Join us in service and study
Upcoming Activities
Local Mission/Service
Global Mission
UM Women
Bible/Book Studies
United Methodist Church
We are the local representative of a global church.
The people of The United Methodist Church are putting our faith in action by making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, which is our
church’s mission. Through the power of our connection, we are making a positive difference in more than 125 countries.
Read more
Read more
The vision for Luray United Methodist Church is: “See the Love, Share the Joy”
The mission of the church is our primary goal, while the vision is the way God is enabling us to meet our mission right now. Join us in seeing the love of God in our church and world, and sharing the joy of a life with Jesus Christ!
Upcoming Activities
The Corner Journal
- Nov 20 - Packing bags for Loaves & Fishes. Meet at 4:30 at the Christ Episcopal garage (faces Jamison Rd).
- Dec 5 - Make & Take Christmas Decoration, 5:30-7 pm in the fellowhip hall.
- Advent Recitals - Wednesdays at Noon in the sanctuary:
Dec 5, Christopher Jenkins
Dec 12, Jula Verba (soprano) & Dale Hamilton (piano)
Dec 19, Mark Nicols (piano & organ)
- Dec 14 & 15 - Live Nativity, 6-8 pm at the corner of Broad and Main.
Note the new traffic patterns around the church! The Main Street Bridge outage will probably increase traffic flow near the church. Please take extra care in all your comings and goings!
Recent church newsletters:
Local Mission and Community Service
It is our goal that all members will be serving in at least one mission activity. We are undertaking a variety of mission activities where everyone can serve. Christ asks us to be humble servants and serve others - the poor, the sick, and those in need of the spiritual love of God. We need your help!
Christmas Outreach
Operation Christmas Child in November.
Weekly music recitals in December.
Live Nativity one weekend during Advent.
Food Ministries
For the month of September, we are collecting for Page One. The wish list: boxed dinners; Tuna Helper; Mac n Cheese; canned pastas, fruit, veggies, & meat; peanut butter & jelly, juice, cereal, rice, dried pasta and any non-perishable food and personal items (soap, detergent, etc.) Place your donation in the grocery cart in the sanctuary.
Loaves & Fishes Ministry provides meals over the weekend to Luray Elementary School children who depend on the school breakfast and lunch program for their nutritional needs. LUMC collects
oatmeal packets and
vienna sausages which you can leave in the grey bin in the sanctuary. At Christmas and Easter, 28 oz. jars of peanut butter are needed to stretch the usual weekend food over the school breaks.
Opportunities come up throught the growing season for gleaning fields and orchards once the major harvest has happened. The fruits and vegetables are donated to local and regional food banks.
Change the World Sunday
A Sunday in late May or early June is a concerted effort of LUMC members to impact our community. Although many of these things happen year-round, this is one time that they happen simultaneously and give us all a chance to try a new ministry:
- Page One
- Relief kit assembly
- Music & communion in the nursing homes
- Adopt-a-highway litter patrol
Serving Children
Fellowship Opportunities
I Can Club connects kindergarten and first graders with extra support as they learn to read. Transportation is provided from school to LUMC two days a week, October through March, 3:30- 5 pm.
Each summer we offer a week of
Vacation Bible School
. Each year has a different theme and involves Bible stories, music, crafts, games, snacks. It is an opportunity to help children grow in their faith!
Scouting groups use our facilities throughout the year.
Holy Grounds Coffeehouse meets in the auditorium on the first Friday of each month at 7 pm for coffee, games, and fellowship.
Faith on Tap is a co-hosted with Stony Man Lutheran Parish at 6:30 pm on the fourth Thursday of each month at Hawksbill Brewery Co. (22 Zerkel Street in Luray).
Crafters
Shawls, quilts, and cloths handcrafted to be a tangible reminder of the prayers of the LUMC people for those struggling with illness, grief, loss, disappointment, or loneliness.
Global Mission
Russia Covenant
We have covenanted with two Methodist Churches in Russia - Pyatigorsk and Stravropol. We want to exchange culture info and spiritually help each other.
United Methodist Women
The purpose of UMW is to
- create and nurture a community of women whose purpose is to know God
- to develop a creative, supportive fellowship of women
- who are committed to support mission activity aimed
- particularly toward improving the lives of women and children
The UMW offers a variety of fellowship and ministry/mission opportunities and activities throughout the year.
Childcare will be offered for most events.
2018 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
March 17, District Spiritual Life Retreat at Manor Memorial UMC in New Market, 9 am - 1 pm
District Evening Together, April 12, 7 pm at Mt Tabor UMC in Harrisonburg..
Friday & Saturday, April 19-20, 8 am - Noon, LUMC Fellowship Hall: Spring Yard Sale. A fundraiser that is fun! It's a good way to spend time with each other and to invite community people into the building. We will need a couple of volunteers per day on April 15-18 to receive and price yard sale goods from donors, and several volunteers on each of the two sale days to help. Contact one of us if you'd like to help. The money is used for local missions such as Camp Overlook scholarships, Loaves & Fishes backpacks, I Can Club, Page Free Clinic, Page One, CHOICES, The Life Center, and WRE.
Conference Spiritual Life Retreat April 20-22 at Eagle Eyrie in Lynchburg.
Collection period in May and June (weeks prior to Annual conference, June 15-17). Conference Kits are groups of items that the UMC requests each year that will be distributed where needed throughout the world by the United Methodist Committee on Relief. More details to follow about which kits are in demand and what items we need.
Monday, June 4, 6:30 pm, LUMC Fellowship Hall: Giving Tree Banquet. A lovely evening that includes a nice catered meal, entertainment, and the chance to recognize someone (either in honor of or in memory of) by "buying" a tree blossom with a $5 donation. The money raised is used for local missions such as Camp Overlook scholarships, Loaves & Fishes backpacks, I Can Club, Page Free Clinic, Page One, CHOICES, The Life Center, and WRE.
District Prayer Breakfast on Satureday, September 8, at Evangelical UMC in Elkton at 9 am.
Saturday, September 22, 9 am, LUMC Fellowship Hall: Prayer Breakfast. Another wonderful gathering - fellowship with a good breakfast and an inspirational speaker followed by prayers for our church, community and world.
Monday, November 5, 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall: Salad Supper. A pot-luck dinner of our favorite salad dishes and desserts dedicated to spending time visiting with one another in fellowship. One of our favorite events!
Christmas Luncheon, date, time and location is yet to be determined.
Bible Studies @ CHOICES: One exciting ministry of the UMW is offering a regular Bible study at Choices. In 2016, a team of LUMC women began offered a regular time of Bible study, prayer and fellowship with adult residents at CHOICES while another team spent that hour in fellowship and activity with their children.
Women Encountering God Bible Study during the Christian Education hour on Sundays is an opportunity to share more about the sermon scripture among women of UMW.
Continuing Bible/Book Studies
These are ongoing groups open to anyone with time or interest.
Sundays:
Disciple class, "Under the Tree of Life" meets in the Fellowship Hall at 4 pm. The study concentrates on Old Testament Writings, the Gospel of John, the Epistles of John, James, Jude, and finally, Revelation. Suspended for summer.
Tuesdays:
Pastor Ellen leads a study on the Holy Spirit in the fourth floor Image classroom at 11 am.
Discipleship Nurture Action (DNA) at the parsonage, 7 pm. Suspended for summer.
Celebrate Recover: Donna Miller is gathering interest for another series of Christ-centered recovery based on biblical truth to address hurts, hang-ups, and habits.
Thursdays:
Men's Bible Breakfast Club meets in the Fellowship Hall at 7:15 am discussing a variety of topics over the meal.
Noon Bible Study meets in the fourth floor Image classroom. Study of John's letters to believers. Suspended for summer.
Ladies' Book Club meets at various homes on the Third Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm. Current book and location are in the weekly bulletin.