Top 5 @ SPUMC

#1 GETTING GROUNDED FOR LENT!
What a blessing to have our guest soloist, Marcia Holton, along with her husband Dwayne (on drums) with us in worship again on Sunday. With Shawn Reese on the keys, she offered powerful renditions of “His Eye Is on the Sparrow,” “Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone,” “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and a fun send-off song, “Do Lord” that had toes tapping as we ended worship. We continued our GROUNDED series and Rev. Carissa preached a powerful message on “Reconsideration” that gave us all a fresh look at the familiar story of Nicodemus being drawn into new life in the Spirit by Jesus’s call to be born again/from above/anew. Kennedy Beam showed up after the service to start recording for the Palm Sunday play and people keep dropping off gift cards and picking up SPAN bags for our 40 Days of Giving during Lent. Visit our Lent page to explore all the ways you can grow in grace this season. https://severnaparkumc.org/worship/lent/

#2 CREATIVE WAYS TO GROW THIS LENT
We come hungry to the season of Lent — hungry for words of life, rituals of preparation, disciplines to help us on our way. Rev. Lee will be leading a study of Walking in the Wilderness by Beth Richardson beginning this Wednesday night, February 24 on Zoom at 7:30pm. The study will include daily meditations that feature a quote, scripture, and commentary, each day’s readings will invite you to pause and connect with God in these challenging times. Sign up online.

We’ve also just kicked off our Grounded in Art workshop series on Zoom on Mondays at 7:30pm, led by various artists. We’d love to know if you’re planning to join in, as we’re putting together some art supplies to send out. Sign up online.

  • Monday, February 22, 7:30pm – Photography & Song (Rev. Ron & Chris Dillard)
  • Monday, March 1, 7:30pm – Photography & Song (Rev. Ron & Chris Dillard)
  • Monday, March 8, 7:30pm – Painting & Story (Rev. Martina Efodzi)
  • Monday, March 15, 7:30pm – Painting & Story (Rev. Martina Efodzi)
  • Monday, March 22, 7:30pm – Creative Writing (April Doss)

#3 DEVOTIONAL OPTIONS FOR LENT
In your Lent Kit, you will find a color copy of the “Wilderness” devotional from Sanctified Art, with poetry, art, journaling, and written reflections. Didn’t get one? Come by the church porch anytime and get a Lent Kit for yourself, you and your partner or your family.  You can also join us for a few minutes of Rooted Reflection led by our pastors and staff each week. The video devotionals are posted Monday-Friday on Facebook. If you would like the Rooted Reflection texted to your phone, text Rooted to 410.983.3507. Thanks.

#4 40 DAYS OF GIVING DURING LENT
Our Front Porch is a warm and welcoming space where we can serve our community during the Lenten season. After getting extensive use during Advent as a place for our Angel Tree and our SPAN grocery collection, we are putting it back in use for similar hands-on community support during Lent! Starting now through Palm Sunday on March 28, the following giving opportunities will be available on our Front Porch:

  1. SPAN – 40 Days of Giving! Please grab a SPAN grocery bag from the Front Porch and fill it with food, toiletries, or paper goods. Please return it to the Front Porch or drop it off at SPAN (400 Benfield Road). Let’s help those who are struggling to have enough food and basic necessities.
  2. Reach Out and Serve, LLC will be facilitating the collection of Masks and Hand Sanitizer plus $20 gift cards to Giant for low income families; masks and hand Sanitizer can be dropped off in the designated plastic bin on the porch.
  3. Arundel House of Hope – We will collect $10 gift cards to McDonald’s & Burger King for our Winter Relief community.
  4. Clothing Ministry – Please donate Walmart gift cards (any amount) which will be used to shop for Arundel House of Hope clients who are homeless or are in transition to housing.
  5. Heaven’s Kitchen – Please donate $20 gift cards to Giant for our Heaven’s Kitchen clients

#5 BRAIDING SWEETGRASS
In keeping with our theme for this season (Grounded: An Unlikely Path to Growth),  our book for Lent will be the NY Times Bestseller Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer. This beautifully written book explores our connection to creation and one another through the dual lenses of botany and Native American spirituality. We’ll meet for discussion on Tuesday, March 24 at 7:30pm. Feel free to come no matter how much of the book you get through. Contact Rev. Ron for more info.