Page 20 - January Banner 2019_Neat

Page 20 January 2019
Page 20 January 2019
Page 20 January 2019
“Something for everyone”
is a perfect way to describe
the Clothes Closet, run
by the Thurmont United
Methodist Church (TUMC).
It also describes the church,
itself. When I arrived early
for a 10:30 a.m. Sunday
service at the church, I spent
a few minutes reading the
December newsletter. Along
with information about
the Clothes Closet and the
traditional and contemporary
Sunday worship services,
there were details about the
many weekly Bible studies
and various small groups for
all ages, as well as Christian
education classes for adults
and children, several Pictured are Pastor Bob Hunter (front row on right) and members of the Thurmont United Methodist
committees, and plenty of
family fellowship events.
Sunday morning at TUMC
begins with the 9:00 a.m. traditional
worship service, featuring beautiful
organ music. At 10:30 a.m., the
contemporary service begins with
a group of singers and musicians
leading the congregation in joyful
upbeat music. After announcements
by Pastor Bob Hunter, members of
the congregation share messages of
joy and requests for prayers. The
service continues with a reading,
prayers, a sermon, and communion.
Everyone is welcome to attend
the “Sunday school for all ages,”
from 9:00-10:00 a.m. A group of
The Catoctin Banner Newspaper
Chur ch
Spotlight
Spotlight
Spotlight
Spotlight
by Theresa Dardanell
Church.
dedicated teachers makes it possible
to provide seven separate classes
each week: babies under two years
old; toddlers, ages two to four;
students in kindergarten through
third grade; children in fourth and
fi fth grades; students in grades
sixth through twelfth. Adults can
choose from two sessions led by
C.J Cordell and Tim Olsen. Coffee
and conversation is the focus of
fellowship time between the 9:00
a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services.
Pastor Bob said that there are
two things that the church does
best. The fi rst is that 10 percent of
all gifts and tithes support Christian
charities. Donations help to fund
missions and missionaries, as well
as local organizations, including the
Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity,
the Catoctin Community Medical
Fund, Thurmont Ministerium,
the Marriage Resource Center of
Frederick, and the Alan P. Linton,
Jr. Emergency Shelter. The second
thing they do really well is the
Clothes Closet, which has been
in operation for over forty years.
It began in one small room, but
quickly outgrew the space and was
moved to a larger area when the
church moved to its current location
on Long Road. As the need grew
and donations increased, the church
built the Community Clothes Closet
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Thurmont United
Methodist Church
Photos by Theresa Dardanell participants in the groups
building, which opened in 2012.
Donations from the congregation,
along with members of the
community, fully stock the “free-to- The church is beautiful; it is large,
shop” building that is open the fi rst
and fourth Monday of each month,
from 6:00-7:30 p.m., and the third
Tuesday of each month, from 10:00-
11:30 a.m. There is a bin outside
the building to drop off donations.
The mission of the Clothes Closet is
to “carry God’s love to the people
in the Thurmont community and
beyond through love, prayer, and
free clothing.”
When I visited on December 2,
2018, the members were preparing
for the annual Christmas Open
House. One very large room in
the church building was fi lled with
donated toys, games, wrapping
paper, and decorations to be given
for free to families in need. During
the open house, Christmas music
played in the background and
childcare and an interpreter were
available.
The Christian education program
does not end on Sundays. There
are fi ve small groups that meet
weekly for fellowship, prayer, and
education. Pastor Bob leads Bible
study on Wednesdays, the youth
group meets on Sunday evenings,
and other groups meet at various
locations. Tim Olsen said that the
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support and nurture and pray
for one another.
There are also
opportunities for members
in the kids choir, the secret
sisters, and the monthly
retired and senior citizens
luncheon. The church also
supports the Good News
Club, an after school activity
at Thurmont Elementary
School. Monthly family
fellowship events provide
another way for the members
to spend time together. Some
of the previous events include
a beaded bracelet class and
Christmas caroling. The fi rst
events in 2019 will be Game
Night on January 11 and
Movie Night on February 8.
The Thurmont United
Methodist Church is located at
13880 Long Road in Thurmont.
modern, and handicap accessible.
The site includes a pavilion, the
impressive Clothes Closet building,
and plenty of parking. Next
time you have clothes to donate,
remember that everything given to
the clothes closet is free to anyone
who needs it.
If you are looking for a
church that offers “something for
everyone,” visit the Thurmont
United Methodist Church and see
for yourself.