Special services and other activities in churches this week include the following:
Abingdon Episcopal
Abingdon Episcopal Church, White Marsh, will hold an in-person Holy Eucharist at 7:45 and 11 a.m. Sunday. The services will also be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube. To receive a bulletin of the order of service, email the church at admin@abingdonchurch.org.
A book discussion on “Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory” will begin at 9:30 a.m. Sunday via Zoom.
Tune into the Wabingston Clergy Klatch for a deeper dive into the texts by the rectors of Abingdon, Kingston and Ware. The podcast can be found on Spotify and YouTube.
Small groups, “The Way of Love,” meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and at noon on Wednesdays.
Bellamy United Methodist
Bellamy United Methodist Church, Gloucester, will offer in-person worship on at 9 a.m Sunday in the picnic pavilion and 10 o’clock in the sanctuary. Holy Communion will be served at both services. The church will receive a new member at the 10 o’clock service. There will be a central check-in for both services and safety protocols will be in place and masks are required while on church property. Child care is available for both services in the nursery for children who are not older than two years of age. There is a Children’s Church offered during the 10 o’clock service for children three years through fifth grade in the fellowship hall. Weekly devotions remain available on the Bellamy UMC Facebook page. Worship services can be found on the church’s YouTube and Facebook pages.
Bethany United Methodist
The sermon title of Pastor Mike Derflinger of Bethany United Methodist Church, Gloucester Point, at 10 a.m. Sunday service will be “The Marriage Supper of the Lamb.”There will be the liturgy for Holy Communion and everyone is asked to partake at home. Masks, social distancing, and touchless temperature checks are in effect. This service will be recorded and available on YouTube on Monday.
Bethel Baptist
Bethel Baptist Church, Gloucester, continues to hold worship services online or via conference call. The sermon title of the Rev. Richard Lawson, Pastor Emeritus of New Canaan Baptist Church, Brooklyn, N.Y., at noon Sunday will be “Insured and Assured.” The service can be accessed by logging onto https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/929136757. You can also call 1-312-757-3121 and use access code: 929-136-757#. Sunday school will start at 10 a.m. using the same access information. Bible study begins at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.
Bethel United Methodist
The Bible study groups, “Speaking Truth to Power,” of Bethel United Methodist Church, Onemo, will meet at 10:05 a.m. Sunday. At 10:50, the worship service will begin. All health guidelines of face coverings, social distancing and health forms apply.
A special Charge Conference will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday.
The Women’s Ministry and Missions will meet in the fellowship hall at 7 p.m. Wednesday. All are welcome to attend and be a part of this new mission experience, a release said.
Travel size hygiene products for the deployed military are being collected through Memorial Day. A collection box is in the sanctuary at the door.
Central United Methodist
Central United Methodist Church, Mathews, will hold an outdoor communion service at 9:15 a.m. Sunday on the field west of the church building. Those attending may either sit in the open or remain in the vehicles for the FM radio broadcast of the service; prepackaged communion elements will be distributed at arrival. Service will be streamed live on the church’s YouTube channel found the church’s homepage, www.centralumcmathews.org.
Church of the Living Word
The sermon title of Lead Pastor Melvin Epps of Church of the Living Word, Hayes, at the 10 a.m. Sunday service will be “Better with God.” Dr. Gregory and Pastor Eunice Woodard will celebrate 28 years of ministry during the service. The theme will be “Committed to the Call.”
The Gospel of Mark will be the topic for the 6 p.m. Wednesday Bible study via Zoom.
First Baptist, Ordinary
The sermon title of Pastor Ward Warren of First Baptist Church, Ordinary, at the 11 a.m. Sunday Facebook service will be “God has a Plan.” Sunday school is 9 o’clock every Sunday. All services will be virtual and online. To access, call Deacon Albert Ali at 804-642-3109.
On Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m., there will be corporate prayer.
First Morning Star Baptist
First Morning Star Baptist Church, Bena, will observe its annual “Women’s Day” service at 11 a.m. Sunday. The speaker will be Dianne Carter de Mayo of Shepherdsville Baptist Church, Gloucester. The theme will be “Women of God.” To join the teleconference, dial 804-256-2475.
Gloucester Point Baptist
The sermon title of Pastor Bud Goode of Gloucester Point Baptist Church at 11 a.m. Sunday will be “The Final Lap.” Face coverings will be required of everyone five years old and above, while in the church building. The church is now broadcasting to the church’s parking lot on Sunday mornings; tune your radio to FM 90.5.
Grace Covenant Presbyterian
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Gloucester, will install Pastor Kathryn Leech as assistant pastor at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Dr. Tommie Nance will bring the message. There will be participation from elders and covenant partners and communion will be celebrated.
Groves Memorial Presbyterian
The sermon title of the Rev. Michael Condrey of Groves Memorial Presbyterian Church, Glass, at 10 a.m. Sunday will be “Abide in Me.” The Session will meet at 9 o’clock.
Gwynn’s Island Baptist
Gwynn’s Island Baptist Church will hold a drive-in service Sunday at 10 a.m. Sunday around the gazebo across from the church. Parking will begin at 9:30. The sermon title of Dr. Ed Jordan, pastor, will be “Go Get Your Future!” Special music will be provided by Frances Atherton and Leah Hurst.
Kingston Episcopal Parish
In addition to online services, Kingston Episcopal Parish, Mathews, will have outdoor worship at 10 a.m. Sunday with Rite II Spiritual Communion on the grounds of the parish house on Main Street, weather permitting. Bring chairs, wear masks and socially-distance. Children’s Sunday school is held every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Call 804-725-9893 for login instructions. Online Sunday services are available the Saturday evening before.
The Wabingston Clergy Klatch Bible Study is every prior Saturday morning, on Facebook and YouTube. A Zoom Compline service of simple evening prayers is held at 7:30.
Wednesdays. The next Zoom Adult Christian Formation class, “Returning from Exile,” will begin Monday. The ID and passcode for all online services can be obtained from the church office, 804- 725-2175.
New Point Friends
The sermon title of the Rev. Thomas Bunting, pastor of New Point Friends Church, at its 11 a.m. Sunday service will be “The Heavenly Scholar.”
Newington Baptist
The sermon title of Pastor Mike Gray of Newington Baptist Church, Gloucester, at 10:30 a.m. Sunday will be “Christ Reigns in Grace.” The service will also be streamed live at 10:30 on Newington’s Facebook. Kids Worship, for children age four years through fifth grade, will be available during the adult service; the nursery will be open for infants and toddlers.
Wednesday evenings, choir, a study of Acts, and activities for children K-12, will all begin at 6:30.
The Clothes Closet will distribute clothes to anyone in need from 10 a.m.-noon Wednesday.
Masks are required and social distancing is observed at all events.
Olive Branch United Methodist
The sermon title of the Rev. Ann Tang, pastor of Olive Branch United Methodist Church, Gloucester, at the 9:30 a.m. Sunday communion service will be “What I Love.” The service will be in-person; a virtual option will be available at 10:30 a.m. on the Facebook page at Olive Branch United Methodist Church, Gloucester. The adult Sunday school class, “Christ,” will resume at 10:30 Sunday in the pavilion. Everyone is encouraged to bring a lawn chair. All social distancing and masking requirements will still apply.
RevGayle.Org Inc.
The sermon title of the Rev. Ronald Gayle on revgayle.com will be “Information is Not Enough.” A new sermon is posted every Sunday. All previous sermons can be viewed anytime.
Salem United Methodist
The sermon title of the Rev. Ann Tang, pastor of Salem United Methodist Church, Gloucester, at the 11 a.m. Sunday communion serevice will be “What I Love.” The service will be in-person and drive-in. Drive-in participants tune their radio to FM 88.7 during the service. A virtual option is available; sermon videos air at 10:30 a.m. every Sunday on its Facebook page at Salem United Methodist Church, Gloucester.
Chesapeake Bay Chapel service has resumed at 9 a.m. Sunday at Thousand Trails Campground.
Wickel Food Pantry will be open from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, May 15.
Shepherdsville Baptist
Shepherdsville Baptist Church, Gloucester, continues to have Sunday worship service remotely at 10:45 a.m. You can join one of two ways: by Zoom, go to website www.shepherdsvillebaptistchurch.org and click on the Zoom button, or dial 518-418-1016. The Sunday sermon title of Pastor Douglas Riley will be “It’s Time to Walk the Talk.”
Thought for the week: “The true mark of maturity is when someone hurts you and you try to understand their situation instead of trying to hurt them back.”
Singleton United Methodist
Singleton United Methodist Church, Ware Neck, will have in-person worship, with face mask and social distancing, and Zoom worship service at 11 a.m. Sunday. The sermon title of Pastor Calvin Griffin will be “God is Love.” The service can also be viewed on YouTube anytime. Email Calvin.griffin@cox.net for the Zoom invite.
Spring Hill Baptist
Spring Hill Baptist Church, Cobbs Creek, continues its study in the book of Jonah at 11 a.m. Sunday. Jonah turns to an experience of repentance and obedience, and God graciously gives him a second chance in chapter two, a release said.
St. James Anglican
St. James Anglican Church, Gloucester, will hold morning prayer at 10 o’clock Sunday.
St. Matthew United Methodist
St. Matthew United Methodist Church, Peary, will have an in-church worship service at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. Health guidelines of face covering, social distancing and health forms apply.
A special Charge Conference will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday.
The First United Baptist
The sermon title of Pastor E. Randolph Graham of the First United Baptist Church, White Marsh, for the 10 a.m. Sunday service will be “Abiding Branches Produce Divine Fruit.” The service will be drive-up, simulcasted and streamed via Zoom and Facebook Live.
Westville Baptist
The sermon title of the Rev. Bob Huff of Westville Baptist Church, Mathews, at the 10:45 a.m. Sunday communion service will be “You Are Loved.”
Wednesday Bible study, the conclusion of Leviticus, will be at 4 p.m.
Non-perishables and toiletries are being collected for Hands Across Mathews.
Zion Poplars Baptist
Zion Poplars Baptist Church, Gloucester, will observe its communion worship service at 11 a.m. Sunday. The Rev. Vincent Haley, associate minister, will render the message. Conference call number is 1-617-769-8975. An outside deacon ordination service for deacon-elect Trustee Gene Cooke will be at 3 p.m. The Rev. Vincent Pryor, pastor of New Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Gloucester, will render the message. Everyone is asked to bring a chair or relax in your car; social distancing will be observed.
Mr. Haley will also instruct the 7 p.m. Wednesday Bible study. Everyone is asked to use the same conference call number.