King Avenue Digest 11/21/20
November 21, 2020
King Avenue Happenings
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EFFECTIVE NOW: In-Person Worship Suspended - As Franklin County is now in public health level of PURPLE, King Avenue will suspend in-person worship and will transition to offering virtual worship only, effective this Sunday, November 22, 2020, until further notice.
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Nov 24: Annual Church Conference - Our annual church conference to elect officers, set clergy salaries, and other administrative tasks is Tuesday, November 24, 7pm, on Zoom. All church members have a voice and vote. CLICK ON THIS LINK to join the Zoom meeting.
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This Thanksgiving Give Your Loved Ones the Gift of Health - Medical directors of Ohio’s largest health systems believe that the surge in COVID-19 cases is not coming from businesses, from churches, or from schools, but is rather fueled when people let down their guard in private gatherings. Please be cautious in how you celebrate Thanksgiving this year. If possible, wait to gather with family next year and contact one another by phone. If you do have a family gathering, open windows to increase air circulation, wear masks when not eating, seat persons at the meal farther apart and shorten the time of your visit. Have extra masks on hand and prepare people by sharing “the rules of the house” in advance. In sum, please observe vigilantly the principles that are now familiar—wear a mask, keep physical distance, increase fresh air circulation/exchange and wash hands frequently.
Holiday Help Opportunities
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UPDATED INFO... NOW through Dec 10: Bethlehem on Broad St. - Bethlehem on Broad boxes are needed! There is an increased need for Bethlehem on Broad boxes this year. Please make a special effort to donate a box this holiday season. Empty boxes and packing lists may be picked up at the church, or just any box will do! Filled boxes may be dropped off at the church Saturdays 10-noon, Sundays 10-11 & noon-12:30, and M-F 10am-2pm, call Amy at 614-266-5030 to make arrangements for weekday dropoff. The deadline for filled boxes is December 10. If you prefer to donate money, you may do so via Realm. Donations of $35-40 will allow the purchase & boxing of items on your behalf. The deadline for monetary donations is December 3. Thank you very much for your help in this ministry. CLICK HERE for the Shopping List
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NOW through Dec 7: NNEMAP Holiday Gift Donations - Donors like you helped NNEMAP Food Pantry provide gifts for nearly 1,000 kids in 2019! We need your help again! NNEMAP is gratefully accepting donations of new unwrapped gifts for children. Drop your new, unwrapped gift to the NNEMAP Food Pantry - 677 E. 11th Ave, Columbus, OH 43211. Deliveries will be accepted between 10AM - 1PM Monday through Saturday through December 8. The Gift Shoppe is Open December 14—19, 2020 9am-1pm and is hosted by Linden Life Fellowship. To volunteer, please contact Roy Clark at director@nnemappantry.org or call 614-297-0533. THANK YOU FOR HELPING MAKE THE HOLIDAYS A SPECIAL TIME FOR OUR YOUNGEST CUSTOMERS! CLICK HERE to Download the Flyer
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NNEMAP Holiday Food Drive - The Holiday Food Drive sponsored by the Dennison Place Neighborhood Association and the Short North Block Watch will continue on Saturdays through the end of the year. A blue bin will be outside the southwest entrance to the church every Saturday from noon- 6 PM.
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NOW through Dec 13: Hubbard Holiday Help - Please consider giving a gift or a meal to a Hubbard School family in need of support this Christmas. CLICK HERE for more information. The deadline for gifts/gift cards is December 13. Contact Erin Kendall at erin@kingave.org with questions or for more information.
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Open Shelter Lunch Packing - Do you have some available time to help those in need? Join the King Avenue lunch packers on December 17, 6:00pm or December 29, 6:00pm. Please take all necessary precautions to ensure your safety and those of the fellow lunch packers.
Advent and Christmas Eve Worship Help
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Calling All Musicians up to age 18 Years Old! If you play an instrument and would like to share your musical gift during the Christmas Eve family worship service, now's the time to start practicing! Record yourself playing your piece and email/share your video to erin@kingave.org by Dec. 13th. Your performance video will be included in the prelude of our virtual service. Let Erin know if you have any questions!
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Sign up Now: Lighting the Advent Wreath - Sign up to participate in an Advent worship service by lighting the Advent wreath. There are opportunities available at both Morning Blend and Traditional services beginning on November 29. CLICK HERE to sign up. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Erin Kendall at erin@kingave.org.
Advent Season at King Avenue
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Sunday Worship Sermon Series - Light for the World, November 29 - December 20
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Advent at Home Kits - Pick up your own Advent at Home Kit at church beginning November 15! Pick these up Saturdays 10-noon, Sundays 10-11 & noon-12:30, and M-F 10am-2pm, call Amy at 614-266-5030 to make arrangements.
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Sounds of the Season Advent Music Series - Celebrate this season of Advent through music! Our Sounds of the Season Advent Music Series will occur Sundays at 4:00pm throughout Advent. Please note that some of these events are now tentative due to the change in Franklin County's status. December 6, TENTATIVE Spectrum Caroling (KA Parking Lot); December 13, TENTATIVE Heartsong concert (Livestream); and December 20, Advent Lessons & Carols (Recorded). Stay tuned for more details.
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Dec 11-13: CGMC presents the 31st Annual JOY! Holiday Spectacular - With a mixture of both classic and comical music, you will be witness to a telethon gone awry — where a failing studio is trying desperately to stay alive by bringing up the cheer-o-meter! The show will provide a much-needed humorous take on the season. JOY! IS A SPECIAL VIRTUAL PERFORMANCE Registration details soon. Performances are December 11 at 8:00pm, December 12 at 2:00pm and 8:00pm, December 13 at 6:00pm.
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Dec 2-23: Join an Advent Study, Names for the Messiah - Join us for an Advent study, Names for the Messiah, based on Isaiah 9:6. This class will discuss how people understood the titles of Jesus and how we understand them now. This study will be held on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. on 12/2, 12/9, 12/16, 12/23. This class will be led by Rev. John Keeny and meets weekly on Zoom. CLICK HERE to register.
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Dec 21: Blue Christmas Worship - Our Blue Christmas Worship for those experiencing loss will be held December 21 at 7:00pm. More details will come soon!
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Dec 24: Christmas Eve Worship - Join your King Avenue faith family for Christmas Eve worship on Thursday, Dec. 24. The Family Service will be held via Zoom at 4:30pm. At 7:00pm, enjoy a Organ Prelude Mini Concert followed by 7:30pm Christmas Eve Worship. Stay tuned for details about these services.
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Children's Connections - Participate in Children's Connections Sunday School at 10 am every Sunday. This is a wonderful way for parents and children to grow in their faith together. Click HERE to learn more about Children's Connections.
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Youth Connections - Youth virtual Sunday School class is offered each week for youth in 6th to 12th grades. We will meet on Zoom every Sunday morning at 10 am. Reading the book "This Book is Anti-Racist" is suggested. We will discuss 2-3 of the sections during each class. It's incredibly important for our youth to connect their growing faith to the issues and concerns of daily life. Over the next couple of months, we will connect our relationship with God to the challenges of racism. We will learn how to become anti-racist as a faith community. Click HERE to learn more about Youth Connections.
Continuing News - Worship, Faith Formation, Fellowship, and Support
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LifeCare Alliance COVID-19 Utility Assistance Program: Relief is available for families facing pandemic-related hardship. Many central Ohio families have felt the effects of COVID-19 on their employment and ability to stay current on utility bills. Now, LifeCare Alliance is providing assistance to help avoid shutoffs as we navigate the pandemic. If you or your family has experienced furloughs, a reduction in work hours, layoffs, or similar situations related to the COVID-19 pandemic, you are invited to apply for this assistance. LifeCare Alliance can assist with utility bills - Electric, Gas, Water. Funds are limited, so please contact us today to get the process started. For more information, please contact: John Gregory jgregory@lifecarealliance.org or 614-437-2803. CLICK HERE to download the flyer.
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First Sundays: Youth Group - We're back! Youth Group for 6-12 graders begins on 11/1 at 4:30pm via Zoom. The Zoom link and more information is available on the Youth Connections page, on Facebook, and Realm.. Contact Erin or Gwen with questions!
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November 29 Lit Club - Join the Lit Club on November 29 at 7pm on Zoom to discuss Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
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Upper Room Devotional Books - The Upper Room devotionals for November and December are available for pickup at the west and south parking lot doors.
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Pastor Colleen Open Office Hours - We live in challenging times. One of the blessings of Christian life is that we share our burdens with one another and with God. If you are grieving, feeling dispirited, anxious, overwhelmed, or simply would like conversation and prayer, Pastor Colleen Ogle is available. She will hold Monday evenings 7-9 pm and Tuesday afternoons 3-5 pm for conversations by phone, on-line through Zoom, or in-person. Please email colleen@kingave.org to make arrangements. In the email, please indicate when you are available, whether you want to talk by phone, zoom, or in-person and you will receive a prompt response with information about how to proceed. You may also share if you need a different time to talk.
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Pastoral Visits to Hospital & Extended Care Facilities - At present the church building is only open for worship. Although pastors are not yet permitted to visit persons in hospitals or extended care facilities, we do want to know when persons have health concerns. Please include these in the prayer concerns or contact a pastor directly jkeeny@kingave.org or colleen@kingave.org.
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CORE Youth Center is a virtual place for youth! Are you looking for online faith resources for your youth (6th to 12th grades)? King Avenue UMC's Children and Youth Education Program created an inclusive and affirming website to fit this need. Think of this as a home base as you stretch, grow, and explore your faith and your identity as a Jesus follower. What you believe, think, and feel will change during your Middle and High School years. And your journey will not end when you graduate. Our faith journeys continue for our whole lives. Check out the CORE Youth Center here: https://sites.google.com/view/coreyouthcenter/home and contact Gwendolyn DeRosa at gwen@kingave.org if you would like to help create new content.
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Small Group Welcomes Young Adults - The Next Chapter virtual small group led by Amy Oblinger, meets every Wednesday at 6 on Zoom. This young adult group discusses participants’ thoughts about and reactions to that week’s sermon, whether it was seen in-person on Sunday or watched from the comfort of home. The session sometimes includes discussing current events and studying the scriptures, and always includes time to pray for each other. The group welcomes new participants. If you are interested, contact amylianne@gmail.com for the Zoom link.
Volunteer Opportunities
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USHERS AND GREETERS NEEDED - We need your help to make sure everyone at church feels welcome and stays safe! Volunteers are needed to greet and usher at both the 9:00 and 11:00 services. If you are interested, please email Beth Aiello, beth@kingave.org, your name and which service. Thank you for considering supporting this important ministry!
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Audio-Visual Volunteers Needed - We are looking for some folks who would like to learn how to help with live streaming our 9:30 and 11:00 services. You don’t need a lot of experience; we will train you! Please email beth@kingave.org if you are interested.