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Happy Friday, friends!
What if the Good Samaritan story is more subversive - and more controversial - than we've been taught?
Join us this Sunday as we gather for church at
Central UMC.
We welcome Rev. Brian Combs as our guest preacher. He'll take us beyond the familiar telling of Jesus' parable and explore the surprising, challenging, and even controversial nature of the Good Samaritan - and what it asks of us today. Check out Rev. Brian's sermon preview below and join us this Sunday at 10AM as he invites us to see this beloved story with fresh eyes!
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Bulletin
Download a copy of Sunday's Bulletin here.
Sunday Parking Reminder 🚗
As you arrive for worship on Sunday, please help us make the best use of our parking spaces by parking in the designated areas.
If you're unsure where to park, please refer to the parking information here: Central UMC Parking.
Thank you for helping us keep parking safe, organized, and welcoming for everyone!
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Stories from Central
Download a copy of the August/September 2026 Stories from Central here.
| | Check out our latest ministry updates! | | Kona Ice will be here this Sunday for the Fall Kickoff. Please reach out to Linda Haggard or Corey Powell for more information. | |
Calling all Central Children and Friends!
Central UMC, First Presbyterian, and Trinity Episcopal Churches are sponsoring a Church Street Chorister Mini-Festival Sunday, September 20 from 12:15 pm – 3:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church.
Lunch provided for all! Music, games, fellowship, and fun for Children and Youth ages Kindergarten through 6th grade are welcome. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. It promises to be an exciting afternoon for all involved.
Please reach out to Linda Haggard with questions.
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C4C Reading Buddies
Do you have a couple of hours per week to volunteer as a Reading Buddy? C4C is sponsoring a Reading Buddy program at Emma Elementary, beginning in late September.
Reading Buddies meet one on one with a child once a week to listen, encourage and help strengthen reading skills. Training and materials are provided.
If you are interested or have questions, please reach out to: C4C@centralumc.org.
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Learn About Local Efforts to Support Immigrant Neighbors
Please mark your calendars for two events to learn about immigrant justice.
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On Sunday, September 13 at 3:00 the UMC Blue Ridge District will host a one hour workshop by Zoom with Dr. Philip Wingeier-Rayo. Explore the intersections of faith, Methodist history, and migration with a premier scholar and gifted teacher (also the son of deceased Central member Doug Wingeier).
He serves as the Executive Director of the UMC Global Board of Higher Education. The Zoom link can be accessed here.
The second event is by Pisgah Legal Services, a local non-profit law firm supported by Central UMC, and many other churches, individuals, and foundations. Among Pisgah Legal’s many programs is the Justice For All Program that serves immigrants and their families.
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Our Blue Ridge District is hosting a lunch and learn event at Abernethy UMC at 1418 Patton Avenue at 11:00 on September 30. Lunch will be provided after the presentation about how current immigration policies are affecting our immigrant neighbors and how PLS provides critical, free civil legal aid across 18 WNC counties with limited staff compared to the need.
If you prefer to participate by Zoom, the link is here.
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Choir Season Begins:
Youth Choir
Sunday, September 13th @ 11:15am in the Choir Room
Children's Choir
Sunday, September 13th @ 11:45am
If you enjoy singing at any level, please consider joining one of our choirs for adults, youth, and children. The Chancel Choir will begin rehearsals on Wednesday, September 2 at 6:30 pm in the sanctuary. The Wesley Singers will begin rehearsals on Tuesday, September 8 at 1:00 pm in the choir room.
Youth Choir will begin rehearsals on Sunday, September 13 at 11:15 a.m. in the choir room. All youth and friends in grades 6-12 are invited.
Children's Choir will begin rehearsals on Sunday, September 13 at 11:45 a.m. All children and friends in kindergarten - 5th grade are invited. This is part of our Fall Kick-off for all youth and children's programing. Kona Ice will be here at Central for everyone!
We have a choir for every age, and all are invited! Please reach out to Linda Haggard or Corey Powell with questions and to get more information about our music ministry choirs and programs. Music is the Universal Language. Come sing with us! lhaggard@centralumc.org or cpowell@centralumc.org.
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Tacos & Trivia
Saturday, September 12th @ 6:30pm Groce UMC
Bring a group from your Sunday School Class/Journey Group/or other
small group to a fun night to help out the Asheville Wesley Foundation.
All are invited to Tacos and Trivia on Wednesday, September 12 at 6:30
pm at Groce UMC on Tunnel Road! The students and members of the
AWF board will be serving up tacos for dinner followed by trivia where
you can win prizes AND bragging rights amongst the other congregations in our district!
Sign your group up for a table and come for a great time!
Here is the link to RSVP.
See the flyer on the insert for more info.
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Recovery Care Resources is designed for those returning home from a hospital or rehab stay or recovering from a medical event but do not have easy access to support from family, friends, or neighbors.
RCR offers assistance in connecting with appropriate community resources. Contact Pastor Lisa for more details especially if this situation applies to you or someone you know.
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Whether you are at home not able to get out and about, or limited in your “travels”, or in a care facility, we want to visit with you! Pastor Lisa can make these arrangements through our Homebound Care Ministry.
| | Central's College Student Ministry | | |
Did you know that we have a Central Ministry that focuses on our College Students? Four times a year your college student will receive a note from the church, letting them know we are thinking of them, including a devotional and a gift card for a treat.
If you would like your student to be a recipient of this, please send their current college address to Jan Griffin at jgriffin@centralumc.org.
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Central Creation Care Eco-Tip
Reducing food waste is a climate action accessible to us all. Choosing appropriate portions or planning for leftovers, monitoring and using what’s in the fridge, and composting are each actions that reduce wasted food and therefore methane, which harms the planet.
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Try Out a Small Group This Fall!
Sundays, September 13th - November 15th @ 11:15am (except first Sundays)
Try out a Small Group! Join us for an 8-week exploration of the basic building block of the Methodist movement: John Wesley’s “class meeting.” Over the course of this experience we’ll gradually shift weight from a study to a small group experience, giving participants and understanding and a taste for why these weekly meetings are so important to our spiritual growth.
We’ll end with an opportunity for those interested to form new small groups that continue meeting. We will meet after worship (11:15am) in Room 219 from 9/13 to 11/15, skipping first Sundays of each month (for the Table2Table meal).
Participants will need a copy of Kevin Watson’s book, The Class Meeting. It can be purchased from Amazon or picked up from our church office for a $20 suggested donation.
Registration is required: https://bit.ly/2026fallstudygroup
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Church & Society Committee Building Bridges Scholarships
The Church & Society Committee offers five $100 scholarships to church members for Building Bridges AVL. This 9-week educational workshop series addresses: racial justice, racial dialogue, and anti-racism in our community.
Speakers and small group discussion cover a myriad of topics including "whiteness", racial identity, personal racism, institutional and systemic racism, and more.
The goal is to understand how the Black community has been negatively impacted by tourism, gentrification, freeway development, government policy (esp. housing, education, health care, criminal legal system).
Dates are Sept 14 - Nov 9, Mondays from 6:30 - 9:00 pm.
The location will be provided to those registered. Total cost is $135. With a scholarship participant will pay remaining $35. If interested in a scholarship, email Sharon LeDuc at skleduc@prodigy.net.
| | | Save the date: friendsGIVING event returns to Highland Brewing , November 19, 2026 (5:30-8:30 pm). | | | | |
