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.
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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
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November 20th Updates
UPDATE: Hanging of the Greens
If you were planning to come Saturday for staging for decorating the church and moving heavy items, please contact Pastor Jen first via email or phone.
Sunday’s gathering following worship to hang the greens has been cancelled. If your family/tribe would like to be a part of decorating the church/hanging the greens, please contact Pastor Jen to set up an appointment to help us with physical distancing.
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.
The Intermediate Sunday School class is once again collecting quarters for the Laundry Project. While the Trustee’s Office has had to reorganize they are still in need of quarters!!!! The Laundry Jug will be in the parlor today November 22nd.
Food Distribution
The WCFC and Gleaners are partnering up for a food distributions this month, and they need volunteers to help make it happen! The details are:
- 11/23 – 100 S. 10th St. Richmond 9:30-11A
If you can volunteer, please send Caleb Smith (caleb@waynefood.org) a note to let him know! They are in need of 8-10 volunteers. Ideally, you’ll arrive 45 minutes to an hour ahead of time to help with set up. These distributions are outdoors, so dress appropriately! Let Caleb know if you have any questions or need more information. They’ll be putting out some info on social media soon, so make sure to keep your eye out to help spread the word for these events!
Caleb Smith, Chair, Wayne County Food Council
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!
Many congregations celebrate Advent by using an Advent wreath to help worshipers focus on the coming of the Messiah. Each Sunday someone lights another candle on the wreath and leads the congregation in an appropriate reading and prayer. At Christmas, the Christ candle in the center of the circle is lit, signifying that the time of waiting is over. Lighting the Advent wreath is also a great time for us to nurture one another’s faith. This year, we are asking you to share stories showing how God is working in your lives during the lighting of the Advent candles. These can be shared in person as you light the Advent wreath, or on video. Please contact Pastor Jen to learn more and sign up!
2021 Altar FlowersIf 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!
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!
Thursday, December 10 at 9:00, women from Creative Hands will be baking and eating Christmas goodies in the church kitchen. Come join us for socially distanced fun, food and fellowship. Come anytime between 9:00 and Noon. ALL WOMEN of the church are invited.
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 CardsWe 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.
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
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November 13th Updates
Just in time for the holidays – This Sunday in Fellowship HallHomemade noodles and pecans, coming to you from a UMW nearby. Can’t go out shopping for that special gift? Central United Methodist Women’s Creative Hands participants have also been busy, busy, busy creating some extra special items with fall/winter and Christmas themed pillows; tea towels, tree ornaments and more. Pick up you pecans: $12 per pound and pick up noodles: $5 per pound bag (limit 3 bags) OR that special gift! Come masked and socially distance in Fellowship Hall after service. Not at the service? We’ll arrange a pick up time for you. Thank you -UMW
Saturday, Nov. 21st 10am – We need those who can move heavy objects to join us to move decorations, nativity, etc. from the pic drop to their spots for people to be able to decorate on Sunday after church! Please contact Pastor Jen if you can make it.
Sunday, Nov. 22nd following worship – Decorate the church for Advent/Christmas! We will divide into small groups/family units, wear masks, and practice social distancing to continue this tradition and spread joy, that is especially needed this year. A lite lunch will be served in Fellowship Hall before we decorate.
It’s time to order your Christmas Poinsettias!Food Distribution
The WCFC and Gleaners are partnering up for a food distributions this month, and they need volunteers to help make it happen! The details are:
- 11/23 – 100 S. 10th St. Richmond 9:30-11A
If you can volunteer, please send Caleb Smith (caleb@waynefood.org) a note to let him know! They are in need of 8-10 volunteers. Ideally, you’ll arrive 45 minutes to an hour ahead of time to help with set up. These distributions are outdoors, so dress appropriately! Let Caleb know if you have any questions or need more information. They’ll be putting out some info on social media soon, so make sure to keep your eye out to help spread the word for these events!
Caleb Smith
Chair, Wayne County Food Council
o: (765) 983-7425
The Intermediate Sunday School class is once again collecting quarters for the Laundry Project. While the Trustee’s Office has had to reorganize they are still in need of quarters!!!! The Laundry Jug will be in the parlor on November 15th, and 22nd. If you are not able to come to the church service and would like to drive through either on a Sunday morning or evening between 5 and 7, we will meet you at the door. Just let us know.
Sounds of the SeasonThe 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!
Six months have passed since the first family received assistance through the Community Emergency Relief Room in early May. We have now assisted fourteen families, involving fifty-one individuals. A user group has been established on Facebook that helps those involved with this mission to keep abreast with what is going on in the Relief Room and to communicate with each other. We would like to invite members of the CUMC congregation to join this group in order to learn more about this mission and perhaps decide they would like to become involved. The name of the user group is
Team: Community Emergency Relief Group. Come join us!
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.
2021 Altar FlowersIf you would like to place an order for Sunday altar flowers, 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!
Many congregations celebrate Advent by using an Advent wreath to help worshipers focus on the coming of the Messiah. Each Sunday someone lights another candle on the wreath and leads the congregation in an appropriate reading and prayer. At Christmas, the Christ candle in the center of the circle is lit, signifying that the time of waiting is over. Lighting the Advent wreath is also a great time for us to nurture one another’s faith. This year, we are asking you to share stories showing how God is working in your lives during the lighting of the Advent candles. These can be shared in person as you light the Advent wreath, or on video. Please contact Pastor Jen to learn more and sign up!
Red Cross Blood DriveCentral 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.
Thank you to all who came this past Wednesday for some tech help! The next sessions are planned for Dec. 9th, Dec. 23rd, and Jan 6th. 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
Read more...