December 11th Updates

Red Cross Blood Drive
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.
 
Shalom Sessions
With 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.
 
 
Christmas Eve Services
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.

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
Join Zoom Meeting
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!
 
Thank You, Central!
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

During the 4 weeks of Advent, Minister of Music Madeleine Demetriades will lead us through portions of Robert Morgan’s book, Then Sings My Soul. We will discuss the fascinating histories of classic Christmas carols such as Hark the Herald Angels Sing, O Come All Ye Faithful, Silent Night and more. Let us know if you would be interested in participating, and we will send reading materials and the zoom link. We promise a fun time of learning, laughter and fellowship! Email madeleine@richmondcumc.com for more information.
 
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

 

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

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 19 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.
 

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