Wednesday, November 5th, 2025

Church News

A Warm Welcome!

We’re delighted to welcome Rev. Gerald Varner as our Interim Pastor! Rev. Varner will be with us through the remainder of the year, guiding and supporting our church family during this season of transition. We’re grateful for his leadership and look forward to the months ahead together in worship and ministry. Please give him a warm IOHUMC welcome!

READ REV. GERALD VARNER'S BIO HERE

Friday should be a beautiful day and it's not too late to be part of this extraordinary event! Tickets are now $30 and do not include the luncheon, but all the shopping and touring will be worth it, and all the proceeds benefit missions within and beyond our community.

The Online Auction closes on Sunday, November 9th. Don't miss the fabulous items on display in the Tabby House!

Commitment Sunday Update

Thus far, we have received 99 commitments to accept the Generosity Challenge! Our tentative budget for 2026 is $1.4M, and so far, with your responses and other estimated revenue, we are 80% toward that goal!

Why complete a Commitment Card? Just like in your household, we estimate our expenses for next year (the missions and ministries of IOHUMC), and we need you to help us know our revenue.

If you have not had a chance to submit your 2026 Commitment, you can get a card from the office or an usher on Sunday, or you can CLICK HERE.

Missions

GUATEMALA MISSION TEAM

Our mission team—Ashley Lewis, Johanna Parr, Marci Roberts, George Shields, Joy Thompson, Scott Vann, and Julie Vann—will travel to Guatemala November 10–14.

They’ll partner with Transitions Foundation in Antigua, helping set up a children’s library and learning about their work providing wheelchairs and prosthetics. The team will also visit Las Obras Sociales del Hermano Pedro and spend time with The Christ Child’s Nest, our ministry partners in Guatemala.

Please pray for safe travel, good health, and God’s guidance as the team serves with compassion and helps strengthen our partnerships abroad.

7 Million Meals!

Today, Meals on Wheels will deliver its 7 millionth meal! We want to thank the many volunteers who serve through the Isle of Hope Meals on Wheels Ministry. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, they ensure that seniors in our community receive not only a hot meal, but also a friendly visit.



A special word of gratitude goes to Phyllis Curlee for her many years of dedicated service coordinating this ministry. Thank you, Phyllis—and thank you to all the volunteers who make this incredible outreach possible!

Kairos Prison Ministry Closing Ceremony

Please Note Date Change

The local chapter of Kairos Prison Ministry invites you to attend a Closing Ceremony at Coastal State Prison on Sunday, November 16, 2025, from 1:00–3:00 PM.

This ceremony marks the conclusion of a 3½-day Kairos event and offers inmates an “open mic” opportunity to share their personal experiences from the weekend.

Attendees should arrive at the Prison Security Office Entrance by 1:00 PM. To make travel easier, Ronnie Lusk will meet those attending in front of the IOHUMC office between 12:00–12:15 PM to lead the group to the prison. He will also be available in the prison parking lot to assist with security check-in.

Please complete and email the form below to Jim Bryan at jlbscb55@gmail.com by Thursday, November 13.

Prison Address:

Coastal State Prison

200 Gulfstream Rd.

Garden City, GA 31408

For questions, please email Jim Bryan.

IGNITE Student & Children's Ministry

IGNITE students, get ready for an epic winter adventure!

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

Music Ministry

Calling All Singers!

Love to sing? Come be part of our Festival of Christmas — a joyful, music-filled worship service that brings together all the choirs of the church to celebrate the birth of Christ. Whether you’re a longtime choir member or just love to lift your voice in song, we’d love for you to join our seasonal choir.

Rehearsals Begin: TONIGHT • 6:30 p.m. • Choir Room



Festival of Christmas: Sunday, December 14 • 9:15 a.m. • Ministry Center

All are welcome—come share your voice and help make this season shine with music and joy!

Other Church News

Sanctuary Windows

After many unexpected delays, we are honored to display the completed plaque to acknowledge the new Sanctuary windows and the generosity of those who made the need a reality.

Thank you to all who helped with the project, from assessing to planning, from decision-making to contributing. The windows are yet another beautiful reminder of the generosity of our congregation.

(The plaque is located at the bottom of the stairs across from the wheelchair lift.)

Line Dancing!

We are back for more line dancing fun! We hope you will join us on November 14th at 7:00 PM in the Ministry Center. Tell your friends! The more the merrier!



REGISTER HERE FOR NOVEMBER 14TH

Important Date Change!

The Saturday Sewing Club has moved its November 8th sewing day to November 15th at 10:00 AM.



If you would like to attend, please reach out to Teri Akin at 912-596-1190 so that she has enough sewing machines ready to go!

United Women in Faith

Wesley Thanksgiving Project

Help us fill grocery bags with food items for Thanksgiving dinner for our neighbors, assisted through Wesley Community Center.

We still have a few bags available. Please return filled bags to the church office no later than November 10th. Thank you!

Poinsettia Orders

It’s that time of year again! If you would like to order a poinsettia in honor or in memory of someone to be displayed during our Christmas services, order forms will be available next week.

We will only have a limited number of poinsettias available, and they are $20 each, so mark your calendars!

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.