ALL CHURCH

LAST DAY TO GIVE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR THIS TAX YEAR IS DEC. 29^TH. In order to give us time to process your gifts, please make sure your year-end giving is in by Dec. 29^th. Questions? Contact Andrea Nance, AndreaN@gcumc.org.ST. MARK’S could use blankets, diapers, wipes, baby clothes, shelf-stable food items, adult clothing

GROVE CITY CAMPUS COULD USE food for our weekend food program. Shopping list here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/XRQLQX8HNMEU?ref_=wl_share.

BOTH CAMPUSES COULD USE BIBLES, AND THOSE ARE OFTEN ON SALE TOO. Go to our website for specific Amazon link!

KIDS/FAMILY

YOUTH

December Youth Schedule

12/29 No Youth

UPDATE! Due to a generous donor, there is no cost to participate in Operation Grove City. PLEASE RSVP ASAP TO PASTOR BRANDI! OPERATION GROVE CITY - THE ST. MARK’S EDITION WILL BE JANUARY 18-21^ST – DEADLINE TO SIGN UP IS DEC. 22ND! This event is for preteen and youth. We spend the weekend in mission work, worship, fellowship, study and fun. We will be serving the St. Mark’s community in addition to our Grove City area, and we will sleep at our Grove City campus. Please sign up with Pastor Brandi, BrandiB@gcumc.org!

ST. MARK'S

Since we do always have needs for Bibles, if you'd like to provide one that we would keep on hand to give out, we'd appreciate the donation! We have specific ones on this list .

FREE STORE/MISSIONS

The Purple Door Free Store will be closed:

Wednesday January 1st

TEAMMISSIONS TRIP TEAM FUNDRAISERS:

UPDATE! DINNER FUNDRAISER AT TAVERN 62 on January 12th for our mission trip to Appalachia. Tickets will be sold in advance, and are $20/person. Dinner includes steak, baked potato and salad. There will also be a silent auction available. Grab your tickets by emailing Pastor Brandi, BrandiB@gcumc.org. 

REMINDER – OUR CAN COLLECTION IS ONGOING and is a way we continue to raise funds for our mission trips. You can leave them at the Info. Desk! 

MERGE! 

Merge is our mid-week family Programming! We meet Wednesday evenings, 6-8pm. Sign up to attend here .

HEY TEENS (7th-12^th grade)! Teens meet on Sunday evenings, starting at 6pm for a time of dinner, worship, message and a service opportunity. We are currently studying THE PSALMS.

We are looking for DINNER volunteers! Sign Up here .

Questions on any of the above or to RSVP for events, contact Pastor Brandi .

If you'd like to visit our Children/Family/Teens page, go here .

Church family, we love how involved you are in the community and that you wish to share information but PLEASE REFRAIN from leaving brochures, pamphlets, etc., at the Welcome/Info. Desk. The intent of that space is for church information only. If you have any questions or would like to share information, please email nicholea@gcumc.org. 

WE ARE IN NEED OF HELP in our 8:30 and 11am Traditional services. If you have been thinking about ways to plug in to the church and serve God, please pray about helping in these services. We need:

Sound Technicians (Training provided)

Ushers

Communion Servers

****If you would like information on these areas of service, contact Kelli at the church office, 614/875-5612.

LOCAL SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS: As schools are back in session, our partnerships with the schools continue. We need of new packages of underwear to take to nurses in the elementary schools. We are also collecting can goods and non- perishable food items for our weekend backpack programs.

    The needs in our community continue to rise. We have new schools reaching out to us to begin the weekend food bags for their students. Thank you for continuing to bring in food each and every week-please continue to do so! In addition, we have created a school partnership Amazon Wishlist  for those that would like a simple way to grab some of our needed items! 

GET YOUR MERCH ON DEMAND! Many have been asking about church merch – t-shirts, hoodies, hats – well now, you can order it online and get it in a SUPER FAST turnaround – AND – the company will donate $5 back to the church for every item purchased! MERCH UPDATES! Our merch site has updates - Rain jackets, polos and crewnecks! Check out the website at https://www.24tees.shop!

BIBLE DRIVE! Thank you to all who have purchased Bibles for our Bible drive. This is a need that is ongoing, and we will ALWAYS be in need of more Bibles. We do have a particular link to purchase. Go to our website to purchase!

TECH – We are in need of tech personnel for both our traditional and contemporary services. Able to serve? Contact Traci, traciw@gcumc.org to get plugged in! It’s a GREAT place to be!

MENTAL HEALTH: REAL TALK, REAL SUPPORT - A peer-led, social-emotional support group for parents and caregivers of children with mental health struggles. Two meetings a month:

• 2nd Tuesday of the month, 6:30-8pm – The Buckeye Ranch (5665 Hoover Rd.), Mary Dunn Building
• 4th Tuesday of the month, 6:30-8pm – The Purple Door Church, Fireside Room

For questions, contact Sheri Dunagan at sheri.dunagan@att.net or call/text 614-439-7110. Learn more online: www.RealTalkOhio.org.

• CONNECT ON FACEBOOK HERE .

GET INVOLVED! We love being able to serve our families and our community and we have SO many opportunities to plug in at The Purple Door Church. We are fully open and have all of our activities available to our congregation and community! There are plenty of places for you to serve – WE NEED YOU and want to encourage you to check out list of opportunities – go to our website: https://www.purpledoorchurch.com/opportunities-to-serve.

A LOOK AT WHAT WE NEED: It truly takes the hands and feet of ALL of us to do our part to make this church run day in and day out! We have some AMAZING volunteers who make this place exceptional and a place to call HOME. Here is a look at where we could use some help:

TECH TEAM (both Traditional and Contemporary) - Contact TRACI WURSCHMIDT 

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS – Contact PASTOR BRANDI 

MONEY COUNTERS – Contact KELLI NEWHOUSE 

LANDSCAPE TEAM – Help keep our grounds looking glorious! Kids are welcome! Contact SANDY

HOSPITALITY TEAMS – Contact Pastor Brandi, or sign up HERE .

WE NEED CHURCH OFFICE HELPERS - We need volunteers to work in the church office. You mainly will be answering the phones and other small jobs that might need to be done. If you are available, we need several spots to be filled on a regular basis: the second and fourth Tuesday in the afternoon from 9am-noon and the first and second Wednesday afternoon, 12-4pm. Also, we always need substitutes to fill in spots for our regular volunteers. If interested, please contact PEG ADDINGTON  or 614/270-1639.

PRAYER BOX – Did you know we have a Prayer Box located in our parking lot? It is a little purple mailbox located in the front of our parking lot facing Columbus Street. Our Prayer Chain is committed to praying for the people of this church and our city. If you have a prayer request, you can drop it in that box at any time. Prayer requests are collected weekly and prayed over by our committed prayer team.

PRAYER TEAM - Prayer is powerful and an amazing gift from God. We have the opportunity to talk directly to our Creator and the ability to pray on the behalf of others. Our prayer team started meeting this past Monday and we will continue to meet every week on Mondays at 9am. During our time together, we will be praying over our Sunday morning prayer requests, needs of the church, our community and nation. We will be prayer walking the church as well. If you are interested in joining, please contact CLARENCE DINNEN.

TO REQUEST PRAYER - If you'd like us to pray alongside you, you may fill out a prayer card during one of our services and put in the offering plate or in the offering boxes outside of our worship spaces; or, you may send an email to commuincations@gcucm.org . We would be honored to pray alongside you.

*RIGHT NOW MEDIA - Just a reminder that Right Now Media is available to all of our members as you think about your relationship with God in this upcoming year. Right Now Media is a database FULL of online Bible studies and social groups for individuals, families, children and groups. We often use this media resource in our Bible studies and small groups throughout the year. It’s a GREAT resource for you or for your family to be able to plug in to God’s Word and in the times we use it in our own church group setting. If you’d like to take advantage of this FREE online resource, contact Pastor Brandi to get set up. She just needs your email address. Your faith journey isn’t one you were ever meant to take alone. God made us for community!

BIBLE STUDY LED BY PASTOR BRIAN - on hiatus right now, but check back for new dates!

MONDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY - a study on prayer. This group meets via zoom at 7pm. Contact Pastor Brandi for the Zoom link, BrandiB@gcumc.org.

NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN! Thank you so much for supporting our interns in so many ways. The reading plan is off to a great start, and we want to make it more intentional for those attending. The group will be meeting once a month instead of weekly. Beginning in November, the meeting will be the second Sunday of the month at 12pm in the café. The new reading plan will be available then. It is not too late to join!

CONTACT PASTOR BRANDI, BRANDIB@GCUMC.ORG FOR ZOOM LINKS

THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY

This study meets every Thursday morning at 10am! We will be studying the book of Genesis!

BIBLE JOURNALING - 3RD MONDAY OF EACH MONTH, 6PM, CHURCH OFFICE

Are you creative? Do you enjoy time in the Word? Join the two together, and come hang out with us on the 3^rd Monday of the month at 6pm at the church office. Questions? Contact Pastor Brandi, BrandiB@gcumc.org. 

PURPLE DOOR WOMEN’S GROUP: Join our new group! Our focus is on our church and parishioners/shut-ins. Need more info.? Contact Jean Davis, 614/282-8590.

REVIVE WEST COLUMBUS – We will continue to be intentional to go out and share the message of salvation on the west side of Columbus. Join us as we partner with 9 more churches.
Next meetings will be 10am to 1pm:

Jan 11th at Iglesia Hispana St. Mark’s

Help us to bring Jesus to the west side of Columbus!

THE BLESSING STATION -

We offer a small food pantry to our community. If you have food to donate, we look for dry beans, chickpeas, lentils, rice, and pasta; canned goods (tomatoes, corn); cereal; snacks; spaghetti sauce; tuna and chicken.

“THE LITTLE HOUSE” - With the help of the Free Store and lots of donations, we have been operating the “Little House” where we can provide different resources specific to the new families in the country/state. These items include household items, bedding supplies, kitchen supplies, kids toys and when we have some, furniture. This has been a blessing to the community and also to share the love of God. We have the opportunity to pray for those families we are serving and give them a Bible. Contact Pastor Lizzy for more information or ways to connect with this ministry: LizzyO@gcumc.org.

As you know, we were looking for a teacher for our nursery and God heard our prayer. We are thankful to have Micah and Yoselin Eller helping with this group. If you are still interested to come to our campus and serve our Sunday School Classes, let us know! REMEMBER: language is not a barrier. Most of our kids go to school here and speak English.

BOOK COLLECTION! We are collecting Christian base books or coloring books (for babies to high school age). If you have some in good condition, we will take them! We have been buying some for our toddlers at the dollar store. This is to share with the kids who are attending the afterschool program in our church.

There will be a box on the Information Desk with a sign

 “Iglesia Hispana / St. Mark’s Campus.”

CAN YOU GIVE A DAY? Do you love your church and cleaning is something you enjoy? Every month, we have a cleaning day at our west side campus, St. Mark’s Iglesia Hispana. Every 3^rd Saturday of the month at 9am, we go through our building and make it pretty! Email Pastor Lizzy for more info: lizzyo@gcumc.org.

Looking for a place to fellowship with other women, gain encouragement, give encouragement and grow deeper in your faith? We have several groups (aka “Circles”) that meet regularly throughout the week, have different areas of interests, and we’d love to invite you to find your fit!

We currently have three Circles:

REBECCA CIRCLE - meets the third Tuesday of the month @ 11:30am. For more info. or questions, contact Ann Beal (614-371-4472) or Peg Addington (614-877-4200), who are the leaders.

HANNAH CIRCLE - meets the 2nd Monday @ noon. For more info. or questions, contact Sue Flowers (614-357-7935) or Nina Riley (614-579-4624), who are the leaders.

MIRIAM CIRCLE – meets the 3^rd Sunday of each month @ 12:30pm. For more info. or questions, contact Brandi Blackstone (614-402-6706) or Tami Adams (614-545-8887), who are the leaders.

Each of the Circles would love to welcome new members. You do not need to be a member of our church. If you are interested in any of the Circles, please free to call the leaders or just show up at a meeting. Our UWF Circles are a wonderful way to meet new people and learn more about what actions they each do to help our church family and community.

CURRENT FUNDRAISERS:

SHOP AT KROGER AND GIVE BACK! Did you know that you can make a financial contribution to our Missions Task Force JUST by shopping at Kroger? It’s simple! All you have to do is link your Kroger Shopping Card to Grove City United Methodist Church.

Go to Kroger.com and log into your digital account (or create a digital account, if not already created).

Scroll down to “Community Rewards” and click. From there, you can select our organization by either scrolling or searching for “Grove City United Methodist Church.” Make sure our name matches our organization number, which is XY804. Enroll. Easy as that! Kroger will make donations to the organization based upon spending of those whose cards are connected to that organization.

Any questions regarding enrollment need to be directed to Kroger individually.

FREE STORE: 

PLEASE NOTE: The Purple Door Free Store WILL BE CLOSED:

Wednesday Dec. 25th

Wednesday January 1^st

Current Critical Needs:

Men - Jeans and Casual Pants (waist sizes 38 and below); Winter Shirts/Sweaters (Small and Medium); Winter Coats and Hoodies (All Sizes)

Girls - Winter Clothes (all sizes)

Toddler/Children’s Underwear

Toiletries are always needed.

We are currently serving over 200 people most Wednesdays.

Monetary donations are also welcome.

******PLEASE NOTE: WE ONLY ACCEPT CLOTHING. WE DO NOT ACCEPT APPLIANCES, TOYS, OR FURNITURE.

CAFÉ:

The time slots to volunteer in the café are: 7:30, 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30am.

A sign-up sheet will be on the Mission Counter in the café area. If you’d like more info. or to volunteer, contact Pastor Lizzy . 

Refreshments are available in the café upon donation and all proceeds will go to further Missions projects throughout the year.

COMMUNITY MEALS!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THIS MINISTRY.

DON’T FORGET, OUR COMMUNITY MEAL IS THE SECOND SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH, 4:30-5:30PM, and is for our congregation, as well as for the City of Grove City!

What is the “COMMUNITY MEAL?” It’s a time for us as the Purple Door Church to come together, to fellowship with one another as it is a meal for our congregation, as well as come together with our community and serve them. It’s a time for us to gather and share God’s Love with others.

     What can I do to HELP? There are several ways you can help. 

1.    Preparation - prepare the meal, put to-go bags together, wrap plasticware and cut desserts.

2.  Set up - put up tables & chairs and set the tables

3.  Serve - kitchen servers, table servers and drink servers

4. Tear down - clean up dining room, clean up kitchen, put away leftovers, etc.

5.  Bake - desserts of all kinds are needed (cakes, pies, cookies, etc.)

If you have any questions, please reach out to Angie Russell  or 614/270-1743, or contact Pastor Lizzy .