Elder Care Ministry

Rev. Tom Davis

...Abundant Life, continued

It is amazing that being a member of Germantown United Methodist Church is not just about your spiritual well-being, but it is also about being in good physical health. Something happens to you spiritually and physically when you regularly attend worship services, when you join a Sunday School class, a Circle, or a prayer group, join in an exercise class, or play pickleball! Something abundantly happens to you when your purpose is about missions and helping others. When you socially connect to a group that prays for you and carries each other's burdens. Life is worth living and the sacredness of life is experienced!

I have witnessed this depth of life as I have gotten to know our elder members. Their lives reveal the proof that faith, hope, and love are life-changing virtues.

Our Mission Statement says:

“We are a welcoming community of faith, committed to: Loving God and loving others; Serving Christ and sharing Him; Transforming lives and making disciples.”

And I would add, “by living the abundant life together.”

~ Rev. Tom Davis

Mental Health Tip 24: Find Joy

Finding activities that bring you and others joy can be important for your mental health. Maybe that joy will come through playing music that reminds you of past experiences or connections; sharing videos and photos with family and friends; playing board games or engaging in fun outdoor activities; cooking, gardening, and doing crafts; or finding ways to help other people. You also may find joy in being able to worship, study, or chat with others virtually.

Check out our Elder Care brochure in the kiosks!

Wear Hospitality

Show your hospitable side by wearing a name badge when you come to worship. You will be helping our guests and members get to know you.

Don’t have a name badge? Stop by the Welcome Center and order a new one today.

Monday Monthly Book Group

“Summertime, an’ the living’ is easy” and the perfect time to catch up on your reading! Join us on the fourth Monday of each month at 10:00 am in Room 338 for a lively discussion! There is no need to register, just purchase the book or check-out from the library.

For questions, please contact Mary Groh.

CHURCH & SOCIETY

Churchwide

SAVE THE DATES: AUGUST 20 and NOVEMBER 19 9:30-10:30 AM.

Fellowship Hall

Please mark your calendar and plan to attend the next two speaker’s series presentations hosted by the Church & Society Team.

Sunday, August 20, Kevin G. Ritz, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee (and son of GUMC members Mike and Sharon Ritz) will speak on “Justice and Civil Rights.” Ritz was sworn in on September 28, 2022 after being nominated by President Biden and unanimously confirmed by the Senate. He is the chief federal law enforcement officer in West Tennessee and oversees three main divisions (civil, criminal and administrative) as well as the branch office in Jackson, TN.

Sunday, November 13, Senior Rabbi Micah D. Greenstein of Temple Israel will speak. He is the eighth senior rabbi in Temple Israel’s 165-year history, serving his congregation for three decades and sustaining its position as the largest synagogue in Tennessee and the Deep South.

Both presentations will be held in the Fellowship Hall during the Sunday School hour (9:30-10:30 a.m.) All are welcome to attend!

Churchwide

Each month we recognize a volunteer or volunteers who makeanimpactby selflessly sharing their time and talents for the betterment of our church and community.

Prism Set-up Crew

For the better part of the nearly two years since Prism began, these faithful fellows have handled the lion's share of the heavy lifting for Prism set up. They've hauled chairs, bleachers, stage extensions, tables of all sizes and purposes, attendance pads, inflatables, Prism shirts, and so much more. They have given their time - often in the early-morning hours on Sundays, brute strength, and good humor, and have done so with such Christ-centered and joy-filled spirits. They don't do it for recognition (and actually had to be talked into having this spotlight piece written about them), but without these gentlemen, Prism absolutely could not happen. If you see them around the church or around town, be sure to extend a heartfelt expression of gratitude for all they do! If you want to be part of this amazing team, contact Natalie Duncan (901) 490-2552.

Welcome New GUMC Staff members!

Three new staff members have been hired to join the GUMC family.

• Maintenance: Jimmie Fields

• Housekeeping: Will Suggs

• Director of Communications: Lawrence Monahan

Watch for photos and bios in the August newsletter

Volunteers make the church go ‘round!

Usher Highlight

Everybody Loves Raymond was a sitcom that featured the family of Ray Berone. A popular episode is called The Prodigal Son. Ray decides it’s time to get back to church and serve as an usher with his father. The team, including his father, lets Ray know that before you serve as usher you have to put your time in the pews first. You can’t start out in the first-class lounge that is the narthex. Being an usher is an honor with a waiting list! (Check out the episode: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x850rpi)

The GUMC usher teams are service-minded folks who truly lend aid to the atmosphere of welcoming, and they know that their service is an honor to God and to the church. I asked usher leaders for a description of their duties. Below is a partial list of what they accomplish.

• Arrive at church 20-30 minutes before service begins.

• Welcome guests, hand out bulletins and greet new arrivals.

• Locate and have collection plates nearby.

• Determine if there is a baptism scheduled and place “reserved” signs, if needed for family.

• Review the bulletin upon arrival for ushering to determine if there are acolytes assigned to the service. If not, light the candles at the altar before the service.

• Seat latecomers at times OTHER than prayer, scripture reading, or sermon.

• Count attendance, record and report.

• Following the benediction, open all doors.

• Post service, replace Bibles, hymnals, and attendance pads in the correct places and pick up debris.

• Post service, check altar candles to be sure they have been extinguished.

• After the 11:00 service, collect attendance slips from the pads at each pew and turn these in at the welcome center.

In addition to sharing about these duties ushers were asked if there are any anecdotes to share about their time in service as ushers. A few of these stories are shared below.

“We had an incident a few months ago when a lady fell and injured herself on the basement level of the church and none of us could find her. She finally called her mother and we began to search for her. One of our ushers was going down the stairs from the Narthex and fell and hit his head on the stairs. He was not seriously injured but it was obvious that he also needed assistance. So, the ambulance came and both the lady and usher were checked out – the usher for a possible concussion and the lady for a broken bone. This is a testament to having a safety team and ushers available when emergencies occur.”

Another story.

“Collection of the offering had just finished, and ushers were now delivering them back to the altar. Typically, after this, the offering is then returned to the ushers for processing. On this particular Sunday the worship leader took the plates and put them on the altar. Senior pastor at the time, Rev. Richard Smith signaled ‘No, just leave them there!’ with a shake of his head to the ushers. A nice laugh for an impromptu variance from the norm.” Ushers employ improvisatory skills while on the job!

The biggest joy as an usher seems to be universal as it was shared more than once by those Interviewed meeting people including those who are new to GUMC and current members.

Longest active usher is believed to be Jack Ridner who is 91 years young.

When asked about what needs this crew of volunteers experience right now the response was also universal - VOLUNTEERS! Since the pandemic, ushers have struggled to have full teams to cover offerings and to help the safety team for smooth Sunday morning operations. Volunteers from some of the younger members of our congregation are needed as current teams need some young blood!

Hear that young folks? You’re being invited to the usher lounge with an opportunity to serve the Lord and your church. Make sure a waiting list to serve as usher is created by your response to this call to serve!

Finance

Jim Dodge, Finance Chair