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Weekly News & Updates: January 16, 2025

This Sunday - 10am


Join us for worship this Sunday. Let's thank God together for our enumerable blessings this month. And let us pray together for those who are hurting.


It is Pledge Sunday! When you pledge, you help ensure that Ghent UMC continues to provide Christian ministry and fellowship for our members and neighbors. Giving also represents an act of worship in which we thank God for our blessings and acknowledge that everything we have is a gift from Him.


Please write your 2025 pledge figure on a Connection Card on Sunday and put it into the offering plate. Before Sunday, you can email your pledge figure to our office. Thank you so much.


Please enter the building, through the sanctuary doors facing Stockley Gardens.

Connection Card:

Click here.

Scripture:

John 2:1 - 11

Worship Volunteers / Flowers Sign-Up:

Click here.

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.

What's Happening

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Pledge Sunday - January 19


We thank everyone for the financial contributions in 2024. It has been a good year. Thanks and blessings are abundant. Volunteers decorated the church for the Christmas season. And the recent Living Nativity was well attended.


We are reaching out because everyone's support has never been more important. When you pledge, you help ensure that Ghent UMC continues to provide Christian ministry and fellowship for our members and neighbors. Please let us know on Sunday, January 19 (or sooner), what your pledge will be.


Your pledge figure for 2025 can be emailed back to the church or put into the offering plate.


Thank you for supporting Ghent United Methodist Church!!

Reach out to us with inquiries and responses.

Phone: (757) 622-2843

Email:  office@ghentumc.org

Mail: 531 Raleigh Ave. Norfolk, VA 23507


Yours in Christ's name,

Peter Griffin

Finance Chair


*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.*

Martin L. King, Jr. Holiday


Where do Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the UMC intersect? Read a brief article to find out.


Have a great, service-to-others holiday!


Our church office and preschool will be closed on Monday, January 20, in honor of the King holiday.

Save the Date for Messy Church in the Morning


Sunday, February 9, will be our next Messy Church event. This one will held during our 10am worship service. Our theme is that Jesus is all about love.


Jesus reminds us that the commandment, to love one another as he has loved us, is the most important. We are also reminded that this love extends to people outside our normal friendship and church groups. It is for absolutely everyone, yes, even those with whom we disagree or do not like! How can we extend this love to our enemies today? How different would the world be if we got on with the business of loving one another, challenging hate and reaching out with peace?


To help us really understand this theme, we will have various activity stations set up around the sanctuary. And when everything is over, we will eat soup together. The meal will be soup because it is also Super Bowl Sunday. Get it?! "soup" and "super"?


Everyone is welcome. So, invite someone to come with you.


* Messy Church is a DIFFERENT kind of church! It typically includes a welcome, creative time to explore the Biblical theme through “getting messy” with crafts and activities; a short interactive celebration time involving a story, prayer, and music; and a sit-down meal together at tables. The entire experience is designed for people of ALL AGES! Take a look at our Facebook group page to see previous events.

Christian Sympathy


Christian Sympathy is extended to the family of Mrs. Doris Barham Luther. Mrs. Luther served as the organist and choir director at Ghent UMC for 20 years before retiring in 2009. She was active in the American Guild of Organists throughout her career, holding various leadership positions and giving Director recitals.


Her life will be celebrated on January 18 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Click this link to read her obituary.

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College Scholarship Applications Due


The deadline for the Ghent UMC Spring Scholarship application is Friday, January 24, 2025.


To qualify, you must be a Ghent UMC church member attending college full time (12+ credit hours: undergraduate or graduate studies).


Previous recipients must have a C or better grade average. If interested in applying, email your transcript to the church office at office@ghentumc.org.

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. 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


"Everlasting God, fill me with wonder this day at the extent of your steadfast love..."


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. His next date is Sunday, March 2, for Transfiguration Sunday.


Violin Music

Violinist Chris Taylor plays during our 10am Worship. His next date is TBA.

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 session is February 9.

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

Preschool


Ghent UM Preschool teaches toddlers to students in Pre-Kindergarten. Learn more about our half-day program by visiting GUMP's page at ghentumc.org/connect/our-preschool/


GUMP’s Harris Teeter number is 5347.


Questions? Contact Director, Ann Robertson.

Leadership Team


Our next Leadership Meeting is this Sunday, Jan. 19. All are welcome to attend. It will be after worship.


A Zoom link will be made available. Contact the church office if you need the link.

UMC Has Not Stopped Working to Dismantle Racism

Agency’s top exec offers new year’s hopes for 2025.

Read his commentary.


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.


  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.


Pledge Sunday is January 19. Please let us know on or before that date what your 2025 pledge will be. Your pledge can be emailed back to the church or put into the offering plate. Thank you for supporting Ghent United Methodist Church!! 

Reach out to us with inquiries and responses. Phone: (757) 622-2843 Mail: 531 Raleigh Ave. Norfolk 23507


Your pledge figure for 2025 can be emailed back to the church or put into the offering plate.

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

UM News

VA UMC News

Coastal Virginia District News

United Methodists see loss, offer relief as CA wildfires rage. Read the story.


Donate to help California wildfires recovery. Click here.


Amid grief, New Orleans pastors bring healing. Read the story.


Reflecting on 2024. See the year in photos presentation.


Top exec for Religion and Race offers new year’s hopes for 2025. Read his commentary.


Hospital provides beacon of hope in Eastern Congo. Read the story.


Register now for the VA UMC's Climate Summit on March 8.


Read the Council of Bishops Pastoral Letter Addressing the Plight of Migrants, Immigrants and Refugees in the US 2025.

*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 scheduled to be 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.