King Avenue Church

King Avenue Digest 327/26

March 27, 2026

 

*NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS AND QUICKLY-APPROACHING EVENTS*

• SATURDAY, March 28: No Kings Protest - The NO KINGS Protest is happening on Saturday, March 28 from 4:00-5:30 on the Ohio Statehouse lawn along with many other suburbs across central Ohio. If you are interested in carpooling to the NO KINGS Protest downtown on Saturday or want to meet familiar faces there, please visit The Starfish Project page for all of the details. All are welcome! CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.

• SUNDAY, March 29: Palm Sunday Worship - "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" Palm Sunday, March 29, marks the start of Holy week. Join King Avenue UMC at 9am or 11am worship to sing our loud hosannas and wave palm branches! Bring family and friends. All are welcome!

• SUNDAY, March 29 During the Sunday School Hour (10am): Family Holy Week Kick-off Celebration - King Avenue kids are invited to a special Palm Sunday story and Easter egg hunt in their Sunday School classes on March 29th. Please drop off your kids at 10 am on Sunday (under 4 yrs in the nursery, 4 yrs through 5th grade in the Godly Play Classroom, CORE Youth Group in Donnenwirth). Contact Gwen with any questions or concerns at gwendolyn.derosa@gmail.com.

• SUNDAY, March 29: UMCOR Special Offering - We are extending the special offering for UMCOR for the next couple of Sundays. UMCOR Sunday is one of six churchwide Sunday offerings designated to support ministries and causes important to the entire United Methodist Church. This special offering underwrites UMCOR’s administrative costs. This offering allows UMCOR to use 100% of all funds given to humanitarian response and recovery efforts directly to communities in need. CLICK HERE TO GIVE TO UMCOR through Realm. There will also be offering envelopes available during worship if you prefer to give cash/check. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

• *NEW* Sunday, April 5: Easter Offering - We invite you to participate in our designated Easter offering to benefit local material assistance missions. (NNEMAP and Our Helpers). Please specify Easter Offering on your gift and make checks payable to King Avenue UMC, or select Easter Offering in Realm.

• *NEW* Sunday, April 19: Songs Without Words - Join us for the inaugural "Songs Without Words" concert highlighting the many talented instrumentalists at King Avenue UMC. Please join us on Sunday, April 19 at 3 p.m. in the Sanctuary to enjoy a variety of musical styles and collaborations. The concert is free, but freewill offering will be collected to benefit UMCOR. CLICK TO GIVE

• *NEW* "King Avenue Players Auditions for "Perfect Arrangement" - Not only does this play open our 2026 season, it also opens the Pride Month Activities and Celebrations at King Avenue UMC! According to the Concord Theatricals website: "Inspired by the true story of the earliest stirrings of the gay rights movement, Perfect Arrangement merges madcap sitcom-style laughs with provocative drama as two closeted U.S. State Department employees struggle to maintain their cover – and their sanity – in 1950s America." Auditions are open to Adults (age 18+). Auditionees will be asked to read from the script individually and with the other auditionees in attendance. Scripts will be provided for your use during auditions. Please plan to stay for the whole audition timeslot (6:30-8:30 pm) on your selected day. If callbacks are needed, they are 04.21.26 at 6:30 pm at King Avenue UMC. The first rehearsal/table read is 04.22.26 at 6:30 pm at King Avenue UMC. Weekly rehearsals are Sundays-Thursdays, 6:30-9:00 pm. Questions? Please email us at: kingavenueplayers@gmail.com

• *NEW* Register for the 2026 AIDS Walk Ohio! AIDS Walk Ohio is a 5K run and a 1-mile walk that raises funds and awareness to help end HIV. There were historic funding cuts in 2025 for HIV prevention and treatment. As we approach what will be the 27th year of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD), you cannot find it listed on the main hiv.gov website. This is an attempt to erase decades of progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS. CLICK TO LEARN MORE & REGISTER

HOLY WEEK PREPARATION AND WORSHIP

• Thursday, April 2: Maundy Thursday Worship - Experience a time of sacred reflection this Maundy Thursday, April 2nd, at King Avenue. Join us for a service featuring contemplative music and worship, reflection through our labyrinth and prayer stations, and the sharing of Holy Communion, as we remember Jesus' Last Supper and His call to love. This service begins at 7:00pm in the King Avenue Sanctuary.

• Friday, April 3: Good Friday Worship - Join your King Avenue family for a Good Friday worship service. This immersive worship experience is titled “We Were There.” Hear from Mary Magdelene, Judas, Peter, and Pontius Pilate as they recount their stories and witnessed the events leading up to and immediately following the crucifixion. Interspersed between stories is music to help us reflect on the sacrifice and grace offered through Christ's death on the cross. This service begins at 7:00pm in the King Avenue Sanctuary. This service begins at 7:00pm in the King Avenue Sanctuary.

• Sunday, April 5: Easter Worship - On Sunday, April 5th, we celebrate Easter Worship, affirming our identity as 'Easter People.' This season highlights the profound truth of Christ's victory over death, signifying our ongoing renewal through God's Love and saving Grace. Come and worship with your King Avenue family as we sing praises and step into the new life offered to us. Services will be held at 9am and 11am. All are welcome!

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

• Wednesdays, April 8-29: When Kids Come Out – A Four-Session Class for Parents and Family Members of LGBTQ+ Children - This 4-session class is designed to provide a safe space where questions and concerns can be dealt with openly and honestly. The dates for this series of sessions are Wednesdays, April 8, 15, 22, 29. These sessions of the class will be held on Zoom beginning at 7:00pm and concluding by 8:30 pm. Rev. Jim Waugh will lead the class. If you want to participate in the class, please email Jim at jwaugh3@mac.com. Put “Kids Class” in the Subject line. A few days prior to the class session, you will receive a Zoom invitation from Jim for the sessions. CLICK TO LEARN MORE

• Saturday, April 11 from 9:30-3:00: Carry the Hope... A Day for Justice-minded Folks - Many who care deeply about justice, community, and the well-being of our neighbors are feeling isolated or overwhelmed. Carry the Hope is a one-day gathering designed to create space for renewal, connection, and solidarity among justice-minded people across Ohio. Through music, shared stories, conversation, and grounding practices, we will take time to breathe, listen, and reconnect with one another. Featuring music and facilitation by Luke Wallace, the day will include communal singing, table conversations, and regional connection designed to strengthen relationships and remind us that we are not alone in this work. This gathering is an invitation to step away from urgency for a moment, reconnect with hope, and begin building a relational network of people committed to justice, care, and community in the days ahead. Register by April 8. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

• Sunday, April 12: Children and Youth-led Worship Sunday - All are invited to participate in this special annual worship Sunday (both services). Please come to support and encourage our kids as they greet, usher, give the announcements, read scripture, offer prayers, and give a relevant message to the whole community. We will also celebrate our confirmation class and welcome them as members of King Avenue UMC. Join us for cake in the Parlor at 10 am. (No Sunday School at 10 am.) For the CYFM Worship Sunday on April 12th, all of the kids are invited to sing one of our favorite Worship Connections songs during the offering. We will have the projector and video playing with us up front. CLICK HERE TO LEARN THE SONG. Grown-ups are welcome to join their kiddos in the song and support them.

• Thursday, April 16: 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 Thursday, April 16, 6 pm-9pm, then we'll welcome you into membership in worship Sunday April 19. If you're interested and/or have any questions, contact Pastor Andy at andy@kingave.org. If you're in Realm, CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

• "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

• 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 March/April- The NNEMAP Item of the month for March and April is laundry pods.

• 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.

• 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

• Free Property eAlerts - The Franklin County Auditor’s office is dedicated to helping property owners better understand and provide feedback related to their property records. As part of this effort, the Auditor’s office offers a Property eAlerts tool through which a property owner can sign up to receive an automated email alert whenever a change is made to their property record (e.g., change in property owner, change in owner address, change in value). This free tool is designed to allow property owners to easily monitor changes made to their property records. To sign up to receive eAlerts for your property, search for your property and then from the parcel summary page click the "Sign Up for or Manage Property eAlerts" button. From here, you will enter your contact information into an online form and verify your registration through a confirmation message sent to your email account. CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED

FAITH FORMATION, FELLOWSHIP, AND SUPPORT

• 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 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.

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.

• 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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