Circle of Prayer Invitation

THURSDAYS @ 8:00AM

We would like to invite you to join the Thursday Morning Prayer group. This group gathers weekly on Zoom for a brief, guided morning prayer service.

You'll have the chance to share prayer concerns for yourself and others in a supportive, caring environment.

We meet weekly at 8:00 AM for less than 30 minutes.

For more info, contact Pastor Lisa. We'd love for you to join us! 💙 

Serve at Haywood St. & Worship

(Volunteers Needed!)

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 12:30PM

Haywood Street Congregation was birthed out of Central UMC in 2009 with the calling to include the most excluded and put relationship above all else.

Each Wednesday HSC hosts a free Welcome Table meal from 10:00 am – 12:30 pm; it is “a crossroads of diverse community, a gathering of disparate folks, a fork and spoon invitation to prince and pauper alike.”

On Wednesday 2/12, Central will be providing 4-10 volunteers to assist.

Plan on spending 10:00 am – 12:30 pm volunteering; when we’re done, we’ll join Haywood St. in their 12:30pm worship.

Contact Pastor Mary for more information or sign up at centralumc.org/events.

Parents' Morning Out

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 9AM-12PM

Drop the kids off for a morning of fun at church while you go Christmas shopping or run errands!

Ages: Newborn to 5th grade to participate; 6-12th grade are welcome to help lead the activities. Our schedule includes rehearsal for the children's Christmas musical!

Donations of $10 per person are welcomed to help with Christmas mission projects. RSVP with Pastors Ann and Caroline, or register at https://centralumc.org/events.

Soup & Yard Sale Habitat Fundraiser

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 11AM -2PM

Grace Episcopal Church is hosting a fundraising lunch for Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity. Come and enjoy variety of soups catered by local restaurant, Rye Knot. Suggested donation for the lunch is $20 per person, with all proceeds going directly to Asheville Area Habitat. The menu will be Brunswick Stew, Vegetable Soup, and Seafood Soup, all served with rice. Take out is available.

Please RSVP HERE (11 AM – 2 PM)

Enjoy a delicious soup lunch catered by Rye Knot to support Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity.

🍲 Menu: Brunswick Stew, Vegetable Soup, or Seafood Soup (served with rice)

💰 Suggested Donation: $20 per person (all proceeds go to Habitat)

🥡 Takeout available

📢 RSVP: centralumc.org/EVENTS or scan the QR code

This event also honors President Jimmy Carter, a lifelong advocate for Habitat for Humanity.

Yard Sale (9 AM – 2 PM, Front Lawn)

Find great deals and support the cause!

🚗 Carpooling encouraged

Interested in selling?

📩 Register by emailing afseale1164@gmail.com with your name, phone number, and item list.

📦 Usable, functional items only. Unsold items not picked up will be donated to the Weaverville Habitat ReStore.

Volunteers Needed!

Help with soup transport, food prep, and serving.

🎶 Enjoy quiet background music from the ‘60s–‘90s.



Let’s come together to support affordable housing and honor Jimmy Carter’s legacy!

Questions? Email or text for more info.

Habitat Build

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 8:30AM - 12:00PM AT HABITAT FAITH BUILD SITE - 904 Glen Bridge Road SE Arden, NC

Join Pastor Mary and Robin Smith for another Friday morning Habitat build! We’ll meet at 8:30am at the Faith Build site in Arden and finish around noon. Stay for lunch if you can! No skill needed - just dress in layers and come ready to pitch in however you can.

Register here!

For more information contact

Pastor Mary.

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

Stories of Faith Lenten Devotional starting March 5

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. 

Telling Stories

WEDNESDAYS, MARCH 12-APRIL 9 AT 10AM

Everyone has a great story - which means everyone has the capability of telling a great story! Ben Sharpton is offering a five-week class this Lent to help you learn and tell a story of your own.

Participants will meet from 10 to 11 AM on Wednesday mornings (in person at Central) starting March 12th. Expect a hands-on experience where you practice what you learn through writing and discussion to produce a story by the end of the five weeks.  

Space is available for 10 people.  

Sign up by emailing Jan Griffin. 

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 johnathanlmeadows@gmail.com.

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.

News from Church & Society

Social Principles 2024 regarding Immigrants

We affirm the dignity, worth and rights of migrants, immigrants, and refugees We acknowledge that the world today is facing an unprecedented crisis related to the displacement of vast numbers of people.

We recognize that displaced people are particularly vulnerable. We urge United Methodists to welcome migrants, refugees, and immigrants into their congregations and to commit themselves to providing concrete support and assistance.

We oppose all laws and policies that attempt to criminalize, dehumanize or punish displaced individuals and families based on their status as migrants, immigrants, or refugees.

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.

Congregational Care Ministries News

Homebound Care Ministry

Whether you are at home but not able

to get out and about, or are in a care

facility, we want to visit with you!

Pastor Lisa can make these arrangements

through our Homebound Care Ministry.

Stephen Ministry 

Sometimes we perceive our concerns as

“nothing” compared to others…Sometimes

we are nervous about letting someone know we are struggling. Stephen Ministers get it.

They can be there for you to listen well,

empathize, and encourage you as long as you need it.

Contact Pastor Lisa or fill out a referral on-line located under Congregational Care Ministries/Stephen Ministry.

Thank you for trusting us!

Downtown Welcome Table

WEDNESDAYS, 10AM - 1PM

Our sister congregation, Haywood St., hosts Downtown Welcome Table, serving lunch family style. Meals begin at designated seating times every half hour.

When you arrive on campus, stop by the reservation booth to choose which meal time works best for you. Come share a meal with people you might not otherwise know. You might find a new friend!

Haw Creek Community Meal

WEDNESDAYS, 6PM

You're invited! Join Haw Creek Commons & Central Haw Creek every Wednesday night at 6pm for a free community meal at 315 Old Haw Creek Rd, 28806.

We’ll provide a main protein and one side—if you’re able, bring a potluck side to share! All are welcome, and we can't wait to share a meal and connect with you.