King Avenue Digest 5/5/23

May 5, 2023

*NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS*    

  • THIS WEEKEND: Spoon River Anthology - Don't miss King Avenue Players' Production of Spoon River Anthology! Directed by our own Dan McCarty, the cast and crew feature many King Avenue members. The play written by Edgar Lee Masters is a collection of monologues that portray the history of social changes in the midwest. The show will run Thursday - Sunday. Performance time on May 4, 5, and 6 is 7:30pm with a matinee Sunday, May 7 at 3:00pm. Admission is free, but a freewill donation is appreciated.

  • THIS SUNDAY: ASL Interpreter - Once again, 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!

  • THIS SUNDAY: Back Home in Fellowship Hall - Morning Blend will return to worship in Fellowship Hall beginning Sunday, May 7 at 9am. Thank you for your patience through this renovation process! A special thanks to Bill Meadows and Michael Billups for getting everything back in order to ensure a smooth transition back into our space.

  • We’re Hiring Additional Audio Video Staff - Our AV team is expanding so we are seeking an energetic and dynamic AV tech to play a pivotal role in providing quality in-person and online experiences for all worship services and events. CLICK TO READ MORE

  • Hey, Online Worshippers! Do you worship with King Avenue online, either live or sometime later? We want to better connect with our online community and we'd LOVE to hear from YOU. If you worship with us online regularly, we have a few questions - you can respond to these or make up your own. Do you worship online every week? How many people typically worship with you? Do you view the worship service on our online worship page, or via our YouTube channel? What does it mean to you to worship with us online?  Please send your thoughts and testimonials to av@kingave.org.

  • Attention Gardeners and Green Thumbs! Help keep King Avenue UMC in a rainbow of colors this summer by adopting a flower bed around the church. You'll plant your flower bed with annuals by Sunday, May 14- Mother's Day - and care for them and the blooms all summer long. If you are interested in adopting a flower bed of your own, or if you'd like to weed any flower bed, please contact Amy Ashburn in the church office at 614-424-6050×100, or amy@kingave.org.

  • Summer Artwork Submission - Kids of all ages (toddlers, children, and youth) are encouraged to submit a 2D work of art (drawing, painting, or photo) for display at King Avenue UMC. Contact Kurt Reichert  at kurtfreichert@yahoo.com to make arrangements for drop-off and pick-up. Due by May 28th.

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

  • Look What I Did During COVID! When you think back on the months of lock down as Covid 19 was raging throughout the world, do you remember something that you did to fill the time?  Did you create a work of art?  Did you redecorate a room?  Did you totally organize your garage?  Did you start decorating cakes or teach yourself to knit?  Whatever you did, the members of King Avenue would love to see the fruits of your labors.  Our next gallery exhibit for late spring and early summer is “Look What I Did During Covid!”  If you have an actual work of art or product, please drop if off at church on Sunday mornings at the welcome desk.  If you need to drop it off on days other than Sunday, please contact Amy Ashburn at church and arrange a drop off time.  If you have digital photos on your phone, please email them to Kurt Reichert  - kurtfreichert@yahoo.com.  Your photos will be printed in the form of posters for the display. We would like to have your entries a.s.a.p. Please include your name, a title, and brief description of your entry.

  • Respond by May 6: What You Do at King Avenue - Our intern Lisa Clark would love to learn about what you do at King Avenue to serve our community outside these walls and our congregation inside these walls. This will help us assess all the good work we are doing, as well as assist in her internship. Feel free to contact her (by May 6) at hilldaleclark@gmail.com.

  • Beginning May 9: 4-Week Grief Recovery Program - When most people hear about grief counseling, thoughts usually go to loss of a loved one. But did you know that there are over 40 different losses that one can experience? Loss from divorce, loss of faith, loss of self-respect, loss because of a move, loss of a job, starting school, job changes, retirement, major health issues; just to name a few. The Grief Recovery Method is designed to help you acquire the skills necessary to recover from your grief, whatever it may be. Jennifer Tower, a Grief Recovery Method Specialist, will be leading a 4-week Grief Recovery Program to help you do just that. This program will be on Tuesdays, 6-8pm, starting May 9. The cost is $13 for the book we will be using. There will be no online option for this program. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

  • May 14 is Graduation Sunday - If you or your child is graduating from high school or college, would you like to be recognized in our graduation service on May 14th? If so, please email Gwen at gwendolyn.derosa@gmail.com with the following information: full name, grade or major or degree, post-graduation plans, a few details about hobbies (such as favorite subject, sports or music or student clubs, etc.), a favorite Bible story or verse if you’d like. Please also send a photo. Graduation recognition will occur in both services, so please let Gwen know which one you will be attending. 

  • Wednesday, May 17: Retirees to the Ball Park - Join the Retirees Ministry for a Columbus Clippers outing on Wednesday, May 17th at 12:00. The cost for senior tickets is $10.00. You must register on Realm to purchase tickets.  Tickets are limited. More details will follow. CLICK HERE FOR THE REGISTRATION LINK. Please contact Amy Ashburn (amy@kingave.org) if you need assistance with registration.

  • May 19: Pizza & Nerf Wars! It's that time again! Get ready for food and Nerf Wars! We will meet in the Donnewirth at 6pm for some food, then enjoy 2 hours of Nerf games! This event is for youth grades 6-12. 

  • May 28: 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 May 28 Lit Club when will discuss Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. If  you'd like to read ahead, here are the upcoming books: June 25 is Young Mungoby by Douglas Stuart; July 30 is The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles; and August 27 is Violeta by Isabel Allende.

  • NNEMAP Item of the Month for May - 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 meats (e.g. tuna, ravioli) and deodorant during the month of May. 

 

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.

  • 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 at 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 at andy@kingave.org if you are interested.

 

ADDITIONAL ITEMS OF NOTE

  • 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

  • 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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