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Midweek Update
February 7, 2024 |
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NEW Youth Retreat Opportunity!
Register by Friday, February 9th
Aldersgate UMC plans to take some of their youth to Westview on the James and has invited us to join them! Who's in?
This will be a Winter Youth Retreat from February 23rd-25th, and all youth (ages 6th through 12th grade) are invited to participate. Our retreat time will include meals, snacks, worship, Bible study, free time with friends, s'mores at the bonfire, and exploring the ropes course, challenge courses, trails, and more! Your cost has been reduced to $40 per youth (additional financial assistance is available).
You must submit this form by February 9th to save your spot! Email Lara Upton if you have any questions, and let us know if you can make it! |
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February Faith Build
Friday, February 9th, from 8:45 am-3:30 pm
Come together with members of our congregation and other faith communities to help build homes for our Habitat Partner Families!
This is an annual event sponsored by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville which is designed to be a great learning experience and service opportunity for all ages. We will be inspired to "Love Thy Neighbor" by building interfaith understanding and strong community networks.
If you are interested in participating in this year's Faith Build or if you have any questions, reach out to Natalie Burgwin. You can sign up to participate on the Habitat for Humanity website by clicking here. |
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Great Rivanna Trail Challenge: Hike 3
Saturday, February 10th at 1:00 pm
We've sent our scouts to check out the road before us, and it looks like it could be the most exciting hike yet! The trail is sunny with a few muddy patches and some stream crossings on rocks. If you have walking sticks, you might benefit from bringing those.
Join us this Saturday, February 10th at 1:00 pm for Hike #3 on the CHS loop north, which is about 4 miles long. Park on Melbourne Road just above the baseball field.
Thank you to Dave Wheatley and Beth Reitz, and we hope to see you all on the trail! For more information, contact connect@cvillefirstumc.org. |
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Celebration of Life
Sunday, February 11th at 2:00 pm
The family of David Lewis invites all to David's Celebration of Life this coming Sunday, February 11th at 2:00 pm in the Chapel. All are welcome. |
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C'ville Youth Collective Diner Night
Sunday, February 11th
Join us for a blast from the past in the CFUMC Fellowship Hall for the next C'ville Youth Collective! We'll have games and fellowship while enjoying Coke and root beer floats.
All youth from 6th-12th grade are welcome to kick it with us, so be sure to bring your friends to share in the fun!
For more information or to RSVP, please email Lara Upton. |
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Sign Up for the 2024 ASP Trip!
NOW is the time to sign up for this summer's Youth Mission Trip with Appalachian Service Project! Our week of serving is scheduled for June 23rd through June 29th, and we will be sharing God's love with others through home repairs and faith-building relationships.
This experience is for students grades 6-12. We will serve on a team with Aldersgate UMC again this year, and we still have spots to fill! The deposit at the time of sign-up is $50, and an additional deposit of $175 will be due on March 1st. Financial assistance is available.
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Support Needed for Loaves and Fishes
One of the many ways that Charlottesville First UMC fulfills its mission is by serving people who are hungry. Not only does our generous church family support our Bread and Blessings soup kitchen, it also sends financial support and volunteers to serve at the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry.
Just look at what Loaves and Fishes accomplished in 2023:
- Nearly 500 individuals provided close to 13,000 volunteer hours
- Volunteers prepared over 1.9 million pounds of food for clients
- Volunteers packed carts of food for clients, providing a minimum of 100 pounds of groceries per household
So, if you are ever wondering where your donations go, rest assured that more than just the utility bills at church are being funded! Thank you all for such generosity! Please consider making a donation via their website so that we can continue to support our community through Loaves and Fishes!
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FUMP Enrollment is Open Now!
Enrollment for the 2024-2025 academic year at the First United Methodist Preschool is now open!
Visit the FUMP website here to find out more information or to fill out an application. |
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February One Thing Ministry
Our February One Thing Ministry will benefit the wonderful work of church member Dr. Denise Young, an Obstetrics and Gynecology expert and the daughter of Margaret and Ken Stickley! Denise works with many under-served women in Charlottesville and Louisa. To support their journey into parenthood, we will collect:
- Diapers sizes 1-2
- Baby thermometers
- A&D Cream (or any diaper cream)
- Vaseline
- Simple infant toys
- Board books for infants
- Gently used or new infant clothes
- We will be requesting formula as soon as we know which brands are preferred
Thank you in advance for your generosity as we support these women who are experiencing housing and food insecurity and will now have another little soul to care for! Please place your donations in the red bins in the Welcome Center.
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Artist Statement: Tom Ashley
We have a new gallery artist showcasing his work here at CFUMC!
He has written a brief statement about how he got started as a photographer, his sources of inspiration, and his work in Charlottesville. Click here to read the statement in full, and be sure to get up to the gallery to check out his work! |
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Realm Connect: Now in an Inbox Near You!
Realm is an online ministry tool that is designed for real connection. It helps our church connect with you, and it helps you to stay connected with us! With Realm, you will be able to manage your profile of personal information, control your giving, and keep in touch with the groups and people that matter most to you! Here's how to get started:
1) Check your inbox for an email from Realm with a link prompting you to set up your account
2) Click the link and set up your account by creating a password. Write it down!
3) Download the "Realm Connect - For Our Church" mobile app on the App Store or Google Play
4) Log into the app with your email and the password you just created, and then you're ready to get started with customizing your profile's privacy and notification settings! |
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CFUMC Visioning Informals
Charlottesville First has begun a new visioning process to see where God is leading us in the next 3-5 years and beyond. The first phase will be a series of Vision Informals, where individuals can gather around the table to discuss where we are, what we value, and how we can "love the whole city and love the city whole" into the future.
Each informal includes a time to assess the general health and values of the congregation as well as a special focus for the second part of our time together. Here are some of the upcoming informals:
- Monday, February 12th at 7:30 pm. Hosts: Lara Upton, Frank McMullen, and Claire Kent. Focus: Prayer. Location: online
- Sunday, February 18th at 11:30 am. Hosts: Beth Reitz and Jeff Taylor. Focus: Giving. Location: church.
- Wednesday, February 21st at 5:30 pm. Hosts: Bill Clarke and Gary Bibb. Focus: Participation. Location: church.
- Saturday, February 24th at 9:30 am. Hosts: Lisa Hanrahan and Fred Schneider. Focus: Leadership. Location: church.
- Saturday, February 24th at 5:30 pm. Hosts: Lina Lopez and Jon Scheumann. Focus: Outreach & Social Justice. Location: TBA
- Monday, March 4th at 5:30 pm. Hosts: Carolyn McGee and Patty Taylor. Focus: Nurture. Location: church
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Ash Wednesday Worship Offerings
Wednesday, February 14th at 12:30 pm
All are invited to an Ash Wednesday Service and Light Lunch in the Fellowship Hall on February 14th at 12:30 pm! Pastor Alex will deliver a message and tell those gathered how they can take ashes into the community (think neighbors, co-workers, assisted living facilities, etc). Ashes will be given out at the end of the event for all who decide they would like to be a part of this ministry.
Also, please note that Lenten lunches will take place every Wednesday during Lent. An evening Ash Wednesday service will take place in the Sanctuary at 6:30 pm. |
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On the Road with Mark: A Lenten Study with Pastor Alex and Dr. Laura Holmes
Thursday, February 15th at 7:30 pm
Pastor Alex and Dr. Laura Holmes invite you to an online Lenten journey through the gospel of Mark. Beginning Thursday, February 15th, the group will meet each week to study a section of the most action-packed of the gospels and talk about how its challenging picture of Jesus can help us hear and respond to God's voice in new ways. The class will have six sessions.
To get a Zoom link, just send an email to Pastor Alex. You can also register on the new congregational Realm app, which is being rolled out! |
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Worship Choir
Saturday, February 17th from 10:00 am-2:00 pm
Your Worship Choir would like to invite you to join us for a day of singing, learning, and community as we come together to celebrate our love of music! With a special guest director leading the way, this event promises to be a truly enriching experience for all.
Whether you're a seasoned singer or just starting out, this day is open to everyone who wants to be part of our vibrant musical community. From vocal warm-ups to group rehearsals, there will be plenty of opportunities to learn and grow as we raise our voices in harmony.
Don't miss out on this unique chance to connect with fellow music lovers and make beautiful music together! See you on February 17th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, with lunch included! RSVP to Carolyn McGee. |
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Youth Faith Build
Saturday, February 17th, from 8:45 am-3:30 pm
All youth ages 16 and older are invited to participate in the Youth Build Day for Habitat for Humanity! Join us in building homes for our Habitat Partner Families as part of the Faith Build event. Let's help strengthen our community by working toward housing justice in a hands-on way!
Dave Wheatley and Lara Upton welcome all youth and their families to attend. Contact connect@cvillefirstumc.org with any questions, and visit the Habitat for Humanity website here to sign up. |
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FUMP Chick-fil-A Spirit Night
Wednesday, February 21st from 5:00-8:00 pm
Come out to the Pantops Chick-fil-A on Wednesday, February 21st for dinner and help support the First United Methodist Preschool!
A donation will be given back to the school for 15% of all FUMP sales made during the evening. Please let the Chick-fil-A team know that you are there for the FUMP Spirit Night when you place your order in the restaurant or the drive-thru. |
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Bishop Sue's District Visit
Sunday, February 25th - Monday, February 26th
Sue Haupert-Johnson, the Resident Bishop of the Richmond Area Virginia Annual Conference, will be visiting the Three Notch'd District from February 25th through February 26th!
She will be preaching at New Song UMC in Mechanicsville, VA on Sunday the 25th at 9:30 am. At 3:00 pm, there will be a Dessert Reception with laity at Zion UMC in Troy, VA. If you wish to attend, please register here. All are welcome!
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Chili Cook-off and Contemporary Worship
Wednesday, February 28th, from 6:00-7:30 pm
The event formerly called "God in All Things" is getting a fresh start in the New Year! We're kicking off a new format with your suggestions in mind.
Join us in the Fellowship Hall for a chili cook-off meal followed by contemporary worship! We'll start with chili and cornbread at 6:00 pm, and we hope to be finishing worship by 7:30 pm. All ages are welcome to attend, and children will be invited to move into a separate space for their own message during the worship time.
Sign up to bring chili or cornbread here, and please RSVP with Lara Upton. This helps us to plan for your presence, but don't be afraid to attend regardless! |
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PACEM at Westminster Presbyterian
Saturday, March 2nd - Saturday, March 16th
Our friends at Westminster Presbyterian Church at 400 Rugby Road will serve as the host congregation for the PACEM men's shelter Saturday, March 2nd through the morning of Saturday, March 16th. There was a fair number of Westminster congregants that served during our hosting of PACEM, and we would like to return the favor. Please log on to their Sign-up Genius and volunteer to help out: Westminster Presbyterian - PACEM.
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It Starts with a Meal: Rise Against Hunger
Saturday, March 16th
The Rise Against Hunger organization targets remote communities within hunger pockets that are designated as Serious or higher on the Global Hunger Index. These are the hardest places to reach, and they are often difficult to access and have poor infrastructure. With the support of global impact partners, RAH practices locally-led development by providing expertise vital to empower communities and providing meals through local schools to incentivize attendance and enable kids to obtain an education.
Maintaining the dignity of those who are served is of prime importance; RAH doesn't intend to rescue the people it serves, but rather works alongside local communities to support rather than direct them as they tackle their food and nutrition challenges. The ultimate goal is sustainability as well as building long-term relationships.
Our work starts with a meal, so join us on March 16th for the CFUMC Meal Packaging Event! |
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Spring Plant Sale
Saturday, April 27th from 8:00 am-12:00 pm
Save the date! The Second Annual Plant Sale is scheduled for April 27th, and we need your help! No green thumb, you say? No problem! We need help from all kinds of skill sets to price, set up, sell, and clean up.
Do you hang onto the pots from the flowers and vegetables you put in last year, or am I the only one? Do you have some tools that you aren't using anymore? We will take them! We will also need some canopy tents to protect those precious plants from the sun. If you are artistic, paint some birdhouses! Before long, it will be time to dig up any volunteers in your garden to share. You might also consider purchasing seedlings to donate to the sale, which will be raising money for our Bread and Blessings food ministry. If you have been looking for a way to support our Downtown Ministries and follow our mission, this is your chance!
Join us as we plan this fun event! Please contact Cindy Poots Remington at 434.242.7563 or mspoots@gmail.com. |
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Scuba VBS
July 29th - August 2nd, 9:00 am-12:00 pm
At Scuba VBS, kids dive into friendship with God! Scuba is filled with awesome Bible-learning experiences that kids can see, hear, and touch -- we'll do hands-on science experiments, team-building games, sing unforgettable Bible songs, and enjoy some tasty treats.
From July 29th through August 2nd, kids ages 3 through 5th grade are welcome to join us from 9:00 am through 12:00 pm for some splash-tastic adventures! Youth helpers (rising 6th grade and up) are invited to come help by volunteering. So, save the date and please let us know if you'll be available to help us prepare. This will help us plan for how many children can come along on our dive!
Contact Lara Upton to RSVP and sign up to volunteer! |
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Journeys of Paul Cruise
Pastor Alex has updated information and a new video about the Mediterranean Journeys of Paul cruise scheduled for October 7th-14th, 2024. Stops will include Rome, Naples, Palermo, Santorini, Ephesus, Mykonos, and Athens, with plenty of time on board for optional classes on Paul and all the fun of the Voyagers of the Seas ship!
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Reimagining the Ignatian Examen
Thursdays from 7:30-8:30 pm
This new class is meeting on Thursday evenings over Zoom to reflect upon the book "Reimagining the Ignatian Examen" by Mark E. Thibodeaux.
Rev. Dr. Laura Holmes and Lara Upton are co-leading our time together. We will meet for 6 weeks, and our last class will be on February 8th.
The class is open to anyone who is interested, and we hope you will join us! Click here for more information on the spiritual practice of the daily Examen, and contact connect@cvillefirstumc.org for the Zoom link. |
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Young Parents Small Group
Sundays from 11:30 am-12:30 pm
The newly-formed Young Parents small group has begun a 6-week study of "Reckless Love" by Tom Berlin.
Anyone interested is welcome to meet with us in the Youth Room on the third floor of the CFUMC building at 11:30 am. |
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Women at the Well
Thursdays at 9:30 am
The Women at the Well have started a new study of Courage by Tom Berlin!
By examining the life of Christ, we will be able to begin understanding what true courage is and how God works in our lives when we exhibit a brave faith. |
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Men’s Bible Study
Tuesdays at 8:00 am
Meeting at Wegmans at Fifth Street Station, we are continuing with fellowship and a concentrated study. All men of every age are invited.
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Faith Seekers Class
Begins Sunday, January 28th at 8:45 am
The Faith Seekers class will begin the study of a recent prominent book on the relationship between Christian depictions of Jesus and and cultural understandings of masculinity. Kristin Du Mez's
Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation offers a history of church and culture that gets at a central tension in American life.
Come join this adult class in Room 208 at 8:45 on Sunday mornings! For more details, contact Kathy Berlin. |
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Faith Explorers
Sundays at 11:15 am
The Faith Explorers class (Room 308 at 11:15) is reading Diana Butler Bass’s book,
Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening. The book is about introducing people to shifting religious demographics and to propose how communities of faith might rethink some basic issues about their identity, practices, and theology. The thesis is that certain forms of “religion” always end, often challenged by emerging cultural forms of spiritual experience and engagement, and that such endings are usually the beginning of some new and unexpected awakening. |
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The Adult Fellowship Group invites you to join us
Sundays at 11:15 am in Room 208
This class recently began a new study entitled “Questions God Asks” from the Life Guide Series (Larsen and Larsen, authors).
The book is available through Amazon, or you can contact Carolyn McGee to obtain one.
So… grab your coffee and goodies from the Portico Café and come on in!
All are welcome! Questions? Contact Pat Graham.
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Interested in Reading?
Pastor Alex's book,
A Space for Peace in the Holy Land: Listening to Modern Israel and Palestine, can be purchased as an e-book on Amazon for $4.99.
If you are not a Kindle reader, simply purchase the book as if you were (so that the publisher will be paid) and we will print a physical copy for you here in the church office.
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Lenten Handbell Schedule
Mondays from 6:00-7:00 pm
We will meet in the handbell rehearsal space on the third floor, which is elevator accessible. Rehearsals will be held on January 29th, February 5th, February 19th, and February 26th.
Please contact Kevin White if you are planning on attending so that he can have the materials prepared! |
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Caring Writers
The Caring Writers are a group who enjoy sending cards and letters to those who are homebound, feel isolated, or just need to know that someone cares. The commitment is to send a card or letter to two recipients per month.
If you are interested in becoming a Caring Writer, please contact George Batten or Maurya Batten. You can also contact either of them if you know of someone who would enjoy being on the recipient list. |
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Music Ministries
Our Music Ministry includes choirs, bands, instrumental ensembles, and soloists of both traditional and contemporary sounds. There is no shortage of ways to praise God through music, and everyone is invited to explore the gift of music, even if you are just singing along in the congregation!
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AED Certification
We are compiling a list of members who are certified in AED use. If you are certified, please email Karen Young. |
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Estimate of Giving Card
If you think you missed your chance to contribute to our missions and ministries, it's not too late!
We hope you will continue giving through the church. Your pledges will help CFUMC in our mission to love the whole city, love the city whole, and start it right here! |
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Enjoying the food and fellowship at Portico Café after worship?
Thanks to those who recently gave monetary contributions for Portico Cafe - we have enough funds for coffee and creamer for the next couple of months, so you won't see the donation jar any time soon!
We will continue to host Portico Cafe outdoors as long as the temperature is above 50 degrees and not raining. Otherwise, it will be held in the Gathering Space.
Email Lisa Hanrahan if you want to sign up to bring treats. A sign up sheet is also available by the coffee area. The success of Portico Café depends on the generosity of church members to help or contribute food! |
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Rainy Day Blues?
“Love the City” umbrellas will be left at the Front and Welcome Center entrances for all to borrow and then return on rainy days!
If you would like to purchase an umbrella to support our Nurture Ministries and our CFUMC Vision of
“Love the City," they are $20. Put “umbrella” in the memo line of your check. |
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The Quiet Center
Sundays at 11:15 in the Chapel
The Quiet Center is an after-church gathering of, and for, anyone who wants to know more about grief’s journey. The sessions are “stand alone,” to join anytime and as often as you wish, to explore the many faces of grief and to share with each other our time, our experiences, our presence and our prayers.
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Congregational Prayer Time
Now Tuesdays at 12:00 pm on Zoom
Meeting ID: 882 7977 8844
Passcode: 968327
If you are interested in praying for our church and community, be in touch with Carolyn McGee for the link. |
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Clothes Closet
Donations to Hinton Ave UMC clothes closet:
Hours of operation: Tuesdays from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
We are looking for children to adult sizes, spring/summer clothing. Please make sure the clothing is gently used, clean, stain-free, and in good repair. Also accept some household items (e.g., sheets, towels, small appliances, dishes, pans).
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Assistance for Ukraine
UMCOR International Disaster Response and Recovery, Advance #982450, is collecting funds for humanitarian assistance.
You can donate directly online or designate "Ukraine relief" on your checks made out to CFUMC. |
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Prayer Quilt Ministry
Contact Teri Guertler if you need a prayer quilt for someone going through a difficult time, or if you would like to help in the creation of the prayer quilts. No experience necessary.
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