A Quick Take for Visitors

Special Visitor Parking - First Time Visitors, special close-in parking spaces are reserved for you on Sunday mornings. They are located on the "Mountain Side" of the church immediately adjacent to the covered walkway between the multi-purpose (small steeple) building and the new (big steeple) Sanctuary. Walk directly into the multi-purpose space under the covered walkway for Coffee And ....

Our activities start on Sunday mornings with the first worship service at 8:45am.

During the summer months, we have a second "early service" which is held at the Chapel on Lake Lanier. That service begins at 9:00am.

Between the ending of the early services and the beginning of Sunday School, a "Coffee and..." event is held in the adult pod. This is a time for coffee, juice, refreshments, and fellowship which is rotated among the adult Sunday School classes. The fare is excellent, but don't be late!

During the Sunday School hour, there are several Orientation sessions scheduled throughout the year for visitors to attend and learn more about Methodism and our church. Our ministers and visitors simply talk informally during these informative discussion sessions.

Our 11:00am worship service is the "main" service on Sundays and is a traditional worship service - except for a special "Campmeeting" time in August. This is a time for guest artists to share our worship experience from North Georgia "Bluegrass" to song leaders from as far away as British Columbia. During this service, there is a special worship service for the children during the school year.

Our History

Cumming First UMC has been serving the City of Cumming and Forsyth County, Georgia for more than 150 years. In recent times, our members have served on the Cumming City Council, Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, Forsyth County Representative in the State of Georgia Legislature, Forsyth County Sheriff, Forsyth County Planning Commission, the Forsyth County Board of Education, the Cumming - Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, the Forsyth County Attorney, and various other official positions in the governments of Forsyth County and the City of Cumming. Skipping that recent history, let's drop back a couple hundred years.

(Photo at left is of the steeple from the Pilgrim Mill Church being prepared for its move to the new church building which is now the Family Life Center)

We first began as a mission in the early 1800's. The first church site was purchased in the Town of Cumming for fifty dollars in 1832, and a log meeting house was constructed on this one acre site after the 1832 purchase. By 1840, a white frame church had been constructed and glass windows were later installed during the Civil War.

In 1957, the church was incorporated, bonds were sold, and a new church was constructed on Pilgrim Mill Road in Cumming. This was the home of Cumming First United Methodist Church until 1989.

In 1989, after groundbreaking, our new church was constructed on the side of Forsyth County's Sawnee Mountain, our present location.

The church moved into this facility on January 6, 1990. At this time, we occupied a temporary sanctuary which was designed to eventually serve as a gymnasium, fellowship hall, and family life center.

In the early days, our Sunday School sessions were held at 2:30 on Sunday afternoons, and both Baptists and Methodists attended. This schedule ceased in the 1930's, and today our Sunday School sessions are held in the morning between the two worship services.

 

Hours, Locations, Address, Telephone, Etc.

• Winter Services: 8:45 and 11:00 Sunday Morning on the main campus
  
• Summer Services: 8:45 and 11:00 Sunday Morning on the main campus, and 9:00am at the Chapel on Lake Sidney Lanier
  
• Main Campus Location: Approximately 2 miles West of Cumming on Canton Highway, Georgia Highway Number 20 on the side of Sawnee Mountain prior to crossing Sawnee Gap. The mountain is easily visible as one leaves Cumming heading West on Georgia Highway Number 20.
  
• Main Campus Entrance: To the right off Georgia Highway Number 20 when heading West immediately after the church sign.
  
• Chapel Location: On Bald Ridge Marina Road, East from Georgia Highway 400 Exit 15, at Bald Ridge Marina.

• Information Number: Main CFUMC telephone number for all inquiries other than preschool is (770) 887-2900.
  
• Preschool Information: (770) 889-4580
  
• Addresses: Physical Address: 770 Canton Highway, Cumming, Georgia 30040; Mailing Address: Post Office Box 606, Cumming, Georgia 30028