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Midweek Update
January 10, 2024 |
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Pastor Alex reminds us about the Town Hall, which will be held after worship this Sunday! We'll discuss the vision for Rachel's Haven and the future of our solar panel project. Also, join in the fun (or just encourage from afar!) as the CFUMC Hiking Group embarks upon the Great Rivanna Trail Challenge this Saturday, January 13th. See the announcements below for more information on these exciting plans! |
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CFUMC Great Rivanna Trail Challenge
Saturday, January 13th at 1:00 pm
As part of their Great Rivanna Trail Challenge, the CFUMC Hiking Group will hike the first section of the Rivanna Trail, from Riverview to VFW and back (about 4 miles) on Saturday, January 13th, at 1:00 pm. More information about parking, difficulty, and future hikes will be added soon.
We will be tracking our progress using the highlighted map and a special Hiking Passport that we can add stamps to along the way!
Dave and Lara are unable to attend this first hike, so please contact Beth Reitz if you are able to attend. We hope to see you there! |
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Human Relations Day
Sunday, January 14th
Human Relations Day calls United Methodists to recognize the right of all God's children in realizing their potential as human beings in relationship with one another.
This is a church-wide Special Sunday, with offerings benefiting neighborhood ministries and community advocacy. We hope that you will join us in worship to celebrate our love for one another! |
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Town Hall to Review Rachel's Haven and Solar Project
Sunday, January 14th at 11:15 am
Updates on two important projects will be presented at a church town hall to be held on Sunday, January 14th, at 11:15 am in the sanctuary (following the morning service).
Rachel's Haven is the name for a project to provide affordable housing for developmentally disabled adults. The project was a dream of the former Hinton Avenue Church, which originally intended to provide space on the site in part of the church's educational wing. With the recent sale of the building, the project is taking a new form with new partners. Further details will be offered at the Town Hall.
A planned addition of solar panels to the Charlottesville First building has a major new update as well that will require a decision on its future. You can read about the update here. We will be asking those at the Town Hall to give feedback on the project through a straw vote. The Church Council will be voting on the proposal the following night. |
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C'ville Youth Collective
Sunday, January 14th, from 6:00-7:30 pm
The C'ville Youth Collective will be gathering at Aldersgate UMC on January 14th from 6:00-7:30 pm for a Coffee House Hour! We will enjoy dinner from Vocelli's, get to know each other more during coffee house time (yes, there will be some Starbucks involved!), and wrap up with some great music.
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Support Needed for Loaves and Fishes
Did you know that Loaves and Fishes is the largest free food source in the greater Charlottesville area? Unfortunately, as 2023 comes to a close it is clear that the need for the food they provide is only increasing.
Donations have not kept up with demand, and the food pantry predicts that they will need to purchase 43% more food in 2024.
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FUMP Enrollment 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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January One Thing Ministry
For the first two weeks of the New Year, our One Thing Ministry will benefit the Haitian workers who will be working side-by-side with Dave Wheatley and his crew, who are traveling to Ft. Liberte in Haiti to continue construction.
If you would like to donate to the cause, please put "One Thing Ministry - Haiti" in the memo line of your check.
During the last two weeks of January, the One Thing Ministry will be collecting diapers (of all sizes) to keep at the church to hand out to those in need. |
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Tom Ashley Artist Statement
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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39th Annual C'ville MLK Day Community Celebration
Sunday, January 21st at 5:00 pm
The Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church will be hosting the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration with keynote speaker Jocelyn Nicole Johnson. She lives and writes here in Charlottesville, and her debut novel is called
My Monticello. In the wake of her successful debut, she has spoken around the country about social justice, outsider stories, and the right to read without censorship.
For more information about attendance and how to get involved, see the flier here. |
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Kick-off the Contemporary Worship with a Chili Cook-off
Wednesday, January 24th, 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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Keynote Event: "We Are Called to Be a Movement"
Thursday, January 25th at 6:00 pm
Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II is President and Senior Lecturer of Repairers of the Breach, Co-Chair of the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call For Moral Revival, Bishop with The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, Pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Goldboro, NC for the past 29 years, and Professor in the Practice of Public Theology and Public Policy and Founding Director of the Center for Public Theology and Public Policy at Yale Divinity School.
This event is presented by the Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in partnership with the School of Data Science. The event is free and open to the public, and will be held at the Paramount Theater. Tickets are available here. |
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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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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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Spring Plant Sale
Spring may seem like a long way off, but we are already planning for our second Plant Sale! Lots of volunteers made last year's event a resounding success, and we solicit your help in making this one happen.
If you are interesting in planning, helping, growing, or donating, please contact Cindy Poots Remington at 434.242.7563 or mspoots@gmail.com. |
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Reimagining the Ignatian Examen
Thursday evenings 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
Beginning on Thursday, January 11th, the Women at the Well will start 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
Sundays at 8:45 am
Come join this adult class in room 208 at 8:45 on Sunday mornings. We will be discussing Pastor Alex Joyner's book, "A Space for Peace in the Holy Land: Listening to the Modern Israel and Palestine". It explores the background to the current conflict and profiles Israeli Jews and Palestinians who are working for peace.
The e-book is available on Amazon for $4.99, and it is available for free for Kindle Unlimited.
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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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Cruise Study of Paul
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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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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Caring for God's Creation
If you are like me, the coming of the new year inspires me to purge items from my home, including clothes. While there are many responsible organizations that will take used clothing, what do we do with textiles that can't be donated? Check out this article from Wirecutter to learn about how to donate and repurpose your items. |
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Love INC Volunteers Needed
At the Love INC (Love in the Name of Christ) office, the need for volunteers is ongoing throughout the year.
We are currently in need of volunteers who are willing to come to the office and work in our storeroom by organizing and sorting the items. The goal is to free up space so that we can utilize the storeroom in a more efficient manner.
In addition, we could use a few people who could volunteer to help with answering phones on a regular basis. There would be a period of training involved.
Please call the office if you would like to volunteer at 434-977-7777. |
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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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