#1. Worship This Week
This Sunday, May 22, 2022, at 9:15 am and 11:00 am
Graduation Sunday
Sermon Series: "Dear Church"
This Week's Sermon: Can We Skip To the Good Part
by Pastor Jeremy Lawson
Scripture: Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)

Have you ever noticed how often we treat life with a “someday” mentality? “I’ll be happy someday—once I graduate or get out of debt or find a new job or buy a new car or get married.” Sometimes in life, the greatest temptation is to want to skip the challenges and difficulties so we can get to the good part. But what Paul wants the church in Rome to understand is that as people of faith, the hardest parts of life often prove to be the best parts. Today, we’ll look at how Paul’s words can give us a whole new perspective on life and how we find hope.

Both our 9:15 am and 11:00 am services will also be available via live stream. You can find us at hmumc.org/live, YouTube, or Facebook Live.

We look forward to seeing you then!
#2. Memorial Day
Memorial Day/Poppy Sunday
May 29 at 9:15 am and 11:00 am

Join us for Memorial Day Sunday/Poppy Day! On Sunday, May 29 in observance of Memorial Day, our Military Support Group will distribute bright red poppies for a donation to support their efforts throughout the year.

If you're not familiar, our MSG supports several military foundations across North Georgia including the Northeast Georgia Homeless Veterans Shelter, home repairs and habitat build for a veteran family, blankets for our veterans in assisted living in partnership with The Deaton Creek Military Support Group, home repair for a single amputee in partnership with The Gary Sinise Foundation and more.

We'd love to have others join our MSG team and they are looking to add more events throughout the year! More announcements will be made on Memorial Day Sunday!


If you are a church member and are a veteran or currently serving, or know someone who is, please let us know by clicking here.
#3. Upcoming Conversations
Join us for a Conversation about a New HMUMC Governance Model
Wednesday, June 1 at 6:30 pm OR Sunday, June 12 at 4:00 pm

In the United Methodist Church (UMC), we historically have four administrative committees that care for the "business" of the church. If you didn't know, HMUMC typically has approximately 50 volunteers serving across these four committees and involves many hours of meetings throughout the year.

But what if there is a better way to make disciples of Jesus and engage our amazing volunteers to do more mission work? The latest book of UMC Discipline allows churches the opportunity to restructure in order to be more missionally focused. Hundreds of churches have now moved to a more simplified, accountable structure model where the shift is focused on serving in mission and ministry rather than serving in hours of meetings.

Join us as we introduce this new model of governance called Simplified Accountability Structure and gather your feedback to determine if this new governance model is right for HMUMC.

We will have two sessions for you to come and learn more. Join us either Wednesday, June 1 at 6:30 or Sunday, June 12 at 4:00. Anyone in the congregation is welcome to join us to learn more and ask questions.

We want to change how we lead the 21st-century disciple but want your feedback.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing more!
#4. The Pantry
Special Volunteer Opportunity this Thursday, May 19 at 6:00 pm
Please join us to honor Mrs. Pearly Young

Our Pantry is devastated by the recent events that transpired at Tops Market in Buffalo, New York. We were especially impacted by the stories of Mrs. Pearly Young, a woman dedicated to her faith in God and service to her community who lovingly organized her local Food Pantry every Saturday for 25 years.

The Pantry is partnering with HMUMC’s BridgeBuilders and invites you to help us honor her memory and the light she gave to the world by serving together this Thursday, May 19th at 6 pm. We will meet at HMUMC and assemble special bags containing a few of her favorite pantry items that will be placed in each patron’s box in Mrs. Pearly Young’s honor on Saturday. Our time will include a moment of reflection and prayer for Mrs. Young and all of the victims of the recent Buffalo shooting.

We will also be dedicating our normal volunteer times this Thursday and Friday to her memory and her inspirational work to feed people in her community for almost three decades.

Our deepest condolences are given to Mrs. Young’s family and all of the families impacted by this heinous act of violence. The Pantry at HMUMC reaffirms and continues our commitment to being a place of love, peace, and refuge for our community.

If you’d like to let us know you’re coming for this special project or sign up for Thursday or Friday’s volunteer hours, you can do so by clicking this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E094DA8A622A4F58-pantry

#5. Farewell to the Lawson Family
Join Us As We Wish the Lawsons Farewell
Sunday, June 5th Between Services

Let's gather together to thank the Lawson family as they make the transition to Athens First United Methodist Church. Pastor Jeremy's last sermon will be on Sunday, June 5th so we will recognize and celebrate them that day. We will have light refreshments and an opportunity to visit with them and leave them words of encouragement and remembrance as they make the transition.

Additionally, we are taking up a Love Offering for the Lawson family starting today through Monday, June 6th. You can make a non-deductible offering to them by writing "Lawson Family" on the memo line of your check, indicating "Lawson Family" on the offering envelope, or give online and selecting "Staff Gift/Love Offering" when indicating a fund.

We appreciate everything you continue to do to support and love on Pastor Jeremy during his final weeks with us at HMUMC.
#6. Kids Ministry & VBS News
Hey Kids! We have so much in store for you each week in Kids Ministry!


We look forward to seeing you this Sunday at 9:15 am and 11:00 am!

Many Blessings,
Traci Lowry
Director of Kids Ministry

Learn more at hmumc.org/kids
2022 Vacation Bible School - June 6-10 from 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Supplies are Due This Sunday, May 22nd

We are getting so excited for VBS 2022 and are so grateful for all the community does for our VBS Program!

Our Physical Supply list is now OPEN - please consider purchasing an item off of our physical supply list so our volunteers can bring the joy of Jesus to these campers each day!

You can find the supply list here You can drop off the supplies at the Church at anytime. We need all supplies by THIS Sunday, May 22nd.

Please note that we are at camper capacity pending additional Adult Volunteers for VBS 2022. Adults, please consider being a crew leader this year! We promise you will LOVE the experience.

We do have a camper waitlist so please be sure to put your child's name on that waitlist. If you volunteer, your child is guaranteed a spot but please be sure to add them to the waitlist and then notify Traci Lowry via email at traci.lowry@hmumc.org to move them off the waitlist.

If you would like to make a monetary donation to VBS, please click here. Please select "VBS Donations" under "funds".

Learn more at hmumc.org/vbs

We are Hiring an Assistant Director of Kids' Ministry
Part-Time Role (20-25 hours per week)

The Assistant Director of Kids Ministry is responsible for attendance, Kids worship and small group supply preparation, and assisting in the implementation of Sunday morning small group and Wednesday night children’s programming. For seasonal special events, the Assistant is responsible for recruiting team members and executing event plans. The Assistant Director will also be responsible for staffing and providing guidance to the Nursery Ministry of HMUMC. The Assistant provides direct support to the Director of Kids Ministries and the KidsMin Council. The person in this role is to be an integral part of the Family Ministries team. 

If interested email communications@hmumc.org
Learn more at hmumc.org/employment
Special Needs Volunteers Needed

We are looking for volunteers who can help lead and support our Special Needs Sunday School Class on Sunday Mornings at 9:15 am. This is an outstanding ministry that brings joy to so many families each week. No special training or experience is required - just patience, compassion, love, and respect for ALL of God’s children!

For more information please contact traci.lowry@hmumc.org.
#7. Student Ministry
Hey, Student Min Parents and Students!
Here's what's happening in Student Ministry:

Upcoming Events:
  • This Sunday we look forward to seeing our students in worship at 9:15 and with us in the Student Center at 11:00! We are here for the students as this finish the school year strong!
  • Come and Putt Putt with us on June 15! You can sign up at hmumc.org/students

Our summer calendar is now available and REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW OPEN! Learn more and sign up at hmumc.org/students
Be sure to join us all summer long!

Be sure to check out our weekly newsletter to learn all about the fun we have in Student Ministry!


We are always here if you need us!

David Benson - david.benson@hmumc.org
Heather McCreary - heather.mccreary@hmumc.org

Learn more about all of this and more at hmumc.org/students
#8. Farewell to Tim Burke
All the Best To Tim Burke!
Your HMUMC Family Wishes You Well!

Tim Burke, our Maintenance Manager, is leaving HMUMC after 13 years of service to move out west to Columbia, Missouri with his daughter Claire. Tim is looking forward to spending more time with his daughter and continuing his passion for hunting and everything outdoors.

His last day is this Sunday, May 22nd where we will honor him at the end of the 11:00 am service. If you see Tim over the next few days, please stop and wish him and his daughter well. We thank Tim for his years of loyal service and for keeping everything up and running here at HMUMC!
#9. Get to Know Pastor Wendy
Get to Know The Reverend Dr. Wendy Jones

As you know, Pastor Jeremy and his family will be transitioning to Athens First United Methodist Church in July. We will be welcoming Dr. Wendy Jones and her family to HMUMC on Sunday, July 10th.

Our team is hard at work making sure both Pastor Jeremy and Pastor Wendy go through a smooth transition. We hope everyone will come to celebrate Pastor Jeremy and his family on Sunday, June 5th.

In the meantime, we want HMUMC to get to know more about Wendy and her family. Each week in May, we will be sharing some "fun facts" about Pastor Wendy.

Pastor Wendy and her husband Rodney share four teenage children. Their son Ryan lives in South Carolina, son Nicky is a junior (rising senior) in high school, daughter Iliana is also a junior (rising senior) and daughter Lauren is a sophomore (rising junior). The family has two dogs that they also consider part of their family as well.

In addition to loving dogs, Pastor Wendy also loves giraffes since they are tall and she is not. Wendy loves watching the Red Sox play baseball and she's a Clemson football fan but don't you worry Georgia fans as she cheers for the Braves and the Georgia Bulldogs too!

Pastor Wendy cannot wait to get to know the people of Hamilton Mill UMC! She's looking forward to serving in a church that GATHERS to worship in ways that celebrate and honors tradition and makes space for modern worship too. She's looking forward to serving in a church that creates opportunities for people to GROW in small groups and through acts of service. She's looking forwrd to serving in a chruch that purts our faith in action by challenging us to GO - into the world and to make disciples.

Look for more insight in the coming weeks in the weekly Top Tens as we get a chance to get to learn more about Wendy and her family! We can’t wait to welcome them to HMUMC!

#10. Preschool Updates
Preschool Updates
Now Hiring a Music Teacher

Our award-winning Preschool is looking for a music teacher to teach our 2-5-year-old classes weekly 8:30 am -1:00 pm three mornings a week as well as create and direct our Christmas and Spring programs.

For more information or to apply, please send a resume to our HMUMC Preschool Director, Ms. Jennifer Markham at jennifer.markham@hmumc.org

We've had an amazing year in the Preschool and look forward to a great 2022-2023 school year starting September 6th!

We do have some openings in our one-year classes, 12-18 month classes with birthdays between 3/2/2021 and 8/31/2021 and our 19-23 month classes with birthdays 9/1/2020 and 2/28/2021. We also have spots in our five-year-old class with birthdays 9/1/2016 - 8/21/2017.

For more information about our preschool program please visit hmumc.org/preschool


  • May 22 - Graduation Sunday at HMUMC at 9:15 and 11:00
  • May 29 - Memorial Day and Family Sunday
  • May 30 - Church Office is Closed
  • June 1 - Churchwide Conversation at 6:30 pm
  • June 5 - Lemonade on the Lawn after each service
  • June 5 - VBS Open House from 6 pm - 7 pm
  • June 6 - 10 VBS Week
  • June 12 - VBS Sunday
  • June 12 - Second Churchwide Conversation at 4:00 pm
We have so many ways to serve at HMUMC! Please see just a few of the opportunities below. You can learn more at hmumc.org