King Avenue Digest 10/31/25

October 31, 2025

 

*NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS AND QUICKLY-APPROACHING EVENTS*

  • *NEW* Sunday, November 9: Art Gallery Opening Reception - The King Avenue Art Gallery will be featuring the paintings of Adam Burke in November through mid-January. Adam is thrilled to be featured and would like to host an Exhibit Opening Reception on Sunday, November 9 from 12:30-1:30 in the parlor. Light refreshments will be served.

  • *NEW* Thursday, November 20: Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) - King Avenue United Methodist Church is hosting the Columbus Transgender Day of Remembrance on Thursday, November 20th. Please plan to arrive after 6:30 pm (doors will not open before 6:30 pm). The program will begin at 7 pm and end by 8:30 p.m., followed by a short reception that will end at 9 p.m. If you would like to volunteer for set-up, greeting, or clean-up, please contact Gwen at gwendolyn.derosa@gmail.com. LEARN MORE

  • *NEW* Friday, November 21: Harmony for Hunger - We are excited to invite you to this year’s Harmony for Hunger Concert benefiting NNEMAP Food Pantry. The concert will take place at Northwest Christian Church (1340 Fishinger Rd, Upper Arlington, OH 43221) beginning at 7pm. Since 2009, Harmony for Hunger has brought together choirs, musicians, and community members to raise vital support for NNEMAP. The concert has raised more than $12,000 annually, providing important resources for the families we serve. This year, Yolanda Harris from 10tv will once again serve as our Master of Ceremonies. The Scioto Valley Chapter of the Sweet Adelines will be our headliner, along with choirs and ensembles from our supporting churches. The evening will include a variety of sacred, classical, and popular music. We will also host both a silent auction and an online auction this year. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

  • *NEW* Sunday, November 23: HeartSong and Friends Concert,” Embrace the Season” - You are invited to the annual HeartSong & Friends concert on Sunday, November 23rd at 4:00 pm at King Avenue UMC, 299 King Ave. This year's theme is entitled, "Embrace the Season". This concert is filled with wonderful uplifting music including vocal ensembles, soloists and our 5 octave handbell choir. This year's free will offering will be given to The Kalidescope Youth Center. Please invite a friend and enjoy a delightful afternoon of music & fellowship.

  • *NEW* Item of the Month for NNEMAP - We will be collecting HOLIDAY SIDES for NNEMAP the month of November and December. That includes gravy, mashed potato flakes, cream of mushroom soup, etc. Thanks in advance for your generosity to help our hungry neighbors as we're nearly upon the holiday season.

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

  • Sunday, November 9: College Sex Ed Workshop - All college students (undergrad & grad) are welcome to attend the College Sex Ed Workshop presented by the Wonderfully Made Coalition. 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 be held on Sunday, November 9th from 12:30 to 3:00pm in Fellowship Hall.

  • Wednesday, November 12: Retirees Excursion to NNEMAP and Lunch Outing - You’ve no doubt brought in food donations for the NNEMAP cart at King Avenue. But what happens once the food gets to the pantry? With the help of the pantry’s executive director, Roy Clark, we will find out. Plan to meet at NNEMAP Food Pantry, 677 E 11th Avenue in Columbus at 11am on Wednesday, November 12 for a 1-hour tour. Next, we head to the Fox in the Snow Cafe at 1031 N 4th St for sweet or savory baked goods including the famous Souffléd Egg Sandwich and cafe beverages. Lunch at your expense. We are collecting pet food to donate to NNEMAP. Look for the Retirees Ministry collection carts on the Fellowship Hall and near the Welcome Desk on 10/26, 11/2 and 11/9. CLICK TO REGISTER

  • Friday, November 14: King Avenue Players Open Mic Night... HOLIDAY STYLE - Mark your calendar for King Avenue Players' Fall Fundraiser! Help support our ongoing mission of providing free quality theatrical and musical productions for all. Don’t throw away your shot! Step up to the Mic! Sing, dance, tell jokes, recite poetry, tell a story, rock out with your band, do magic tricks, juggle, create art, play an instrument – whatever your talent is, your 5 minutes of fame is here... but this time, our theme is "Holiday Style!" Any holiday is fair game! Choose your favorite holiday and use your 5 minutes of fame to celebrate it! Sign up to reserve your 5-minute timeslot, then show up Friday, November 14th by 7:00 pm ready to perform! We’ll provide the place, the mics, the pianist, the sound technician, and refreshments at intermission. Bring your friends and family to cheer you on, as well as everything you need to perform, including a printed copy of your music if you need our pianist to accompany you. The show begins at 7:30. General Admission is $10/person, but Performers are FREE! CLICK TO SELECT YOUR SPOT(S)

  • Tuesday, November 18: New Member Class – We all have a basic human need to belong. Many of us have found that belonging with King Avenue UMC. When we find that we belong somewhere, sometimes we feel the need to claim it and make it official. If you've found that belonging at King Avenue but haven't taken that next step, you have the opportunity to do just that at our next New Members' Class. We'll gather at the church building for class on Tuesday November 18, 6:30-8:30pm, then we'll welcome you into membership in worship Sunday November 23. If you're interested and/or have any questions, contact Pastor Andy at andy@kingave.org. CLICK TO REGISTER

  • REGISTER NOW: Vile-Tality, Reclaiming the Heart of Wesleyan Identity - The Wesleyan movement, the tradition that birthed the United Methodist Church, started as a scrappy movement determined to connect with the people society didn't want. As the movement grew, we left that behind to become a respectable denomination. Let's learn together what we lost on the way and how we can regain our "Vile-tality," using the book of that name. (View this book on Amazon.) We will be studying the book together over 5 weeks; class participants are responsible for obtaining a copy of the book. Two options: Tuesdays at noon on Zoom; Wednesdays at 7pm at the church. Register on Realm or contact Pastor Andy at andy@kingave.org.
    CLICK TO REGISTER Tuesdays, October 28 at noon (Zoom)
    CLICK TO REGISTER Wednesdays, October 29 at 7pm (Logos Lounge)

  • NNEMAP Item of the Month - For the month of October, the NNEMAP Item of the Month is canned meat. Please bring canned tuna, chicken, beef stew or other canned meats to church on Sundays in October.

  • 2026 Casa Trip Deadlines - We will be sending our next team to Casa de Misericordia on February 12-16, 2026. It costs $1,000/person. To be on the team, you must complete and submit a trip application, a copy of your passport, and payment by October 1, 2025. Financial assistance is available. Fill out and submit an application by August 18, 2025. An information session will be held Sunday, June 29 at 10am. For more information, attend the informational meeting Sunday, June 29 at 10:00 in the Chapel. CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION • CLICK HERE FOR FINANCIAL AID REQUEST

  • OPEN, Our Daily Devotional - Join your King Avenue family in reading through the Gospels and Acts in 2025! Starting in January, we will begin OPEN, a daily devotional that will deliver a bite-sized reading from the Gospels to your email inbox daily. The best part is many of the devotionals will be written by King Avenue members because we believe Jesus has something to say in the Gospels to each of us and through each of us. Our name "OPEN" reflects the King Avenue UMC theme song and positioning statement (Open minds, Open hearts, Open doors). In 2025, we want to OPEN the Gospels together day by day. If you want to join us in this journey, complete this form to sign up. CLICK TO SIGN UP FOR OPEN DAILY DEVOTIONALS

FAITH FORMATION, FELLOWSHIP, AND SUPPORT

  • Recurring on Mondays: Retirees Church at Home - Is your heart yearning for a spiritual connection with other Retirees? Consider joining the Retirees’ Church at Home, a weekly bible study that originated when the 2020 pandemic thrust many retirees into isolation. Today, the group remains committed and diligent in providing fellowship, meaningful discussions and connection with each other. The group meets Monday mornings from 11:00-12:00 on Zoom, where various members lead the study using the devotions from the Upper Room. If you are interested in participating with the Retirees’ Church at Home, contact Teresa Malloy at malloy29@aol.com or Dennis Chew at dennischew@me.com.

  • Recurring Weekly on Tuesday mornings & Wednesday evenings: Sermon Starters - Sermon Starters is a weekly small-group discussion of the upcoming Sunday's scripture lessons facilitated by Pastor Karen and Pastor Andy. Questions, insights, and stories help the pastors to think through their Sunday sermon ideas, as well as give participants a head start on their consideration of the week's lesson. Let Pastor Karen know (karen@kingave.org) if you'd like to be added to the Realm email group to receive the scriptures ahead of time. All are welcome in this "drop in" Bible Study Tuesdays at 7am in the Parlor, and Wednesdays at 6pm in the Chapel.

  • Recurring on Second Mondays of the Month: Rebels and Reconnection - 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: faith and gender, purity culture history, and sex education. We’ll meet on the 2nd Monday of each month from 7 to 8:30 pm at King Avenue UMC. Contact Gwen with any questions: gwendolyn.derosa@gmail.com

  • Recurring on 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.

  • Recurring on Thursdays: Young Adults Small Group - King Avenue Young Adults will gather weekly to be with each other, check in with each other and share how their walk with Jesus is going. Thursdays at 6:30pm here at the church. If you're 18-35 years old, you're welcome to join us.

  • Recurring on First Saturdays of the Month: King Avenue Men's Group - The King Avenue Men's Group is a monthly get-together with men of different ages and backgrounds meeting in fellowship to discuss diverse topics of living as Christians. We meet on the first Saturday of month at 10:30am. For more information, please contact Roger Blocher rblocher01@gmail.com.

  • 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. 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 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

OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP

  • Open Shelter Lunch Packing - King Avenue packs lunches for the Open Shelter on several Tuesdays and Thursdays... 24 times in 2025. All hands on deck for packing 200-400 lunches at a time! CLICK HERE for the 2025 schedule, and join when you're able. All days/dates are 6:00pm in the King Avenue kitchen. Many hands make light work!

  • Fourth and Fifth Saturdays: Gates Fourth UMC Community Breakfast - Calling all cooks, servers, and hostesses! Gates Fourth UMC serves a monthly community breakfast at 119 E. Gates St. King Avenue assists the Gates Fourth team with greeting guests, distributing clothing/personal care donations, serving meals, assisting in the kitchen, and cleaning up. For more information on getting involved, please contact Shawn Compton at comptonlaw@msn.com or (614)378-6758 or simply show up to Gates Fourth on the fourth and/or fifth Saturday of each month to enjoy a meal with your neighbors. The dress code for this food service environment is casual but please wear closed toes shoes for safety. The only skills needed for this three-hour commitment are to smile and bring hospitality to this diverse community. We hope to see you there! Gates Fourth United Methodist Church, 119 E. Gates St., Columbus, OH 43206 from 8:00-11:00am.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • UMCOR Disaster Relief - UMCOR is the global humanitarian organization of the United Methodist Church that provides aid to people affected by crises and disasters around the world. You can contribute to UMCOR through Realm. CLICK HERE TO GIVE.

  • 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

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 2025, 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.

  • "Safe, Secure. Together." Radical hospitality at King Avenue includes ensuring that people within our walls are safe. The objectives of Safe. Secure. Together. are to establish, communicate, and practice emergency procedures related to active aggressor, severe weather, fire, bomb threat, and other critical incidents. If you would like to learn more about the specific initiatives included in this program, access resources, or find out how to get involved, visit our "Safe. Secure. Together." webpage at kingave.org.

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