King Avenue Digest 12/2/23

December 1, 2023


ADVENT – A SEASON OF PRAYER
This Advent will be a church-wide season of prayer. Here's how you can join in this week.

✴ Bi-Weekly Morning Prayer Together – Join us on Facebook Live for Morning Prayer on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30am.

✴ Pray Together on Sundays at 10am – Come to pray in the Chapel during the 10am hour on Sunday mornings. If you're not joining us in-person, join us in prayer during the 10am hour wherever you are by praying Bishop Palmer's prayer, and the week's prayer focus. This week, the focus is...

  • For movements toward peace in Israel & Palestine

  • For deepened commitment to making King Avenue a place with space for all to be.

✴ Pray Bishop Palmer's Prayer once/day – Gracious God, we humbly acknowledge that you are the source of our life. We confess we are often tempted to try being your church without your love, without your power. Forgive us. Grant to us, grace-full God to put all our hope and confidence in you. For you are Able. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.


*NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS AND FAST-APPROACHING EVENTS* 

  • THIS FRIDAY, December 1: Reception for Digital Duet Art Exhibit - Join Jason Bradley Krauss (graphic designer) and Kurt Reichert (photographer) for a special collaborative art show and sale titled Digital Duet. This art show and reception will be held in the King Avenue Art Gallery on Friday, December 1 from 5:00-8:00pm. All sales from art purchases are a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. VIEW THE FLYER FOR THIS EVENT

  • THIS SATURDAY, December 2: United Women of Faith UMCOR Hygiene Kits - UMCOR distributes HYGIENE KITS during disasters. The kits provide basic necessities for people impacted by natural disasters or socio-economic crisis. Join United Women of Faith on Saturday, December 2, 10am-Noon to assemble hygiene kits for UMCOR. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall. Kit supplies and refreshments provided.  

  • DUE MONDAY, DECEMBER 4: Poinsettia Orders - Poinsettias are displayed throughout our Sanctuary during the Advent season. The cost of one poinsettia is $11. Your dedication(s) will be included in the 7pm & 9pm Christmas Eve bulletins on Sunday, December 24. Poinsettias are available to take home after the services. Please submit your payment and the necessary information by Monday, December 4. Questions? Contact Amy Ashburn at amy@kingave.org.  PRINT DONATION FORM

  • THIS TUESDAY, December 5: Retirees Christmas Celebration - Join the Retirees Ministry as we celebrate the Christmas season with singing, food, and fellowship on Tuesday, December 5th at 11:30 in the Fellowship Hall. Dave Bowermeister will lead us in carols followed by a White Elephant Gift SWAP GAME. Please bring ANY gift you have that is re-cycled or re-gifted for the White Elephant Gift SWAP GAME. Following the gift swap game, we will have a potluck-style lunch in the Fellowship Hall. The Retirees Lead Team will provide a BBQ beef/pork. You can provide a side or dessert! Please RSVP via Realm or to Teresa Malloy malloy29@aol.com by DECEMBER 3rd.

  • *NEW* DUE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10: NNEMAP Toy Collection - So many neighbors of ours are in need. This year, NNEMAP signed up 460 families representing almost 1,600 children! They would love to have plenty of unwrapped gifts at the pantry for this year's Christmas Shoppe. If you'd like to contribute, please bring an unwrapped toy or two to church. There will be a NNEMAP grocery cart in Fellowship Hall, and a NNEMAP box in the milling area. All donations should be turned in no later than December 10. We will deliver all the gifts the following week in time for their Christmas Shoppe. Thanks for your support!

KEEP READING FOR THE REST OF OUR CURRENT HAPPENINGS AND NEWS...  

  • 2024 Pledges - Thank you to those who have returned 2024 pledge cards or set up a 2024 pledge in Realm. These pledges inform budget decisions for the next year in our church. If you still plan to pledge, it isn't too late! We are still gratefully accepting pledge cards, or you are welcome to enter your 2024 pledge in Realm. If you have questions, please email Susan Jenkins at susan@kingave.org.

  • Loving Our Neighbors - We have 700-800 neighbors from Haiti living in a condemned apartment building facing displacement, with winter coming up fast. To help them, we will be collecting new and gently used kids' coats in all sizes, baby through teenager. Bring them to the church building on Sunday or any time during the week and we will deliver them to our neighbors. READ MORE

  • ELEVATOR STATUS REPORT -  Workers continue to work on the elevator.  We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience, and we look forward to being back at full operating capacity as soon as possible.

  • Sundays, November 26- December 17: The Belfries of all Christendom Adult Advent Sunday School Class - Join us this Advent Season in preparing our hearts for the coming of Jesus. This Sunday School class is based off of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s timeless classic “Christmas Bells.” We will explore the themes of fellowship, prayer, service and evangelism. No preparation needed. Drop in for one class or join us every week running Sundays from November 26 through December 17, during the 10am Sunday School hour. Any questions please contact Tim Bechtol at Bechtol97@yahoo.com.

  • Friday, December 8: Youth Gift Wrapping Elves! Would you like to help wrap gifts? Join us as we wrap the donated gifts from the Hubbard Holiday Tree. We will gather in Donnewirth on December 8 at 6pm for a wrapping party. For more information, contact Ada at ada@kingave.org. 

  • Wednesday, December 13 (2nd Wednesdays): Caregiver Support Group - King Avenue UMC Retirees Ministry and the Alzheimer's Association of Central Ohio are partnering to bring a Caregiver Support Group to our church monthly.  No registration is necessary and there is no cost.  This group is designed to support families of individuals affected by any type of dementia. This group will meet the second Wednesday of each month from 6:00-7:30.

  • Thursday, December 14: Santa's Helpers Needed! We are looking for volunteers on December 14 from 3:30-6:00pm at the church. We will be handing out gifts to Hubbard families. Come help spread some cheer!

  • Sunday, December 17: A Service of Lessons and Carols - Join the King Avenue musicians and instrumentalists for a service of music at the 11am worship on Sunday, December 17. This is a great opportunity to ask a guest to church!

  • Sunday, December 17: Lit Club - Please note that Lit Club this month has moved to December 17 because of the holidays. Our book in December is The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka. We selected this short but good read to allow you extra time to read the following book, The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. It's a much longer book that we will be discussing on January 28. If you'd like to come to Lit Club, just read the book of the month and come to church at 7:00pm to talk about it. All are welcome!

  • NNEMAP Item of the Month for December - Each month, we are going to focus our donations on specific items our community partners. You can bring your donations with you on Sundays. There will be a place to leave them in the back of the worship space. Please donate non-perishable side items (boxes, cans, etc)  during December. 

WORSHIP CONNECTIONS AND SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAMMING

  • Worship Connections – 9:00am and 11:00am
    9:00am Worship Connections - 4 years old to Grade 3 (L4)  
    11:00am Worship Connections - 4 years old to Grade 3 (L4)  
    First Sundays (Communion) - Children attend regular worship.  
    Discipleship Program - Grades 4-12 opportunity to volunteer in Worship Connections once/month.    

  • Sunday School Hour - 10:00 am
    Godly Play - 4 years old to Grade 3 (room L4)  
    Chrysalis Club - Grades 4-5 (room L4+).
    C.O.R.E. Youth - Grades 6-12 (Donnenwirth) 
    Real People, Real Parents - King Avenue Parents and Guardians (Fireside)
    *PLEASE NOTE*  First Sundays at 10:00, 4 years old to Grade 5 and their families will be welcomed to Family Godly Play in the Chapel.   

FAITH FORMATION, FELLOWSHIP, AND SUPPORT

  • First Sundays are Communion Sundays! On the first Sunday of every month, there is no Worship Connections. Everyone is invited to fully participate in worship services and communion. For parents and kids 4 yrs to 5th grade, there is Family Godly Play in the Chapel at 10 am. No other parent or children's Sunday School class will take place on the first Sundays of the month. The CORE Youth Group will still meet in Donnenwirth for their SS class.

  • Ongoing Children, Youth, Family Opportunities - Check our website for our ongoing opportunities for Children, Youth, and Families. This includes our ongoing children and youth Christian education, faith formation, community and fellowship, and ways you can stay connected. CLICK HERE for our Children, Youth, and Family Page on the King Avenue website.

  • Last Sundays of the Month at 7pm: Lit Club - Join the Lit Club on the last Sunday of each month at 7pm in the Logos Lounge. All are welcome! Simply read the book of the month, and get together to talk about it.  Contact Rick Gilson (rickgilson@yahoo.com) if you'd like to be added to the communication group in Realm.

  • Second Wednesdays: Caregiver Support Group - King Avenue UMC Retirees Ministry and the Alzheimer's Association of Central Ohio are partnering to bring a Caregiver Support Group to our church monthly.  No registration is necessary and there is no cost.  This group is designed to support families of individuals affected by any type of dementia. This group will meet the second Wednesday of each month from 6:00-7:30.

  • Isaiah 35 Fellowship - Depression, anxiety, and many other mental health issues can challenge faith and hope and contribute to a feeling of isolation. Isaiah 35 is a confidential group providing fellowship, support, and prayer for adults with mental health struggles. We meet on every other Sunday (beginning 2/12/23) on Zoom from 7 to 8 pm. Due to the nature of this group, please contact Mary Bostian for the Zoom link and more details. (614) 371-0171 marybostian50@gmail.com

  • Our LGBTQIA+ Ministry is called Rainbow Connections - Our Mission Statement states, We create a safe harbor for LGBTQ+ Christians and their allies, and witness to God’s love for everyone. Stay tuned for fun fellowship opportunities!

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