Sunday, May 17, 2026

Together at Glenville UMC

Seven prayer shawls were dedicated today

Pastor Charles gets up for the gospel lesson!

Faithful attendance

Mike, Bob, and Sid keep things moving in the meeting

Laughter in a church meeting!

Joys

+ We thank God for Korla S. worshipping with us this morning.

+ Korla S. thanks the church family for the loving ways it has supported her after her recent accident.

+ We celebrate that the church’s directional sign was installed last week.

+ We thank God for the church’s involvement in yesterday’s Freeborn County Church Tour sponsored by the Albert Lea Art Center. Twenty-one people provided positive feedback about their visit. 🤍

+ Thanks be to God for this weekend’s 2026 Patriot Tour’s festivities. (Bob S. said 162 motorcycles and 4 cars participated.) Thanks be to God for this volunteer group’s efforts resulting in continuing to support disabled veterans and their families. (September 19, 2026, the American flag will return to our area, after its touring all fifty states. At the time, it will be presented to the Glenville Legion Riders for their safekeeping.)

+ Thanks be to God for the blessing of prayer shawls in today's worship.

+ Kraig and Korla S. thank God for their granddaughter’s success in a recent Taekwondo tournament.

+ We thank God for the gift of laughter in church – “carbonated holiness’ says Anne Lamott. (Thank you for sharing a joke before worship, Sid T.)

+ Thanks be to God for the gift of rain.

+ Pastor Charles thanks God for his mother’s special handmade gift that features red trucks on it (which look like the one he totaled/lost last year). He appreciates his mother taking the time to celebrate the special time he had driving that truck. (Yes, he still mourns its loss.)

+ Shelley G. celebrates her granddaughter’s milestone achievement of graduating from college.

+ We celebrate the upbeat, fun gathering of church members who participated in last Wednesday’s United Women in Faith gathering at Karnella S.’ residence at Hidden Creek.

+ We praise God for the faithful service of our beloved pianist, Renae H., and for Bob S. who served as usher today.

Concerns

+ Shelley G. prays for God’s help in navigating life without her granddaughter living near her. The granddaughter and her cat Jeffery are moving to Colorado for the next two years.

+ Praying for all who are dealing with medical challenges (and the people who love and care for them): Korla S., Judy C., Karnella S., Dawn K.’s friend Gen, Rita W.’s friend Pat, Shelley G.’s daughter Melanie, Nancy B.’s sister Sharon, and Craig and Pat R.

+ Praying for the family and friends of Gloria and Bob S.’ friend Billy N. who died last Sunday.

+ Dawn K. is thankful for a recent judicial decision regarding the proposed site in the area for a battery energy storage system.

+ Praying for our country … and the world.

+Praying for all who are impacted directly and indirectly by conflict in the world.

+Praying for peace.

Bulletin for Ascension Sunday

O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!” – Psalm 68:35 (NKJV)

Prelude Music

Welcome & Announcements

*Call to Worship (inspired by Acts 1:9-11) - Posted on Rev-o-lution.

A new day has begun. Hope wins! A fresh start is granted. Faith wins! Today you have the opportunity to do something new. Hope wins! Christ is entering your life in a new way. Faith wins! Come, let us worship God, who is inviting us into life in a new way, a way that transcends death, a way of hope and faith. Love wins! Let us worship Christ, who overcame death to give us new life! 

*Hymn: Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain,” #315

*Prayer for Ascension Sunday from the Christian Aid website (UK)

Risen and ascended Lord Jesus, when we are numbed by the suffering of the world, take us back to the deep truth of Your power and glory, of Your invincible Kingdom, of Your promise of reconciliation. In the knowledge of this truth, help us to bring our gaze to earth and find the strength to go into the world, to do Your will on earth as in heaven to build the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

*Gloria Patri: #70    

*Passing the Peace of Christ

 Joys and Concerns

 Pastoral Prayer 

The Lord’s Prayer (sung)                                             

 Invitation to the Offering

 *Doxology: #95                                           

 *Offering Prayer

 Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 1:15-23

 Hymn: “Thine Be the Glory,” #308

 Second Lesson: Acts 1:1-11

 Sermon: “Up, Up, and Away!”

 *Hymn: “Blessed Assurance,” #369

 *Benediction

 *Choral Amen

 Postlude Music

 “The worship is ended; let the service begin.”

  *Please rise in body or in spirit.

Saturday, May 16, 2026

Today's Church Tour

A beautiful morning in Glenville
 The tour starts here!
Love in action in Glenville
A friendly welcome
Belinda A. & Gloria S. greet visitors

The Albert Lea Art Center (Pastor Charles is a board member) held its first Church Tour fundraiser today with six churches, including Glenville UMC, taking part. Bob & Gloria S. and Blinda & Pastor Charles were present to share with visitors some of things that make our church so wonderful!

Friday, May 15, 2026

Our sign is up!



Glenville UMC now has a sign up at the corner of Main Street and First Ave., SW (by the fire station) which directs visitors to our lovely church!

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Ascension Day Hymn


By Charles Wesley, 1739

Hail the day that sees Him rise, Alleluia!
To His throne above the skies, Alleluia!
Christ, awhile to mortals given, Alleluia!
Reascends His native heaven, Alleluia!
There the glorious triumph waits, Alleluia!
Lift your heads, eternal gates, Alleluia!
Christ hath conquered death and sin, Alleluia!
Take the King of glory in, Alleluia!
Lo! the heaven its Lord receives, Alleluia!
Yet He loves the earth He leaves, Alleluia!
Though returning to His throne, Alleluia!
Still He calls mankind His own, Alleluia!
See! He lifts His hands above, Alleluia!
See! He shows the prints of love, Alleluia!
Hark! His gracious lips bestow, Alleluia!
Blessings on His church below, Alleluia!
Still for us He intercedes, Alleluia!
His prevailing death He pleads, Alleluia!
Near Himself prepares our place, Alleluia!
He the first-fruits of our race, Alleluia!
Lord, though parted from our sight, Alleluia!
Far above the starry height, Alleluia!
Grant our hearts may thither rise, Alleluia!
Seeking Thee beyond the skies, Alleluia!

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

United Women in Faith in May!

The May gathering at Good Sam. - Hidden Creek

Shelley G. shares her latest Prayer Shawl Ministry
efforts as Sandy D. looks on.

Learning about the prayer shawls

Wednesday with the Wesleys

 

Watch and pray continually against pride. If God has cast it out, see that it enter no more: It is full as dangerous as desire. And you may slide back into it unawares; especially if you think there is no danger of it. `Nay, but I ascribe all I have to God.' So you may, and be proud nevertheless. For it is pride, not only to ascribe anything we have to ourselves, but to think we have what we really have not. Mr. L---, for instance, ascribed all the light he had to God, and so far he was humble; but then he thought he had more light than any man living; and this was palpable pride. So you ascribe all the knowledge you have to God; and in this respect you are humble. But if you think you have more than you really have; or if you think you are so taught of God, as no longer to need man's teaching; pride lieth at the door. Yes; you have need to be taught, not only by Mr. Morgan, by one another, by Mr. Maxfield, or me, but by the weakest Preacher in London; yea, by all men. For God sendeth by whom he will send.
Do not therefore say to any who would advise or reprove you, `You are blind; you cannot teach me.' Do not say, `This is your wisdom, your carnal reason;' but calmly weigh the thing before God.
Always remember, much grace does not imply much light. These do not always go together. As there may be much light where there is but little love, so there may be much love where there is little light. The heart has more heat than the eye; yet it cannot see. And God has wisely tempered the members of the body together, that none may say to another, `I have no need of thee.'
To imagine none can teach you, but those who are themselves saved from sin, is a very great and dangerous mistake. Give not place to it for a moment; it would lead you into a thousand other mistakes, and that irrecoverably. No; dominion is not founded in grace, as the madmen of the last age talked. Obey and regard `them that are over you in the Lord,' and do not think you know better than them. Know their place and your own; always remembering, much love does not imply much light.

- John Wesley (A Plain Account of Christian Perfection)