March 7th-9th, R|Youth attended the Spiritual Life Retreat at Camp Glisson. Every year we attend this retreat with other churches from the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. It’s a great opportunity for our students to worship, grow, and fellowship with other youth from around the conference.

They spent the weekend in small groups where they made lots of new friends. Our worship and small group times focused on Connecting to God through Scripture as we learned about people who followed God through and in spite of the world around them. Some of these leaders include Paul, Moses, and Jimmy Carter.
 
We returned to Ringgold tired, but refreshed, and ready to find more connection with God through scripture in our everyday lives.

Sunday, April 13 – Sunday, April 20

Holy Week is a time to reflect on Jesus’ journey to the cross and His victory over death. Here’s what’s happening throughout the week:

• Palm Sunday (April 13): Worship at 9 & 11 AM (In-Person & Online)
• Resurrection Putt Putt (April 13, 5-7 PM): A fun night for all ages! Play a unique Easter-themed putt-putt course inside the church.
• Maundy Thursday Worship (April 17, 6:30 PM): A meaningful service remembering Jesus’ last supper (In-Person & Online).
• Good Friday (April 18): No official events, but take time for personal prayer and reflection.
• Easter Sunday (April 20): Celebrate the Risen King!
  • 7:00 AM – Sunrise Worship (In-Person Only)
  • 9:00 AM – Traditional Worship (In-Person & Online)
  • 11:00 AM – Contemporary Worship (In-Person & Online)
  • Easter Eggstravaganza - Easter egg hunt after both the 9 & 11 AM services for the kids!

Come worship, reflect, and celebrate the hope we have in Christ!

Thinking about becoming a member?  At 10:00 am, on Sundays April 27th, and May 4th, we will be having a membership class for anyone interested in making their relationship with Ringgold UMC “official”.  Why join? There are several good reasons to consider becoming an official member of the Ringgold family.

Vows: When we join the church we vow to support our congregation and faithfully participate in its ministries with our prayers, our presence, out gifts, our service, and our witness.  This is our public statement that we believe our church is more than just a recreational or social group.  We are a family called and bound together by God, and we are making our commitment to join and actively support our new family.

Leadership: God gives to each human being unique talents and abilities.  They can be used in any way we choose as we live out our lives.  As we grow in our relationship with God we receive spiritual gifts that are meant to provide support for the church and its ministries.  As a member you can support our congregation by joining our leadership teams, using those special gifts that you have received through the Holy Spirit.

Extended Family: As individuals we make up a congregational family.  As individual congregations, we make up a larger United Methodist Family.  Our membership in our church family magnifies our small efforts to make a huge impact in this world. United Methodists around the world work together to share the Gospel, feed the hungry, and comfort the hurt.

Taking the membership class will give you the opportunity to understand your faith and our church.  There is a New Member Class sign-up on our Ringgold app, or you can email or call the church office to register as well.

This Easter season, we’re offering something new and exciting for all ages! Join us Sundays at 10:00 AM for Generational Yap, a 4-week Bible study designed to bring together people from every generation for some lively and thought-provoking discussions. Whether you’re a Zoomer, a Boomer, or anywhere on the timeline, this is your chance to dive into some of the Bible’s most beloved stories with a twist.

What’s the twist? We’re using Gen Z (Zoomer) lingo to re-frame these familiar tales. This series will offer fresh perspectives and help us all see these stories in a new light, illuminating their relevance for people of every age, stage, and life experience. Each week, we’ll explore a new story and unpack the meaning. Get a head start by seeing if you can figure out which scriptures we’re looking at using the following phrases:

“If you cling to this mid life, with what hands will you catch eternal life?”
“God will say Uno Reverse.”
“Love remains a real one even while going through it.”
“Whenever you talk to the Top G, do not post it to your Insta Story.”

Whether you’re a student, new to faith or a Bible scholar who’s been walking with God for decades, you’ll find Generational Yap to be a place where everyone can contribute. No need to worry about feeling out of place—this is an intergenerational space where we’re all learning from each other!

If you don’t already have a regular Sunday School class, great! If you’re already in a class but intrigued, we’ll let you pop in for a bit anyway. Jump in on any Sunday for some light-hearted conversation. You can be a key part of translating these stories together. When we gather across generations, we create an environment where young and old can share wisdom, questions, and insights. Generational Yap is more than just a Bible study; it’s an opportunity to build relationships that span decades. This kind of community not only strengthens the body of Christ today, but it also helps ensure that the faith is passed down and lived out for generations to come.

I am excited to be planning this opportunity for folks to laugh, learn and grow together through God’s Word and the connections that unite us all. If you want to know more, feel free to contact me at happybritta@gmail.com.
 
Don’t miss out—see you at 10 AM, starting the Sunday after Easter!

Hey Sports Fans, come enjoy a Lookouts game at ATT Field April 22nd @ 7 PM hosted by Senior Adult Ministries.

Mark your calendar and join us in section 107 behind home plate for a great time together.

This event is hosted by our Senior Adult Ministries, but everyone is welcome to attend. Tickets are just $10 per person, so sign up ASAP to claim yours before they're gone!

Want to carpool? Let us know on the sign-up form, and we’ll help coordinate as the date gets closer. Don’t miss this great night of baseball and fellowship!

📅 Date: Tuesday, April 22nd
⏰ Time: Game starts at 7 PM
📍 Location: AT&T Field, 201 Power Alley, Chattanooga, TN
💲 Cost: $10 per person

Email me at marty@ringgoldumc.org for more info.

You can be part of our team for Clean Catoosa, a community-wide effort to clean up and care for our local area! Our team will help remove litter and trash from two prominent locations right here in Ringgold. This is a great mission opportunity for all ages—kids to senior adults! (Children in 5th grade or younger must have a parent/guardian participate with them.)

Date: Saturday, April 26th
Time: 9 AM – 12 PM (Carpool from church at 9 AM)
Location: Various cleanup sites in Ringgold

April 25 and 26, RUMC will have the privilege of hosting trainers and participants in four quality instructional and interactive programs approved by the North Georgia Conference. Beginning at 4 PM on the 25th, groups will be able to complete one entire 10 hour course of their choosing in one efficient and fun weekend.

All Courses will run from 4pm-9:30pm on Friday, April 25th and 7:30am-4pm on Saturday, April 26 at Ringgold UMC.

You can choose from one of the four offerings below:
Basic Course
Text: Lay Servant Ministries: Basic Course
Led by Sandy and Brian Jackson

United Methodist Polity
Book: The Method of Our Mission
Led by Laceye C. Warner

See All The People
Book: Developing an Intentional Discipleship System: A Guide for Congregations
Led by Junius Dodson

Fresh Expressions
Book: Fresh Expressions: A New Kind of Methodist Church For People Not In Church
Led by Kenneth H. Carter, Jr., Audrey Warren

Purchase your textbook at Amazon or Cokesbury. A $40 enrollment fee covers three meals, trainer expenses, and classroom materials. Please contact Sharon White at nw.layservants@gmail.com with any questions.

It is with a heavy heart that we share the difficult news that the school in Momance, Haiti, has temporarily closed due to the increasing violence and gang activity in the surrounding areas. Since 2013, our church family has faithfully supported the students, teachers, and families of Momance, providing education, meals, and spiritual encouragement. Now, more than ever, they need our continued prayers and support.

Many families have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety, leaving behind everything they know. Though the school cannot operate at this time, our commitment to the community remains steadfast. We will continue to pay the teachers and staff so they can support their families during this crisis. In addition, we are providing food bags to all students and their families and clothing to families who have been displaced. Whenever it is safe, we will also operate our medical and dental clinics to ensure that families have access to critical healthcare.

While we wait and pray for peace to be restored, we ask for your help in sustaining these efforts. Student sponsorships remain vital, even during this difficult time. For just $300 a year or $25 a month, sponsors can ensure that teachers and staff receive their salaries and that families in need continue to receive food and support.
 
We understand that some may not feel comfortable sponsoring a student while the school is closed. If you would still like to help, we have an emergency fund set up to provide direct aid to displaced families, including food, clothing, and medical care. Any amount given to this fund will go directly to meeting urgent needs in Momance during this crisis.

It is important to note that all sponsorship and emergency fund donations are closely monitored and kept in a U.S. bank account. We send limited amounts to Haiti as needed and have had no issues with money falling into the hands of gangs. Every dollar given is used wisely and with great care to directly benefit those in need.

We know that God is still at work in Haiti, even in the midst of hardship. Please join us in praying for the families of Momance, for protection over them, and for the day when the school can reopen and once again be a place of learning, safety, and hope. If you would like to renew your sponsorship or contribute to the emergency fund, please donate online or with a check and note that your donation is for Haiti.

Thank you for being a beacon of hope to our brothers and sisters in Haiti. Your generosity and prayers are making a difference!

Spring Break
Monday, March 31st - Friday, April 4th

April 49ers
Tuesday, April 8th • 6pm
In the Gym

Palm Sunday
Sunday, April 13th • 9am Traditional & 11am Contemporary Worship
In the Sanctuary and Online

Resurrection Putt Putt
Sunday, April 13th • 5pm
Throughout the Church

Maundy Thursday Worship
Thursday, April 17th • 6:30pm
In the Sanctuary and Online

Easter Sunrise Worship
Sunday, April 20th • 7am
By the Bell Tower

Easter Worship
Sunday, April 20th • 9am Traditional and 11am Contemporary Worship
In the Sanctuary and Online

Easter Eggstravaganza
Sunday, April 20th • 10am & 12pm
In the Courtyard/Playground

Lookouts Game
Tuesday, April 22nd • 7 pm

Lay Servant and Fresh Expressions Training
Friday April 25th & Saturday, April 26th

Clean Catoosa
Saturday, April 26th • 9am-12pm
Meet at the church

General Budget
Full Year Budget: $583,106
Budgeted in February: $48,592
Received in February: $39,571
Spent in February: $45,617
Budgeted February YTD: $48,592
Received February YTD: $80,831
Spent February YTD: $101,517

In Person :
9 AM: 77
11 AM: 63
 
Online:
9AM: 18
11 AM: 12

Benevolence
In Honor of Donna Greeson
by Donna Graham

NCIC
In Memory of Betty Madewell
By Kathy Burton

Ringgold United Methodist Church
706-935-4777 | www.ringgoldumc.org
7484 Nashville St
Ringgold, GA 30736

David Cott, Senior Pastor
Sally Ensley, Assistant Pastor
Kirsten Lankford, Director of Children’s Ministry
Michael Arnold, Worship Band Leader
Kodi Lowry, Director of Preschool
Taylor Lankford, Executive Director of Worship and the Arts
Marty McGee, Coordinator of Senior Adult Ministries
Pam Blaylock, Office Administrator
Drew Sherrill, Communications and Technical Director
Jamie Smith, Director of Youth Ministry
Carolyn Turner, Organist
Ann McMillen, Pianist