King Avenue Digest 4/25/24

April 25, 2024

*NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS AND QUICKLY-APPROACHING EVENTS* 

  • THIS Saturday, April 27th: The Circles Spring Cleanup - Spring is upon us, and with the season comes the annual Circles Spring Clean-up, scheduled for Saturday, April 27 from 9:00am - noon. As with prior Spring Clean-ups, some folks will start earlier and some later. Our kick-off place will be the circle at Michigan and West Seventh Avenues, where leaf bags and some tools will be available. Of course we always need many neighbors to clean up, rake leaves, pick up litter, trim shrubs, and beautify our streets, circles, alleys, end caps, turn-arounds, etc. Send your questions and suggestions to Sara Hayslip sarahpetvet@gmail.com.

  • THIS Tuesday, April 30: "We Say Gay" - Gay seems to be an easy-to-understand piece of one's identity, but the word and identity behind it tend to be complex and nuanced in each gay person's story. Join us for an evening of reflection and growth to learn about gay history, hear gay stories, and seek to understand our gay siblings in Christ a little bit better. This is the fourth in our series of info sessions to learn more about the experiences of folks who identify with one of the letters in "LGBTQIA+" hosted by Rainbow Connections, our LGBTQIA+ ministry. On April 30, 7-8:30pm, join us to learn more about "G" and actions steps we can each take to love and support our gay siblings.

  • *NEW* Sunday, May 5: Blessing Bags - Join us after the 11am service May 5th to create Blessing Bags. The bags are made with life essentials such as water, food, soap, etc. Families take a couple with them after filling them and hand them to houseless people they see throughout their daily lives. We also offer a list for families to take home so they can make their own blessings bags. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall, ALL are welcome.

  • *NEW* Sunday, May 19 - Kick Cancer Concert & Silent Auction to Benefit LLS - The Kick Cancer Concert is going to be fabulous! Join us on Sunday, May 19 at 3:00 in the King Avenue Sanctuary for a fun-filled afternoon of wonderful up-beat music (by HeartSong and special guests). There will also be an UNBELIEVABLE silent auction! Bring a friend and we invite you to wear your favorite tennis shoes and let’s Kick Cancer! Can’t come? LEARN MORE AND DONATE

  • *NEW* Sunday, May 26: Peace With Justice - United Methodists relate to this special Sunday by seeking peaceful solutions, creating and supporting peace-related ministries in their conference and learning about peaceful, just efforts around the world. Our Social Principles call us to love our enemies, seek justice, and serve as reconcilers of conflict. We insist that the first moral duty of all nations is to work together to resolve by peaceful means every dispute that arises between or among them. Look for special giving envelopes during worship, or use the drop-down menu on Realm to give online. 

  • *NEW* Attention Gardeners & Green Thumbs - Help keep King Avenue UMC in a rainbow of colors this summer by adopting a flowerbed around the church. You'll plant your flowerbed with annuals by Sunday, May 12 (Mother's Day) and care for them and the blooms all summer long. If you are interested in adopting a flowerbed of your own, or if you'd like to weed any flowerbed, please contact Amy Ashburn in the church office at (614) 424-6050 X100, or amy@kingave.org. Thanks!

  • *NEW* Panelists Needed - Do you identify as Bi? Would you like to share your experience on a panel? Reach out to Gwen at gwendolyn.derosa@gmail.com if you’re interested in participating in the "Bi The Way" event on May 28th at 7pm.

  • *UPDATE* King Avenue Players - Unfortunately, due to lack of sign-ups, the Director has made the very difficult decision to cancel this year's Miscast Cabaret. We want to take a moment to thank those of you who did sign-up to audition. (You should have received a similar email through SignUp Genius.) We are deeply sorry about this, as we know how hard you've been working to prepare for these auditions. We do hope that you will consider auditioning for our future productions.  - King Avenue Players on behalf of Lisa Minken, Director.

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

  • Help Needed: We urgently need volunteers in the nursery at church. We are looking for adult volunteers to help Jason Cooley and Jane Irwin with the babies and toddlers. You can volunteer for one or two hours once a month throughout the year. Please talk to Ada Wilcox at ada@kingave.org to get more information. Thanks!

  • Wednesday, May 15: Take Me Out to the Ball Game with the Retiree Ministry - Join the Retiree Ministry as we “root, root, root for the home team; if they don’t win, it’s a shame." Let’s spend the afternoon at Huntington Park as the Columbus Clippers host the Louisville Bats. Game day is Wednesday, May 15 with first pitch at 12:05PM. (TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT ARE SOLD OUT.)

  • Friday, July 26: State Fair Parkers Needed - As a fundraiser, NNEMAP parks cars during the Ohio State Fair. Last year they raised $22,000! Area churches sign up to staff the lot for one full day.  King Avenue's day is Friday, July 26. We need a total of 8 people... 3 parkers from 8-noon, 3 parkers from noon-4, and 2 parkers from 4-8. Also, there's always a staff person on duty who knows what's going on!  Grab a friend, and sign up for a slot! CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR NAME If you have trouble signing up, you can call Amy at the church office and she can add you. 614-424-6050. Thanks!

  • (UNDERWAY) Tuesdays, April 9 - May 14: Caring for Creation Class - During the season of Easter we will be hosting a set of 6 classes about climate change and our responsibility to respond as people of faith and part of creation. We will learn how environmental justice contexts to our identity as United Methodists and small changes we can begin to make in our everyday lives. These classes will take place on Tuesdays from 7-8 pm from April 9-May 14. This class is underway.

  • (UNDERWAY) Tuesdays, April 9 -  May 28: Grief Recovery Group - There will be an 8-week Grief Recovery Group held on Tuesday evenings starting on April 9, 2024, and finishing on May 28, 2024. We will meet from 6:30 to 8:30 in the Infant and Parent Room on the second floor. This group is underway.

  • (UNDERWAY) Wednesdays, April 3 -  May 22: The Way to Forgiveness Class - Do you need to find forgiveness, or do you need to forgive someone in your life? Led by Bret Baird, "The Way to Forgiveness,” is an eight-week class designed to help individuals learn how to live a forgiven and forgiving life. The small group meets weekly on Wednesdays from 7:00-8:30pm to learn techniques and best practices to embrace a forgiving mindset in daily life with prayer, journaling, and sharing. This class is underway.

  • (UNDERWAY) Thursdays, April 4 - May 9 Wrestling with Doubt Class - Have you ever wrestled with doubt? Have you wondered why prayers go unanswered? Or why innocent people suffer? Take a six-week journey through some of these questions with Corey Perry as we use Adam Hamilton's "Wrestling with Doubt, Finding Faith" to explore the questions that nag at us and serve to deepen our faith. This Zoom class will begin Thursday April 4 from 6:30-7:30, and will continue for 6 weeks. Registrants will receive the Zoom link via email prior to the first class. This class is underway.

  • NNEMAP Item of the Month for April - 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 meat or cleaning supplies.

 

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.

  • First and Third Tuesdays of the Month: 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

  • First Sundays of the Month: 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

  • Second Wednesdays of the Month: 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.

  • Weekly on Wednesdays: Young Adult Ministry Bible Study - The Young Adult Ministry group will hold a weekly group Bible Study. 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

  • Last Sundays of the Month: 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. The month's book is listed in the King Avenue Digest congregant blast and also on the slideshow on the monitors at church. You can also contact Rick Gilson (rickgilson@yahoo.com) to find out what the month's book is or if you'd like to be added to the communication group in Realm.

  • Every Other Sunday: 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

CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILY SUNDAY FAITH FORMATION AND WORSHIP

  • 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.   

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. 

  • Item of the Month for Hubbard Elementary - Periodically we are asked for items to help students at our partner school, Hubbard Elementary. You can bring your donations with you on Sundays. There will be a place to leave them in the back of the worship space. 

  • Use your Kroger Card to Give to King Avenue - Are you a Kroger Shopper? Do you have a Kroger Plus Card? If so, you can give to King Avenue every time you shop. If you have a Kroger Plus card, just log into your account, go to Community Rewards, and search for KING AVENUE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH to get this set up. LEARN MORE AND ENROLL

  • Lunch Packing - King Avenue packs lunches for the Open Shelter on several Tuesdays and Thursdays... 24 times in 2024. All hands on deck for packing 200-400 lunches at a time! CLICK HERE  for the 2024 schedule, and join when you're able. All days/dates are 6:00pm in the King Avenue kitchen. Many hands make light work!

  • Ushers and Greeters  - 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 at andy@kingave.org.

  • Audio-Visual Volunteers - 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 at andy@kingave.org if you are interested.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS OF NOTE

  • First Sundays of each Month: ASL Interpreter - King Avenue will be providing an ASL interpreter during worship.  Elisabeth Clegg will be interpreting on the first Sunday of every month during both services. Thanks, Elisabeth!

  • Chancel Flowers for Worship - If you are interested in signing up to donate Chancel Flowers for worship in 2024, 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.

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