Jun 17, 2020 | Family Ministries, Youth
Do you like going on adventures, driving around Tampa, and finding things that are hidden? Then join us on our Merge Scavenger Hunt!
We’ve hidden 10 cards all around the city in places that you’re probably familiar with, from Westshore mall, all the way to The Portico, and many more places along the way! Your goal is to find all 10 cards, take a picture with each of them, and send them to us on Facebook or Instagram! Everyone who gets all 10 will get a special shoutout in our July 5 Merge Live!
You’ll have from June 21-30 to find all the cards and send them to us, but I recommend getting them all done at once to get the whole experience! So get the family together, buckle your seatbelts, pay attention to speed limits, and take an adventure all around our amazing city!
Jun 15, 2020 | Children's, Youth
As we embrace the summer season of our ministry year, we wanted to express our heart-felt appreciation for you and your family. We are blessed to serve you and your family. We feel extremely privileged to be able to walk this sometimes difficult journey of parenting with you.
The summer months are full of free time for your children and teens. It is also a season of more time at home as we continue to socially distance for the most part. These moments can be a great time of bonding and conversation, or they can be times for everyone to quietly play, swipe and tap away on their mobile devices.
We wanted to offer you some quick help while we are in the summer months on “How to Help Your Children and Teens Manage Mobile Tech.” We hope this short list of helpful hints gives you the opportunity to set a tone for your family this summer. This short little list may just change your summer and allow your family to take back some valuable moments and memories!
- Tech is a privilege, not a right
- Social Media accountability
- Internet and cell bedtimes
- Family fun that leaves tech alone
We know there are moments of both frustration and joy in these years of development. These years are years of change in every way, and we know that there are moments you feel alone in the struggle. We want you to know that you are not alone.
We sincerely want you to know that there is a community of faith here ready to support you and back you up.
God is not seeking perfect parents but parents that are made perfect in Him. We want to offer a short few moments of development, allowing God to work in you and help to make you feel equipped. You are worthy of God’s calling on your life to raise your children and teens.
Please check out this week’s online parenting class.
We are ALWAYS here to help you and pray with you.
Kristin Passath Emily Kuche
Jun 1, 2020 | All News, Children's, The Portico News, Top News, Youth
To help you keep track of the numerous opportunities to plug-in to our online community, here’s a listing of weekly gatherings and live worship streaming. Just click on the linked text and your browser will take you to that page or application.
Sunday
Monday
- 9 a.m. Video Devotion with Pastors on a rotating schedule (Website)
- 12:15 p.m. Online Meditation with Pastor Justin (Facebook)
Tuesday
- 9 a.m. Video Devotion with Pastors on a rotating schedule (Website)
- 12:15 p.m. Online Meditation with Pastor Justin (Facebook)
- 5:30 p.m. Merge Youth Council Live Devos (Merge Instagram)
- Children’s Ministries Talk About It Tuesday! (Facebook)
Wednesday
- 9 a.m. Video Devotion with Pastors on a rotating schedule (Website)
- 12:15 p.m. Online Meditation with Pastor Justin (Facebook)
- 6:30 p.m. Merge Games Night (Zoom Meeting ID 432 313 460)
- 6:30 p.m. Children’s Ministries Game Time (Zoom)
Thursday
Friday
- 9 a.m. Video Devotion with Pastors on a rotating schedule (Website)
- 12:15 p.m. Online Meditation with Pastor Justin (Facebook)
- Children’s Ministries Friday Video! (Facebook)
Mar 27, 2020 | All News, Family Ministries, Youth
Hi everyone! We wanted to let you know that Merge isn’t going away, we’re just now connecting via technology! So, we wanted to fill you all in on how Merge will look in the coming weeks.
Daily:
- Bible Project Devotions posted to our stories daily and saved in our highlights so that you can follow along with the congregation!
Wednesdays:
- Confirmation Lesson Video! If you’re a part of Confirmation this year, your remaining lessons will be in video format with a quiz to send back to us on Sunday evenings!
- Bible Study Videos! A video of our Bible study, “The Story,” will be included in the E-News every week!
Sunday:
- 1 p.m. – Parent Ministry Zoom call. We want to know what life looks like for you right now, and have a space where parents can connect with each other. We will be meeting every Sunday with this same link.
- 2 p.m. – Confirmation Instagram Live! If you have any questions about the lesson, this is your chance to ask and talk about what you learned!@mergehpumc
- 4 p.m. – Merge Instagram Live! We want to connect with you all and hear how you’re doing in this crazy time! @mergehpumc
Challenges:
- Family Minute To Win It Challenges and Tik Toks for us to share on social media and a chance to win gift cards! Email them to us HERE!
- Take a picture of yourself and your loved ones over the next few days, from wherever you want to be, and post it on social media with two hashtags: #HydeParkUMC and #FlattenTheCurve. Post it on whatever social media channels you prefer: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. This isn’t just some gimmicky exercise, but it will create a virtual wall board of images of each of us, so that we can pray for each other by face and name, and be a testament to the world that we are doing our part to stem this disease. And we may even use these photos somehow in worship next week. So post those photos, starting right now!
- Wave a Palm Branch! During the week before April 5, we will be asking families to submit photos or short (5 second) videos of themselves waving a Palm Branch to be shown during the first hymn on Palm Sunday. All of these can be submitted here: https://www.dropbox.com/request/4tBoqZhBlX4nGK5E6zPt
Sayde’s Corner
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health” – 3 John 1:2
During this hard time with the Corona Virus we must remember our God. He does not want us to fear or panic but remember that he has a handle on this. He wants us to stay healthy and prosper even during this pandemic that makes us panic. I pray that you all read this in good health and I pray that you are following God’s word during this stressful time.
-Sayde Harrington-Moniz
Communications Connector
More Merge Fun!
Seder Dinner and Lecture – 6 p.m. April 6 on Zoom
Warren Willis Summer Camp registration still open! Register for Week 2, June 15-20. $430 per person
Mar 20, 2020 | All News, Family Ministries, Youth
Hi everyone! We wanted to let you know that Merge isn’t going away, we’re just going somewhere else – the virtual world! Pretty exciting, huh?! So, we wanted to fill you all in on how Merge will look in the coming weeks.
Starting Wednesday, March 18:
- Confirmation Videos! If you’re a part of confirmation this year, your remaining lessons will be in video format with a quiz to send back to us!
Starting Sunday, March 22:
- Bible Project Devotions posted to our stories daily and saved in our highlights so that you can follow along with the congregation!
- 1 p.m. Parent Ministry Zoom call. We want to know what life looks like for you right now, and have a space where parents can connect with each other. If you’d like to be added to this, click here.
- 2 p.m. Confirmation Instagram Live! If you have any questions about the lesson, this is your chance to ask and talk about what you learned! @mergehpumc
- 4 p.m. Merge Instagram Live! We want to connect with you all and hear how you’re doing in this crazy time! @mergehpumc
Starting: Wednesday, March 25:
- Bible Study Videos! A video of our bible study, The Story, will be put on our social media and emailed to our regular bible study group!
Challenges:
- Send us your own “minute-to-win-it” challenges and Tik Toks for us to share on social media and a chance to win gift cards!
- Email them to us here!
Feb 11, 2020 | Adult Groups, All News, Children's, Youth
Join us for a Traditional Jewish Seder meal
Although our in-person Seder dinner was canceled, we still connected and learned more about this Jewish tradition from the Rabbi Nathan Farb. His lecture on Passover and the traditional Seder meal was held 6 p.m. April 1
.Rabbi Farb shared the history of the Seder, how the meal is conducted, led us through some interactive elements and told some fun stories and memories from his childhood. Individuals were invited to bring a cup of wine or juice and two candles as optional, participatory items to engage in parts of the Seder dinner in their own homes.
Miss the Seder lecture or want to watch it again?
Here’s the video.
