Wednesday, November 26th, 2025

Please note: the church office will close at noon on Wednesday, November 26th, and will remain closed on Thursday, November 27th, for Thanksgiving.

Church News

A Word from SPR

We are thrilled to announce our new Director of Student Ministries. A native of Savannah, Alden Fowkes is excited to come home to Isle of Hope! Alden received her Masters in Youth Ministry through Memphis Theological Seminary and has remained involved with the Center for Youth Ministry Training (now Ministry Leadership Center) as a ministry coach, spiritual formation leader, and workshop leader. An enneagram 6 and avid coffee lover, she is passionate about loving the next generations well. Alden, along with her husband Connor and 6-month-old son Porter, will be living in our Cornus Cottage, and Alden begins her exciting work with our youth program on January 12th, 2026.

We are also excited to share that our new Senior Pastor and his family will also join us in January. Josh Roberts, along with his wife Loren, son James (6th grade), and daughter Izzy (1st grade), has been serving in Marietta, GA. Josh and Loren met at Josh’s home church, Social Circle UMC, and have been married since 2006. Loren has a degree in Marketing from Georgia College and State University and is currently the Director of Marketing for Jim Ellis Automotive Group. Josh, having grown up just miles outside of Athens, loves all things UGA, especially football. He also enjoys going to the gym and cooking barbecue. The thing he enjoys the most is spending time with his family and exploring life together, as there is rarely a dull moment in the Roberts’ home!

Glad Tidings - Advent & Christmas 2025

This edition of the Glad Tidings is full of holiday information you don't want to miss! From Christmas Eve service times to student parties and more, make sure you don't miss a thing! We can't wait to share this special time of year with you!

READ IT HERE

Thank You to Our Decorating Volunteers

Our Sanctuary has been beautifully transformed for Advent and Christmas, and we are filled with gratitude for the wonderful volunteers who made it happen. Your time, creativity, and joyful spirits have created a space that helps us enter this holy season with reverence and expectation.

Thank you for sharing your gifts with our church family and for making our worship space shine with the hope of Christ’s coming. We are truly grateful for each of you.

Decorate the Family Tree

Beginning November 30, help us decorate the Ministry Center Christmas tree!

Bring an ornament that represents your family...

something special, not a leftover. We’ll fill the tree by December 14th for our Festival of Christmas service.

Ornaments can be picked up after December 28th. Otherwise, we will store them for next year!

Missions

Sassy Sowers Stockings Project

The Sassy Sowers are back again this year making stockings for P.A.C.K. So far, they have made 143 to donate. Thank you to this group for making the holidays brighter in our community each year!

Wesley Community Centers Christmas Adoption Program

November 30 - December 10

You can help brighten a child’s Christmas by choosing an ornament from one of the Missions Christmas trees, either in the main hallway or in the Ministry Center, and purchasing a gift for a child in one of Wesley’s programs. For information, contact Julie Vann at jvann@iohumc.com.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

As part of our Christmas giving this year, we are offering a new and additional opportunity to share with children in our community. During our Great Day of Service in February, we will partner with Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) to make 30 beds by hand for children who do not have one. We will also provide a Bed in a Bag (includes sheets and comforter) for each of the 30 beds we make.

Look for the SHP ornaments on the Missions Christmas trees in the hallway and the Ministry Center to either purchase a Bed in a Bag through the church’s registry (to ensure some consistency) or give a donation to go toward the cost of making the beds. Contact Julie at jvanniohumc.com for questions.

Day On The Island Update

Day on the Island could not be a more perfect example of how we live out our Mission & Vision Statement at IOHUMC. Our 2025 Chairperson, Mimi Jones, has already expressed gratitude for the countless hours of so many hands and feet to make this day possible. Now we can confirm it was also successful!

After expenses were paid, we are able to share over $36,000 with mission organizations that make a difference in the lives of so many, both locally and around the globe! Thank you for helping transform the world through Cultivating Community by Uniting in Purpose and Serving in Love.

IGNITE Student & Children's Ministry

IGNITE students, get ready for an epic winter adventure!

SPACE IS LIMITED!

Our Winter Ski Retreat is happening January 2–4, 2026. We’ll head out Friday at 8 a.m. and be back by 5 p.m. Sunday. The cost is $250 per person—just be sure to turn in your Permission Form, Ski Form, and $100 deposit by December 4. Don’t miss this awesome weekend of skiing, friends, and fun!

FILL OUT SKI FORM HERE

FILL OUT PERMISSION FORM HERE

Other Church News

Happy 101st Birthday, Howard Young!

Join us in celebrating the incredible milestone of our dear church member, Howard Young, who turned 101 yesterday! Howard is a cherished part of our church family, and we give thanks for his long life, gentle spirit, and faithful presence.

If you’d like to send Howard a birthday card to help make his day extra special, you may mail it to:

Howard Young

123 Apache Ave, Apt. 323

Savannah, GA 31419

Let’s shower him with love on this remarkable occasion!

Come join the fun at Hope Arbor!

Meet new friends while making a difference in our community. No two days are alike at Hope Arbor, so come see what we’re all about! You can help our friends living with memory loss continue to live a meaningful life. We help with several service projects such as assembling Blessing Bags for the homeless, writing Kairos notes for inmates, packing dog food for senior citizens’ pets, creating notes for PACK, and more. We are currently looking for volunteers to help with companionship and serving lunch.  If you have questions or would like to learn more, please contact Eliza Brooks at ebrooks@iohumc.com or 912-596-8528.

United in Prayer

Dear Church Family,

You are invited to join the Isle of Hope United Methodist Church Prayer Chain—a simple yet vital way for us to unite in prayer as a community.

When a prayer request is made, you will receive a phone message from Gray Curlee, providing the name and reason for the prayer. Your only commitment is to pause and pray. The power of prayer transforms us, and we are grateful for your willingness to participate in this ministry.

If you feel called to join this team, please call or text Gray at 912.658.7973 or call the church office at 912.355.8527.

Thank You!



Please help us thank Jane Tyler, Triece Ziblut, and a team of volunteers for the fabulous way they said, “YES!” We had just a few days' notice to welcome our incoming pastor and his family for a short visit, and this group didn’t hesitate. These quiet servant leaders made sure our parsonage was ready to host a family of 4, had a few snacks for their short stay, and felt comfortable and welcoming in every room.

We also thank Pastor Varner for sharing his “new temporary” home with the Roberts' family for a night. We look forward to Josh, Loren, James, and Izzy joining us in January.

Good Samaritan Circle Meeting

The Good Samaritan Circle will have a special Christmas meeting on December 5, in the Green House, at 11:00am! Note the different time!!! We will be having brunch and a “Tell of Tales” for our program. That means you are to bring with you a favorite Christmas memory…funny, sad, weird, old, recent……to share with everyone. Sounds like lots of fun! Everyone is welcome!

Year-End Gifts - Only a Few Weeks Left!

Over the past 12 months, God has been at work through Isle of Hope United Methodist Church, both in our community and around the world. If you haven’t had a chance to contribute to God’s ministries this year, there’s not much time left!

Click here to make your 2025 charitable contribution. All gifts, online or mailed, are tax-deductible, but they must be postmarked or transacted online no later than December 31st. Thank you for your continued generosity and support of the work you enable us to do at IOHUMC!

If you are a member and would like to join the online directory, please email

Meghan Hollamon at mhollamon@iohumc.com to receive an invitation.