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Weekly News & Updates
May 9, 2025
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This Sunday - 10am
Remember or honor your Mother or Mother-Figure during Worship this Sunday, May 11. It is Good Shepherd Sunday and Mother's Day!
Don't miss the opportunity to hear the very talented Brad Norris play our organ during the service.
Our service will be led by guest minister Rev. Chris Terrell who will also preach the sermon.
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.
On 5/11, Mother's Day, there will be no Children's Church.
We will still have a nursery care.
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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Hear Organist Brad Norris on Mother's Day
Don't miss the opportunity to hear the very talented Brad Norris play during service on Sunday, May 11, at 10am. Bring your Mother, Grandmother or Mother figure to enjoy the music.
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Calling All Book Sale Volunteers!
We need people to sign up to volunteer for our annual, Spring Used Book Sale and Parking lot fundraiser. We need help Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 16-18!
If you have not signed up for a slot, yet, please do.
We need more volunteers to cover all the shifts.
Please sign up today. THANK YOU!
Cajole family, friends, students and booklovers to sign up, too.
Proceeds from the book sale and festival parking will benefit missions and church programs for children and youth.
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Check Your Summer Reading List
We are excited to say that we're having our
Spring Used Book Sale during the Stockley Gardens Arts Festival on Saturday, May 17, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., on our front porch and in the lobby.
While you're at the book sale, you're welcome to rest in the sanctuary, too.
We are also hosting paid parking on both Saturday and Sunday. For a donation of $5, you can park one block from the Arts Festival!
Proceeds from the book sale and festival parking will benefit missions and church programs for children and youth.
Come on out and add to your book collections! Hardcover books are $1.50.
Paperback books are 75 cents.
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Calling All Graduates
Do you have a graduate you want Ghent Church to recognize during our Worship service?
In preparation of Graduation Sunday in June, please let us the Church Office know by sending email to office@ghentumc.org. We would want to properly prepare for the upcoming celebration.
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Become Vigilant Against Scams, Part 3
Here are more scams and fraud that are happening right now. Stay vigilant!
Has your supervisor/boss texted or emailed you asking you to buy a gift card and to send the card numbers? It’s a scam.
Has someone contacted you and made you nervous about your utility bill? Did the person tell you to pay them a different way than you normally pay each month? It’s a scam.
Did you win a prize or sweepstakes but now have to pay a fee to get it? Don’t do it. It’s a scam.
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Messy Church Birthday Party
Let’s celebrate the birth of Christianity during our Worship service on Sunday, June 8, starting at 9:45am. Our Messy Church at Ghent activities will be during this service.
Because it is Pentecost Sunday, we’re having a Birthday Party that lifts spirits! Stay after to chat with others and have lunch together. Everyone is invited!
* “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.
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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
"Loving God,
Thank you for
claiming me
as your own, give me
grace to entrust
this day to your care…"
*Adapted from Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion
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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 Mother's Day on May 11, Pentecost on June 8, and July (date TBA).
Trumpet Music
Trumpeter Josh McDonald's next date is TBA.
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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 is Sunday, June 8.
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 works to coordinate efforts to positively impact those experiencing homelessness.
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Agency’s top exec offers new year’s hopes for 2025.
Read his commentary.
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.
Click here to access email addresses or call the church office at 757-622-2843.
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