Do all the good you can…
Please join us as we begin the Lenten season with a service for Ash Wednesday on February 22 at 7:00 p.m. at the Church of Peace, United Church of Christ. Interim Pastor Jane Courtright and Pastor Robb McCoy will share the leadership of the service, with Robb preaching.
DATE: Thursday, March 23
TIME: 3pm – 7pm
LOCATION: Two Rivers UMC Fellowship Hall, 1820 5th Ave, Rock Island, IL
The United Methodist Church is in a season of great upheaval. The start of the Global Methodist Church and the disaffiliation of hundreds of United Methodism congregations has left our denomination in a state of uncertainty. It was decided in an informal meeting on Pentecost Sunday 2022 that Two Rivers Church would undergo a series of meetings and conversations with the intent of making a clear statement as a local congregation.
Continue reading “Conversations around LGBTQ inclusion”
On the first Sunday (and first day) of the year, we will celebrate Epiphany Sunday, which commemorates the visitation of Christ by the Magi from the East. The Magi, guided by a star, brought gifts to the newborn King, and thwarted King Herod’s plan for violence.
The Star Words will be given out to those in worship on Epiphany Sunday. Star Words is a contemporary tradition of passing out intention words on Epiphany—a tradition growing in popularity amongst many Protestant churches. Inspired by the Magi following the star to Jesus, selecting a star word to meditate on throughout the new year can deepen your self-reflection and prayer practices.
The use of star words is a prayer practice connected to Epiphany and the new year that has been growing in popularity in Protestant churches for nearly a decade now. The idea is that a list of intention words, or guiding words, are written or printed on paper stars. These paper stars are then arranged, most commonly face down, on the Communion Table or in a large basket. Individuals are often encouraged to place their star word somewhere they
will see it regularly throughout the year to allow consistent reflection on how God has moved through, around, or in connection to that word.
Wed. Dec. 21 6:30 p.m. Blue Christmas Service. This service is on the longest night of the year, and makes room for grief in the midst of Christmas preparations.
Sat. Dec. 24 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service
Sun. Dec. 25 9:30 a.m. Christmas service. We will meet in the back of the sanctuary, seated around the round tables in a more intimate, interactive and “Family Style” Communion.
Sun. Jan. 1 9:30 a.m. Epiphany Sunday. We will give out “Star Words” that will provide a theme for guidance and reflection for the coming year.
Sometimes the holidays hurt. In many ways, it is the “most wonderful time of the year.” For some however, it can be the time of year when the pain of loss is the sharpest. Two Rivers United Methodist Church will have a Blue Christmas service on December 21 at 6:30 p.m. This service is open to everyone in the community who may have struggle with Christmas.
The date is significant as well. “We gather on the longest night of the year to acknowledge that the dawn will come. We speak the truth that the night can feel very long, but God often meets us in the dark. It is in the dark where healing often takes place,” said Pastor Robb McCoy.
Two Rivers United Methodist Church has been offering a Blue Christmas service since 2014, since McCoy started there. He has been offering a service like this at his churches for over ten years.
“The Blue Christmas service is an important part of the holiday season,” said McCoy, “because it is a chance for people to acknowledge an important truth. While Christmas is a joyful time, the reality of life is that it also brings pain.”
For those grieving, Christmas can be a difficult time, especially for those experiencing the holidays without a loved one or the first time.
“It’s not just about grief,” McCoy said. “For some, the holidays bring an additional array of anxieties. Financial stress and family discord can be heightened at this time, too. The Blue Christmas service is designed for people to have space to breathe a little deeper in the midst of a season that is often so shallow.”
The service is open to all people, and is designed around quiet reflection. There will be a short message of lamentation, some contemplative prayer, a ritual for healing, and Communion. All people are welcome to the Communion Table regardless of faith, age, belief, or sexual orientation.