Weekly News & Updates: February 9, 2024 | |
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Sunday Worship Service - 10am
Join us for Worship this Sunday, February 11. Messy Church at GUMC (usually held in the evening) will be part of our 10am Worship service. Please don't miss this.
Together, we will go on a journey of unity and understanding that everyone is beautiful and precious to God. There will be activities around the sanctuary. Then we will end the morning with lunch together.
Also, our organist, Brad Norris, will be playing during this service.
Read more about Racial Justice Sunday in a block below.
Please enter the sanctuary through the 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, are in the back of the sanctuary. A baby changing station is in the lobby.
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Messy Church at Ghent, Sun., Feb. 11, 10am
This month’s Messy Church will be combined with our usual 10:00 a.m. service on Sunday, February 11th. Don't skip this. For Racial Justice Sunday, our theme will be "Learning to Live Together." We will go on a journey of unity and understanding that everyone is beautiful and precious to God. Christians should engage in racial justice because it reflects God’s heart for justice. The Bible teaches us we are all wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14) in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).
We will sing songs and hear the Scriptures and a sermon. Then there will be activity time in the sanctuary. One activity will be making "Lent in a Bag." Want to know what that means? Come out and see. After Worship, we will have a meal together in the sanctuary!
Our Organist, Brad Norris, will be playing during this service. Our Gathering Jam Band will start at 9:45am.
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Ashes on the Go, Wednesday, Feb. 14
February 14 is Ash Wednesday. We welcome everyone from the community to drive up for our Ashes on the Go from 5 - 6:30pm.
Drive into our church parking lot on Raleigh Avenue. Then from the convenience of your car, Pastor Ryan Schaeffer will place a mixture of palm ashes and olive oil upon participants’ foreheads in the form of a cross.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which is the season of preparation for the celebration of Easter. The imposition of ashes helps us to reflect on our own mortality and the need to confess our sins.
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Pancake Dinner on Tuesday
Join First UMC for stacks of fun and flapjacks!
You're invited to First UMC Norfolk's Pancake Dinner on Tuesday, February 13 at 6pm. It's free, delicious and open to all ages. See you there.
First UMC Norfolk is at 3301 Luxembourg Ave.
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Meal Train® for The DeGrand Family
The DeGrand family is excited to welcome a new baby boy into their family on Monday, February 12th! Let’s show them some love by providing meals for them. This will support them as they get used to having a new little one in the house and while they settle into their new home. Click the link to sign up.
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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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New Bible, Book Study
Join Pastor Ryan on Thursdays, 8-9pm, on Zoom for a book study. Classes have resumed. The current book is "Life Together" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Everyone is invited to join in the discussion! Updated Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86516483199
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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 / Food Pantry
Volunteers are needed to help monitor/ fill our church's Little Library / food pantry on Raleigh Ave. Please sign up to help on one or more weeks. During your "week," at least once, please stock the little library using items from the collection box that is inside the church. Click here to sign up and get details.
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Food Donations Needed
We collect non-perishable food and hearty snacks to place in our little library / food pantry. The food is to benefit those who are hungry, including those experiencing homelessness. Place your offerings in the basket by the altar on 4th Sundays or contact the church office to make arrangements for drop off.
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Homeless Committee
The Homeless Committee of Ghent UMC meets quarterly to coordinate efforts to positively impact those experiencing homelessness. The next Zoom meeting is TBA.
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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 10 a.m. worship services on Sundays. Next is Sunday, February 11.
Violin Music
Violinist Chris Taylor will play during Worship on St. Patrick's Day, Sunday, March 17.
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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 one is Sunday, February 11.
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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
"The Bible teaches that we are ALL made in God's image. Help us on our journey to unity and understanding that everyone is beautiful and precious...."
Adapted from Messy Church
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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
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.
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Preschool Ministry and Leadership Updates | |
UMC Continues the Call to Dismantle Racism | |
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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?
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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. Click here for the daily prayers.
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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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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.
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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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UMC News: World, VA, and Local | |
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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 new church office hours are Monday-Friday, 9am to noon. Rev. Ry is in the office Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9am-12pm. You may also make an appointment, if needed.
Click here to access email addresses or call the church office at 757-622-2843.
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