Church News (Page 2)

encouragement

Welcome to 2024

January 17, 2024A Note from Marilyn Hoeflinger Dear Friends, Welcome to 2024! January received its name from the Roman god, Janus, which has its root meaning in new beginnings and transitions! No wonder so many people use this time to make New Year’s resolutions in hopes of eating better, gossiping less, or any myriad of other habits we want to make or break. The church uses this time to constitute new leadership teams and involve its constituents and members in…

Loving Our Neighbors

January 10, 2024A Note from Nikki Buskirk Dear Friends, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40) When the Faith Finders group first started (for kids in…
encouragement

Listening to our Hearts

January 3, 2024A Note from Pastor April Dear Friends, 2023 was filled with life lessons. Some of these were lessons that I was focused on from the start of the year. I learned a lot about what it means to listen to my body and the valuable wisdom she brings. Renewal leave allowed me the space I needed to slow down and move at a pace that felt healthy and healing. (A lesson I’m still learning after coming back from…
encouragement

Where the Light Begins

December 27, 2023A Note from Pastor April Dear Friends, Merry Christmas! I’ve long been a fan of the writer and poet, Jan Richardson. Her words speak of what I hope this Christmas season brings for myself and for all of you. May the light be fully alive for you this week… Where the Light Begins A Blessing for the Christmas Season Perhaps it does not begin.Perhaps it is always.Perhaps it takesa lifetimeto open our eyes,to learn to seewhat has forevershimmered…
encouragement

Slowing Down

December 20, 2023A Note from Pastor April Dear Friends, When it comes to life’s important lessons, I usually have to learn them the hard way. I’ve known for some time that my body, my heart, and my spirit were needing a season to SLOW DOWN. (Note: One of my Letters of Encouragement in early 2023 was about this very thing!) Carrie Newcomer has a beautiful lyric in one of her songs that best describes where I was: “I’ve been traveling…
encouragement

Partnership

December 13, 2023A Note from Erin West, Hilliard Food Pantry Dear Friends, In a world that often feels divided, there are moments that remind us of the incredible power of unity and compassion. Today, we want to express our heartfelt thanks to you, our dear friends at Hilliard United Methodist Church, for your unwavering support and incredible generosity in sharing your space with the Hilliard Food Pantry Plus. Your kindness has been a shining light in our community, especially during…
Advent Christmas 2023

Special Christmas Offerings

Advent 2023 Dear Friends, Can you believe that Advent is here? In just a few short weeks you are invited to join us for one of our annual Christmas Eve services of celebration. Christmas Eve this year happens on a Sunday, and as such our schedule will be a little different than most years. We will have no regular Sunday morning worship on December 24. This year we will offer at 11am a time of Traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship.…
Christmas 2023

Opportunities to Serve

We have LOTS of ways you can offer to serve others at a time that fits your schedule and in a way that feels right to you. Assist families at the Hilliard Food Pantry’s Holiday Store December 15-17. Help welcome our weekday preschoolers & their families for their Christmas programs on Monday or Tuesday, December 18 or 19. Pack bags of food for Hilliard students in need to take home for the holidays with our Feeding Hilliard Students ministry. Help…
encouragement

The Power of Music

December 6, 2023A Note from Pastor April Dear Friends, Renewal leave allowed me a great deal of space to do something I love… travel. I have always loved the chance to experience new cultures… discovering all the wonderful foods, wandering through magnificent and ancient architecture, practicing a new language, and exploring communal rituals that I never knew existed. I love all of it! On our first night in Spain, my friend and I both ordered a tortilla for dinner. What…
Christmas 2023

Serving Opportunity: Preschool Christmas Programs

HUMC Weekday Preschool Christmas Programs Monday, December 18, & Tuesday, December 19 Volunteer opportunities include greeting families and passing out programs, helping families take photos in front of photo backdrops, and restocking tables of reindeer food and take-home gifts. Claim one or more slots! Sign up for one day or both! Let’s be jolly as we connect with our preschool families and staff! This is a wonderful way to celebrate our partnership with our weekday preschool and support the important…
poinsettias

The Promise of Advent

November 29, 2023A Note from Pastor Jon Dear Friends, Advent is one of my favorite rhythms of the church. I love the decorations, the beautification, the lights, the flowers, the colors, yet I loathe the cold on most days that end in “y.” In this season, it is with great fondness and intention that I reflect upon the LOVE, HOPE, JOY, and PEACE we speak of as we light our Advent candles. The Great Story Year 2: Jesus Last year,…
encouragement

Back from Renewal Leave

November 22, 2023A Note from Pastor April Dearest Friends, It’s so good to be back with you! In this week of Thanksgiving I’m feeling gratitude for a season to reconnect with many of you and to share some of the amazing ways that God has been at work in our lives during the four months that I’ve been away. In a week when we will likely be reflecting on the people in our lives who matter to us, I wanted…