King Avenue Digest 3/29/23

March 29, 2023

*NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS*  

  • New Senior Pastor Announcement  - Pastor Karen Muntzing has been appointed as King Avenue's new Senior Pastor, and will begin her ministry with us in July, 2023.  LEARN MORE ABOUT PASTOR KAREN MUNTZING

  • Tuesday, April 18: Retirees Spring into Movement with Virginia! Join the Retirees Ministry on Tuesday, April 18th from 11:30 to 1:15 in the Chapel for a movement and physical health session led by our Parish Nurse, Virginia Sheffield. This time is about loving our bodies through movement and the connection between aging well and faith. All movements in the session are suitable in the standing or sitting position. Comfortable clothes and water are recommended. We will also explore Jesus' top 10 health and fitness tips! Box lunches will be provided for each participant. Please register for the event on Realm to reserve your box lunch.  If you need assistance registering for the event, contact the church office or email Amy at amy@kingave.org

  • Morning Blend Location for Easter - Due to space constraints, Easter Worship for Morning Blend will be held in the sanctuary. Thanks for your flexibility!

  • Volunteer for All-Church Lunch - Our next All-Church Lunch will be Sunday, April 16 at noon in Fellowship Hall. In addition to gathering around the table together, we will have an opportunity to celebrate with our new 2022-23 Confirmation Class!  We would appreciate any and all kitchen volunteers! The All-Star Dessert Buffet will be a special part of this meal, so please also use this sign-up if you're able to contribute a dessert to share. The menu for our luncheon will include pulled pork, a gratin potatoes, cole slaw, green beans, stuffed peppers (vegetarian), and mac & cheese. CLICK TO VOLUNTEER

LENTEN ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • Download Lenten Devotions: Prepare your hearts this Lenten season with a devotion journey using John Wesley's Means of Grace. Download a Lenten Devotional that offers a reading and challenge for each special day such as Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and for each Sunday of Lent. Thank you Pastor Linda for preparing this guide for us!

  • Sundays, February 26-April 2: Looking Back/Moving Forward Adult Sunday School - The time of Lent can feel like we are treading on the edge of darkness as we wait for the joyous light of Easter Morning which means it can be a time for introspection. Please join us for a six week drop-in workshop, structured through a church context and designed to help us process what the Covid-19 pandemic took from us.  We will then move forward into our new understanding of what the world brings to us now. Not designed to be a rehashing of Covid grievances, but instead a time to genuinely connect while processing how Covid has changed our lives and our church. We will then transition to discussion about the good that has come out of this cataclysmic event, envision how the changes wrought by Covid in our church can be used for defining who we are as a congregation, and where we would like to see our church and ourselves in the future. While this may trigger deep feelings, we will support one another in understanding and love. This series will be at 10am on Sundays in the Fireside room.

HOLY WEEK WORSHIP

  • Sunday, April 2 at 9am & 11am - Palm Sunday Worship (chapel/sanctuary + livestream)

  • Thursday, April 6 at 7pm - Maundy Thursday Worship (sanctuary + livestream)

  • Friday, April 7 at 7pm - Good Friday Worship (sanctuary + livestream)

  • Sunday, April 9 at 9am & 11am - Easter Worship  (chapel/sanctuary + livestream)

 

IN OTHER NEWS...

  • Support AIDS Walk Ohio - Join the team or donate to the Spectrum/Rainbow Connections team. Donations are tax-deductible and support Equitas Health’s critical medical, dental, counseling, case management, and support services to those living with HIV. Through public awareness, testing, and treatment, we can render the virus untransmittable across our state. CLICK HERE TO DONATE OR JOIN OUR TEAM

  • Friday, March 31: Trans Visibility & Thriving! Open Mic & Storytelling - All are welcome at the Fawcett Conference Center on Friday, March  31 from 6-9pm. Kinship Campus Ministry, with Gwen and Felicia DeRosa, is supporting an evening of both professional and open mic storytelling around the topic of trans visibility. There is a cost to visibility. How can we pursue our lives of authenticity while also being safe and protecting our futures? Some days it looks like self-care and some days it might look like protests but it looks different for everyone. We invite you to hear speakers from T-Talks share their stories around thriving in their visibility and welcome you to share your own journey during the open mic section of this event. This event will also feature an open group discussion on the topic. Resources for Trans and LGBTQIA communities will be available in addition to food and beverage! Check out the Facebook event at  https://fb.me/e/2hYtklFQ3.

  • Thursday, April 13: Kinship Campus Ministry presents: A College Sex Ed Workshop - Join other college students for pizza, drinks, and a candid discussion about topics surrounding sex education. What is consent? Is it safe to text provocative photos to your partner? How frequently should I get tested for STI’s? How do I know if I’m in a healthy relationship? Bring your questions and ideas to this engaging workshop. The workshop will take place on Thursday, April 13 from 6-9pm in Donnenwirth Lounge, and is free & open to all college students (undergrad & graduate).

  • Sunday, April 16: All Church Lunch - Mark your calendars for the next All-Church Luncheon when we can gather around the table and celebrate with our new 2022-23 Confirmation Class! The menu for our luncheon will include pulled pork, a gratin potatoes, cole slaw, green beans, stuffed peppers (vegetarian), mac & cheese, and All-Star Dessert Buffet. CLICK TO VOLUNTEER

  • Friday, April 21: United Methodist Women of Faith Pasta Fundraiser Dinner - All are welcome for a delicious dinner and fellowship on Friday, April 21, 4PM to 7PM. Dinner will be served in KAUMC Fellowship Hall. The cost is $10 for adults, and $5 for children under 12. The menu includes Rigatoni with Meat Sauce or 'Shroom Sauce, Italian Salad, Garlic Bread, Dessert, and Beverage.  You are welcome to dine-in or carry out. This delectable fundraiser is sponsored by United Women in Faith. All proceeds benefit missions supporting women, youth and children. 

  • April  30: 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 gather together to talk about it.  Get ready for the April 30 Lit Club when will discuss West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. If  you'd like to read ahead, here are the upcoming books: May 28 is Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver; June 25 is Young Mungoby by Douglas Stuart; and July 30 is The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles.

  • NNEMAP Item of the Month for March - 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 canned tomato products 15 ounces or less, mall size shampoos, cat and dog food, toilet paper, or large size diapers to NNEMAP during the month of March and April. 

 

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 Trisha Barhorst if you'd like to be added to the communication group in Realm.

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

 

OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP

  • Item of the Month for NNEMAP - 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. 

  • UMCOR Disaster Relief to Earthquake Victims - We continue to pray for the victims affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is the disaster response agency sponsored by our denomination. 100% of donations will be spent on the ground with the people in need. If you have the ability and feel so led, you can easily donate by clicking ON THIS LINK.

  • UMCOR Global Response: Ukraine - As the war in Ukraine enters its second year, our prayers continue to be lifted for those in the path of violence. If you feel led, you can support the people in Ukraine by making a gift to UMCOR’s international disaster response. 100% of your donation goes to the cause. CLICK TO GIVE.

  • Lunch Packing - King Avenue packs lunches for the Open Shelter on several Tuesdays and Thursdays... 24 times in 2023. All hands on deck for packing 200-400 lunches at a time! CLICK HERE  for the schedule, and join when you're able. All days/dates are 6:00pm in the King Avenue kitchen. Many hands make light work!

  • Habitat for Humanity - On January 21st, the Hilliard Adopt-A-House (HAAH) affiliate of Habitat for Humanity of Mid-Ohio (HfHMO) dedicated the 27th project that it has done since the group formed in 1996.  The construction of this house on Hosack Avenue in South Columbus was paid for and staffed by the six member churches of HAAH: Amlin United Methodist Church, Indian Run United Methodist Church, Linworth United Methodist church,  St. Brendan Catholic Church, St. James Lutheran Church and of course our own King Ave. United Methodist Church! Anyone who has any questions on this ministry or is interested in joining us are encouraged to contact Trena Brown at trenabrown.31@gmail.com or Larry Ziniel at larry_ziniel@yahoo.com. We hope in the future to see a lot of new faces from KAUMC come out and pitch in as we provide more people in our Central Ohio community “a hand up, not a hand out!" READ MORE

  • Ushers and Greeters Needed - Be the first friendly face someone sees at church! Our ushers and greeters keep folks safe and make them feel welcome. If you would like to help with this important ministry, please email Pastor Andy - andy@kingave.org.

  • Audio-Visual Volunteers Needed - We are always looking for some folks who would like to learn how to help with live streaming our 9:00 and 11:00 services. You don’t need a lot of experience; we will train you! Please email Pastor Andy - andy@kingave.org if you are interested.

 

ADDITIONAL ITEMS OF NOTE

  • 2022 Giving Statements – Your 2022 Giving Statements are currently available for self-generation via Realm.  In addition, email and/or US Mail copies will be provided to all by January, 31st.  If you have any questions please contact our Stewardship Secretary, Susan Jenkins, at susan@kingave.org.

  • Chancel Flowers for Worship - If you are interested in signing up to donate Chancel Flowers for worship, please use this form. You can specify that your flowers be listed in the bulletin in memory or honor of a person or notable event. The arrangement is yours to take home at the end of that Sunday's service.

  • King Avenue History Books Available - King Avenue History Books will go on sale beginning Sunday Nov. 6, 2022 and continue throughout Advent.  The cost is $15.00 each - cash or check only.  We still have unclaimed complimentary books to distribute, Don't be shy! Please check on yours!  Look for the King Avenue History Book table at the conclusion of each worship service throughout Advent.

  • THANK YOU HISTORY COMMITTEE! Thanks to the Centennial Committee - especially Angela Finney - for our Centennial Contemplations! Read all of the questions and answers at the CENTENNIAL CONTEMPLATIONS PAGE.

  • Theme for 2022-23 - Your church staff has chosen a theme for this 2022/23 year, and it is “Home." King Avenue is that for so many, a home that is accepting, loving and empowering. Our desire it to share that sense of home with all whom we encounter, whether they are currently part of congregation or not. You will hear us refer to home in a variety of ways this year as we kick off our fall events for our adults, our children, and youth. We welcome all of you home! We are looking forward to seeing you come back to King Avenue this fall. Welcome Home, dear friends. READ MORE

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