www.fumcl.org | 424 Main Street, Laurel, MD 20707 | Tel: 301-725-3093 | office@fumcl.org 1

Date: July 24, 2020

Worship with Us on Sunday Mornings!

We would like to invite you to come and join us for our Sunday morning service.

Sunday Worship Time 10:00AM – Facebook Live

Posted on http://facebook.com/RevRayPage/live

Join us - No Facebook Account Needed

Church Office Hours: Monday thru Friday - 9:15 am – 2:15 pm

First United Methodist Church Purpose:

Bring Build Send

As believers in Christ as the Son of God, and the Bible as the inspired word of God, we:

▪ Glorify God through worship

▪ Build strong relationships in the church family

▪ Grow in the knowledge of the truth as revealed through Jesus Christ

▪ Serve people as a reflection of the love of Jesus Christ, and

▪ Spread the Good News of the Gospel so that others may come to salvation though

grace

First Church | FUMCL | eRevelations

www.fumcl.org | 424 Main Street, Laurel, MD 20707 | Tel: 301-725-3093 | office@fumcl.org 2

SERMON CORNER This Week’s Message: - Are We Alive in Christ? Early Methodists sang a Wesley song, And Yet Are We Alive. Do we feel alive or trapped by our faith? Do we feel like we are missing out on life, living for Christ, or gaining it? Are we willing to lose our life for Christ, to gain eternity? Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10, Matthew 16:24–28

Next Week’s Message: - 40th Anniversary Today is 40 years since my wife and I took our vows to each other. We Have had our ups and downs. What has kept us going, through thick and thin, has been our faith in Jesus Christ. It has always been the grace of God that has gotten us through. God’s can get us all through the tough times and help us celebrate the good times. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Ruth 1:16-17

Ray McDonald’s Blog | Thoughts and Reflections

Rev. Ray writes a devotional thought Monday through Friday each week. You can

sign up to receive his posts by e-mail by going to his blog page at

www.raymcdonald.wordpress.com

Follow Rev. Ray:

Twitter twitter.com/RayMcDonald (@RayMcDonald)

Facebook facebook.com/ramonmcdonald

Blog Page raymcdonald.wordpress.com

www.fumcl.org | 424 Main Street, Laurel, MD 20707 | Tel: 301-725-3093 | office@fumcl.org 3

SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

8:30 AM 2nd Cup Sunday School

10:00 AM Online Worship

11:30 AM Breakfast Club SS Class

11:45 AM Youth SS Class

1:00 PM Rev. Ray’s Sunday School Class

7:00 PM Bible Study w/ Pastor

Trevor

eRev &

Bulletin

Deadline

7:00 PM Bible Study w/ Rev.

Ray

7:00 PM First Church Prayer Time on Zoom

7:00 PM Narcotics

Anonymous – Core Group

7:00 PM First

Church Gathering

7:00 PM First

Church Gathering

Website: Please check out our new and improved website at fumcl.org. If you see any mistakes or think something should be on the

site that is not, please let the office know at office@fumcl.org. We will try to perfect the site as we develop it. Thanks!

Building access by appointment only, and can only occupy the Office, Narthex, Sanctuary, and bathrooms.

Church Office Hours: Monday thru Friday - 9:15 am – 2:15 pm

Follow First UMC:

Twitter twitter.com/RayMcDonald (@RayMcDonald)

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FirstUMCLaurelMD/

Upcoming Events

www.fumcl.org | 424 Main Street, Laurel, MD 20707 | Tel: 301-725-3093 | office@fumcl.org 4

www.fumcl.org | 424 Main Street, Laurel, MD 20707 | Tel: 301-725-3093 | office@fumcl.org 5

Together we are stronger. There is so much we can accomplish when we come together in

Christ’s name. Please consider ways in which you can get connected with your church

family and with our community.

Can you?

• First – stay safe and healthy! Call your neighbor, family member, co-worker and check on them. Pick-up groceries for them when you go to the store, maybe prepare an extra meal to deliver to those who are most at risk when exposed to COVID-19.

If you are looking for ways to volunteer with minimal contact or in a controlled

environment:

• Maryland Food Bank is in need of volunteers Visit https://mdfoodbank.org/ways-to-give/volunteer

• Capital Area Food Bank https://capitalareafoodbank/covid19response/

See the ‘How To Help’ link on the page

• Make Masks for local hospitals/nursing homes - for example see: https://umms.org/ummc/coronavirus/how-you-can-help/masks

There is a link on the page to Joann Fabrics with instructional videos and guides.

Nobody can do everything,

but everyone can do something!

Interested? For more information on these please see Debbi Schneider or email (com@fumcl.org or deborahjschneider@yahoo.com) (please include FUMCL Volunteer Opportunity in the subject).

Together, with and through Christ,

we can accomplish amazing things!

www.fumcl.org | 424 Main Street, Laurel, MD 20707 | Tel: 301-725-3093 | office@fumcl.org 6

Tuesday Bible Study!

Join us for the Tuesday Bible Study at 7:00 pm live on

Zoom as we Study: The Gospel of Luke 9:1.

Hope to see you there!

If you need the logon info, contact office@fumcl.org

www.fumcl.org | 424 Main Street, Laurel, MD 20707 | Tel: 301-725-3093 | office@fumcl.org 7

Altar Flowers 2020

The Flower Calendar for 2020 has been posted on the easel

located in the main entrance area at the bottom of the ramp

If you are interested in ordering flowers, please provide your

name and Loving Honor of or In Loving Memory of and

that/those person’s name(s).

Cost: Cross Arrangement: $20 - Vase: $20

Please make all checks payable to: ALTAR SERVICE GUILD

Checks may be placed in the offering plate, marked ATTN: Altar Service Guild, or may

be turned in at the church office.

Thank you for your continuing support of this mission of the Altar Service Guild.

Julie Hildebrand – Treasurer

Let Us Put a Smile on Other’s Faces Join Our Congregation Care

and Outreach Team by delivering

Flowers to Church Family Members

that are Homebound or Unable to

Join us for other Reasons.

www.fumcl.org | 424 Main Street, Laurel, MD 20707 | Tel: 301-725-3093 | office@fumcl.org 8

Join us Sunday at 10:00 am live on Facebook at

https://http://www.facebook.com/RevRayPage/live

All services will be posted to: http://fumcl.org/worship/worship-services/

Hope to see you there!

9

Join us for online Sunday School

2nd Cup – 8:30 am live on Zoom

Multiple Topics – The Bible

Sunday School - 1 pm live on Zoom

The Double Edged Sword - Revelation 2:8-17

Class info is on our website - www.fumcl.org

www.fumcl.org | 424 Main Street, Laurel, MD 20707 | Tel: 301-725-3093 | office@fumcl.org

www.fumcl.org | 424 Main Street, Laurel, MD 20707 | Tel: 301-725-3093 | office@fumcl.org 10

7 PM First Church's Connect Time

Weekly on Thursday & Friday

Description: Join Zoom Meeting

Contact the Church Office for Login Info

www.fumcl.org | 424 Main Street, Laurel, MD 20707 | Tel: 301-725-3093 | office@fumcl.org 11

YOUR MEMORIAL COMMITTEE

The Memorial Committee here at First Church was established many decades ago. Early on, church members thought that it was important to remember those that preceded us in the journey to heaven. Their charter was and still is that when members and friends of First Church pass on, those that wished to memorialize their family and friends could make Donations to the church. The donor’s desires were and still are that these donations be used to advance the word of Jesus Christ through improvement of the House of GOD.

All these years later, the members of the Memorial Committee (currently Pat Elliott, Jane Hanfman & Jim Welsh) have strived to fulfill these wishes. With the help of those who have Gone on before us, we have been able to help with many a project here at the church. We feel it is our calling to continue this plan. In the relatively recent past, this committee has made contributions to the exterior sign on Main Street, the stained glass windows, and the television in the Grand Entrance.

Currently, there are 35 names on our list of those that have preceded us on the journey to Heaven. If you would be interested in seeing this list, or are a family member of a memorialized loved one and/or have an interest in being involved with this ministry, please contact one of us.

www.fumcl.org | 424 Main Street, Laurel, MD 20707 | Tel: 301-725-3093 | office@fumcl.org 12

A Time of Sharing

A Time of Sharing is an adult support group for individuals ages 18 and over,

who’ve experienced the loss of someone related to the COVID-19 Coronavirus.

The support group helps survivors understand their grief experience and guides

them through their grieving process. This program is offered for 8 weeks.

Orientation Monday, July 27, 2020

6:00 –8:00 pm Program Begins

Monday, August 3, 2020 6:00-8:00 pm

To Register Please Call 301-880-5100

All Sessions via ZOOM

www.fumcl.org | 424 Main Street, Laurel, MD 20707 | Tel: 301-725-3093 | office@fumcl.org 13