News and Updates

September 25, 2026

Parking Lot Update

Over the next few weeks the Haywood St. parking lot will be impacted by the installation of new pipes in the garden area parallel to the sanctuary. So that crews will have room to work, some parking spaces are impacted. There will be single car access coming in and exiting the parking lot during working hours. Please use caution. Because of the reduction in spaces, consider carpooling or parking offsite.

Hair Salon Companion Opportunity

After many years of faithful service and hundreds of haircuts, Sharon (shown above) will soon be stepping down from her companion role in the Hair Salon. Her well-deserved retirement opens up a new opportunity for salon support. If you'd like to learn more about this ministry and how you can be involved, email Laura B. You can also learn about the salon's history by clicking the link below.

Companion Orientation

Monday, Oct. 5th at 12:00 p.m.

Join us on Monday, Oct 5th at 12:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. Following a campus tour, we will talk about Haywood St.'s mission and the many opportunities for connection. All are welcome - feel free to invite your friends. Haywood St.'s core programs provide a platform for the ministry of relationship. We define this simply as "being with," which speaks to our deepest identity. Come learn more on Oct. 5th!

Haywood St. Art News

Fiber Friends

All are welcome to join Jess & Hank for Fiber Friends every other Tuesday afternoon from 4 - 6 pm in the Lady Gloria Ridge Community Room. The next date is September 29th. Light refreshments will be served. Come to knit or crochet. You can bring your own project to work on, or Jess will guide you in knitting a washcloth or crocheting a winter hat.

Reopening the Bleu Room

We are excited to be making plans to move back to the downstairs art space called the Bleu Room. Before moving back, we will be painting that area Saturday, October 10 beginning at 9:00 a.m. We'd love to have some help with this project. If you are interested, email Laura B.

Fiber Friends - Jess and Claudia

11th Annual

Golf for Awareness, Oct. 19th

Community Events

Blue Ridge Pride Festival

September 25-26, Pack Square Park



We are so grateful to partner with Central UMC's Reconciling Ministry Group (RMG) at Blue Ridge Pride on September 26th from 12 - 6 p.m.! Our booth will be set up near the French Broad Chocolate Lounge. Come by for a visit!

You are also invited to the Pride Interfaith Worship Service Saturday, September 26th, at 10:30 am at Central UMC. Light refreshments will be served in Central's courtyard following the service.

Haywood Street Highlights

Fun fact! The chimney shown in the background of this photo is a roosting spot for migrating chimney swifts as they make their way to the Amazon each fall. The team in the foreground from UNCA and the American Bird Conservancy have been studying their flight patterns through Asheville with the church being one of the sites they are keeping an eye on. The swifts roost at twilight and continue on their way before dawn.

This week we had the pleasure of spending time with Contyna and Jill from the nonprofit Stewpot Community in Jackson, MS. What a joy it is to learn from one another.

Haywood Street was honored to join Black Wall Street AVL at the event, Sunday Supper of Resilience: Baptized in the Mountains. Haywood St. was recognized alongside many other organizations for efforts to help one another and foster community in the days following Hurricane Helene. (Image shown: Sheneika S., Mayor Manheimer, Laura B., and J. Hackett, event host)

Weekly Ministry Opportunities at Haywood Street:

Tuesday Prayer Group: 12:30 p.m. Gather for a time of contemplative prayer at Respite's Brevard Rd location. Contact Seth for more information.

Tuesday Book Study: Join us at 1:00 p.m. in the Community Room of Lady Gloria Ridge. The current book is Hell Bent by Brian Recker. Contact Laura B. for more information.

Wednesday Welcome Visits: New to Haywood St. or haven't been in awhile? Meet at the host table outside the sanctuary at 9:00 or 11:00 a.m. for a tour and welcome visit.

Wednesday Downtown Welcome Table: Join us for lunch between 10:00-12:00 or help with clean-up from 1:00-3:00. Click here for the DWT sign up.

Art Ministry: Due to construction, Art in the Alley can be found either in Room 4 or outside depending on the weather and other programming.

Haywood Street Salon: Open each Wednesday from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Haywood Street Music Club:

Wednesdays from 10:30 -11:15 a.m. in the Sanctuary

Healing Through Harm Reduction: Wednesday at 12:30 in Room 1

Wednesday Worship: 12:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Holy Groundskeepers: Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. Meet in the church parking lot.

ECHO Upcoming Opportunities

Weekly Sermons

Read the weekly sermons on our website here.

~Preaching Schedule~

September 30

Philip Cooper

October 7

Pastor Jody

October 14

Pastor Brian

October 21

Pastor Laura B.

Fresco Viewing Hours:

Monday - Thursday, 10 am - 2 pm (with the exception of during our worship service, which is 12:30 pm every Wednesday).

Contact April if you would like to make an appointment to see the Fresco outside of those hours.

Jenny leading a Welcome Visit on Wednesday with the team from IHG. Welcome Visits happen at 9 and 11am on Wednesdays. Join us to catch up on all things Haywood St.

For other ECHO opportunities, click here.

SERMON

Direction of Reflection
Pastor Seth

Exodus 32:7-14

The people grew restless. Frantically awaiting the return of their liberator and leader, wilderness weary and idle at the base of the mountain, the Israelites call upon Aaron to give them something tangible to believe in. Fearing Moses might not come back, without a moment’s hesitation, Aaron obliges — encouraging the masses to disavow themselves of their gilded jewelry. Collecting the clinking gold, he fashions together a golden calf, dedicating the graven image as an object by which to worship the Lord. Anxiety quelled, altar built, and Moses absentee, Aaron organizes a festival for the forgetful Israelites with their newly minted statue as a centerpiece. 

Up on the windblown mountain, Moses had just received the divinely kilned stone tablets from the Almighty when this monumental moment suddenly takes a turn for the wrathful. Furious attention set upon the disobedient Israelites and their blasphemous worship, God appears to have a temper tantrum. Threatening fire and violence, Moses is left stuck between a rock and a hard decision — ultimately mustering the courage to advocate on behalf of his people and challenge God to remember the covenant. And, apparently, it works — fire and brimstone averted.

This is a difficult text to read — a God of supposed mercy and grace and steadfast love acting with such fury and vitriol seemingly changing God’s divine mind. As we hear this passage from Exodus 32, I invite us to consider: what change occurs in this story?

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A witness to include the most excluded, Haywood Street not only welcomes every child of God–especially beloved siblings of every mental illness and physical disability, addiction and diagnosis, living condition and employment status, gender identity and sexual orientation, class, color, and creed–but we celebrate your presence, certain that the kingdom of God is coming closer because you are here.