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Weekly News & Updates
July 3, 2025
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This Sunday - 10am
Welcome our new Pastor after her first worship service with us this Sunday, July 6!
We are blessed to have Rev. Britney Toner appointed to lead Ghent Church and continue her ministry with us. Come hear her first sermon and share Holy Communion with us.
You can learn more about Rev. Toner in a block below.
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 related craft or activity.
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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About our New Pastor Britney Toner
The Rev. Britney Toner was appointed to our church in July 2025. She is from the Gulf Coast of Florida and has been a United Methodist since childhood (with a brief stint as baby Jesus in the Catholic nativity play). Pastor Britney earned a degree in Social Work with a minor in Communications from the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Florida and a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Her first appointment was in 2018 as the Associate Pastor at First United Methodist in Port St. Joe, Florida. She married her husband, the Rev. Dr. Chris Terrell, an active-duty Navy Chaplain, in May of 2020 and moved to join him in eastern North Carolina. She served in the North Carolina Annual Conference as pastor of a three-point charge from 2020-2022 before the Navy moved them to the Norfolk area. Pastor Britney served as a Chaplain resident at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital from 2022-2023, followed by a shared associate pastor appointment at Haygood UMC and Oak Grove UMC. Most recently she has been the full-time Director of Discipleship at Oak Grove UMC in Chesapeake.
Pastor Britney is an ordained Elder in the North Carolina Annual Conference. She is passionate about helping others connect with God, each other, and themselves. She is always up for getting coffee and loves checking out the latest gluten-free places in Norfolk. She is excited and humbled to serve as the Pastor of Ghent UMC!
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Volunteers Needed!
We need many hands to make work light. We are asking for a few hours of your time on Saturday, July 12th, 2025, for a workday at the parsonage. We will start at 9am and go until completed. There will be touch up painting involved, so please dress appropriately.
There is a signup sheet in the back of the church. Or let Paula Loomis know if you are able to help.
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Organ Music - Sunday, July 13
Our Organist Brad Norris will be playing our Casavant organ for our 10am Worship service on Sunday, July 13. Come enjoy his gift and be blessed!
After 36 years, Brad Norris retired at from
St. Andrew's Church and School in Newport News. He lives in Hampton and enjoys doing work as an organ/piano substitute and accompanying various singing groups in Hampton Roads, such as Bellissima.
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July 4th Holiday
Our church office will be closed tomorrow, July 4th.
May you have a blessed, safe and doggone good holiday!
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Notes from Virginia Conference
The 243rd Session of the Virginia Annual Conference has wrapped. Thank you to David Bonnewell for being our representative.
Learn more about the worship, fellowship and business from the annual event.
Find out what's new in the UMC Book of Resolutions 2020/2024.
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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. Class is on summer break. Will return in September.
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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
Lord, make me an instrument
of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where
there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as
to console, to be understood
as to understand, to be loved
as to love. For it is in giving
that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are
pardoned, and it is dying that
we are born to eternal life. Amen.
* From St. Francis Assisi
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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 date will be in July 13.
Choir Rehearsal
Choir rehearsal on Sundays from 11:30 to 12:30pm will resume in the Fall with singing on selected dates. If you are interested in being part of this group, please get in touch with our Minister of Music, Nellwyn Beamon, at music@ghentumc.org.
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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 will be in September.
Trumpet Music
Trumpeter Josh McDonald's next date is TBA.
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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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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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