Is there someone you know over 18 years of age who is unable to protect themselves due to a mental, physical disability or advanced age?  You’ll want to join us at our next Stephen Ministry sponsored event on Tuesday, February 21, at 7 p.m. in the 3^rd Floor Café.  Our guest speaker will be from the Department of Human Services who will address how their office addresses these specific situations.  This event is brought to you by the Stephen Ministry team of Franklin First UMC, a confidential listening ministry carried out by the lay people of the church.  Everyone is invited to attend.

If you’re a Scout we’d like to remind you that Scouting Sunday is coming up on Sunday, February 12 and we’d love for you to wear your uniforms.  We’d also like to recognize our scouts for their achievements this past year.  If you’ve participated in service opportunities or won awards through Scouts, let us know on your Communication Card.

Also, on February 12 from 11:45 – 1:30 p.m., we’ll  kick off the new session of our “God and Country” classes.  These classes are for boys and girls in 6^th – 8^th grades and are designed to help scouts pursue a deeper understanding of their faith.  This program fulfills the requirements for religious awards earned Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.  If you’d like to know more about this series of classes email Tom Lotz at: t_lotz@bellsouth.net or Sarah Carty at scarty@franklinfumc.org.

Ladies of Franklin First UMC, join us at the UMW FaithLift event on Sunday, February 19 at 2:00 p.m. at Epworth UMC.  Catherine Birdwell, Director of Religious Eduction, will be the key note speaker.  She’ll be sharing from her experiences on a recent trip to Port Au Prince, the people she met and how they live day to day there in “Haiti – One Step at a Time.”  There will be a group from Franklin First UMC attending.  If you would like to attend, contact Catherine Farmer at 794-4862 to let her know and coordinate rides.

Our friend, Chester, from Guatemala is offering one-on-one and group session tutoring while he is visiting the U.S.A.  The next group session will focus on basic spanish conversation and will be held on Feb 4, at 4 p.m.  All sessions are one hour.  Group lessons $15.00/person.  One-on-one tutoring $25.00/person. Please email Pastor Vona to register at vwilson@franklinfumc.org Chester is the translator that works with the mission teams in Guatemala.  Additional sessions are available.  Ask for details.

Tweens in 5^th & 6^th Grades, join us for our February Connection Event at the Chili Cookoff on Sunday, February 26 at 5:00 p.m.  We’ll be cooking up the prize winning chili and showing our amazing talent at the talent show…all to help support Youth Missions for 2012.  If you’d like to join in on the fun, let us know by filling out the Event Registration form you’ll find online at News & Events, or pick one up at class this Sunday.  It’s going to be a great night.  See you there.  Oh yes…we’ll need some parents to help as well.

The Mary Martha UMW Circle will meet on Sunday, February 12 from 2-4 p.m. in B101.  We’ll have a brief program with refreshments.  This group meets the 2^nd Sunday of each month.  We’d like to invite all ladies of the church to attend.

Ladies of Franklin First UMC, join us for our UMW Mission Study on Haiti at Columbia First UMC on Monday April 9 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.  For lunch we’ll enjoy a potluck with other ladies from our district.  Please bring a salad to share.  If you’re interested in attending, contact Butchie Steinton at Columbia First UMC at 931-381-6888.  If you’d like to coordinate rides from Franklin First UMC to the event, contact Dot Ginn 599-9805.

Preschool and Parents Day Out registration for members of Franklin First UMC is this Monday, February 6 from 9 -11 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.  Tours will be available.

Ladies of Franklin First UMC, join us for our UMW Service of Prayer and Self Denial on Sunday, March 11 at 3:00 p.m. in Room B101.  So we’ll know how to prepare the room, contact Kay Matthews at kaylm@bellsouth.net if you plan to attend.

Jump in and give back to our community by joining us this year at Great Day of Service on Saturday, May 5.  We’ll get started on Saturday, May 5 at 7:00 a.m. in the Franklin First UMC Fellowship Hall with a light breakfast and communion.  Then we’ll venture out into the community and serve throughout the day.  Additional details about this day are available now on our web site at http://www.franklinfumc.org/ministries/missions-outreach/great-day-of-service. Beginning in March you’ll find a specific list of all the project online where you can sign-up.  For now, we just want you to reserve this day for us and the work we’ll do for missions.  Can’t wait to see you there.