King Avenue Digest 2/15/2024

February 15, 2024


The Season of Lent: Ash Wednesday, February 14 – Holy Saturday, March 30

  • Wednesday, February 14: Ash Wednesday Taizé Worship Service - King Avenue worship community will gather on Ash Wednesday for a service of prayer, song and contemplation by candlelight. We will be receiving Holy Communion and the Imposition of Ashes. The service will take begin at 7pm in Fellowship Hall.

  • February 20/21 - March 26/27: Lenten Adult Faith Formation Class Filled to Be Emptied  - "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself…" (Philippians 2:5-7a) These ancient words about Jesus' self-emptying are an invitation for privileged people to view our advantages as something to be laid aside for the good of our neighbors. Join us for a class this Lent as we ponder what Jesus calls each of us to lay down. This class has a Zoom-only option (Tuesdays at 1pm) and an in-person only option (Wednesdays at 7pm). Register for the class on Realm (Registration Links - TUESDAYS ZOOM • WEDNESDAY IN-PERSON), or let Pastor Andy (andy@kingave.org) or Pastor Karen (karen@kingave.org) know that you're interested. We will be using a book by the same title for the class. Click here to find it on Amazon. We also have a limited number of books on hand if you are unable to buy it for yourself.

Lent & Easter Worship

  • Ash Wednesday - February 14 at 7pm (Fellowship Hall)
  • Palm Sunday - March 24 at 9am (Fellowship Hall) and 11am (Sanctuary)
  • Maundy Thursday - March 28 at 7pm (Sanctuary)
  • Good Friday - March 29 at 7pm (Sanctuary)
  • Easter Sunday - March 31  at 9am (Fellowship Hall) and 11am (Sanctuary)


​​​​​​​*NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS AND QUICKLY-APPROACHING EVENTS* 

  • REVEREND GRAYSON ATHA - Our beloved Pastor Emeritus Grayson Atha died on Sunday, February 11. Grayson served as the Senior Pastor at King Avenue United Methodist Church from 1994-2006. Grayson was invited to consider the question of whether LGBT persons should be fully included in the life of the church. He taught us that families don’t all look the same, and he expanded our imagination and ministry capacity. The impact and witness of King Avenue opened us wide in ways that we continue to seek to build God’s beloved Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. Grayson, with committed lay leadership, led the way for full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ persons in our church. During Grayson’s tenure at King Avenue, we became a Reconciling Congregation and continue to serve as a beacon of love and acceptance to many.  We expect a full house to celebrate the life and witness of Grayson. CLICK HERE FOR SERVICE INFORMATION • CLICK HERE FOR THE LIVESTREAM

  • *NEW* Sunday, February 18: No Worship Connections - Because both Ada and Gwen will be with the children at Casa de Misericordia in Mexico, there is no Worship Connections on Feb. 18th. But childcare is available through 3 years old in the nursery. Godly Play is  10am in the large children’s classroom for 4 yrs through 5th grade. CORE Youth Group is in Donnenwirth at 10 am for 6th through 12th grades.  Real Parents Sunday School class is in the Fireside Lounge at 10 am. Contact Gwen with any questions.

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

  • CONTINUED PRAYERS February 15-19: Mexico Mission Team - Please hold our mission team in prayer as they prepare, travel, and - most importantly - spend time at the Casa de Misericordia in Piedras Negras, Mexico. It is an exhausting yet exhilarating time to share in God's love with the children! The team members are Gwen DeRosa, Andy and Lauren Burns, Ada Wilcox, Jetta Mencer, John Holmes, Robyn Parris, Mackalyn Figgins, Melissa Klosterman-Lando, Alessia Klosterman-Lando, Jackson Klosterman-Lando, and Laura Brake.

  • Elevator Update - THE ELEVATOR HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND ACCESS TO ALL FLOORS FOR ALL PEOPLE HAS BEEN RESTORED! Thank you for your patience and for your faithfulness as we have gone through the process of finding the right company to provide the best solution and to ensure effective, safe operation into the future. Looking forward to seeing all who have been away because you could not get where you needed to go safely. Thanks be to God!

  • Attic Art Treasures - The February/March exhibit in our gallery entitled “Attic Art Treasures” features framed pieces of art/photograph collected from our congregation that have been tucked away somewhere. See these treasures and read the story behind them.  DOWNLOAD THE FLYER

  • Tuesday, February 20: Rebels and Reconnection... Healing from Purity Culture Together - This drop-in peer support group (for over 18 yrs old) is a safe, authentic environment where we process the trauma of purity culture, connect with our own amazing bodies, and formulate our own sexual ethics. We will dive into a variety of themes, including: God and gender, purity culture history, and sex education. We will meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month, beginning on Feb. 20th, from 7 to 8:30 pm. READ MORE

  • Beginning Wednesday, 2/21/24: Young Adult Ministry Bible Study - The Young Adult Ministry group will begin a weekly group Bible Study starting Wednesday, February 21st. We will meet from 7pm-8pm in the Fireside Room. This study will focus on the challenging questions we ask when we read scripture and develop new skills to read for liberation and love. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FLIER

  • Friday, February 23: All Church PJ Movie Night - Wear your PJs, bring your family, and come watch Lilo & Stitch with us. Meet in Fellowship Hall at 6pm for some good food and a good movie.

  • Sunday, March 3: Kinship Campus Ministry Lunch - Meet other college students for a free monthly lunch in Donnenwirth Lounge on the first Sunday of everyy month at 12:30pm. Come upstairs right after the 11:00 worship service concludes. This lunch is open to any college student, undergrad or grad. Contact Gwen with any questions, dietary restrictions, or food allergies at gwendolyn.derosa@gmail.com

  • NNEMAP Item of the Month for February - 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 laundry detergent pods for February. 

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  • TODAY, February 14: Retirees Valentines Day Lunch and Line Dancing - Join the Retirees Ministry on Valentine’s Day for Lunch and Line Dancing. We will get your mind and body moving on February 14, from 11:30-1:30 in Fellowship Hall.  We’ll serve a light lunch followed by line dancing  instruction. Two left feet? No worries. Just a lot of fun!

  • TODAY, February 14: 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.

  • TODAY, February 14: Ash Wednesday Taizé Worship Service - King Avenue worship community will gather on Ash Wednesday for a service of prayer, song and contemplation by candlelight. We will be receiving Holy Communion and the Imposition of Ashes. Wednesday, February 14 at 7:00pm in Fellowship Hall

  • THIS FRIDAY, February 16: GAYme Night - Join Rainbow Connections for a game night on  Friday, February 16 at 7pm! We will have snacks and a few games here, and you can bring your favorite game to share!

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