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Weekly News & Updates
January 9, 2026
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This Sunday - 10am
This Sunday morning, come out to celebrate the Baptism of Jesus Christ and reaffirm your own!
Be additionally blessed by our Organist Brad Norris who will be playing during the service.
"Baptism of Our Lord Sunday shows us that baptism isn’t solely about cleansing us from sin. Baptism is about initiation into community with God and one another, and Jesus shows us the way into this community through his baptism.” *UMCDiscipleship.org
The painting is called Bayou Baptism by Lauren Wright Pittman. She says, "Jesus is stretching out of the frame inviting the viewer to celebrate their own mysterious and wonderful calling from God, as he basks in his own. I chose to paint a pelican for the Holy Spirit's descent, because the scriptural texts leave some room for interpretation; the descending figure is described as "like a dove." So, I decided to paint a pelican which is native to the bayou and was also used to depict Christ's sacrifice in medieval Christian art. God the Creator is represented as the sun, with voice waves radiating from the center, expressing how pleased God is with Jesus."
* Copyright: http://www.lewpstudio.com/ Pittman, Lauren Wright. Bayou Baptism, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN
* Enter the building at the top of large staircase that faces Stockley Gardens (Rd).
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Pastor's Prayer for the Week
As if we could call you anything other than
beloved and blessed
drenched as we are in our love for you
washed as we are by our delight in you
born anew as we are by the grace that flows
from the heart of the one who bore you to us.
* Jan Richardson, http://paintedprayerbook.com/
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Help Pack Up This Sunday
Happy New Year! We have passed the twelfth day of Christmas which means we are past due for our Christmas decor to be taken down and stored away.
PLEASE STAY AFTER CHURCH (Jan. 11), IF AVAILABLE, to help take down the Living Nativity and Christmas trees and wreaths. Many hands make light work.
Thanks! Pastor Britney
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Wednesday Night Bible Study with Pastor Britney
Our short, online Bible Study with Pastor Britney, will now be on Wednesday nights!
Each Wednesday, we will practice Lectio Divina, an ancient way of reading the Word and listening to the Spirit together. We meet 6:30pm - 7pm. You're invited to log on and join Pastor Britney!
Click here for the Zoom link.
Zoom meeting ID: 756 2327 9279
Passcode: ghentumc (all lowercase).
If you are at church, please let her know that you are interested by marking your interest on a Connection Card and listing your email. Then, place it in the offering basket. If you have questions or need more information, talk to Pastor Britney.
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In Memory of Rev. John Shappell
Christiam Sympathy is extended to the family of Rev. John Shappell. Some of you may remember that he began serving as Congregational Care Minister at Ghent UMC in 2015. He had also served at several other churches in the Hampton Roads area.
His memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 17, at Main Street United Methodist Church, 202 N. Main Street, Suffolk, VA, at 11:00 AM. Click here to read his full obituary.
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A Celebration of Unity & Freedom in Song
Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during our annual ceremony at the Attucks Theatre on January 19. The free event is open to the public and will feature Minister Peggy Britt, Minister Early Bynum, and The Norfolk Street Choir Project. Click here for details.
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Ladies Night Out
Ladies are invited to a special night out at New Creation UMC in Chesapeake on Friday, January 23. The hosts promise "fun, fellowship, a social hour to mingle with friends and make new connections, photo ops, delicious refreshments, a time of worship full of music, and teaching by our guest speaker Jodie Berndt." Click this link for more information and to buy tickets.
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Mark Your Calendar
Please plan to attend “Discovering the Possibilities with Rev. Stephanie Parker, District Coordinator for Church Vitality.” It will be here at GUMC on Sunday, February 8, 11:30am.
This is a time where we will look at our visions and capabilities as a church and property, including reviewing our Wesley Community Development results. Please talk with Pastor Britney, if you have any questions.
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Music Ministry
All are welcome to join our Minister of Music, Nellwyn Beamon, in the music ministry of the church.
Contact Nellwyn Beamon, at music@ghentumc.org, if you have any questions or want more information.
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Choir Rehearsal
Choir rehearsals are on Sundays from 11:30am to 12:30pm in the choir room upstairs. Rehearsals will resume on January 4.
If you are interested in joining us, please get in touch with Nellwyn. Email address is above.
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Gathering Jam Band
Each 2nd Sunday, 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. If you would like the music beforehand, contact Nellwyn. No Jam Band in January.
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Organ Music at Ghent
Our Organist Brad Norris plays during our worship services. His next date will be January 11th for Baptism of the Lord Sunday.
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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.
If you would like to volunteer or request a visit for someone, call or email the church office.
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GUMP (Our Preschool)
- We are accepting applications for our 3 and 4 year-old classes for 5-day and 2/3-day programs.
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GUMP earns $5 for each sale on its GUMP's Spirit Wear Store! Use the discount code WELCOMETOFIDGETY for free shipping on your first order.
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GUMP is collecting paper, shopping bags for the Spring Consignment Sale.
Want to help GUMP when you buy groceries? Link your Harris Teeter Grocery HT Plus Membership account to GUMP (#5347). Ask your cashier to do it or link it online. For each linked account, Harris Teeter will send GUMP $10! Click this link for details.
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Children are Always Welcome at Ghent UMC
Our Children's Church* takes place each Sunday during our worship service, 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 related craft or activity.
Children are welcome to remain in the service and utilize the activity bags in the back of the church.
Our nursery* is available for infants to age 3 beginning at 9:50am.
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. Go out the swinging door to the right of our Coffee Station. The changing station is near the staircase.
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Ways to Give
- To give by mail, send your checks to GUMC, 531 Raleigh Ave., Norfolk, VA 23507.
- To give in person, put your donation in a basket on Sunday mornings or take it to the church office during the week.
- Other ways to give include endowments and stocks. For more information, call the church office at (757) 622-2843.
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.
| | UMC News: World, VA, and Local | | |
Register for Jan. 21 Day for All People: Advocate for Justice.
UMC Bishops Support Latin America and Caribbean Bishops on Venezuela. Read the statement.
Register for the next UM Day at the General Assembly scheduled for January 29.
Dakotas-Minnesota Bishop shares letter following Minneapolis death. Read the letter.
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Need to get in touch with us?
The church office hours are Monday - Friday, 9am to 12pm.
757-622-2843 office@ghentumc.org
Click here for the staff's contact information.
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