Wednesday, October 29th, 2025 | | |
Worship in the Sanctuary
I Will Rise
Sing with All the Saints in Glory
Fly Away
Going Home
Rev. Stephen Grantham
Scripture: John 11:32-44
When Death Does Not Have the Last Word
All are invited to a reception for the Granthams in the Ministry Center following the service, where you are welcome to place a love offering in the baskets provided.
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This Sunday is All Saints' Sunday.
You are invited to bring a flower to honor the life of someone
who has joined the saints eternal this year.
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Our Communion Offering
This Sunday, our Communion Offering will go to the Pastor’s Emergency Fund. This fund is used to assist people in our community who need help with utility bills, groceries, gas for their cars, and other essential expenses. During this difficult time, the need is great. Please pray for all people struggling to make ends meet and give generously.
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Commitment Sunday Update
Thus far, we have received 83 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 73% 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.
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Day On The Island 2025 - Important Information
Online Auction Preview: Bidding opens this Sunday and closes on November 9th. You can preview the wonderful items in The Tabby House from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. this Sunday and next.
We still need bakers! The Sugar and Spice shop is still in need of donations of homemade baked goods to sell. These include cakes, pies, cookies, bars, breads, jams, and jellies.
Not sure what to bake? We also need people to bake batches of butter cookies and cowboy cookies (we can provide the recipe). If you are able to help, please contact Amy Henneman via email e.henneman@comcast.net or by phone 912-856-5105.
Baked goods should be dropped in the SALT classroom on Wednesday, November 5th, or by noon on Thursday, November 6th. Baked items should be brought in disposable containers or Ziploc bags—we will package your items to sell. If you are making a cake, please put it on a cake board. Thank you!
Tickets are on sale until October 30th in the office and on our website iohumc.com. Please invite everyone you know to come enjoy the day with us. Remember that everyone working also still needs to buy a ticket for the day.
Want to be a volunteer for Day On The Island?
CLICK HERE
All volunteers needing the nursery for their Day On The Island shifts, please reserve with Beth Parr by Friday, October 31. Email her at bparr@iohumc.com.
| | IGNITE Student & Children's Ministry | | |
TONIGHT!
Calling all students! You are invited to a fun night of games, dinner, and a chance to get to know our candidate for Director of Student Ministry tonight in the Green House!
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TRUNK OR TREAT THANK YOU!
We couldn’t have done it without our amazing volunteers. Twenty creative individuals decorated their trunks and welcomed all the little “guests” who stopped by for treats.
A big thanks to everyone who donated bags (and bags!) of candy — the kids loved it! Chris Tyler and family, along with their crew, cooked and packaged hot dogs and hamburgers that everyone enjoyed. Bill and Linda Daniel generously provided the hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, and water for the evening. We’re also grateful for our staff and many helpers who set up, served food, kept the candy flowing, and handled cleanup.
If we’ve missed anyone, please know how much we appreciate you. Thanks to each person who helped make this fun-filled night — and all those children’s smiles — possible!
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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
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IOHUMC Missions Giving Update
Did you know that so far this year, IOHUMC has supported local and global organizations with not only hands and feet and prayers, but with generous financial gifts totaling over $116,000!
Thank you for making a difference in the lives of so many who are served by the following:
Wesley Community Center
PACK
Transitions Foundation
Christ Child’s Nest
Friends Empowering Haiti
UMCOR (United Methodist Council On Relief)
Inner City Night Shelter
Missionaries through Wycliffe, Campus Crusade for Christ, & YWAM
HUGS (Hands Up Guidance Services)
JUST (Justice Unites Savannah Together)
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Upcoming Mission Trip
We will send a team from IOHUMC to Antigua, Guatemala, November 10-14. While there, the team will visit Transitions Foundation and The Christ Child’s Nest. At The Nest, they will enjoy time with the children and Sisters and get to know members of the Casa de Angeles Board, our partners in supporting the children.
Please pray for our team members: Ashley Lewis, George Shields, Marci Roberts, Johanna Parr, Joy Thompson, and Scott and Julie Vann.
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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!
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Updates on Transitions and Pastoral Leadership
A Message from Stephen B. Grantham, Senior Pastor
Good friends, on May 1, 2023, I was appointed to be your pastor and to help you through a time of healing. The church was filled with uncertainty and grief. Many new challenges were facing us. Together, we have worked hard to overcome these challenges. The future is much brighter now.
This is a time of transition for us all. Transitions are bittersweet, as changes take place and movement is happening, yet this is a time filled with promise and hope. I will continue my leave of absence until June, and then I will take a retired connection with our Annual Conference. Sheri and I are moving to Statesboro, into our (new to us) home, something we have dreamt of for some time. We welcome more time to enjoy family and friends.
The time away has been helpful to me in dealing with some health difficulties. My mind has been focused on healing. Sheri and I have enjoyed our time together without the demands of parish life.
I do look forward to preaching my last sermon at Isle of Hope next week, on Sunday, November 2. We will remember the Saints of our church and those precious souls who are still with us in spirit and in memory. Their witness to Christ will be honored.
Sheri and I wish you all the best in the future and remind you that the God we serve is greater than any transition we may experience. We will continue to remember you in our prayers. May God bless you all.
A Message from Scott Hagan, District Superintendent
On behalf of Bishop Robin Dease, I am pleased to share an update on the pastoral leadership for Isle of Hope United Methodist Church.
As you've read above, Stephen Grantham will remain on leave and his appointment as your Senior Pastor will conclude December 31st. The Annual Conference is providing a transition pastor to serve for two months. The Rev. Gerald Varner will arrive in early November, allowing Stephen and Sheri to continue their transition into retirement. Gerald is a retired United Methodist Elder who served churches in North Georgia until 2023 and has been trained to assist churches for such a time as this.
In January, Isle of Hope will welcome a new Senior Pastor, who has already prayerfully agreed to join this dynamic church family, staff, and community. Bill Simmons will be sharing details about this later in November.
I cannot thank the Revs. Meg Procopio and Jared Wilson enough, along with the rest of the staff, for their leadership and unwavering commitment to serving through this transition. I trust that you will offer your appreciation to them as well.
Finally, I want to commend the lay leadership of your church’s Staff-Parish Relations Committee, led by Bill Simmons, Chairperson, and Triece Ziblut, Vice-Chairperson. They have served the church, in ways quiet and significant, with distinction.
Well done, church. You are living out your vision - cultivating community by uniting in purpose and serving in love.
READ REV. GERALD VARNER'S BIO HERE
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Two Birds with One Bake!
While you are baking fabulous goodies for the Day on the Island Sugar and Spice Shop, can you bake a little more? Our students would love a sweet treat on Sunday nights, so we are asking for 3 dozen cookies, brownies, or other individual desserts that easily freeze.
Able to help? Just bring them to the church office, labeled for Student Ministry. Thank you!
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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.
Bags are available in the hallways on Sundays and need to be returned to the church office no later than November 10th. Thank you!
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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!
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Charge Conference
Isle of Hope UMC will hold its Charge Conference on October 30th at 5:30 pm. All Church Council members are encouraged to attend.
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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.
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Ways to Give
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In Person - On Sunday mornings, before or after worship, place your offering in the designated box or basket at church.
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Online - Visit our website to make a one-time donation or recurring gift.
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Text an amount to (912) 551-8087
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Automated - Have your donation given automatically by setting up an automated transaction directly through your bank.
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Mail - Mail your gift to Isle of Hope UMC, c/o Marla Grady, 412 Parkersburg Road, Savannah, Georgia 31406.
- Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) or Planned Savings - Direct contributions can be made from a retirement fund, and allow tax benefits.
- Give Stock - Stock can be transferred to the church investment account. Contact Marla Grady in the church office for more information.
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