Kenwood United Methodist Church

From Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day weekend Kenwood will have one worship service at 10:30 on Sundays, preceded by small groups at 9:30.

Join us for worship on Maundy Thursday at 7:00 p.m. when we will remember Christ’s last meal with his disciples as well as his betrayal and arrest in the Garden of Gethsemene.

On Easter Sunday, April 4, we will have three opportunities for worship:
Sunrise Service, 7:00 a.m., Kenwood Cemetery

Worship with Holy Communion, 9 and 11 a.m., Sanctuary

Join us for Easter Fellowship Breakfast and an Easter Egg Hunt for little ones at 10:00 on Easter morning.

With all the “snow Sundays” the season of Lent has come upon us quickly!  Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which is February 17.  This year, we will share in Ash Wednesday worship at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Our focus for Lent is A Journey to Hope.  As we turn our faces toward Jerusalem with Christ, we know the
path leads to the cross and this will be a difficult journey. Yet we join Him to find hope even amid challenge. Along
the path, we see reflections on issues that still affect us today. These include self-esteem, money/power, relationships, careers/jobs, temptation, suffering and death. How might our life’s journey be different if we truly let Jesus be “in the driver’s seat”?

You can sign on to the journey by joining us for worship on Ash Wednesday.  You can share what you are learning in the journey by commenting on our Journey to Hope blog, which you can access by clicking on the Journey to Hope link on the right.  Share your thoughts, experiences, and what you are learning about the journey to the cross this Lenten season.

In order to help you on your journey, Kenwood’s Comfort and Joy Prayer Shawl Ministry has prepared Prayer Squares for all of us.  These small, knitted squares with a cross on them can be carried anywhere as a reminder of our journey together to the cross this week.  You can receive yours on Ash Wednesday, or any of the following Sundays until we run out.

All people in the Kenwood community are invited to join us for the 2010 Leadership Retreat January 22-23.  The retreat will be Friday night from 6 until 9 (including dinner) and Saturday from 8:30 until 4 (including breakfast and lunch).  The event is FREE.

Our retreat will be facilitated by Kevin Bruny, the Chief Learning Officer for Chesterfield County Government.  With a wealth of experience in human resources and strategic planning and strong church involvement, Kevin is the perfect person to lead us through our task for the weekend: developing a new 5 year ministry plan for Kenwood.

If you would like to be a part of this pivotal process in the life of Kenwood, as well as share community with your Kenwood family, we encourage you to attend.  Please register by next Friday, January 15.  Call or e-mail the church office (main@kenwoodumchurch.org) to register.

9 am worship on December 20 has been canceled due to impending weather. Posted Friday evening 12/18.

This week Kenwood begins receiving commitments for the 2010 operating budget.  We have tentatively approved a budget of $146,200, which represents and increase of 15% over 2009.  Most of this increase comes from the creation of a new staff position beginning in January, Minster of Congregational Life.

Giving is a spiritual issue.  It lets us give thanks and praise to God for all God has given to us.  It is also a practical issue.  In order for our church to be responsible about the money we spend, we have to be responsible about the money we receive.  Thank you in advance for making your commitment to God and Kenwood in 2010.

To make your commitment online, follow this link below to the Eventbrite registration page.  Register for the 2010 Commitment, and answer the questions you are asked.  Your commitment will go to the church office, and then be forwarded to the Financial Secretary.

Kenwood is excited that Barbara Huster has completed the Faith Community Nursing Program at Bon Secours Health Systems. A Registered Nurse, Barbara has also served Kenwood as Nurture Ministries chair for the last three years and greatly expanded our caring ministries. In her new role as Parish Nurse Barbara will resource and lead the congregation in health and wellness ministries. Barbara will be commissioned in worship on November 15.

Join Kenwood this Saturday, November 7 from 10-2 as we celebrate the autumn season and make a difference by raising money towards sending our first ever mission team to Appalachia in 2010!

We’ll have Snow White Inn Barbecue for sale by the plate for $8.  This barbecue was a local Ashland favorite for many years, and now the recipe belongs to a Kenwood family.  The Elmont Ruritan Club will be making 300 quarts of Brunswick Stew fresh for us on Saturday morning.  It will be sold for $7/quart.  We will also have a Bountiful Basket Silent Auction, bake sale, and free activities for the kids.

We hope you’ll come and join us this Saturday.