Weekly News & Updates: March 22, 2024 | |
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Sunday Worship Service - 10am
Get ready to elevate your spirit and fill your heart with joy this Sunday, March 24th! Join us for worship on Palm Sunday at 10am.
Be sure to arrive early so you can get palm branches! The congregation is invited to wave palm branches and sing hosannas as Jesus rides on our donkey into the sanctuary.
Then after worship, come to the front of our church facing Stockley Gardens for annual, Messy Church Easter Egg Hunt. All children are welcome! Ages 3 and under will hunt in our garden, while ages 4 and above in Stockley Gardens. Please BYOB (bring your own basket).
If you signed up to bring refreshments, please place them in the back of the sanctuary.
Please enter the sanctuary through the 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 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, are in the back of the sanctuary. A baby changing station is in the lobby.
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Easter Lilies: Orders Due Monday, March 25
Lilies will be placed around our altar on Sunday, March 31. Lilies may be dedicated in honor or in memory of someone special. To sponsor a lily, please make a donation of $15. Donations will benefit missions.
Orders and donations are due by Monday, March 25. You may give through our online giving portal or make checks payable to Ghent UMC with notation for lilies.
To order, drop a note in the offering basket or email the church office.
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Holy Week at Ghent Church | |
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Holy (Maundy) Thursday is the first of the three days of solemn remembrance of the events leading up to and immediately following the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. You may remember this included Jesus sharing the Last Supper with his disciples and washing their feet.
Ghent Church will have its Holy Thursday service at 7pm in the sanctuary. Together, we will hear the word of God, sing songs, share Communion, and focus on Jesus' loving sacrifice for us. Please come.
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Celebrate your risen Savior during our Easter/ Resurrection Service on Sunday, March 31, at 10 am.
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord! Our music will be enhanced by organist Brad Norris along with trumpeter Josh McDonald.
Communion will be offered. A prepackaged, gluten-free, option is always available.
** Don't forget to bring fresh flowers from your garden to adorn the Living Cross.
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Last Sunday's Highlights
During our St. Patrick's Day service, we heard Celtic settings of the psalms. Thank you to our guest singers and musicians - Amy Ferebee, guitar; Veronica Porfert, soprano; Valerie Reagh, alto; Michael Regan, piano; and Christopher Taylor, violin. Thanks also to Lisa King and Nellwyn Beamon.
We followed that special service by getting together and filling the eggs for our Messy Church Easter Egg Hunt. Thanks everyone!
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Office Hours
Please note that the church's office will be closed on March 29th in honor of Good Friday. May you have a blessed day focused on Jesus.
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Thank You Everyone
Our Rise Against Hunger event was such an awesome success. We packaged 10,000 meals for people in need around the world.
Please help us reach our goal for shipping costs. Make a donation by using the QR code or clicking this UDPATED link.
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See a Musical in May
We had so much fun at Evita, we are going to do it again! Jersey Boys is coming to Virginia Musical Theater May 3-5. Once more, Nellwyn would like to get a group together, and once more, Ricky Dain Jones will be back from NYC, this time playing the part of Gyp DeCarlo.
If you are interested in going, please let me know by April 1. The home email address is nadezhda@quixnet.net. Prices are probably around $40.00 for the Saturday matinee. Disclaimer: language, but the music is supposed to be stellar.
Thanks, Nellwn Beamon
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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. Enter through the doors facing Stockley Gardens.
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Read the Book of Revelation with Rev. Ry
Join Pastor Ryan on Thursdays, 8-9pm, on Zoom for book study. This session, we're reading the last book of the Bible - Revelation. Everyone is invited to join in the discussion! The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86516483199
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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 / Food Pantry
Volunteers are needed to help monitor/ fill our church's Little Library / food pantry on Raleigh Ave. Please sign up to help on one or more weeks. During your "week," at least once, please stock the little library using items from the collection box that is inside the church. Click here to sign up and get details.
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Food Donations Needed
We collect non-perishable food and hearty snacks to place in our little library / food pantry. The food is to benefit those who are hungry, including those experiencing homelessness. Place your offerings in the basket by the altar on 4th Sundays or contact the church office to make arrangements for drop off.
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Homeless Committee
The Homeless Committee of Ghent UMC meets quarterly to coordinate efforts to positively impact those experiencing homelessness.
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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 10 a.m. worship services on Sundays. Hear him play again on Easter Sunday morning, March 31, along with trumpeter Josh McDonald.
Violin Music
Violinist Chris Taylor plays during our 10am Worship. His next date is TBA.
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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 one is Sunday, April 14.
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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
"God of the Cross, help me to go beyond the joyful parade of palms and follow Jesus into the suffering of this world. And as I face that suffering, remind me of your steadfast love for me..."
Adapted from Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion
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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
Re-energize your prayer life with a new practice. Learn more.
Read The Upper Room daily devotional. Click here.
Click here to find the resources you need to explore the Bible.
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Preschool Ministry and Leadership Updates | |
UMC Continues the Call to Dismantle Racism | |
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The United Methodist Church has stated that we will no longer remain silent nor complicit about racist acts against African Americans but we must act now to become anti-racist individuals and churches!
The Long Haul The UMC is committed to the long haul when it comes to anti-racism work. Read the story.
What Can You Do to 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. Click here for the daily prayers.
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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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Listen to individuals share how they are creating daily life with God in the face of racial injustice and the trauma induced by racial inequity in the U.S. Click here to listen.
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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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UMC News: World, VA, and Local | |
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Virginia Conference delegation wants prayer shawls for visiting delegates. If you quilt or make shawls, please click here for information.
United Methodist helps lead human-rights effort. Read more.
Making history fun at General Conference Read the press release.
UMC bishops call for immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Read more.
Join Rev. Dr. Jonathan Page and Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson as they kick off the Before Conference Conversation podcast series. Click here. Then scroll to the middle of the page.
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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. Rev. Ry is in the office Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9am-12pm. 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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