Meet Janice
Hello! I'm Janice Yates and I serve as Director of Adult Discipleship at Decatur First. God calls each of us into a life of discipleship, but how that life looks is different for everyone. I'd love to help you find ways to follow your call here at Decatur First and, of course, out in the world. Empowering the people of God to follow Jesus is my favorite job! Let me know how I can support you.
Adult Programs
Pick one and come on! These are open to adults of all ages.
Open to anyone who likes or wants to learn to knit!
We are here for you and want you to get the support you need.
Great exercise at a moderate pace, followed by an optional breakfast!
Our Wednesday Night Supper Program.
Centering Prayer
Join us for 30 minutes of CENTERING PRAYER each Thursday at 9am on Zoom. Rev. Blair will read a short scripture then we'll pray together. Email Blair to receive the Zoom invite, bsetnor@decaturfirst.org.
Adult Sunday School Classes
If you are looking for a Sunday School class, you are always welcome to contact Janice Yates at jyates@decaturfirst.org- she is an awesome, friendly source of info and can help you find your place! Below you will find a list of sunday school offerings, with a short blurb about each. We recommend the Landing Place as a starting point for any new-comers.
The Landing Place
Meets Sunday mornings at 9:50am in room 207. Each week this group will cover some basics of faith - digging into scripture, prayer, and what it means to live what we believe as United Methodists. If you are new to Decatur First this is a great place to start getting connected.
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Location: 211
Contacts:
-Ashley Brookins (ashdoug.88@gmail.com)
-Carolyn Chandler (ccrazorback@gmail.com)
Bridges welcomes multi-generational perspectives through the practice of Lectio Divina -- an ancient practice of reading scripture, meditation, and prayer. Bridges is a space for all to listen to a scripture passage, struggle with the meaning of that scripture, and gain new perspectives as others share insight or voice their questions.
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Location: Room 314
Contact: Lacey Smith
(lacy.ep.williams@gmail.com)
CLASS: Join our nurturing community of parents as we navigate the joys and challenges of raising young families together in faith. Our Sunday school offers support and a sense of belonging on this journey of parenthood through heartfelt discussions, shared experiences, and uplifting fellowship.
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Location: Room 309
This new class meets in Room 309 for Bible study and conversation. The class uses seasonal/thematic studies sometimes (Advent and Lent, for example) or uses the scripture from worship as a starting place for conversations. New folks are always welcome! Contact Janice Yates for more information.
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Location: Room 209
Contact: Woody and Mary Spackman (mwspackman@gmail.com)
CLASS: The Debtors class has weekly attendance of around 40 members, who range in age from late 50’s - 70’s. The lessons cover a variety of topics that are introduced by guest speakers and teachers. The Debtors support ministries including Honduras Outreach International, the DFUMC Preschool and Wesley Woods/Brannon Towers. They enjoy regular social gatherings together.
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Location: Room 220
Contact: ichthusclass@gmail.com
CLASS: Ichthus is the Greek word for fish, one of the earliest symbols for the Christian faith. It is also an acronym for Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior. Founded in 1975, the hallmark of the Ichthus Class is high quality Bible study from a Wesleyan Methodist perspective. Weekly attendance is typically between 20-30, with a good mix of couples and singles, mostly between the ages of 50 and 70. The class supports several outreach projects, including the MLK Service Project, Hagar’s House and Honduras Outreach.
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Location: F1
Contact: Doug Joyner and Bob Hill (roberth_hill@mindspring.com)
CLASS: Koinonia is the Greek word for fellowship and this class epitomizes that word. They enjoy study and worship together. They celebrate and support each other through life's daily joys and sorrows. This is a class of singles and married couples in their 60’s and 70’s who come from all over the metro area. Attendance ranges from 20-35 each Sunday. Members are divided into four groups who plan the programs, refreshments, devotionals and monthly social activities for the class. They support Honduras Outreach, Appalachian Service Project, Mountain View Nursing Home, Hagar House Shelter for Women and other missions as requested.
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Location: Room 218
Contact: Marc Morgan (Marc.Morgan5521@gmail.com)
CLASS: New Beginnings is comprised of married and single adults in their 50’s and 60’s. Class members lead the thought-provoking, discussion-based lessons. The class members support Honduras Outreach, Appalachia Service Project, Missionaries in Africa and Habitat for Humanity. Members gather for social events regularly.
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Folks in the 20's and 30's are invited to join this group for semi-regular studies and classes. Their last study was Animate:Faith led by Pastor Dalton. Keep your eyes open for a new study during Lent (beginning February 17) or contact Janice Yates for more information.
Other Adult Programs
Men’s Bible Study - All men are invited to join this intergenerational group for coffee and a wide range of Bible studies on Tuesday mornings at 7am. For more information contact Bob Hill at roberth_hill@mindspring.com
United Women in Faith (UWF) - In many United Methodist Churches the UWF is the heart of missions and service. That’s true at Decatur First, but our UWF has the added bonus of being a really fun and welcoming group. Women of all ages are invited to join the UWF for learning, fellowship, and service. Groups meet monthly at a variety of times during the week. For more information contact Carole Enright at carole_enright@comcast.net
