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 — Asbury offers a traditional service at 8:45 a.m. and a contemporary service at 11 a.m. Nursery is available for both services. J.A.M. (children’s church) is offered at both services. The church also offers Sunday school classes at 10 a.m.
On Christmas Eve, the church will celebrate with a special children’s program, “One Night in Bethlehem,” at 4 p.m. in the contemporary worship center. The evening celebration will start at 6:30 p.m. with an organ meditation by Ed Bruenjes, followed by a traditional service at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary. The church will also have a Christmas Eve worship night from 11 p.m. until midnight, “Rock the Flock,” in the contemporary worship center.
Asbury Kids meets each Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. There are three classes available: Asbury Kids-4 years through first grade; Asbury Kids-second through fifth grade; and Asbury Junior High-sixth through eighth grade. Each class will have a Bible story, a craft or activity, a snack, a time of prayer, and a time of fellowship. As always, your kids and youth can bring a friend! Email Heidi at [email protected] to register your child.
Asbury offers lunch for high school students and visitors on Thursdays (schedule is based on the BCSC calendar) from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. for only $4 per person.
The church will offer a churchwide Advent study this Christmas season. Advent runs through Dec. 24. The study selected for this season is “Almost Christmas — A Wesleyan Advent Experience”. If you would like to join a group for this study, please contact the church office at 812-372-4555.
All services are available online at asburycolumbus.org.
The church is located at 1751 27th St., Columbus.
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Columbus Baptist Church — The church offers worship services on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. A teen service is offered at 6:30 p.m. Sunday school for all ages meets at 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday Bible study, Kids Club, and Teens meet at 6:30 p.m. There are various small group events weekly.
Information: columbusbaptist.net
The church is located at 4821 N. U.S. 31, Columbus.
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Community Church of Columbus — Community Church of Columbus meets for Sunday service at 9 and 10:30 a.m. The second service is livestreamed and available on the Community Church’s Columbus Indiana Facebook page and Community Church of Columbus YouTube channel.
The church is located at 3850 N. Marr Road.
For further information, call 812-348-6257 or go to cccolumbus.org
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East Columbus Christian Church — East Columbus Christian Church is open for in-person worship on Sunday mornings with a blended worship service at 10 a.m. The church also has online worship available through Facebook and YouTube.
Sunday morning Bible study is at 9 a.m. Youth meet at the church from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and children’s ministry meets through Zoom on Wednesdays at 5 p.m.
The church is located at 3170 Indiana Ave., Columbus.
For more information: 812-372-3789 or eastccc.net
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East Columbus United Methodist — Pastor Ann Thomas will bring the message at the 9:30 a.m. Sunday worship service. The blended worship service includes praise music, traditional hymns and children’s moment, a time when the children receive a special message. Holy Communion is served the first Sunday of each month. The morning service is available online Sunday afternoon through the church’s Facebook and YouTube pages for those not yet comfortable meeting in person. Face coverings are optional at services.
Sunday school is held immediately after the morning service and classes are available for all ages and Bible interests.
Free hot meal is served the second Sunday of each month at 6 p.m. in the youth center. Tuesday afternoon Bible study meets at 1 p.m. in the chapel. Men’s breakfast is held once a month (call the church office for dates and times).
The church is located at 2439 Indiana Ave., Columbus.
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Fairlawn Presbyterian Church — In-person Sunday worship begins at 9:30 a.m. and is also available on Zoom.
Upcoming events for December are Youth Group on Dec. 19 at 5:30 p.m., Fellowship & Coffee on Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. on Zoom, Drive-in Christmas Eve service of lessons and carols on Dec. 24 at 5 p.m., and reverse Advent calendar through Dec. 24. Second hour: Reflection on do not be afraid.
This month’s donations for Love Chapel will be canned fruit.
Women’s Bible study is the third Tuesday each month at 1 p.m.
Support of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) enables congregations to witness the healing love of Christ through caring for communities affected by crises and catastrophic events. Learn more at pda.pcusa.org.
For more information, contact the church office at [email protected], fairlawnpc.net, or facebook.com/fairlawnpres.
The church is located at 2611 Fairlawn Drive, Columbus. Information: 812-372-3882.
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Faith Lutheran Church — The church livestreams worship each Sunday at 9 a.m. along with daily devotions Monday through Thursday at 7 a.m. on the church’s Facebook page. The congregation also meets for in-person services each Sunday morning (masks encouraged) at 9 a.m. and Wednesday (mask required) at 4 p.m. following recommended health guidelines. Worship services start at 4 p.m.
The church is located at 6000 W. State Road 46, Columbus.
Information: faithontheweb.org, 812-342-3587.
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First Baptist Church — First Baptist welcomes all to join at 9:30 a.m. Sunday in person or at firstbaptistcolumbus.org/video for their livestreamed service. Recordings of the services are also available.
The church is located at 3300 Fairlawn Drive, Columbus.
Information: 812-376-3321.
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First Christian Church — The church is offering services in person and online at 9 and 10:30 a.m. FCC Kids is at 10:30 a.m. and FCC Teens is at 9 a.m.
The church is located at 531 Fifth St., Columbus.
Information: fccoc.org, 812-379-4491.
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First Lutheran Church — The church offers 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 youtube.com/user/FLCColumbus.
The church is located at 3600 E. 25th St., Columbus.
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First Presbyterian — Christmas is almost here! The Fourth Sunday of Advent brings us to ponder love. The reading will be the very beginning of the Gospel of John, 1:1-18. Pastor Felipe’s sermon will focus on the theme “The Word Became Flesh.”
The church asks that all wear a mask in the sanctuary, or in the gym for livestreaming. The service will be livestreamed at 9:30 a.m. on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/56933406910/ and Zoom, zoom.us/j/214025301. For more details on the church’s response to COVID, refer to fpccolumbus.org.
Those in the community in need of a meal are invited to the hot meals program, which is offered Friday starting at 5 p.m. (Enter through the glass doors on Franklin Street.) The church is an LGBTQ-friendly church.
The church is located at 512 Seventh St., Columbus.
Information: fpccolumbus.org
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First United Methodist — On Dec. 19 at 10 a.m., the Rev. Howard Boles will deliver the message, “The Mess Behind the Message: When Hope Seems Distant.” The scripture will be Luke 1:46-55.
The church encourages those who are attending in person to arrive 10 minutes before the services and use either the Eighth Street or Lafayette Street doors. Hand sanitizer will be available at the entrances to the sanctuary. Because of the rise in COVID infections, masks will be required while you are in the building. Masks are available if you don’t have one.
For those unable to make it to the in-person services, or are not yet comfortable meeting in person, a 10 a.m. livestream of the service will be on the church’s Facebook page and will be available on the church’s website for later viewing.
At 9 a.m., there will be an outdoor Sunday school class for children through sixth grade, weather permitting (fellowship hall will be the backup). This class will run until 10 a.m., when the church will have its regular worship service, both in-person (sanctuary) and online via Facebook. Following the service, at 11 a.m., there will be time for fellowship in the church library. Childcare will be available from 9:45 a.m. until the end of the 10 a.m. service.
The church will have three worship opportunities on Christmas Eve. At 6 p.m., there will be the family service, where the children and youth of FUMC will lead worship. At 8 p.m., there will be the jazz service, where you can enjoy amazing holiday jazz music. And finally, at 11 p.m., there will be the lessons and carols service, where we celebrate the birth of Jesus with traditional Christmas lessons and carols. If you are unable to attend in person, all services will also be livestreamed via the church Facebook page.
The church is located at 618 Eighth St., Columbus.
Information: 812-372-2851 or fumccolumbus.org
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Flintwood Wesleyan — Sunday morning worship begins at 9 a.m. with the Amplify (contemporary) service. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. with classes for all age groups. The Well (traditional) service begins at 11 a.m. Both worship services are led by Pastor Wesley Jones. The church’s Sunday Amplify services are livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube.
Sunday evening is devoted to Celebrate Recovery meetings. The meetings are designed to assist in ridding hurts, habits and hang-ups. The church has started serving meals again. At this time, there is one meal each month on the second-to-last Sunday. Meetings begin at 6 p.m. with getting to know each other, singing, and a lesson, and 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 begin with a meal served at 5:30 p.m. in the friendship center. The iKids program begins at 6:15 p.m. and youth meet downstairs in the sanctuary at 6:30 p.m. Prayer Team meets in the prayer room downstairs in the main building at 6:15 p.m. and adult Bible study meets at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary. Scouts are meeting Thursdays at 7 p.m.
The church is located at 5300 E. 25th St., Columbus.
Information: 812-379-4287, [email protected], flintwood.org
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Garden City Church of Christ — During the four weeks of December, experience the anticipation of the prophets, the joyful proclamation of the angels, the journey of the shepherds and wise men to honor Him — and how all of this fits in with preparing for and celebrating Christmas now.
Join the church for its 10 a.m. Sunday worship with inspiring Christmas messages that will put peace back in a normally hectic season. You are also invited for a very special Christmas Eve celebration with a candlelight service at 7 p.m. on Dec. 24.
The church is located at 3245 Jonesville Road, Columbus. Information: gardencitychurch.com, 812-372-1766.
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Grace Lutheran Church — The church hosts Sunday worship services at 8 and 10:30 a.m. in person and livestreamed at gracecolumbus.org. Sunday school for all ages is at 9:30 a.m.
The church is located at 3201 Central Ave., Columbus, and all events are held with CDC guidelines compliance.
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Memorial Baptist Church — The church is offering in-person and online worship services at 9:30 a.m. Sunday school is offered in person and online at 10:45 a.m. Online services are via Facebook.
Join the church for Advent. During the Advent season, the church will have several Christmastime events including a children’s program, a Christmas Cantata, a Blue Christmas, and a Christmas Eve service.
Additional information is available on the website memorialbaptistchurch.us and on Facebook at Memorial Columbus. The church can be contacted via email at [email protected].
The church is located at 2320 Seventh St., Columbus. Information: 812-376-6800.
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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.
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North Christian Church — The church is holding in-person services every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Masks and social distancing are required. The church is broadcasting Sunday services via YouTube, available later in the day on Sunday. Search North Christian Church Columbus Indiana to join.
The building is open for tours and community use. The church is located at 850 Tipton Lane, Columbus.
Information: 812-372-1531.
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Old Union United Church of Christ — Pastor Al White, the church’s transitional pastor, is leading worship and sharing messages that encourage firm foundations of faith in Jesus. Simple church — simply Jesus.
The church has added a time for discipleship growth at 9 a.m. on Sunday mornings. This ongoing class time will be studying “Be The Church,” which features 10 simple drawings accompanied by 10 simple conversations that teach the followers of Jesus who they are and what they are supposed to do.
There’s always a coffee and donut time downstairs before the morning worship time at 10 a.m.
The church is located at 12703 N. County Road 50W, Edinburgh.
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Petersville United Methodist Church — The fourth Sunday Advent candle representing love will be lit followed by Advent reading and prayer. The theme of “Come Home for Christmas” continues with the morning message titled “The Blessing of Home”. Scripture readings for Dec. 19 will be Luke 1:39-45 and Micah 5:2-5a at the 9 a.m. worship service.
Children’s message will be led by Teresa Covert and Kathy Bush will lead worship and choir.
Social distancing and wearing masks will be encouraged. The offering may be placed in the basket on the table in the narthex, or offerings may be mailed to Linda McNealy.
The Journey Bible study group will not meet again until January. The invitation is open for anyone who would like to participate in the Thursday night Bible study class on Zoom at 7:30 p.m. For further information, contact Pastor Milne at 330-720-5122.
All are encouraged to continue to support the Hope Food Pantry, Love Chapel Food Pantry and donate items for Clifty Creek Elementary School.
A Christmas Eve service will take place at 7 p.m. on Dec. 24, and at the 9 a.m. Sunday morning service Christmas Day, the adult choir will present a cantata. They are practicing each Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. and extend an invitation to those who might like to join the choir for the cantata.
The church is located at 2781 N. County Road 500E, Columbus. Information: 812-376-3501; 812-546-4438.
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Sandy Hook United Methodist — Sandy Hook United Methodist Church gathers weekly for in-person and online worship. Dec. 19 is the fourth Sunday of Advent and the church offers two services. The traditional service is at 8:45 a.m., and the contemporary service is at 11 a.m. Pastor Paul Dazet will bring a message about peace as part of a new sermon series, “Presence.”
Christmas Eve service will be at 6 p.m. on Dec. 24 and all are welcome.
Sunday school classes for all ages are being offered at 10 a.m. between services.
Masks are strongly recommended and social distancing will take place in the sanctuary.
Online services can be found on the church Facebook page or YouTube channel.
The church is located at 1610 Taylor Road, Columbus. Information: 812-372-8495.
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St. Paul Episcopal Church — Join the church for Sunday worship at 10:15 a.m., in person or livestreamed on the church’s website: stpaulscolumbus.org.
The church is located at 2651 California St., Columbus. Information: stpaulscolumbus.org or 812-372-7869.
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St. Paul Lutheran Church — The fourth Sunday in Advent will be celebrated at the 8 a.m. worship service. Pastor Doug Bauman will deliver the message, “A Surprise Visitor” based on Luke 1:39-56. Children’s Christmas program, “Symbols of Salvation” will be presented at the 10:45 a.m. service.
Christian fellowship will begin at 9:10 a.m. Christian education hour follows at 9:30 a.m. for all ages. There will be no 10:45 a.m. Spanish worship service and Spanish Sunday school.
A COVID-sensitive communion worship service (with social distancing and masks required) will be held at 2 p.m.
The Second Presbyterian Church Beecher Singers and Orchestra of Indianapolis conducted by Dr. Michelle Louer will present a free Christmas concert Sunday, Dec. 19 at the church at 7 p.m. Dr. John Allegar will perform Christmas favorites and lead audience carol singing. A pre-concert harp recital will begin at 6:40 p.m.
Mid-week Advent service will be Wednesday, Dec. 22 at 6:45 p.m. with the theme, “Songs of the Coming Servant” based on Isaiah 52:13-53-12.
A COVID-sensitive Christmas Candlelight service will be held Thursday, Dec. 23 at 6:30 p.m. and will be the last COVID-sensitive service held until further notice. Christmas Eve candlelight service times on Friday are 6:30, 8 (Spanish), and 11 p.m. Christmas Day festival service will be Saturday at 10 a.m.
Radio worship service is every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on WYGS 91.1 FM, which also broadcasts the Lutheran Hour every Sunday at 7 p.m.
Adult Bible class meets Wednesday at the church at 9 a.m., studying the Gospel of John. All are welcome. The 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Bible class will not meet Dec. 29.
A Posadas service will be held tonight at 5 p.m. with a fiesta to follow in the Fellowship Room. This is a traditional service in Latin America that recounts Mary and Joseph’s difficulty in finding a place to spend the night on the first Christmas.
The church is located at 6045 E. State St., Columbus.
Information: 812-376-6504 or stpaulcolumbus.org
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Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbus — Gather in the sanctuary before 10 a.m. to find a seat and settle in. Masks and physical distance are required for all persons, regardless of vaccination status. If you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, have been exposed to COVID-19, or would simply feel more comfortable participating online, please join the livestream on Zoom with meeting ID 812 342 6230, or watch later on the church’s YouTube channel.
The church is located at 7850 W. Goeller Blvd., Columbus.
Information: uucci.org or 812-342-6230.
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Westside Community Church — WCC has resumed in-facility Sunday worship service at 10 a.m. The worship service will also continue to be broadcast in the parking lot on FM 87.9 at 10 a.m.
WCC is located at the corner of State Road 46 West and Tipton Lakes Boulevard in Columbus.
Information: 812-342-8464.
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Events
East Columbus United Methodist Church — Grace’s Table is a free meal in a drive-in format with entertainment. Presented by East Columbus United Methodist Church on every second Sunday at 6 p.m. There will be music and storytelling. Enter the church parking lot and come right at 6 p.m. so you don’t miss the story. Tables available for walk-ups.
The church is located at 2439 Indiana Ave., Columbus.
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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 suspended due to COVID-19.
Information: Eck-Indiana.org and 812-418-8392.
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Northview Church — “The Storehouse” exists to serve those in need who may find themselves recovering from a situation such as a fire, elderly on fixed income, single parents, sickness, homelessness, incarceration, etc. Clothing and household goods are provided free.
To make an appointment or to donate, call 812-343-6450.
The church is located at 7230 N. County Road 250W, Columbus.
