Opportunities For Adults Abound at HPUMC

There are so many opportunities for adults to serve at HPUMC, and it is easy to get involved.

Take Renee Bailey, for example. She wanted to stay busy after retiring and found a group to join. Then another. And another. And another.

This past year, Bailey joined the Prayer Blanket Ministry, went to Adult VBS, joined a Sunday School class, and went on the Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Birmingham, Alabama with the Justice Ministry, to name a few.

But it all started with one ministry.

“I retired in December of 2023, so I was looking for something, some outreach things at HPUMC to get started,” Bailey said. “My work had been pretty much a 24/7 kind of experience. I saw the Prayer Blanket Ministry and I knit and I thought, ‘Well, that's something I can do and it's something I already enjoy, and I'll get to meet a new group of people.’”

She has helped knit scarves for the Austin Street Center and baby blankets for Invisible Sisterhood.

HPUMC provides adults with great opportunities to come together to fill their own cups while also benefiting outreach partners.

“What I enjoy about it is that we are able to provide support to different types of people in different walks of life who are going through different things,” Bailey said. “And also commune with each other and be part of something kind of bigger than we are.”

Bailey heard about HPUMC’s new Adult VBS through the Prayer Blanket Ministry. It was a chance for her to branch out and do even more while meeting more new people.

“I decided to go to the (Adult) Vacation Bible School because I had not joined any of the Sunday School (classes) and I really wanted to because that's a good way to meet people,” Bailey said. “I'd attended church services, but hadn't really found a Sunday School group. I thought, ‘Well, I'll go to the Vacation Bible School and see how that works, and I'll probably meet some people.’”

That’s exactly what happened.

“It was a good way for people to meet each other, get to know other people, and be involved with community service and other things at the church,” Bailey said.

That next thing for Bailey was to join the Racial Justice Ministry on its Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Birmingham.

“They were very good at creating an atmosphere where everyone felt included,” Bailey said. “It was a very diverse group and people felt very comfortable about discussion and sharing their feelings and asking each other questions and they provided time for reflection. It just, overall, exceeded my expectations.”

There is no expiration date on learning, meeting new people, and enjoying new experiences. All of those options are available through HPUMC Adults.

Bailey has provided lunch for a Carpenters for Christ build through her Sunday School class, lended a hand at the Agape Clinic during Churchwide Serving Day, and is planning to go on the Costa Rica Medical Mission Trip.

“It gives you an opportunity to be part of programs that not only do you enjoy, but you can provide assistance or help or support for other people,” Bailey said. Also with the education programs, whether it's Bible studies, book reviews, spiritual help, women's focused events, author events, you are able to be part of things that you enjoy and that broaden your experience. Broaden your religious experience, your educational experience, broaden your ability to interact with other people.”

And in doing so, help people along the way.