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Midweek Update
January 24, 2024 |
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Pastor Alex shows us what we can expect from our new series of Visioning Informals, the first of which was held on Monday! Participants came together to share how we would describe Charlottesville First UMC today, as well as to envision our future and discuss what steps we need to take to continue to grow as a congregation. Keep an eye out for more information on our second Visioning Informal! Also, don't miss the IMPACT Breakfast this Sunday at 8:30 am, where we'll learn about how to get involved with this wonderful interfaith organization that empowers us all to create social change. |
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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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IMPACT Breakfast
Sunday, January 28th at 8:30 am
We'll be hosting a breakfast on Sunday, January 28th for the annual network meeting of the IMPACT members of Charlottesville First UMC. If you've been interested in what this interfaith group advocating for social justice in our region is up to, come join CFUMC IMPACT team leader George Batten and Pastor Alex to hear about the current campaigns on affordable housing and transit and to prepare for the upcoming Nehemiah Action.
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Support Needed for Loaves and Fishes
Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry needs your help to meet the increased demand that has already been evident in 2024!
As everyone is experiencing, the costs of basic essentials, including food, are up. Numerous people in our community have no safety net to support these increased expenses, and Loaves and Fishes is working tirelessly to support our Charlottesville community.
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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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January One Thing Ministry
For 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.
Please leave your donations in red bins located in the Welcome Center. Thank you! |
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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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Thank You from Jon Buckner
Dear CFUMC family,
I warmly thank you all for the cards, messages, and beautiful plant that have been sent. Although I have not been a member of First Church for very long, I have felt the love from my church family and I appreciate you all being there for me and Mom.
Love,
Jon |
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Great Rivanna Trail Challenge: Hike 2
Wednesday, January 31st at 1:00 pm
After a strong start to the Great Rivanna Trail Challenge, the CFUMC Hiking Group will hike the second section of the Rivanna Trail, from Pen Park north and back (or south) next week! The trail is about 3.5 miles roundtrip, so plan for about a 2 hour hike. It is mostly forest trails with some roads, so wear your hiking boots and bring a walking stick if you have them! We'll meet up at the parking lot for the Pen Park tennis courts.
We will be tracking our progress using a special Hiking Passport that we can add stamps to along the way!
It's not too late to join in the fun! For more information on how you can get involved, contact Dave Wheatley or Lara Upton at connect@cvillefirstumc.org. |
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Shrove Tuesday Sunday Pancake Brunch and Crafting Session
Sunday, February 4th from 11:15 am-12:15 pm
Yes, you read that right! Instead of a Shrove Tuesday evening pancake dinner, let's gather on Sunday, February 4th after worship for a pancake lunch!
Following lunch, there will be a time for crafting. Adults can make origami doves of peace for the Lenten Season, while children are invited to do some ice painting as part of the First Sunday Kids and Youth Lunch activity! The craft session is optional, but the pancakes are a MUST! There will be a free will offering for the meal, and donations will benefit RISE Against Hunger.
Many hands make light work, so please contact Carolyn McGee to volunteer as a pancake flipper or to help clean up. |
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First Sunday Kids and Youth Pancake Brunch and Ice Painting
Sunday, February 4th at 11:15 am
All kids and youth are welcome to gather after worship in the Fellowship Hall and get creative as part of the combination First Sunday Kids and Youth Lunch + Shrove Tuesday Sunday Pancake Brunch!
We'll celebrate the winter cold by doing some ice painting while the adults make origami - it'll be crafting fun for the whole family!
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Caring for God's Creation: ReThink Recycling
Tuesday, February 6th from 1:00-2:00 pm
How much do you really know about local recycling? Did you know that a swing set is recyclable? How about a tree, a kiddie pool, or a mattress? Jessica Brown of Van Der Linde Recycling will discuss what is and is not recyclable, where to take it, and how this information has a direct impact on our community, our local environment, and your wallet. This event will be held at The Center at Belvedere, and is open to all! |
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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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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 this spring. |
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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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Bishop Sue's District Visit
Sunday, February 25th - Monday, February 26th
Sue Haupert-Johnson, the Resident Bishop of the Richmond Area, 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 3:30 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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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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Realm Rollout Coming Soon!
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!
You can get started by downloading the Realm Connect mobile app on the App Store or Google Play, and be sure to stay on the lookout for more information. |
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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.
The first of these informals happened on Monday, January 22nd, and building utilization was the special focus. Stay tuned for more information on future informals - we're excited to hear more from YOU! |
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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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Solar Project Update
Following a year and a half of preparatory work and a lively and informative Town Hall, the CFUMC Church Council has voted to move forward with a planned solar panel project to supply green electrical energy!
Congregation and community members will be invited to help raise the additional funds needed, building on the initial donation from an anonymous donor. The Trustees will continue to investigate methods for maximizing energy output and shortening the return on investment time.
You can view the report of the Solar Committee here. The Town Hall was also recorded and can be viewed here. |
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Prayers for Haiti
Church member Dave Wheatley's scheduled mission trip to Fort Liberté, Haiti has been postponed due to political unrest. Please keep the people of the region in your prayers as we wait for a rescheduled date.
Your donations toward the trip to help pay for workers and support crew have been incredibly generous. So far, they have totaled almost $10,000, and with previously reserved funds, Charlottesville First is committing $11,239.36. Thanks be to God! |
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Habitat for Humanity Video Update
Habitat for Humanity, one of the partners that Charlottesville supports, has a new video update on the progress at Southwood. Click here for a 3-minute drone view of Villages One, Two, and Three of the new Southwood Park!
Village One is a blend of 49 Habitat homes and 31 market-rate homes. Over the last four years, 49 Habitat families have been performing thousands of sweat equity hours, and they are now moving out of aging trailers and into their new homes! Here is a CBS News story of one family's first Christmas in their new home. |
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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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Clearinghouse Coordinator Position at Love INC
Love INC (Love in the Name of Christ) works to transform lives and our community by mobilizing people in area churches to serve our neighbors in need. Love INC alerts local churches to physical needs that require attention and provides those churches with opportunities to walk alongside individuals and families needing assistance so that their lives may be transformed through loving and sustainable relationships.
Love INC is accepting applications for a part-time Clearinghouse Coordinator Position, which is designed to oversee the many relationships with local churches and volunteers to help meet the mission and administrative objectives of the organization.
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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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