King Avenue Church

King Avenue Digest 7/1/22

July 1, 2022

CENTENNIAL CONTEMPLATIONS (Read ALL of the questions and answers on our Centennial Contemplations page.)

• Q17: What does the large wooden cross surrounded by four smaller crosses hanging high in the front of the sanctuary represent?

• A17: The cross design comes from the Coat of Arms of Godfrey of Bouillon, the first ruler of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem after the Crusaders took it over from Muslim rule. It has been also called the “Five-Fold Cross” and has variously symbolized: the five wounds of Christ during his Crucifixion, Christ and the four evangelists and the spread of the Gospel to the four corners/directions of the world.

• Q18: Why was the Jerusalem Cross chosen for King Ave. and where did it come from?

UPCOMING EVENTS AND NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Pastoral Response to Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Ruling - We sent an email blast on June 25 following the Supreme Court ruling on Roe vs Wade. We are very aware of the pain, anger, fear and anxiety that this ruling has brought about for many in our church community. Please know that your King Avenue family loves you so much and is keeping you close in our prayers. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL PASTORAL RESPONSE

• Calling All Singers! All are welcome to sing in the Summer Choir on July 10 and July 17. We'll gather in the music room on Sunday morning at 10:15 to learn a simple anthem for that day's service. It's a wonderful way to meet new folks and share your talents. For more information, contact Chris McManus, Minister of Music, at cmcmanus711@gmail.com

• YOUR INPUT NEEDED! As part of the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of our church building, a new hymn is being composed! We're looking for your input. What does our church building mean to you? Think about single word(s). Examples might be... Refuge, Worship, History, People, Preaching, Music, Neighbor, Laughter, Learning, Stories, Celebrations... These words are just some suggestions to get your wheels turning. If any of these words resonate with you, you can use them! You probably have other words, too. Entries are due by July 31. Thanks! CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR WORD(S)

• Giving to the History and Records Committee Discretionary Fund - As you probably know, King Avenue Church has a rich history. Our volunteers at the History & Records Committee have carefully and thoughtfully worked to preserve this by creating a booklet for those who would like to learn more. To be the most inclusive, the Committee would like to offer these booklets for free to anyone who would like one. In order to do this, they need help offsetting publishing costs. Please consider making a donation on Realm or writing a check to King Avenue Church and putting “History & Records Committee Discretionary Fund” in the memo. Many thanks for considering this!

• Habitat for Humanity Team - Habitat for Humanity really could use your help! There are no set commitments that volunteers have to make, so you can come out and help when you are able, even if you are only able to work once on this year’s house. Trena Brown will be communicating each week’s work schedule with our Habitat team and coordinating our volunteer requests with our house lead. If you are interested in learning more about King Avenue’s mission work with Habitat for Humanity, or know that you want to volunteer your time and talents to this effort, please contact Trena at trenamo@columbus.rr.com or Larry Ziniel at larry_ziniel@yahoo.com. Working with Habitat for Humanity is fun, satisfying and a great way to learn new skills from a very experienced team of builders!

• COWG July Break - Coming out with God will not meet on July 4 or 18. The group will resume on August 1 at 7:00 pm in the Logos Lounge.

• July NNEMAP Item of the Month - Each month, we are going to focus our donations on specific items our community partners. For the month of July, NNEMAP food pantry needs first-aid kit supplies like band-aids and single pack alcohol wipes. You can bring your donations with you on Sundays. There will be a place to leave them in the back of the worship space.

• Lifeline of Ohio - When a family is faced with losing a loved one, they often reach out to their faith leader for spiritual guidance and to ask about their faith's perspective on organ, eye and tissue donation. It's valuable to learn the facts and to make a decision before a family crisis so the burden of making a decision is lessened. We will be hosting a representative from Lifeline Ohio to share about the importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation. CLICK TO LEARN MORE

• July 13: Family Movie Night -King Avenue is thrilled to host intergenerational movie nights this July so kids, youth, parents, retired folks, new friends, and other King Avenue members can build relationships and spend time together. Join your King Avenue family on July 13 at 5:30 in Fellowship Hall for Moana. CLICK HERE TO READ ALL ABOUT IT

• Saturday, July 30: SOUL Care Retreat - Many of us are exhausted and burnt out from the struggles of the last two years. The United Women of Faith are thrilled to be able to host their first retreat since 2019. We want to invite persons of any gender to join us for a day of healing and restoration at King Avenue United Methodist Church. Activities will include: prayer, worship, a labyrinth meditation, making prayer beads, laughter yoga, and more. For lunch, we will have a crockpot potluck, so please bring something tasty to share. Cost is $10 per person. If you’d like a scholarship, please contact Gwen. CLICK TO REGISTER

• Sunday, July 31: 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 next book is 7/31/22 The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson.

CONTINUING NEWS

• Reflecting on Pride 2022 - Pride 2022 was a fantastic opportunity for King Avenue Church to witness that God's Love is for ALL PEOPLE! Thanks for the fellowship, fun, and outreach with your King Avenue family. Visit the King Avenue website, and take a look at our Pride page. You can view a photo gallery, watch a "highlight" video of pictures set to music, and listen to the Pride Worship Service witnesses. CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE PRIDE PAGE.

• Response to Mass Shootings - We are saddened, afraid, angry, and numb after recent shootings that have occurred, specifically the Buffalo supermarket shooting, the California Church shooting, and the Robb Elementary School shooting in Texas. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STATEMENT AND LEARN HOW TO GET INVOLVED.

• Response to Anti-Gay & Trans Legislation - In light of the “Don’t Say Gay or Trans’ bill (HB 1557) in Florida and the directive by Texas Governor Greg Abbott that denigrates the lives of the LGBTQIA+ community and threatens the lives of transgender children and their families, the pastors, staff, and congregation of King Avenue United Methodist Church offer this response. CLICK TO READ MORE

• ACTS Committee April 2022 Statement - The ACTS Committee has met in 2022, reviewed and updated information related to our past recommendations, and remain steadfast about our response to the Traditionalist Plan. King Avenue Church will be actively supporting LGBTQIA+ ministries and actively supporting a future that honors, nurtures, and includes ALL. King Avenue will remain a welcoming, reconciling, and serving church which shares God's love with ALL! King Avenue Church will not change what it is and what it stands for. The ACTS Committee remains optimistic about the future and resolute in our recommendations. King Avenue Church will remain an active voice in our district, conference, and beyond on behalf of LGBTIQA+ ministries. CLICK HERE TO READ THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

• COVID and Online Worship - We remind congregants that we provide online worship each Sunday. Online worship is a meaningful option if you’ve had exposure, are experiencing symptoms, or have received a positive COVID test result. Being mindful of our risk to others is part of our inclusive nature of loving and caring for one another by temporarily stepping away from in-person worship so we may avoid exposing others. If you feel concerned or are at-risk for serious illness and want to explore a safer worship environment, we encourage you to do so. Our online worship site can be found directly at bit.ly/ka-church-online , or by clicking on the button on our main website kingave.org . Our online worship is live-streamed, and can be visited on-demand at the conclusion of the service.

• 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.

FAITH FORMATION, FELLOWSHIP, AND SUPPORT

• July Movie Nights: King Avenue is thrilled to host intergenerational movie nights this July so kids, youth, parents, retired folks, new friends, and other King Avenue members can build relationships and spend time together. All will participate in set-up and clean-up as a church family. All movie nights will be in the Fellowship Hall, and will run from 5:30-8:30. The movie for Saturday, July 13 is Moana.

• IRL (In Real Life) Peer Group - King Avenue UMC (facilitated by the Director of Student Ministries) is offering a short-term “coming out” group for youth called IRL (In Real Life) Peer Group. This is for any youth (6th through 12th grade) who is exploring a LGBTQIA+ identity, which includes gender exploration. We will meet at 7 pm on the 1st and 3rd Monday night of every month in Donnenwirth, beginning May 16th. Parents/Caregivers are encouraged to attend the adult Coming Out with God support group at the same time in the Logos Lounge. Please contact Gwen DeRosa at gwendolyn.derosa@gmail.com if you are interested in attending.

• Coming Out with God - Coming Out With God (COWG) is a peer-to-peer support group for LGBTQIA+ Christians. Many of us struggle with aligning our faith and our identity, especially after experiencing religious trauma. We may have anxiety when we think about coming out to other Christians in our lives. This confidential, drop-in group will discuss a variety of topics related to the challenges of coming out to ourselves and others. God loves and celebrates the authentic and unique you! COWG will meet twice a month (first and third Mondays) in the Logos lounge at 7pm. COWG is designed with adults in mind. LGBTQIA+ support is available for children, youth and families at King Avenue. Please contact Gwen DeRosa (gwendolyn.derosa@gmail.com).

• 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. Here are the upcoming books and dates: 7/31/22 The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson; and 8/28/22 The Women They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore.

• Rent and Utility Assistance - Are you experiencing hardship as a result of COVID-19? Let us help! Go to https://columbus.applyforhope.com/home, scroll to The Stable Housing Initiative (LifeCare Alliance ERA 1), and click Apply. 
To be eligible, you must be a Franklin County resident, have an income at or below 80% of the area median income, and be delinquent on rent or utilities due to hardship as a result of COVID-19. 
DOWNLOAD THE FLYER FOR MORE DETAILS.

OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP

• About Habitat for Humanity - Starting with the 2015 build season, KAUMC has been part of the Hilliard Adopt-A-House (HAAH) affiliate of Habitat for Humanity Mid-Ohio. Hilliard Adopt-A-House is a non-profit 501(c)3 charity that is one of six local church partnerships that annually build or renovate houses for deserving low income Central Ohio families. Established in 1996, HAAH currently consists of Hilliard UMC, St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Church and St. James Lutheran Church (all in Hilliard), Linworth UMC, Indian Run UMC and Amlin UMC (both in Dublin) and of course King Ave. UMC! Over the past 26 years this dedicated group has built thirteen new homes and also rehabilitated thirteen existing homes for deserving families. Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian housing ministry. Habitat affiliates work locally in communities around the world to select and support homeowners, organize volunteers, and coordinate house building. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built more than 400,000 homes worldwide, providing shelter for more than 1 million people in nearly 90 countries. In the Central Ohio community, Habitat has built more than 400 homes since 1987. READ MORE and WATCH A VIDEO INTERVIEW

• NNEMAP Item of the Month - 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.

• Getting Involved with the King Avenue Players - Would you like to be involved with the theatrical productions at KAUMC? The King Avenue Players are looking for people who love the arts, love theater, and would like to help in some way to make sure this ministry continues. YOU choose the level of involvement that is comfortable for you. Actor? PERFECT! Crew? PERFECT! Organizing? PERFECT! Ushering? PERFECT! We need all of you. Please contact Pastor Becky or Pastor Andy, or write a note with your name on the bulletin. Thank you!

• UMCOR Global Response: Ukraine - 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, and occasionally on Wednesdays... 35 times in 2022. 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!

• Volunteering on Sundays - Hey King Avenue Families! There are still opportunities for you to volunteer in Sunday morning children’s programming by leading youth Sunday School or learning Godly Play storytelling. Contact Gwen at gwendolyn.derosa@gmail.com if you are interested in learning more.

• Hiring King Avenue Childcare Staff - Childcare staff positions available in the King Avenue UMC nursery. Must be 19 years of age, provide proof of vaccination and complete a background check. Experience with babies and toddlers up to age 3 is preferred. Hours: Sundays from 8:30am-12:30pm. Starts at $13/hr. Contact Pastor Becky (becky@kingave.org) for more information and to apply.

• Serve as an Acolyte - Are you interested in participating in worship as an acolyte? We have opportunities during 9am and 11am for anyone who is at least 10 years old (adults can acolyte, too!) to serve King Avenue as an acolyte. Please talk to Chris McManus if you'd like to take part in this ministry opportunity.

• 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.

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