King Avenue Digest 8/16/25

August 16, 2025

 

*NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS AND QUICKLY-APPROACHING EVENTS* 

  • TONIGHT SATURDAY, August 16: Music for a Cause - This benefit concert for New Life will be held on Saturday, August 16th from 7:00-9:30 at Linworth UMC. This is the Third Annual Benefit Concert and Silent Auction to support the food, clothing and healthcare ministries of New Life Community Outreach. CLICK TO PURCHASE TICKETS.

  • THIS SUNDAY, August 17: Blessing of Backpacks and Briefcases - The Blessing of the Backpacks and Briefcases will be in both services (9 am and 11 am) on August 17th. Please bring your bag for the blessing and pick up a treat to remind you of how much you are loved by your church family.

  • *NEW* Beginning Thursday, September 4: Kickoff to Handbell Choir and Chancel Choir Season - September 4 marks the start of rehearsals for Bell Choir (6:15-7:15) and Chancel Choir (7:30-8:45) for the 2024-25 season. New members are always welcome. Contact our Minister of Music, Chris McManus if you are interested in these ministries.

  • *NEW* Sunday, September 7: All-Church Fall Kickoff Lunch - Join your church family for a Taco Lunch to kick off fall at King Avenue, and to help raise money for our annual trip to Casa de Misericordia! Lunch will be served in the Fellowship Hall at noon, directly following the 11:00 service. EVERYONE is welcome. Lunch is free, but donations will be greatly appreciated - all proceeds will go toward helping our team travel to the Casa in February.

  • *NEW* Sunday, September 7: Fall Kickoff Family Fun - After the all-church taco lunch, there will be inflatables, crafts, games, & bubbles outside in the south parking lot of anyone young or young at heart!

  • REGISTRATION OPEN for September Radically Blessed, The Core Teachings of Jesus - Following Jesus can transform our life if connect with Jesus' core teachings. As United Methodists, we come from a faith tradition rooted in that transformational relationship with Jesus. Join this class to learn more about these teachings, and come to see the world as Jesus saw it: a place where meekness is strength, mercy is power, and love is the very foundation of the kingdom of God. Two formats are offered - Tuesdays at noon on Zoom, Wednesdays at 7pm at the church. The class runs from  September 9/10 - October 21/22.
    CLICK TO REGISTER for Tuesday (noon) ZOOM
    CLICK TO REGISTER for Wednesday (7pm) IN-PERSON

  • REGISTRATION OPEN for Monday Disciple Bible Study, Into the Word; Into the World - This 12-week class explores the books of Luke and Acts. DISCIPLE Bible Study began at King Avenue in the late 80's, and has been a transformative instrument for many in our congregational life. Because we are focusing on Jesus in OPEN readings, and then on how Jesus' teaching applies to the church, we will study Luke and Acts which are believed to share the same author. We'll lean into the writings and ask God how we ought to be formed so that we, as individuals, and as God's hands and feet in the world, ought to live, act, move, and have our being, so that more folks will know our God who is love. This 6:00 -7:30 Monday evening Zoom class runs  September 8 - November 24. Workbooks will be available at a cost $15, but don't let the cost deter you from signing up for the class. There is an expectation of 20-30 minutes daily reading/study between the Monday Zoom sessions. Questions? Contact Pastor Karen at karen@kingave.org. Hope you will join us!  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

  • OSU Parkers Still Needed - Be part of the game day excitement! Are you looking for a fun easy way to get involved and be a part of the King Avenue Missions Team? If so, join the King Avenue OSU Parking Crew as we cheer on the Buckeyes success in 2025. We are currently seeking volunteers to assist Buckeye fans with parking in the King Avenue parking lot during all home games on the dates below. Whether you sign up for one game or the entire season, this unique and important mission will not disappoint.  Home games are August 30; September 5, 13; October 4; November 1, 15, 22. Please contact Shawn Compton at comptonlaw@msn.com for more information and to sign up.

 

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

  • Register by August 25 for Pride Night at Kings Island on 9/5/25 - Rainbow Connections is headed to Kings Island! Join us for a fun-filled evening of rides and joyful community on September 5th, starting at 6pm at Kings Island. ALL are welcome - families, friends, allies. Registration and payment of $30 are REQUIRED and due by August 25. King Avenue will not provide transportation but we can help organize carpools - just contact Pastor Andy.  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

  • Sunday, 8/31 and Tuesday, 9/2 - KAP Auditions for Shrek The Musical: Come one and all! We're gonna have a ball at our fall production of Shrek The Musical! Auditions are open to ages 10 and up, and will be held Sunday, August 31 and Tuesday, September 2. Please note that all auditions for ages 10-17 will be held August 31 from 3:00-5:30 pm, with auditions for ages 18 and over starting at 6:30 pm that evening. Auditionees should prepare 16-32 bars from a musical theatre song that is not from the show. An accompanist will be provided. You may also be asked to read from the script and learn a short dance routine, so please dress comfortably and plan to stay for the whole audition timeslot. CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO SIGN UP.

  • August Item of the Month for NNEMAP - NNEMAP is collecting canned or jarred protein for August, but specifically jarred peanut butter. Can you help us collect 200 jars of peanut butter this month? There are collection carts available in the back of the worship space, both at Morning Blend and Traditional 11:00 Worship.

  • Art Exhibit, King Avenue... Unexpected Views - Our new History Room Gallery is opening with King Avenue... Unexpected Views featuring large photographs of Thomas C. Van Dyke. Thomas is the son of Rev. Stan and Deborah Ling, and he served as an assistant to the custodian of King Avenue during his time as a student at Ohio State. These photographs were taken as a part of his studies. Currently Thomas and his wife operate an Art Gallery in Brooklyn. In addition to Thomas' photographs, we have added some pictures we have discovered in our Archives which we felt were of interest to those who visit the gallery, in the Heber History Room. Special thanks to Kurt Reichert for his work in preparing the photographs for the gallery.

  • 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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