Shady Grove UMC

05/25/2026

05/24/2026

Pentecost
“But you swept into a room,
into tongues, minds and hearts,
filling them with power
as you cleared out the cobwebs

of fear and uncertainty,
made way for the new, the brave,
the strong, the hope-filled and free.

Oh Holy Spirit, how we need
you now to return in power,
fire up the fading embers
of our hearts, refuel us

inside with holy hope and joy,
increase our love for man and God
provide your wisdom and insight.”

It was a nice, cool, damp morning. We are so thankful for the rain and cooler temperatures. Our fellowship began this morning in a breakfast meeting with the UMM/UMW groups. Andy and I provided breakfast and I shared a devotion using the description of a baseball game between the Lord and Satan’s teams. We then had many activities and upcoming events to discuss and plan. Thank you to those who attended.

Our worship began at 9:30 with Pastor Scott Coats leading our service. Even though he was not feeling well, he did a great job! Our Musician this morning was Bonnie Byrd, our Acolyte was Allyson Pruitt, our Ushers were Andy Loftis and Holt Robertson, and our Psalmist was me(Ginny Foster). Our Choir, though missing a few, sang a medley of patriotic songs.

Pastor Scott’s message was taken from John 20:19-23, Jesus Appears to His Disciples. Pastor Scott shared a beautiful description of the meaning of Pentecost and I encourage you to read his entire message. I will share a few statements:”It is Pentecost Sunday. Today we celebrate a couple of things. On Pentecost, we observe the birthday of the church. We also celebrate and remember the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit filled the disciples and the church was born as they began to teach about Jesus and thousands became followers. …The story of Pentecost itself is not that hard to explain, but the Holy Spirit-the gift of Pentecost-well, that can be difficult. Pentecost celebrates the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is like that loud rushing wind. It’s like fire. It’s beautiful and all-consuming and unpredictable. The Holy Spirit is crazy and powerful-beyond our understanding and worthy of our worship….We’ve experienced the Holy Spirit -maybe we can’t quite put it into words, but we’ve felt the peace, the power, the breeze, the bridge, the security, the change, the love-the presence of God that is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God; just as God the Father is God. Just as God the Son made flesh in Jesus is God. The Holy Spirit is God. The Holy Spirit is the continuing presence of Christ among humanity. …The Holy Spirit is living water for our thirsty souls. Rehydrates our parched hearts when we stray from God’s love and loving others. It makes our lives beautiful. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be the hands, feet, heart, and voice of Christ in the world.” Thank you, Pastor Scott.

Please take a moment and read our Announcements. Next Sunday Locust Hill will host the Fifth Sunday service with Shady Grove, Prospect, and Bethel’s congregations invited to attend. There will be a covered dish lunch afterwards. All visitors are welcome. Our Prayer List is quite long. We would appreciate your continuous prayers.

Sunday School began at 10:45. Patricia Moshenek lead our discussions about “An Unexpected Invitation”, taken from Acts 2:1-13. The purpose was to view the Pentecost experience as a model that shapes the life of a congregation. A few statements:”Amid the everydayness of discipleship, the Spirit may encounter us in sudden, unexpected ways. Such happenings invite us on new adventures. Salvation was not earned by obeying statues. Rather, it was a gift graciously given by God and received by trusting Jesus and following him.” Thank you, Patricia.

I will close with the third verse of an old, favorite hymn:

“This is my Father’s world.
O let me ne’er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!

05/11/2026

A Mother’s Love

No gift on earth is greater,
No treasure held above,
The joy that comes from knowing,
A Mother’s endless love.

In spite of how it’s tested,
It grows from year to year,
Providing strength and comfort…
It gently draws us near.

It warms and it protects us,
And guides us from afar
Shedding light upon us,
Like a bright and shinning star.

And when all things are measured,
Not one shall rise above,
Or be compared in value,
To a Mother’s endless love!

What a beautiful Mother’s Day morning. Our church was filled with joy and smiles, celebrating Mothers as well as remembering our mothers who are no longer with us.

Pastor Scott Coats led our morning worship. Rhonda Hollie was our Pianist, Makenzie Hollie our Acolyte, Laverne and J.R. Loftis shared special music, Garrison Hollie and Andy Loftis were our Ushers, Amy Loftis was our Psalmist, and Pastor Scott shared the morning message.

Before our time of Prayer, Andy Foster and the UMM recognized all of the women in our church. Each woman was given a Bojangles gift card. This was such a kind gesture of recognition.

Pastor Scott’s message came from Luke 24:36-48, when Jesus appears to the Disciples. I will share a few key passages. “This is the 5th of 6 post resurrection stories that occur in Luke’s gospel. In our reading today, the theme is not doubt so much as it is fear. The disciples are afraid. First, they are afraid of what might happen to them. I love that Jesus speaks peace in to their fear, because fear is the opposite of peace-and peace is counter to fear. Fear is inner turmoil. Peace is inner calm…
Fear is not unique to the disciples. We tend to let fear rule our lives as well…losing a job, or a loved one getting sick or dying, people who aren’t like us, loss of security, attack. We want peace. But instead of seeking peace, we often pursue security. Security is not peace. The pursuit of security leads us away from trusting God.
In this passage, we see that Jesus understands our fears. Jesus knew the fears that the disciples faced, and Jesus knows and understands our fears…If we look to Jesus-see His hands, see His feet and side-we see the risen Christ. We see death defeated. We see that our fears are groundless. We see the victory of life over death, of light over darkness, good over evil…
Jesus’ bodily resurrection is important to our faith. This reminder of Jesus’ bodily resurrection reminds us that Christianity is a bodily faith. It is not a faith that is simply spiritual. Jesus challenges our fear because fear causes us to look inward-to become obsessed with me or with us-with self preservation. But Jesus calls us to look outward to those outside of these walls. To the sick, the thirsty, the hungry, the poor. Jesus invites us to move past our fear to peace-and walks with us-and invites us to live with faith. To live the promise of light and life. To love.” Thank you, Pastor Scott.

Please take a moment to read our Announcements, Pastor Scott’s contact info, and pray for those on our Prayer List.

Patricia Moshenek led our Sunday School lesson today after church. The lesson:”Letting God Be God”was taken from Psalm 89. The purpose was to learn how God’s covenant through Jesus opens us to a faith that’s both mature and trusting. A few statements:”Living vulnerably with God helps us discover the depths of the Lord’s heart. In the process, we discover more about ourselves as well. The death and resurrection of Jesus demonstrated that God fulfilled the promise to David in a way that changed the world.” Thank you, Patricia, for leading us this morning.

Have a happy, safe week. I will end with a Mother’s Day Blessing:
“Almighty God, we ask Your blessing on each mother today. Fill their hearts with laughter and joy. Surround them with love from family and friends. Grant them health, peace, and fulfillment as they pursue their calling. Let them know their value and worth in Your eyes and ours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

04/27/2026

Shady Grove’s Choir. Bonnie Byrd, Pianist. Rhonda Hollie, Director.

04/27/2026

“Thankful we are, and thankful we should be,
For the Lord is good, now and forever.
And so we give thanks, with gladness and glee,
Rejoicing in grace beyond all measure.
But we dare not wait until the ‘morrow,
When sadness might come to make this harder,
When our joys become tainted by sorrow,
And today’s blessings seem to drift farther
Than time or our memory can cling to.
Thanks, like manna, needs daily be given,
Lest our struggles should lead us to eschew
Steadfast mercies that seem to us hidden.
So let us not store gratitude like grain,
But give our thanks now, again and again.”

This past Sunday was a busy day for many in our Shady Grove Family. We began our morning with a breakfast meeting. Laverne Loftis and Patricia Moshenek prepared a delicious meal of eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, rolls, fruit, baked oatmeal, pastry, juice, and coffee. I am so sorry I forgot to take pictures! Thank you, Laverne and Patricia. Patricia also share a wonderful devotion. The UMM/UMW had our business meetings, making plans for future activities.

Our Worship Service began at 9:30, with Pastor Scott Coats leading. Rhonda Hollie and Bonnie Byrd were our musicians, Makenzie Hollie was our Acolyte, our Choir shared a beautiful song with Bonnie Byrd playing the piano and Rhonda Hollie directing our Choir. Andy Loftis and Holt Robertson were our Ushers, and I(Ginny Foster), read the Psalter.

Past Scott shared a message from Matthew 28:16-20, The Great Commission. The entire message will be posted today. The following are a few statements from what was shared. “Our text today finds the disciples doing what they were told. They went out and made disciples-they discipled others. Can we do what Jesus told us to do? Make disciples. Jesus gives us a commission-we are commissioned to make disciples-to share the good news of God’s love as lived and taught by Jesus Christ. We are given authority, and we are empowered and equipped-given the support necessary to carrying out our mission. That support comes in the form of the Holy Spirit. We don’t go on this mission alone. This mission of making disciples. It is a co-mission. We have a partner in the Holy Spirit. Guiding us, empowering us. Accompanying us. Sometimes, we may not feel worthy of that mission. Doing what Jesus tells us to do does not require a perfect past. Jesus sends us into our own worlds to share the good news. We are sent into the world of our family, our friends, our work, our everyday world. Into our world to proclaim the good news of God’s Grace. Instead of make disciples, it is go disciple. We are to lead others by sharing the Gospel, by telling them about what God has done and is doing in our lives-by studying together, praying together, living and learning together we disciple others. Our text today is a reminder that we aren’t simply sheep-following mindlessly, grazing without a care-no, Jesus commissions us, invites us, to learn from Him how to be shepherds. That’s what it means to join with God in making disciples.
That is our mission. To join with God in encouraging and growing disciples as we are made and grow into disciples. Thank you, Pastor Scott.

As far as our Announcements are concerned, we had a cook out and enjoyed Carl Carroll’s presentation. We are so thankful Carl has felt God’s calling to do this wonderful work. A group of us assembled goodie bags for the teachers and assistants at North Elementary. A big “thank you” to Rachael Ribelin for this idea to show our appreciation to these educators.

Please continue prayers for those on our Prayer List.

After our Worship Service Sunday morning, we had Sunday School. Patricia Moshenek led our discussions about “Telling Old Stories in New Ways”. This lesson was taken from Psalm 78 with the purpose to help people remember and pass on a story that is faithful to God and transformative for future generations. A few statements:”Our task of telling future generations about God requires that what we tell is done with the utmost integrity and humility. Realizing that God yearns for us changes lives. God’s graciousness in the past nudges us to a more constructive response in the present.”

I hope your week is safe and full of amazing blessings. As Patricia quoted during our Sunday School lesson:”God does not call the equipped; He equips the called.” Amen!

04/20/2026

The Shoreline Fire

The night was long, the nets were bare,
A silent, empty, cold despair.
Upon the shore, a figure stood,
Where early morning sunlight glowed.
“Cast on the right!” the stranger cried,
And fish filled up the other side.

Then Peter knew-he jumped the sea,
To meet the Lord of Galilee.
A charcoal fire, fish, and bread,
“Come have your breakfast,” Jesus said.
With hungry hearts they sat and ate,
Restoring faith, settling the debt.

Three times the question, soft but deep,
“Do you love me? Then feed my sheep.”
Three times the failure was undone,
By the love of the Risen One.
“Follow me,” the Master said,
To paths where humble lambs fed.

Shady Grove UMC was filled with joy and warmth on this cool, crisp morning. Pastor Scott Coats led our worship with assistance from Rhonda Hollie, our Musician, Andy Loftis, our Acolyte and Usher, Garrison Hollie, Usher, our Choir, and Rachael Ribelin, our Psalmist.

Pastor Scott’s message came from John 21:1-19, Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish. Please read this in its entirety tomorrow on the website. It is filled with wonderful explanations. I will share a few statements:”In our scripture this morning, Jesus again appears to the disciples. But this time, they are not in hiding…Jesus asks us-“Do you love me?” We answer, “Yes, Lord! You know I do!” but do our lives answer yes? How could Jesus know? Is there evidence in your life that you love Jesus? What does that evidence look like? Jesus offers something that shows evidence of our loving Jesus. Loving Jesus means we continue the work Jesus did on earth. Healing the sick, feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothes to the naked, shelter and safety to the vulnerable. It is Jesus’ instruction to Peter and it is Jesus’ instruction to us as well. “Feed my sheep.” If we love Jesus, we will show that love by living a life of love.
Loving God by loving people is active and sometimes messy, and it’s thrilling and frustrating and enlivening and exhausting-and, most importantly, it’s what Jesus tells us to do…
How often does Jesus show up in your everyday life? I bet it’s way more often than you think. We can see in this story a reminder that God is present in all aspects of our lives. Our faith is not just about what we do on Sunday mornings. It’s not just about the things we do in and around this building-or “In the name of Jesus.”..
As we seek to do the work of Christ, there are times when we will fail. There are times when we will ignore those in need. When we will not follow through. When we will look out for our own needs instead of those around us. But as we see in this story, Jesus will not give up on us. Ever! Instead, after each failure He invites us to try again. And continues to offer encouragement and nourishment. Thank you, Pastor Scott.

We have Announcements we would like you to read. We are busy with activities and plans for our future. Our church family and community are very proud that Lorrie Wrenn was recognized this afternoon with the honor of being the 2026 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award recipient. She volunteers so much of her time to the Pelham Community Center and activities there, our Food Pantry, and so many other activities. This award is well deserved. We are proud of you, Lorrie.

Please pray for those on our Prayer List. There are so many needs and concerns.

The Pastor Parish Relations Committees from Shady Grove and Prospect met with our new minister, Tanner Hendricks, this evening. His first service with both churches will be July 12th. We are sad to see Pastor Scott leave us the end of June, but happy that he will be with his family in Alabama and have a church to bless as much as he has blessed us. We are excited to welcome Tanner to our congregations and look forward to his ministry with us and an exciting future.

Closing with Pastor Scott’s prayer:
“God of Grace, God of power, Lord we do love you. And we want to answer your call to care for your people. Send your Holy Spirit, empower us-nourish us-to do the work of your kingdom. Speak to us O Lord, as we seek to answer your call. As we try to discern how we can feed your sheep-both as individuals and as a community of faith. Amen.”

04/13/2026

04/13/2026

Shady Grove’s choir.

04/13/2026

Easter People, Raise Your Voices

Easter people, raise your voices,
sounds of Heaven in earth should ring.
Christ has brought us heaven’s choices;
heavenly music, let it ring.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Easter people, let us sing.

Fear of death can no more stop us
from our pressing here below.
For our Lord empowered us to
triumph over every foe.
Alleluia! Alleluia! On to victory now we go.

Every day to us is Easter,
with its resurrection song.
When in trouble move the faster
to our God who rights the wrong.
Alleluia! Alleluia! See the power of heavenly throngs.

Today was a beautiful day to be with our Shady Grove family. Pastor Scott Coats led our Worship Service. Our Musician was Rhonda Hollie, our Acolyte was Makenzie Hollie, our Choir sang a beautiful song, Andy Loftis and Holt Robertson were our Ushers, and Bonnie Byrd was our Psalmist.

Pastor Scott’s message was taken from John 20: 19-31. In this passage Jesus appears to His Disciples. Some meaningful statements: “Today we are starting a new sermon series called “After Easter”. The resurrection of Jesus is, rightfully, a focus of our faith. Easter is a season. Eastertide consists of 50 days beginning with Easter Sunday through Pentecost. Those 50 days represent the 50 days that Jesus remained on earth, post-resurrection. Easter is even more than a season. We are Easter people! Easter should be our way of life. We live, always, in the light of resurrection. In the joy and the festivities of Easter, it is probably easier to say, “Yes! I believe!” But the joy and the festivities fade.
Today is what is referred to as a “Low Sunday.” It is the week after a great celebration. That term “Low Sunday” refers to the let down that, in this case, follows Easter.”……Pastor Scott shared his perspective about the Bible verses(please read!).
“Does your life give evidence of the risen Christ? Are you living in the light of resurrection? Or are you still locked away in fear, anger, or denial? How have you been changed by resurrection? By the risen Christ? And what are you doing to show the world that change? The love of Christ redeems our doubts and our fears. The love of Christ persists through our inability or unwillingness to let resurrection change us. Jesus offers Himself to the disciples despite their fear. Jesus offers Himself to Thomas in spite of His unbelief. Jesus offers Himself to us in the same way. In Jesus Christ, we are offered the power of God’s love-power that liberates us from fear and betrayal and doubt. We all have doubts. We all have times where we don’t live as if we are Easter people. Jesus’ actions in our text this morning, assure us that despite all of that, Christ still draws close and offers us love and power and grace.” Thank you, Pastor Scott.

Our fellowship continued with some of us attending Sunday School. Patricia Moshenek lead our discussion on “Making Praise Real”, taken from Psalm 34:1-6, 15-22. The purpose was to learn how to praise God authentically and powerfully. Some key statements:”Living a God-centered life enables praise to be focused totally upon the Lord’s love and Grace. Seeking peace and doing good are gifts we freely give to God out of gratitude. Perhaps the best practice for praising God is to grow more aware of the ways the Lord blesses us daily.” Thank you, Patricia.

We have quite a few Announcements about activities that our church family will be involved. At our cookout Carl Carroll will share information about his mission trips. We are excited about preparing “goodie bags” for the teachers and assistants at North Elementary. We are very proud of Lorrie Wrenn receiving the NC Governor’s Volunteer Service Award. She will be honored at a reception on Sunday, 3-5, at the Pelham Community Center.

Please pray for those on our Prayer List.

As we begin a new week, our Sunday School Lesson suggested to ask ourselves these questions:
“For what do I give thanks today?
For whom do I give thanks today?
Today, how can I love like God loves?”

04/05/2026

Join us as we worship our Risen Lord this morning at Shady Grove UMC @ 9:30 a.m. 1705 Shady Grove Providence NC Hope to see you there!