Weekly News & Updates: May 3, 2024 | |
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Sunday Worship Service - 10am
Join us and give God glory this Sunday, May 5, at 10am.
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Let's celebrate Holy Communion together! We always have gluten-free, pre-packaged cups and wafers available, too.
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Then at 4:30pm, come back to celebrate cultures around the world and get messy with us... outside. See details below.
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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Get Messy in May This Sunday!
This Sunday, May 5th, at 4:30pm, we will have the activities for all-ages that you have come to expect. But our Messy Church at Ghent fun will all be outside, if the weather cooperates. This Messy Session is filled with activities that celebrate cultures from around the world.
* Messy Church is a DIFFERENT kind of church! It typically includes a welcome, creative time to explore the Biblical theme through “getting messy” with crafts and activities; a short interactive celebration time involving a story, prayer, and music; and a sit-down meal together at tables. The entire experience is designed for people of ALL AGES! Take a look at our Facebook group page to see previous events.
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Volunteer at Our Used Book Sale and
Parking Lot Fundraiser
We need to hear from volunteers pretty quickly. Thank you to those who have signed up so far!
The Stockley Gardens Arts Festival is the weekend of May 18.
For years, GUMC has leveraged this mass event outside our front door to do outreach and evangelism via the parking lot fundraiser and used book sale. I believe we all have successfully put ourselves out there to show the public what friendly, normal folks we are! However, I am concerned this Spring about getting enough labor.
Setting up and breaking down the book sale requires able bodied volunteers at the beginning and the end. This is not a job for just a couple of people.
So, each one of us needs to decide if we are individually willing to show up and help out next month. I am hoping that more of you will commit to either the morning or late afternoon on May 18. Feel free to recruit your children, in-laws and mature grandchildren!
We, of course, also need to staff the parking lot on Saturday and Sunday. Please follow this link and sign up today.
Thank you. Love you!
Steve Vegh, SPPRC Chair
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General Conference 2024 Debrief
The United Methodist Church's General Conference ends May 3. The General Conference is a quadrennial gathering where delegates worldwide come together to discuss and decide on doctrine, governance, and other issues within the denomination. It serves as a pivotal moment for setting the course of the church's future direction and policies.
Delegates to the 2024 General Conference from the Coastal Virginia District, Andrew Kissell, Rev. Beth Givens, and Rev. Dr. Jason Stanley, will provide an overview of what happened.
The debrief will be held at Haygood United Methodist (4713 Haygood Road in Virginia Beach, 23455) from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm on Sunday, May 19, 2024.
There is a Zoom option. To register for the Zoom, click here.
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Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson preached all three services at Matthews United Methodist Church on Sunday, April 28. Matthews UMC is a Lighthouse Congregation in the Western North Carolina Conference. Go to Matthew's Facebook page to see her sermons.
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The Carnegie Hall Concert at Sandler Center
Saturday, May 18, 7pm
The Virginia Beach Chorale's Director, Dr. Don Krudop, has been asked to hold a residency at THE Carnegie Hall in June, and he and the Chorale would love to share some tunes of all genres that are fit for such an esteemed stage.
Join Dr. Krudop and the Chorale (including our office manager Valerie Reagh) for a night of celebrated and intricate music worthy of the Big Apple! Featuring music by Dan Forrest, Joseph Martin, Daniel Gawthrop, Ysaye Barnwell, Leonard Cohen, John Ness Beck, and more! This music filled evening at the Sandler Center in Virginia Beach is not to be missed!
For tickets ($24 presale), please visit https://www.virginiabeachchorale.org/tickets or contact Valerie at valeriereagh@gmail.com.
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Food and Drink Donations Needed
Our stores have been depleted! Please bring non-perishable food, drinks and hearty snacks to place in our little library / food pantry outside our door.
Place your food offerings on the table near the church office or in the basket by the altar on 4th Sundays.
* Donation suggestions include tuna, cereal, hearty snacks, small-boxed milk/drinks, instant coffee, individual drink packets and bottles of water.
The food is to benefit those who are hungry, including those experiencing homelessness, families, or individuals.
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Cleaning Kits Needed for Conference
In response to requests from the Virginia UMC Conference, Ghent Church will donate a complete United Methodist Committee on Relief Cleaning Kit in June. All of the kits collected will be ready to deploy to help communities affected by different disasters.
We have some requested items, but still need the following items donated before the end of May:
one five-gallon bucket with lid (14.35" h x 12.19" w x 12.19" d & no-screw lid), 6-14 oz. pump-spray insect repellant, one scrub brush, 18 re-usable cleaning wipes (no terrycloth, microfiber, or paper towels), 36-50 clothespins, 50-100 ft. clothesline, 24 rolls of heavy-duty trash bags (33-45 gallon) and five N95 particulate respirator dust masks (1-3 mm).
See how a kit is put together by clicking here.
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Help Send Meals to the Philippines
Meals packaged at our Rise Against Hunger Experience have shipped! At this moment, healthy meals are on their way to a community in urgent need of nutrition. We're excited to share that the destination is the Philippines.
Please help us reach our goal for shipping those 10,000 meals to the Philippines. We have raised more than half the cost.
Make a donation by using the QR code or clicking this UDPATED link.
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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. Next date is TBA.
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, May 12th.
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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, I begin this day by breathing in your love for me, keep me mindful of all the marvelous things you are doing around and within me this day..."
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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Following the news at General Conference Find out how.
Conference Delegates prayed after Charlotte shooting. Read the story.
General Conference gives regionalization green light. Read the story.
Register now for Virginia UMC, post Conference webinar on May 9. Click here.
Native American Bishop makes history by presiding at General Conference. Read the story.
See the Conference through the eyes of photographers. Click here.
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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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