News & Events

Lent: A Season of Reflection and Renewal

Lent is a sacred season in the Christian year; a time when believers focus on simple living, prayer, and fasting to grow closer to God. It is a period of spiritual discipline, marked by repentance, moderation, and self-examination, as we prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this journey. Many Christians take this time to make resolutions and commit to meaningful changes, striving to reflect Christ more fully in their lives over the next forty days.

As we embark on this Lenten journey together, we invite you to join us for our Ash Wednesday Worship Service on March 5th at 6:30 p.m.

This link takes you to “The Sanctuary for Lent 2025” devotional! Each day includes a suggested Scripture, a brief reflection, and a prayer or practice based on the Revised Common Lectionary, guiding you from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday.

May this season be one of renewal and deepened faith.

On February 1, 2025, April Patek will join HUMC’s staff as our full-time Director of Youth and Family Ministries. Pastor April is a provisional deacon in the UMC and holds a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, a Methodist seminary in Evanston, IL, as well as a Bachelor of Music Education K-12 from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL. She answered the call to ministry while serving as a Music Education teacher in the public school system. Over the past twelve years, she has served in various church roles as Director of Christian Education and Director of Family Ministries, focusing primarily on serving newborns to senior high youth.  She is passionate about community engagement and mission work.

AS HUMC’s Director of Youth and Family Ministries, Pastor April’s work will be primarily focused on ministry to our Children and Youth. She will work closely with the pastor, the Christian Education and Formation Chair, Children’s Ministry Council, the Youth Ministry Council, and other church staff and leadership to create, develop, and lead Christian Education lessons and events for our Children and Youth.

Pastor April will be relocating to the Harrisburg-Concord area from Clover, SC over the next few months. Please join SPRC in supporting and welcoming April to our HUMC staff and family!

SPRC is also thrilled to announce that Ben Green has joined our team as our new Audio-Visual Specialist! Ben brings a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience in audio-visual technology, ensuring our worship services, events, and programs run smoothly and effectively.

Ben holds a B.S. in Music Technology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where he earned distinctions for both his academic achievements and his leadership in audio engineering. His career has included roles such as a Recording Studio Manager, where he trained students on advanced recording and mixing techniques, and as an AV Event Support Technician at UNC Charlotte, troubleshooting and maintaining networked AV systems for classrooms and events.

With certifications in a wide range of professional Audio Visual tools, Ben’s expertise spans live sound, recording, post-production, and audio networking technologies. Whether it’s setting up flawless sound for worship services or enhancing the audio-visual quality of our community events, Ben is dedicated to ensuring a seamless experience for everyone.

We are excited about the incredible talent and energy Ben brings to our church community.  Please join us in welcoming him to the HUMC team and take a moment to introduce yourself after the service!

Ashe County Partnership for Children

The Ashe County Partnership for Children supports the local community by providing resources for children and families in need. In collaboration with HUMC’s Stepping Stones Preschool, the partnership is helping replace essential classroom materials that were lost during Hurricane Helene. This special initiative is supported by our preschoolers, who have been fundraising all month. As a gesture of support, the Missions Committee has designated half of this year’s Christmas Eve offering to go toward this important project. If you’d like to contribute, you can see the handprints of those who have already donated, displayed at the top of the ramp.

Harrisburg Crisis Assistance Ministry Food Pantry

For many years, HUMC has partnered with the Harrisburg Crisis Assistance Ministry (HCAM) to address food insecurity in our community. The need continues to grow, but through your generosity, the Food Pantry is able to do more than provide food — it offers hope, dignity, and a reminder that no one has to face life’s challenges alone. Every bag of groceries distributed and every warm smile shared makes a tangible difference. Your support—whether through financial donations, volunteer efforts, or spreading the word—helps turn compassion into action, nourishing both bodies and hearts, and strengthening our community.

Kids’ Quest, Sunday’s at  10 am 

Building a Christian Foundation for our Kids

There a few categories for Kids Quest.  Basically all Sunday morning programs for children ages 0 – 5th grade are part of Kid’s Quest.  

• Kids Quest Nursery – The nursery is open to children 0 – 2 years old. Room #6
• Kids Quest Preschool – Ages 3 -4, 10 am in Room #5.  
  • Teachers: Carolee Barber & Nicole Clauser 
  • Class will be filled with Music, Bible Story, Activity, Snack &  Free play
• Kids Quest Elementary – 10 am Room 11 Kindergarten – 5th Grade
• Kids Quest Worship – Ages 3 – 1st Grade, Meets in room #13 on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, & 5th Sundays.  The first Sunday of the month is communion and the children will stay in Worship. (9 am – Learning about Worship and)11 am – Godly Play

Kid’s Quest Elementary  will meet in the fellowship hall this Sunday with their families.  Join us as we sing, learn,  meet new friends, and have fun.