Please note: Starting Sunday, September 8, we will resume our regular worship schedule with services at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Charles S. G. Boayue returns from his trip to Liberia to preach a sermon titled "Begging at the Temple Gate" on Sunday, August 25.

The worship service will focus on Acts 3:1-10, which recounts an afternoon when Peter and John went to the Temple for the three o’clock prayer service. On this particular day, they encountered a man, lame from birth, placed at the Beautiful Gate, asking for money. Although Peter and John had no money to give, they offered him something far greater—healing in the name of Jesus Christ. The man was miraculously healed, walking, leaping, and praising God throughout the Temple, leaving the worshippers astounded. Dr. Boayue will explore this scripture, presenting challenging scenarios for reflection and discussing its relevance to our lives today.

Come and join us in worship as we seek to understand and apply these powerful lessons.

Family Worship & Sunday School

On August 25, Children will begin in the Sanctuary with their families. Then after the children's moment, children can attend a one-room Sunday school experience. Pick-up will be in the CLC or on the playground (weather permitting).  

Voice of Hope 

The Voice of Hope is a weekly devotional available to you by phone 24 hours a day. Starting on August 25 and lasting for a week, the Voice of Hope message will be recorded by Greg LaBrake with the title, “Three Score Years and Ten,” a personal reflection upon his 70th birthday. To listen, call 248-646-6407 and press 2 when your call is answered by our automated system.

Picture from left to right: Jennifer, Amy, Daniel, and Pastor Zack

We have new Student Ministries staff at Birmingham First!

As Amy Holton transitions out of the role of Student Ministries Coordinator, we are excited to welcome both Jennifer Quigley and Daniel Reynolds on board.

Jennifer Quigley grew up in the Birmingham area. She began attending Birmingham First in 2022 and has volunteered for VBS and in Sunday School ever since then. She is currently a 7th grade Humanities teacher in Farmington Schools. Jen is passionate about working with youth and sharing her faith with them. She is excited to get to know each of them, meeting each student where they are and helping them grow in their faith journey while building lasting relationships within the church.

Daniel Reynolds grew up as a member of Birmingham and Berkley First and was confirmed as a United Methodist in 2008. Daniel graduated from Hillsdale College in 2017, where he majored in Political Economy and then moved to Washington, D.C. for 3 years. Recently, Daniel was a middle school English teacher at a Christian Classical academy, where he helped young Christians learn great stories such as The Hobbit, The Chronicles of Narnia, and To Kill a Mockingbird. Daniel is excited to continue working with young Christians as they explore and learn new things about faith, themselves, and the world.

Rather than designating one Student Ministry Coordinator for Middle School and one for High School, both Jennifer and Daniel will work in collaboration with Pastor Zack Dunlap to empower all of our 6th-12th graders to better know, love, and serve Jesus Christ.

Please plan to be in worship on September 15, where we will honor Amy Holton’s leadership of Student Ministries following the 9:30 a.m. worship service. Our 2024-25 Student Ministries program year kicks off on September 8 with Sunday School at 9:30 a.m., High School Youth Group at 4:00 p.m., and Middle School Youth Group at 5:00 p.m. Daniel, Jen, Pastor Zack, and our amazing team of volunteers look forward to all that God has in store!

If you have questions about the year ahead or want to offer a word of welcome to our new staff, you can reach Daniel at dreynolds@fumcbirmingham.org, Jennifer at jquigley@fumcbirmingham.org, and Pastor Zack at zdunlap@berkleyfirst.org.

On Tuesday, August 27 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary, is our Special Church Conference where we will vote on candidates for ministry from both Birmingham and Berkley First. We will also approve revisions to our Endowment by-laws. All full members of the church are welcome to vote. 

It's time for Fantasy Football for Missions! With the NFL season kicking off on Thursday, September 5th, be sure to sign up now for this year’s competition. The needs of our mission partners are greater than ever, and this is a fun way to make a difference. A $30 donation is all that’s required, and you can choose to have team drafting and lineup management done automatically if you prefer. Best of all, 100% of the proceeds go directly to Birmingham and Berkley First missions teams to support their critical work. Last year, Dan Cragnolin won the FF4M championship and became our first two-time champion, claiming the Pettibone Trophy. Will it be you this year? For more details, visit our website or email Mark Adams at adams400@aol.com to sign up today!

Christian Classics Book Club

You are invited to join the Christian Classics Book Club, meeting on the second Wednesday of every month, starting September 11 at 7:00 p.m. at Birmingham First in the 2nd Floor Stevens Room. We will kick off the season by discussing our summer reading assignment, “Beach Music” by Pat Conroy. Led by the incomparable Beverly Hannet-Price, this group offers a wonderful opportunity for fellowship and thoughtful discussion. Everyone is welcome! For any questions, please contact Anne Wilbur at annwilbur18@gmail.com. We hope to see you there!

Sunday Social is on August 25. Gather in Thomas Parlor from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for a delicious cold brunch and warm fellowship. The cost is $15.00 per person, and it's a perfect opportunity to connect with friends and enjoy a relaxing afternoon together. To reserve your spot, please contact Mary Feldmaier by Wednesday, August 21 at 248-342-1929 or mfeldmaier@fumcbirmingham.org. We look forward to sharing this special time with you!

Merry Mates, a group of seniors 65+, is returning for another season of fellowship, service, and enrichment at Birmingham and Berkley First. For over 50 years, this group has gathered on the third Friday of the month, from September through May, for catered dinners and stimulating programs. We warmly welcome both returning members and new faces to join us!

On Friday, September 20, you are invited to our first meeting of the season in Fellowship Hall, beginning with a 5:30 p.m. gathering, followed by dinner at 6:00 p.m. and a program at 6:45 p.m. Todd Bryan, president of the Henry Ford Heritage Association, and Mark Campbell, a great-great-nephew of Clara Bryant Ford, will present on the fascinating history of Henry and Clara Ford. To reserve your spot, please contact Carol and Jim Rillema by email at crillema@gmail.com or by phone at 248.851.6438 by Sunday, September 15th. The cost is $20 per person, payable upon arrival. We look forward to sharing this evening of fellowship and history with you!

Ecclesia is a new Bible-based dialogue and discussion group designed specifically for parents of children and youth, led by Senior Pastor Dr. Boayue. The group meets on Sundays from September 15 to November 24 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. (excluding October 6 due to the Rummage Sale) at Birmingham First in the Martin Room. No need to register for the group, just drop in as you are able.

For those unable to attend in person, a Zoom link is available—simply email office@fumcbirmingham.org for a link. Childcare will be provided during the sessions (must pre-register for childcare, link will be available soon), making it easier for parents to engage in this enriching spiritual journey.

Fall Confirmation classes begin in September. Designed for students entering 8th grade or higher, Confirmation is an opportunity for you to examine and come to own your faith in a deeper way. Click the button below for more information or to register.

We are collecting college student addresses to send care packets to them during the upcoming school year.

Please send addresses to Chris Schulte via email at cschulte@fumcbirmingham.org. If an address is the same as last year, we still need to hear from you. If you would like to join this ministry, please contact sue.smith@beachcom.net.

We invite you to share your prayer requests with us at any time, day or night.

Your needs and concerns are important to us, and we are here to support you through the power of prayer. Simply click the button below to submit your prayer request, and rest assured that our dedicated team will lift your intentions up in prayer. You can also email your request to our prayer team at prayers@fumcbirmingham.org.

A Quiet Way

This summer, we invite you to take a peaceful journey on "A Quiet Way," our prayer walk. Begin in the serene Chambliss Garden, where you’ll find brochures in the little church mailbox to guide you. As you walk around the church, take a moment at each stone to reflect on the blessings in your life or to find solace in difficult times. Use this time to pray for others as well. At Birmingham First we are truly blessed to have this sacred space for contemplation and prayer.

DONATE: 

We welcome your donations curbside! No Truck pickup.

• Sunday, October 6 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
• Monday, October 7 from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

SHOP:

Public Sale Hours for Fall Sale 2024

• Wednesday, October 9 from 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Regular price)
• Thursday, October 10 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Regular price) and 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (50% off and/or $10 Bag). We provide 13-gallon kitchen bag(s) to fill (must use our bags!)

VOLUNTEER: 

To volunteer for fun & fellowship October 6-11, 2024 please call or text Jane Carvell @cell 248-379-2662 / jcarve55@icloud.com or the Birmingham campus Main office @ 248-646-1200. Volunteers must be a Birmingham or Berkley First member or be sponsored by a member.

You can now make an online donation by using PayPal, Google Pay or Apple Pay. Credit, debit or ACH are still accepted too!

We're excited to introduce the new online giving form for Birmingham & Berkley First! This user-friendly platform is designed to make your donation process as seamless as possible. Whether you're a first-time giver or a regular contributor, our new form allows you to donate as a guest or create a sign in with a username and password.  This flexibility ensures that you can support our community in the way that works best for you. Help make a difference—giving has never been easier! Click here for instructions on how to use the new online giving form.

Please note the CLC will be closed the month of August for updates and cleaning.

Birmingham First Building Summer Hours

Memorial Day – Labor Day

Sunday: Open for 10:00 a.m. worship

Monday thru Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday: By Appointment

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Give

Mail your donation to the church.

Give online to www.fumcbirmingham.org/give

Text to give at 248-368-0033:

1. Get a list of available funds by texting the word “keyword” to 248-368-0033.

2. Text any dollar amount (no dollar sign) and fund name. Examples: 50 Birmingham, 20 Missions

Caring Ministries

For after hours pastoral emergencies, call the Minister on Call cell phone at 248-408-0038.

Submit prayer requests at www.fumcbirmingham.org/pray.

Children and Family Ministries

Contact Kim Bowyer at kbowyer@fumcbirmingham.org