The Central Link - 12/21/25

Find comfort and peace this season at the Community Service of Solace this Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at 5:00 P.M. in the Central UMC Chapel.

This quiet, reflective service is for anyone navigating loss, struggling with grief, or finding the holidays especially difficult. Together, we will pause, remember, and lean into the peace and hope Christ brings, even in the midst of sorrow.

Through prayer, scripture, and music, we will create space to acknowledge our grief, honor our loved ones, and experience God’s comforting presence. Everyone is welcome, no matter where you are on your journey, you are invited to find solace here.

Come and allow yourself a moment of rest, reflection, and gentle renewal in the light and peace of Christ this season.

Celebrate the joy of the season with us for Christmas and Baptism Sunday on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at 10:00 A.M. in the Central UMC Sanctuary! Gathering Music will begin at 9:50 A.M.

Join us as we rejoice in the birth of Jesus Christ and celebrate the gift of baptism. Come worship, celebrate, and experience the wonder and hope of Christmas together!

Experience the glory of Christmas on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24, 2025, in the Central UMC Sanctuary. A musical prelude will begin at 4:45 P.M., followed by the Candlelight Service at 5:00 P.M.

Christmas Eve is a special time to pause, reflect, and celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The soft glow of candlelight, the familiar carols, and the gathering of God’s people create a space to encounter the Light of the World and the glory of His coming.

Join us for a worshipful service of scripture, song, and candlelight as we celebrate Christ’s presence, the hope He brings, and the peace that endures. Let the light of Christ shine in your heart this Christmas Eve at Central!

Following the beautiful spirit of unity we experienced during our Summer Combined Services, Central will once again gather as One Body in Christ during the Advent and Christmas season! From November 30 through December 28, we will worship together in one Combined Service at 10:00 A.M. in the Sanctuary. These services will include elements from both our Traditional and Modern Worship styles, allowing everyone to experience the richness and diversity of our worship life at Central. As we move through this meaningful season, this schedule also helps us practice good stewardship of our resources and accommodate holiday travel schedules, while giving us the gift of growing closer as a church family. We are excited to experience this time of worship, hope, peace, joy, love, and anticipation together! Don’t miss this powerful season of coming together as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. Our regular worship schedule will resume on Sunday, January 4, 2026.

Our December Shareback is our Central's little pantry - the Chuck Wagon.  Your donations of non perishable, non expired food items, like canned soups, canned beans, canned meats, canned fruits, peanut butter, pasta, pasta sauce, rice, cereal, granola bars, and baking mixes, as well as disposable flatware are greatly appreciated!

Just in time for Christmas!

Show Your Support to Central – Purchase Your T-Shirt Today! We are selling our remaining inventory. You can order online or in person during a worship service. If you have questions, please speak to Erica Kirby.

Get your hands on a high-quality Comfort Colors Central UMC t-shirt. Shirts are available in two vibrant colors: Grape and Red! All shirts also feature Central’s new vision statement on the back.

Don’t miss out! Order yours today and represent Central in style!

On Sunday, January 4, 2026, we will return to our regular worship schedule with our 9:00 A.M. Modern Service in Central Hall, 10:00 A.M. Sunday School, and 11:00 A.M. Traditional Service in the Sanctuary.

The church office will be closed Wednesday, December 24 through Monday, December 29 in observance of Christmas and will reopen on Tuesday, December 30.  The office will close a half day on December 31, beginning at 1:00 P.M., and will remain closed through January 1.  It will be open for normal business hours on Monday, January 5.

If you need pastoral care during the office closure, please contact Pastor JD Moffett at jdmoffett@centralumcmonroe.org.

We are in need of Communion Stewards for the traditional worship service on January 4, February 1, or March 1. Stewards assist with the distribution of communion during the first Sunday service of the month.

You can sign up in a variety of ways: in person during Sunday service, by speaking to Erica Kirby, calling the office at 704-289-2186, or clicking the link below:

We love seeing our church family grow, and name tags help us feel even more connected!

Please remember to wear your new name tag each Sunday. It’s a simple way to help everyone put names to faces and make newcomers feel right at home.

Do you need a name tag or would you like a change made to the one you have? Please click on the link to request a new one, or look for the name tag request forms in Central Hall and the narthex before and after Sunday worship.

We welcome those who are called to provide leadership of a music ministry team and serve with a church whose calling is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Do you have the Central App? Are your notifications on? Are you logged in? We're going to help you get started!

To turn notifications on:
Open your Central App
Click the person icon at the top right
Scroll to App Settings
Click on Notifications
Ensure that General is toggled on and lights up green
You are good to go! Now you won't miss any communication from the church!

To Log In:
Tap the person icon at the top right
Tap Login or Sign Up
Tap Create an Account (in gray above the email box, on the right)
Enter your first and last name, email, and create a password
The app should remember your password so you won’t need to log in every time

If you choose not to create an account or skip the password, you may miss out on important features like event registration and personalized updates.