First Church INVITE. Welcome to. First Church. Week of April 24, Market St. Williamsport, PA SUNDAY WORSHIP

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Transformation in Christ Changing lives inside and out (Romans 12:1-2) First Church Williamsport, PA 17701 570-322-3572 fumc2@comcast.net Check us out at www.firstchurch.

(live streamed message) 4:30pm Celebrate Recovery WEDNESDAY WORSHIP 5:00pm 601 Market St.

Fuse* student ministries welcomes all parents and guardians of current 6 th 12 th grade students to gather on Sunday May 1 st from 7-8pm in the fuse*box (side A).

You do not have to RSVP, we hope to see you there! Welcome to First Church United Methodist Week of April 24, 2016 NEW TO FIRST CHURCH?

ministries most relevant for you. Children are welcome!

in the lounge Step 2) A DISCIPLE S PATH 6 week group This group will guide you onto a path of growing discipleship and connection at First Church.

1 Transformation in Christ Changing lives inside and out (Romans 12:1-2) First Church Williamsport, PA Check us out at Donate SUNDAY WORSHIP 8:00am Traditional 9:30am Blended 11:00am Contemporary 601 Market St. 11:00am Contemporary 1157 Market St. (live streamed message) 4:30pm Celebrate Recovery WEDNESDAY WORSHIP 5:00pm 601 Market St. Night meal, fellowship, music, brief message, small groups (kids, youth & adults) This gathering is rated PG for parents and guardians! Fuse* student ministries welcomes all parents and guardians of current 6 th 12 th grade students to gather on Sunday May 1 st from 7-8pm in the fuse*box (side A). We will talk through this summer s ministries, answer questions, and encourage one another. There will be valuable resources for Christian parenting available as well. You do not have to RSVP, we hope to see you there! Welcome to First Church United Methodist Week of April 24, 2016 NEW TO FIRST CHURCH? - Steps to find your way: Step 1) MEET FIRST CHURCH SUNDAY, MAY 22 nd right after worship Join one of our pastors for a few minutes getting to know First Church and learning about the ministries most relevant for you. Children are welcome! After 8:00 service, room 206 near the lounge After 9:30 service; room 206 near the lounge After 11:00 Life Center service; back corner of Stryker Hall After 11:00 North Campus service; in the lounge Step 2) A DISCIPLE S PATH 6 week group This group will guide you onto a path of growing discipleship and connection at First Church. It is also the membership group if you would like to join at any time. Led by Pastor D.G. Giordano, 6:00-7:00p.m. Wednesdays beginning September 14 th in Room 206 of the FEC. Childcare is provided in conjunction with First Night. STAY CONNECTED AND GET INVOLVED! First Church is a busy place. We want to make sure you aren t missing out on anything. Besides reading the Weekly Newsletter, you can go to to learn all about First Church. The First Glance newsletter, sent every Saturday, briefly highlights some important upcoming events every week. You can also like the First Church Williamsport Facebook page. Stay connected and get involved! INVITE

2 CHRISTIAN BOOK GROUP Please join us Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Donna Johnson. The book for our May group is Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss. All are welcome! For questions or directions, please contact Donna GRAND FRIENDS Grand Friends will meet Tuesday, April 26 th at Hoss s Restaurant. Lunch will be at 12:15 p.m., followed by our program. This month s speaker will be Kristin Durrwachter from the Costello Center and the program is titled How to Prevent Falls. Please RSVP to Carol Cassidy at no later than Monday, April 25, SEWING IN THE SPIRIT Do you love quilting, sewing, or embroidery? Have you ever wanted to learn those skills? The goal of sewing in the spirit will be to create bags, quilts, and vests for the homeless, and for distribution on church mission trips. We will teach others to sew. Most importantly, we will share the gospel at opportune moments. We will meet on the 1 st and 3 rd Thursday s of each month at 9:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall of the Evangelical Center, everyone over 18 is welcome. If you are interested in more information about becoming a member of this new Acts Network group, please contact Judy Flook at (call or message) or jaflook@comcast.net. MISSION ITEMS NEEDED Local Food Pantry cake mixes, frosting, juice/juice boxes, mac ncheese. Shepherd of the Streets bar soap, deodorant, combs. Donations for these missions may be left in the baskets at the following locations: Christian Life Center - the Market Street entrance; Evangelical Center - the Ross Street entrance; North Campus - Lounge. SECOND MILE GIVING The Second Mile Giving for April is Expectations. Formerly the Pregnancy Care Center, Expectations provides a variety of pregnancy and relationship services to expectant mothers and fathers. These services include pregnancy testing program, ultrasound program, healthy pregnancy classes, labor and birth courses, healthy marriage/relationship program, adoption education, and other programs to assist parents. Please make checks payable to First Church with Expectations in the memo line. SAVE THE DATE: Transform PA A week of mission in our community August 1-5, 2016 TEACH SEND

MARRIAGE CORNERSTONES DON T MISS IT An evening dedicated to preserving & strengthening marriages Speaker Leslie Vernick, licensed clinical social worker, Christ-centered counselor, author and speaker

3 MARRIAGE CORNERSTONES DON T MISS IT An evening dedicated to preserving & strengthening marriages Speaker Leslie Vernick, licensed clinical social worker, Christ-centered counselor, author and speaker FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Faith United Methodist Church, 700 Fairview Drive, Montoursville FREE event, helpful for all married and engaged couples Registration appreciated but not required unless nursery care is needed at Nursery care available for birth to age 2 with registration Registration deadline is Friday, April 22 Those registering automatically qualify for a prize drawing for a date night basket Direct questions to Pastor D.G. Giordano at First Church, or call Faith church at Leslie Vernick is a sought after speaker. She has authored seven books, including the best-selling How to Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong. Leslie has been a featured guest several times on Focus on the Family Radio. In 2013, she received the American Association of Christian Counselors Caregiver of the Year Award. She has spoken all over America as well as in Canada, Romania, Russia, Hungary, the Philippines, the British Virgin Islands and Iraq. SPONSORED BY THE FOLLOWING LYCOMING COUNTY COUNSELORS &CHURCHES: First UMC, Williamsport; Faith UMC, Montoursville; Friends Church, Hughesville; St. Joseph the Worker; Cornerstone Family Health & Diakon Family Life Services APRIL 24 th CHILDREN S UPDATE Children's Choir sings "Thy Word" Sunday, April 24 9:30 a.m. ALL children 3 year-5th grade will start in worship with families. Following a special message for children, Sunday School will be dismissed for children in the CLC. We will meet in the back of the lobby by the Ross Street doors and children's ministry volunteers will walk the children across to the CLC for Sunday School. Nursery will be in the FEC for children 3 and under the entire 9:30 service. UMC SUMMER CAMPS United Methodist Conference Camps have opened registration for the 2016 Summer. Information is online or at all First Church welcome centers. First Church offers a 50% scholarship to all First Church families; registration forms and the family's 1/2 of payment made out to the conference camps should be submitted to First Church main office. A full week of camp is $325 (First Church pays $ per child) and a 1/2 week of camp is $175 (First Church pays $87.50). Additional scholarship money is available upon request - an additional form is required. Mark your calendars and register: Williamsport Week at Camp Penn is June SCHOLARSHIP NOW AVAILABLE Louise Stryker Music Scholarship Several years ago the Louise Stryker Music Scholarship Fund was established in honor of Louise to aid and assist young people who have expressed an interest in and aptitude for music. The scholarship amount will vary from year to year depending on the availability of investment income and the number of qualified applicants. Young people through age 21 years may apply. The scholarship may be used for lessons, classes, or training in vocal or instrumental music (does not include the purchase or rental of instruments). Preference will be given to members and/or regular attendees of First United Methodist Church. Details and applications are available at the information centers and the church office. Application deadline is Monday, May 16 at 3:00 p.m. Please return completed applications to the church office. CHILDREN S MINISTRY

4 Sermon Outline What & Why??? Faith and Suffering Job 1:1 and 2:1-10 and Romans 8:26-28 I. The challenge to suffering: If this is a good world, created and sustained by an all-powerful, loving God, why is there suffering and pain? II. The grand of God and humanity is: CREATION--FALL-- REDEMPTION--RESTORATION III. The key word in Genesis 2:16-17 in relation to humanity impacting God s creation is: IV. God created creation... V. Why does God not stop random acts of suffering from occurring? A. Do not underestimate the influence of upon God s good creation B. God may desire good, but there are also forces at work in the universe that result in suffering VI. The challenge of suffering: Where is God when we are raw in our emotion and we just want God to take the pain away? Why does GOD not stop the pain that is more than we can bear? VII. Job does not get an answer to his suffering, Job gets in Job s misery VIII. The Biblical response to is: God will meet us in it and sustain us through it. IX. In Jesus suffering has the final say Life Application: Where do I see suffering in the world? Where am I suffering the most right now? Can I trust that God meets us collectively in the suffering? That God meets me in that suffering? Can I trust that God can even bring redemption out of the suffering I am going through? Am I able to surrender the suffering I see to the loving hands of God? May we find comfort in Christ who knows our suffering since Christ Himself experienced suffering. Scripture Reflection: Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. First Church, Pastor s Page BE A PART OF TRANSFORM PA Mark down the dates of August 1-5. August 1-5! August 1-5! Those will be the dates of this year s TRANSFORM PA!!! (Formerly our Williamsport Mission week and Transform Lycoming County). If you are wondering why the name change it is because each year since we began this mission opportunity we have had an increasing number of satellite sites join us beyond Lycoming County! So now we can impact more than just our city and county! We have the opportunity to impact parts of all of PA! As much as we want other churches to join us in this endeavor (we praise God for the response of so many other churches), we still want this to be a major focus point for US at First Church. We believe that Transform PA is such a significant way for us to be used by God to bring about transformation in our world that it has become one of the 18 primary ministries areas for First Church. We believe that God is using this week to impact and transform the lives of many as we seek to offer the love of Jesus Christ in tangible ways. However, the only way this week reaches its full impact is if ALL of us join in. There are tons of ways to be involved. You do not have to be a skilled laborer to make a difference. We need prayers, deliverers, food preparers, donations, and willing hands along with those who can offer some skilled labor. You can come for one day or the whole week. But the point is, please COME and be a part of this week in some regard. Please consider taking a day (or two) off of work (or even the whole week!), working with your family, or just making a difference in the name of Jesus! This week is designed to be an all First Church endeavor. The only way it can be that is with YOUR participation. So please prayerfully plan NOW on how you can be a part of this week. Please be in touch with Aaron Russell (arussell@firstchurch.cc) as our Director for College and Community Outreach or visit our website for more information. Jesus said to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). Let us use this week to really put these words of Jesus into practice. In Christ, Pastor Matt

FIRST CHURCH Williamsport, PA 17701 Phone: 570-322-3572 Sunday, April 24 8:00 a.m.-worship (MC, FEC-Sanctuary) 9:30 a.m.-worship (MC, FEC-Sanctuary) 9:30 a.m.-sermon Talk (MC, FEC-201) 9:30 a.m.-children s Sunday School (MC, CLC-1st floor) 11:00 a.

5 FIRST CHURCH Williamsport, PA Phone: Sunday, April 24 8:00 a.m.-worship (MC, FEC-Sanctuary) 9:30 a.m.-worship (MC, FEC-Sanctuary) 9:30 a.m.-sermon Talk (MC, FEC-201) 9:30 a.m.-children s Sunday School (MC, CLC-1st floor) 11:00 a.m.-contemporary Worship (MC, CLC-Stryker Hall) 11:00 a.m.-contemporary Worship (NC) 4:30 p.m.-celebrate Recovery (MC, FEC-Sanctuary) 6:00 p.m.-fuse* student ministries (MC, FEC-fuse*box) 6:30 p.m.-divorcecare (MC, FEC-104) 6:30 p.m.-women s Small Group (Somers) (MC, FEC-201) Monday, April 25 1:15 p.m.-the Joyful Hearts (NC-Fellowship Room) 5:00 p.m.-open Gym (MC, CLC-Stryker Hall) 5:00 p.m.-men of Integrity (1508 Elmira St.) 5:30 p.m.-gift Women s Group (NC-Fellowship Room) 7:00 p.m.-women of Faith (1508 Elmira St.) Tuesday, April 26 10:30 a.m.-daughter s of Grace (MC, FEC-101) 10:30 a.m.-women s Bible Study (McMurray) (MC, FEC-102) 12:30 p.m.-jewels Small Group (MC, FEC-102) 2:15 p.m.-worship Design (MC, FEC-Fellowship Hall/102) 3:30 p.m.-tutoring (NC-Wesley Hall) 6:30 p.m.-tuesday Night Small Group (Lane) (MC, FEC-206) 7:00 p.m.-small Group (Murray) (MC, FEC-201) 7:00 p.m.-volleyball/bible Study (MC, CLC-Stryker Hall) We re on the Web! and Wednesday, April 27 6:00 a.m.-men s Small Group (Konieczny) (MC, FEC-102) 10:45 a.m.-the Flock (MC, FEC-102) FIRST NIGHT SCHEDULE 5:00 p.m. Dinner (MC, CLC-Stryker Hall) Fresh Express (MC. FEC-Fellowship Hall) 5:15 p.m.-wed. Night Worship Experience (MC, CLC-Stryker Hall) 5:45 p.m. Children s Ministries (MC, CLC-1st floor) 6:00 p.m. CR Step Study (Men) (NC-212/213) CR Step Sudy (Women) (NC-Fellowship Room) First Friends (MC, FEC-Fellowship Hall) Fuse* student ministries (MC, FEC-fuse*box/Lounge) Life of Christ (Reeder House, Lead Pastor s Office) Married Couples Small Group (MC, FEC-102) Men of God (NC-Wesley Hall) Mom s of Faith (MC, FEC-105) Sister s In Christ (MC, FEC-201) Women s Small Group (Netzley/Vierra) (NC-216) 7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir (MC, FEC-104) Thursday, April 28 6:00 a.m.-men s Bible Study (Marzo) (NC-Fellowship Room) 9:30 a.m.-mops (NC-Wesley Hall) 3:30 p.m.-tutoring (NC-Wesley Hall) 6:30 p.m.-bell Choir Rehearsal (MC, FEC-104) 6:30 p.m.-stephen Ministry Meeting (NC-Fellowship Room/212/213/215) 7:00 p.m.-clc Praise Band (MC, CLC-Stryker Hall/Stage) 7:00 p.m.-nc Praise Band (NC-Sanctuary Friday, April 29 6:00 a.m.-prayer Time (NC-Sanctuary) 5:00 p.m.-open Gym (MC, CLC-Stryker Hall) Saturday, April 30 7:00 a.m.-men s Group (Wegman s) 9:00 a.m.-worship Practicum (NC-Sanctuary/Lobby/212/214/215) NC = NORTH CAMPUS (1157 Market St.) MAIN CAMPUS CLC = Life Center (601 Market St.) FEC = Evangelical Center () CYCLE OF PRAYER: April 24 April 30 Norm, Kayla & Andrew Venema; Michael & Tereasa Verbeck; Ruth Vierra; Ryan, Kristin, Braden & Arianna Vincenzes; Kelly, Bryn, Katherine & James Vogel-Laughner; Paul & Betty Vollman; Harry Voss; Keith & Pam Wagner; Jonathan, Valerie, Layla, Xander & Lauger Waldman; Terry & Denise Waldman; John, Lisa & Molly Walker; Sean & Michelle Walker; Peter & Chris Wallace; Tom, Barb, Madelyn, Ian, Connor, Gwyn, Jillian & Simon Wallace; Betsy Ward; Dave & Linda Ward; Dan, Darlene, Daniel & Paul Warner; Doris Warren; Jan Warren; Lonianne Waters; Rick, Suzanne & Graham Waters; Dave, Kate, Tristin & Brock Weaver; Jim, Cathy, Ellie & Jon Weibley; Marshall, Melissa, Marshall & Abigail Welch; Ron & Nancy Wert; Jerry, Darlene, Angela & Danielle Wesneski; Tim, Ann & Whitney Weston; Mark, Mallory & Harrison Weymer; Bear & Susan Wheeland; Junior, Tina & Kaden White; Ann Wilson. Weekly Worship Attendance for week ending April 17, 2016: TOTAL 760

First Church INVITE. Welcome to. First Church. Week of August 20, Market St. Williamsport, PA SUNDAY WORSHIP

First Church INVITE. Welcome to. First Church. Week of August 20, Market St. Williamsport, PA SUNDAY WORSHIP Transformation in Christ Changing lives inside and out (Romans 12:1-2) First Church Williamsport, PA 17701 570-322-3572 office@firstchurch.cc Check us out at www.firstchurch.cc Donate SUNDAY WORSHIP 8:00