Adult Ministries
Men
Learn More about men's ministry at GUMC
Tuesday Sunrise Group – 6:30-7:30 am
Wednesday Rutherford Prayer Group – 6:30-7:30 am
United Methodist Men’s Breakfast – On average 35-45 men come together each month for breakfast and this group supports local missions organizations such as Manna House, Jacob’s Well and other local groups in need.
Food Gleaning and Redistribution – The Wednesday prayer group supports the “food gleaning and redistribution” ministry where donated food from Trader Joe’s is taken to the less fortunate here in our city.
Safety Team – Members of the safety team continue to train for medical incidents and other safety and security needs for the congregation.
older Adults
Our older adults simply refuse to act their age…and that’s good! There are endless opportunities for older adults to be involved with life at our church. Whether going on a day trip, hearing a speaker and enjoying lunch, playing bridge, or taking classes at the Owings Life Enrichment Center, you are bound to meet some nice people and enjoy the fun and fellowship.
Our events are for everyone—singles and couples—and our activities are open to anyone age 55 and older regardless of church membership.
Our brochures are mailed to church members age 55 and older in August, so watch for yours. They are also available in the kiosks at the entrances of the church and OLEC. Feel free to pick some up and share with your parents, neighbors, and friends. We always welcome new faces, and we know they are going to have a good time.
Brown Bag Lunch Series
The Brown Bag Lunch Series is an adventure in learning sponsored by the Older Adult Council. This year we learned about everything from historic homes in Shelby County to updates from the metal and art museums to the story of Ernest Withers, a historic photographer and a spy for the FBI. Bring your own sack lunch, and the church will supply the beverages. We meet the 1st Friday from September-May in the Mike Wilson Fellowship Hall at 11 a.m. There is no charge for these events, and no reservations are needed. Please click Here to view our upcoming events.
XYZs (Xtra Young and Zesty!)
XYZs (Xtra Young and Zesty!) is a social group that takes nominally priced day trips to concerts, museums, tours, lectures, movies, and plays in the greater Memphis area, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Some of them include a meal, and we provide the transportation. We depart from the Owings Life Enrichment Center parking lot. Our season runs September–May, and reservations are needed. Cost of reservations MUST be honored. No refunds can be given after the reservation deadline has passed. For safety reasons, participants must be physically able to walk independently get on and off our vehicles. Check out our 2024-2025 brochure here.
Friday Bridge Group
The Friday Bridge Group meets weekly from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in Room 240 for party bridge. No partners are needed; just bring a sack lunch. Contact Flo Seward, 901-755-0050, for more information.
Exercise Classes at the OLEC
Exercise Classes at the OLEC are offered every day of the week.
WALK FIT – TUESDAYS 10-11 AM
- 4 basic steps that move to music
- Vertical pilates for balance and a strong core
- Choose 1, 2, 3 miles and the level of I️ntensity all I️n the same class
CHAIR CLASS – THURSDAYS 10-11 AM
- Circuit training, calorie burning, core, quad and strength building
- You will notice I️mprovement and balance after only a few classes
Call Gordon Kelly, 753-3100, for more information.
Handy Helpers
Handy Helpers is a minor home repair and maintenance service that lends a helping hand to older adult church members who need assistance with small repair and maintenance jobs. Materials used are to be paid for by the person receiving the service; there is no charge for the labor. Call Ron and Nina Gaddy at 901-754-1238, for more information or to put in a job request.
Or Call: (901-755-0803)
Elder Care
Advance Care Planning
During an emergency or at the end of life, you may face questions about their medical treatment and not be able answer them. You may assume your loved ones know what you would want, but that’s not always true. Research shows that you are more likely to get the care you want if you have conversations about your future medical treatment and put a plan in place. It may also help your loved ones grieve more easily and feel less burden, guilt, and depression.
- Advance Care Planning: A Conversation
Learn about advance care planning and how to establish your advance directives. This 72- page guide provides worksheets, conversation guides, and other tools to help you prepare and plan. Prepared by the National Institute on Aging. FIND IT HERE - What is advance care planning?
Advance care planning involves discussing and preparing for future decisions about your medical care if you become seriously ill or unable to communicate your wishes. Having meaningful conversations with your loved ones is the most important part of advance care planning. Many people also choose to put their preferences in writing by completing legal documents called advance directives. - What are advance directives?
Advance directives are legal documents that provide instructions for medical care and only go into effect if you cannot communicate your own wishes. The two most common advance directives for health care are the living will and the durable power of attorney for health care. - What is a living will?
A living will is a legal document that tells doctors how you want to be treated if you cannot make your own decisions about emergency treatment. In a living will, you can say which common medical treatments or care you would want, which ones you would want to avoid, and under which conditions each of your choices applies. This is different than a will, which provides legal guidance about a person’s estate — their property and financial assets — as well as care for a child or adult dependents, gifts, and end-of-life arrangements such as a funeral or memorial service and burial or cremation.
TN Advance Directive Forms
1.Advance Directive for Healthcare
2.Directions for Healthcare Professionals POST
MS Advance Directive Forms
1.Advance Directive Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare and Living Will
2.Advance Directive for Health Care POST - Additional Advance Directive Forms by State from AARP: FIND IT HERE
Excerpts from www.NIH.NIA.gov
Contact Elder Care Ministries Director, Susan Crowson, 901-754-7216 for more information about your advance care planning.
Funeral Guild
The Funeral Guild is made up of church members who volunteer their time to serve church families when death occurs among us. Our goal is to assist families with details surrounding the funeral or memorial of a loved one when the service is held at the church.
Nancy Cofield
&
Beverly Rhoads
Funeral Guild Coordinators
The Worship Service
Families are requested to meet with a GUMC Pastor, Funeral Guild representative and the Director of Music (or designee) to plan a service.
The officiating pastor from GUMC will guide you in the design of the worship service which shall follow the basic order from the United Methodist Book of Worship. He or she will work with you in developing a memorial service which honors the intent of memorial worship and celebrates the life of your loved one. It is helpful if you are able to share your loved one’s favorite Scripture passages, hymns and their story of faith.
If you would like to have a minister from another church share in the service, the Senior Pastor of GUMC must approve the request. However, a GUMC Pastor may serve as the primary officiate at the memorial service per the direction of the Senior Pastor.
If there are hymns or anthems you would like to use or have other special music in mind, selections will be made with the guidance and approval of the Director of Music or his/ her designee. The availability of the choir will depend upon the individual schedules of the volunteer members.
Soloists’ availability varies, and any music selections must be made with their range and voice in mind by the Director of Music.
GUMC musical staff will provide, per the direction of the Director of Music, music for the service. If you desire to have a guest musician, the Director of Music or organist must approve the request. Any recorded music that is desired may only be played following the benediction in consultation with the officiating pastor.
Scheduling the Date and Time for Services
Visitation and memorial services may be scheduled between the hours of:
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
Exceptions may occasionally need to be made but must be determined with the officiating pastor in consideration of scheduled church activities.
In addition, the following events must be considered when scheduling services:
– Weekday Preschool
– Wednesday night programming
– 1st Friday of the month programming
– Holidays
**Please do not confirm a date and time with the funeral home until you have confirmed the date and time with the officiating pastor and the funeral guild.
Fees
There are no facility fees for visitation, funeral or memorial services if you are a member of GUMC.
Clergy – An honorarium may be made to the officiating clergy or in his/her honor to a designated fund within the church. The amount to be at your discretion.
Organist – It is customary to pay an honorarium of $150.00 to the organist.
Soloist – $150.00
Instrumentalist (other than organist) – Minimum fee of $150.00
Funeral Guild – If you desire to recognize your funeral coordinator, an honorarium may be made to the Funeral Guild.
Bulletins
A bulletin shall be prepared and printed for the memorial service by the GUMC staff. The cover of the bulletin is only changed if the family wants a picture of their loved one on the front.
Guest Book
If there is no funeral home involved in the memorial service, GUMC provides a guest book for our visitors to sign and a box of notecards for your use. Additional notecards are available for $6.50 per box.
Ushers
The Funeral Guild will provide ushers for the service either from your loved one;s class and friends, or from our ushering team.
Funeral Pall
The church has a white brocade cloth covering for the casket that matches the paraments used on the altar in the Sanctuary for the worship service. Should you desire to use the pall rather than have a floral arrangement on the casket, it is available for your use during the visitation and service.
Flowers
Flowers on the casket or in sprays are taken to the grave-side. Flowers in vases or arrangements, and/or plants, are usually taken by the family. Florists are now making floral arrangements for use with urns. The Funeral Guild can offer suggestions and show you some various types of arrangements should you desire to have the urn on a table in the Sanctuary during the service.
The Guild can also direct you to a local florist for further suggestions.
Pictures
If you have photographs of your loved one you wish to display, the Funeral Guild will arrange for tables. The Guild also has a variety of tabletop and floor easels for your use.
Light Meal or Reception
If a meal for your family following the service is desired, the Guild representative will contact a designated person from the small group affiliated with your family member, who will then contact you to make personal arrangements. The meal can be delivered to your home or served to your family at the church.
If you would like a reception for all guests at the service, the Guild representative can supply you with a list of potential caterers who are available on short notice. The expense and the arrangements for such a reception are your responsibility.
Parking
On the east side of the building just off Germantown Road, there is designated parking for handicapped/special needs individuals that allows easy access to the Sanctuary. On the day of your service , that parking is reserved for the family and the Funeral Home, if one is involved. There are about 12 spaces total, plus cars proceeding to the grave-side may line up behind the hearse.
Crossing Guards
The many activities in Germantown and the location of the church can present some difficulties with automobile and pedestrian traffic and parking. GUMC will hire a crossing guard for the day of the service as a courtesy to you.
Photography & Videography Guidelines
These guidelines are set forth so as to not detract from the memorial service in any way.
No flash pictures are to be taken in the sanctuary once the service has begun and until the casket and family have left the sanctuary.
Photographs taken without flash may be taken from the balcony of the Sanctuary during the service. Please keep in mind that even the clicking of a camera can be a distraction during the service.
Video recorders are permitted only in the balcony of the Sanctuary and the back corner of the chapel. Please do not set up cameras or video recorders in the chancel area, the front of the chapel or in the aisles. The responsibility of any video recording rests entirely with the family.
Guidelines for Service and Inurnment at the Columbarium
If your loved one is to be inurned at the McVay Gardens Columbarium, please inform the minister who will officiate at the service. The crematory may require you to pick up the ashes or they may deliver them directly to the church. Once the cremains are at the church, Don Rhoads will be or the family wish to be present for placment in the columbarium niche.
If you desire to inurn your loved one after the memorial service, the pastor will help you plan an appropriate service for that particular time. The pastor may announe the time of inurnment at the close of the service.
A floral arrangement is permitted at the inurnment service; however, no permanenet floral arrangements are permitted at the Columbarium.
The family will be given a security combination to enter the Columbarium for times of remembrance and reflection.
Elder Care Ministries focuses on the needs of members ages 80 and above. For many, these years are filled with joyful giving and serving. For others, health ailments and impairments limit their ability to participate in church classes, groups, and worship as they once did.
Elder Care Ministries embraces our senior adults, with their various needs, in prayer, support, guidance and loving outreach: Flower Ministry, Shawl Ministry, Home Communion, calls, cards. Teams of volunteers lovingly share their love through each of the ministries. Led by the Elder Care Minister, Rev. Linda Gabriel, EMAIL LINDA and Elder Care Coordinator, Richard Mattox EMAIL RICHARD.
Learn how you can serve :
Home Communion Ministry
Home Communion Ministry– Our Home Communion Ministry serves as a “safety net” ministry to deepen outreach to our Senior Adult members, ages 80+, who are homebound. Ministry volunteers have been trained and are prepared to serve communion at their home on the 1st Sunday of each month, beginning July. The elements will be consecrated along with those partaking in person.
Flower Ministry
Flower Ministry – Sanctuary flower arrangements are made into bouquets delivered by Volunteers to members in need to show them God’s love and care.
Shawls
Shawls have been lovingly made and prayed over for our special older folks. Ministry Volunteers deliver them to bring warm of heart, to show love and being remembered in prayer.
Other Helpful Links
Hospitality
The Hospitality Team invites all Sunday School classes, GUWF Circles, UMM, and all other groups and individual GUMC members to join us in providing a warm welcome for our guests and members each Sunday morning.
Care Ministries
Who sits on the pew with you? Who sits behind you? In front of you? If you don’t know, get to know the people who sit around you. Notice when they’re missing and give them a call.
Engage people around you, especially if they are new to you. Being new to a city or community is daunting enough; it’s compounded by moving in the middle of a pandemic. It’s important that we welcome new people the Lord has brought into our midst.
Head to our CARE MINISTRIES page to see how you can connect!