Church  Events

Banners and Windows

COVERED DISH LUNCHEONS EVERY FIRST SUNDAY AFTER WORSHIP            February 4^th, March 4^th, April 1^st, May 6^th, June 3^rd, July 1^st, August 5^th, September 2^nd, October 7^th, November 4^th, December 2^nd  -- MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW (BEFORE IT GETS ALL FILLED UP) & PLAN TO BE THERE!!   

PURPOSE: GETTING TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER BETTER THROUGH FELLOWSHIP

SOME MEAT AND BEVERAGES ARE FURNISHED BY THE CHURCH  --  BUT WE NEVER KNOW ??? HOW MANY  --  SOOOOO PLEASE BRING ENOUGH FOR YOUR FAMILY PLUS EXTRA!!  ANY QUESTIONS AND/OR SUGGESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT DAVID OR OUR COORDINATORS: Nancy Bergemann (514-0845).  Sue Orick, (798-5053).  NOTE: ANY HELP YOU COULD PROVIDE IN SETTING UP FOR THESE LUNCHES WOULD BE APPRECIATED.  SET-UPS ARE USUALLY THE SAT. BEFORE @ 3:00 PM, BUT CHECK WITH THE OFFICE OR ONE OF THE COORDINATORS TO CONFIRM THIS.  THANKS AGAIN!!

ATTENTION: LAUREL HILL MEN OF ALL AGES -- The first Sunday in each month we have a breakfast gathering at 9:00 a.m.   At this gathering, we have devotion and discuss upcoming projects for outside missions. We also hear a heartfelt testimony from time to time. Please reserve every first Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and join your brothers-in-Christ at church.  (Please Note Time Change:  From Memorial Day through Labor Day, our gathering will take place at 8:00 a.m.)

NEW CHURCH DEVELOPMENT HEALTH TEAM/EVANGELISM:  In case you have not noticed, there is something new going on at Laurel Hill and we want EVERYONE to be a part of it.  Our church is growing and looking forward to the future.  It has been identified that part of that new growth involves us becoming part of small groups where we fellowship and grow in love for each other and for our Lord.  These groups will be formed to cover many interests and activities.

Our goal is to know each other better, minister to each other's needs and serve our church, community and above all our Lord.  We want every member and friend of Laurel Hill to be a part of this exciting growth and we welcome your ideas and input.  Most of all, we ask you to PRAY for Laurel Hill, our pastor and family, our leadership, our congregation, and ask the Holy Spirit to direct our choices and decisions as we endeavor to be a light in the Varina Community and any where God may send us to do His work.

You will hear more about the plans as we meet QUARTERLY on the 4th Monday from 7:00-8:00 PM.  Mark your calendars and come join us by sharing your ideas, hopes and dreams.  

THE FUNKS:  Contemporary Issues with Christian Living    -  Scheduled Meetings on the 1st Tuesday @ 7:30 PM

The Contemporary Issues small group has launched its meetings and promises to be a very exciting trip.   You are invited to come to any or all of the group's meetings.  Your fellowship, thoughts, arguments, biblical and other insights and comments are invited, encouraged and most welcome.  The studies promise to be, if nothing else, lively and thought provoking. The study agenda will include, but not be limited to, the following:                                      

The initial topic areas are simply the beginning point.  Each group is free to, and will, morph in the direction it chooses.  Frequency of meetings will be decided upon by each group.  It is intended that each group be no less than six and no more than 12 and that there will be times of interchange among the groups.  It is hoped that leadership and hosting will expand and the groups will expand, thus giving birth to additional groups.

We encourage you to join one or more of these groups if you are contacted or invited by the group coordinator or, BETTER YET, contact the group coordinators yourself and join one or more of them!!  They are a wonderful way to advance our respective walks of faith, to mature as Christians and to bond in fellowship and friendship as members of the LHUMC community in Christ.

Laurel Hill is making strides.  Great things are on the horizon as Laurel Hill and Varina experience the awakening of great change and growth.  Let's all join hands, hearts and minds in the great trip that lies before us.

ONE MAY ASK -- WHAT IS THE POINT???  SIMPLY PUT -- REVISIT OUR GOAL NOTED ABOVE:  "TO KNOW EACH OTHER BETTER, MINISTER TO EACH OTHER'S NEEDS AND SERVE OUR CHURCH, COMMUNITY AND ABOVE ALL OUR LORD."

• THE WOMEN'S GROUP - SCHEDULED MEETINGS ON 2ND TUESDAY @ 11:00 AM @  LAUREL HILL 
• (See Gail Dagenhart or Nancy Bergemann for details regarding meetings (dates, times, places, topics).  

          and

• THE FLOWERS, FOOD & CRAFTS GROUP -  (See Lela Hall for details 795-5673)

REMEMBER!!  ALL GROUPS ARE OPEN TO EVERYONE!! MAIN PURPOSE:  GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER!!

NEW NEWS:  Our new visitor program is off to a GREAT start!!  It includes a very nice package of materials on LHUMC--our history, programs, facilities, missions, worship services and activities/study groups available.  They are available in the narthex during each of our worship services.  Raymond, along with our other ushers and greeters, have been doing a wonderful job of identifying visitors and other infrequent attendees and presenting them with a package along with a welcome handshake/hug and friendly smile.  In addition, a member of our congregation (usually someone on our Committee), has been assigned each week to personally deliver a small basket of newly baked bread to each first-time visitor on that Sunday afternoon or evening along with a short visit and a warm word of thanks for sharing worship with us and an encouragement and invitation to return and become a regular part of our worshipping community.

DISCIPLE III BIBLE STUDY HAS FINISHED ITS STUDY OF JOB AND WILL RESUME AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER WITH A STUDY OF SOLOMON.  MAKE PLANS NOW TO JOIN US ON SUNDAY EVENINGS, BEGINNING SEPT. 9^th  AT 6:00 P.M.

UNDER THE TREE OF LIFE Study Guides Cost $30.00 (Available from the church office or Cokesbury).  INCLUDES TWO 16 WEEK SECTIONS!  The 1st section follows a detailed study of Old Testament Books called "the writings": Ruth, I and II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Lamentations, and Daniel.  The 2nd section includes the study of the Gospel of John, John 1, 2, & 3; James, Jude, and Revelation from the New Testament.

This study is CHALLENGING.  The fellowship is GROWING IN LOVE.  MAKE A COMMITMENT and ENJOY THIS JOURNEY OF FAITH as you pray about your call to a serious study of the Bible.  This is a very special time for Christian growth and development.  Questions, give me a call-David -- IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO JOIN IN --

HELPING FAMILIES IN NEED -- One of the many ways in which we are helping within our community and beyond!!

    FISH COLLECTION FOR AUGUST:  INSTANT POTATOES 

MISSION STATEMENT:  The primary purpose of Eastern Henrico F I S H  is to assist people who have "short-term emergencies" that require immediate attention.  FISH provides food, clothing, lodging or help with financial needs as deemed appropriate, as promptly as possible.  FISH may also refer persons to other service agencies relating to their particular need.  The Christian commitment to "do unto others as we would have them do unto us" gives FISH a clear sense of direction and motivation.  FISH representatives are lay people guided by the servant-hood model of Jesus Christ.  Funding comes from 22 area churches, civic organizations, grants, and individuals.  This ministry is indeed the "community's ministry" and is able to serve because of the generosity of the people of eastern Henrico County. 

Eastern Henrico F I S H  began in 1971 and provides services which include:

• A Clothes Closet with adult and children's clothes, baby needs, household items (such as linens, curtains, dishes, blankets, rugs)
• Financial Help
• Food
• Medications and Supplies or Equipment
• Overnight Shelter
• Referrals to other Agencies, and
• Other Emergency Needs

Prior to 2001,  F I S H  was strictly a volunteer organization with the office, clothes closet and food pantry located in a volunteer's home.  In 2001, permanent facilities with office space, space for the clothes closet and food pantry and a part-time office manager because available.  Today, a network of approximately 95 volunteers support the organization's various services to those in need. "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink' or 'What will we wear?'  For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."  Matthew 6:31-33    

150 YEARS OF MINISTRY IN VARINA: During the year 2007, Laurel Hill will celebrate its 150^th anniversary.  It is our plan to have events in addition to the actual "Homecoming Sunday" (which is scheduled for October 7^th) in celebration of this event in our church's history.   Betsy Gottwald and Elaine Ogburn are Chairpersons of our "150 Year Events".  Please contact them with any suggestions, ideas, etc. which you may have and also say "YES" when they contact you requesting "YOUR" assistance in making this YEAR 2007 a great year in the year of our church.   Thank you for making this a wonderful time of celebration for us all.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES COLLECTION:  During the month of AUGUST, we will be collecting school supplies for our local elementary schools.  Listed below are "suggestions" which may prove helpful.  As always, THANK YOU for your continued generousity in meeting needs of others.