Church Conference 2025

Gathering at Centenary UMC - Mankato

Sid T. and Pastor Charles were present!

Rev. Dr. Woojae Im led the gathering tonight

The 2025 Charge Conference was held today at Centenary UMC in Mankato. Sid T. represented the Glenville UMC and Pastor Charles was present in his capacity as an Elder in the United Methodist Church and assisted the Superintendent in conducting the charge conferences for five of the district's churches.

First Sunday of Advent

 

Note: With today's service being canceled due to weather, here is the morning prayer that would have been shared during the worship service:

Lord Jesus Christ, we await Your coming, we wait filled with hope, knowing Your light will shine in the darkness. We wait, anticipating Your peace, believing that one day it will fill our world. We wait, embracing Your love. May we reach out to share it with our neighbors. We wait with joy, bubbling in us in expectation of Your birth. Lord, we wait, come soon, and fill us with Your life. Amen.

Christine Sine (2012) and posted on GodSpace.

No worship service tomorrow

 

Due to this weekend's storm, there will be no worship service at Glenville UMC on November 30. Please join us next Sunday, December 7 at 9:00 a.m. for the Second Sunday of Advent!

Something to bear in mind...

 

Religious leaders bear living witness to faith expressed at Nicaea 1700 years ago

In an historic commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council, faith leaders gathered in Nicaea—modern-day Iznik, Türkiye – today to mark the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council in the history of the church.

Read more at this link.

A Black Friday Prayer

Dear Lord, Grant that we may keep Your love on our minds

and hearts this Black Friday.

Help us to be patient in long lines, to show kindness in crowds,

to have respect and selflessness in all situations.

Grant us Your protection as we travel on this busy day.

Do not let the spirit of greed and consumption overtake us this shopping season.

Let us remember to provide for someone’s needs, and not just their wants.

Remind us to be thankful for all that we have; especially the people

in our lives that we will be shopping for.

Help us to keep in mind that Christmas is about the love that Christ

has for us and not just about giving and receiving gifts.

We thank you for the means and ability You have given

us to shop for our loved ones.

We pray for the wants of the poor and for those who have

no one to be with them this Christmas.

Grant us your love and mercy throughout the entire Advent

and Christmas seasons. Amen.

~ catholiccompany.org

A Hymn for Thanksgiving

Meet and right it is to sing,
Glory to our God and King:
Meet in e'ery Time and Place,
To rehearse his solemn Praise.

Join, ye Saints, the Song around,
Angels help the chearful Sound:
Publish thro' the World abroad,
Glory to th' eternal God.

Praises here to Thee we give,
Gracious Thou our thanks receive:
Holy Father Sov'reign Lord,
Ev'ry where be Thou ador'd!

Thro' th' injurious World exclaim,
Sing we still in Jesu's Name,
Saviour, Thee we ever bless,
Thee our Lord and God confess.

Source: Charles Wesley, 1774. A Choice Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs: Intended for the Edification of Sincere Christians of all Denominations, #43

Wednesday with the Wesleys

“Thanksgiving is inseparable from true prayer; it is almost essentially connected with it. One who always prays is ever giving praise, whether in ease or pain, both for prosperity and for the greatest adversity. He blesses God for all things, looks on them as coming from Him, and receives them for His sake- not choosing nor refusing, liking or disliking, anything, but only as it is agreeable or disagreeable to His perfect will.”

~ John Wesley

Scripture lessons for the First Sunday of Advent

We begin the Season of Advent next Sunday with lessons from 

Matthew 24:36-44 and Isaiah2:1-5.

Ready for the Season of Advent

We're ready for Advent!

Rodger and Kraig work on the lights

Many hands make light work

Roy and Nancy set up the Nativity scene

A beautiful Chrismon Tree

Following worship and the Alkula's anniversary celebration, we came upstairs for the joyful time that is transforming the sanctuary for the Season of Advent.

Today at Glenville UMC

Belinda A. & Kellen K. raise funds
for mission!

Happy birthday (Tuesday), Shelley!

The Alkula's anniversary is tomorrow!

Shelley is today's reader

Celebrating another anniversary!

JOYS
+Church family members thank God for the gift of Shelley G. as we celebrate her birthday this week.
+Shelley G. thanks God for her grandson’s success in a variety of sports.
+Pastor Charles and Belinda thank God for the gift of being married 28 years.
+The church family thanks God for the gift of laughter in church – carbonated holiness!
+The congregation is thankful for Shelley G.’s service as Scripture reader this morning.

+The congregation is thankful for Kraig S.’s service as Scripture reader this morning.
+The congregation is thankful for the music ministry of our beloved organist, Renae H.!

CONCERNS
+Nancy B. invites the congregation to join her in praying for her nephew’s wife Sarah who is dealing with a challenging medical diagnosis.
+The congregation is praying for Bob S.'s healing.
+The church family prays for traveling mercies for Sandy D. while she is away from us next week.
+The congregation is praying for the safety of all who will be travelling over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
+The congregation is praying for all who are dealing with medical challenges.
+The congregation is praying for the people of Ukraine. 

Hymn for Christ the King Sunday

"Chi Rho" by Pastor Charles

Lo! He comes with clouds descending,

Once for favored sinners slain;

Thousand thousand saints attending,

Swell the triumph of His train:

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

God appears on earth to reign.

Every eye shall now behold Him

Robed in dreadful majesty;

Those who set at naught and sold Him,

Pierced and nailed Him to the tree,

Deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing,

Shall the true Messiah see.

The dear tokens of His passion

Still His dazzling body bears;

Cause of endless exultation

To His ransomed worshippers;

With what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture

Gaze we on those glorious scars!

Yea, Amen! let all adore Thee,

High on Thine eternal throne;

Savior, take the power and glory,

Claim the kingdom for Thine own;

O come quickly! O come quickly! O come quickly!

Everlasting God, come down!

~ Charles Wesley (1707–1788)

After regionalization, church must prioritize unity

When The United Methodist Church’s General Conference passed the Worldwide Regionalization plan last year, delegates acknowledged what has long been true: The denomination is not a monolith, but a global body of disciples shaped by different histories, cultures and social contexts.

Jesus prays that his followers “may all be one,” not as sameness but as a communion grounded in God’s love (John 17:21). The New Testament church itself wrestled with unity across diversity, and the Council of Jerusalem models how discernment can honor shared faith while allowing contextual practices (Acts 15).

Read more at this link.

Wednesday with the Wesleys

But in this may we rejoice, that we are in the hand of a God who never did, nor ever can exert his power in an act of oppression, injustice, or cruelty! ... We may rejoice that Almighty Goodness "will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able but will with the temptation make a way to escape [that we may be able to bear it.]"

~ Susanna Wesley (letter to "Jacky" (John), dated June 8, 1725)

Scripture lessons for November 23

The liturgical year comes to a close next Sunday which is known in some traditions as Christ the King Sunday and in others as Thanksgiving Sunday. We will hear lessons from John 6:25-35   and Philippians 4:4-9.

Today at GUMC

Kraig S. was today's reader

Renea H. is the birthday girl

We celebrate attendance each week

JOYS

+The church family praises God for Nancy B.’s return to church, after her absence from church for many weeks, as she was recovering from surgery.

+Nancy B. gives thanks to God for always being with her during her surgery, physical therapy, and recovery.

+Roy B. gives thanks to God for Nancy B.’s continued healing.

+Sandy D. gives thanks to God for her son’s joy at getting an 8-point buck.

+Shelley G. praises God for the wonderful Glenville first responders who quickly arrived after yesterday’s 911-call to help her 93-year-old mother. They were kind, non-judgmental, and happy to help.

+Sid T. and Roy B. added thanks to God for the Glenville first responders who are always quick to respond, when the need arises. (Nancy B. calls them “God’s angels.”)

+Dawn K. thanks God for her husband Tim’s 20 years as a first responder.

+Tim K. praises God for his son Kellen winning a gold medal in bowling in a state-wide competition this weekend.

+Sandy D. thanks God for her mother Donna D.’s great grandson Graham who won state finals in football. He completed the winning touchdown, and he is a tenth grader.

+Cheryl R. is thankful to God for their daughter and son-in-law’s safe trip to Puerto Rico – despite the challenging start to their travel when their initial plane ride was diverted back to Minneapolis airport because of an unruly passenger.

+Renae H. thanks God for safe travels to and from Branson, Missouri, where Jim and her celebrated their wedding anniversary. They celebrate the gift of being able to attend many musicals and plays during their stay.

+Kraig S. is thankful to God for safe travels to and from Branson, Missouri, where Korla and him celebrated their wedding anniversary. They are grateful to be home again.

+Charles thanks God for safe travels to and from Florida, last week, when he met with family and he officiated the memorial service for his sister Jackie at Bay Pines National Cemetery. He celebrates God’s gift of spending time with family.

+The church family thanks God for the gift of laughter in church – carbonated holiness!

+The congregation is thankful for Kraig’s service as Scripture reader this morning.

+The congregation is thankful for the music ministry of our beloved organist, Renae H. (and she was really missed last Sunday)!

CONCERNS

+The church family prays for traveling mercies for Bob and Gloria S., while they are away from us.

+The congregation is praying for all who are dealing with medical challenges.

GC2028 delegate count marks historic shift

No matter what the next General Conference decides, The United Methodist Church’s top legislative assembly planned in 2028 is already groundbreaking.

For the first time in The United Methodist Church’s history, a majority of delegates at General Conference will come from outside the United States.

The international group that plans the assembly voted Nov. 11 to set the number of 2028 General Conference delegates at 708 — with 46% from the U.S. and 54% from Africa, the Philippines, Europe and concordat churches that have close ties to The United Methodist Church. The big meeting, which typically meets every four years, will bring together lay and clergy delegates from four continents whose decisions set the denomination’s direction for years to come.

“We are a worldwide church,” said the Rev. Aleze M. Fulbright, the secretary of General Conference. “We are living into what we say about being United Methodist.”

Read more at this link.

Wednesday with the Wesleys

 

Many years ago, when I was at Oxford, in a cold winter's day, a young maid (one of those we kept at school) called upon me. I said, "You seem half-starved. Have you nothing to cover you but that thin linen gown" She said, "Sir, this is all I have!" I put my hand in my pocket; but found I had scarce any money left, having just paid away what I had. It immediately struck me, "Will thy Master say, `Well done, good and faithful steward?' Thou hast adorned thy walls with the money which might have screened this poor creature from the cold! O justice! O mercy! Are not these pictures the blood of this poor maid?" See thy expensive apparel in the same light; thy gown, hat, head-dress! Everything about thee which cost more than Christian duty required thee to lay out is the blood of the poor! O be wise for the time to come! Be more merciful! more faithful to God and man! more abundantly adorned (like men and women professing godliness) with good works!

~ John Wesley (On Dress)

Veterans Day in Albert Lea

Bob Sharp (Army), Sid Troutner (Navy),
& Pastor Charles (Army/Navy)

Remembering those who served

Volley salute

Bob leads the program at the
American Legion lunch

 

Our church was represented at the Albert Lea Veterans Day Observance held at the Freeborn County Courthouse. Bob & Gloria S., Sid T., and Belinda & Pastor Charles shared the experience with lots of other community members. 

Prayer for Veterans Day

Can you hear it…

...it is the silence

that holds all our stories

the hurt for which there are no words

the pain that cannot be expressed

from war

...it is the silence

that shares the ache of the past

and knows the deep cost of conflict

that always costs too much

yet there always seems more to give

...it is the silence of a God

who has no words left

for a love that has nothing left to give

yet will give even that

may we gather

in the clutch

of such a silence

for it is in this silence

and no other

we hold together

the perplexing truth of poppy fields

and our honest turmoil of emotion

Here we gather in remembrance

Amen

~ written by Roddy Hamilton and posted on Mucky Paws. 

Scripture lessons for November 16

Join us next Sunday as we hear from Luke 21:5-19 and Isaiah 65:17-25.

 

Jamaica in Desperate Need for Help After Hurricane's Hit!

 

Midwest Mission is responding after Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, October 28. With 175 mph winds, 40 inches of rain, and 13-foot storm surges, this is the most destructive hurricane in Jamaica's history.

The storm caused widespread devastation — flooding communities, destroying homes, and cutting off electricity across the island.

How You Can Help

Pray: Pray for those who have lost loved ones, those still looking for loved ones, those who have lost everything, those who are need of basic necessities, and for the country as a whole as they begin to recover from this tragedy.

Give: The best way to help is through the Midwest Mission's Hurricane Relief Fund. Gifts allow a quick response to purchase urgently needed items in bulk. 

Click on this link to send help and hope to those in need in Jamaica. 

Today in Glenville

Bob was today's scripture reader

The people are present!

The "head" table!

JOYS

+ Bob S. thanks God that his daughter’s recent medical procedure has given her relief!

+The church family gives thanks to God for Mike and Cheryl R.’s grandchildren, Harper and Carson, worshipping with us today.

+Gloria S. gives thanks to God for her grandson’s healing after he broke his tibia 6 weeks ago.

+Roy B. gives thanks to God for Nancy’s continued healing. Her doctor said she is 60%-70% healed.

+Bob S. gives thanks for area communities which are planning various ways of observing Veterans Day this coming Tuesday.

+Pastor Charles gives thanks to God for the church leadership who got their church conference reports in early. He is looking forward to the church conference gathering at the Centenary United Methodist Church in North Mankato on November 30^th.

+The congregation is thankful for Bob S.’ service as Scripture reader this morning.

+The congregation is thankful for the music ministry of our beloved organist, Renae H. – because she was really missed today!

CONCERNS

+Sandy D. invites the congregation to pray for hunters’ safety.

+Donna D. asks the congregation to pray for her great grandson who is having a problem at school.

+Belinda A. invites the congregation to pray to God for all who are struggling in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa struck.

+Pastor Charles asks the church family to pray for traveling mercies when he travels to Florida this week to officiate at his sister Jackie’s memorial service at Bay Pines National Cemetery.

+The congregation continues to pray for Nancy B.’s recovery from surgery.

+The church family continues to pray for Karnella S. as she continues her physical therapy at The Woodlands – St. John’s Lutheran Community, room 307, 1861 Eagle View Circle in Albert Lea. Pastor Charles invites the congregation to visit and/or send notes of encouragement to her.

+The congregation continues to pray for Bob S.' daughter Sandra who is recovering from a broken back.

+The congregation is praying for all who are dealing with medical challenges.