Beyond the Pulpit 10.18.26

Crozetumc   -   October 18, 2026
Greetings CUMC Family & Friends,

It’s been a full week of preparing, serving, praying, and looking ahead at CUMC!

Last Sunday, I was so touched by the children who bombarded me with their precious artwork depicting my ministry with them. I am grateful for our Children’s Church teachers who were so thoughtful in making this happen. See the kids’ art below. Following worship last Sunday I also enjoyed working together with our Worship Team to take a deep dive into our Advent theme and explore how we can best anticipate and welcome God’s gift of the Christ child this year. With Advent beginning in late November, I’m grateful for this team’s creativity and thoughtfulness as they help make worship meaningful.

On Monday evening, I joined Dave Oberg and the LOVE INC Board to discuss the anticipated opening of the New Life Thrift Store in Pantops. This exciting expansion will offer another way to serve our neighbors, and I look forward to seeing how our congregation can support this ministry. Be on the lookout for how you might partner with LOVE INC to serve our community for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Thank you to everyone who has joined CUMC’s expanded prayer ministry! You’re invited to pray weekly for submitted requests. Contact Alexa in the church office to receive the weekly prayer email. You’re also welcome at our first monthly Prayer Ministry gathering tomorrow evening (Monday, October 19) at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary, led by our new Prayer Ministry Leaders, Jamie and Sandra Monohan. We’ll pray together for the needs of our congregation and community.

Finally, I look forward to Charge Conference today at 4:30 p.m. at Charlottesville First UMC. We’ll celebrate the past year’s ministries and nominate leaders for the year ahead. I’m grateful that our Lay Leaders, Joanne and Sandra, will join me. All are welcome to attend.

As we near the end of October, we are nearing All Saints Sunday in 2 weeks, on November 1. This is when we name and honor Crozet UMC’s beloved saints who have passed away in the last year. Please let me know if you are aware of a Crozet UMC member who has passed away in the last year. We will honor them with an angel bell on our All Saints Bell Banner. We also invite everyone to honor their saints, living or deceased, by adding a bell to our banner prior to worship on November 1.
Whether preparing for All Saints or Advent, serving our neighbors or lifting others in prayer, we continue to live out our calling to Love, Grow, and Go. I’m grateful to share this journey with you!