What is DiscipleU? M1: Women s Sharing Group (Women)*

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2 What is DiscipleU? DiscipleU is First United Methodist Church s small group ministry. Each week a small group of 8-12 people meet together at a convenient location to grow, have fun and build healthy new relationships. At First United Methodist Church, there is a different kind of DiscipleU group for every kind of interest. Fall 2016 DiscipleU groups begin the first week of October and last 12 weeks or less, unless otherwise noted. Some of the groups are ongoing. Ongoing groups that run more than a semester will be denoted with an *. To sign up for the group of your choice, simply write the group number of your choice (example: W1) in the space provided on the back of your Connection Card. You can also sign up online at via the registration link that is located on the main page of the website. MONDAYS M1: Women s Sharing Group (Women)* 1 st and 3 rd Mondays (begins Sept. 19), 7pm, FSC Mezz. Hanover Group Leader: Holly Miller, Deb Godfriaux, Crystal Rhone, Nadine Bosley Welcome to RELEASE, a six-session study designed for small group study for women, who are ready to study God s Word and be challenged to Let Go and Let God! To the best of my abilities, we are skipping the fluff and standing on the solid places. We are taking the questions which tickle the edges of our minds and we are going to wrestle with them. If we can answer them, sweet, if not, may they forever challenge us. We are choosing to be real in our talks. We are not going to shy away from the passages in scripture that make us uncomfortable. We are going to sit right down in the uncomfortable space and be challenged. We are going to hold each other s hands for the sake of growing together, but we will not be held back. If you let Him, God will wreck you for His kingdom. If you allow Him, he will lead you away from normalcy. So hold hands. Grow together. But when He calls your name and He is calling your name there is a choice. What are we going to do with the subtle uneasiness which plagues us? The restlessness that suggests that somewhere in our lives we are missing the point? Will we silence it or will we die to it? Let us die to the life in comfort. Let us find

3 ourselves wrecked before God, postured in apology coupled with gratitude. Let our normalcy be wrecked by our resurrected faith. M2: Covenant Brothers (Men)* 1 st and 3 rd Mondays, 7pm, FSC Parlor, Hanover Group Leader: Steve Miller The Covenant Brothers is a group of men ranging in age from 35 to 95 yrs. We meet the first and third Mondays of each month from 7 to 8:30pm in the Frederick St. parlor. We read a daily devotional throughout the year and discuss how the lessons pertain to us individually and collectively. We confidentially share our own life experiences in hopes of helping those with similar circumstances. We learn from and pray for one another so we can better serve as practicing Christians. M3: Encouragement, Study and Prayer (E/S/P)* Mondays, 9:30-11:30am, FSC Mezz, Hanover This group meets every Monday morning for prayer and to engage in the ministry of encouragement. If you are a prayer warrior and want to be on the front lines, offering encouragement to others, then this is the group for you!

4 TUESDAYS T1: The Perkins Study: The Gospel of Luke * Tuesdays, 7:45-9am, Perkins Restaurant, Hanover Group Leader: Pastor Greg Rapp Begins September 6 and will continue to May 16, Our study will have only one textbook, the Bible, as we study the Gospel of Luke. Using several different approaches to studying the text, we will move deliberately, covering only as much as we cover each week in order to mature as disciples of Jesus. You are welcome to start on September 6 when we resume after the summer break, or you can start on October 4 after registrations are completed using the Disciple U Small Group Catalog. T2: UMW: Mary Esther Circle (Women)* 1 st Tuesday, 1:30pm, FSC Parlor, Hanover Group Leaders: Phyllis Plowman and Pauline Ruby We participate in the two annual UMW programs: Thank offering and Prayer and Self-Denial. Other monthly meetings include having speakers who are involved in missions. We send cards to incarcerated women, receiving names from the York District UMW. We send cards to shut-ins - especially our Mary Esther sisters. Collecting coupons to send to military families so they will have greater buying power is another project we do. We also provide funeral lunches when requested. We provide the desserts for the UMM at their January meeting. Please contact Phyllis or Pauline T3: UMW: Susannah Wesley Circle (Women)* 2 nd Tuesday, 7pm, FSC Mezz, Hanover Group Leader: Susan Raver and Judy Goslin Meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. in the church Mezzanine or someone's home. Each member takes turns acting as hostess providing refreshments. Our monthly meetings consist of a program - sometimes a special speaker or something from the UMW handbook. We host the Rose Breakfast, serve as greeters at FSC in February, August, and December, and serve UMM in March and November. We assist with the Rummage Sales in

5 May and October. We provide donations for Thanksgiving and Christmas to a family and donate designated items each month to New Hope Missions. We have a Mother's Day Tea in May, a Picnic in August, and a Christmas Dinner in December. Come join us! Contact Susan or Judy T4: UMW Hope Circle (Women)* 3 rd Tuesday (Sept-May), 6:30pm, MSC Library, Hanover Group Leader: Lisa Snyder We are a small but mighty circle of 4 to 8 members, and are always eager to welcome new people who are looking for a circle of caring and sharing women. We serve dinner for the United Methodist Men in October and April, greet in September and March, and serve as hostess for the UMW Christmas Tea in December. Projects/ministries include the following: Prepare, with the assistance of our supportive church family, goody boxes of snacks and school supplies for our college kids in September/October. Distribute baby bottles to collect spare change for Tender Care Pregnancy Consultation in May/June. Collect diapers for Tender Care twice a year, as needed, and prepare them for distribution. Participate in the loom knitting group, making hats for babies, children and adults for distribution to Tender Care, Ronald McDonald House, caringcap.org, and local shelters. Please consider joining our circle of Hope, as we look for ways to serve those in need. For more information, contact Circle Leader Lisa Snyder at T5: The Tuesday Night Bible Study: The Gospel of John Tuesdays, 7-8:30pm, FSC Room 210, Hanover Group Leader: Pastor Greg Rapp Begins October 4 and will continue to December 13. Meeting in the church library, our study will employ the bible reference resources on the shelves around us as we study the Gospel of John. There is no pressure and no schedule of readings as we will cover only as much as we are able each week, taking as much time as we need in order to mature as disciples of Jesus. Come and know God better!

6 WEDNESDAYS W1: Revelation Wednesdays, 9am-11:30am, FSC Mezz, Hanover Group Leader: Peggy Duck DISCIPLE: UNDER THE TREE OF LIFE, the final study in the four-phase DISCIPLE program and is prepared for those who have completed BECOMING DISCIPLES THROUGH BIBLE STUDY. The study concentrates on the Writings (Old Testament books not in the Torah or the Prophets), the Gospel of John, and Revelation. Last year the group tackled the Writings and Gospel of John. This year, the group will focus on the climax of the message and the promise, extravagantly pictured in the Revelation. The image of the tree and the color gold emphasize the prod and promise in the Scriptures for DISCIPLE: UNDER THE TREE OF LIFE. The word under in the title is meant to convey invitation, welcome, sheltering, security, and rest home at last. After wrapping up with the DISCIPLE curriculum, the group will utilize Bruce Metzger s Breaking the Code: Understanding the Book of Revelation and Joe Stowall s DVD 7 Churches of Revelation. In Breaking the Code, Dr. Metzger looks at the Book of Revelation, which contains passages of great beauty and comfort, as well as passages that strike the casual reader as bizarre, bewildering, and sometimes frightening. How are readers today to discern God s message in this peculiar part of the Bible? Breaking the Code provides a trustworthy guide to the rich symbolism of this important biblical book. Noted biblical scholar Bruce M. Metzger presents the fruits of solid scholarship in a non-academic style. Breaking the Code serves as a key for understanding this powerful and puzzling book from the first century of the Christian Era. Joe Stowall contends that many of the issues we deal with in churches today are very similar to those faced by the 7 churches mentioned in the book of Revelation. Hosted by Dr. Joseph Stowell, this 7-part DVD, 7 Churches of Revelation takes a closer look at the letters written by the apostle John to the churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Gain insights into Gods love for the world, His warning and correction for the churches, and His hope and encouragement for the future.

7 W2: That The World May Know Wednesdays, 1-2:30pm, FSC Mezz, Hanover Group Leader: Peggy Duck Travel to Israel and radically change your understanding of the Scriptures. Wet your feet in the Jordan River and impact the culture with life-giving water. Show your trust in the Lord's provision by offering up first fruits at Jericho. And cleanse the land by confronting evil and using the tools of society to redeem your world for God. In this first volume of the That the World May Know series, historian and teacher Ray Vander Laan will show you how God guided his people to a specific place - the Promised Land - to impact the world both in ancient times and today. Experience the Bible in historical context! W3: Church and Society Book Club: Serve God and Save the Planet 2 nd Wednesday, 7pm; FSC Parlor, Hanover Group Leaders: Tom and Beth Henry Taking care of God s creations is one of the fundamental aspects contained within the Social Principles which the United Methodist Church supports. In an effort to continue providing information and dialog on ways that we can all better take care of this planet that God has entrusted to us, the Church and Society Committee will continue to offer a monthly Book Club small group study. The book that we will be using this term is titled Serve God, Save the Planet - A Christian Call to Action by J. Matthew Sleeth, MD. We will meet the 2 nd Wednesday of every month at 7PM in the parlor at the Frederick Street Campus. Please join us for an informative and invigorating hour as we seek to find ways to make our world and local community a better and healthier place to live.

8 W4: UMW: Lena Peffer Circle (Women)* 1 st Wednesday, 9:30am, FSC MPR, Hanover Group Leaders: Linda Duby and Carol Yates The Lena Peffer Circle meets the first Wednesday of the month September through May at 9:30 a.m. There are 34 members. For many years the Lena Peffer Circle made cancer pads for the Visiting Nurses Association. Our current mission projects are collecting items for the Hanover Needlework Association and for the Hanover Council of Churches. The co-chairmen of the Lena Peffer Circle are Linda Duby and Carol Yates. Marianne Garrett gives the monthly program on missions. If you d like to join us please contact Linda or Carol W5: New Season s Ministry Esther 4:14 (Women)* 2 nd Wednesday, 7pm, MSC Library, Hanover Group Leader: Denise Beamer We believe that God has called each of us to serve the world in response to His love for us. We believe that God calls us to serve in the areas we are most passionate about. We believe that God calls us to different things at different seasons of life. This ministry team s focus is to help women recognize and respond to that call. Contact information: Web: esther4fourteen2013@gmail.com Phone: Denise Beamer Our Vision: To nurture and support women as they seek to live a Christ-like life, to mentor other women, and leave a legacy of faith. Our Mission: -To provide opportunities for fellowship and growth. -To encourage sharing of faith, prayer and ministry to others. -To recognize talents and gifts in one another. -To respond to specific needs of women by equipping them to live Godly lives.

9 W6: The Prayer Course and Beyond Wednesdays, 10am-11:30am, MSC MPR, Hanover Group Leader: Pastor Josh Rhone As disciples of Jesus, we strive to deepen our love relationship with God every single day. Like any relationship, we spend quality time with God and talk regularly. We call this communication and time with God prayer. Prayer is something we know we should do, but very few of us have ever been taught the basics of how to pray. This course will teach you how to pray. The Prayer Course is a workshop on prayer developed in England by David Grieg and is used to support the Alpha Course by teaching how to pray. The first half of our semester will be spent working our way through the provided videos and printed materials. The second half will be spent learning about different ways to pray. Every class session will have time to learn and discuss and time to practice what we learn by actually praying. We will learn to pray by praying. NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY! We are starting at the very, very beginning! There is no cost for this course and no required book other than the Bible, which you will need to provide and the printed materials that will be provided to you for free. If you do not have a Bible, contact Pastor Josh ( or pastorjosh@firstumchanover.org) and we will get one into your hands.

10 THURSDAYS R1: 5x5 Discipleship Group Thursdays, 1-2:30pm, FSC (Room to be determined), Hanover Group Leader: Pastor Josh Rhone The idea of 5x5 is a play on the Q code that is employed for radiotelegraph communication. Instead of examining the readability and strength of a radio signal, our 5x5 group will meet on a regular basis to discuss our relationship with God the strength of that relationship and our ability to hear and respond to His leading. These honest conversations will share a number of similarities with the early Wesleyan class meetings providing all involved with an opportunity to grow in grace, love and holiness. A willingness to share is a must. No experience necessary and no book, other than the Bible, is required. Group size minimum (4) and maximum (8).

11 SATURDAYS S1: Young Adult Not a Fan Study cont. 2 nd Saturday, 1pm, 904 Baer Avenue, Hanover Group Leader: Tommy Fitchett The Young Adult ministry is continuing our exploration and discussion of Kyle Idleman s book Not a Fan. We have taken a much slower approach to the topic since we are in really absorbing the topic into our daily lives and into our mission as a ministry to young people in the Hanover area. You are welcome to join us even if you did not complete the first semester with us. This topic will not only take us through the study of the book, but we will also focus on being followers of Christ as a group through service, fellowship, and providing witness in Hanover. Check us out! S2: UMW: Lydia Circle (Women)* 2 nd Saturday, 10-11:30am, MSC Library, Hanover Group Leader: Dawn Evans Have you been thinking about joining a United Methodist Women's circle but a daytime or evening circle doesn't fit your schedule? Are you interested in joining a small group where together you can make a difference for those who are hurting, scared, lonely, searching? Do you want to be a part of a group that will take action to touch others with the love of Jesus? As a group we intend to support ministry efforts in the lives of people in our church, in Hanover, in our nation, and in the world. In addition to looking for ways to encourage the individual women in our lives we have chosen to partner with the M Calister Inn on York Street near the Hanover Square with the goal of increasing social connection and positive activities (Bingo anyone?) For our national and international efforts we support Women at Risk and Operation Christmas Child. We have a passion to reach out to do what we can to support victims of human trafficking and share the love of Jesus with children around the world. At least once a semester we use our meeting time to make items that will be included in our OCC shoe boxes that we send out every November. If you are interested in participating in any of these ministries but cannot commit to attending the Lydia circle meeting, contact Dawn Evans at to see how you could still be involved.

12 Come meet with us, and bring your ideas of ways we can do something tangible for those in need. If you need childcare, contact Dawn and arrangements will be made to provide care by Safe Sanctuary certified sitters. Why "Lydia"? See Acts 16:4-13.

13 SUNDAYS N1: International Sunday School Class* Sundays, 9:15-10:15am, FSC Mezz, Hanover Group Leaders: Faye Schuck, Ann Jones, Greg Rapp, Bill Garrett This study focuses on the International Lesson Book, which changes every quarter. The study includes books from both the Old and New Testaments. Individuals are free to ask questions which often leads to interesting discussions. We always share prayer concerns and welcome all. N2: Faith, Family and Friends* Sundays, 9:15-10:15am, FSC , Hanover Group Leader: Randy Culp, Mike Price and Eric Klansek Faith, Family, and Friends is a Sunday School Class that includes a lot of, but definitely not limited to parents (and even grandparents) of children of all ages. We typically follow a video series with a range of topics. Many of those topics tend to be family centered but also include everything from historical based Biblical studies, to personal finance, to current social and real-world events and topics. All ages with and without children are welcome and encouraged to join in as the more diverse everyone s background, the better the discussions! If you are not able to join in every week, no worries as we try to do a recap at the start of each class to get everyone up to speed on whatever the current topic is. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Randy Culp, Eric Klansek, or Mike Price. N3: Library Class: The Good and Beautiful Life* Sundays, 9:15-10:15am, FSC Library, Hanover Group Leader: Richard Carlson, Jim Hall and Mary Jane Hoffmaster "I have never met a person whose goal was to ruin his or her life. We all want to be happy, and we want it all of the time." So begins James Bryan Smith in The Good and Beautiful Life. The problem is, he tells us, we have bought into false notions of happiness and success. These self-centered decisions lead us further into the vices that cause ruin: anger, lust, lying, worry and judging. Eventually we find ourselves living a beautifully packaged life of self-destruction. Following the Sermon on the Mount, this follow-up to The Good and Beautiful God guides us to look behind these character flaws

14 and to replace our false beliefs with Jesus' narratives about life in the kingdom of God. N4: Sunday Morning Live! (SML) Sundays, October-December, 9:30am-10:30am, MSC Library, Hanover Group Leaders: Pastor Josh Rhone, Scott and Deb Wood SML is an opportunity to have a lot of fun together, while growing in faith, and deepening relationships. Stay tuned for more information during the month of September and plan to join us for our October 2nd launch. Please direct any questions to Pastor Josh ( or pastorjosh@firstumchanover.org). N5: Men s Sunday School Class: Half-Truths (Men)* Sundays, 9:15-10:15am, FSC 209, Hanover Group Leader: Graham Campbell, Bill Garrett and Larry Jackson They are simple phrases. They sound Christian like something you might find in the Bible. We ve all heard these words. Maybe we ve said them. They capture some element of truth, yet they miss the point in important ways. Journey with the men of First Church as they are challenged by Adam Hamilton in this Bible study to search for the whole truth by comparing common Christian clichés with the wisdom found in Scripture. The clichés include: Everything happens for a reason. God helps those who help themselves. God won t give you more than you can handle. God said it, I believe it, that settles it. Love the sinner, hate the sin. N6: Confirmation 5x5: Loud and Clear Sundays, 12:30-1:30pm, FSC Youth Room 213, Hanover Group Leader: Tommy Fitchett How satisfied are you with your love relationship with God? How satisfied is God with your love relationship? Does your relationship with God give you a purpose worth living and dying for (or would you like it to?)? Are you interested in taking the next step and becoming a member of FUMCH? These questions are central to our 12-week Confirmation 5x5 group this year. This group s main function is to provide mutual accountability as we

15 explore worshiping, learning together, serving, giving, and encouraging others in their faith. Additionally, we will learn our church s structure, the reasons we do the things we do, and the way the new generation of believers can make us stronger than we have ever been before. Interested in joining as a participant, peer leader, or mentor? Contact Tommy Fitchett for more information at , tommy.fitchett@firstumchanover.org, or by using your Connection Card. N7: CHAOS Sunday School Class (Youth)* Sundays, 9:15-10:15am, FSC 213, Hanover Group Leaders: Tommy Fitchett, Erin Yurick, Linda Hartman and Glenn Hartman Ever feel like your faith is stuck at the Sunday school answer level? You know the right answers to give. At the very least could make an educated guess as to whether it is Moses, Jesus, Grace, or Read my Bible and pray more. Maybe you are still left with doubts, fears, questions, and insecurities about your relationship with God. Do not worry, because this is normal. Check your Sunday School answers at the door and bring your honest self to CHAOS Sunday School! This is a safe place to explore your faith with other middle and high school students and support one another as you dig seek God s purpose for your life. We will start by going back to the basics and finding out what salvation through Jesus Christ means for you personally. From there we will explore what our stories (individually and as the Church) say about our relationship with God. Finally, we will dive into that often dreaded topic of sharing our faith with our friends, family, and peers. Bring your honesty and an expectation to see God move in your life in new ways. N8: CHAOS Sunday Evening Youth Group (Youth)* Sundays, 5-6:30pm, MSC MPR, 200 E. Middle St., Hanover Group Leaders: Tommy Fitchett, Randy Culp, Eric Klansek and Kent Hoffmaster Sunday Night is a great opportunity for 6 th 12 th graders to enjoy fellowship, games, food, and teaching with their peers and a team of truly wonderful volunteers. We have been blessed with a new room downstairs that we will continue personalizing over the next semester, so please come out and take a look at our new digs! Topics will include learning how to enjoy God,

16 pursuing healthy relationships, and trusting God with issues that matter. CHAOS stands for Christ Honored and Others Served, and that is what we desire for our group. We are pursuing a relationship with God that gives us a purpose worth living and dying for. Do you have that kind of purpose? Would you like to N9: Kids 4 Christ Sunday School (Children)* Sundays, 9-10:15am, FSC, Hanover Group Leaders: Various Ages 4 years through 5 th grade begin in The Gathering Room for prayer and a video. Then, move to age appropriate classes. This fall our focus is on 1 & 2 Peter and Jude where we will learn more about the meaning of a Godly life and honoring God through Bible study. N10: Kids 4 Christ Children s Church (Children)* Sundays, During the 10:45am service, MSC, Hanover Group Leaders: Various Kids begin worship in the sanctuary and are led through a time of song. Then, they are dismissed to the Kid s Zone for a time of continued worship while studying how to have a Godly life and how to honor God. N11: Parlor Sunday School Class* Sundays, 9:15-10:15am, FSC Parlor, Hanover Group Leaders: Phyllis Plowman and Karen Fereday As the title of our class indicates, we meet in the Parlor at FSC at 9:15 each Sunday. While the class is currently comprised of women, we welcome anyone who wishes to join us. Beginning Sept. 25, the Parlor Sunday School Class will be studying The Jewishness of Jesus by Rabbi Evan Moffic. This study will continue until the first week in December. All of the Parlor Class studies involve using the Bible for reference, understanding and discussion.