May Newsletter
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May Newsletter
A message from Pastor Becca:
Good Morning! Good Afternoon! And Good Evening!
May holds three important dates for the Christian calendar: Ascension, Pentecost, and Trinity Sunday! Ascension Sunday focuses on Jesus’ ascent into heaven. It is the end of Jesus’ time on the earth. After his resurrection Jesus spent time on earth with his followers, after which he gathered them together, told them to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit, and then was lifted up into heaven. The disciples then journeyed back to Jerusalem and gathered together in the upper room of someone’s home, and they sang, prayed, and waited.
As they were gathered in prayer and singing, “suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house…They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirt…” This was the long awaited comforter; Jesus promised that in his absence he would send another who would comfort and guide the disciples. As disciples of Jesus, we also are promised and given this gift, the gift of the Holy Spirit who lead, guides, and sustains us. Romans 8:27 says, “the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” The Spirit is there we don’t know what to say or do; the Spirit knows are groaning and our tears and intercedes on our behalf. The Spirit gives us power to share the grace, love, and Good News of God.
This leads me to the last big date in the Christian calendar for May, which is Trinity Sunday. This Sunday is a time to celebrate the whole Godhead and to affirm the Doctrine of the Trinity that was created by the early Church. As United Methodists, and as Christians, we affirm that God is one, but that we experience God in three Persons. Below I have attached part of a paper I recently wrote, describing who God is and what the Trinity is. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out!
Excerpt from On the Trinity and 4th Century:
God is one. God cannot be separated into multiple parts and pieces. All of the actions of God are done with the fullness of God. In De Decretis, Athanasius of Alexandria writes, “let us not fall upon human senses, and imagine partitions and divisions of the Godhead, but as having our thoughts directed to things immaterial, let us preserve undivided the oneness of nature and identity of light.” Athanasius reminds people that God is beyond human comprehension and that we should not try to ascribe our own human divisions to God. We experience God in three persons, but this is not three separate gods, but the same God in the form, or likeness, of three persons; this is known as the Trinity or the doctrine of the Trinity.
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There is a balance between the oneness and threeness of God… This returns us to the mystery that is one God in the form of three persons, but these three persons are from the same divine essence. An analogy that comes the closest to maintaining the unity and distinction of God is the Sun. We can experience the Sun in three different ways: gravity, light, and warmth. The Sun’s gravity brings order to the planets in our galaxy. It keeps the planets from free floating across space, and gives the Earth its revolution around the Sun, giving us the seasons of the year. The light from the Sun helps us to see and gives nutrients to plant life. The warmth produced by the Sun makes the Earth warm enough for us to live on it. We cannot see the warmth. We cannot hold onto the warmth, but we know that the warmth is there. Gravity, light, and warmth are all a part of the Sun. They cannot be separated from the Sun, and yet we experience them each distinctly. This analogy does not fully encompass who God is, but gives us a starting place to understanding God.
Happenings
Click here for the Church Calendar
Contemporary Worship Playlist- Click here!
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day- Coffee Hour Treats!
2nd Annual Men treat the Women on Mother’s Day 5/10 and Women treat the Men on Father’s Day 6/10!
Bring in a dish to share to show you care.
Church Rummage Sale is Back On! Save the date, June 25
As you go through Spring Cleaning or come across something collecting dust; Save them for our Rummage Sale. Bring items in during office hours or on Sundays.
Annual Conference Registration is currently Open
Conference is June 3 – June 6, 2026 held at St. Luke’s UMC 100 W 86th St, Indianapolis, IN 46260.
Registration is free, but to participate in meals you need to register by May 20.
Register at inumc.org/annual-conference or Call 312-924-1321. Come for connection, fellowship, and learn with other churches all across the state.
Drawing Near- Laity Retreat, July 19, 3-6pm
Hebron United Methodist Church
Register by July 13th
Drawing Near - A Laity Retreat
"Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." James 4:8 If you want to know God better...if you're discerning God's call...or if you're considering a certified path (lay servant, lay speaker, etc.) THEN THIS RETREAT IS FOR YOU. Participants will spend time in prayer and reflection but also in fellowship and discussion with the faculty of the Hebron Lay Servant Academy at this informative retreat. If you have questions, contact District Director of Lay Servant Ministries, Karen Williams at mrs.karen.wms@gmail.com. This retreat is for adults 18+. A Zoom chat will take place in late April to discuss details. If you would like to participate in the chat prior to registering, please email Karen Williams.
No Kids Sunday School for June and July
We will not have Sunday School, but would love to see the kids in service. Thanks for all the hard work of our Sunday School teachers this past year.
Food Pantry Focus
This month is: Canned Fruit
The pantry is always in need of soaps, peanut butter, jelly, macaroni and cheese.
Volunteers
Liturgist for May: Nancy Susnis
Greeters for May: Mary and Patsy
Sunday School:
- 5/3- Linda Knight
- 5/10- Linda Knight
- 5/17- Addy and Bill Myers
- 5/24- Patsy Atkins
Coffee Hour:
- 5/3 -
- 5/10- All Men for Mother’s Day
- 5/17 - Wanda and Caroline
- 5/24-