Isle of Hope United Methodist Church 412 Parkersburg Road, Savannah, GA 31406

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May/June 2020 - Special Edition Glad Tidings (GT) Isle of Hope United Methodist Church Choices While making my son a sandwich with “grocery A few weeks ago, Orlando police arrested a man who store” brand peanut butter, I began counting the ways apparently had a dream to camp out in a tropical par- COVID-19 has disrupted our lives. Beyond the supply adise. He evaded “no trespassing” signs and locked

chain and my normal choice of peanut butter, there gates to spend a few days on Discovery Island, an

Savannah, Georgia 31406. Georgia Savannah, P2-3 have been many changes. Some of them will be perma- abandoned resort attraction in a Disney World lake.

to Isle of Hope UMC c/o Marla Grady 412 Parkersburg Road, Road, Parkersburg 412 Grady Marla c/o UMC Hope of Isle to nent. But I’m convinced that we’re still left with many

Mail - during the week, you can give by mailing your gift gift your mailing by give can you week, the during - 4) 4) Choices choices. This unfortunate story helps us discern the differ- June Bible Reading ence between a bad dream and a good one. Good

2020 Graduates

cally by setting up bill pay through your checking account. checking your through pay bill up setting by cally The Bible teaches us that to choose is an important part dreams invite us to plan well, to sacrifice deeply, to

Automated - automati given donation your have can you - 3) 3) of being human. God honors our God-created ability to work hard, and to trust God. In Acts 2, one sign of

choose. God’s Spirit is when all God’s people choose to see vi-

recurring gift. recurring sions and dream dreams about what God can accom-

com/iohumc) or our YouTube channel (Isle of Hope TV). TV). Hope of (Isle channel YouTube our or com/iohumc)

Online - visit our website to make a one-time donation or or donation one-time a make to website our visit -

2) 2) • In his refresher course on the law, Moses says, plish in our lives. You can choose to dream.

10:15am (Traditional) via our Facebook page (www.facebook. page Facebook our via (Traditional) 10:15am p4-5 “Now choose life, so that you and your children

Join us online every Sunday morning at 9am (Anchor) and and (Anchor) 9am at morning Sunday every online us Join may live and that you may love the Lord your a great way for you to give. to you for way great a You can choose not to be offended. With all the

God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.

with the amount you would like to donate. It's simple, safe and and safe simple, It's donate. to like would you amount the with Missions conflict about culture and politics, it is too easy to

Hope Arbor (Deuteronomy 30:19-20) Text - Simply text 73256 with the keyword IOHUMC along along IOHUMC keyword the with 73256 text Simply - 1) 1) be offended. But that is really a choice we can make. Online! • On the border of the promised land, Joshua I encourage you to make people work hard to offend

says, “Choose for yourselves this day whom

you will serve.” (Joshua 23:15) you! Us With Worship Ways to Give to Ways • The Apostle James warns with wisdom that “anyone who chooses to be a friend of the Last summer when I moved to Savannah, I came world becomes an enemy of God.” (James 4:4) into church one Sunday, bracing myself to remem- p6-7 ber as many new names as possible. On one pew sat Here are a few ways we can continue to choose and two friends, and my mind froze. I remembered one cooperate with God’s Spirit in the shaping of our name, but forgot the other. Thankfully, the second Wednesday Night Supper Gratitude in a Time of lives: person chose not to be offended, and, instead, of- Uncertainty fered me a clue, a quick mnemonic device, to jolt my Kids' Corner You can choose to dream. People often ask, “What memory the next time. (And her hint works to this will you do after quarantine is lifted?” That is an in- day!) vitation to dream. 1 Peter 4:8 says, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love believe that the Bible’s miracles are more than just ancient testi- covers over a multitude of sins.” You can choose not to be offend- mony? That God’s Word is as reliable today as it was for the char- ed. acters who inhabit its pages?

Finally, you can choose to believe. Margaret Hutchinson was We have choices, dear friends. God’s character is still good, and the first woman in America to earn a Ph.D. in chemical engineer- his heart is still for the redemption and restoration of all human- ing. She didn’t discover penicillin, but she made it accessible. She ity. Let’s choose him in all the ways we can. created the first large-scale process for manufacturing penicillin and saved thousands of lives during the Second World War. There With joy, is talk about COVID-19 vaccines and not whether but when our scientists will figure it out. I hope we get there soon, but we may Vacation Bible School 2020 not. Instead of saying “the sky’s the limit” with our science and Vacation Bible technology, maybe we need to believe God more. Can we choose to School will look a camp connect little differently this Epworth's Camp Connect is canceled year. Due to the CO- this summer due to social distanc- Day on the island United Methodist News VID-19 crisis, we will ing policies. Please read the words be- be postponing our After prayerful consideration, the UMW and Isle of Beyond our local church, the COVID-19 pandemic has altered low from camp director, Suzanne Akins: Hope leadership have decided to postpone the be- the decision-making schedules for our worldwide United previously sched- uled June VBS dates. loved Day on the Island 2020, originally scheduled Methodist Church. "With heavy hearts, we have made the decision We will still be able for October 2, 2020. With so many uncertainties re- to not have camps this summer. Through consul- to take a trip on the garding social distancing, we are making the decision Our global decision-making General Conference should tation and collaboration with conference leader- Rocky Railway, but will wait until the fall to de- to prioritize the safety and health of our volunteers, have met May 5-15 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but it will now ship, Bishop Bryan, camp industry experts and health officials, we are confident but our new VBS model. Refunds will be issued for home owners, and church family. convene in August or September 2021 at the same site. that closing camps for the 2020 summer is the wisest decision for us. The safety and those who have already paid. Our rescheduled VBS well being of your children and our staff have and always will be our main priority. plans to be a fun three-day weekend for the whole Please save the date for Friday, October 1, 2021 for Our South Georgia Annual Conference has postponed its regular week- Please know that we value your investment in Camp Connect, and a full refund will family that will allow us to share in Bible stories, the 32nd Day on the Island! We are grateful to the long June meeting to an abbreviated session August 14-15 at the UGA Con- be given to all those who have already registered. We will reach out to each registered song, games, and collecting money for a mission committee leaders who have already put in so much ference Center in Tifton, Georgia. One highlight of the session will be on family in the next couple of weeks." work and effort into Day on the Island. Saturday, August 15 at 11:00 am, when Bishop Lawson Bryan commissions project. The potential scheduled date is September The Rev. Jason Wade as a provisional elder in the United Methodist Church 11th-13th. Stay tuned for more details. Gratefully yours, during the service of commissioning and ordination. All are welcome to at- Starr Horn and Callie Daters tend this service! Preschool update Day on the Island Co-Chairs What do you do when a virus has completely ended your daily routine? For preschoolers and First Things First little ones, you have to lift your creativity to a whole new level and our teachers were up for the task! They sent out weekly curriculum, art activities, games, june Bible reading songs and story time! Oh, and let's not forget field trips! The teachers went on a 3-hour if you are in need of the previous month's bible reading, please contact kristen tillman at [email protected]. field trip to see as many children as they could see. Even the neighbors of our preschool- 1 Deuteronomy 33 9 Joshua 7 17 Joshua 24 25 Judges 7 ers had a great time waving and joining in on the celebration. Luke 17:20-end Luke 22:1-38 Galatians 2 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 Zoom was a whole new world for little people as well. Birthdays, show and tell, and circle 2 Deuteronomy 34 10 Joshua 8 18 Judges 1:1-21 26 Judges 8 time were celebrated on Zoom. There is a lot to be said for a mute button! During the Luke 18:1-30 Luke 22:39-53 Galatians 3 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 month of May, we celebrated our Pre-K children's graduations. To add a little extra 3 Joshua 1 11 Joshua 9 19 Judges 2:6-23 27 Judges 9:1-25 brightness, we placed a yard sign in their yards to honor them. Luke 18:31-19:10 Luke 22:54-end Galatians 4 1 Thessalonians 5:12-end 4 Joshua 2 12 Joshua 10:1-27 20 Judges 3:7-31 28 Judges 9:26-57 School has ended for the summer but we wanted to share some activies we had planned Luke 19:11-28 Luke 23:1-25 Galatians 5 2 Thessalonians 1 so we had a "parking lot pick up" for the children. The preschool and First Things First 5 Joshua 3 13 Joshua 14:5-15 21 Judges 4 29 Judges 10:6-18 families got to see the crazy, fun teachers one more time! As parents drove through the Luke 19:29-end Luke 23:26-49 Galatians 6 2 Thessalonians 2 parking lot, teachers cheered for each family and gave books and special activities for the 6 Joshua 4 14 Joshua 20 22 Judges 5 30 Judges 11 children to enjoy during the summer. Luke 20:1-26 Luke 23:50-24:12 1 Thessalonians 1 2 Thessalonians 3 7 Joshua 5 15 Joshua 22 23 Judges 6:1-24 It's always said that to be a First Things First or Preschool teacher, you have to be flexible. Your day can be turned upside down in a matter of minutes. Well, our last few months were quite different from what we planned but we Luke 20:27-21:4 Luke 24:13-end 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16 made the best of it and continued to love on these precious children. We're looking forward to our 2020-2021 school year! Just a reminder- 8 Joshua 6 16 Joshua 23 24 Judges 6:25-40 registration is still open. If you're interested in our Preschool or First Things First program, please visit our website (www.iohumc.com) or Luke 21:5-end Galatians 1 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13 contact Wez Childers at [email protected]. wednesday night supper to-go Gratitude in a time of uncertainty Isle of Hope Church Family, Our new Wednesday Night Sup- During this time when so much seems hidden per to-go meals have been a suc- from us, some things are crystal clear to me. cess and you are invited to join Above all, God is good now and always, and God’s us! All meals can be picked up people, you the Church, have been very good to from 5-6:30pm, drive-thru style us. I want to express deep gratitude on behalf High School Graduates from the kitchen door behind the of Arts from the Island and all those who have Name Graduating From Next Steps church. Please remain in your car been looking forward to traveling to New York Lily Christine Allen Savannah Arts Academy Georgia Institute of Technology (no walk-ups). Drive-thru line will start in the main parking City this November to join other choirs on stage Aidan Blake Chambers The Habersham School Georgia Southern University lot by the church office. in Carnegie Hall. We have been overwhelmed Emily Suzanne Johnson Savannah Country Day School University of Georgia by the emphatic and generous support you have Benny Juneau Kenney Savannah Arts Academy University of Georgia If you are physically unable to pick up your meal, the Hands shown through your purchase of tickets to our concert series, and your Andrew Akins Muller Savannah Country Day School Southern Methodist University many donations during recent months. We had set a fundraising goal of Hope Ministry is available for deliveries. Please contact Olivia Ann Rowe St. Vincent's Academy Georgia Southern University of $22,000, and it seems we are very close to reaching that goal: over Brenda Boaen (912-308-0990). Samantha Ann Seymour Calvary Day School Piedmont College $20,000 at this point. Benjamin Stafford Stone Savannah Country Day School University of Georgia Cost: $6 (adult portions only) John "Jake" Dekle Summerford Benedictine Georgia College & State University Much about our trip remains hidden. Distinguished Concerts Interna- Olivia Juliet Sumner St. Vincent's Academy Georgia College & State University tional of New York (DCINY) has cancelled all concerts previously ad- Ben David Taylor Home School University of Georgia All orders must be in by noon the Tuesday prior by going vertised into June. We cannot know at this time whether our concert Jack Ellis Williamson Savannah Country Day School University of Georgia to our website (www.iohumc.com) and clicking 'Wednesday will take place, or whether we will participate. I can say that whatever Night Supper' under the 'Resources' tab. happens, the funds raised will be used to further the mission of our church, if not to enable us to sing God’s praises in Carnegie Hall, then College Graduates Sarah Ann Floyd Amelia Blair Smith Payment: Online or by check when you pick up (NO CASH) to spread the Gospel message and bless his people in some other way that would honor your generosity. Bachelors of Business Administration in Entrepreneuship & Juris Doctor Hospitality Management Savannah Law School 5/27: BBQ sandwiches, fries & cole slaw University of Georgia 6/3: Spaghetti, garlic bread & caesar salad Profoundly thankful! Kevin Vogelsang Natalie Gene Smith Amanda Avery Gall Juris Doctor Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education Savannah Law School Georgia Southern University Henry Jackson McKoy Solana Emily Anne Kraft Bachelor of Business Administration in Risk Management Bachelor of Science in Middle School Education University of Georgia University of North Georgia 2nd Lieutenant Gregory Air Soukhamneut Chase Langston Marini Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering Bachelors of Business Administration United States Air Force Academy University of Georgia Benjamin Scott Tucker Ashley Jordan Meyers Bachelor of Science in Statistics & Bachelor of Arts in Religion Bachelor of Science in Nursing University of Georgia Georgia College & State University Rachel Louise Usher Jackson Eubank Parker Masters of Public Health Epidemiology Bachelor of Science: Exercise Science Emory University Berry College Kathryn Ann Waller William Christopher Phillips Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship & Juris Doctor Hospitality Management University of Georgia School of Law University of Georgia

Mary Abbigail Rowe Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing Georgia College & State University local outreach during covid-19 finding ways to connect While much of what we are able to do as a church has been limited over the last few weeks, Finding ways to connect with our Hope Arbor friends as we decided to suspend many in our congregation have made the best of it by finding ways to serve others around respite care in March seemed overwhelming! Donna and I took time to prayerful- the community. Here is a short list of thank you's to those who have stepped up and stepped ly discern what would help these families the most right now. We began slowly, out! with phone calls. Donna, Bucky and I each began calling the families once a week. We made certain everyone was safe and had their physical needs met. They love 1. Thanks so much to those who have helped with our surgical mask making projects: Nancy to hear from us and we just chat away for as long as we can. This can sometimes Montford, Teri Akin, Sue Herrin, Nancy Bromley, Carla Beall, Lynn Roesler, Collins and give the Care Partners a break. Campbell Sherrill, Suzy Carpenter and Jennifer Hale! Hundreds of masks have been made for medical personnel, those who are homeless, and for our church members. Next, the Hope Arbor army of Volunteers began writing and sending cards and 2. Thanks to everyone who has helped to support the feeding efforts of the Inner City Night letters to each family. Each participating family gets multiple cards each week Shelter. Cleaning supplies, frozen vegetables, and breakfast sandwiches have been donated and many include drawings and messages from children. One family taped the over the last few weeks. One of the great offerings of our church is those who helped to feed beautiful drawing they received at Easter to their front door for decoration. ICNS's clients on Easter Sunday! 3. Meals on Wheels has continuted without a hitch, thanks to great leadership A Care Partner said on one phone call she wished we could all see each other and that led to our and more than willing regular and fill-in volunteers! Thanks to Phyllis Curlee Care Partner Zoom Support Group! This group meets each Tuesday at 10:30am through Zoom for helping to lead this vital ministry. and we have had about 15 people participate. Frank Parr leads us through devotions and allows 4. We have had a great turnout of help with donated food and volunteers with the Care Partners to share and feel like they are still part of a community. This group is open to the organization P.A.C.K., who helps feed children in our community. anyone in the Savannah area and we have actually even added a few members since beginning to 5. It has been a great joy getting to be a part of the feeding program the City of meet through Zoom. Next came Zoom games. Zoom games are open to volunteers, participants, Savannah has been coordinating. Our volunteers have helped to register those and their care partners. Now our friends are able to see each other once again! So far, we have receiving the meals, give them personal use surgical masks made by our sewing played Trivia, Bingo, and had a Scavenger Hunt. teams, and helped to spread some joy in this difficult time. Along with our weekly newsletter, I know there have been other things our church family has been a part of beyond we include our brief devotional these efforts. Thanks to everyone who has sought out ways to bless the people in videos, interesting and helpful our community. By serving others, we are serving Christ and sharing the gospel links, and of course our fabulous music video that includes all their pictures and message of hope with the world. our incredible staff singing the Hope Arbor songs.

We have deliverd casseroles prepared by Hands of Hope. Hope Arbor families were so grateful for the delicious food and overwhlemed by the love. One Care Partner said he was "amazed by the efforts of the program." He said, "now he feels hands of hope Meals for Medical update like he has somewhere to turn when things are bad. " We are currently taking our Joy In the Moment Choir on the road to sing on the front lawns of Participants. With a little help from Shannon and his guitar, we sound amazing! It seems that God always finds a way for us to connect and serve His people. Please keep this precious ministry in your prayers! need a stephen minister? Adult Discipleship Right now can be a difficult time for many reasons as we weather this storm as a church family. Our Stephen Min- istry exists to provide one-on-one care for those who are hurting. If you or someone you love is struggling and Our Hands of Hope ministry is at work! If you are in need of We raised $1,765 for Meals for Medical and fed 150 people in can use a strong shoulder and listening any type of assistance from your church family, please con- the ER, ICU, and isolation units at both St. Joseph and Candler ear, we can provide one. Our Stephen tact Meg Procopio at [email protected]. We would be Despite not being able to meet in person, our Adult Disciple- hospitals with meals from Your Pie. Because of your generos- Ministers are equipped and available happy to help with whatever needs you may have. ship ministry is still going strong! Each week, a new video ity, we were able to provide 100 breakfast meals from Cutter's to serve you with the love of Christ. For information about having is added to the Isle of Hope TV YouTube channel dedicated Point and Rocky's NY Italian Deli to Memorial Hospital. The a Stephen Minister, contact Brooke Chambers bchambers@iohumc. to helping you dive into the Word. If you have questions on homemade cards for our medical workers were a wonderful com. how to access the videos or any questions about the videos, addition to the meals. Thanks to everyone who participated! contact Tom Whatley at [email protected]. 3