Lent: an opportunity to linger…

Lent: an opportunity to linger… I felt as though I was as prepared for my first Ash Wednesday at Gretna UMC as I could have been. Worship guide printed, handouts folded, ashes prepared, sanctuary lights on… 7AM-8AM is quite early for a service. Would anyone show up? Two folks came - to make certain I wasn’t alone. They made coffee and were a great source of encouragement. As 7:00AM approached, another came, then another… then another… then another. Throughout the hour folks came and went. I realized I wasn’t as prepared as I had thought. I wasn’t prepared for how folks would linger in the stillness and quietness of the morning. Most of the time when we enter the sanctuary it is filled with praise and community. We certainly give thanks to God for those moments! But may we never pass up the opportunity to linger. Whether we are in a church, at work, at school, or running errands - find those moments to pause, breathe deeply and notice the life that is yours. Your life has purpose. Your life has meaning. And then… notice someone else in your path. That life, too, has purpose. That life, too, has meaning.

As we gather Sunday to break Bread, to sing songs of praise and to share hospitality, find that moment to linger… to give thanks… to notice that you are loved by God and embrace the path God has for your life.

Invite someone to join you! #TheJourneyContinues Pastor Jo

The Journey Continues

Howard Thurman once said, “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive… There must be always remaining in every life, some place for the singing of angels, some place for that which in itself is breathless and beautiful.”

As we enter into the Lenten Season, I ask that you prayerfully consider how God might want to speak words of abundant LIFE and beauty into our hearts and minds as we walk together the journey before us.

On February 26th please join us for a “Come and Go” Ash Wednesday morning service in the sanctuary from 7:00am-8:00am or in the parking lot for our “Drive Thru Ashes” from 11:30am-1:00pm or 5:30pm-7:00pm.

Each sermon during Lent will invite us to discover a path to a deeper understanding of what it means to truly live life as though everyday matters. Please invite someone to join you for our Lenten Services each Sunday!

#TheJourneyContinues

Pastor Jo

KREWE OF GUMP

Gretna United Methodist Preschool began in 1977. “GUMP” is an outreach mission of

the Gretna United Methodist Church. . GUMP serves children from the ages of 1-4.

GUMP has 123 students registered and is currently registering for the 2020-2021

school year. It is the intent of the Preschool to operate as judiciously as possible, to

serve the community, to ensure protection of all individuals under its care, and to

constantly seek improvement in the program provided.

Lead by Kandie Varney Hinyub, Director (part of the GUMC & GUMP Team for 24

years) and a staff of 23 dedicated team members that range from 30 years of

dedication to new staff.

We believe that the early experiences are of vital importance and that each child

should be helped to develop values of responsibility and respect for the rights of

others. Children should be provided with opportunities for building self-confidence,

self-discipline, and self- acceptance. They must also be presented with challenging

social, emotional, and intellectual experiences within a varied, balanced, adaptive

curriculum.

We recognize that young children learn best by doing. They are physically active,

spontaneous, naturally creative, and curious. We recognize that young children must

feel secure in their environment in order to develop in a wholesome way and to grow

in self-esteem.

We believe that education is an important vehicle through which a working team of

teachers, administration, and parents can assure that value-making situations occur

to meet the needs of each child.

At GUMP we provide each child with not only a safe, caring, and secure environment,

but a happy, loving Christian environment that will meet the needs of each child as

an individual.

Although GUMP is a mission of GUMC, we strive to serve the church with community

outreach; hosting various activities such as our annual Easter Egg Hunt & Trunk or

Treat. GUMP Families are a vital support of the GUMC Food Pantry, Youth Group,

feeding the homeless and other missions within the church.