Stories of Faith Lenten Devotional

Share your story of faith with the congregation via the devotional email and on our blog.

Tell us something about your faith journey from death to resurrection and everything in between.

Entries can be around 500 words.

Email Pastor Caroline to share your entry and make sure you are signed up for the morning emails. 

UWF Upcoming Meeting

Deborah Circle - 3/11 @ 10AM

Martha Circle - 3/11 @ 6:30PM

Deborah Circle Meets on Tuesday, March 11th, 10AM

We'll reflect on the "Carrying Your Faith Forward" theme from the United Women in Faith program, sharing about the people and places that have shaped our faith journeys. We'll also discuss plans to attend the District Prayer Breakfast. We will meet in a member's home. All are welcome! For more details, contact Susan Snell at ssnell123@bellsouth.net.

Martha Circle Meets on Tuesday, March 11th 6:30 PM, Library – Please join us as we welcome Mary Z and Marcia Longknight to our meeting.

They will share their stories about their December 2024 trip to Kenya including their work with UWF units, and ways that we can continue our support. Join us and bring a friend if you like! For more information please contact Laura Steil (laura.steil30@gmail.com) or Kathy Leftwich (kathleencleftwich@gmail.com). 

Central Youth and

C4C Holiday Food Drive

March 5 to April 6 2025

Central’s Youth and Congregations 4 Children are partnering on the 2025 Holiday Food Drive.  The Holiday Food Drive supports Children First of Buncombe County to provide Emma community families with pantry food staples during the Easter season. Central’s Sunday school classes, circles, groups, mission areas, families and individuals are asked to donate the following items that will be delivered to the Children First food distribution site behind Emma Elementary School.   

Requested items are:

• Peanut Butter & Jelly;
• Mac & Cheese;
• Oatmeal 
• Rice,
• Pasta Sauce/Pasta Meat Sauce,
• Canned Chicken,
• Canned Vegetables;
• Pancake & Syrup
• Spaghetti noodles
• Snack items(Goldfish and Granola Bars)  

This year’s Holiday Food Drive occurs during Lent from March 5th through April 6th.  Donation bins are located in the Fellowship Hall.

If you have any questions,

Contact: c4c@centralumc.org or Central Youth: ccamp@centralumc.org 

Your generosity feeds families and opens hearts.  

A Message from Church & Society Committee

"We recognize, embrace, and affirm all persons, regardless of country of origin, as members of the family of God. We affirm the right of all persons to equal opportunities for employment, access to housing, health care, education, and freedom from social discrimination. We urge the Church and society to recognize the gifts, contributions, and struggles of those who are immigrants and to advocate for justice for all. We oppose immigration policies that separate family members from each other or that include detention of families with children, and we call on local churches to be in ministry with immigrant families."  UMC Social Principles - Section 162 (H) 

Congregational Care Service Opportunities | Check Out centralumc.org/CARE

There are many ways to serve. We invite you to assess how God may be calling you to serve. Contact Pastor Lisa for more information. 

Ongoing Opportunities

•Table to Table helper 

•Circle of Prayer 

•Children’s Care Ministry 

•Homebound Visitor 

•Prayer Shawl Ministry

On-call Opportunities

•Be a Meal Train provider 

•Be a Worship Buddy 

•Set-up & take-down for special 

events 

•Bereavement Receptions

Listening Sessions for Families with Children

Sunday, 3/16 @ 11AM

Sunday, 3/23 @ 11AM

Listening Sessions for Families with Children and Youth With the departure of Pastors Ann and Caroline this June, we know our families have questions about and hopes for the future of our children and youth programs. We want to hear them!

Join Pastor Mary and a representative of our church leadership in the "Youth Arena" on the 4th floor after worship on an upcoming Sunday; choose the one that fits your family best. Can't come? Mary can be reached at mbrown@centralumc.org or 828-557-2773.  

Congregational Care

Ministries News

What do you know about our Recovery Care Resources Ministry? 

“RCR” is a ministry of CONNECTION helping individuals retain their independence with the support of community agencies within their home.” 

*IF you or someone you know (do not have to be a member of Central) could use the support of RCR, please call Pastor Lisa to have a confidential conversation with her about your situation! 

In celebration of National Social Services Month, the Congregational Care Council brings to you Central’s very own social service ministry, Recovery Care Resources, launched in 2023! 

Youth Spring Retreat

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, MARCH 14-16

Register today for a weekend at Camp Tekoa where youth groups from Western North Carolina will gather for a weekend of faith, fun, and friendship.

This retreat is made by and for sixth through twelfth graders. The theme is Freedom in Forgiveness. Cost is $150 per person.

Scholarships are available upon request. 

Register Here!

We Need Your Story!

We need your story!

The Reconciling Ministries Group at Central United Methodist Church is updating our book, Come to Me All.

If you gave us a story for a previous edition we need to know if you would like that story to be reprinted. If you want to update your story, please email it to jonathanlmeadows@gmail.com

*note updated email address above!

If you have a story to tell about yourself or a LGBTQ+ family member that has not been printed before, we would love to have you tell it. We all can grow by sharing our experiences. We are particularly interested in experiences you have had – good or bad – with Central UMC.

If you have questions, contact Maggie Charleton at charletonsasheville@gmail.com.

We need to have our stories ready by the middle of May, so we need your story by April 15, 2025.

Restoring & Protecting Asheville

Tuesday, April 8th, 11 AM

The French Broad River Garden Club Foundation, Inc., the McCullough Institute at UNCA and Trinity Episcopal Church present three dynamic and inspiring speakers this spring. As our communities continue to recover from the physical and emotional toll of Hurricane Helene, these experts and storytellers will address climate, politics, science and spirituality – each in their own way.

All events are open to the public and free of charge. Please join us in these timely conversations to help Western North Carolina move forward.

TUE, APR 8 | 11 AM | Kathleen Biggins - Trinity Episcopal Church

TUE, APR 29 | 10 AM | Margaret Renkl - UNCA Highsmith Hall

TUE, MAY 20 | 7 PM | Jeff Chu - Trinity Episcopal Church

To register, please visit: www.frenchbroadrivergc.org/events

SAVE THE DATE – Electric Vehicles: The Future is Now | SAT, APR 9 | 5 PM

As part of the Creation Care Committee's mission to educate and inform, this will be our first speaker in our series. Dave Erb is well known in Asheville and beyond as a strong proponent of Electric Vehicles. 

SAVE THE DATE – Depolarizing Within Braver Angels | SAT, APR 12 For people of faith, civil discourse begins in recognizing the image of God in our conversation partner. Since we are all children of God, our approach should involve mutual respect. Respect, not agreement, is an essential key for a healthy discussion. This workshop addresses how we may inadvertently be complicit in, or possibly even encourage, polarization.

UWF Maureen Carr Memorial Scholarship

United Women in Faith is now accepting applications for the Maureen Carr Memorial UWF Scholarship. Two awards of $1000 each will be given to high school seniors and/or college students who are active at Central UMC. 

Applications are available on the church website or by emailing Alexandra Holland alexandra@wncnature.com. 

The application should be completed and returned by May 1, 2025.