the Tidings May 2023

the Tidings

Calling Lightning or Mercy?

In Luke 9:54-56, Jesus and his disciples were walking through the region of Samaria. Judeans and Samaritans were related through Israel, but differed in ethnicity, culture, theology, and religious practices. There was a great deal of hostility between the two peoples.

Senior Pastor

In the story, a particular village in Samaria prohibited Jesus from entering the town. Two of his disciples, James and John, inquired if Jesus wanted them to call down fire out of heaven and consume the Samaritans. Evidently, they remembered a story of how the prophet Elijah, while he was in Samaria, had called down fire on Ahaziah’s soldiers. (2 Kings 1:1-18)

It was at this point that Jesus rebuked them. Whereas James and John thought that they should do what Elijah had done, Jesus reminded them he had come to save, not to harm. It is no wonder that Jesus called James and John “Sons of Thunder.” (Mark 3:17)

Does a religious cause justify force, or does insult entitle retaliatory injury? As far as Jesus was concerned, there was no room in his ministry for that type of attitude or response.

Ironically, and some may add “poetically”, the disciple John would one day return to Samaria. He would not desire to call down fire, but rather he would call down the Holy Spirit on the Samaritans who had believed. (Acts 8:14-17). If John had had his way years before, those very Samaritans would have died before they had an opportunity to believe.

The Spirit helps us understand how God’s mercy triumphs over judgment, (James 2:13) and that patience wins over far more persons than force. James and John did not have the power or authority to call down fire on the Samaritans. The rebuke of Jesus served to save their own souls from the dangers of anger and the desire for revenge, and to remind them that salvation in Christ is always the main goal. The presence of mercy can lead to blessing in Christ, for us and others. May our generation heed the same lessons.

Executive Minister

Rev. Dr. Scott Alford | salford@germantownumc.org

Creating a Life Vision

In an article for Inc., Solomon Thimothy, founder of OneIMS, a growth agency as well as Clickx, a digital marketing analytics platform for agencies and businesses, wrote:

“A company's vision is one of the most important foundational pieces of an organization. It gives the company a direction to move and a larger purpose for employees to rally behind. Without a clear vision, the company gets stuck…But what about a vision for your life? We often don't think about our life's vision the same way we do a company vision but they really are the same. Just like a company's vision, establishing a vision for your life gives you a direction to move. The long-term goal that comes from creating a life vision can give you clarity and allow you to see where you're headed -- meaning you can more easily control your life's outcome.”

As an Easter people, the ultimate life vision we share is to live the resurrection faith the best way we know how through everything we say and do and think. Hard? Yes. Possible? With the help of God’s grace in Jesus Christ. That vision gives us direction and purpose. It holds us in line and becomes something to which we are held accountable.

Thimothy lists three reasons a vision for our life is important. (1) It puts substance behind our goals. (2) It makes it easier to get through roadblocks when they reveal themselves. (3) It sets our expectations.

1. Our goals are what we want to accomplish and identify where we want to end up in the long run. For us, I believe our goal is to bring heaven to earth. As United Methodists, we have a practical theology. Meaning, we live our faith rather than just talk about it.

2. Sure, sometimes things get in our way. Death, illness, hardships, and evil forces are at work in the world. Our own sinfulness, especially, has means to distract us from what we are called to do. Keeping that life vision ever before us gives us strength to persevere, to feel the Holy Spirit cheering us on.

3. Success may be hard to define, but there are metrics we can use to measure the expectations we set for ourselves. In Matthew, Jesus shares words about clothing the naked, visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, and welcoming the stranger. How are we doing in these?

What better vision than to be the best Easter people we can be living the resurrection in ways that not only strengthen and encourage us, but also draw others into the community.

“Why You Need a Vision for Your Life: Invest time into and effort identifying your life vision, just as you do your company vision.” Inc. March 19, 2020. https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/why-you-need-a-vision-for-your-life.html

Rev. Dr. Scott Alford Executive Minister

PRISM

Rev. Dr. Steve Stone | sstone@germantownumc.org

Rev. Mimi White | mwhite@germantownumc.org

Spring is here at last! We made it through a long cold, winter and the sun has finally returned. Prism is celebrating with a super-fun seven-week sermon series called “The Animated Gospel.” Every week we focus on lessons learned in the Pixar and Disney movies (such as Brave, The Good Dinosaur, Sea Beast, and Zootopia) with the corresponding scripture for each one. Bring your kids, your grandparents, your friends, and neighbors, and come worship with us in your blue jeans or even white pants – no one’s keeping track of when it’s the right time to start wearing white. We don’t care if you show up in your yard clothes - just come on over!

Now that the sun has returned, I am planting seedlings, dragging out my hanging flower baskets, and getting out the Osmocote fertilizer to feed the roses. My most prized one is my 14-foot-tall hybrid tea rose “Mr. Lincoln.” It survived another winter without a pine branch falling on it and it’s aiming for the world record (the record is 18 feet.) How, you might ask, did your rose grow so tall? All I can say is location, love, and 14 years of good luck.

Have you begun to garden at all yet? It can be very therapeutic. Not only is it great exercise, gardens have so many metaphors for us to use in life – like weeding (for times we need to pluck out the distractions keeping us from producing at our best (reducing social media & TV time); or like pruning (for the times we need to let go of things that are dragging us down (donating extra clothes and household goods to the Salvation Army, or letting go of an old habit.) Whenever we think about it, we can find a cool garden metaphor that applies to living – poets have been doing this for centuries.

My favorite one for this season is “fertilizing,” feeding plants the right nutrients so they can bloom and thrive all summer long. How am I feeding my soul so it can do the same? Our founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley, gave us a wonderful list of such things and called them “The Means of Grace.”

Here are five on the list for feeding and nurturing your soul: Prayer (Private and in public with others), searching Scripture, receiving the Lord's Supper, fasting, and Christian conferencing (fellowship) –basically checking in with others asking, “How is it with your soul?”

As we do our spring cleaning, gardening, and start making our plans to venture back out into the Great Outdoors, let’s not forget to take the time to spring clean, weed, prune, and fertilize our own souls. Take ten minutes in the morning to read a scripture and reflect upon it; take five minutes in the afternoon to pray and thank God for all that’s going right that day; and set up a time each week to meet friends for coffee or lunch to check in with each other and ask for help if we need it. We can worship and take communion together every Sunday and that’s helpful for sure, but if we start intentionally taking time every day to feed our souls in these little ways, we too can experience beautiful growth and thrive like the flowers all around us this season. Happy gardening, and happy Spring!

Rev. Mimi White

“Money is the root of all evil,” is an often misstated verse in the Bible. The accurate quote of that particular verse is “The love of money is the root of all evil.” God calls us to give freely as he has given to us so that money will not possess us and become a barrier to our relationship with him. Let us show our love for the Lord as we present our tithes and offerings.

(Fruit for Celebrating the Offering by Melvin and James Amerson)

Finance

Jim Dodge, Finance Chair

Hospitality

Donna Haley, Hospitality Committee Chair | dmhaley_99@yahoo.com

Welcoming the Stranger

So many people in this world feel like they are strangers. From time to time each one of us may experience this feeling when faced with situations where we have no genuine connection to other people. This sense of disconnect can happen almost anywhere - at home, at work, visiting a foreign country, or even when one comes to church.

Jesus and writers of the New Testament emphasized welcoming the stranger. The writer of Hebrews points out that when we show hospitality to strangers, we may be entertaining angels unaware. Not only are we encouraged to make the strangers around us feel at home, we are also reminded that Christ comes close to us when we do!

Welcoming strangers is a basic component of discipleship. Acknowledging this makes us more aware of the stranger in our midst. It could be a new employee who joins your workgroup, a person you’ve never spoken to at church, a stranger standing in front of you at the grocery store, or a new neighbor who moved in down the street.

God wants to use each one of us to make disciples. There are strangers all around us who need to see the love of God. We need to be intentional and reach out. Perhaps there is an opportunity for you to be creative in reaching out to strangers. Have you ever considered these options:

• Serve the homeless in some way provide meals to Room in the Inn, or donate clothing.

• Pray for and listen to those struggling with grief, loss, illness or disappointment.

• Honor older members of our church with a visit during the week, or send a card.

• Put on your name tag and introduce yourself to someone in our church you’ve never spoken with, particularly those who are alone.

• Consider volunteering to be a greeter one Sunday a month.

The love and welcome of God is revealed in everyday actions just like these. Together, let’s get involved, let’s live out our GUMC mission.

We are a welcoming faith community committed to: Loving God and loving others; Serving Christ and sharing him; Transforming lives and making disciples.

“I was a stranger and you welcomed me….”

Matthew 25:35

Yolanda Toney | ytoney@germantownumc.org | 901-754-7216

Supporting Someone Going Through Divorce

When a Christian friend is going through a divorce, it’s uncomfortable for most of us to face. The divorce may take us by surprise. We may struggle with the right words to say. Yet, we see our friend hurting and we know we need to do something to help. Divorce is one of the most stressful events in life. Your friend will need your support. Many people have described divorce as being like a death but without a funeral to celebrate a life or mourn an unexpected loss. There will be shifts in relationships and there will be loss.

Divorce can be painful and lonely. As much as you will be tempted to give advice, don’t. Your friend doesn’t need advice, they need support. They need to know they are not alone. Pray constantly for your friend and be sensitive to your friend feeling uncomfortable among church friends. Many people leave their church due to divorce or are driven away. Your friend could be the reason there is going to be a divorce, because so often we don’t see the potential costs of some decisions. So, even if your friend is the reason, you don’t get to judge, and it doesn’t mean they won’t need support.

Allow your friend to grieve in whatever way they need to grieve without judgment or platitudes. The comments, “When God closes a door, He opens a window” or “Everything happens for a reason” or “God won’t give you more than you can handle” while well intended they rarely help. Offer instead Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand.”

So how do you best support a friend going through divorce? Just be accessible. Don’t try to fix his or her broken heart. Don’t tell your friend how he or she should think or feel. Instead, make your goal to care with love and compassion.

“So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.”

1 Thessalonians 2:8

Congregational Care

Yolanda Toney | ytoney@germantownumc.org | 901-754-7216

Are you being called from the pews into the mission field?

Contact Rev. Tom Davis, 901-754-7216, or tdavis@germantownumc.org.

• Flower Ministry - After worship, altar flowers are separated into small vases and delivered to homebound. Your time commitment is up to you.

• Visits to Homebound - Occasionally you may be asked to visit those who are homebound or persons who may be ill.

• Home Communion Ministry- On Communion Sunday, you will take Communion to assigned homebound.

Contact Ruth King, 901-233-7495 or ruthmking@bellsouth.net.

• Prayer Ministry - Join a team of volunteers who arrive 30-45 minutes before worship to pray throughout the church for all who enter the sanctuary before worship begins. The team also prays with the pastors. New members are welcome.

Contact Sue Myers, 901-756-7919 or joelmyers1@comcast.net.

• Monday Night Visits to First Time Visitors - Armed with fresh cookies, you will visit first time visitors. You may bake cookies, go on visits, or both.

Contact Yolanda Toney, 901-754-216, ytoney@germantownumc.org.

• Grief Ministry - Commit to stay in touch with a person who has suffered a close familial loss for a year. Regularity of contact would be determined by the person affected by the loss and you. Contact might include calls, notes, or visits.

• Note/Card Writing Ministry - Once a month or less you will write notes to assigned persons. Adults, youth, and children may contribute to this ministry.

• Calling Ministry -Monthly or bi-monthly (determined by you) you will call assigned persons to check in with them. These people may be ill, shut-ins, or may be absent from church for several Sundays.

• Meal Ministry - Occasionally persons or families may appreciate a meal during a difficult time. You would make the meal or purchase a meal and deliver it.

• Career Transition Team - An established group who aids those seeking employment or those who are underemployed. https://sites.google.com/a/ thectgroups.org/the-ct-groups/home/Groups/Memphis-CT.

Children’s Choirs Concert and Musical – Once Upon a Parable by Allen Pote

Year end activities help us mark critical events as we celebrate progress and growth. This presentation by our children’s choirs is a great example. The groups have been hard at work and play all semester, and the culmination of that work is to share the efforts with others.

To start off the concert, the Cherub Choir (Preschoolers) will make a joyful noise to the Lord by singing several songs about God's world and our place in it.

The musical features songs and narrations about some of the most well known parables in the Bible Teaching Bible stories through song is one of the best ways to equip our young people with biblical knowledge, and Once Upon a Parable provides this equipping splendidly.

Another musical tool that teaches scripture is our Hymnal. A special hymnal presentation will be made to our 5th graders. To those 5th graders we can say, “may the tunes and stories within the Hymnal continue to educate and fulfill you for years to come.”

Leaders Mary Groh, Peggy Warner and Libby Schielke have been working with our children for years. Their consistent excellence is a great gift to the church and the children they work with. Let us give thanks for their leadership, as well as assistants Callie Beaver, Melissa Hayes, Kim Marsh, Carla McCrary, Julia Hunter and Lisa Thurner.

Join us for worship on May 21, 2023 as we celebrate upcoming Pentecost Sunday. In all three worship services (8:30am & 11:00am Traditional; 11:00am Prism) we will honor and celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the church.

And what’s a birthday without a party?!

After worship, we will join in the Owings Life Enrichment Center (OLEC) parking lot for a Pentecost Celebration!

Church & Society Dismantling the Poverty Trap

According to a March 30 article by David Waters of the Institute for Public Service Reporting, a child who grows up in a low-income home in Memphis has about a 4% chance of becoming a high-income adult, compared to 6% for a child in Tennessee and 12% for a child in America. The article notes that entrenched generational poverty creates and sustains living and working conditions that generate and exacerbate trauma, blight, violence, and other factors that impair social and economic mobility.

So what can we do to help? Here are a few suggestions from the UMC General Board of Church & Society:

• Learn about the economic realities of poverty

 The Memphis Poverty Fact Sheet is updated annually by Professor Elena Delavega of The University of Memphis School of Social Work and Dr. Gregory M. Blumenthal. The 2022 report can be found here (or scan QR code.)

 The Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis, the United Way of the Mid-South, and Seeding Success have programs and initiatives to reduce generational poverty; more information can be found on their websites.

 Slingshot Memphis has created a methodology to measure the impact of various poverty-fighting initiatives. You can access their impact profile summaries here (or scan QR code.)

 To get a broader look at poverty in America, check out these books and podcasts:

 Evicted! Poverty & Profit in the American City (2016) and Poverty, by America (2023), both by Matthew Desmond

 A Framework for Understanding Poverty (2001), by Ruby Payne

 Poverty in America: A Handbook (2013) by John Iceland

 Nomadland: Surviving in America in the Twenty-First Century (2017), by Jessica Bruder

 $2.00 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America (2016), by H. Luke Shaefer & Kathryn J. Edin

 Podcasts: Off-Kilter with Rebecca Vallas; Poverty Research & Policy (University of Wisconsin); Business Fights Poverty; Build Relationships: Break Poverty; Poverty Unpacked

Scan for David Waters’ article

Scan for 2022 report

Scan for Slingshot

• Connect with others engaged in anti-poverty efforts

GUMC supports several ministries and nonprofits that seek to alleviate the effects of poverty, including Church Health, Jacob’s Ladder, MIFA, Project Transformation, Reelfoot Rural Ministries, Room in the Inn, United Methodist Neighborhood Centers, Mid-South Food Bank, and Youth Leadership of Memphis. Contributions are always welcome and can be made through GUMC’s website. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Anne Fritz, chair of the Missions Committee, at (901) 409-3477 or annefritz214@gmail.com

• Keep abreast of new initiatives in Memphis to address generational poverty

The aforementioned article by David Waters discusses a three-year effort by representatives of local government, business, nonprofits, philanthropy, education, neighborhoods, and faith and arts communities to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. The initiative, called Made for Memphis, will make its initial recommendations to city and county public officials this month. Mark Sturgis, executive director of Seeding Success, notes that Memphis has a lot of programs to help the poor, but the systems are designed to keep people in poverty. He argues that we need to build a new civic structure that is better coordinated, more efficient and equitable, and more connected to the people who are living in poverty. This new structure, if implemented, would establish a long-term public-private governance/management structure similar to the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy.

• Contact your elected officials and ask them to put the needs of those living on the economic margins at the center of an agenda for a just economy.

Membership

Jace and David Athow

Germantown United Methodist Church welcomed Jace and David Athow into membership on Sunday, April 2, at our 11:00 traditional worship service. David joined by transfer of his membership from Hawkins United Methodist Church, Vicksburg Mississippi. Jace joined by Reaffirmation of Faith. They have joined Wesley 2.0 Sunday School Class. Their Welcome Friends are Kelly and Brian Athow (David’s brother).

When asked what about Germantown UMC made them want to become a part of our church community, they replied, “The same people were present in the nursery every week. People dropping off their own children seemed happy and content to not only part with their children, but then invite us to Wesley 2.0 Sunday School Class.”

Chloe Granberry

Germantown United Methodist Church welcomed Chloe Granberry into membership on Sunday, April 2, during the Confirmation worship service at our outdoor worship center in McVay Gardens. Chloe is Director of Youth Ministry at GUMC. She joined by transfer of her membership from Colonial Park United Methodist Church.

Missions

Anne Fritz, Chairperson | clarissafritz@att.net

Hosting Room in the Inn this Summer

The last day of the Winter 2022-2023 schedule for hosting Room in the Inn at the Cottage was March 31. The Room in the Inn Congregate Sheltering Program offered hospitality to 440 individuals, 129 of which were children. But the needs of unsheltered children and vulnerable women does not end on March 31. New families seek shelter from Room in the Inn almost every day.

Room in the Inn is looking for host groups who will continue serving these vulnerable people on a limited basis during the summer months. The Summer Season would only shelter families with children and, when space allows after families are served, single women. In the past, GUMC has hosted one night a month during the summer, and we can do that again this summer.We have selected the second Friday of each month (June 9, July 14, August 11.) We have already received requests from three other RITI host churches to use the Cottage on different days of each month.

We want GUMC groups (Sunday School classes, Circles, Men's Groups, Youth Groups, or others) to host one of the three dates. We also want individuals to be volunteers to assist the host groups.

Please consider helping with this mission on some Friday this summer.

Contact Ron Wiggins (630-862-9149) or Roger Woelke (901-277-5094) to become a volunteer or if you have questions. Thank you!

Missions

Anne Fritz, Chairperson | clarissafritz@att.net

Golden Cross Senior Ministries

A Little History for an Organization with a Big Impact

In the late 1960’s Rev. Jerry Corlew saw a problem with housing conditions for the elderly. He called together a group of concerned United Methodists to explore the needs and envision the possibilities of a housing program. The purpose of this group was to create a ministry to provide quality affordable housing for senior citizens with limited housing options. Rev. Corlew and his supporters found the vision for this venture in Matthew 25:40, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me”. The program was successful. From its start in 1969, with $1500 and an old dormitory building, it has grown into Wesley Living (previously known as Wesley Housing Corporation of Memphis.) Wesley Living currently serves 33 communities and approximately 2,200 senior residents throughout West TN, Western KY, and Eastern AR.

So where is Golden Cross in all this success? As incomebased housing (supported by HUD-Housing and Urban Development) none of the funds from rent sources at the Wesley Living communities can be used for any extras for the residents. That’s where the Golden Cross foundation comes into play. In 1997 Rev Corlew, and others involved in starting Wesley Living, saw that “just living” wasn’t enough for the senior residents of these communities. Can you imagine a senior living community with no activities? The residents needed something to help enrich their lives and give them a purpose. Golden Cross was established to help enrich the lives of these residents in the Wesley Living system by providing some of those extras. As one of the Wesley Living staff member says, “It’s amazing that when you are having fun you forget about your aches and pains.”

Golden Cross stands in the gap to give residents fun and purpose. GC funds provide field trips for the residents: visits to museums and movie matinees. Social activities, provided by GC funding, include birthday parties, bingo, arts and craft activities, and holiday meals. Golden Cross funds also pay for educational programming, such as exercise classes, lectures, music experiences, and connection to a chaplain.

The average age for the typical resident is 74. Most of these residents live at or below the national poverty line and after paying rent – not much is left over That brings us to the second way that Golden Cross stands in the gap for these Seniors. GC accepts in-kind and monetary donations to provide daily use needed items such as paper products, cleaning supplies, incontinence wear, anything used daily. Some of the daily use items are used as bingo prizes. The idea behind this is that residents are out socializing, winning things that they need, and getting items they need without having to always ask for them.

Residents play bingo for daily use items

“

It’s amazing that when you are having fun you forget about your aches and pains.”

Missions

Anne Fritz, Chairperson | clarissafritz@att.net

Finally, Golden Cross stands in the gap for those residents that qualify as homeless. These seniors may have been removed from their home due to uninhabitable conditions. Perhaps they live with family, but the family has decided that they can no longer support the senior person. When they qualify as homeless, they usually have nothing. For these residents, Golden Cross will supply a complete Move-In Kit, everything one would need to restart life. This kit includes furniture (purchased from Vaughn Furniture in Memphis) and gives the basics. The kit supplies the following: a twin bed, dresser, sofa, dining table and chairs; plus $325 worth of household items including towels, linens, cookware, plates, utensils, and cleaning supplies. The total cost of a move-in kit is $1,890, a cost borne completely by Golden Cross.

We here at GUMC have close ties to Golden Cross. Rev. Jerry Corlew, one of the founders of Wesley Living and Golden Cross, chose to make GUMC his church home in 1986, when he was appointed full time director of Wesley Ministries. Rev. Corlew remained a member until his death in 2015. His wife, Martha Ann, is still a member of GUMC. In addition, our women’s group, Germantown United Women in Faith, are strong supporters of Golden Cross. Following is a statement about their commitment to Golden Cross, from Gina Bartz, President:

“Enrichingthelivesofseniorcitizensisacherishedmissionof GermantownUnitedWomeninFaith.GoldenCrossisanimpactful ministrythatprovidestheopportunityforourmemberstohelp throughmonetaryassistanceanddonationsofsupplies.Linda Cunningham(lcunningham2112@comcast.net) ourGolden CrossKeyWoman keepsusapprisedoftheorganization’s needs,withCelebrationCircledirectlysupportingtheministry.”

Gina Bartz, President

Germantown United Women in Faith 2022-2023

Golden Cross relies on our monetary and in-kind donations to do this good work. 100% of the funds received and items donated directly support the needs of the 2200 seniors served. Golden Cross is facing an increasing number of Seniors in need. They need our support to continue their work.

Ways to Donate:

• Go to goldencross.org and click on the donate button on the home page.

• Scan the following QR code

• Mail a check to: Golden Cross,1615 Appling Road, Cordova TN, 38016.

• Or call: (901)213-1930 and speak to Laurie Garrison.

Missions

Anne Fritz, Chairperson | clarissafritz@att.net

The Neighborhood Christian Center says, “THANK YOU GUMC!”

Thanks to all who brought food to donate to the Neighborhood Christian Center on Palm Sunday. Those that attend our two traditional worship services (8:30 and 11:00), those who attend our Prism service (11:00), our Sunday School classes (adult, youth, and children), and our friends that attend GUMP (Germantown United Methodist Preschool), gave generously to our Palm Sunday food drive for the Neighborhood Christian Center. Three enormous bins of food were picked up by NCC.

Did you know that the NCC has SEVEN food pantries in the Shelby County area? Four of these food pantries serve apartment complexes where there are NCC offices housed. Here’s the list of their locations (and where our donations were sent):

Scott Street - Binghampton

North Center - Main office near downtown

Orange Mound

Chickasaw Place - Binghampton

Robinhood - Park/Getwell area

Greenbriar - Frayser

Pershing Park – Frayser

The Neighborhood Christian Center says a big “Thank You” to all of us that are connected to GUMC and donated food!

Missions

Anne Fritz, Chairperson | clarissafritz@att.net

Serve with Project Transformation Memphis!

Support young lives in the community this summer.

Read one-on-one with children! Project Transformation is looking for caring volunteers to read with our summer day camp participants. The literacy component of Project Transformation is an exciting opportunity for volunteers to interact with children in a oneto-one setting. Both individuals and groups are welcome! Germantown UMC reading week is June 19, 2023, Tue-Thurs, 9:30am.-12:15pm.

Provide dinner for the college-age young adults from across the country serving in Project Transformation’s summer program. Churches, Sunday school classes, and circles from across the area will provide dinners for them at their housing location. This is a great opportunity to serve and get to know young people who are really making a difference! (June-July, Sunday through Wednesday, 5:40-7:00 pm.) More information is available for those interested.

Provide a Family Fun Night meal! Once a month, we invite the children and families of our programs to a night of fellowship. This themed night (i.e. a luau, hoe down, sock hop, etc.) is always a highlight for our families, interns, and volunteers! We invite church groups to provide the meals and participate in the fun. (Thursday, June 22 and Wednesday, July 26, 5:30-7:00pm.)

Collect new books, healthy snacks, and supplies for our summer program. Project Transformation relies on support from our partner churches to provide supplies. Visit our Amazon wish list for a list of our most needed items: https://a.co/egyO1kD or scan this QR code.

Pray with Project Transformation Tennessee, whether or not you are able to serve directly with us. We invite you to join us in surrounding our children, young adults, families, churches, and volunteers in prayer. Follow our 4-day Prayer Guide to prepare for your service and/or pray for God's transformative power to move this summer.

Project Transformation will be hosted at Centenary UMC again this summer. Contact

Mental Health Tip 22: Express Your Gratitude

Send a thank you note-not for a material item, but to let someone know why you appreciate him or her. Consider keeping a daily gratitude journal, noting two or three things for which you are grateful each day. Written expressions of gratitude are linked to increased happiness.

Check out our Elder Care brochure in the kiosks!

Adult Education

Monday Monthly Book Group

“Summertime, an’ the living’ is easy” and the perfect time to catch up on your reading! Join us on the 4th 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.

July 24: Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan

For questions, please contact Mary Groh.

May 22: A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell

June 26: Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

August 28: The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts

Germantown United Women in Faith (GUWF)

Gina Bartz, President | women@germantownumc.org

May Speaker Luncheon

All women are invited to join us for a catered meal, warm fellowship, and an inspirational message from Alise Davis at our GUWF May Luncheon on May 9, 2023, at 11:30 am in the Mike Wilson Fellowship Hall

Alise is the Finance Director for Room in the Inn –Memphis (RITI). Prior to this position, she chaired RITI’s Board of Directors. Alise’s commitment to the mission spans ten years and includes serving as Site Coordinator for Germantown United Methodist Church (GUMC). In this role, she collaborated with seven other churches to host individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

In the spring of 2021, RITI moved to the historic Collins Chapel Connectional Hospital Building to continue programs created during the pandemic. The new location operates 24/7 as an emergency shelter for families and the medically fragile, offering case management to help guests achieve housing goals. Emergency winter shelter continues to be made available through multiple faith communities including GUMC.

Alise has been a Germantown resident for 19 years and a member of GUMC since 2007. She and her husband, Scott Davis, have three children.

Please join us as we learn about Alise’s work with Room in the Inn as they make a difference in the lives of many in our community. Her commitment to serving others is a wonderful example of doing “Everything in Love.”

Alise Davis

Our Handy Helpers are waiting for your call…

The Handy Helpers Ministry Team, sponsored by the Older Adult Council, lends a “helping hand” to older adults in our church who need assistance with small repair and maintenance jobs around the house.

WHAT TYPE OF JOBS DO HANDY HELPERS DO?

• Light maintenance and repairs including small carpentry jobs such as malfunctioning doors, locks, or windows.

• Minor electrical work such as replacing light switches and light bulbs.

• Replacing smoke alarm batteries.

• Minor plumbing work such as working on “running” toilets or leaky faucets.

Other miscellaneous jobs are considered on an individual basis.

Handy Helpers do not work on large or small appliances, roofs, home decorating, or on jobs requiring tall ladders.

WHAT DOES THIS SERVICE COST?

The Handy Helpers service charges only for parts and materials used in the repair. There is NO charge for labor.

TO QUALIFY FOR THE HANDY HELPERS SERVICE:

You must be a member of Germantown United Methodist Church, have homeowner’s liability insurance, and be over 60 years of age.

To request assistance, please contact Ron or Nina Gaddy, 754-1238

Don’t Forget the May Brown Bag Lunch Program!

The “GUMC Attic Treasures Roadshow” will be Friday, May 5, 2023 in the Fellowship Hall. Todd Stricklin, local interior designer and owner of Todd & Company Estate Sales, will be available to give you an estimated value of jewelry, china, art, books, fabric, silver, toys, games, dolls, and anything else you can carry in your hands. You may bring only four items no pictures of items, vinyl records, coins, Orientalia, large pieces, or furniture, please. The program starts at 11 AM with lunch at Noon. Bring your own sack lunch; the church will supply the beverages. Call Luci Cromer, 755-0803, for more information. No reservations are needed.

Please note: There will be a crossing guard on West Street to help with overflow parking.

Older Adults

Luci Cromer, Chair | 901-755-0803 | luci2@comcast.net

XYZs See Jersey Boys in June!

Oh, What a Night! The Tony and Grammy Award-winning Broadway smash hit, chronicling the formation, rise, and eventual breakup of the legendary doo-wop group, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, makes its Regional Premiere in the Bluff City! Featuring chart-toppers like Sherry, Beggin, Big Girls Don’t Cry, and Walk Like a Man, Jersey Boys is an exciting walk down memory lane of the golden era of American music. Make your reservation NOW and come with us to opening night!

WHERE: Playhouse on the Square

WHEN: Friday, June 16, 2023

COST: $20 per person cost includes reserved seat and opening night reception.

DEPARTURE: 6:45 p.m. from OLEC parking lot. (Be there by 6:30 p.m.)

RESERVATIONS: Call Luci Cromer, 755-0803, Gretchen Blair, 755-0797, or Garnet Brenneman, 754-3711. You must make your reservation before paying.

DEADLINE FOR MONEY and RESERVATIONS: Tuesday, May 16

Children’s Ministry

Natalie Adkinson, Director | nadkinson@germantownumc.org

Callie Beaver, Assoc. Director, Elem. | cbeaver@germantownumc.org

Janelle Crist, Assoc. Director, Nursery | jcrist@germantownumc.org

Is your child a budding actor/actress?

Does he/she love performing in front of others?

We are excited to announce a new event for the children’s ministry at GUMC! This summer we will host Music & Arts Camp for children who have completed grades 1-5. A performance for parents/guardians will be held at the end of the week. Ms. Cheryl McClurg will be the director for this camp. Children who attend will be provided with scripts, music, props, & costumes. They will bring their own lunch each day. This camp is limited to the first 20 children who sign up. Registration is open on the church website. The cost of this camp is $115/ child. Scholarships are available by contacting Natalie Adkinson.

In this hands-on camp, we will explore three specific types of mission: innerchurch, urban, and rural. The idea is that each child will have a chance to experience different types of work, hopefully creating an appetite for missional work. Some days we will make our lunches here at church, and other days we will explore some Memphis eateries. We will finish each day with some seriously fun capture the flag, gaga ball, basketball, or other games. Registration is open on the church website. Cost is $115 which includes all activities, transportation, food, and a T-shirt.

Space is limited. Scan to Register

Children’s Ministry

Natalie Adkinson, Director | nadkinson@germantownumc.org

Callie

Beaver, Assoc. Director, Elem. | cbeaver@germantownumc.org

Janelle

Crist, Assoc. Director, Nursery | jcrist@germantownumc.org

STELLAR VBS 2023 SHINE JESUS’ LIGHT

Evening VBS: May 31-June 2 (5:30pm-8:00pm)

Day VBS: June 5-9 (9:00am-12:00pm)

Join us for an out-of-this-world adventure as we embark on a cosmic quest to shine Jesus’ light to the world!

This galactic event is for children age four (by Aug. 15, 2023) through rising 6th graders. If your child is younger, we have a special Volunteer VBS available (free of charge) to the children of volunteers!

Register online at www.germantownumc.org or scan this QR code.

Registration deadline is May 12.

Cost of $25/child covers all materials, t-shirt, food, and music. (Scholarships are available; Contact Natalie Adkinson to make arrangements.)

Interested in Volunteering? We’ve got a Stellar spot for you!

VBS is a huge production and great outreach that requires many hands. We need help with decorations, curriculum preparation, and administrative tasks. Of course, we need many hands on deck during the week of VBS adults and youth to lead stations and small groups. Please register online by May 12th (or scan QR code below) to select your volunteer role, or contact Natalie Adkinson to find where you are best suited to serve.

Scan here to Volunteer!

Children’s Ministry

Natalie Adkinson, Director | nadkinson@germantownumc.org

Callie Beaver, Assoc. Director, Elem. | cbeaver@germantownumc.org

Janelle Crist, Assoc. Director, Nursery | jcrist@germantownumc.org

Worship Reminder

A special thank you to our elementary Sunday school teachers who have served through the 2022-2023 school year:

K/1st Grade Boys

Robyn Pela, Lia Savino, John Michael Pela

K/1st Grade Girls

Bill McLaughlin, Courtney Lubozynski, Erica Perkins, Caroline Brunson, Lauren King

2nd/3rd Grade Boys

James Underwood & Matt Lubozynski

2nd/3rd Grade Girls

Laurie Pakis & Jenn Young

4th/5th Grade Boys & Girls

Jennifer Penn & Erin Dempsey -

Their last day of teaching for the year will be May 21st. Be sure to show your appreciation and gratitude for their dedication to the children at our church!

Starting May 28th, all elementary students will meet together in the Huddle for summer Sunday School. We will need adult volunteers to help in the Huddle during this time.

Please be on the lookout for a signup genius to assist with Summer Sunday School or contact Natalie Adkinson if you are interested.

We hope that you will bring your Elementary students (and younger children too if you wish) to worship with you each week at our 8:30 AM or 11:00 AM Traditional Services in the Sanctuary or 11:00 AM Prism Service in OLEC. Remember that children are always welcome in our services! For our traditional services, we have children’s bulletins and worship bags in the cabinet on the east side of the Narthex. For Prism, we have worship bags on the back table in the OLEC gym. Please return your worship bag to the bin after the service. The Hamilton Nursery is open during all worship services for children who have not yet entered Kindergarten.

Children’s Ministry

A Great Day for an Egg Hunt! On Saturday, April 8, GUMC held its annual Easter Egg Hunt in McVay Gardens. We had over 350 children that attended with their families! Children had the opportunity to ride the train, hunt eggs, complete crafts, visit the petting zoo area, eat Happy Glaze Donuts, get their face painted, and take pictures with the Easter Bunny! This event was made possible with the help of many adult and youth volunteers.

Children’s Ministry

Natalie Adkinson, Director | nadkinson@germantownumc.org

Callie Beaver, Assoc. Director, Elem. | cbeaver@germantownumc.org

Janelle Crist, Assoc. Director, Nursery | jcrist@germantownumc.org

Mission and Movie Monday

June 19 10:00 am- 2:00 pm

Get out of the hot summer heat and join some friends for crafts, lesson, lunch, and a movie. Children have an incredible heart for missions but no way to generate income to financially support them. At MMM, we will learn about a different local, national, or international mission. We then create some high-quality crafts and then sacrificially donate them to be sold in the fall to generate money for a chosen mission. After our hard work, we will enjoy a pizza lunch and flop in the bean-bag chairs for a movie and treat. This is a great way to learn, give, and have fun – out of the summer heat! Cost is $5/child. Please register and pay online (or scan the QR code below from a mobile device.) Our nursery will be open for preschool-age siblings of elementary children who are attending MMM.

Lakeshore Camp

July 23-39, 2023

June 21 2:00 – 4:00 pm

If you are looking for some great fun, summer dodgeball/ gaga ball is for you! Join us at the OLEC to play some dodgeball, gaga ball, basketball, and eat popsicles. This event is free of charge and friends are welcome. Kids entering grades 3-6 only, please. Register online (or scan QR code from a mobile device.)

We are taking a crew from GUMC to Lakeshore for this week of fun and fellowship. This designated week is for elementary (ages 8-12) and middle school (ages 12-14) students. Many of our youth will be serving as camp counselors. If you are interested in attending this week, please register through Lakeshore’s Website (https://lakeshorecamp.org/) and then drop an email to Callie Beaver or Natalie Adkinson. We will try to help coordinate carpooling and answer any questions you may have about sleep-away camp.

Lakeshore has an abundance of opportunities for all campers; there are a variety of camps offered all summer long! There are camps for people with special needs, as well as camps for people who have suffered traumatic experiences. There is a camp for people who love to fish, a camp for people who love aquatics, a camp for the arts, and a camp for those who love living in the wilderness. There is even a camp for people who love board games! There is a camp for everyone, so go to their website and take a peek.

Scan

Scan

Chloe Granberry, Director of Youth Ministries | cgranberry@germantownumc.org

6th Grade Confirmation Sunday - GUMC welcomes our newest members!

This April, we had twenty-two 6th grade Confirmands join our church. Of these Confirmands, three were also baptized. Our youth director, Chloe Granberry, also joined the church with these Confirmands!

These students have worked very hard to grow in their understanding of their faith. Every Sunday morning, they met to discuss the teachings of John Wesley, the Methodist church, and the Old and New Testament. They have also been extremely involved in our Wednesday night middle school discussion group as well as our Sunday night Element youth group.

As a final culmination of all of these lessons, the students met for a weekend-long retreat. On Friday night, we visited Temple Israel to learn more about the Jewish faith and worship practices. We spent Saturday at GUMC to prepare the students for the process of Confirmation, and Reverend Tim also gave a lesson on the importance of the Sacrament of Baptism and Confirmation. Finally, on Sunday we visited Immaculate Conception to partake in Catholic Mass. With a greater understanding of their place in the church, these youth finally joined the church on Sunday, April 2nd. We look forward to continuing the faith journeys of these new members of our church!

Holy Week Activities

Easter is always a busy time in the church. During Holy Week, our youth helped lead the Holy Thursday service by reading scripture and participating in the Stripping of the Altar. Our youth also volunteered at the annual GUMC Easter Egg Hunt. They scattered the eggs, and assisted with various activities to include face painting, petting zoo, train ride, and Easter Bunny photos. Finally, our youth led the Easter Sunrise Service, which is held at McVay Gardens at 6:30 AM. Samantha Coblentz gave an impactful sermon on the struggles she’s faced and the hope that the church has given her. It was truly a beautiful morning to celebrate our risen Savior!

Germantown United Methodist Preschool (GUMP)

Sarah Sutton, Director | ssutton@germantownumc.org

GUMP teachers are soaking up every day we have together with our little friends before summer break. We still have a number of fun activities planned, and our children are as excited as ever to see what they will be exploring each day. Last month, our friends learned about the Resurrection of our Lord and we celebrated with Easter Egg Hunts, class picnics, celebrations and more! Our unit “Marching into Spring” brought lessons of birds, butterflies, plants and all things related to the changing of seasons. Our teachers have finished up their spring conferences with our parents. This is a wonderful time for our teachers to share all of the wonderful growth our little friends have made throughout the year.

Our final unit, “Animals All around Us,” brings many fun learning opportunities to each class discussing baby animals, farm animals and zoo animals. One of

our favorite events of this unit is the visit from the petting farm! Oh, what fun it is to meet all different kinds of animals up close. Teachers and student are enjoying the warmer weather and the time spent together on our playground each day.

GUMP will host 4 one-week summer camps for our current families. The administrative staff will have office hours available to meet potential new families interested in joining our list for the 23/24 School Year. Our preschool day is from 9:30 to 2:30 with extended hours available for children ages 18 months to 5 years old. If you or someone you know is interested in this program, please contact us at 753-3109. We would love to share information about all the amazing things happening at GUMP!

We had such a wonderful year and we cannot believe we are already saying, “See you later!” We look forward to welcoming all of our families, both returning and new, in August for the 23/24 School Year. For those families with their last child at GUMP, we appreciate all the support you have given us throughout the years and we wish you the very best in this next chapter. You will be missed, but we will continue to champion your family as you move into elementary school, a new town or country! Our teachers and students have enjoyed a year of laughter, learning and growth. Thank you for sharing your precious children with us. We wish you all a safe, relaxing summer!

Owings Life Enrichment Center (OLEC)

Gordon Kelly, Director | gkelly@germantownumc.org

Kimberly Marsh, Assistant Dir. | kmarsh@germantownumc.org

Pickleball at the OLEC

Mondays from 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm Tues-Fri mornings from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Two Dollar Tuesday and Thursday means everyone plays for only $2!

Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the cost is $3 for church members and $5 for non-church members.

Pickleball Lessons

We offer small group pickleball lessons with a licensed pickleball instructor for both members and guests.

Contact Dick Carruth at 901-210-5399

Evening Pickleball!

Come play pickleball Monday nights!

Monday nights from 5:30pm -7:30pm. $3 for church members | $5 for guests

Games began April 1st

Look for the Fall Soccer Registration online in July!

Owings Life Enrichment Center (OLEC)

Gordon

Kelly,

Director | gkelly@germantownumc.org

Kimberly Marsh, Assistant Dir. | kmarsh@germantownumc.org

Group Exercise Classes and Personal Training are available at the OLEC. Contact Gordon Kelly or Kim Marsh for more information.

We have a full service exercise facility at the OLEC, and membership is free to church members.

Membership includes access to the walking track, open gym time, the cardio room, and the weight room. Our weight room and cardio room have new, state-of-the-art machines.

NEW Class!

Stroller Strides Exercise with your child!

Mon / Wed / Fri 9:30-10:45 am

in the OLEC dance room (or outside weather permitting)

Open Gym Time

Monday: 3 pm - 5 pm

Tues, Wed, Thurs: 12 pm - 8 pm

Saturday: 8 am - 12 pm

Follow our new Instagram page, @olecgermantown, to keep up with all the latest happenings at the OLEC.

Owings Life Enrichment Center (OLEC)

Gordon Kelly, Director | gkelly@germantownumc.org

Kimberly Marsh, Assistant Dir. | kmarsh@germantownumc.org

Exercise Class Schedule April 2023

Class Prices

$5.00 - Walk Fit, Chair Class, Gentle Yoga

$10.00 - Core & More, Weights & Conditioning, Tighten & Tone, and Pilates

$7.00 - Vinyasa Yoga

$89.00/month - Stroller Fit, unlimited classes

• For Al Walton yoga classes, call Al at 901-484-3730 prior to first class.

• For Zoom classes: Contact Judy Oros at 901-336-8639 to be added to list for Zoom link.

• Saturday yoga: call or text Corbie to let her know you are coming. 901-831-6770

Germantown United Methodist Church

2331S.GermantownRd

Germantown,TN 38138

901-754-7216

www.germantownumc.org

Editor’sNote: The deadline for submitting articles for Tidings is the 10th of the month prior. Submissions received after this deadline are not guaranteed to run.