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Midweek Update
November 15, 2023
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Pastor Alex updates us from his conference at SMU, encouraging us to engage with our spiritual disciplines in new ways during the upcoming Thanksgiving and Advent seasons. He also congratulates us on a successful Consecration Sunday, and reminds us that the Estimate of Giving Card can still be accessed on our website! Thanks to all who participated and contributed to our missions and ministries. |
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Estimate of Giving Card
If you think you missed your chance to contribute to our missions and ministries after Consecration Sunday, 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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Time for Advent Devotionals!
Happening now through Friday, November 17th
The objects in the mirror are closer than they appear... like the date for getting your Advent Devotional turned in!
The theme for this Advent Season is "Stranger at the Door". Think about a time you were blessed by meeting a stranger, or perhaps if you perceive someone who is not like you to be a stranger. The Baby Jesus came to us in a way we never expected... He was a stranger!
Devotionals are due by November 15th. Jot down a short story, remembrance, or perhaps a poem! You can add a scripture or prayer if you choose.
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Annual Arts Fair
Saturday, November 18th, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
The Annual Arts Fair is coming up soon! On November 18th from 9:00-2:00, CFUMC will offer a Fellowship Hall full of wonderful artists. It will take lots of helping hands to make this a memorable and profitable event to benefit Bread and Blessings!
Along with the Arts Sale will be a Bake Sale and a Rummage Sale. This can't happen without donations of yummy, creative treats and gently used household goods. Lunch will be available for purchase. Please consider how you can help make this event a success!
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Fall Arts Fair Bake Sale
Please bring your donations of baked goods for the Fall Arts Festival on Friday, November 17th, any time between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. They can be placed on the tables in the hallway leading to the office suite. |
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Rummage Sale Items Needed
For Saturday, November 18th
We are still accepting donations for the rummage sale for the Annual Fall Arts Festival! All items must be clean and in good condition.
Desired items include household and kitchen items, linens, artwork, seasonal items, toys, jigsaw puzzles, games, tools, and gently worn clothing. We do not have room for furniture, but if you have something that you'd like to donate, take a photo of it and bring the photo in with your name on it. We also do not need any more books!
Donations may be left in the crib room across from the Gathering Space, where the rummage sale will be set up. |
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Habitat for Humanity Rake-a-Thon
Saturday, November 18th, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
All ages are welcome to participate in the Rake-a-Thon to raise money for Habitat for Humanity!
Adults are welcome to join the Charlottesville First UMC team, and children may sign up with their guardians to be grouped together. Youth ages 6th through 12th grade will be grouped together in the Youth Group Service Project team, with leaders Lara Upton, Dave Wheatley, and Madison McManners.
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Habitat for Humanity Youth Build Day
Saturday, November 18th, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Let's join Aldersgate UMC in this partnership of building together for Habitat! Meet new people, learn new skills, and create lasting, positive change in our community!
Youth must be at least 16 years old to sign up to participate, and blocks must last for a minimum of 4 hours.
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Can you serve the district in 2024?
Saturday, November 18th
At the Three Notch'd District Conference at Woodlake UMC, we will be voting on 2024 District Leadership. If you or someone you know would like to serve at the district level, read on!
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Continuing Need for PACEM Transportation
Evening pickups start at The Haven (112 W Market Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902) as a centralized location. Drivers should be there by 5:15 pm for one run. Morning pickups start at the shelter site, Peace Lutheran Church (1510 Broad Crossing Road, Charlottesville, VA 22911) and return guests to The Haven. Drivers should be there by 6:45 am for one run. |
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November One Thing Ministry
The November One Thing Ministry will benefit Cville Sock Love and the UVA Christmas Stocking Project.
Let's fill up the sock bin with fun patterns for hospitalized children and basic warm socks for our under-resourced neighbors. Also, be on the lookout for puzzle books like Sudoku, crosswords, word searches, and more for the UVA stockings we will fill!
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Habitat for Humanity Donations
Habitat for Humanity is in need of old towels, large rags, and t-shirts to be used for cleaning purposes.
Donations can be left in the Welcome Center, which is located just inside from the parking lot. |
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New Gallery Artist: Mae Stoll
There is new art being displayed in our upstairs gallery by local artist Mae Stoll! She is celebrating the end of her third year of painting and is excited to share this small sampling of her work with us.
She has had an exciting year of participating in multiple exhibitions and art shows, and of course, creating new work. After a late-in-life art “awakening”, she has embraced an “eclectic” style, and still mostly fascinated by landscapes.
Another passion of hers is making lovely wire-wrapped jewelry. These little treasures make really unique gifts, and she will be bringing them to the “Fall Arts Festival” here at FUMC on November 18th. They can also be seen, along with all her paintings, on her website: www.adornmentsbymae.com. Please do not hesitate to get in touch at adornmentsbymae@gmail.com. |
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Cruise Study of Paul
Pastor Alex, along with the Rev. Ben Rigsby, is planning a study cruise of the life of Paul in October 2024. The 7-day cruise begins in Rome and concludes in Athens with stops in Naples, Sicily, Santorini, Ephesus, and Mykonos.
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Advent Decorating
Sunday, November 26th at 4:30 pm
Come and join in the fun of decorating our church for the Advent season! We have lots of greenery to put up inside and outside the church, as well as several trees and a crèche.
Stay afterwards for pizza and fellowship! |
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Parents' Night Out: Stellar Christmas
Friday, December 1st, 6:00-7:30 pm
The registration link for the Stellar Christmas Parents' Night Out event is now open! Children ages birth through 5th grade are invited to join in an evening of fun that will include a pizza dinner and other activities!
This is a free event with limited spaces available, so click on the link here to reserve your spot. First come, first served!
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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 at annew62@comcast.net
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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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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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CFUMC is Looking for a New Facilities Manager!
CFUMC has an open position to fill: A facilities manager, who will be responsible for assuring the successful operation of the church's building and grounds. The facility manager will serve under the direction of the trustees.
The position is part-time, and the hours are flexible.
For more information, visit the online job posting on Indeed or talk with Pastor Alex.
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The Handbell Ensemble
Monday evenings
Will resume rehearsals on Monday evenings beginning on November 13th, with rehearsals also on 11/27, 12/4, and 12/11 from 6:00-7:00 pm in the Handbell Room on the third floor.
The Advent musical offering date will be Sunday, December 17th. |
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Christmas Magnify Choir
Tuesdays at 7:00 pm
Rehearsals have begun and will continue on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm. This is a great short-term commitment for anyone who loves to sing! |
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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. Look for hot chocolate and tea to be offered in December, along with coffee and all the goodies so many of you generously provide.
Email Lisa Hanrahan at ligrhanrah@aol.com 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
Tuesdays at 12:30 pm on Zoom
Meeting ID: 882 7977 8844
Passcode: 968327 |
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Choir Rehearsal
Tuesdays from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm |
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Charlottesville was recently named one of "The 15 Happiest Places to Live in the U.S." by Outside. Visit the article here and scroll down to the 5th photo to see a beautiful view of the downtown area, including the First UMC steeple, representing the whole city. |
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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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