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Sermon Series on the Apostles’ Creed beginning Oct 8th.

From earliest times Jews and Christians have found it helpful to distill their many religious beliefs into a list of basics. Jews would cite the Shema daily: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one”. In their worship Christians would confess their belief that “Christ died for our sins … was buried … was raised on the third day”.   The classic creeds of the church (Apostles, Nicene) were born in the ecumenical church councils of the 4th to 8th centuries CE, at a time when Christians could still claim their universal unity. The articles of the creeds were believed “everywhere, always, by all” (Vincent of Lerins).

Join us beginning Sunday October 8th, as Pastor Jenn starts a series on the Apostles’ Creed. Recently some persons who have broken away from The United Methodist Church have accused it of being neglectful and unfaithful to the faith as delivered in the creeds.  The first charge might stick, not the second. We are people of the creed. We have our basic beliefs. Maybe it’s time to recall exactly what those beliefs are. Come, join us in our work of recalling what was believed “everywhere, always, by all”.

Disciple Fast Track

A new Bible study has begun last week.  It’s called Disciple Fast Track-an updated version of the original Disciple series-and like that former study it gives a good overview of the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.

As its name suggests, Disciple Fast Track has been tailored to fit our hectic lifestyles.  We'll spend 90 minutes for 12 weeks this fall in the Old Testament and do the same in the spring in the New Testament.  Study manuals for each half of the study can be purchased.

There will be two parallel classes, either Monday night (6:30-8:00 pm) or Tuesday morning (9:00-10:30 am), starting October 2 and 3 respectively.  Monday’s class will meet in the Greenhouse Room on the U-Gro campus and Tuesday’s meeting site is here at the church in Room 203, 204, & 205. There will also be online participation available for both classes.

This study is open to everyone, no previous biblical study experience necessary!  All that is required is a mind open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  To paraphrase Reverend Richard Brenneman, our former pastor and patron saint of Disciple Bible Studies here at Hershey First UMC, are you ready to go through the Bible and then allow the Bible to go through you?  Please address questions or comments to Craig Fasnacht ( ) or the church office.

‘After School Program’ Collection

Our ‘After School Program’ has grown and needs your help as the school year approaches!  We need donations of Capri Suns and individually packaged snacks.  Some favorite snacks in the past have been chips, Pirates booty, dunkaroos, and fruit roll ups.  There will be a collection bin in the narthex.

Music Events

 Weekly Notes of Encouragement 

We invite you to help bring encouragement to our church family members who are homebound or in residential care. Each week, one person will be selected to receive cards or notes of encouragement. Just a simple note saying “thinking of you” or “praying for you” will bring so much joy! Won’t you share Christ’s love in this way?!  This week’s notes of encouragement go to:

 

October Mission Collection: Adult Diapers for Raising Hope Ukraine

Please help meet an ongoing need by donating packs of adult diapers (any brand, style, or size) which will be shipped to Ukraine. Look for the collection bin in the narthex during the month of October. Adult diapers are hard to find in Ukraine and are very expensive. They are greatly needed by our mission partners, Raising Hope Ukraine, in their outreach to special needs adults and the elderly.

 

Bethesda Mobile Mission: October 14 at 5:45 – 10:00 p.m.

7-10 volunteers, suitable for older youth with a parent or guardian and above. Volunteers meet in the church parking lot to carpool to the Bethesda Mission on Reily Street in Harrisburg. The Greene’s drive the Bethesda Mobile Mission van and lead the group into the streets of Harrisburg to feed the homeless and hand out blankets, clothes, and toiletries. Call Jenny Greene 717-579-4786 or if interested. We always need the following donations to hand out: gently used blankets, sheets, towels, toiletries, underwear, socks, t-shirts, sweatshirts, jeans, and coats.

Hope Within Ministries Chicken BBQ Fundraiser: October 14, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

You can help support one of our local mission partners and enjoy a delicious chicken dinner! Please note that you must preorder (click HERE) the meals by October 4. The pickup will be at Hershey Free Church.  More information can be found HERE. Hope Within Ministries provides medical, dental, and counseling services for the medically uninsured, financially eligible residents of Dauphin, Lancaster, and Lebanon Counties.

 Oct 15th New Members Adult Class led by Pastor Jenn 11am in the Sanctuary - 1 session only.

For those of you interested in joining First Hershey or have recently transferred your membership, Pastor Jenn would like to gather with you in the sanctuary to share information about the church, answer any questions, and coordinate a date when to receive you by the congregation. This will also be a time to get to know one another and build connections. Please let Pastor Jenn know if you can attend.

Oct 15th Next Monthly Together Time (previously Food, Fellowship, and Faith)

We had 78 people attend our first covered dish dinner on Sept 17th and we invite you to mark your calendars for the next one. Doors will open at 6:00pm and the meal begins at 6:30pm when the children and youth gather for their food. Pastor Jenn will also share a brief devotion. This is a good time to get to know other members of the congregation and even better time to invite that family member, friend, co-worker, neighbor who has been on the fence about trying the church. Menu: Walking tacos- if you don’t know what they are, come find out! They are gluten free! . If you are gifted for service and hospitality and want to help Pastor Jenn with this new ministry, please let her know at or 717-450-6390 (text or call).

 Oct 18th Circle of Hope

Wednesday with a 9:30 am beginning time in the Social Hall.  New Members always welcome!

Trunk or Treat: October 18, 4:30-7pm

Hundreds of people from the community flock to our parking lot during the hours leading up to the Hershey Halloween Parade. Learn more here about how you can be involved in a simple, fun way to bless our neighbors while making some memories as a family or small group! We need more trunks this year!

 Hershey/Hummelstown CROP Hunger Walk: October 22, 2:00 p.m.

The local CROP Hunger Walk takes place on the Milton Hershey School Campus and benefits the hunger relief programs of Church World Service, Hershey Food Bank, and Hummelstown Food Pantry. If any individuals are interested in participating in the CROP Hunger Walk, more information can be found HERE.

Children’s Ministry

10/8 - No DC/BOND

Youth Ministry (7th-12th grade)

10/8 - No Youth Group

10/10 - “First 15” on Zoom @ 6:30am

10/11 - Pizza Hangout 6-7:30pm in the Youth Room

 Young Adult Ministry (18+)

10/5 - Young Adult Group 6:30-8:30pm in Youth Room

Contact for any Youth & Young Adult Ministry calendars, signups, or links.

Retirement Celebration for Mark Crowther

After thirty-four years of faithful service, Mark Crowther, our facilities manager, is retiring. We are grateful for his dedication and ministry work in caring for our building, organizing groups and the calendar, and overseeing the caretaking of our properties. We will celebrate his good works on Sunday October 15th following the 8am and 10am service in the Social Hall with refreshments and fellowship. We invite all members to come express their gratitude and support to him that day. A card basket will be placed at the Welcome Center beginning Sept 24th. If you wish to contribute to a monetary gift for Mark, please send your gift to the office no later than October 10, or feel free to place it in the card you give him on the 15th.

Women’s Book Club Oct. 26th 7-8:30pm Room 204

For our next read, we will be looking at James McBride’s The Color of Water. This fascinating, superbly written memoir was a New York Times bestseller for two years.  To date it has sold more than 2.1 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 16 languages. It tells the story of James McBride and his white, Jewish mother Ruth. Ruth was born in Poland and raised in Suffolk, Va, the daughter of an itinerant rabbi and a loving, disabled mother who spoke no English. At 17, Ruth fled the South, landed in Harlem, married a black man in 1941, founded a church, was twice widowed and raised 12 children in New York City. Despite hardship, poverty, and suffering, Ruth sent all 12 of her children to college. Ladies, consider joining us to discuss this amazing true story.