Top 5 @ SPUMC

#1 PRESSING ON!
It’s been so much fun seeing new faces (we had a bunch this week!) and welcoming back returning friends and members each Sunday (and some new faces, too!) as we gather for worship. This past Sunday, Rev. Ron shared some old letters he had just purchased from an antique shop in Severna Park and drew from that wonderful “old letter” from Paul to the Philippians about the power of Pressing On (ch. 3) and fixing our minds on whatever is “good, lovely, and excellent” (ch. 4). He pointed us to the Olympics as a good example of both as athletes strive relentlessly to drop the tenth of a second or perfect a new element in their routines and we are (rightly so) drawn to such displays of excellence. We celebrated another baptism (Madelyn Grace Cammuse) and enjoyed a great mix of music (a quintet, solos and duets — thanks Elissa, Gaines, Josh, Paul, Kerri & Shawn!). Afterwards, our parking lot was buzzing with activity as fearless scooterers, bikers and big wheelers whirled about for our latest Spark in the Park(ing Lot) and then the little kids gave way to the Super Sixth graders and UMYF for their gatherings that rounded out the day. God’s Spirit was moving inside and out!

#2 VBS & SPARK IN THE PARK
Vacation Bible School Starts Next Week! Please keep the kids, Erica and all our volunteers in prayer as they prepare for an exciting and meaningful week. If you’d like to help out, we could use a couple people to come set up tents in the parking lot at around 8:30am each weekday. Contact Erica for more information about what that entails. Family Ministries has also been heading outside this summer with a series of Spark in the Park meet ups at various parks in the area. Come to meet your new pastor, reconnect, cool off with an ice pop, and enjoy the summer sun with your church family! So far we’ve been at Waterford Lake Park, Kinder Park and our own parking lot.

#3 WHAT’S SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE?
What’s So Amazing About Grace? is our new worship series that will run through August and Labor Day weekend. We’ll be exploring a Wesleyan understanding of grace that is at work in our lives from the day we are born, the ways we can cooperate with grace for reconciliation and new life and how we continue to grow in grace on our faith journeys. We’d love to know what you think is so amazing about grace, too. Send your original poems, thoughts, short-reflections or book excerpts to Rev. Ron and we’ll share some of these with the congregation. Thanks!

#4 MUSIC DIRECTOR SEARCH BEGINS
Our Music Director Search Team is getting up and running and we have just begun advertising for the position(s) on multiple platforms. We are seeking either an individual who can “do it all” (choirs, bands, coordination, etc.) and knowing that this takes a rare combination of gifts, we are also advertising for two distinct part-time positions (a Worship/Band Leader & Choir Director). If you know of talented and dynamic musicians in your circle of connections who might be interested in one of those three positions, please send them our way. For the time being, they can contact Rev. Ron directly by email and resumes and performance videos are both welcome as we begin this process. Please keep the team in your prayers as they do this important work on behalf of our church.

#5 WELCOME REV. NARAE!
We welcomed Rev. Narae Kim as our new Associate Pastor on the first Sunday in July and the congregation received her warmly with cake, conversation and an abundance of well-wishes. Preaching from Matthew 25 (reaching out to the “least of these”) and drawing on the story of Horton Hears a Who, Rev. Narae reminded us that “A Person Is a Person No Matter How Small.” She shared some of her personal journey into ministry and introduced us to her family: Ana (age 6 and the “thoughtful one” who brings her water with glasses straight out of the dishwasher, clean or not!), Ruah (age 4 who insisted one day that she’s neither a big girl or a baby but “a medium girl”) and Heerak, her husband (also a pastor and who was at that moment meeting his new congregation at Glen Mar UMC). You can learn a little bit more about Rev. Narae by clicking here to read her cover letter in our most recent issue of the Octagon.

Current Mask Guidelines

  • Masks are encouraged inside for individuals who are fully vaccinated.
  • Masks are required inside for those who are not yet fully vaccinated.
  • Masks are required for indoor Children’s Sunday School activities. Outdoor masking is at the discretion of each child’s parents or guardians. All Children’s Ministry staff and volunteers will remain masked.