GUMC Policy for Announcing COVID at the Church

GUMC takes seriously the safety of all who would be on campus during the COVID-19 outbreak. We follow a plan for safety created by the church task force including members who are medical professionals and approved by the Board. In the interests of transparency and health, we have already practiced and will continue to practice, notifications by means of email and push notifications on our church app as soon as possible to the congregation. We will include all information that we know as long as it does not violate privacy issues. If you have any questions concerning any announcement, you may call the church at 754-7216.

COVID-19 Vaccinations

Brenda West, Administrative Assistant to Clergy Staff, bwest@germantownumc.org
We are now going to direct you to the City of Memphis website, https://www.covid19.memphistn.gov for your first vaccination. Scroll down to “Location & Hours” then First Dose Appointments. Then you will see different locations. Click on the arrow of the location then on the “schedule this” button. From there you will be able to sign up IF THERE ARE ANY SLOTS LEFT. Every Friday at noon, new slots are opened up for the following week.

Communion

Brenda West, Administrative Assistant to Clergy Staff, bwest@germantownumc.org
We will take communion onsite and online Sunday morning March 7 for the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. For online experiences, persons are encouraged to have bread and juice available at home to share with the households concurrently with the congregation.

Music Ministry

Todd Wilson, Director of Music Ministry, twilson@germantownumc.org
Our Schantz organ underwent an expansion in 1995. Not completed than was a re-leathering of the instrument. Original 1979 leather pouches within our organ are failing, limiting playability. An Organ Repair Fund has been established. Giving to the Organ Repair Fund will ensure our organ speaks strongly for decades to come. Questions on the project? Reach Music Director, Todd Wilson at twilson@germantownumc.org

Weekday Preschool (GUMP)

Sarah Sutton, Director of GUMC Weekday Preschool, ssutton@germantownumc.org
Angela Ervin, Assistant Director of GUMC Weekday Preschool, aervin@germantownumc.org
Germantown United Methodist Preschool: We continue to meet new families and show them the wonderful things going on at GUMP! If you or someone you know is interested in our play-based preschool, please call 753-3109 to schedule a tour of our school.

Children’s Ministry

Natalie Adkinson, Director of Children’s Ministry– Nursery, nadkinson@germantownumc.org
Callie Beaver, Director of Children’s Ministry-Elementary, cbeaver@germantownumc.org
Megan Bucher, Children’s Ministry Assistant, mbucher@germantownumc.org
Preschool Stepping Stones (Birth-Prekindergarten): The Hamilton Nursery will be open during our two worship services and Sunday School. We learn by moving, singing, and storytelling. In March, we are learning that we can love like Jesus! Our memory verse is “Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:12. Please pre-register your Nursery kids online each week by Friday at noon.

KidsQuest (Kindergarten-5th Grade): Elementary Sunday School meets in-person weekly from 10:00-10:45 AM. Please drop off your Elementary children no earlier than 9:50 for Sunday School and pick them up by 10:50, so that our volunteers have enough time to get to Worship. During the month of March, our theme is Patience- waiting until later for what you want now. Our memory verse is “Wait for the Lord. Be strong and don’t lose hope. Wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14. Please pre-register your Elementary kids online each week by Friday at noon. If you are doing Sunday School at home, please see your email for lessons. We will also offer a LIVE ZOOM at 10 a.m., each Sunday morning, from the Huddle for those children at home. See your weekly email for the link. If you are not receiving our emails, please let us know at cbeaver@germantownumc.org.

WOW- Worship on Wednesdays with Kids: We will meet this Wednesday, March 10th from 6:00-7:15 PM. Elementary children will meet in the OLEC Gym (outside if the weather is nice). Younger children will meet in the Hamilton Nursery. Please pre-register your kids online by Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., so that we can let our Nursery workers know if they are needed. Dinner and snacks will not be served, so please make sure your children eat before they come.

Worship Bags: Worship bags and weekly Children’s bulletins are available on the table in the hallway next to the Sanctuary. Please reuse your bags each week.

Easter Egg Hunt: We are excited that our Easter Egg Hunt will be held in McVay Gardens on Saturday, April 3rd from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Registration is REQUIRED for this event and can be found on the church website. Your family will have a 45-minute time slot to hunt eggs, ride the train, visit the petting zoo, complete crafts, etc.! We want to make this the safest event possible, so masks are required for everyone ages 3 and up, even though this is an outdoor event. If you have questions about this event, please email nadkinson@germantownumc.org.

Youth Ministry

Lisa Pierce, Dir. of Middle & Confirmation, lpierce@germantownumc.org
Brian Richards, Dir. of High & College Ministry, brichards@germantownumc.org
Element: We meet tonight in the OLEC from 6-8 p.m. for our rescheduled dodgeball tournament! Bring $10 to donate to your choice of ministry (SOS, Lakeshore, Ms. Mable) 10 people max per team, if you don’t have a team in advance don’t fret, we will make sure you have a team.

Sunday Morning Trek: Join us today at 10 a.m. on Zoom or in downstairs rooms 131, 132, and 133.

6th Grade Confirmation: We meet at 10:00 on Sunday mornings in room 131. Let us know if you need the virtual link for this class. Please register online.
Tuesday Morning Prayer Breakfast: It is cold, but we are still meeting for Tuesday Morning Prayer Breakfast at 6:30 in the pavilion behind Houston High School. Bring a Bible and a mask (and maybe a blanket) – we will bring breakfast and coffee/drinks.

Synergy and Synago: We are meeting on Wednesdays at the Prescott House for some mid-week study and check-in. Synergy (middle school) meets at 6:00 and Synago (high school) meets at 7:15.

Stay Informed: Check us out on Instagram (@gumcyouthmin) or like us on Facebook (GUMC Youth Ministry) to keep up with our activities and announcements. Please visit our GUMC webpage and sign up for youth emails for more details.

College and Young Professionals Ministry

Brian Richards, Dir. of High School & College Ministry, brichards@germantownumc.org
College Age Sunday School: Will meet this week. We will meet in the couch room in the youth area below the chapel.

A weekly devotional is available for college-age persons distributed by email. If you are interested or know someone who might be, please email brichards@germantownumc.org.

Elder Care Health Ministry

Rev. Dr. Erin Beasley, Elder Care Health Ministry, ebeasley@germantownumc.org
We regret to inform you that our Elder Care Director, Pat Smith, is ill and currently in the hospital. Please direct all correspondences concerning elderly and homebound members to our Associate Pastor, Rev. Dr. Erin Beasley. Please remember to call the pastors’ on-call phone number in case of an emergency, 901-412-5776.

LifeLine Screening—Rescheduled Event: LifeLine Screening will be providing screenings in the Fellowship Hall at GUMC on Saturday, March 20, 2021. These screenings are preventative tests to detect early risk for heart disease, stroke, and other serious illnesses like cancer. If you are interested in screening, please register at www.lifelinescreening.com. There is a fee for this service.

Adult Education

Mary Groh, Director of Adult Education and Membership, mgroh@germantownumc.org
Please check out the list of Sunday School lessons and teachers for March 7 and join us! Please go here every week to see the list of topics and teachers. You may also see the list on the GUMC App. Visitors are always welcome!

Words of Life—Jesus and the Promise of the Ten Commandments Today starts Tuesday, March 23, 9:30 -11:00 am via Zoom. Join Mary Groh and Cathy Whitaker for this 6-week DVD study by Rev. Adam Hamilton as we examine the commandments in their historical context and explore how they are a way of ordering one’s life beautifully in the present day. Cost: $19. Register at germantownumc.org.

Older Adult Ministry

Luci Cromer, 901-755-0803, luci2@comcast.net. Our activities are open to all adults age 55 and older. Full event descriptions may be found in Tidings.
Older Adult Programming Update! Older Adult activities have been suspended for almost a year, now, and we hope that we will be able to start the Brown Bag Lunch and XYZ activities again in the fall, providing the vaccination process becomes smoother and the Health Department allows us to meet without social distancing. We will keep you informed about start-up dates via the Tidings and the Ministry News & Events, and program schedules will be mailed once we have programming set. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Luci Cromer at 901.755.0803.

Lenten Preaching Series Marches On! As part of our observance of Lent, older adults in our church have attended a service at the Calvary Episcopal Lenten Preaching Series for over 20 years. Since the XYZ’s are not taking day trips at this time, you might want to virtually attend one of the programs Calvary Episcopal is offering this Lenten season. Now in its 98th season, the preaching series will continue through March 26.

On Wednesday, March 10, Pádraig Ó Tuama, Poet and podcast host, from Northern Ireland will speak at Noon and at the Lent after Dark podcast from 6:30-7:30 p.m. These programs will be streamed on Calvary’s Lent Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lentenpreaching, YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/calvaryepiscopal, and its website: https://calvarymemphis.org/worship-2/livestream/.

Germantown United Methodist Women (GUMW)

Chesley Porteous, President of GUMW, chesleyporteous@gmail.com
Just a reminder that Germantown United Methodist Women (GUMW) has canceled all events through the end of May 2021 in the interest of everyone’s health and safety. This includes the Spring/Summer Children’s Consignment Sale, Spring Bridge & Games Benefit and Unique Boutique, and the GUMW May luncheon. We hope to gather again in service and fellowship later this year!

Video Production Team!

The GUMC Communications Department is creating a Video Production Team. This team will record, edit, and present worship services, special events, devotional offerings, and more. Volunteers will learn how to use equipment involved in this process, work under the direction of the Church Communications Director or Media Producer. Volunteers should be of college-age or adults but exceptions may be made for qualified high school students. Interested GUMC members will contact Rachel Moore, Communications Director at rmoore@germantownumc.org or call 901.754.7216.

Missions Ministry

Please contact Laura Meanwell at meanwellmail@att.net for mission needs.
Room in the Inn: Host a Meal! RITI – Memphis is moving to a new home that will shelter families and the medically fragile. Host churches have been invited to host meals beginning in March for each of these groups. What a great opportunity for small groups or families to return to serving our homeless neighbors! For more information, contact Alise Davis at 901-496-6402 or alisedavis4@gmail.com

Project Transformation Virtual Luncheon: Project Transformation’s Virtu-al Partners in Transformation Luncheon is Thursday, March 25th at 12:30 p.m. Please attend to learn more about our organization, hear trans-formative stories from our community, and learn how you can help. While mainly a learning opportunity, you will be asked to consider making a contribution. Let Ruth King know, via email ruthmking@bellsouth.net, if you plan to attend.

Virtual Trip to Rwanda, Kenya, and India: Meet the children of Zoe Empowers! The orphaned and vulnerable children of Zoe Empowers will share stories of how they’ve been empowered to lift themselves permanently out of poverty. Visit Rwanda, April 13th, Kenya on April 14th, and India on April 15th (all at 8:30 am CST). For more information contact Bill Whitaker: wawhit3@gmail.com

Health and Recreation Facility (OLEC)

Todd Hinton, Director of Health & Recreation, thinton@germantownumc.org
You can see your favorite instructors online via the Germantown United Methodist Facebook page as well as, the Owings Life Enrichment page. Showing their expertise this month are Al Walton featuring Gentle Yoga poses and Judy Oros with Beginner Pilates. Keep following our pages to keep up your health and fitness.

The OLEC is welcoming everyone back into the Gym. Reservations are made by calling the front desk at 753-3100. We will take your reservation for your 45-minute workout. Please be advised that masks are required for your entire visit, as well as temperature is taken. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Health and Prayer Concerns

To submit a prayer request, please contact Anne Bush at 901-754-7216 or abush@germantownumc.org. You can go to our website and fill out prayer request form online. In the event of an after-hours emergency, pastoral help is available by calling 901-412-5776.

Deepest Sympathy
Martha Massey, Wife of Sam Massey III, Mother of Jeanne Massey Ross, and Grandmother of Allison Miller, March 3
Sharon Thrash, Wife of Jim Thrash and Mother of Mary (Stephen) Short and Emily Thrash, February 25

In The Hospital
Hugh Colville
Pat Smith

In Rehab
Evelyn Akle
Ann Jennings

Congregational Concerns
Cameron Brackett
Bill Crawford
Mackenzie Fittes
George Gill
Mary Elaine Jones
Lee Kairns
Dee Ann Malcolm
Dan Moore
Russell Rainey
Dena Stoudt
Marcia Wagner
Logan Williams