Weekly News & Updates: November 21, 2024 | |
|
Sunday Worship Service - 10am
Christ the King Sunday is this Sunday. It is the day we acknowledge the last Sunday of the Christian calendar.
This Sunday should be a joyous celebration in the life of the church, a time of thanksgiving and of preparation for what is to come.
What follows is the season of Advent. See blocks below for our Advent celebrations.
Please enter the building, through the sanctuary doors facing Stockley Gardens.
| |
|
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, are in the back of the sanctuary. A baby changing station is in the lobby.
| |
Cards and Cookies for our Troops
In the past few years, during the holidays, Ghent Church and Preschool have helped to collect cards, cookies and other snacks for Navy sailors. And we want to do it again!!
We want those who are deployed during the holiday season to have care packages from home. This year, we'll extend some holiday cheer to the USS New York.
In our lobby, we've provided card making supplies and a box for donations. Please donate unopened snacks or cookies in their original packages. We will be collecting until December 5.
| |
Decorating for Christmas and Advent | |
|
Thanks to everyone who came out to our special greening service last Sunday and then helped to decorate the church for Advent. What a bonding experience! And to the ladies who coordinated the luncheon... thank you. We appreciate you!
See more photos on our Messy Church FB page.
| |
Advent and Christmas Eve at Ghent UMC | |
Advent Worship Services
Sunday, December 1 is Communion Sunday AND the first Sunday of Advent. Every Sunday during Advent at 10am, we will have Advent candle lighting, music, and celebration leading up to our Christmas Eve service. Please join us!
Nursery care and Children's Church are available.
| |
|
Experience the Wonder of Your Savior's Birth
On Sunday, December 8, 4:30 – 6:30pm. We’ll have our Annual Living Nativity with animals!
Celebrate Christmas in our lobby with cookies, hot cocoa and warm cider. Hear beautiful Christmas music in our sanctuary. Outside, experience the wonder of our Savior’s birth with live actors and petting zoo animals in our life-sized stable.
Our littlest guests can dress in our angel and shepherd costumes. This child and family-friendly event is free & open to all. Enter using the doors that face Stockley Gardens.
| |
|
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
You are also invited to come to our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 5pm. Christopher Taylor will play the violin as we prepare our hearts for the birth of our savior Jesus Christ.
We will also worship as the family of God by symbolically coming to Christ's table and sharing Holy Communion. A gluten-free cracker option is available.
| |
|
Notes from the Piano of Nellwyn Beamon
The Virginia Chorale is offering group tickets to their holiday concert series. Nellwyn would like to take a group on Saturday night, December 7, at 7:30PM to Galilee Episcopal Church at the Oceanfront. Group tickets are $20.00 each. If you are interested in going, please let her know by December 1. Payment is due at that time.
| |
|
Ghent Church's Altar Guild needs your help. Right now, Fran O. and Nellwyn are making sure that the hangings are correct and that the candles are filled, and the Communion linens are clean. But, the office has been covering Communion.
It would be nice if there were someone in the church who would take on the monthly responsibility of making sure that we have Communion bread and enough juice. The parish administrator really does not need to worry about bringing bread on Sunday morning, especially if (s)he is under the weather. It is a simple task.
Please talk with Nellwyn, if you have questions. If we can get enough volunteers (and the church pays for it), we could rotate the responsibility.
| |
Meal Train® for The Potter Family
Matt Potter, while on a family trip, had an accident, suffering a major concussion and broken bones. Matt has been a visiting pastor in our church and his wife, Kellie, is the Teacher in our 2-year-old preschool class. Matt is recovering at home and doing better. However, while they are navigating through this period, we want to help lighten their load in any way we can. One of the ways we can lighten their load is by providing meals for them during this time.
You can help by contributing a meal or providing a gift card. Click here for details.
| | | |
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.
| |
|
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.
| |
|
Youth Group
Our Youth Group is led by Pastor Ryan. We are a fully inclusive faith community, welcoming to all.
| |
|
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.
| |
|
Read with Rev. Ry
Join Pastor Ryan on Thursdays, 7-8pm, on Zoom for book study. This class will resume September 19. Everyone is invited to join! The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86516483199
| |
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.
| |
|
Daily Prayer Starter
"Loving God,
Keep me alert to the earthly powers and privileges at play in this world, that I may seek to foster justice and serve your reign..."
Adapted from Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion
| |
|
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.
| |
|
Resources
Re-energize your prayer life with a new practice. Learn more.
Read The Upper Room daily devotional. Click here.
Click here to find the resources you need to explore the Bible.
| |
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.
| |
|
Organ Music at GUMC
Our Organist Brad Norris plays for our 10am worship services on Sundays. Next date is January 5 for Epiphany Sunday.
Violin Music
Violinist Chris Taylor plays during our 10am Worship. But his next date is on Christmas Eve.
| |
|
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 one is TBA.
| |
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.
| |
|
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.
| |
|
Food Donations
We collect non-perishable food, drinks and hearty snacks to benefit those who are hungry, including those experiencing homelessness, families, or individuals. Some food will be taken to Christ UMC, Norfolk. 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.
| |
|
Homeless Committee
The Homeless Committee of Ghent UMC meets to coordinate efforts to positively impact those experiencing homelessness.
| |
Preschool Ministry and Leadership Updates | |
UMC Continues the Call to Dismantle Racism | |
|
The United Methodist Church has stated that we will no longer remain silent nor complicit about racist acts against African Americans but we must act now to become anti-racist individuals and churches!
The Long Haul The UMC is committed to the long haul when it comes to anti-racism work. Read the story.
What Can You Do to Help?
-
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. Click here for the daily prayers.
-
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.
-
Listen to individuals share how they are creating daily life with God in the face of racial injustice and the trauma induced by racial inequity in the U.S. Click here to listen.
-
Click here for resources, events, and more.
| |
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.
| |
|
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.
| |
UMC News: World, VA, and Local | |
|
Want to dive into United Methodist roots? Register for Radicle Methodism 2025, an enriching program by the General Commission on Archives and History with Discipleship Ministries.
Hurricane recovery continues in North Carolina. View photos.
Greater Northwest ministries honored Transgender Day of Remembrance. Read the story.
The Rev. Elizabeth Riley explains how embracing anger and lament prayers can lead to spiritual healing and personal transformation. Listen to the podcast.
Plankinton UMC sends care packages to keep their college students connected. Read the story.
UMFS Highlights Need for Adoption, Support During National Adoption Month. Read the story.
| |
|
*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.
| |
|
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.
| |
|
How can I get in touch with church staff and the Pastor?
The church office hours are Monday-Friday, 9am to noon. Rev. Ry is in the office 9am-12pm on Thursdays and Fridays. You may also make an appointment, if needed.
Click here to access email addresses or call the church office at 757-622-2843.
| | | | |
