Weekly News & Updates: March 10, 2023 | |
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Sunday Worship Service - 10am
Join us for Worship Sunday, March 12. It's Gathering Jam Sunday. The band will begin playing at 9:45 before Worship begins at 10AM.
Enter the sanctuary through the doors facing Stockley Gardens.
*Please note that our in-person worship service will next be broadcast live on Facebook at a date TBA.
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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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Online Worship Service - Sundays at 12pm
If you can't worship in person, join us for Plugged In, our succinct online worship service posted at noon to our Facebook page. View it alone or with friends and loved ones gathered together.
To view the "Plugged In" bulletin, click here!
Streaming licenses: Ghent UMC is licensed to stream our FB Live worship services with permission under CCLI #20175590 and One License A-727358. All rights reserved.
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Daylight Saving Time Begins This Weekend
Move your clocks forward by an hour this weekend. You may want to change your clocks before you go to sleep Saturday night.
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Messy Church Chili Cookoff, THIS Sunday, March 12
Break out those pots and recipes! We’re having our Chili Cookoff Contest. Bring a crockpot of your best chili and everyone at Messy Church will taste and vote. If you want to prepare a crockpot of chili, please click here to sign up.
Our Chili Cookoff Contest is Sunday, March 12 at 4:30p.m. We will still have music, activities and crafts for all ages.
Please sign up to let us know that you will be attending.
What is Messy Church? It is "Church, but not as you know it!" It is Christ-centered and based on creativity, hospitality, and celebration for ALL AGES. Click here to go to our Messy Facebook group.
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Women's History Month
March has been designated as Women's History Month. It's to commemorate and encourage the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.
Last year, the VAUMC invited the conference (clergy and lay) to honor a woman in their life who has “made a difference.” The responses were shared on the conference website. Click here to read them.
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Thanks to Consignment Sale Volunteers
Our Spring, GUMP Kid's Consignment Sale was a success thanks to everyone who volunteered their time. We also say thanks to everyone who sold items. Proceeds benefit our pre-school. Thank you!
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A Note from our Minister of Music, Nellwyn Beamon
We have new hymnal supplements! There is a new hymnal in the pew racks, Worship and Song. But due to the limited number of copies, we are now sitting towards the front and middle sections. This will also help bolster our singing. John L. Bell, a great proponent of congregational song, says sitting within three feet of each other helps us to hear each other. We hope you will heartily join in with our singing! Methodism's founder, John Wesley, would have it no other way.
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Spring Concert
Bellissima! Women’s Chorale will be singing their spring concert “Creation Sings!” on Sundays March 19 and 26. Bellissima! Is the only auditioned women’s chorale in the Hampton Roads area.
Join us for a free concert at 4:00 on March 19 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church at 424 Kings Grant Rd. in VA. Beach or on March 26 at 4:00 at Ohef Sholom Temple. We look forward to seeing you! A freewill offering will be taken.
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Church Office
Help wanted
After 10 years, our steadfast church administrator and sister in Christ, Lisa King, has decided it is time to step away from her position as Church Administrator at Ghent. Never fear though! She will remain on staff as our financial secretary, and is looking forward to renewing her activity as a congregant once she's had a well-earned break. We all love Lisa and want to support her in every endeavor she chooses. Feel free to offer good words of encouragement to our friend!
So, now we are seeking a part-time Office Manager. If you know someone kind and caring, with excellent interpersonal and organizational skills who is looking for employment, please email Melanie Cramer at thosecramers@icloud.com.
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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 on Sundays during worship, following the children's message. It includes a Bible lesson, and craft or activity.
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Youth Group
The next MS/HS youth group meeting dates and times are TBA. 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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Bible Study
Join Pastor Ryan on Tuesdays at 7:30pm on Zoom for a Bible study using Rob Bell's book, "What is the Bible?" This study is for those exploring, as well as those sharpening their knowledge of, the Bible. March 14: discuss chapters 23-25.
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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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Winter Shelter
We are still working to secure locations, volunteers, and meals. The Sign Up Genius form can be found here. Or please contact the church if you are able to help in any way.
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Open Table
GUMC is licensed to host The Open Table which is a model in which an at-risk person creates relationships with a small group of community volunteers to help meet their goals. Full training is provided. Read a brochure about The Open Table or watch a video.
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Homeless Committee
The Homeless Committee of Ghent UMC meets quarterly to coordinate efforts to positively impact those experiencing homelessness. The next Zoom meeting is Thurs., April 27.
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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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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.
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Organist Recital
A recent organ recital by our organist, Brad Norris, was on Sunday, March 5, 2023. The Choral Evensong for Lent at Christ and St. Luke's began right after him. Click here to watch the recital on Facebook.
Brad will next play organ for our 10 a.m. worship services on April 9 (Easter) and May 28 (Pentecost).
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Worship Singers
Singers are always welcome to help lead the songs in worship each Sunday.
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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. Next date is this Sunday, March 12.
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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 who shaped the mountains and cradles the deep; renew, re-form, and re-create me in the image of Christ..."
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.
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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 | |
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Preschool
Ghent UM Preschool teaches toddlers to children in Pre-Kindergarten. For more information, contact Director, Ann Robertson.
The Norfolk Fire Department will be visiting the school next week with their fire truck!
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Leadership Team
The next Leadership Team meeting is Sunday, April 16, 11:15 a.m. in the sanctuary after worship. All are welcome to attend.
A Zoom link will be made available. Contact the church office if you need the link.
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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!
Long Haul The UMC is committed to the long haul when it comes to anti-racism work. Read the story.
UM Bishops call for equal voting rights. Read the press release. Read the statement.
Retired Bishop Stith thinks that US divisions are due to a refusal to address issues related to equity and the racial divide. Read more.
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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*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.
Click here to read former Pastor's, Melody Tanner, special message for our church and community.
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How can I get in touch with church staff and the Pastor?
The church office hours are Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday, 9a.m. 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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