November 7, 2025
Introduction
The Margaret Swanberg Scholarship Selection Committee (MSSS) is inviting all eligible students to apply. The scholarship, established in 2012 for individuals who are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate level degree, is $1,000 and will be awarded on Sunday, December 28.
Margaret Swanberg (1910–2012) practiced her faith at First United Methodist Church in Duluth.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Margaret Swanberg Scholarship, the applicant must be
- a member of First United Methodist Church or have family who are members.
- a woman (divorced, widowed, single parent) who needs to return to school to be trained or retrained to find a suitable job in the working world, OR
- a student graduating from high school who wishes to prepare to become a minister, Christian education director, counselor, or social worker, OR
- a student graduating from high school who wishes to become an early education teacher, kindergarten teacher, or primary school teacher.
- have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
The Margaret Swanberg Scholarship Selection Committee has discretion in determining if the applicant’s studies meet these criteria.
Applying
The application packet must include:
• The completed MSSS application form.
• A brief statement about how the candidate believes their education/career choice would benefit the community. This statement should also include how they meet the criteria set in Margaret Swanberg’s bequest.
• High school and/or college transcript(s).
• Current letters of recommendations from two parties, unrelated to the applicant, who know the applicant well.
The application form should be downloaded (link below), filled out and submitted with all documentation by November 22, 2025:
• by mailing or delivering to FUMC, 230 E Skyline Parkway, Duluth, MN 55811, OR
• by emailing to Pamela Brown
Questions may also be submitted by email to Pamela Brown
We’ve noticed that some browsers and pdf readers have difficulties with certain elements of the fillable form. We recommend Downloading the form and using Adobe Acrobat Reader to fill it out. There are many other apps that will also work well.
October 27, 2025
“Music She Wrote” Organ Concert
Sunday, November 16, 2025
3:00 p.m.
First United Methodist Church
(“The Coppertop Church on the Skyline”)
230 East Skyline Parkway, Duluth, MN
Free admission; a free-will offering will be received.
Join us for an organ recital exploring music written by women composers. Three accomplished local organists, including our own Velda Graham Bell, will perform works by Emma Lou Diemer, Celina Kobetitsch, Rachel Laurin, Isabella Leonarda, Brenda Portman, Florence Price, Ghislaine Reece-Trapp, and Gwyneth Walker. Velda will be joined by Rachael Kresha, organist at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior, and Karen Sande, organist at First Lutheran Church in Duluth.
November 7, 2025
The November 2025 edition of First Family is now available. The online version on this website, is viewable, downloadable, and sharable. You can find information on church activities, as well as a photo album of FUMC’s October activities in this issue. If you want to go back and find something specific, you can also find years of First Family, available in the archives at any time.
Tags: Bells, Children, choir, Concerts, Families, music, Scholarship, Strikepoint, Upcoming Event, worship, Youth
Posted in: Bells, Children & Families, Children & youth, Coming up, First Family, hospitality, How can I help?, Justice, Music, Scholarship, Sunday, United Methodist 101, upcoming, Volunteer Ministries, Worship, Youth
October 31, 2025
Introduction
The Ardath Gibson Scholarship Selection Committee is inviting all eligible students attending college or university in the United States to apply. The scholarship, established in 2012 for individuals who are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate level degree in health care, the physical sciences, engineering, or business, is $1,000 and will be awarded on Sunday, December 28.
Ardath Gibson (1915–2012) practiced her faith as a United Methodist, ultimately making First United Methodist Church in Duluth her home. As a business professional, she recognized the importance of higher education, establishing this scholarship for individuals pursuing degrees in business or the sciences.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Ardath Gibson Scholarship, one must be a member of First United Methodist Church or have family who are members. The Ardath Gibson Memorial Scholarship Selection Committee will have discretion in determining if the applicant’s studies meet these criteria. To apply, candidates must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate level degree in health care, the physical sciences, engineering, or business.
Applying
The application packet must include:
• The completed AGS application form.
• A brief statement about how the candidate believes their education/career choice would benefit the community.
• High school and/or college transcript(s).
• Current letters of recommendations from two parties, unrelated to the applicant, who know the applicant well.
The application form should be downloaded from the First United Methodist Church website (Link found below), filled out and submitted with all documentation by November 22, 2025:
• by mailing or delivering to FUMC, 230 E Skyline Parkway, Duluth, MN 55811, OR
• by emailing to Pamela Brown
Questions may also be submitted by email to Pamela Brown
We’ve noticed that some browsers and pdf readers have difficulties with certain elements of the fillable form. We recommend Downloading the form and using Adobe Acrobat Reader to fill it out. There are many other apps that will also work well.
