Religion news – March 18

Services and studies

East Columbus United Methodist — Morning Fellowship will begin at 9 a.m. Sunday in the foyer of the church, 2439 Indiana Ave., Columbus, with hot beverages and light snacks. The Blended Worship service begins at 9:30 a.m. with the Rev. Charles Aigner continuing his sermon series, “Stories that Jesus told: Wicked Tenants,” from the Book of Matthew. Young children will receive a special message before being dismissed to go to Children’s church. A staffed nursery/toddler room is available during the service. Sunday school will begin at 10:40 a.m. for all ages and Bible interests.The Sunday evening service will begin at 6 p.m. The Rev. Aigner will give the message, “The Glory of Suffering,” from 1 Peter.

The Men’s Breakfast begins at 8 a.m. today, followed by a church work day. Lunch will be provided.

The Church Council meeting will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the youth center. Tuesday Bible study will meet at 1 p.m. in the youth center and continue the study of 1 John.

Wednesday evening Bible study will meet at 7 p.m. in the Youth Center and continue a verse-by-verse study of Matthew.

Information: 812-376-7418

Grace Lutheran The sermon series, “American Christianity and the Lutheran Difference,” continues at the 6:30 p.m. Wednesday service of Compline at the church, 3201 Central Ave., Columbus. A fellowship meal will precede it at 5:45 p.m.

Information: 812-372-4859

Old Union United Church of Christ — Pastor Kirby Rupp will deliver the message, “Water to Refresh Your Soul,” at the 10 a.m. service Sunday at the church, 12703 North County Road 50W, Edinburgh. Scripture will include Exodus 17:1-7, Romans 5:1-11 and John 5:5-42. Sunday school begins at 9 a.m. with fellowship at 9:40 a.m.

Wednesday Bible study will meet at 6:30 p.m.

Information: 812-526-9430

Flintwood Wesleyan — Sunday service times include: Amplify (non-traditional) at 9 a.m. and The Well (traditional) at 11 a.m. in the main sanctuary of the church, 5300 E. 25th St., Columbus. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. in their regular rooms. The Prayer Team will meet at 8 a.m. Evening activities begin with adult choir practice at 5 p.m., followed by the evening service at 6 p.m.

The Connections small group meets at 10 a.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month.

The small group “A Christian Journey With Paul” meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays in The Friendship Center. New members are invited to join group anytime.

Greater, led by Donna Jewell, meets at 6:15 p.m. Wednesdays in Curry Hall. Other regular Wednesday activities will resume March 29.

A new small group for women will be at 6:15 p.m. every other Thursday. This group centers around the comedy from Chonda Pierce videos and her view on life’s events. For location details, contact Darlene Morford through the church office.

Cub Scout Pack 588 meets at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Boy Scout Troop 588 follows at 7 p.m.

There will be a baptism service at 10 a.m. March 26. Sunday school classes will be dismissed and the two worship services will be combined. The evening activities will also be dismissed.

Information: 812-379-4287; [email protected]

Westside Community — Pastor Dennis Aud will lead the 10 a.m. service Sunday at the church, 124 Tipton Lakes Blvd., Columbus. The children’s program for birth through Grade 6 meets during the service.

The pastors are continuing a nine-week sermon series on “Managing Life.” Pastor Aud will continue the study this week with his message, “Managing Life — Stewarding God’s Money.”

The Ruby Tuesday morning Bible study class meets at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church. The current study is “The Christian and the Holy Spirit” by Bill Bright. All women are invited to attend.

Two new Bible studies will be conducted from 7 to 8:15 p.m. March 29 at the church. The men will begin a study, “Guardrails,” by Andy Stanley. The new six-week study for women will be “Kingdom Woman” by Tony Evans.

Information: 812-342-8464

First United Methodist — The church will have a specil guest speaker, the Rev. Kim King, at the 9 a.m. traditional and 11 a.m. contemporary services Sunday at the church, 618 Eighth St. Sunday school will begin at 10:10 a.m.

The next Book Club will be at 6 p.m. March 26 in the multi-purpose room. Everyone is invited to join the discussion of Tracy Kidder’s book, “Strength in What Remains.”

Information: 812-372-2851; fumccolumbus.org

First Presbyterian — The Rev. John Erickson will share a word of challenge and encouragement with the congregation at the 9:30 a.m. service Sunday at the church, 512 Seventh St. Erickson will have just returned from an Israel-Palestine trip, and his sermon, “Who is This?,” will share insights from his experience to Israel as well as news from the partnership with the Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem. Infant and toddler care is available 9:15 a.m. to noon. Sunday school for children from preschool to grade 3 will begin at 10 a.m.

The men’s and women’s support groups meets at 7 a.m. Friday and a second men’s support group for working-age men meets at 6:15 a.m. every Monday.

People in need are invited to the Hot Meals program offered at 5 p.m. Friday, with entrance through the glass doors on Franklin Street.

Information: fpccolumbus.org

Fairlawn Presbyterian — Worship will take place at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the church, 2611 Fairlawn Drive. The Rev. Lee Dorsey and the Chancel Choir will lead the congregation in worship and music. Fellowship time with refreshments will immediately follow. During worship and Christian Nurture, childcare is available in the nursery from newborn to age 3.

The small group that meets in the library will continue its weekly discussion on Nadia Bolz-Weber’s book, “Accidental Saints.”

The Fairlawn Worship Band and guest musician, Roger Banister, will lead the music March 26.

The church is accepting donations of macaroni and cheese for Love Chapel this month.

Information: 812-372-3882

First Baptist — The Rev. Dave Doles will present the message, “John the Baptist with Jesus,” with Scripture from Matthew 11:1-19 at the 9:30 a.m. Sunday service at the church, 3300 Fairlawn Drive. Music worship will be led by the Chancel Choir. Childcare is provided for infants. Older children will leave during the service for Children’s church to study “The Prodigal Son” from Luke 15:11-32. Classes for all ages will begin at 10:45 a.m.

The Youth Coffee Bar will be open before and after the service. All proceeds will go toward summer camp expenses.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry will meet at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church.

The Cross Connections Lenten study, “Life Together,” will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The Men of Faith Bible Study on I Peter will begin at 6:15 a.m. Friday in the private dining room of Four Seasons Retirement Center, 1901 Taylor Road. All men of the church or community are welcome.

Information: 812-376-3321

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbus — The message, “Rethinking Gender,” at the 10 a.m. service Sunday at the church, 7850 W. Goeller Blvd., will take a deeper look at the “T” in LGBT from science to social justice.

Information: 812-342-6230

St. Paul Lutheran — Pastor Doug Bauman will deliver the message, “Here We Stand: Justification,” based on Romans 5:1-8 at the 8 and 10:45 a.m. services Sunday at the church, 6045 E. State St.

The theme of Pastor Bauman’s sermon for the 6:45 p.m. Wednesday Lenten service will be “Here We Stand: the Office of the Ministry.” A Bible study of the sermon will follow the service from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. in the Fellowship Room.

A light supper will be served from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Room for a free-will offering to benefit the Aurora Circuit Church Workers Scholarship Fund.

Information: 812-376-6504

Petersville United Methodist — The Rev. Stormy Scherer-Berry will give her sermon, “Sow or Reap,” at the 9 a.m. Sunday service at the church, 2781 N. County Road 500E. Linda Jackson will serve as liturgist and will share Scripture from Exodus 17 and John 4. Teresa Covert will give the children’s message. A time of fellowship will follow the service.

The Lenten study, “The Words of Lent,” will begin at 10:30 a.m. The class will last for one hour. A children’s class will be available.

The Walking group will meet at 9 a.m. Monday and Wednesday at FairOaks Mall, 2380 25th St. The Journey Bible study will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Kimerling home. Choir practice, directed by Kathy Bush, will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Barb Hedrick will lead the prayer group at 10 a.m. Thursday at the church.

United Methodist Women will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday at the church. Patsy Harris will be hostess and Kathy Bush will give the program. Business will be conducted by president Chris Kimerling.

The NOW committee will host a “Mystery Lunch” on March 26. The cost will be $1 and reservations should be made with Teresa Covert at 812-371-0587.

Information: 812-372-3575

Events

Tuesday Connection at Community Church of Columbus — Tuesday Connection, a collection of 12 support groups meeting weekly at the church, 3850 N. Marr Road in Columbus, has an eight-week program from April 4 to May 23. The gatherings begin with a free dinner at 5:30 p.m. and groups meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m.Groups are: Celebrate Recovery, dealing with addictions and hang-ups; DivorceCare, for people separated or divorced; English As a Second Language (levels 1 and 2); Getting Past Your Past, on overcoming guilt; Griefshare, for people grieving a loss; Hopekeepers, for people living with chronic pain; Insight Group, for people with a loved one battling an addiction; Legacy Journey, on investing, estate planning and related topics; Resilient Marriages, learning the power of marital commitment; Starting Point, for people beginning their life as a Christian; The Landing, for teens struggling with life’s challenges; and Celebration Station, a children’s group to help them avoid painful habits and hang-ups while learning to make positive choices.

Groups are meant to provide enrichment, hope and practical steps for change. People do not need not be a member of a church to participate. The program welcomes people from any background.

Cost is free, except for a minimal fee for books in some groups.

Information: 812-348-6257; cccolumbus.org

Flintwood Wesleyan — The second QuarterMania Auction Fundraiser will be at 11 a.m. April 1 at the church, 5300 E. 25th St. Auction paddles are $5 each and you need lots of quarters to bid. Participating vendors include 31, Tupperware, Mary Kay and Damsels in Defense. Refreshments will be available for purchase. You can pre-purchase your paddle through the church office or Patty England.

Information: 812-379-4287; [email protected]

Westside Community — The community is invited to the church for an Easter Egg Hunt at 2 p.m. April 8 at the church, 124 Tipton Lakes Blvd. This event will be for children ages three through grade 3.

First United Methodist — Upcoming Fridays@First: Vocal Recital of Tristan Grider will be April 7.

South Central Indiana Christian Men’s Fellowship — The next meeting will be March 28 at East Columbus Christian Church, 3170 Indiana Ave. A donation meal will be served at 6:30 p.m., followed by a presentation at 7:15 p.m. by Spencer Heaton, youth minister at the church.

Although the gatherings are primarily for men attending churches within the specific Christian denomination, they are open to others.

Information: 812-343-0179