Come worship with us this Sunday as our amazing youth take the lead in every part of the service - from music to prayer to the message.

Celebrate their gifts, energy and faith as they guide us in the worship and remind us what it means to follow Christ with passion and purpose.

You won't want to miss this special Sunday! Check out the sermon preview from Pastor Caroline below and we'll see you this Sunday, online or in-person at 10am.

Celebrating Ann, Caroline, and Patrick!

As Caroline, Ann, and Patrick prepare to leave Central, we want to celebrate the many ways they have blessed our church over the last several years and send them off in love and hope.

Please join us on June 1 in the Fellowship Hall for our Table-to-Table meal after the service. (You may make reservations for the meal here.) If you don’t want to stay for lunch, please come anyway and have a piece of cake and share a moment with Caroline, Patrick, and Ann.

For those of you who would like to say thank you in a more tangible way, we are collecting a love offering for each of them. Please mark your check with “Love Offering” in the memo line and note how you want your gift to be distributed. If you’re donating online, please click here to go to the donation page, then choose the appropriate “Love Offering” option under the “Funds” pull-down menu.

Thank you for your loving support of Patrick, Ann, and Caroline. Please continue to surround them in prayer as they move into new and exciting ministry opportunities.

Check out our latest ministry updates!

Youth Sunday & High School Senior Recognition

Sunday, May 18th

High school seniors will be recognized in person on Youth Sunday, May 18. If you have a high school, college, or graduate school senior in your life, contact Pastor Caroline.

Celebrate Ann in the Meadow!

Sunday, May 18th | 12pm

Celebrate Ann in the Meadow! Let’s enjoy one more afternoon hangout at Highland Brewing before Pastor Ann moves on to her next good thing. Meet up Sunday May 18th between 12 and 2pm.

Look for us outside. Bring the whole family, along with food or snacks (or money for a food truck)!

Questions? Email Shanda Bradley at shandabradley@gmail.com.

Hood Huggers Tour

Saturday, May 17th @ 10am-Noon (gather at 9:30am, location TBD)

Church & Society Committee in collaboration with the Allies for Equity invite you to join us for a two-hour guided driving van tour, led by local activist, artist, sculptor and Reparations Commission member DeWayne Barton, founder of Hood Huggers Int'l.

Requested donation of $30/person.

There will be some stipends available for those in need.

Youth 12 and older are encouraged to attend. Family members and friends are welcome!

Space is limited to ten participants - first paid, first reserved!

Checks may be made payable to "Church & Society Committee" with "Hood Huggers" in the memo line.

Checks may be left in the Central UMC office (in an envelope please) or hand delivered to Jim or Sarah White.

Dorm Room Sponsors Needed

Join Central's Congregations 4 Children (C4C) by sponsoring one of 25 Asheville High School (AHS) graduates that need extra support transitioning to college.

Selected by AHS' guidance counselor based on need, many are the first in their family to attend college, each deserving student needs our support to have the necessities for their dorm room.

Shop in May and drop off at Asheville High in mid-June. Sign-up with Kim Sink at C4C@centralumc.org.

Eco-tip from Creation Care

Reduce: Be intentional in your purchases, careful in your choices, and thoughtful about what you add to your possessions at home. These actions will mean you have what you need but avoid wasting resources.

United Women in Faith Upcoming Meetings

Anna Circle Meets - 6/11 @ 1:30pm (Stoney Knob Cafe in Weaverville)

Before taking a summer break, Anna Circle will meet for a luncheon outing on Wednesday, June 11. We'll assemble at 1:30pm at Stoney Knob Cafe in Weaverville. Contact Carol Rychy at 706-831-3959 if you have any questions.

Congregational Care Ministries News

Child & Family Care Ministry

Our Child & Family Care Ministry wants to embrace your family with support when needed: Maybe having meals delivered during a difficult time, maybe connecting with other families, or finding a community resource. Please contact Pastor Lisa to get connected! If your child needs a “Worship Buddy” during in-person worship, please see an usher for help.

Cookout for Caroline!

Sunday, June 1st | 4pm

Cookout for Caroline! Join us at Haw Creek Commons on Sunday, June 1st from 4-6pm for one last blast with Pastor Caroline. We’ll play games, share thank yous, and have a cookout dinner.

Parents are pitching in to provide the meal; if you’d like to help, click here.

Tickets for the annual Broadway Dinner, on June 6, 2025 at 6:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall, are on sale! You can sign up and pay here online! Tickets are $25 of per person. You don’t want to miss out on this awesome night!

The Broadway Review, at 7:30 PM following the dinner, is free!

DINNER | 6:00 PM | $25*
SHOW | 7:30 PM | FREE

*Deadline to register is May 31, 2025. Broadway Dinner is a fundraiser for the CUMC Music Department.

E-newsletter #598