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Weekly News & Updates
April 11, 2025
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This Sunday - 10am
Begin your holiday season this Sunday, April 13, with us. It is Palm/ Passion Sunday! Coastal District Superintendent Rev. F. Elizabeth Givens will be the guest minister to lead our special service.
- As usual, we will begin at 10am. Be sure to arrive on time so you don't miss "Jesus" riding our donkey into the sanctuary while everyone in the congregation waves palm branches and sings hosannas!
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Later in the service, there will be a dramatic presentation of "The Passion" by our volunteer actors. You will be a witness to the arrest and the prosecution of Jesus Christ. This, as always, is a service for all ages. Bring your family and friends!
- Our annual, Easter Egg Hunt begins after service. Get details below.
For worship, enter the building through the sanctuary doors facing Stockley Gardens.
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Children are Welcome
Our Children's Church* takes place each Sunday during worship, following the children's message. Children ages 3 through 5th grade meet down the hall from the sanctuary for an age-appropriate Bible lesson and craft or activity.
Our nursery* is available for children through age 3.
*Our professional workers are CPR certified, and our staff and volunteers are fully background checked.
*Children's church and nursery are optional. You are welcome to keep your child(ren) in worship with you, if you prefer. Activity bags and rockers, if you wish to use them, are in the back of the sanctuary. A baby changing station is in the lobby.
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Our Messy Church Easter Egg Hunt, 11:30am
We are excited to invite you to our Easter Egg Hunt following our special, Palm Sunday service. Bring your little ones to the front of our church facing Stockley Gardens. All children are welcome to the free, egg finding fun!
Ages 3 and under will hunt in our side garden, while ages 4 and above will be in Stockley Gardens. Please BYOB (bring your own basket).
We have a sign-up document for refreshments. Please click here.
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Easter Lily
Orders Due THIS Monday, April 14
Easter Lilies will be placed around our altar on Easter Sunday, April 20th. Lilies may be dedicated in honor or in memory of someone special. To sponsor a lily, please make a donation of $15. Donations will benefit missions!
Lily orders and donations are due by THIS Monday, April 14th. You may give through our online giving portal or make checks payable to Ghent UMC with notation for Lilies.
To order, follow this link or send a message to the church office at office@ghentumc.org.
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Easter Sunday Service, 10am
Join us for worship on Easter Sunday, April 20, at 10am. Mr. Jonathan Tanner will be returning to lead our Easter Sunday service and to deliver the sermon. Holy Communion will be served.
Trumpeter Josh McDonald will join Organist Brad Norris in making a joyful noise unto the Lord!
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Holy Week Devotions
We offer devotions, written by United Methodists, to assist you as you remember Jesus' journey through Holy Week: from his entrance into Jerusalem to the tomb. Spending these days in prayerful preparation can help enrich your celebration of Jesus' resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Click here to read the Holy Week Devotions.
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Holy Week Opportunities in our Community
Ghent Church will have Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday services cementing Holy Week.
For those who would like to attend a Maundy Thursday service, Good Friday service or a musical service, Minister of Music Beamon has compiled a list of opportunities around our community.
Sunday, April 13, 4:00PM: Handel's Messiah at St. John's Episcopal Church, 100 W Queens Way, Hampton
Thursday, April 17 at 11:30AM: Maundy Thursday service at First Lutheran on Colley, 1301 Colley Avenue, Norfolk
Thursday, April 17 at 5:00PM: Maundy Thursday family service at Christ & St. Luke's, 560 W Olney Road, Norfolk
Thursday, April 17 at 7:00PM: Maundy Thursday services at Christ & St. Luke's and at First Lutheran on Colley
Friday, April 18 at noon: Stations of the Cross in Stockley Gardens (hosted by Christ & St. Luke's).
Friday, April 18 at noon: The Good Friday service at Christ & St. Luke's and also at First Lutheran on Colley.
Friday, April 18 at noon and at 7:00PM: An encore presentation of a concert given by Christ & St. Luke's in 2024 to support the Good Friday offering which supports Christians in the Middle East. The concert will be shown on the Episcopal Church's Facebook page here and the Good Friday Offering website here.
Friday, April 18 at 4:00PM: Stations of the Cross for families at Christ & St. Luke's
Friday, April 18 at 7:00PM: Good Friday service at First Lutheran on Colley
Friday, April 18 at 7:00PM: John Rutter's Requiem at First Presbyterian Church of Norfolk, 820 Colonial Avenue, Norfolk
Friday, April 18 at 7:00PM: Gabriel Faure's Requiem at Providence Presbyterian Church, 5497 Providence Road (Kempsville) Virginia Beach, the combined choirs of Providence and Great Bridge Presbyterian Churches
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GUMP's Egg Finding Fun
Our Pre-K students could not have been more EGG-CITED to have an Easter Egg Hunt at school! As a matter of fact, they had two. One was outside on Thursday.
These photos are from Friday's indoor hunt (courtesy of the rain). The 4-year-olds were also given the responsibility of hiding eggs for their 2-year-old friends.
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Ghent Church Choir Rehearsal
There is choir rehearsal from 11:30am to 12:30pm on Sundays through Pentecost (June 8). If you would like to join this season's choir, email Minister of Music Nellwyn Beamon.
Thanks to Peter G. for the photograph of the choir rehearsing..
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Nursery Worker Needed
Ghent UMC in Norfolk, VA seeks an individual with childcare experience to work in its nursery each Sunday, 9:30 - 11:30 am. Candidates must be comfortable with young children, as well as, being patient, respectful and courteous to parents. Candidates must be able to stand, sit, bend and lift 25 lbs.
Successful candidate must be a person of faith and at least 18 years old. Must have reliable transportation, provide references and submit to a criminal records check. Wage is $15/hour. Contact GUMC for an application at office@ghentumc.org or call 757-622-2843. Ghent is an open and inclusive church.
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Attend a small group
One of the gifts the church offers is community, specifically small groups where participants can gather to experience acceptance, belonging, and nurturing, as well as challenge and encouragement, for the journey of faith. Contact the church office for more information on any group.
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Children's Church
This group for ages 3 through 5th grade is each Sunday during worship, following the children's message. It includes a Bible lesson, and craft or activity.
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Youth Group
Our Youth Group is led by Pastor Ryan. We are a fully inclusive faith community, welcoming to all.
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Adult Sunday School
Weekly Bible discussions are in the back of the sanctuary on Sundays, 9 - 9:45am, using the Standard Lesson Quarterly series. Enter through the doors facing Stockley Gardens.
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Other Spiritual Disciplines
In addition to joining a small group, participating in mission work or music ministry, we are encouraged to pray, care for one another, and read our Bible.
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Daily Prayer Starter
"As we offer our prayers of confession, remember that God chooses to forget about our past, forgiving us so we may embrace the new life and new hope offered to us in grace."
* Adapted from Lectionaryliturgies.blogspot/ThomShuman
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Congregational Care
In response to Christ's call to love one another, we want the members of our congregation to care for one another. In-person visits, prayers, phone calls, and mail are examples of the ways we reach out to one another.
To send a prayer request to our pastor and congregational care team, click here to fill in our Connection Card.
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Resources
Want to read the whole Bible in 12 months? Check out the N. Georgia Conference Guide.
Looking for adult or children's New Revised Standard versions of the Bible? Click here.
Get practices and reflections to help you pray.
Read The Upper Room daily devotional. Click here.
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Music Ministry
All are welcome to join our Music Minister, Nellwyn Beamon, in the music ministry of the church. Contact Nellwyn Beamon for more information.
Worship Singers Singers are always welcome to help lead the songs in worship each Sunday.
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Organ Music at GUMC
Our Organist Brad Norris plays for our 10am worship services on Sundays. His next dates are Easter Sunday on April 20, Mother's Day on May 11, Pentecost on June 8, and July (date TBA).
Trumpet Music
Trumpeter Josh McDonald will be playing on April 20, Easter Sunday, during 10am worship.
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Gathering Jam
Once a month, usually on 2nd Sundays, all ages are invited to bring an instrument or use one of ours and play along during the gathering part of our service at 9:45am. The next Gathering Jam Sunday is Palm Sunday, April 13.
Choir Rehearsal
There is choir rehearsal on Sundays from 11:30 to 12:30pm through Pentecost (June 8).
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Get involved with mission work
We seek to live lovingly and justly as servants of Jesus Christ by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, caring for the stranger, freeing the oppressed, being a compassionate presence, and working to develop social structures that are consistent with the gospel.
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Little Library
Do you have a book you're finished with? Are you ready to read a new one? Then check out our book box! Our Little Library is on Raleigh Ave.
Although GUMC no longer places food in the box, you may see that others in the community continue to do so.
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Food Donations
We collect non-perishable food, drinks and hearty snacks to benefit those who are hungry, including those experiencing homelessness, families, or individuals. Most of the food will be taken to Ghent Area Ministry on Colonial Avenue. The rest will remain at Ghent for those who ask us for help. Please place your offerings in the basket by the altar each 4th Sunday or contact the church office to make arrangements for drop off.
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Homeless Committee
The Homeless Committee of Ghent UMC meets to coordinate efforts to positively impact those experiencing homelessness.
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A Prayer for the New Year: Renewing Our Commitment to Justice, Equity, and Reconciliation
In 2024, at General Conference, the members approved the updated Article V - Racial Justice.
You Can Help.
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START with prayer. We are asked to pray for Dismantling Racism efforts, as well as, all persons of color who suffer at the hands of injustice, oppression, and white supremacy.
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The General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) has a compiled a list of 8 things church leaders and members can do to help anti-racism progress. One way is to denounce false notions of “two equal sides.” Click here to learn more.
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Click here for resources, events, and more.
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Giving News
Our giving represents an act of worship in which we thank God for our blessings and acknowledge that everything we have is a gift from God. Click here to learn about the various ways to give.
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UMC Market - iGive
Shop thousands of stores, any time, to support Ghent Church. UMCmarket, powered by iGive, helps you generate a donation to Ghent United Methodist Church when you shop online at thousands of retailers. Click here to join and shop.
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*COVID-19 Mitigation Plan for all in-person Ghent UMC Happenings (Updated March 23, 2022) Our call is to love our neighbors and to do no harm.
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Jesus is for everyone. No exceptions.
A Word of Welcome from Ghent UMC
Ghent United Methodist Church is called to the affirmation of the sacred worth of all people. We embrace as a gift the diversity of our neighborhood and the world. We acknowledge our human family's diversity in sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, language, age, faith history, theological orientation, economic status, education, marital status, abilities, and any other defining feature, real or perceived. Click here to read the message in its entirety.
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How can I get in touch with church staff and the Pastor?
The church office hours are Monday-Friday, 9am to noon.
You may also make an appointment, if needed.
The church office will be closed on Good Friday, April 18, 2025.
Click here to access email addresses or call the church office at 757-622-2843.
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