Lent 2022
Lent is a season of reflection and preparation, commemorating the time Jesus spent fasting in the desert, preparing for his own ministry. We observe Lent by focusing on our relationships with God and growing as disciples.  Join us as we look at not only women of Scripture, but also the ways in which God is and is described as feminine. We hope that this season of preaching broadens your discipleship and your knowledge of Scripture.
 

CONNECT
Upcoming Events & News

UMCOR Sunday March 27, 2022
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to respond with extravagant grace. Through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) we are able to make a difference in the lives of communities and individuals whose lives have been upset by storms, wars, fires, displacement, and climate change. On UMCOR Sunday, United Methodist congregations around the world take a special offering to underwrite UMCOR’s “cost of doing business.” This allows UMCOR to keep the promise that 100% of any donation given to a specific project will go toward that project and never toward any administrative costs. Your gifts on UMCOR Sunday, March 27, lay the foundation for UMCOR to share God’s love with communities everywhere.
UMCOR equips local churches, annual conferences, and nonprofit organizations to be in mission with their communities and to respond to those left most vulnerable during challenging times. Also, UMCOR doesn’t just respond to the emergency for the short term. Working with local organizations, churches in the community, and United Methodist volunteers, UMCOR builds relationships and helps communities rebuild in the years following a disaster.
UMCOR responds to U.S. and international disasters, addresses diseases and poverty, assists refugees and immigrants, provides clean water, and works to reduce hunger. UMCOR would be unable to do this work without your support. From training Conference Disaster Coordinators and Early Response Teams to keeping the office lights on, the UMCOR Sunday special offering equips the organization to respond quickly to disasters.
To give, please visit linworthumc.org/giving, or write a check with “UMCOR Sunday” in the memo line.

Our Reverberation Ringers had a fantastic time in Cleveland at the Rock Roll and Ring Spring Festival for handbell choirs in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, and Michigan. Half of our choir joined up with half of the bell choir at Powell UMC to create a full group with our five octaves of bells and chimes. We rang (a LOT), attended educational sessions, and enjoyed wonderful fellowship together over meals. It was great to ring together again with so many musicians!
If you’re interested in ringing with us next year, keep watching the Lantern for some summer opportunities to learn handbell technique. All that’s required is some experience reading music and we’ll teach you the rest!"

Easter Lilies Dedication Sign ups
The time is here to order your Easter Lilies! Go to the website to fill out this form to have a lily given in honor or in memory of a friend or family member. Order sheets are available in front of the worship center as well.
Lilies will be displayed during our morning worship services on Easter Sunday. 

 

  EGGS, EGGS, EGGS and CANDY!
Sunday, April 10 from 2-3pm, Linworth UMC will be holding an Easter Egg Hunt for our community. This will be the first Easter community event in two years and I know kids and families will be excited to participate.

As preparations are being made, we need your help. Now through April 1, we are collecting plastic Easter eggs and wrapped candy. Our hope is to have about 3,000 and enough candy to fill them. If you would like to support this ministry event, please drop of donations in the box outside the office or make a financial donation and we will do the shopping for you.
IF you would be willing to offer hospitality on April 10, please email Pastor Brooke.

New Member
Please welcome Klaudyne Kastens as our newest member!  If you are interested in becoming a member at Linworth UMC, please contact Pastor Anna for more information.

We are preparing to offer a "Discover Linworth" class. Are you interested in membership? Are you not ready to join but would like to learn more about our church community? Have you been a member for some time and would just like to refresh your memory and meet new people?
Please respond letting us know your interest and availability by clicking here.

 
Spring is nearing and NLCO is transitioning to lighter weight clothing donations. Always needed are men’s jeans, sweatshirts, athletic shoes, light jackets, new underwear (S,M,L,XL), white athletic socks, and hygiene products: deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste & brushes ,soap, and wash cloths. Thanks to all who donated winter clothing. Your generous support helped over 250 homeless persons in January alone! Questions? Call Linda Mrukowski 614-436-0382.

United Methodist Women is Now
United Women in Faith

We’ve taken a new name to better reflect how we answer our calling today. It’s an exhilarating time, as we commit to even greater inclusivity, action, and impact in our mission to support women, children, and youth.

A recent United Women in Faith Soul Care workshop leader and a breast cancer survivor, Valencia McClure complemented her medical treatments with essential oils during her recovery. “My mother’s love for sharing her knowledge of botanicals and aromatherapy planted a desire in me to also want to share this knowledge,” she said.
According to Valencia, when you choose to energy shift, you can learn to soothe anxiety and balance unsettled feelings or emotions. Here are a few examples:
Set an intention. Feeling frazzled or irritable? Set an intention to interrupt your current thought pattern. One example: “I choose peace and comfort over stress and worry.”
Breathe deeply. Taking deep breaths boosts body and brain with the oxygen needed to restore balance. What’s more, inhaling a few drops of essential oils allows you to reset and find serenity.

An Opportunity to Honor and to Give to Missions
We are so grateful for all the support the Linworth Church family offers toward sponsoring weekly altar flowers, and bread and water funds for missions.
It is time once again to sign up for the Sundays you would like to sponsor the Bread & Water and/or Altar Flowers for 2022.   Please find information click here or click the button below within this newsletter to sign up for the date and flower or bread / water option that you would like to support financially
Our office will be in touch to confirm sponsored dates.  You can also call the church office to sign up for a particular date. Call us at  614-336-8485 or email Stephanie at office@linworthumc.org.

 
When a child comes out to his/her/their family, it often raises many questions for both the child and for the family.  For example:

• What does it mean for the family when a child comes out to his/her/their parents?  
• What does it mean for the parents’ relationship to their church? 
• What does it mean for the parents’ own faith? 
• How do parents navigate their own “coming out” after their children have come out to them?
• What does the delay in the General Conference mean for me and my family and our church?

 The sessions are designed to provide a safe space where questions and concerns can be dealt with openly and honestly. 
 These questions are among those that will be addressed in the series of four classes that will be held on Wednesday evenings:
 Wednesdays, April 20, 27, May 4, 11
 This session of the class will be held on Zoom this fall.  The meetings will begin at 7:00 pm and conclude by 8:30 pm. 
 If you want to participate in the class, please email Jim at jwaugh3@mac.com.   Put “Kids Class” in the Subject line.  A few days prior to the class session, you will receive a Zoom invitation from Jim for the sessions.
 The Rev. Jim Waugh, retired pastor in the West Ohio Conference, will lead the group.  Jim and his wife, Carol, have an adult daughter, Lisa, who came out to them several years ago.  Jim just completed a four-year term as the chair of the Parents Reconciling Network Board (a group related to the Reconciling Ministries Network).
 If you have questions or need more information, please feel free to email Jim: jwaugh3@mac.com.

Connect Cards
Welcome to Linworth!  If you are new to worship or need to update information, we encourage you to fill this out so we can stay connected with you. These blue cards are located at the back of the worship area, ask a Pastor or one of our wonderful ushers or welcome committee volunteer. If you are worshipping with us online, you can email Stephanie.

GROW
Spiritual Journey

Youth Summer Mission Trip
June 12-18
Red Bird Mission, Beverly KY


Youth, (7-12 grade) that would like to serve this summer.
LUMC Youth will be traveling to Red Bird Mission, a United Methodist Mission site that has been providing ministries in the Appalachian Mountains since 1921. This area continues to face chronic poverty, lack of jobs, poor housing, and rugged mountainous terrain, all obstacles to a fuller life for the residents of the area. Red Bird Mission strives to meet education, heath and wellness, community outreach, economic opportunity and housing improvement needs for residents.
We will have the opportunity to meet the people of this region as we partner with Red Bird Mission to complete basic building needs and work in community center Monday-Thursday. Friday we will have a fun day, to be decided by the group, before heading home Saturday.
To Register click here. 
Registration includes a $50 deposit. Full price of the trip is TBD but scholarships are available. We will also have fund raising opportunities to help defer the cost of the trip.

LOVEboldly exists to empower willing Christians and LGBTQ+ individuals to step towards loving one another more boldly. Full information is available on our website: https://www.loveboldly.net/small-groups.
The basic details are: LGBTQIA+ Christian Small Group
Evening group, every other Tuesday from 7-8:30pm. 
Morning group, every other Tuesday from 10-11:30am.
Parents and Caretakers of LGBTQIA+ Youth and Young Adults Small Group
Second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 8pm
This group will be will be led by our board chair, Rachel Dew, and one of our board members, Paula Unrau. 

SERVE
Get Involved

Kitchen Ministry Teams
Do you have a gift of organizing and would like to be more involved in the church?  We hope you will prayerfully consider joining us!  As we begin to utilize the church for more small groups and ministry, we are in need of people to join our Kitchen Ministry Committee as well as the Tidy Kitchen subgroup.  No cooking skills required!  For more details please contact Stephanie at office@linworthumc.org

PRIDE Volunteers Needed
LUMC has the opportunity to show love to the community on June 11 at an event at Bethel International UMC.  Do you have a few hours to spare during the day on June 11?  Please contact Pastor Sara (pastorsara@linworthumc.org) if you would like to learn more about this event.  
 

Save The Date

Mark your calendars for the 41st annual Pride March on June 18th in downtown Columbus.  More information coming soon!

Do you enjoy helping behind the scenes? We are looking for people to be a part of our worship service production team.  All skill levels are invited to inquire - we will train you!  We need individuals (or couples) to help with sound, av, and livestream services for weekly worship at 9 am and 1030 am services.  Would you prayerfully consider learning more about this vital ministry?  For more information and to sign up for training, click here.  Pastor Sara will be in touch with you to go over your availability so that we can coordinate training in the near future.