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Midweek Update
January 31, 2024 |
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Our financial secretary Dana Palmer stops by to answer some of Pastor Alex's questions about the new connectional tool coming soon to CFUMC! She explains how to follow the email link that we'll soon receive, create a password, download the "Realm Connect - For Our Church" app, and log in. Dana also addresses our notification settings and how we can change the privacy settings within the directory. Be sure to keep an eye on your inbox for the Realm Connect link so that we can get in contact, manage our giving, and stay in touch about the events and groups here at CFUMC! |
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Great Rivanna Trail Challenge: Hike 2
Today, 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)! 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
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, children will be invited to do some ice painting as part of the First Sunday Kids and Youth Lunch activity! The painting 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.
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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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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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Honoring Frances Marshall
Frances Marshall was recognized for her contributions to Hinton Avenue UMC during the service on Sunday, January 28th. Her legacy of kindness, hard work, and faithfulness is inspiring to all of us. Thank you, Frances! |
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Realm Connect: Coming to 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!
You will be sent a link through your email, which you can click on and use to set up your password. You can then download the "Realm Connect - For Our Church" mobile app on the App Store or Google Play. Log into the app with your email and password, and then you're ready to get started with customizing your profile's privacy and notification settings!
Watch the Midweek Update Video above for more information from Pastor Alex and Dana Palmer. After all, "It's so easy, even a pastor can do it!" |
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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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C'ville Youth Collective Diner Night
Sunday, February 11th from 6:00-7:30 pm
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! |
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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
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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.
Please RSVP to Carolyn McGee so we know how to plan for your presence. 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 soon! |
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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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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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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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