Activate Advent Musical Elements

Activate Advent Musical Elements The different seasons of worship allow us to experience the Divine in unordinary ways. Sometimes those experiences are comforting, like a favorite song or carol, and sometimes those ways are uncomfortable, like extended silence allowing ourselves to focus on our prayer. Sometimes, the experiences inspire us or excite us. Music is often a huge part of the thin spaces that we experience with God. During this summer’s General Assembly festivities, I was inspired by the opening of worship every evening. The percussionist of the band played a rousing beat on several types of drums. It was earthy, and resonated in every cell of my body. It inspired me to cheer a hearty, “Amen!” and to set my heart on what was before us: worship. That experience inspired me to plan a special “introit” to worship for the season of Advent. Each week during Advent, we will begin the service with a drum circle. Many of you have experienced this type of music making before. I hope to offer a bit of the overwhelming feeling of spirit and joy through this. Each week, we will have a leader to help walk participants through. Any participant should plan on meeting in the sanctuary at 9:45 each Sunday you can participate. If you have your own percussion instruments, please feel free to bring them. If not, we have a few available for your use. Anyone who would like to play is welcome to come! No previous musical or drum experience necessary.
~Danielle Hartman

Sunday December 3 @ 5:00pm -- Special Advent Taizé Service.

MONTHLY TAIZE SERVICES CONTINUING AT 5:00 pm

These services, a music-oriented and meditative service patterned after the services at the Taizé Community in Taizé, France, will be offered on the first Sunday of each month at Central. Additional Taizé services are held Sundays throughout the city weekly at 5:00 p.m..

Central Christian Church will offer nursery care and “Breaking Bread” at these services. For more information about Taizé at Central: 1st at 5:00, email music@indyccc.org

To find out more about Taizé services in Indianapolis, join the Facebook group "Taizé in Indianapolis" at this Facebook link.

To find out more about The community of Taizé and the spiritual practice of Taizé prayer services, go to www.taize.fr.

All services at 5:00 p.m.
First Sunday-Central Christian Church (701 N. Delaware)
Second Sunday- Trinity Episcopal Church (3243 N. Meridian)
Third Sunday- Saint Luke's United Methodist Church (100 W. 86th Street)
Fourth Sunday-North United Methodist Church (3808 North Meridian)

You are Invited to Engage the Scriptures

When reading a biblical text, especially a long biblical text, have you ever noticed that one word or phrase jumps out at you or catches your imagination/spirit in a way that invites reflection or challenges your life? Note how that happened when Belle and Scott reflect on Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11. This rich text may draw out something else from your life as you take the text seriously enough to join the conversation on Central's website. Prepare yourself to hear Pastor Linda's sermon on December 17. Add a note that reflects your engagement with this text.
 

Though the website looks like it is asking for your email address when you comment it is not required if you wish to comment as a guest. Go ahead, add your thoughts.

Activate Advent - Saturday December 2; 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Activate Advent Visual Elements In keeping with our theme "Be Not Afraid," visual art elements for Advent this year will be bright, fun, even celebratory. The idea starts as a reference to colorful Latin American street fairs. Week by week the sanctuary will be festooned with large paper sculptures, similar to piñatas, in red, green and purple, as well as “papel picado” which are colorful pieces of paper with cut-outs, (similar to prayer flags.) Even on a year when we are trying to be positive and focus on not being afraid, we like to include a way for the congregation to express their prayers, thoughts, etc. that become part of the fiber of the art work. There will be strips of paper each week in Fellowship Hall for everyone to write thoughts and prayers on which will then become part of the piñatas. In addition, there will be colorful pieces of paper inserted weekly in your bulletin so you can write more personal prayers or concerns. These will be turned into the papel picado which will hang above us. Your personal thoughts and prayers will be an important part of the artwork, but will remain private. The artwork will culminate on Christmas Eve! ~Chris Tower

Thanksgiving Around the World!

Join us Sunday, November 19 for a Thanksgiving meal together after worship. This year we give thanks for places, friends and family near and far, for it is this community that brings us all together as the body of Christ. Bring your favorite dish from America, China, South Africa, Guatemala or any other place that has touched your life and for which you give thanks! Bring extra dishes to share as we gather around the table. If you are willing to help set up or clean up please contact Dawn Barnes (cyf@indyccc.org).

Reservations Needed for Lunch before Concert for a Cause

Sunday, October 29, is our next Concert for a Cause, and this time a lunch will be provided between worship and the concert.  Please make a reservation with the church office if you plan to attend the lunch, so we know how much food to buy.  Reservations need to be made before noon on Tuesday, October 24th.  Call the church office at (317) 635-6397 or email office@indyccc.org.

Our lunch speaker will be Steve Kerr, of Wheeler Mission. Steve will speak about a recent study by the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion which looked at Faith Based Organizations in regards to social services in cities.  It showed that such organizations’ approaches often work better than governmental approaches.  While Indianapolis has above average economic growth, it has disproportionately high rates of homeless people.  Yet Indianapolis is one of the only major U.S. cities of its size that does not have a municipally operated shelter.  On any given night Wheeler hosts more than 400 in the men’s facility, with a bed capacity of 232.

Following the lunch, the Concert will start at 2PM. Jeff Nelsen, formerly of the Canadian Brass and currently a Professor of French Horn at Indiana University, will join Roger Roe and Kent Cook in a program of duos and trios by Schubert, Reineke, Menotti and Nelhybel. Concert admission is free, but donations will be accepted. This Concert for a Cause will benefit Wheeler Mission.

The Indiana Disciples LGBTQ+ (formerly GLAD) Alliance will have its next meeting on Saturday, October 21 at Central.

Below are some details:
Indiana Disciples LGBTQ+ Alliance Meeting
Saturday, October 21, 10:00am to no later than 3:00pm

Some topics on our agenda include:

• How the welcoming actions of churches and us as individuals make a difference.
• Reflections on the General Assembly
• Looking forward to the future
• Worshiping and communing together

If you have questions and/or plan to attend, please contact Steve Martz at sdmartz318@aol.com or call/text him at 317-828-4818.

We hope to see you on October 21!

Blessings!
The Steering Committee for the Indiana LGBTQ+ Alliance

Living with Change and Loss

The one thing that is certain in life is that things change.  And with every change, there is loss.  Sometimes our losses are traumatic.  When someone we love dies, the loss can be devastating.  When we lose a job we are often disoriented.  When children leave home the silence in the house can be deafening.  Loss is real even when we choose to make changes. If we decide to move to a new home or a new city, the losses of what we value may be too numerous to count.  When we choose to change marital status, the pain can be deep. When someone or something disappears, we grieve by learning to live well in the absence.
 

Central Christian Church has experienced several losses recently.  Individuals have suffered painful losses of family members, health and jobs.  You are invited to come and explore how grieving losses well can open us up to new life.

Gather with us for 4 Sundays (October 22-November 12) after worship to explore together how to live well in the midst of change and loss. Dr. Dan Moseley, Central member and author of “Lose, Love, Live: The Spiritual Gifts of Loss and Change," will be leading the discussion.

Thrift Store needs

Thrift Store needs
Kitchen size trash bags
Large black trash bags

Free Clothing needs
Men's jeans
Men's shoes
Belts
Sweatshirts
Sweatpants
T-shirts - size L and XL
Razors
Hotel size soap and shampoo
 

Food Pantry needs
Canned fruit
Canned greens
Canned soups
Boxed dinners
Kidney/chili beans
Diced tomatoes/tomato sauce
Beef stew
Condiments
Bars of soap
Grocery bags with handles

Free Clothing Needs

The Free Clothing Shop at Centralis open for business each Monday from 10am to noon. Those in need of clothing may come once every two months and shop for an outfit.  Besides clothing, the Free Clothing Shop provides a hygiene kit to each client which includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, washcloth, deodorant, and a razor.

This ministry is grateful for financial donations as well as clothing, pillows, blankets, coats, shoes and hygiene items. If you are free on a Monday morning, come down and visit with those who are working. 

Free Clothing donations are requested for:
Men's jeans
Men's shoes
Belts
Sweatshirts
Sweatpants
T-shirts - size L and XL
Razors
Hotel size soap and shampoo