Sundays at 10 am
To participate in our Sunday Worship via Facebook Live,
go online to our Facebook page
and scroll down until you see the video of the Worship Service. Even if you don't have a Facebook account, you will still be able to view our Facebook page and Worship Service.
Please write your name in the comments so we know you are
worshiping
with us.
We continue our online Worship with
a Love Feast
. Please be prepared to again celebrate this feast together. This ritual utilizes some form of bread and a liquid. You may use whatever you have handy.
We will continue the Love Feast each Sunday until we are reunited.
Worship Bulletin
This Sunday, Pastor Melody begins a new sermon series entitled, "Jacob."
- Her first sermon title is "The Twins Inside."
- To read this week's Scripture from Romans 8:1-11, click here.
- To read this week's Scripture from Genesis 25:19-34, click here.
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Daily Prayer
Starter
Please set aside time each day to pray for 2-3 minutes. This week's prayer starter is:
"My God, when the battle within me rages, give me the peace necessary to do your will..."
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Louis Vuitton Handbag Raffle
Time is Running Out
Need a birthday or anniversary present?
You have until July 19th to buy your ticket for a chance to win an authentic Louis Vuitton handbag, valued at over $1,500!
The raffle is for the Wesley Community Service Center in Portsmouth, VA.
The proceeds will be used to complete much needed repairs to their building, including the decaying roof over their Bell Tower. Raffle tickets are $25 each or 3 for $50.
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Share Prayers on Facebook
Related to Racial Justice
The Virginia Conference has created a
Facebook group on the conference Facebook page titled "Prayer Wall for Racial Justice." On this wall, clergy and laity of the Virginia Conference can visit and pray for racial justice and reconciliation and share your written or video prayers or other creative avenues to be prayerful in this space. This virtual prayer wall can serve as a means of igniting prayer movements toward stopping systemic racism.
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Pressing On To Freedom Initiative
Calls to Action
Against Racism
Promising "this time will be different," five UMC bishops have joined with other church leaders and boards and agencies of the United Methodist Church to add strength to the message that "We will no longer remain silent nor complicit but must act now!" The church-wide, multi-level initiative will continue, at least, through General Conference in 2021.
As part of the that pledge, through July 16, all United Methodists everywhere are asked to join in prayer at 8:46a.m. and 8:46p.m. for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the time the officer held his knee on George Floyd's neck. "Pray for all persons of color who suffer at the hands of injustice and oppression. Pray for our church as we take a stand against racism." Click here to read more.
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Books about Racism
For Kids
Bringing children into calm, educated discussions can help a younger generation confront the reality of racism and be part of ending racial injustice. UMC.org suggests books and other resources to help address this difficult topic with children.
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Connecting Online & Studying at Home
Sunday School
This group discusses the Bible using
the Standard Lesson Quarterly
series but they are not currently meeting. To read this
discipleship material at home
or for more information,
contact Peter Griffin
.
Prayer Group is postponed until further notice.
Contact Jonathan Tanner
for discipleship material options for independent study and prayer.
Ghent Inspire Book Club usually meets on the 3rd Thursdays of the month at 7:30 pm. We are currently reading chapter 6 of Part II through the remainder of the book The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. We will discuss the book on Thursday, July 23rd, and we also will pick the next book we want to read at that time.
For more information, or to join the Zoom meeting,
contact Lynn Tiedge.
Bible Study is not currently meeting. For more information or independent Bible study recommendations, contact Debbie Bonnewell at 757-870-8299.
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Congregational Care
Pastor Melody Tanner
In response to Christ's call to love one another, we want the members of our congregation to care for one another.
Pastor Melody and our members strive to care for the needs of our congregation, including the visits in homes, at hospitals and in facilities, as needed and requested. To learn more about Congregational Care at Ghent UMC, and other ways you can help,
click on our church's website here
.
Please
email Pastor Melody or call her at
(757) 622-2843 to become a part of our congregational care team or to request a visit from the team.
*Covid 19 virus update In-person visits are limited currently. However, prayers, phone calls, and mail from the care team are continuing.
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Blessing Bags: Donations Due this Sunday, June 12
Our Latest Hands-on Mission Project
We are collecting items to later put into Blessing bags to give to those we encounter who are homeless. Blessing bags are gallon bags filled with non-perishable food, hygiene products, and gift cards. Examples of items are:
- Tissues
- Lipbalm
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- comb
- soap
- small bottle of shampoo
- packet of razors
- sanitary pads
- trail mix
- granola bars
- crackers
- pack of gum
- band aids
- mouthwash
- hand wipes
- Grocery store gift cards
Please bring your items to Ghent UMC by Sunday, July 12. After that date, we will announce the bag assembly date and time.
Please place the items in the box outside of the church office door. If you do not have a key fob
, then contact
Lisa King via email
or telephone message, 757-622-2843, to make arrangements for drop off.
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Age Has its Benefits
Giving
The IRA Charitable Rollover is permanent.
If you are 70 1/2 or older, you can transfer up to $100,000 of your IRA as a gift to Ghent UMC and not have it incur tax.
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COVID-19 Pandemic
Calls to Prayer
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please join me in prayer for the healing of our world. You are not alone. We'll get through this together. I want to encourage you all to stay in touch with one another as much as possible. There are social media links at the bottom of this newsletter. Use them as ways that we can all engage God and one another during this time of isolation.
Peace, Pastor Melody
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COVID-19 Prayer
God of all, we turn to You
Bishop Ernest S. Lyght, a retired bishop of The United Methodist Church, has written a timely prayer that begins:
"God of faith and science, we turn to you in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, because we trust you. We trust you because you listen to our prayers."
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Hurricane Season
Get Prepared
The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 - November 30.
- Do you know your hurricane risk?
- Have you started gathering supplies like pet food and cloth face coverings?
- Are you getting "tech ready"?
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Resuming In-Person Worship
Update from Pastor Melody
While the state has transitioned into Phase 3, Bishop Sharma Lewis has confirmed that the Virginia Conference will remain in Stage 2 of Reopening.
Pastor Melody has formed a Healthy Church Team to prepare for when we return to in-person worship. Until then, Ghent UMC will continue to worship and minister to each other and our community online.
Thank you for your prayers, patience, and understanding as we do our part in curbing the spread of COVID-19.
We can't wait until we can all be together again!
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Past Worship Services
On Facebook
Watch previous Worship services that were streamed live on Facebook by
clicking here.
Ghent UMC is licensed to stream our FB Live worship services through CCLI #20175590 and One License A-727358.
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Worship through Offering
Various Ways
We understand that these are uncertain times for most of us financially, but we want to offer the opportunity for us all to continue to fully participate in worship through the offering of a tithe or gift. Listed here are various ways to give.
Online Giving Go to
ghentumc.org/give
and click "Give here" under "Online & Mobile Giving".
Personal Online Banking Bill Pay
Mail or Drop-off Checks You can mail checks to the church at 531 Raleigh Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23507, or drop them through the mail slot at the Raleigh Ave. entrance.
New Giving Option
The VA Conference of the UMC has set up a
donation website
that can be used to donate to Ghent UMC during the COVID-19 pandemic. For faster processing, use Ghent UMC's GCFA number, 476705.
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Jesus is for everyone.
No exceptions
A Word of Welcome from GUMC
- Based on a statement by Green Street UMC in Winston-Salem, NC
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 entire letter.
Click here
to read Pastor Melody's message to our church and community.
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Church Building
Closure Update
Our church staff are continuing to work from home and only come to the church building on an as needed basis. They are monitoring the church's voice mail and checking email Monday through Friday. Messages will be returned as soon as possible.
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