#1 Head Above Water

When pop star Avril Lavigne was going through a really difficult time in her battle with Lyme disease back in 2014, one of the ways she processed her feelings was to write a song, "Head Above Water." On Mother's Day, SPHS senior Mason Fleming and his mom, Jenn, combined for a moving rendition of this song at our 9:15am & 10:45am services and Rev. Ron connected the lyrics to our text of the day (Psalm 69) in his sermon. "Sometimes the most honest and best prayer, the only prayer we can muster, is 'God keep my head above water,'" he said. In those moments of life when things feel out of control, when we are crying out, "Don't let me, don't let me, don't let me drown," God does show up, not always like a Marvel Super hero to scoop us out of the water, but more like a lifeguard to simply hold our heads up to get through it to more solid ground.

 

#2 Missions Garage Sale
Got Time & Stuff?

Whether you set up, cleaned up, sorted, cooked, donated, cashiered, organized, or just showed up to shop, we thank you for your support of the Spring Missions Garage Sale! We could not have done it without such a great church-wide effort. Special thanks to Karen Myers, our Coordinator, and her fabulous leadership team. We set an all-time high with $27,183 in proceeds which will go to fund Volunteers in Mission teams and United Women in Faith mission projects. 

#3 Blessing of the Animals
A Furry & Feathery Fine Day!

THE 8th ANNUAL BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS took place on Sunday, April 27 in our Memorial Garden. This is always a fun afternoon as people get to show off their furry, feathery or scaly friends to one another. This year we had our best turnout ever with over 55 people and about 20 pets in attendance including many dogs (5 Berna-doodles!), a bearded dragon, hermit crab, and pictures of cats and pigs (who thought it better to stay home!).  What a great way to celebrate Earth Day weekend and revel in the wonder of God's creation!

#4 An EGGstravagant Morning
Thousands of Eggs and Hundreds of People!

Our Easter EGGstravaganza was a huge success as kids played games, made crafts, munched on donuts holes and found the thousands of eggs that had been scattered outside (in about 3 1/2 minutes). Over 200 people of all generations filled Fellowship Hall for this annual fun-fest. Special thanks to Erica Benjamin and her team for such a great event for our families!




#5 Holy Week at SPUMC
Sacred Moments Abounded

Holy Week was full of sacred moments, some planned and others totally unscripted. Our Maundy Thursday crockPOTluck meal provided an array of delicious culinary options and the service that followed didn't disappoint, either. The children delighted us with their impromptu dance party in the back and serving one another communion around our tables was a fitting remembrance of the Last Supper. On Good Friday, we had a beautiful afternoon to solemnly process through the Stations of the Cross along the banks of the Severn River with Christians from many area churches. And then the haunting and poignant music of the cello (Ty Young), the choir (under the direction of wife, Laura Young) along with Rev. Byron's sermon ("There Was Only Silence") drew us into the drama and pathos of Jesus' crucifixion at our evening service in the Sanctuary.  

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down, 
now scornfully surrounded with thorns, thine only crown...

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