worship Information for Pride Sunday, October 11, 2026
Scripture Lessons: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (NRSVue)
Sermon Title: “One Body, Many Colors”
Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers Preaching

This October, we are exploring God’s vision of oneness—a unity that does not erase our differences but draws us together in grace. Using the image of the earth as a puzzle, We Are One is a celebration of the distinct people, stories, and gifts God joins into one beloved community.

Each Sunday, another piece of the puzzle moves into place. Together, we will gather at Christ’s table, affirm the sacred worth of all people, celebrate the ministry of all God’s people, and open ourselves to the Spirit’s continuing work of reformation.

In a world that so often pulls people apart, come discover the grace that holds us together. Many pieces. One body. One world. One love. We are one.

This Sunday we are celebrating all the ways love is shared amongst God’s people during Atlanta Pride. Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers will continue our We Are One series this morning by looking at 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (NRSVue) in her sermon, One Body, Many Colors.

worship begins at 10:00 a.m., in-person at Atlanta First UMC and online via Facebook and YouTube.

Worship Guide pdf’s:

Download this week’s Worship Guide

Download this week’s Children Handout

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This Sunday is Atlanta Pride Sunday, and there will be several road closures in the vicinity of Atlanta First UMC beginning at 9 a.m. for the Atlanta Pride Parade. Special planning will be required to navigate to the church for in-person worship. Please click the image link below to download an instruction sheet with maps to help guide you.

Cooler weather is finally returning to Hotlanta! It is time once again to prepare to serve our neighbors and friends at the front door who will be in need during fall and winter by collecting cold-weather clothing and supplies through our Keep Atlanta Warm campaign. For clothing donations, please consider giving new or gently used coats, sweaters, hats, gloves, thick blankets and sleeping bags. For supplies, we need single-use hand warmers.

Please bring your donations to the church, either on Sundays mornings or Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can also mail donations to our donation package address:

Atlanta First UMC Packages
2020 Howell Mill Road NW
Suite D-339
Atlanta, GA 30318-1732

Tuesday Evening grow Group
Job In Exile
Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Eastern Time

Join the Tuesday grow Group this fall as we undertake a brand new study based on Job in Exile: A Guide for Spiritual Refugees by David P. Gushee.

The book of Job is one of the most unsettling texts in the Bible. It confronts readers and faith communities with questions about faithfulness, suffering, and justice. For many today, especially those who feel alienated or marginalized by religious communities, the story of Job feels newly urgent.

In Job in Exile, internationally known Christian ethicist David P. Gushee offers a new interpretation that brings clarity and relevance to this ancient book. Gushee argues that Job’s story is not only about suffering; it is also about spiritual exile. Written especially for post-evangelical pastors, churches, artists, and other spiritual seekers and refugees, Job in Exile invites readers to engage scripture with unflinching honesty and courage. It offers guidance and hope for anyone seeking faith, integrity, and community.

The Tuesday grow Group meets at 7 p.m., online via ZOOM. Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers is the class facilitator. Please register to receive the ZOOM link and study materials.

Book Club
Next Meeting: Monday, October 26

Love to read? Join our Book Club on the last Monday of every month to discuss some of the hottest reads in the last several years through the lens of faith. The group meets online via ZOOM.

For the month of October, we are reading Tell Me I Belong: A Journey Across Faiths and Generations by David Weill. We will meet on ZOOM on Monday, October 26 at 7 p.m. Please register to receive the ZOOM link.

Atlanta Pride Parade & worship
Sunday October 11 at Noon

This Sunday, October 11, following worship at noon, the annual Atlanta Pride Parade will march right past Atlanta First! Join us in welcoming and engaging with the parade-goers in this celebration of the many ways God’s children love each other. We are in need of folks who can help staff the church during the parade – to distribute snacks and water and to extend hospitality to guests who visit the church sanctuary and our rest rooms.

MONDAY NOON PRAYER

When: Mondays at 12 p.m. Eastern Time
Where: Online via ZOOM.

You are invited to join us weekly on Mondays at 12 p.m. Eastern for a 15 to 20 minute time of devotional prayer together during the lunch hour. This group is led by participants who take turns leading. You may Click HERE to register and receive email reminders for when we will meet.

ZOOM Link: Click HERE to join the ZOOM.

INTENTIONAL TIME OF PRAYER

When: Tuesday nights at 6 p.m. Eastern Time
Where: Online via ZOOM.

You are invited to join us weekly on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. Eastern for a time of intentional prayer together. A church that prays together is a strong, fortified, and faithful congregation that can endure anything! You may call or login via ZOOM on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. If you have any prayer concerns or praises, or if you have questions about how to connect to the ZOOM, you may send them to prayer@atlantafirstumc.org.

ZOOM Link: Click HERE to join the ZOOM.