www.firstumcsylva.org - Getting Involved

Here at First United Methodist we are dedicated to making disciples who serve others. We believe that serving God is one of the greatest joy you’ll ever experience. Why? Because God created you to serve! And when you discover what those gifts are, and begin using them, you will experience a sense of fulfillment and purpose that will be unlike anything you have ever experienced. You will have the honor and privilege of seeing God at work firsthand - transforming your life and the lives of others.

If you’ve been here at FUMC for awhile you may have heard about or seen our “Networking with Christ” wheel. Our “Networking with Christ” is the vehicle by which we do ministry. It is organized around our purpose, “To know Christ and to make Him known” as well as our core values of Relationships, Relevance, Radical Transformation, and Reaching Out. Each of these ministry areas are important.

This Servant Catalog is simply a tool to help you respond to God's call to be a faithful disciple. It highlights many different ways you can serve others through First UMC. You are encouraged to find an area that resonates with you and make a commitment for 2009! Place a check by your area of interest(s) and a member of our church leadership will contact you.

Church Landscaping: tasks may include mowing, weeding, raking, and tending to plants.

Facilities Maintenance: Help keep our facilities in tip top shape. All types of skills are useful. This ministry includes the ongoing renovation of the Schulman House

9:00 Worship Setup Team:(rotational basis) weekly setup/breakdown of chairs and sound system.

9:00 Sound Team: (rotational) help run the sound board during the 9:00am worship service. Training available

8:30 Sound Team: (rotational) help run the sound board during the 8:30am worship service. Training available

11:00 Sound Team: (rotational basis) help run the sound board during the 11:00 worship service. Training available

Wednesday Night Gathering Meal Servers:(rotational basis) Help setup for the evening meal, serve, and then cleanup. No cooking involved! Time commitment is from 5:15pm until 6:30pm.

9:00 service Children's Church:(rotational basis) co-lead lesson and activity planned and geared for children ages 3-6 years.

11:00 service Children's Church:(rotational basis) co-lead lesson and activity planned and geared for children ages 3-6 years.

Children's Message:(rotational basis) share a children's message during 11am worship service.

Nursery Worker:(rotaional basis) help our nursery staff during 1 of the 3 worship services.

Children's Sunday School Teacher: Impact the life of a child! Serve as the lead teacher for one of our children’s Sunday School classes. Curriculum and training provided. Classes range from pre-K through the 5th grade. (You must have attended First UMC for at least 4 months to serve in this area.) Please specify preschool or grade level preferred.

Student Classroom Teacher: Serve as one of the teachers for our student Sunday School class. Curriculum and training is provided. (You must have attended First UMC for at least 4 months to serve in this area.) Weekly or monthly commitment. Please specify junior or senior high level.

Choir Vocalist: (11am Worship Service) Make a joyful noise unto the Lord! And help lead the congregation to do the same. Weekly rehearsals on Wednesday evenings from 7-8pm

Praise Band: Praise Band (Instrumentalist/ Vocalist)Serve in the "Praise Band" either as an instrumentalist or vocalist during our 9am worship celebration. Requires a commitment to weekly rehearsal and participation in worship on a regular basis.

Administrative Office Servant: assist our office staff with mailings, answering phones, and helping with other special secretarial tasks that may arise.

Community Table: The Community Table is an ecumenical / community effort to provide a hot meal and fellowship to anyone visits the "table". FUMC serves meals twice a month (1st & 2nd Thursdays) Help cook from 1:30-3:30pm and then serve from 4:00-6:00pm

Sunday Morning Coffee Guru: Our “Guru’s” make sure to offer a welcoming cup of hot coffee and a smile. Individuals make coffee, set-up a service table and make sure there is plenty of coffee, tea, and hot chocolate for three Sunday Services. Frequency: 2 or 3 Sundays a year.

Good Gracious Greeter:Greet and welcome guests attending worship. Prior to assigned worship service greet guests and members alike with a smiling face; handout information, answer questions about childcare, Sunday School, etc.; and after assigned worship serve at Guest Info Center to present gift and provide other information about First United Methodist Church to guests. Frequency: one worship service per quarter

Computer Specialist: Know how to repair computers or are you a whiz with MS Office software? Repair computers as needed or answer questions from church staff.

Parsonage Team: Help keep the church’s parsonage looking beautiful on the inside! Frequency: meets once a quarter or as needed

Knitting Ministry:“Nifty Needles” provides more than simply comfort to the community and world by knitting different garments for the needy, sick, and forgotten, it also “knits” community with one another. Frequency: Each Thursday from 10:00am – 12:00 noon.

Acts 4:32:This group of servants derives it’s ministry from the early Christian Church who were committed to supporting those who are in need. Specifically this group of caring people are willing to contribute financially if a member of our church family has an emergency need for financial assistance on a short term basis. Names are kept anonymous and members’ needs are cleared through the minister and assistance is recommended by him. Frequency: As needed basis

Weed Whacking Warriors:Enjoy fellowship while cutting grass on the hillside above wall in back of church with mowers and weed trimmers. Great way to stay in shape! BYOW (Bring Your Own Weedeater) Frequency: Once a month April-October

Children’s Choir Coordinator:Help lead little voices as they prepare music to sing in Sunday morning worship as well as their annual Christmas and Easter programs. No musical experience necessary! (You must have attended First UMC for at least 4 months to serve in this area.) Frequency: weekly rehearsal during the school year

Worship Intrumentalist: Play the trumpet, clarinet, flute or some other instrument? Willing to share your gift on a Sunday morning or in an ensemble? Then let us know. We’re always looking for more and diverse musical talent. Frequency: As needed / Seasonal

Kids Club Children’s Helper:These programs take place on Wednesday evenings from 6:15pm to 7:00pm. The children go through Biblically based lessons and sing and play. (You must have attended First UMC for at least 4 months to serve in this area.) Time Commitment: one hour

Childrens Classroom Helper:Help in the children's Sunday School classrooms as a support person, assist with lesson, crafts, etc. Requires a Sunday commitment. (You must have attended First UMC for at least 4 months to serve in this area.)

8:30am Prayer Team:Gather with others each Sunday morning to lift up specific prayer requests collected through the church office, via the prayer basket, email, and website. Frequency: Sunday mornings

Intercessory Prayer Team:Prayer is the foundation of the church and all that we do. Scripture reminds us that there is power in prayer. The Intercessory Prayer Team is a group of people who are committed to praying and interceding on the behalf of others on a continuous basis. They pray for our church and it’s ministries as well as individual requests. Frequency: Daily or weekly

Prayer Chain:Members of the prayer chain pray for immediate needs as they arise. Prayer requests come vial individuals to the Prayer Chain Coordinator who then will call each prayer chain leader who contact members on this lists. Frequency: As needed basis

Prayer Partner Ministry:Pray for individuals from our church that are assigned by the team leader. Includes four (4) areas with individual team leaders Children – birth to 5th grade Youth – 6th to 12th grade College – freshman thru senior level Military – All no matter where they are serving

Student Ministry:The student ministry program is always open to adults willing to be a part of teens lives. Regardless of your age, involvement in this ministry only requires enthusiasm for youth and God’s plan for their lives; oh, and a background check! ( You must have attended First for at least 4 months to serve in this area.) Frequency: Sunday afternoons and other special times

JOY Group (Just Older Youth\:Who says you have to slow down when you get older? Members of the JOY Group haven’t! The JOY Group helps to provide spiritual growth, fellowship, recreation & involvement for persons over 55, who would like to participate in a monthly “road trip” with others. Frequency: Once each month

Mission Ministry Team:Our congregation is committed to reaching out locally as well as globally. Serve on disaster response and or building teams to areas anywhere in US or serve as member of the WNCC-UMC Volunteers in Mission Building Teams around the world. Ministry Team Leader: Dickie Woodard Frequency: as needed

Giving of Time and Strong Back:This ministry provides help with heavy tasks such as moving, raking leaves, and just being available for different tasks that arise. Time varies depending on the need. Frequency: as needed basis

Grow One Garden Row for United Christian Ministries:Like to garden but don’t have a lot of time or even a place to grow things? Then Grow One Garden Row might be for you. Participants will be responsible for plowing, planting, growing and harvesting one garden row. We have a garden plot available located in the Sylva city limits. Frequency: As needed from April through September.

Lay Pastor:Lay Pastors help with the pastor care of the congregation by helping to make hospital visits and follow up phone calls to those who have had recent surgeries or illnesses. Frequency: as needed basis

RUOK (Are You Okay:Help to minister to families and individuals making weekly phone calls to elderly, sick, or lonely persons to check and see if they are okay, to provide a listening ear, and be available to refer them to others who can help them whenever special needs arise Frequency: Once a week

Ramp Builders:Our ramp building ministry provides mobility to the disabled or elderly in our church and community. The Ramp Builders also provide volunteer building assistance to the Jackson County Department on Aging. Clients are selected by the Department on Aging and materials provided to our Ramp Building Team. The team builds the ramp in one day, two at the most. Ramp Builders provide manpower for other projects around the church. Frequency: As needed basis

Nursing Home Music and Devotion Ministry:This ministry is sponsored by the Chancel Choir, but is open to all members of our church who feel a calling to visit clients in rest homes. We sing hymns and have a short devotion and visit with the nursing home clients. Frequency: Four times a year

Care Ministry - Card Sender:Help to minister to families and individuals by sending birthdays, anniversary, get well, miss you, thank you cards. Frequency: Weekly basis

Guest Follow-up:Be a part of a team who are willing to make brief and short door-step visits at the homes of our first-time worship guests on Sunday afternoons. Requires one Sunday a month commitment.

Tape Delivery:Deliver the previous Sunday’s worship service to those who were unable to attend in person. Requires a weekly commitment of a couple of hours or less.

Acolytes:(rotational basis) Youth in the 1st to 5th grade are invited to assist in worship during the 11am worship service.

Banner Ministry:Crafty? Like to sew? This ministry makes banners used for our worship services and church decorations. These banners will bring pageantry and celebration to our church and into our community.

Drama Ministry: For ages 12 & up – “no age too old”. Learn to illustrate themes in our worship service and/or play productions through drama. No experience necessary! Frequency: As needed basis

Video Tech:Serve behind the scenes creating and managing our graphics, videos, and song lyrics in worship. Computer skills a must. Some training available. Frequency: Requires a monthly commitment to the 9am worship service.

Usher:Ushers assist in receiving the offering during our worship services. They also work with Greeters to welcome people and make sure they receive a bulletin as well as assisting people with seating. Frequency: One month out of the year

Transportation Ministry - Car Driver:The purpose of this ministry is to provide transportation for members of the church family who can no longer drive or have no vehicle. Most trips are doctor visits, however, we do transport to pharmacies for prescription pick-up or grocery shopping. This service is offered at no charge. Members pay for their own fuel. Frequency: As needed basis

Transportation Ministry - Van Driver:Are you willing to drive a 15 passenger van? From time to time our children, youth, or adults will plan a trip away from our church campus and need someone to drive a van. No special license needed but a good driving record is a must. Commitment: as needed basis. Frequency: as needed basis

Recreation Ministry:Like softball or volleyball? Just want to get a good workout? Just want to have fun? Then join one of our recreational softball or volleyball teams. Adult teams participate in the Jackson Recreation Department leagues. Frequency: several times a week during the appropriate sports season

United Christian Ministries: UCM is an interdenominational crisis ministry for the people of Jackson County who have urgent physical, economic, social, and spiritual needs. On an emergency basis, UCM offers food, clothing, and other forms of assistance. First United Methodist has supported this ministry since its inception. Help in the office or storehouse.

Seasonal Decorating Team:Love to decorate for the holidays? The Seasonal Decorating Team strives to make the church welcoming for members and visitors. We honor God by acknowledging the importance during holiday times of making the church a pleasant place to be. More time will be needed during holiday seasons. Frequency: A few hours during each holiday season – primarily Christmas and Easter

Church Rummage Sale:This ministry spear heads a rummage sale at the church each spring. The one caveat is serving here? You get to be one of the first to scope all the neat stuff! Frequency: Time needed is once a year for a few days.

New Ministry Idea:Have an idea for a new ministry here at First UMC? Feel called to serve in a way not listed here? Then let us know what it is! Share your idea in the "Comment" section of the request form

Your Name:

Your Phone:

Your Email Address:

Your Street Address:

City:

State:

Zip Code:

Comments:

Joomla! is Free Software released under the GNU/GPL License.