Stacey Hilliard, Author at Crawford Memorial United Methodist Church

UMCOR Sunday

by Stacey Hilliard | Mar 23, 2022 | Conversations

This Sunday is UMCOR Sunday. You’ll find more information in the pews at church, and a special offering envelope in your bulletin. Gifts to the UMCOR Sunday offering cover the administrative cost of the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s ministry. When we support UMCOR’s cost of doing business, we help UMCOR keep the promise that 100% of gifts to a specific project will fund that project.”

Read more about UMCOR and the projects they’re funding now here. And because it’s top of mind for many of us, you can read specifically about how they’re addressing the crisis in Ukraine, here.

Holy Week and Easter 2022

by Stacey Hilliard | Mar 23, 2022 | News

It may seem as though we just entered the wilderness of Lent, but Holy Week will soon be upon us. Mark your calendars… we hope you will join us for some or all of our services/celebrations during this most important season for the church.

Palm Sunday, April 10
We will again parade with our palms through the neighborhood, led by a lively New Orleans brass band. Gather at the church at 9:30 a.m. for the short parade. (Palms will be provided.) We’ll end up back at the church for the start of our Palm Sunday worship at 10:00 a.m, including more special music from our choir, organist, and the Occasional Brass.

Maundy Thursday, April 14
We will gather around the fire pit (weather permitting, otherwise inside) for a service of Holy Communion and Tenebrae at 7:00 p.m. Update: The weather forecast is for rain, so we will meet inside for worship at 7.

Easter, April 17

6:00 a.m. Sunrise Service around the fire pit (weather permitting, otherwise inside)
Easter breakfast immediately following the Sunrise Service in Gifford Hall
10:00 a.m. Worship Service in the sanctuary, featuring live music by the Occasional Brass Quintet
Easter Egg Hunt for the kids immediately following the 10:00 service

Who is God?

by Stacey Hilliard | Mar 21, 2022 | Sermons

Exodus 3 gives us one of the most famous stories in the Bible. Moses is in the wilderness and encounters a bush that is on fire. Unlike normal bushes, however, this bush isn’t turning to ash; the flames do not die down and neither is the bush consumed. Odd. So Moses takes a look. And from there emerges a conversation with God where Moses is given his calling and the name of God is revealed.

There are people who have devoted their lives to trying to understand and interpret the revelation of God’s name in this story. We won’t take quite that long; but we will join Moses at the burning bush to see if the story might speak to us now. Spoiler alert: It does.

— Pastor Anne

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Pharaoh and the Midwives

by Stacey Hilliard | Mar 14, 2022 | Sermons

The most powerful stories are proven by their ability to live, grow, and continue to speak from age to age, culture to culture, people to people. Starting this week, we will turn to what is perhaps the central story of the Hebrew Scriptures: the Exodus. Week by week we’ll look at the pivotal stories within this experience to understand, not just how they shaped the ancient Israelites, but to hear what they might say to us today. Join us this morning as we consider the story of the Pharaoh and the Midwives.

Pastor Anne

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Led by the Spirit

by Stacey Hilliard | Mar 7, 2022 | Sermons

Many of us know the story of Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness at the start of his ministry, as depicted in this famous painting by James Jaques Tissot. What we often overlook in that story is that Jesus didn’t end up in that situation by trickery or accident. The Gospel of Matthew tells us that it was the Spirit of God who led him there. Wait! What? What happened to “Lead us not into temptation?” What is God up to here, and what does that mean for me? Join me as we enter into the wilderness of Lent and think it through.