King Avenue Church

King Avenue Digest 2/21/26

February 21, 2026

King Avenue Digest 2/21/26

*NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS AND QUICKLY-APPROACHING EVENTS*

• *NEW* History Room Installation - We invite you to visit the Heber History Room to view our new installation: "Recognizing women's work – Celebrating over 100 years of Women's Contributions to King Avenue." This special collection is available for viewing on Sundays between services and immediately following the 11:00 AM service.

• *NEW* Sunday, March 1: Schubert's Mass in G - During the 11:00 worship, join combined choirs of King Avenue UMC and Indianola Presbyterian Church as they present the Schubert Mass in G. Musicians have been working for a year to present this work to King Avenue on March 1, then will share with Indianola Presbyterian the following week. Bring a friend!

• FRIDAY, February 27: Family Potluck & Open Mic - On Friday, Feb. 27th, from 6-9 pm, join your King Avenue family for a potluck and open mic night. We’ll eat around 6:20 pm, giving everyone a chance to arrive with food (no desserts please). And then, the Fellowship Hall will transform into a stage for the whole church. Bring your voices and a dish to share. Friends are welcome! Then, let’s belt out our favorite Disney or family appropriate tunes! Appropriate for all ages! No RSVP required.

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

• "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.

• Calling All Activists! The Starfish Project - Being the ""hands and feet of Christ"" in a complicated world can feel daunting. The Starfish Project is a space for those called to action but seeking direction. Together, we’ll explore how our small acts—like the boy on the beach with the starfish—can make a collective difference. Join the Starfish Project. When you join our Realm Group, you’re joining a community of support. There is no ""required"" level of activity—participate as much or as little as you feel led. As a member, you’ll have access to; Learning Opportunities: Workshops on protest safety, advocacy tools, and critical thinking in the digital age; Community Presence: Never go to a protest alone. We meet, carpool, and look out for one another; Tangible Work: Join us for ""low-stakes, high-impact"" sessions like poster making, postcard writing, or care package assembly; Civic Engagement: As midterms approach, we’ll share ways to support candidates who honor both the Gospel and the democratic process. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

• Due Sunday, March 1: Easter Flower Order - Tulips and Azaleas are displayed on Easter. The cost of a Tulip is $9, and an Azalea is $15. Your donations will be included in the 9am and 11am Easter bulletins on Sunday, April 5. Flowers are available to take home after the 11am service. The deadline to submit your payment and necessary information is Sunday, March 1.

• Due Friday, March 6: GBHEM Scholarship Portal - The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) scholarship application portal is open for United Methodist students seeking scholarships for undergraduate and graduate study at colleges, universities, and seminaries. In 2025, GBHEM awarded more than 2,500 scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students at over 600 schools worldwide. This financial aid helped students pursue their dreams to serve as the next generation of leaders. You may submit one application each year. The deadline to complete your application is Friday, March 6, 2026. Click here for more information about how to apply. Questions? Talk with Pastor Karen or Pastor Andy. CLICK HERE to visit the GBHEM Portal

• Grocery Help for Immigrant Families - Our Helpers is a women-led nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of immigrant and refugee families in Central Ohio. They especially serve families who have already been impacted by losing a family member in immigration action. Many folks are afraid to leave their homes or register their names. Our Helpers is filling that gap. To support this valuable organization, we will be collecting grocery items for local immigrants. You can drop off any of these items at church on Sundays or anytime the church office is open. Look for the bin marked Our Helpers. Learn more at ourhelpers.org. For a downloadable grocery list, CLICK HERE.

• NNEMAP Item of the Month for February- The NNEMAP Item of the month for February is SOUP. As a nod to the Superbowl in February, let's help fill our neighbors BOWLS with SOUP!

FAITH FORMATION, FELLOWSHIP, AND SUPPORT

• (THIS CLASS IS UNDERWAY) Thursdays, 1/22 - 3/12: Queer as Bible, Examining the Bible and Christianity Through a Queer Lens (offsite campus event) - College students are invited to join faith leaders and seekers for an interactive discussion in the Ohio Firsts Room, in the Ohio Union. Our meetings will be Thursdays, 12/22 -3/12 from 7 to 8:30 pm. We’ll be discussing Intersectional Topics within Queer Theology, History of Church and Queer Concepts, and Queer Saints and Theologians. Email Gwen at gwendolyn.derosa@gmail.com with any questions.

• (THIS CLASS IS UNDERWAY) Mondays, 2/23-3/23: Sighs Too Deep for Words, A Study of Lamentations - In this study, we will explore the book of Lamentations to learn how faithful Christians can, both individually and collectively, express feelings of grief, sadness, questioning, anger, and loss while staying true to their faith in God. We will also look at events in modern history and responses to personal and communal tragedies in various forms of artistic expression. This online (Zoom) class led by Beth Aiello will be held on Mondays from 7:00-8:30 weekly for five weeks (2/23, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23).

• OPEN, Our Daily Devotional - Our OPEN Project, ongoing since January 2025, is a daily devotional that delivers a bite-sized reading from the Bible to your email inbox daily. The best part is many of the devotionals are written by King Avenue members because we believe Jesus has something to say 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). Our goal with this program is 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

• 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

• NNEMAP Item of the Month - Each month, the NNEMAP Food Pantry requests churches to donated an "Item of the Month" to help our hungry neighbors. The designated item will be announced at church, found in our announcement sheet, and shared in the weekly King Avenue E-News Digest.

• Little Free Pantry - Helping Our Neighbors - Knowing that many in our community are facing difficult times, King Avenue is excited to introduce our very own ""Little Free Pantry."" Our goal is simple: to offer immediate, on-the-fly assistance to both our church family and neighbors in need. You can find the pantry on the lower level in the Children’s Hallway (outside the large children’s classroom). We invite everyone to be a part of this vital community service! When you notice items have run out, please help restock the pantry. This is a hands-on project for all families and kids of all ages. Kindly stock the pantry directly—do not drop off donations with Gwen.

• Open Shelter Lunch Packing - King Avenue packs lunches for the Open Shelter on several Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the year. All hands on deck for packing 200-400 lunches at a time! Check the schedule, and join when you're able. All days/dates are 6:00pm in the King Avenue kitchen. Many hands make light work! For the 2026, CLICK HERE.

• 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.

• 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 2026, 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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