December 18th Updates
Longest Night Service
We will have two opportunities to gather for the Longest Night. During the 5-6pm hour on Dec. 21st you are welcome to come to the church sanctuary at any time to spend time in prayer. Pastors will also be available to pray with you. At 7pm, we will gather on zoom (info below) for the service. You can access the service via phone call or internet. The service will not be on Facebook. Please let Pastor Jen know if you have any questions. You may also request a recording of the service if you are unable to attend at that time.
For many, Christmas can feel more like a season of great darkness and shadows. We may be experiencing loneliness, grief, loss, separation, pain, and/or sickness, especially this year. One of the ways in which we can survive the holiday season is to claim and acknowledge our feelings, both the good and the bad. It has been a practice the past few years to create a space where people can be themselves and bring their sadness to the Lord. The Longest Night Service (sometimes referenced as Blue Christmas) will offer us a way to claim those feelings and still feel surrounded by the compassionate love of God. If you are searching for a place to just be, for a place to experience God’s love, and for a place to feel a glimmer of hope and peace, join us.
Topic: Central UMC Longest Night Service
Time: Dec 21, 2020 07:00 PM America/Indiana/Indianapolis
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89939217988?pwd=NUJ3ZG5Od2xNM0pwOWlVNndzbUNPdz09
On December 24th, we will be having our Christmas Eve Family Service virtually @ 4:30 pm on our Facebook Page. Our Candlelight service will be offered both virtually on Facebook and in –person (REGISTER HERE) @ 8:00 pm. You are welcome to tune into both. We still encourage those who can comfortably watch online to please do so. For those who do not have candles at home, we will have candles available for pick up starting this Sunday. If you would like a candle delivered, please contact the church office. Though there will not be room for us all in the sanctuary, may our lights shine brightly throughout Richmond and beyond this Christmas Eve!
Zoom Gathering after Sunday ServiceAs more and more of us are joining worship from our homes, we wanted to offer a space for us to see one another and hear from one another. For every Sunday in Advent, we will be meeting on Zoom immediately following the service. This will include time to just say hi and chat, a few questions for conversation, and some breakout rooms for deeper conversation with a smaller group. I look forward to seeing you after services on Sunday:
Topic: After church zoom Time: Dec 20, 2020 11:30 AM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89617975743?pwd=TFZ5MFFNQkpEVUdZQ2JMUU8yTnRlZz09
Meeting ID: 896 1797 5743
Passcode: 239119
Dial by your location
1 312 626 6799 US
Natural Disaster Relief
You may have just seen pictures from Hurricanes Eta and Iota. Did you see those from Typhoons Gone and Vamco? Across the world, natural disasters are devastating communities. The United Methodist Committee on Relief or UMCOR is one of the best long term recovery agencies in the world. If your heart breaks over these natural disasters or other worldwide areas of concern, please keep them in your prayers and if you are able, give through these avenues.
Tech Help in Fellowship Hall
Thank you to all who came during our last session for some tech help! The next sessions are planned for Dec. 23rd, and Jan 6th at 3:00pm. If you would like to come to a session, send an email with a description of your problem/question so I can look it over: TechHelpCUMC@gmail.com
Central Childcare is Hiring!
If you or someone you know is interested in working in our childcare, please contact Pastor Jen at jennifer@richmondcumc.com or call the office at 765-962-8543. This is a great opportunity for college students on Christmas break!
Community Food Pantry
Meijer has selected our pantry to participate in their Holiday SIMPLY GIVE campaign from now until January 2, 2021. While shopping at Meijer you can pick up a $10 Simply Give card and all that money will come to our pantry. The little tag says $10 but you can pay any amount. Thank you for your prayers and support for our pantry.
Boys & Girls Club Christmas Shop 2020
The Boys & Girls Club Christmas Shop of 2020 was re-styled in Covid 19 fashion. We were able to set up, guide the children through the shop and send them home with boxed and wrapped gifts while maintaining social distancing. In fact, the process went so smoothly we are planning to streamline the operation in a similar manner in the future. We appreciate all the donations that are given to us throughout the year by church families. Thank you to the members of Central who voluntarily gave their time to set up and oranize the gifts: Pat Heiny, Dana Mollenkopf, Alisa Clapp-Itnyre and Sara Wright. A special thank you to the committee of 7 women who worked the entire 9 days. They included Ann Herrman and 6 members of Central United Methodist: Cindy Hayworth, Sharon Enright, Aileen Githens, Nettie Cates, Susie Auman, and Carla Stidham. Well doine ladies!
Vaile Gift Cards
Thank you for contributing towards giving gift cards to Vaile Elementary. We were able to give them $175 worth! You generosity is much appreciated.
Holiday Office Hours
Central’s Office will be closed on the following dates to allow staff to spend time with their families
Friday December 25th
Monday December 28th
Thursday December 31st
Read more...
December 11th Updates
Red Cross Blood DriveWith so much dividing us in our world today, the church can and should offer a third way of uniting us in following the way of Jesus…publicly. Join us on the 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 12:05 in the Fellowship Hall for a brown bag lunch as we discuss and listen to the matters and efforts breaking and making the Shalom of our community. This Tuesday the 15th, we will be discussing poverty, homelessness, and our church’s benevolent response to this complex reality.
On December 24th, we will be having our Christmas Eve Family Service virtually @ 4:30 pm on our Facebook Page. Our Candlelight service will be offered both virtually on Facebook and in –person (REGISTER HERE) @ 8:00 pm. You are welcome to tune into both. We still encourage those who can comfortably watch online to please do so. For those who do not have candles at home, we will have candles available for pick up starting this Sunday. If you would like a candle delivered, please contact the church office. Though there will not be room for us all in the sanctuary, may our lights shine brightly throughout Richmond and beyond this Christmas Eve!
Longest Night Service
We will have two opportunities to gather for the Longest Night. During the 5-6pm hour on Dec. 21st you are welcome to come to the church sanctuary at any time to spend time in prayer. Pastors will also be available to pray with you. At 7pm, we will gather on zoom (info below) for the service. You can access the service via phone call or internet. The service will not be on Facebook. Please let Pastor Jen know if you have any questions. You may also request a recording of the service if you are unable to attend at that time.
Topic: Central UMC Longest Night Service
Time: Dec 21, 2020 07:00 PM America/Indiana/Indianapolis
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89939217988?pwd=NUJ3ZG5Od2xNM0pwOWlVNndzbUNPdz09
Zoom Gathering after Sunday Service
As more and more of us are joining worship from our homes, we wanted to offer a space for us to see one another and hear from one another. For every Sunday in Advent, we will be meeting on Zoom immediately following the service. This will include time to just say hi and chat, a few questions for conversation, and some breakout rooms for deeper conversation with a smaller group. I look forward to seeing you after services on Sunday:
Topic: After church zoom Time: Dec 20, 2020 11:30 AM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89617975743?pwd=TFZ5MFFNQkpEVUdZQ2JMUU8yTnRlZz09
Meeting ID: 896 1797 5743
Passcode: 239119
Dial by your location
1 312 626 6799 US
Let Us Go Now to Bethlehem:
Tuesdays, through Dec. 22nd You are invited to join Pastor Jen as she participates in this offering from Conference leadership and author Rev. Todd Outcalt for a Tuesday afternoon focus on joy and the miracle of Christ’s birth through Let Us Go Now to Bethlehem: Daily Devotions for Advent and Christmas. With leadership provided by Bishop Trimble alongside pastors Oscar Ramos-Gallardo, Marcy Patrick, and Pete Ward, we’ll gather for a devotional focus designed to bring you rest and encouragement in the midst of this season. Meetings will be held Tuesdays, December 1-22 at 1:00 p.m. (ET). For the Zoom link and to register, contact Luska.Natali@inumc.org. If you have any questions, contact Pastor Jen for more information and let her know if you’ll be on the call with her!
Natural Disaster Relief
You may have just seen pictures from Hurricanes Eta and Iota. Did you see those from Typhoons Gone and Vamco? Across the world, natural disasters are devastating communities. The United Methodist Committee on Relief or UMCOR is one of the best long term recovery agencies in the world. If your heart breaks over these natural disasters or other worldwide areas of concern, please keep them in your prayers and if you are able, give through these avenues.
Spice Up Their Life!A big thank you to all the people who donated bottles of spices for the Indiana Women’s Prison Christmas bags. A HUGE thank you to Jeff Logue, who donated $500 toward this project, and to Losantville UMC and Hagerstown UMC, who also donated spices. I am excited to be able to deliver 725 bottles of spices to the prison this coming week. The women will be THRILLED! May God bless you for giving, Ann Cashner, VICTORY Prison Ministry Genesis Board Member!
The Genesis Board would like to thank everyone who donated to this year’s Wayne County Foundation Matching Fund for Genesis. Genesis raised $35,000 through donations during the match week, then received the $5,000 match from the Foundation. Thank you to the members of Central for supporting Genesis over the years and for always being so very generous.
Advent Virtual Hymn Study
Tuesdays in December at 2:30, thru 12/22
Thank you to all who came during our last session for some tech help! The next sessions are planned for Dec. 23rd, and Jan 6th at 3:00pm. If you would like to come to a session, send an email with a description of your problem/question so I can look it over: TechHelpCUMC@gmail.com
December School Support
Vaile Elementary: We are collecting Meijer gift cards so that the school may purchase supplies for their upcoming parties, which include sugar cookies, icing, and sprinkles for 17 classrooms. Please turn in the gift cards by Monday, Dec. 14th. Contact Pastor Jen if you have questions.
Central Childcare is Hiring!
If you or someone you know is interested in working in our childcare, please contact Pastor Jen at jennifer@richmondcumc.com or call the office at 765-962-8543. This is a great opportunity for college students on Christmas break!
Community Food Pantry
Read more...
December 4th Updates
Red Cross Blood DriveSierra Leone Christmas Children’s Feeding Program
Our custodian, Pastor Paul Samura provides us with an opportunity to support our brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone through an annual feeding event for local churches within the Wesleyan Church of Sierra Leone. All Wesleyan Churches in Sierra Leone have functional auxiliaries – Men, Women, Young adults, Youths, Junior Youth Challenge, and Good News Club. Each year, Pastor Paul and other US based pastors and students select 2-3 Good News Clubs each to support the feeding program which involves providing food, a Christmas party and gifts for children. UMW and Missions will provide monetary support and wanted to invite the congregation to come alongside them. Please mark your gifts for the Sierra Leone Pastor’s Fund so that we may distribute this gift to support 3 Good News Clubs and the children that are a part of them. You may contribute until Sunday, December 6th. Between all of us, we hope to collect $600. Thank you for your support!
Longest Night Service
We are in the middle of a season of great joy and light. When we look at one another, many of us expect to see a smile on another person’s face and a twinkle in their eye. However, for many, Christmas can feel more like a season of great darkness and shadows. We may be experiencing loneliness, grief, loss, separation, pain, and/or sickness, especially this year. With so much joy surrounding us and long, lonely nights, we can feel lost in the hustle and bustle. One of the ways in which we can survive the holiday season is to claim and acknowledge our feelings, both the good and the bad. The longest and for many most difficult night of the year is December 21st. It has been a practice the past few years to create a space where people can be themselves and bring their sadness to the Lord. The Longest Night Service (sometimes referenced as Blue Christmas) will offer us a way to claim those feelings and still feel surrounded by the compassionate love of God. If you are searching for a place to just be, for a place to experience God’s love, and for a place to feel a glimmer of hope and peace, join us on Thursday, December 21st at 6pm for this contemplative service. We will keep you posted on if the service will be offered in person or not, but our hope is to be able to gather. We will also livestream the service on Facebook.
Zoom Gathering after Sunday Service
As more and more of us are joining worship from our homes, we wanted to offer a space for us to see one another and hear from one another. For every Sunday in Advent, we will be meeting on Zoom immediately following the service. This will include time to just say hi and chat, a few questions for conversation, and some breakout rooms for deeper conversation with a smaller group. I look forward to seeing you after services on Sunday:
Topic: Advent After-Party – Central Sunday Gathering
Sunday mornings after service
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82217647405
Meeting ID: 822 1764 7405
Dial by your location – 1 312 626 6799
Let Us Go Now to Bethlehem:
Tuesdays, through Dec. 22nd You are invited to join Pastor Jen as she participates in this offering from Conference leadership and author Rev. Todd Outcalt for a Tuesday afternoon focus on joy and the miracle of Christ’s birth through Let Us Go Now to Bethlehem: Daily Devotions for Advent and Christmas. With leadership provided by Bishop Trimble alongside pastors Oscar Ramos-Gallardo, Marcy Patrick, and Pete Ward, we’ll gather for a devotional focus designed to bring you rest and encouragement in the midst of this season. Meetings will be held Tuesdays, December 1-22 at 1:00 p.m. (ET). For the Zoom link and to register, contact Luska.Natali@inumc.org. If you have any questions, contact Pastor Jen for more information and let her know if you’ll be on the call with her!
Creative Hands
Creative Hands would like to thank everyone for their continued support of our projects benefiting local charities. We will not meet in the month of December so that we can mask up, stay safe, and enjoy the holiday season.
The Tuesday Group
The small group, “THE TUESDAY GROUP” invites you to join us, starting on Tuesday, December 1, for a 4-week Advent study. We meet at 6:30pm via Google “Hangouts”. Please email Jim Puckett if you’d like to join us. jpuckie@yahoo.com
~The Christmas story, or Advent, is more than a sentimental myth or a quiet manger scene we use to decorate our living rooms. The Christmas story is the good news of God entering into our darkness. Join J.D. Greear in this four-session series as he takes a deeper look at Jesus as Emmanuel, our Wonderful Counselor, the Everlasting Father, and the great I Am. When you know Jesus, you will realize Christmas is more than a nice story—the arrival of Jesus changes everything.
Natural Disaster Relief
You may have just seen pictures from Hurricanes Eta and Iota. Did you see those from Typhoons Gone and Vamco? Across the world, natural disasters are devastating communities. The United Methodist Committee on Relief or UMCOR is one of the best long term recovery agencies in the world. If your heart breaks over these natural disasters or other worldwide areas of concern, please keep them in your prayers and if you are able, give through these avenues.
2021 Altar Flowers
If you would like to place an order for Sunday altar flowers in 2021, please call the office at 765-962-8543 or email Christin at christin@richmondcumc.com. Each order costs $25 and is billed through Jack Daggy Flowers. There are plenty of open dates in 2021!
Sounds of the Season
Spice Up Their Life!It’s time again to donate spices for the Indiana Women’s Prison Christmas bags. It’s been a hard year, so they will be delighted to receive a bottle of spice to use for cooking in their dorms. NO GLASS bottles, please. SUGGESTED SPICES: garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, Italian seasoning, cinnamon, oregano, cayenne, pumpkin pie spice, Taco seasoning. Give your spice donations to Ann Cashner or bring to the church office. NO parsley, NO paprika, NO bay leaves. NO GLASS!
The new 2021 UMW Program Book will be coming out in January. You may pick up your copy at church following the service or we will mail it to you. There will be no UMW
meeting in January. The 2021 UMW “asking” is $15.00.
Advent Virtual Hymn Study
Tuesdays in December at 2:30, thru 12/22
Thank you to all who came during our last session for some tech help! The next sessions are planned for Dec. 9th, Dec. 23rd, and Jan 6th at 3:00pm. If you would like to come to a session, send an email with a description of your problem/question so I can look it over: TechHelpCUMC@gmail.com
December School Support
Vaile Elementary: We will be partnering with Principal Stevenson this December. She shared with us that the Fall Family Festival Kits were a huge hit. She also wrote, “They loved them. Thank you so much again!” Due to Covid, they likely won’t get to do their Breakfast with Santa again this year, so we are partnering together in different ways, especially through donations for their Good Behavior Party. More information will be forthcoming so stay tuned for our Friday announcements, Sunday bulletins, and Facebook posts!
Starr Elementary: Kathy Khamis is the Community in Schools Starr Site Coordinator. She believes that Christmas meals and family gift support will be important in December. If you would be interested to offer support for students and families in these ways, please contact Kathy directly or the church office so we can help you connect with her. She appreciates the many ways that this congregation offers support and loves the students, families, and community!
Central Childcare is Hiring!
If you or someone you know is interested in working in our childcare, please contact Pastor Jen at jennifer@richmondcumc.com or call the office at 765-962-8543. This is a great opportunity for college students on Christmas break!
The Laundry Project
Even with fewer people in and out of the church we still collected $150 in quarters. The Trustee’s Laundry Project was very grateful – they have used their allotment and have more people every time they hold a laundry day. Keep saving quarters, we’ll do it again after the first of the year. Thank you!! Thank you!! – The Intermediate Sunday school class
Community Food Pantry
Meijer has selected our pantry to participate in their Holiday SIMPLY GIVE campaign from now until January 2, 2021. While shopping at Meijer you can pick up a $10 Simply Give card and all that money will come to our pantry. Additionally Saturday December 12 will be a DOUBLE MATCH DAY — the Meijer Corporation will double match (your $10 gift will become $30). AND, you are not limited to $10! The little tag says $10 but you can pay any amount. Thank you for your prayers and support for our pantry.
It’s a Wonderful Life – Richmond Civic Theatre.
Read more...
November 25th Updates
Central United Methodist Church will once again be hosting a Red Cross blood drive. It is scheduled for 11:00 am to 3:00 pm on December 17th. As always, the need for blood donations is high. A new aspect of the blood draw is that you will be provided with information on how to check back with the Red Cross to see if they have determined if Covid antibodies are in your system. During the draw, a number of precautions will be in placed in consideration of Covid-19 restrictions. To register for the blood drive, go to redcrossblood.org and enter the code CUMCRICH. There you will be able to select a time for either a blood draw or a PowerRed draw. Hoping to see the time slots fill up quickly. Thanks.
Sierra Leone Christmas Children’s Feeding Program
Our custodian, Pastor Paul Samura provides us with an opportunity to support our brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone through an annual feeding event for local churches within the Wesleyan Church of Sierra Leone. All Wesleyan Churches in Sierra Leone have functional auxiliaries – Men, Women, Young adults, Youths, Junior Youth Challenge, and Good News Club. Each year, Pastor Paul and other US based pastors and students select 2-3 Good News Clubs each to support the feeding program which involves providing food, a Christmas party and gifts for children.
UMW and Missions will provide monetary support and wanted to invite the congregation to come alongside them. Please mark your gifts for the Sierra Leone Pastor’s Fund so that we may distribute this gift to support 3 Good News Clubs and the children that are a part of them. You may contribute until Sunday, December 6th. Between all of us, we hope to collect $600. Thank you for your support!
Zoom Gathering after Sunday Service
Let Us Go Now to Bethlehem:Tuesdays, Dec. 1st – 22nd You are invited to join Pastor Jen as she participates in this offering from Conference leadership and author Rev. Todd Outcalt for a Tuesday afternoon focus on joy and the miracle of Christ’s birth through Let Us Go Now to Bethlehem: Daily Devotions for Advent and Christmas. With leadership provided by Bishop Trimble alongside pastors Oscar Ramos-Gallardo, Marcy Patrick, and Pete Ward, we’ll gather for a devotional focus designed to bring you rest and encouragement in the midst of this season. Meetings will be held Tuesdays, December 1-22 at 1:00 p.m. (ET). For the Zoom link and to register, contact Luska.Natali@inumc.org. If you have any questions, contact Pastor Jen for more information and let her know if you’ll be on the call with her!
Creative Hands
Creative Hands would like to thank everyone for their continued support of our projects benefiting local charities. We will not meet in the month of December so that we can mask up, stay safe, and enjoy the holiday season.
The Tuesday Group
The small group, “THE TUESDAY GROUP” invites you to join us, starting on Tuesday, December 1, for a 4-week Advent study. We meet at 6:30pm via Google “Hangouts”. Please email Jim Puckett if you’d like to join us. jpuckie@yahoo.com
~The Christmas story, or Advent, is more than a sentimental myth or a quiet manger scene we use to decorate our living rooms. The Christmas story is the good news of God entering into our darkness. Join J.D. Greear in this four-session series as he takes a deeper look at Jesus as Emmanuel, our Wonderful Counselor, the Everlasting Father, and the great I Am. When you know Jesus, you will realize Christmas is more than a nice story—the arrival of Jesus changes everything.
Natural Disaster Relief
You may have just seen pictures from Hurricanes Eta and Iota. Did you see those from Typhoons Gone and Vamco? Across the world, natural disasters are devastating communities. The United Methodist Committee on Relief or UMCOR is one of the best long term recovery agencies in the world. If your heart breaks over these natural disasters or other worldwide areas of concern, please keep them in your prayers and if you are able, give through these avenues.
It’s time to order your Christmas Poinsettias!
Christmas Poinsettias are $12.50 each and come in your choice of Red or White. The deadline for all Poinsettia orders is Monday, November 30th. If you would like to order your Poinsettia, you may fill out the order form that will be in your bulletin during Sunday Worship and drop it in the offering plate or you may contact Christin at 765-962-8543 or christin@richmondcumc.com with the following information. Please make all checks out to Central United Methodist Church with “Poinsettias” in the memo line.
From:
In Honor Of:
In Memory Of:
Number of Poinsettias:
Color you would like: Red or White.
If you would like to place an order for Sunday altar flowers in 2021, please call the office at 765-962-8543 or email Christin at christin@richmondcumc.com. Each order costs $25 and is billed through Jack Daggy Flowers. There are plenty of open dates in 2021!
Sounds of the Season
The 2nd annual Sounds of the Season holiday concert is going virtual this year! It will premiere on Central’s Facebook page Saturday, December 12th at 7pm. The program will feature a diverse collection of beloved Christmas classics, sacred and secular alike. Performers will include Minister of Music Madeleine Demetriades on piano and organ, Wesley Ringers Bell Choir, Chancel Choir and many others ready to get you into the Christmas spirit! You won’t want to miss this!
Spice Up Their Life!
It’s time again to donate spices for the Indiana Women’s Prison Christmas bags. It’s been a hard year, so they will be delighted to receive a bottle of spice to use for cooking in their dorms. NO GLASS bottles, please. SUGGESTED SPICES: garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, Italian seasoning, cinnamon, oregano, cayenne, pumpkin pie spice, Taco seasoning. Give your spice donations to Ann Cashner or bring to the church office. NO parsley, NO paprika, NO bay leaves. NO GLASS!
The new 2021 UMW Program Book will be coming out in January. You may pick up your copy at church following the service or we will mail it to you. There will be no UMW
meeting in January. The 2021 UMW “asking” is $15.00.
Commitment Cards
We are humbled by the initial wave of commitment Central has already undertaken for ministry in 2021. You all have again and again showed this community your willingness to pay the bill for the light to shine brightly from 1425 E Main and beyond. We are all truly blessed to be a blessing. If you have not yet offered your commitment card, please continue to pray over what God has set upon your heart. When you have discerned, you can either place it in the offering plate this Sunday or mail it to Central UMC, 1425 E Main St. Richmond, IN 47374. Alternatively, you can login to Realm (our private online directory) and share your pledge commitment through clicking on the Giving tab and then the pledge button. Together, we will offer Hope, Faith, and Love for years to come.
Tech Help in Fellowship Hall
Thank you to all who came during our last session for some tech help! The next sessions are planned for Dec. 9th, Dec. 23rd, and Jan 6th at 3:00pm. If you would like to come to a session, send an email with a description of your problem/question so I can look it over: TechHelpCUMC@gmail.com
Advent Virtual Hymn Study
Tuesdays in December at 2:30, thru 12/22
Read more...