The Central Link - 1/18/26

 
1. Focus on the spiritual formation and transformation of individuals
2. Establish January as Stewardship Emphasis Month
3. Elevate Stewardship (giving of time, talents and treasure)
4. Increase focus on Evangelism and church growth by developing new initiative,
    “W.I.N. -- Witness, Invite, Nurture”
5. Conduct a Hospitality and Evangelism Seminar
6. Establish Young Adult and Adult Fellowship Ministries
7. Follow up with in-person and online worship guests/visitors and cultivate a virtual
    ministry
8. Expand new Communications Ministry and Hospitality Ministry
9. Develop new Nurture Ministry
10. Expand the Health and Wellness Ministry
11. Become a Memory Care site through Atrium Health Faith Community
12. Explore alternative streams of income for the church in addition to tithes and offerings to support its ministries

The church office will be closed on Monday, January 19th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We will reopen on Tuesday morning at 8:30 A.M.

On Monday, January 19th, Dr. Bill will give the prayer at the annual Union County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee Prayer Breakfast at Wingate University.  This is one of several events the committee has planned for this national day of remembrance and service.

Our January Shareback is the Council on Aging in Union County.  If you would like to donate an item, please see the wish list below.  Note the Council will accept gently used equipment that is in good repair

Durable Medical Equipment:

Wheelchairs
Transfer Chairs
Walkers
Rollators
Shower Chairs
Transfer Benches
Bedside Commodes
Raised Toilet Seats
Canes
Grab Bars


Supplies:

Adult Diapers (pull up style, sizes Small - Extra Large)
Bed Pads
Gloves
Paper Towels
Napkins
Toilet Paper
Cleaning Supplies, including Lysol Wipes
Hand Sanitizer
Copy Paper
Shelf-Stable Snacks & Beverages
Small items used as BINGO prizes, such as ChapStick or packs of socks

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!

United Women in Faith invites women of the church and in the community to their annual Heart to Heart Luncheon on Saturday, February 7th.

This year's theme is "Loving Through Change" and features guest speaker Kim Eller, the WNC Conference Mission Coordinator for Membership, Nurture, and Outreach.

The event will feature music by Trinity led by Jim O'Dell and a catered lunch from Rocky River Catering.

Doors will open at 11:15 A.M. and lunch will be served promptly at 12:00 P.M.

Tickets  can be purchased online for $16, or for $15 by calling the church office, or in person at the Crossroads before Sunday School. Tickets must be purchased by January 29th.

Please call the church office at 704-289-3186 with any questions, or reach out to Cheri Barker or any UWF Circle chairwoman.

IgniteUS is a weekend spiritual retreat for youth grades 6 through 12, planned and hosted by the Conference Council on Youth Ministries. It is completely YOUTH planned and led.

Families, please connect with Julie by January 21st to reserve your spot for your youth!

You are warmly invited to join the Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church for our 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Program. It will be a time of worship, reflection, and recommitment to the work of justice, love, and hope. As followers of Christ and heirs of King's legacy, we gather to honor his life and to renew our dedication to a better world. Saturday, January 17, 2026, 10am, University City UMC
Charlotte.

Equip & Connect is designed for and open to all local church leaders serving as Lay Leaders, or on Church Councils, Trustees, Pastor Parish Relations Committees (PPRCs), or Finance Committees.

Connect with other leaders across your district and learn about roles, best practices, and new ideas for ministry. Districts are hosting their own in-person trainings on Sunday, January 25th at various locations. Plan to attend the one closest to you!

Metro & Uwharrie:
Sunday, January 25th from 2-4:30pm at Forest Hill UMC in Concord

We are grateful for the dedication and hard work of our AV Ministry in 2025 - David Dilworth, Joel Ferguson, Kenny Brown, Aidan Ollis, Diana Ollis, Kalli Clements, Henry Dilworth, and Natalie Gordon. They work behind the scenes, and their service to the church is essential to our ability to spread the Gospel and to connect with the community.

Do you have a few hours to spare?

We’re seeking volunteers to help staff the church office from time to time — greeting visitors, answering phones, and assisting with simple office tasks. Volunteers are needed on Tuesdays from 10:15 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.

Interested? Call or email Jessica Parker at jparker@centralumcmonroe.org or 704-289-3186 for details or click on the link to register.

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.