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the central call
MISSION
MEAL
DON’T FORGET TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKET
COST $12
TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2025
11:00 AM - 1:30 PM
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Carryout Drive-Thru: 11th Street Entrance
Dine-In: 23rd Ave. or 10th Street Entrance [2nd Floor]
ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO MISSIONS AT CENTRAL UMC
Questions? email by CLICKING HERE
March 5, 2025
This date marks the beginning of the Lenten Season. Listed below are opportunities that are available to you on this date:
MORNING: From 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m., a drive-thru Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion in the Parking Garage
[10th Street Entrance]
.
[5:00 P.M. - MEAL 11TH STREET GYM (RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED]
EVENING: From 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., experience our annual “Prayer Walk” beginning in the Sanctuary. This service is a sacred walk in SILENCE. There are several stations of prayer within the church. Each of the stations are to help us connect with God, as we enter the Lenten Season, focusing on God’s ultimate gift to us.
[The “Prayer Walk” is designed for elementary children thru adults.
A nursery will be available for younger children.]
a lenten journey to easter
At Central, several opportunities are available as we enter into the season of preparation. We invite you to come take this journey with us.
April 13 - Palm Sunday
9:00 a.m. Sunday School
10:00 a.m. Worship/Confirmation Sunday
April 17 - Maundy Thursday
7:00 p.m. - Join us in the Sanctuary for a Service of Tenebrae and Holy Communion.
April 20 - Easter Sunday
No Sunday School
(Join us in the Crossing at 9:30 for fellowship & treats.)
10:00 a.m. Worship
LENTEN WORSHIP AND LUNCH
Listed below are the Lenten Worship and Lunch events held on Thursdays during the season of Lent. Worship will begin at noon with a short message by one of the pastors of the host church followed by lunch. There is no cost for lunch, but donations for missions are welcome.
March 6
St. Patrick Catholic Church
Father Augustine Palimattam
March 13
First Baptist Church
Dr. William Wall
First Presbyterian Church
Rev. Dr. Rhett Payne III
March 27
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Rev. Austin McGehee
April 3
Central United Methodist Church
Rev. Dr. Scott Wright
April 10
First Christian Church
Rev. Dr. Mark Benson
Easter Lily
You will have the opportunity to place an Easter Lily (lilies) in the Sanctuary on Easter Sunday in “honor” or “memory” of a relative or friend. Look for more information in future Central Updates and announcements.
children and family Ministries
-
GLOW-IN-THE-DARK EASTER EGG HUNT
Join us for an EGG-cellent time! Come look for eggs, enjoy a snack, and make crafts. This fun event is for two age groups: 4-year-olds & younger and Kindergarten through Youth.
Sunday, April 13
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Fellowship Hall
-
No, it’s not too early to start planning for
VBS 2025!
Mark your calendar for June 16th - 18th, and join us as we go on a journey to spread the life-changing truth of God’s love.
VBS is for children who will be four-years-old [by August 1st] through students who have completed 5th grade.
Within the next couple of months, the Central Update and other media outlets will have links and/or a QR Code to register or volunteer for VBS.
We will also need volunteers prior to the week of VBS to help with props, decorations, as well as help with setup.
For additional information, you may contact:
Sabrina Williams sabrina@cumcmdn.org
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dates to remember
March 10th - March 14th
Spring Break Week [No activities during this week or Sunday night, March 9th]
April 13th
Palm Sunday
April 20th
Easter Sunday
[No Sunday School or Sunday Night Programs]
April 23rd
Final Wednesday Night Small Groups
April 27th
Final Sunday Night
SAVE THE DATE
VBS JUNE 16, 17, and 18
fROM THE YOUTH MINISTRY DESK
As you have probably heard by now, Rev. Matt will be moving on to another ministry appointment after June 2025. I think we have all recognized Matt’s gift for preaching, and he feels called to do that full-time. While we will miss him greatly, the Youth Ministry will continue, and we are already making plans for the future.
For the next few months, I will be working closely with Matt and the youth as I prepare to take over pastoral responsibilities for our Youth Programming. I can’t tell you how excited I am for this chance to work more closely with some of the most amazing young people I have met in recent years. I trust that God has big plans for us at Central, and I am just happy to be invited into what He is doing!
More to come soon, including planning meetings and a calendar of events for the summer!
Until then, peace and blessings,
Chris Bowers
YOUTH MINISTRY
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During our 10 AM Worship Service on Sunday, April 13, 2025, Central will welcome two members of the 2025 Confirmation Class into full membership as they profess their faith in Christ and express their desire to unite with our congregation.
Be sure to congratulate our 2025 Confirmands:
Reylan Jensen
Russell Walton
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A Baccalaureate Service for our Senior High School graduate, Lucy Bowers, will be held during our 10:00 a.m. Worship Service on Sunday, May 18, 2025, in the Sanctuary. If you see her, please congratulate her on this outstanding achievement!
-
Spring Break Week
March 10th - 14th
There will be no activities during this week, including Sunday Night, March 9th.
XTRA YEARS OF ZEST (XYZ)
You are invited to join us on the second Tuesday of each month for XYZ at 11:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall for a Program & Meal (Meal $7)
[Reservations are required for the meal!
You may register online or call the church office at 601-693-1521].
LUNCH BUNCH
We would also like to invite you to join us every fourth Tuesday for Lunch Bunch at 12:00 p.m. for devotion, fellowship, and lunch!
If you have any questions regarding either of these events, please contact Bill Myers, Director of Senior Adult Ministry.
Email: billmyers@bellsouth.net
MISSIONS
Over the last few months, your Missions Group has begun to form and has already hit the ground running.
We have organized and filled 50 cleaning buckets for UMCOR (cost of about $3500), raised additional funds to support efforts in North Carolina ($1500), had a painting and cleanup day in the Children’s Center, sent donations to Wesley House ($6000), and participated in painting at Wesley house.
We have added two members to the Wesley House Board (we already had one). We have members who volunteer at Wesley House regularly, and we also have members who are active NOMADS travelling to places to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We are making donations to other worthwhile causes, like our sponsorship of a child through BGM, a ministry we have supported for years.
All of this is just the beginning, and we covet your prayers and support. We will do our best to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community and around the world. God is good, all the time.
Chris Bowers
Associate Pastor of Missions
Email: chris@cumcmdn.org
CENTRAL'S CHILDREN'S CENTEr
Jennifer O'Regan, Director
Office Phone: 601-693-0830
Email: childrenscenter@cumcmdn.org
https://centralunitedmethodistchurch.org/ministries/centrals-childrens-center
Our
program offers a variety of activities to help children develop their arts and
crafts, language and vocabulary, fine and gross motor skills, perception,
pre-math abilities, and sensory experiences.
Beginning June 1, 2025, Central’s Children's Center will offer BOTH a Half-Day and a Full-Day Program.
Half-Day Program: August 2025 - May 2026
(follows the ten-month school-year calendar)
M – Th 8:30 am-2:30 pm
Tue – W – F 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
12-month-olds thru 4-year-olds [4 yrs. by September 1st]
Full-Day Program begins June 2, 2025
[7:30 am-5:30 pm] M-F
8-week-olds thru 4-year-olds [4 yrs. by September 1st]
(Infants must have MS121 Immunization Form)
Summer Program
If you are interested in enrolling your child in our half-day Summer Mothers’ Morning Out Program, please contact the director, Jennifer O'Regan, at Central’s Children’s Center (601-693-0830).
This program is offered two days a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the months of June and July from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
[Ages: one-year thru six-year-olds who have completed kindergarten]
mORE children's cENTER nEWS
March 12th-14th: If you are available on these dates any time between 9 a.m.-2 p.m., please stop by the Children's Center. We need your help as we continue our CLEANUP DAYS in preparation for our full-day program that starts June 2, 2025.
Week of April 7th St. Jude Week: Central's Children's Center will host a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Hospital [Memphis, TN].
April 10th - Trike-a-Thon Activity Day [11th Street Gym]
April 11th - St. Jude Parade [outside] The parade will begin in front of the church at 11:00 a.m. Come see the children dressed in costumes with their awesome floats.
May 5th - 9th Teacher Appreciate Week
May 20th End-of-the-Year Program [Sanctuary] Come and join us to see our students perform.
WEEKLY OPPORTUNITIES
Sunday Morning
9:00 a.m. - Sunday School
10:00 a.m. - Morning Worship Service (Sanctuary)
Sunday Night
5:00 p.m. - Zone/Club 412/Youth Activities
[Meets during the school year.]
[Will not meet on the following dates:
March 9th & April 20th]
Monday Afternoon
1:00 p.m. - Pickleball
Tuesday Morning
9:30 a.m. - Women’s Bible Study
11:30 a.m. - XYZ (Every 2nd Tuesday)
12:00 p.m. - Lunch Bunch (Every 4th Tuesday)
Wednesday Night
3:00 p.m. - Pickleball
5:00 p.m. - Meal
6:00 p.m. - MidWeek Programs [Children/Youth/Adults]
(Meets during the School Year)
March 13th - Will Not Meet (Spring Break Week)
April 23rd - FINAL Meal/MidWeek Programs
IMPORTANT DATES at a glance
March 4th
12:00 pm - Children's Center's Steering Committee Meeting
[Wesley Room 2nd Floor]
March 6th
8:30 am - Children's Center's Board Meeting
[Wesley Room 2nd Floor]
5:30 pm - Finance Committee Meeting
[Conference Room 1st Floor]
March 5th
Ash Wednesday
7:00 am - Imposition of Ashes
(drive-thru in the garage)
6:00 p.m. - Prayer Walk
(beginning in the Sanctuary)
March 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th
12: 00 pm - Lenten Worship/Lunch
April 3rd
12: 00 pm - Lenten Worship/Lunch
April 9th
Daylight Saving Time
April 10th
12: 00 pm - Lenten Worship/Lunch
April 13th
Palm Sunday/Confirmation Sunday
10:00 a.m. - Worship Service
6:30 p.m. - Glow-In-The-Dark Egg Hunt
April 17th
Maundy Thursday
7:00 p.m. - Service and Communion (Sanctuary)
April 20th
Easter Sunday
9:30 - Fellowship & Treats (Crossing)
10:00 - Worship Service (Sanctuary)
April 21st - Holiday - Office Closed
May 18th
Baccalaureate Sunday
10:00 a.m. - Worship Service [Sanctuary]
May 20th
10:00 a.m. - Children's Center's End-of-the-Year Program [Sanctuary]