In-person worship at 11am on Sundays.
Pastor Tom will continue to post a pre-recorded sermon every Sunday morning on Facebook & YouTube. Watch your email for direct links to our on-line worship.
Please stay tuned for any weather related cancellations for this Sunday, February 14th.
We will post closings on channels 29 & 19 and activate the SUMC Phone Tree to keep you informed.
Happy Valentine's Day SUMC Family
Prayer List
Please remember in your prayers the people and concerns on our prayer list:
Lent 2021—A Time to Reconnect

Who would have thought that we would be starting the Season of Lent this year with COVID-19 still interrupting our lives?! Yet here we are. Lent this year will look different than it has before.

We often talk about Lent as a time for self-examination, repentance, changing direction, and spiritual disciplines. All of those practices are important. But we so often focus on a personal level that we forget that we also live in community. The social distance of pandemic has made it hard to get together, to worship together, to serve together.

Pastor Debbie, Pastor Roger and I have been talking about where God is leading us for this season. One of the most significant issues we have identified is the need to reconnect. We invite you to use this as a season to reconnect—with yourself, with your church, with your neighbor, with your God. True, we still have to comply with the rules of social distancing and other health care precautions. But our hope is that we can still use this time creatively and spiritually, trusting in God to “bind us together in love.”

One powerful tool for reconnecting is to share our stories, our journeys—both individually and as a faith community. During the coming weeks, we will be asking you to share your stories. Some stories may be appropriate for sharing publicly; others may be very personal. All of these stories are part of the “Holy Ground” we walk upon. We will be looking for ways to collect and share, as appropriate, those stories that connect us as a community. We will be offering more details in the next few weeks.  

For now, let me invite you to respond to this question: “Who are you?” The question may be simple, but it can become quite deep, as well. You don’t have to get too deep at the moment. We will get deeper as time goes on. Think of it this way. If you were introducing yourself to someone new to the church, what would you tell them about yourself?

You might take a few moments to jot down the things you would say.

This Lent, we have the opportunity to rediscover who we are and why we are gathered together in this community we call Scottsville United Methodist Church. Our prayer, though, is that you also will discover something even more important. We pray that you will discover more deeply what it means to be a child of God!
 
Ash Wednesday

On Ash Wednesday, Christians have traditionally received the imposition of ashes, traced on our foreheads or our hands in the shape of a cross, reminding us that from dust we were made and to dust we will return. Because of COVID restrictions, we will not be holding our customary time to receive the imposition of ashes. But we invite you instead to a different way of gathering online this Wednesday, February 17, at 7:00 pm. Watch for an email containing the links to connect to this special time together.

You don’t need ashes. But if you are able to gather a small amount of soil from a flower bed, it might give a tangible way to make the same point.

We hope you will join us!
Hope Beyond the Bars Bible study update
4 new participants registered to participate in our email Bible study group,
bringing the ministry total to 14 men, with 12 participating in the Bible study.
I am so excited to see God's hand at work through our small but mighty ministry. The excitement is accompanied by a little fear of the unknown. I humbly ask for your prayers as I begin this new journey.
If you would like to volunteer with Hope Beyond the Bars, send me an email or give me a call.
In the Love of Christ, Staci
Disciplines 2021
from The Upper Room
are now available
We currently have 2 copies remaining.
Call or email Staci in the office if you would like to reserve a copy.
Thank you for subscribing to our weekly newsletter.

Blessings, Staci
Employment Opportunity:

First United Methodist Church of Charlottesville is seeking candidates for the position of Financial Manager. The position requires an understanding and appreciation of the financial side of a church ministry or nonprofit organization. The position is part time, with an expected average of 20 hours per week, offering potential for growth as responsibilities may increase or change in a dynamic church environment. Primary responsibilities include: accounts payable, general ledger, processing payroll, managing financial databases, and producing related reports. The position requires an understanding of accounting principles and accepted practices and experience with and understanding of financial systems, budgets and financial reporting. Desired qualifications include demonstrated experience using: Quickbooks, Microsoft Office applications, the ACS bookkeeping system and ADP payroll services. Accuracy, attention to detail, and timeliness are essential qualities, as are flexibility and the ability to work cooperatively and respectfully as a team member with pastoral and church staff, church members and volunteers, as well as stakeholders who interact with the church. Maintaining confidentiality of financial and other church related information is absolutely essential. Salary to be determined at time of hire. Applicants should send resume and cover letter to Rev. Gary Heaton at churchoffice@cvillefirstumc.org.