Encouragement (Page 4)
Does God Love Me Any Less Because…?
March 20, 2024A Note from Beth Palmer Beloved Friends, My husband Frank and I have lovely neighbors in our building, a brother and sister pair in their 60s, John and Patty. They both always have a smile for us and time for a friendly chat. One time John and I were both walking in at the same time, and John was carrying another case of Natural Light beer. He apologized to me for that, said something about feeling bad that…
What Does It Mean to be Saved?
March 13, 2024A Note from Pastor Jon Dear Friends, Can I be honest with you for a few minutes? I mean it… really honest… One of our core values at HUMC is that Authentic Relationships Matter. Being honest and vulnerable help to build those relationships. Honesty and vulnerability are ways of building trust. Having an authentic relationship means that I can tell you what I’m genuinely thinking and feeling, not seeking sympathy and trusting not to be taken advantage of,…
Romans 8: People of the Spirit
March 6, 2024A Note from Pastor April Dear Friends, There are a couple of things that might just cause your Lead Pastor to start doing cartwheels around the church in excitement… A teenager showing up to a Bible study on Romans chapter 8. Young adults discussing the Lenten sermons to such a degree that they reach out over email to get clarity on their confusion. (Can you tell that both of these things have happened in the last week?) Paul’s…
To Those at Rest on Park Benches
February 28, 2024A Note from Pastor April & Cole Arthur Riley Dearly Beloved, On a week when there might have been (just for a February moment) some space to take in the beauty around us outside, I invite you to consider how your Lenten practices might bring you not only in connection with God and yourself, but also with that life-giving power of wonder and awe. As we finish up Black History Month, I leave you with this beautiful letter…
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…