Check it out for updates on the life of the church and a calendar of events for the next couple months.
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Starting in 2024, South Monterey and Hopkins United Methodist Churches have come together as one merged congregation.
We will now have a year-round worship time of 10:30am
Throughout the year we are working to put into action what this new chapter means for our congregation.
Among the first steps we are taking to mark this new chapter of being a church family together, we started thinking about a new worship time.
Sunday Worship
9:30am at South Monterey UMC
11am at Hopkins UMC
If/When we have joint services with the two churches, we have worship at 10am.
Worship Wednesday
Every 4th Wednesday of the month, 5:30-7pm, we gather our families with children and enjoy a night together with a snack, a lesson, a game or craft or two, and a simple dinner to close. 2022-2023 we are continuing the theme: Superheroes!
During the summer we change up our worship schedule, worshipping at 10am at Common Ground, our outdoor space just outside of town. Northwest of 128th and 26th. Rain Location is the same time, but inside. Check our Facebook for which church building.
Weather location: South Monterey UMC (Turn south off 128th onto 26th St.)
We will make a weather call based on rain or heat advisory.
Sunday Worship
9:30am at South Monterey UMC
11am at Hopkins UMC
-Nursery care for those 2 and below.
Wednesday Worship
6:30pm at Hopkins UMC
-Childcare provided
Summary:
May 23 - Sept 5
~Sunday worship at Common Ground at 10am, HUMC & SMUMC together
~Rain location: Hopkins UMC at 10am
Will text/email/post on Facebook if there is a rain call. Also, look for a sign at the Common Ground entrance.
Starting June 9
~Wednesday evening worship 6:30pm at Hopkins UMC & Zoom
Childcare available in the church basement
COVID numbers are on the rise in Michigan, and Allegan County, once again. This week the county's risk level has risen to the "high risk" category as daily new cases has risen above 25 per 100K (27.2 as of 3/24) and the positive test rate has risen above 10% (11.4% as of 3/24). Both of those numbers put Allegan county in the high risk zone.
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In-Person Worship Guidelines:
- Masks are required. We have not had a problem with mask wearing, but if you invite someone to come for Easter, remind them to bring a mask. We have disposable ones to give to anyone who forgets, too!
- Hand Sanitizer will be inside the entry doors before the stairway, please use it on your way in and out of the Sanctuary.
- Social Distancing will be enforced. Even if you are vaccinated, please respect the 6ft recommended to help us all do our best.
- Windows will be open to increase air circulation. We will crank the heat as needed, but bring a jacket if you tend to run cold just in case.
- No singing. The science continues to show that singing and shouting are the strongest spreaders of COVID through the air. That makes singing one of the highest risk activities by a church, so we will be eliminating that risk for now.
- Children's Church will continue. As has been the practice, we will continue to encourage the kids to follow safety guidelines as much as possible.
- Children's Sermon will maintain Social Distance. Pastor Kelsey will guide the kids as they are invited up for where they will sit and encourage them to stay in family groups and she will keep proper distance.
- Continuing COVID-times norms of gathering for worship:
- Offering will be collected as you walk in or out of the church on the welcome table. Loose change offering will also be there.
- Pick up your bulletin on the welcome table.
- There will be no moving around for passing of the peace.
- Each family has an assigned “worship bag” with activities and supplies for their kids to play with during the service. There are extra bags for visitors.
- Please be cautious with mingling, try to do it outside if weather allows.
Easter is April 4th this year. We are excited to celebrate the hope of resurrection together! Things are not yet back to normal, so we will still have a different Easter than "normal," but our hope (and current plan) is to be able to celebrate Easter together in person through a few worship options between our two congregations. How we look forward to worshiping together on that important day!
Service Options:
7am Sunrise Service at Common Ground
9:30am Service at South Monterey UMC
11am Service at Hopkins UMC & on Zoom live
This Lenten Devotional was inspired and based on the children’s book, “Images of God for Young Children” by Marie-Helene Delval and illustrated by Barbara Nascimbeni.
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Below you will find the set of devotions for each week of Lent.
We are taking Christmas Eve outside, just like the Holy Family! Instead of our traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight service or gathering over Zoom, we are going to do what we can to gather in person, the safest way we can, outside.
A Live Nativity for the whole church family and community will be our Christmas Eve gathering. It will be open in the Downtown Park in Hopkins from 5 to 7pm.
It is a come-and-go as you can event. Come and remember the original holy family and the first Christmas with our Live Nativity including a holy family, flitting angels, and live animals.
Christmas music will fill the air and every 15 min we will be doing readings of the Gospel Christmas stories. To close, at 6:45pm we will light candles and sing Silent Night together. We want to be as safe as we can be, so please wear masks and social distance.
