Encouragement (Page 9)
The Art of Listening
December 21, 2022A Note from Ginny Fisher Dear Friends, What does it mean to really listen? How do we listen? Why do we listen? How can we improve our listening ability? These are some of the questions that the Art of Listening class has been diving into over the past seven weeks, with the guidance of Kay Lindahl and her book The Sacred Art of Listening. True Listening Kay tells us that truly listening to someone (even yourself!) requires an…
The Great Story
December 14, 2022A Note from Pastor April Dearest Friends, As we wind down our journey through the Old Testament and gear up for a year of stories surrounding the life of Jesus, I have been reflecting about so many things that I’ve learned this year. Like many people, I once used phrases like “The God of the Old Testament” to describe my view of a harsh and less forgiving version of God… and “The God of the New Testament” to…
I knew it was a God thing…
December 7, 2022A Note from Debbie Detrick Dear Friends, This past Sunday, we shared the announcement that I’ll be retiring on January 8 as the organist/pianist/accompanist at HUMC. I’m sitting here at my computer and thinking about many things I would like to say. I have loved my time here at Hilliard Methodist Church. Thirty-seven years ago, I was invited here as a substitute organist when the former organist was on vacation. When he resigned and I auditioned for the permanent…
Gratitude
November 23, 2022A Note from Pastor April Dearly Beloved, Like many, I appreciate the invitation this week to take time for gratitude. I wanted to share with you the words of one of my favorite poets, David Whyte. These words invite us to be fully attentive to what is before us, and to allow our gratitude to be fully experienced… not as an illusory idea, but as a lived reality. With gratitude to all of you and the gift it…
Methodism – Denominational Update
November 16, 2022A Note from Pastor April Dear Friends, I remember the moment I knew the United Methodist Church was the right one for me. I was in seminary in a United Methodist History class, and our professor, Dr. Diane Lobody, was telling us story after story of John Wesley in the early days of the Methodist movement. Wesley lived in the mid 1700s, a priest and academic in the Church of England. He bore witness to the massive divide…
God is a God of Abundance
November 2, 2022A Note from Pastor Jon Dear Friends, Those who have been around Hilliard UMC for a while are familiar with our annual Thanksgiving Outreach. To those newer to our HUMC community, this outreach is a partnership that is shared among HUMC, other area UMC churches, Hilliard City Schools, and the Hilliard Food Pantry. (If you experience food insecurity and want to get on the list to receive food and gift cards through our Thanksgiving Outreach, contact the Hilliard…
Introducing our MTSO Intern
October 26, 2022A Note from Molly Collier Dear Friends, Good day, friends! I have had the pleasure of meeting some of you in person and have enjoyed getting to know you during the community dinners, in between services, and in taking part in Wednesday night classes. I have been grateful for these moments of connection and look forward to many more during my time at HUMC. Relationships, authentic relationships, have always been an anchor for me, and I am passionate…
God loves you… no matter what!
October 19, 2022 Dear Friends, No big letter today, just a reminder that YOU MATTER. You matter to God, and you matter to us! With love to you, from your church staff
Letting Go
October 12, 2022A Note from Pastor April Dear Friends, I’ve always been fond of the season of fall. The cooler, crisp temperatures. The changing colors of the leaves. The start of my Fantasy Football League (and all the delightful trash talking that comes with it). The pumpkin spice EVERYTHING. (Whoever brought the pumpkin spice donuts to church last week… you are very appreciated!) And all the amazing Halloween decorations, costumes, and fabulous candy. (It’s not too late to join us…
Growing Older & Loving Every Minute of It
October 5, 2022A Note from Marilyn Hoeflinger Dear Friends, In November I will celebrate 70 years on this earth. I’m not sure what 70 feels like, honestly. In my mind I am 20, wait, 35, no, most likely 42. I’m not sure why I settle on that number, but when I think of what I want to do and how to do it, it is the body I had when I was 42. When I could sit crisscross applesauce in…
Beginner’s Mind
September 28, 2022A Note from Pastor April Dear Friends, When it rolled around two weeks ago, I didn’t expect this birthday to be as hard as it was. I’m halfway through my 40s… halfway to 90. It wasn’t so much that I was feeling old… (After all, 45 is the new 35 or something?) Instead, I was pondering the reality that there’s a good chance I’ve already lived more than half of my life. In one of my favorite Richard…
Squirrels Throwing Acorns
September 14, 2022A Note from Beth Palmer Dear Friends, I have a deep need to be seen for who I am and to belong. We all do. We want to know that we matter to others, and that we can show up as we really are and be accepted and embraced as our authentic, messy selves. I have always felt lucky that I get those needs met through my college and seminary friends, my volunteering friends and church friends, and…