

SENIOR

FINANCE

EARLY

CHILDHOOD

DEV.

CENTER

FIRST

SCHOOL

PLEASE CALL THE CHURCH AT (334) 834-8990 TO CONTACT A MEMBER OF OUR STAFF.

fumcmontgomery.org

(334) 834-8990

@fumcmontgomery

If you are in need of a minister after hours or on weekends, please contact pastoralcare@fumcmontgomery.org.

F I R S T

U N I T E D

M E T H O D I S T

C H U R C H

2416 WEST CLOVERDALE PARK MONTGOMERY, AL 36106 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

WE WON'T BE WHOLE WITHOUT YOU FIRST 2416

WEST

UNITED CLOVERDALE

METHODIST PARK,

MONTGOMERY,

CHURCH

ALABAMA

36106