Encouragement (Page 4)
The Intrepid Divas
February 21, 2024A Note from Di Huey Dear Friends, Some years ago, a group of women — some, long time acquaintances, and some newly met — gathered in a meeting room off the kitchen in the Warehouse 839 building. Their purpose? To form a small share group using the Wesley model. We were called to be responsible for each other, to hold each other accountable, and to lift each other up on those days when we could not stand alone…
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
February 14, 2024A Note from Pastor Jon Dear Friends, It’s the most wonderful time of the year… One of my favorite songs of the Christmas season is the Andy Williams’s classic, “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year.” I just love that song, and I get all kinds of giddy when I hear the opening notes on the radio. That song took on a different meaning for me in college as I was about to begin my sophomore year…
109th Year of Camp!
February 7, 2024A Note from April Andrick Dear Friends, This July will be the 109th year of Lakeside Institute camp — 109 years of a camp dedicated to the faith journeys of youth & young adults! Thinking about the number of teenagers, adults, and families that have been impacted by camp over that number of years leaves me in awe. Did you know that the youth group here at HUMC has been sending youth to Lakeside for more than twenty…
Breaking Bread Together
January 31, 2024A Note from Beth Latella Dear Friends, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…. They broke bread and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” (NIV) As we have been studying the birth of the Church and what it can mean for our church, this passage about fellowship and eating together, from Acts 2:42-47, really spoke to…
Grace Abounds
January 24, 2024A Note from Pastor April Dear Friends, Anyone else having trouble keeping allthe things together? Tuesday morning began with a panicked phone call from a parishioner. I was scheduled to meet with her husband at a local coffee shop, and she was calling to say, “He’s on his way. He totally forgot and is so embarrassed!” When he arrived, he apologized profusely and then we had a good laugh as I told him… “I am NEVER late to…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…