Religion news – Dec. 19

Editor’s note: Some church services may have moved to online-only formats after The Republic’s deadline due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Services and studies

Asbury United Methodist Church — At this time, all in-person worship has been suspended. Join online at asburycolumbus.org

The church is located at 1751 27th St., Columbus.

East Columbus Christian Church — East Columbus Christian Church is now primarily online on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. on Facebook and YouTube. Those without internet access are welcome to attend the service in person, but masks are required.

There is no youth group.

The church is located at 3170 Indiana Ave., Columbus.

East Columbus United Methodist — Sunday morning worship begins at 9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary with the implementation of the recommended in-person worship guidelines. Social distancing guidelines include a face covering (face masks will be provided for those needing one), seating every other pew, no passing of offering plates, no handshaking or hugging, and the use of pre-packaged communion supplies. Holy communion is served the first Sunday of each month.

Sunday school will be held immediately following the morning service and classrooms have been arranged to follow social distancing guidelines. Sunday evening service begins at 6 p.m. in the chapel. Seating has been arranged to follow social distancing guidelines.

The weekly service will continue to be available for viewing online through the church’s Facebook and YouTube pages.

The church is located at 2439 Indiana Ave., Columbus.

Fairlawn Presbyterian — Weekly worship services are on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom. (Links and numbers below or you can check fairlawnpc.net or visit the church’s Facebook page for login and phone information.)

Use Zoom to call-in by phone or login online. Join the online Zoom meeting at https://zoom.us/j/431070245 with the meeting ID 431 070 245.

Those interested can also dial-in at: +1 253 215 8782 US; +1 301 715 8592; Meeting ID: 431 070 245.

The church is located at 2611 Fairlawn Drive, Columbus.

Information: Facebook, fairlawnpc.net, office@ fairlawnpc.net, 812-372-3882.

Faith Lutheran Church — The church livestreams worship each Sunday at 9 a.m. along with daily devotions Mondays through Thursdays each week at 7 a.m. on the church’s Facebook page (facebook.com/faithcolumbus47201). The congregation also meets for in-person services each Sunday morning at 9 a.m. and Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m. following recommended health guidelines.

The church is located at 6000 West State Road 46, Columbus, 47201.

Information: faithontheweb.org, 812-342-3587.

First Christian Church — The church is offering online service only at 10 a.m. for the rest of 2020.

Information: www.fccoc.org, 812-379-4491.

First Baptist — Due to COVID-19, First Baptist is only offering online experiences until further notice. The church welcomes all to join them at 9:30 a.m. at firstbaptistcolumbus.org/video for their live streamed service, or to visit the same website to view recorded services.

The church is located at 3300 Fairlawn Drive, Columbus.

Information: 812-376-3321.

First Lutheran Church — The church is offering in-person worship on Sunday mornings at 8:45 a.m. for the classic service and 11:15 a.m. for the casual service. Livestreaming of both services can be accessed on electronic devices at www. youtube.com/user/FLCColumbus.

The church is located at 3600 E. 25th St., Columbus.

First Presbyterian — The church will have a service via livestream at 9:30 a.m. Sunday on Facebook and Zoom. Join in at https://www. facebook.com/groups/56933406910/ or https://zoom.us/j/214025301.

Those in the community in need of a meal are invited to the Hot Meals program, which is offered Friday at 5 p.m. The church is an LGBTQ-friendly church.

Information: fpccolumbus.org

First United Methodist — Due to the rising number of cases of COVID-19 throughout the community, First United Methodist Church is suspending in-person worship services until further notice. The church will still have livestream services on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. on their Facebook page www.facebook.com/columbusfumc.

On Dec. 20, the fourth Sunday of Advent, the Rev. Howard Boles will deliver the message “Getting What We Need: Recognition.” The scripture will be Luke 1:26-38.

On Dec. 24, the church will have three Christmas Eve services. The family service will be at 6 p.m., with the children and youth of FUMC leading worship. The jazz service will be at 8 p.m. and will feature holiday jazz music. The lessons and carols service will be at 11 p.m., and this candlelight service will celebrate the birth of Jesus with traditional Christmas lessons and carols. All three services will be livestreamed on the church’s Facebook page (and available for later viewing on the church website). There will be no in-person attendance for these services.

The church is located at 618 Eighth St., Columbus.

Information: fumccolumbus.org, 812-372-2851.

Flintwood Wesleyan — Masks/facial coverings will be required to enter the building for services on Sundays and Wednesdays at all times unless you are seated and socially distanced in the sanctuary.

If you do not have a mask, they are available. The church also have hand sanitizing stations throughout the buildings. The church encourages the use of colored lanyards with tags stating your preference on personal space. Every other pew will again be closed for social distancing. Family groups are asked to share a pew. If possible others should sit on opposite end of the pew or in another pew. To help with social distancing, children will begin service in the children’s church area, not the sanctuary.

Sunday morning worship begins at 9 a.m. with The Amplify (contemporary) service. Sunday school follows with classes for all ages at 10 a.m. The Well service (traditional) begins at 11 a.m. Both worship services are led by Pastor Wesley Jones. The church’s Sunday Amplify services are livestreamed on YouTube at 9 a.m.

Sunday evening is devoted to Celebrate Recovery meetings. The meetings are designed to assist in ridding hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Meeting begin at 6 p.m. with getting to know each other, singing, and a lesson are open to the public. At 7 p.m., there is an open share meeting that splits into a group for women and a group for men. Safe child care is available.

Wednesday activities for iKids and youth are suspended due to BCSC transitioning to eLearning. Adult Bible study meets at 6:30 p.m. until school returns to an in-person schedule. Bible study is in the main sanctuary and is led by Pastor Wes Jones.

The church is located at 5300 E. 25th St., Columbus.

Information: 812-379-4287, [email protected], flintwood.org

Grace Lutheran — Grace Lutheran celebrates the beginning of the Christmas season with a service of lessons and carols on Dec. 24 at 6:30 p.m. The divine service with holy communion will be at 11 p.m. The message is, “The Word became…flesh?” based on John 1:1-18. Services are in-person and also livestreamed at www.grace columbus.org.

The church is located at 3201 Central Ave., Columbus, and all events are held with CDC guidelines compliance.

Mt. Pleasant Christian Church — Mt. Pleasant Christian Church is open with 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning services. Christmas messages and carols all December long. Everyone is welcome.

The church is located at 4960 W. Goeller Blvd., Columbus.

Information: 812-344-0478.

Newbern United Methodist Church — The church is practicing strict COVID-19 preventative measures. Masks are required. All activities are postponed until further notice except for Sunday service at 10:30 a.m. and online Bible study each Wednesday at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

North Christian Church — The Rev. Tonja Gerardy is continuing Sunday services at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday morning via YouTube. Search North Christian Church Columbus Indiana to join.

Join the conversation via Zoom on Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. The church will continue to explore Biblical characters whose lives unraveled. Each session is wholly independent from the others. Participants can choose to come and go as able. There is no book to purchase or any advance reading to complete.

There are multiple ways to join in. Desktop link: zoom.us/j/ 83268062076; smartphones: +1 646 558 8656, 832 6806 2076#; Landline phones: +1 646 558 8656, then enter meeting ID 832 6806 2076.

The staff continues to work remotely. No building access is available at this time. The church will continue to monitor this ever-changing situation and update their response as appropriate.

The church is located at 850 Tipton Lane, Columbus.

Information: 812-372-1531.

Old Union United Church of Christ — Scriptures for the 10 a.m. Sunday service, the fourth Sunday of Advent, will include 2 Samuel 7:1-11. 16; Roman 16:25-27; and Luke 1:26-38. The message will be “Creeping Along the Promises of God.”

The church has applied social distancing guidelines. Face coverings are required, but can be provided by the church for those that need one. Seating is spaced two arm-widths apart for non-relatives. Seating is every other pew and there will be no fellowship in the basement, no passing of the peace, and no handshaking or hugging.

The church is located at 12703 N. County Road 50W, Edinburgh.

Petersville United Methodist Church — Petersville United Methodist Church will continue with virtual church until further notice. There will be three videos on the church Facebook page each week.

Pastor Rebecca Milne will present the Dec. 20 video, “The Hope of Christmas Future: Death-Defying Acts” with scriptures from Revelation 1:4, Luke 4:18-19, and Romans 8:4b-17. Teresa Covert and Karen Mize will share the children’s video, “Hope,” and Kathy and Joe Bush’s video will tell how the journey of Scrooge with the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is harrowing.

Information: 812-376-3501; 812-546-4438.

Sandy Hook United Methodist — Sandy Hook United Methodist church has made the decision to suspend all in-person worship services and meetings until further notice. Worship will be online only via Facebook Live and YouTube at the regular service times of 8:45 and 11 a.m. Sundays. The 8:45 a.m. is a traditional service and 11 a.m. is a contemporary service.

The church will be celebrating Advent with the following sermon series: “Advent 2020 — Jesus Moving Into the Neighborhood.

Pastor Paul Dazet will bring the message “homecoming” on Dec. 13, “soujourners” on Dec. 20, and “reign it in” on Dec. 27.

The Christmas Eve service will be Dec. 24 at 6 p.m. and will be online only via Facebook Live and YouTube.

For more information or questions please call the office at 812-372-8495.

The church is located at 1610 Taylor Road, Columbus.

St. Paul Episcopal Church — In-person worship has resumed at the church, 2651 California St., Columbus, with Sunday Eucharistic services at 8 a.m. (Rite 1) and 10:15 a.m. (Rite 2).

The church follows a strict protocol that includes masks, social distancing, and no singing.

Zoom is used to livestream the 10:15 a.m. Sunday service, for participation in the Tuesday morning Bible study at 11 a.m., and the Thursday evening office of Compline at 8 p.m. Information and Zoom meeting IDs can be found on the church website at stpaulsclumbus.org.

Information: 812-372-7869.

St. Paul Lutheran — The fourth Sunday in Advent will be celebrated Sunday at St. Paul Lutheran Church with Pastor Doug Bauman’s sermon entitled “The Eternal King and Kingdom” based on 2 Samuel 7:1-11 at the 8 a.m. service, which will follow all CDC guidelines for social distancing. The Children’s Christmas program based on “Oh Lord, How Shall I Meet You” will be presented at the 9:30 and 11 a.m. services. There will be no fellowship hour, Christian education classes or Spanish worship service Sunday.

Advent services will be held Wednesday at 4:45 p.m. (COVID-sensitive) and 7 p.m. in the church focusing on “Mary Welcoming the Coming One.” Identical Christmas Eve family candlelight services focusing on “Joseph Welcoming the Coming One” will be held at the church Thursday at 4:30 p.m. (COVID-sensitive), 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The Spanish candlelight Christmas service with holy communion will be held in the fellowship room at 6 p.m. A Communion Candlelight Service focusing on angels will be held at 11 p.m. All Christmas Eve services will be preceded by a 15-minute carol sing.

A Christmas Day festival communion service will be held Friday at 10 a.m. The Sunday 9:30 a.m., Wednesday 4:45 p.m., Thursday 4:45 p.m. and 11 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m. services will be online at stpaulcolumbus.org. within three hours after services begin.

Bible study on the book of Luke continues in the Fellowship Room Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Radio worship service is every Sunday at 8:30 a.m on 1010 AM and 98.1 FM.

The church is located at 6045 East State St., Columbus.

Information: 812-376-6504 or www.stpaulcolumbus.org

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbus — At this time, the church has postponed in-person gatherings until further notice. Follow the church on Facebook or visit uucci.org for information on joining the church virtually.

The church is located at 7850 W. Goeller Blvd., Columbus.

Information: 812-342-6230.

Westside Community Church — WCC has moved Sunday morning church services to the parking lot until further notice. Service begins at 10 a.m. on FM 87.9. All Sunday in-person activities are suspended for the time being.

You may also visit www.WCCShareJesus.com for recorded audio sermons, as well as Facebook for daily “Points to Ponder” by Pastor Dennis.

Please join the church on Dec. 24 at 4:30 p.m. for the Christmas Eve parking lot service. Come and join us for a cup of hot chocolate and see the live nativity.

WCC is located at the corner of State Road 46 West and Tipton Lakes Boulevard in Columbus.

Information 812-342-8464.

Events

Eckankar, The Path of Spiritual Freedom — Discover Yourself As Soul! — Eckankar is an active, individual, and creative spiritual practice that can make God’s love an everyday reality in your life. All in-person Eckankar events in Indiana are currently temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19. Visit their website (www.Eck-Indiana.org) and event calendar for scheduled virtual events being held on Zoom and for information about Eckankar, videos and additional reading material.

Information 812-418-8392.