'inclusive' Tagged Posts
Christmas Season
December 18, 2025A Note from Pastor April Dear Friends, I’ve always loved the Christmas season. The magic of the season was present as a child and became even more joyful and real when I became a parent. The Christmas before Marcus was born, I was seven months pregnant on Christmas Eve and had a chance to tell the Christmas story to a group of children. I have never felt more connected to Mary and her experience than I did that…
Important News
December 16, 2025 As interim chair of the Staff Pastor Parish Relations Committee, I am writing with important news about our Senior Pastor April Blaine. Over her nine years as our spiritual leader, April has touched and blessed oh-so-many of us with her gifts and grace for ministry, her love for God and for each of us, her passion for justice, her commitment to diversity and accessibility, and her power of prayer. As you know, the United Methodist Church is…
Why Hilliard UMC Matters to Me
December 2, 2025A Note from Rachel Porrello Dear Friends, Hilliard United Methodist Church had made an impact on me even before I stepped through the door. Every time I rode the bus on the way to work and saw the reminder that “God loves you no matter what” accompanied by inclusive media, I felt a leaning in. I felt that the type of church HUMC appeared to be mattered — one where there were no obstacles to belonging based on…
Moving Forward Together
November 13, 2025A Note from Pastor April Dear Friends, This past week as I was driving home with my youngest son, he opened a personality quiz on his phone and started asking me questions. He wanted to know, “Mom, how much do you know about ME?” While I like to think I know my son better than most, I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t score very high. I knew his favorite color, favorite food, and ideal vacation destination, but…
Questioning our Assumptions
October 29, 2025A Note from Pastor April Dear Friends, I was only two months into my very first ministry job as a youth pastor when I was invited by the senior high youth to a “meeting.” When I walked into the room, six high school girls had set up a whiteboard and prepared a bit of a presentation for me. It was an intervention. They began with a short list of things they liked about me, their new youth pastor.…
Rooted & Renewed
October 15, 2025A Note from Pastor Jon Friends, Just over twelve weeks ago, I stepped away from day-to-day ministry for the first time in twenty years for a season of renewal leave. Before I left, I shared my hope to reconnect with my roots — to return to the places of my childhood, revisit the spaces that formed my faith, remember the mentors and friends who shaped my journey, and rest long enough to breathe deeply again. My prayer was…
I Am From…
October 1, 2025A Note from Pastor April Dear Friends, As a way of continuing our preparations for the Season of Origins, it was my honor this past Sunday to share a bit about my own family’s origin story. Using the powerful framework created by Elaine Enns & Ched Myers, in their book Healing Haunted Histories, I shared some storylines that were woven together from the Landlines, Bloodlines, and Songlines of my life, my family, and the land that has shaped…
Where I’m From
September 24, 2025A Note from Jen Coleman Dear Friends, The Land as a Living Witness Over the last several months, I’ve had the privilege of working with a small group of HUMC members exploring the history of our church, the Hilliard community, and central Ohio. Our purpose was to listen — to hear what the past could teach us about this place and the people who have lived here. I don’t think we knew exactly what we would discover, but…
Authentic Community Matters
September 10, 2025A Note from Gaby Poliseno Dear Friends, I nervously pulled up to the coffee shop where I was meeting April and prayed that God would help me to not use any curse words in this meeting with my pastor. I have a bit of a sailor’s mouth at times and really did not want this to come through with April, as we were still getting to know each other and she was, after all, a pastor. April warmly…
Seeking Donations for Youth Silent Auction Fundraiser
Seeking Silent Auction Donations Calling all willing to help the youth raise money for our Lakeside Youth summer camp experience with our silent auction! Donated items such as gift cards, homemade items, services offered, “themed” baskets, etc., would be highly appreciated. Deadline: September 21 All donations need to be received by 9/21 to the church office, labeled for youth silent auction, or contact April Andrick for pick-up. Silent auction will preview September 28 and be live October 5! Staff contact:…
Origins: A New Liturgical Season at HUMC
Origins:A New Liturgical Seasonat HUMC General Overview This fall, Hilliard United Methodist Church will be among the first congregations in the country to launch Origins, a new liturgical season of the church year. Like Advent or Lent, Origins is a time set apart for focused reflection and growth. The heart of Origins is this: to uncover forgotten or erased stories and bring them back into our shared memory and imagination about who we are called to be. Each year, the season will take a different focus that…