Central News and More!

Published: Thu, 03/26/26

Updated: Thu, 03/26/26

UPCOMING EVENTS

SOUP AND SERMON

Each week during Lent, we'll gather as a community for Soup and Sermon, connect with neighbors, and hear inspiring homilies from our local pastors. We are thrilled to partner with Central UMC - Dickson, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, First Christian Church, Sequoyah UMC, and First United Presbyterian Church to make this journey meaningful and welcoming for everyone. On Tuesday, March 31, this season's final Soup and Sermon will be held at First United Presbyterian Church 12 - 12:30 p.m. Lunch immediately following the service. We hope to see you there!

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SERVICES

Holy Week and Easter are quickly approaching, and we invite you to join us as we journey through this sacred season. Together, we will reflect, worship, and celebrate the good news of Jesus Christ and the hope found in His resurrection.

Maundy Thursday
April 2 at 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary

On Maundy Thursday, we remember the night Jesus shared a final meal with His disciples and gave them a new commandment: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” This command calls us beyond words into a life marked by humility, grace, and sacrificial love. Join us as we reflect on this powerful moment in the life of Christ and consider what it means to embody His love in our world today.

GOOD FRIDAY
April 3 at 6:00 pm in Building C

On Good Friday, we gather for a Tenebrae service, a solemn time of reflection on the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. Through scripture readings, quiet worship, and the gradual dimming of light, we remember the depth of Christ’s sacrifice and the weight of the cross. We invite you to sit in the stillness of the moment, to grieve, to reflect, and to prepare our hearts for the hope that is to come.

EASTER SUNDAY APRIL 5

Come worship with us as we celebrate the joy and victory of Christ’s resurrection at our Easter services here at Central. Together, we proclaim the good news: He is risen!

7:00 am Sunrise Service outside the Sanctuary on the Dickson Street Lawn

9:00 am Contemporary Service in Building C
9:00 am Classic Service in the Sanctuary

10:00 am Egg Hunt in Building D

11:00 am Classic Service in the Sanctuary

We encourage you to bring a flower stem to place on our living cross during our communion services, as a beautiful symbol of new life and resurrection hope!

EGG HUNT APRIL 5

We’re still needing egg donations for our annual Egg Hunt! You can drop off filled eggs and filler items in the collection bins located in Building D, Building C, and the Narthex. If you’d like to help in other ways, please contact Kari Horton to get involved and support this event. Next Gen’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place on Sunday, April 5, at 10:00 a.m. in Building D. We hope to see you there!

CORE CENTRAL SUNDAY APRIL 12

Join us on Sunday, April 12 at 10:00 a.m. in Building C for our annual Core Central Sunday. We are excited to celebrate the impact we’ve made in our community and look ahead to our vision for 2026. The morning will include a time of reflection and worship, a grab-and-go breakfast provided by our Central Men's Ministry, and an opportunity to serve together through a congregation-wide service project for Central at Garland directly following the service. We look forward to gathering, serving, and growing together!

CENTRAL ON GARLAND NEWS

Exciting events and milestones are happening from March - August 2026 at Central on Garland. During this season of preparation, service, and community building, we invite you to mark your calendars as events and engagement opportunities are published. Join us as we grow together and prepare for the launch of the Garland Campus.

Highlights for the coming months include:

Service Days are underway as we prepare the Garland space together. Be sure to click here to vote on service day options and help us plan upcoming workdays. Our first work day will be April 11 at 10:00 a.m. Come join us as we prepare projects for Core Central service day on April 12.
Core Central Sunday will be April 12 on Dickson Street in Building C at 10:00 a.m. and then transition to the Garland Campus for a church-wide service day.
Hospitality Team Development begins in April. If you have a heart for welcoming others and helping create a warm, inviting space, this is a great place to serve. (More information coming soon via e-news.)
On May 31 at 5:00 p.m., we will participate in the Leverett Community Crawl, a collaborative neighborhood event with Central on Garland, The Vine and Branch, St. James, City Park, and Sicarú Coffee. (More information coming soon via e-news.)
June 12 is our tentative date for a one-day VBS. This will be a fun day of learning, play, and community. (More information coming soon via e-news.)
Beginning in June, we will enter a soft launch worship series throughout June, July, and August as we prepare for the next phase of ministry at Garland. (More information coming soon via e-news.)

Along with these exciting events rolling out, there are always additional ways to connect through ministries such as the Food Pantry and United Women in Faith. For more information about these connectional opportunities, please contact the church office at [email protected]. If you are interested in volunteering to help at our Wednesday food pantry, please contact Joy Williams. Please contact Lou Buchanan to sign up for Sunday Supper.

Other ways to help our Central on Garland Missions:

Donate financially by visiting centralumcfay.com, selecting Give, choosing the Garland Operational Budget, and noting Pantry or Sunday Supper in the memo

Together, we are making a real difference in our neighbors’ lives!

Thank you for your willingness to serve!

MISSIONS AND OUTREACH

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE

The American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive at Fayetteville Public Library on April 8th from 12:30–5:30 PM in the Willard and Pat Walker Community Room. Your donation can help save lives! Sign up for an appointment here. Please consider giving if you're able, and help spread the word!

INTERFAITH CLIMATE ALLIANCE

The Interfaith Climate Alliance invites you to a free community presentation: Native Trees – Planting, Care, and Benefits to the Environment on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at the Fayetteville Public Library (Art and Movement Room). Presented by Colin Massey, Washington County Extension Agent for Horticulture, this talk will explore how native trees can help combat climate change by storing carbon, reducing flood risks, cooling our environment, and supporting biodiversity. Learn how to successfully incorporate native trees into your own landscape!

Free Native Tree Giveaways
• Sunday, April 19 | 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
• Locations: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church & Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

This event is free and open to the public. It also coincides with Fayetteville’s Earth Week, Earth Day, and Arbor Day celebrations—making it a perfect time to get involved and give back to the environment.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and grow greener together!

Tree Giveaway Order Form

NEXT GEN MINISTRIES

VBS 2026: We are On The Case!

Mark your calendars! VBS will take place June 8–11 from 9:00–11:30am each day. Your rising K–6th grader is invited to grab their detective hat and join us for a fun, 4-day adventure as we dig into some of Jesus’ parables and uncover the mysteries of how to grow our faith!

The registration cost is $50, which includes all activity supplies, snacks, and a VBS T-shirt. (T-shirts are guaranteed for those who register by April 15). If you have any questions, please contact Kari Horton. Register your kid here! Sign up to volunteer here!

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

In Need of Prayer:

Charlene Brace, Claire Brown, Steve Coleman, Anna Ericson, Tom and Rebecca Henderson, Jennifer King, Janet Smythe, Kristy Spruell, Zach Taylor, Rob Turberville

Our Christian Sympathy to:

Shelley Steele and the loss of her sister, Eloise Faddis Faur.

Our hearts and prayers are with you!

Share a Prayer Request