Get Involved

Throughout the year, we offer several services and events focused on our children!

These include:

• Blessing of the Backpacks
• Children’s Sabbath
• Pumpkin Carving & Pizza
• Advent Art Pals
• Easter Egg Hunt

Leading in worship is an important part of faith formation! We invite our children to serve as acolytes (lighting our worship candles) and as liturgists (reading scripture or the call to worship).

Lunch & Learn meets every Monday from 12-1pm. The class reads and discusses the lectionary texts for each week.  Conversation is informal, educational, inclusive, and an enrichment of the worship experience.  To receive email notices, contact the office.

This study and discussion class is built on DVD series such as Great Courses lectures by Dr. Bart Ehrman and “Living the Questions” interviews with Marcus Borg, John Dominick Crossan, and others. Please email Nancy W. for more information.

Practical Theology gathers on Sunday mornings at 9:30 in Room 206 and on Zoom.

Contact Mary W. for more information.

Third Place is a small community for anyone in our congregation ages 20-39 (or who still feels that age at heart). We try to meet monthly for a shared meal and faith formation. That may include a book group, bible study, exploring faith through tv, and just holding space for one another at Central. Check our events calendar for information on our next gathering, or reach out to Rev. Thomas!

Join us each Sunday of Advent in the Commons for a half hour reflection on our worship theme and the week ahead. Our devotional is filled with art, reflections, poetry, and hymns that we hope might offer you words for beginning again!

Central UCC’s Alternative Gift Market (AGM) is where you can purchase gifts that can make a difference. Proceeds go to support various church ministries and local non-profits such as Montclair Elementary School, Lost N Found, Casa Alterna, Humanity and Inclusion, Global Ministries School Child Sponsorship and many Church World Service programs. Last year’s AGM raise $22,370.

Founded in 1984,  Lena’s Place Coffeehouse, is Atlanta’s longest running month music coffeehouse and showcase. Lena’s Place is a monthly opportunity to experience an eclectic mix of acoustic artists in a coffeehouse atmosphere. Lena’s is staffed by volunteers who love (and often play) music and who take pride in a professional presentation. Join us every Second Saturday at Central, in the Sanctuary. Doors open at 7pm! A suggested donation to support our rotating nonprofit gift designees is $10 at the door. For more information, you can check our calendar or visit Lena’s Place on Facebook.

Central is one of eight area churches participating in THCA (tocohillsalliance.org) by making available emergency financial assistance to families. Central folk also bring non-perishable food to church for the THCA Food Pantry. THCA is looking for people to volunteer, one or two afternoons a month, from 12:15-4:00 pm. If you would like to shop for THCA, they always need canned food products, cereal, pastas, rice and beans. You can place your donation in the bins just outside of the sanctuary. Thank you in advance! For more information, contact their Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Lisa Heilig, [email protected]

Central became an Open & Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ in March 2004. For more than 20 years, we’ve practiced and extended an extravagant welcome to all, regardless of their gender or sexuality. We acknowledge this commitment throughout the church year, but particularly on Pride Sunday and through participation in the Atlanta Pride Parade.

We Made the News

Each year, interest accrued on Central’s Endowment Fund is available for
charitable giving. We particularly welcome and appreciate your interest in
those groups with whom you have connections. For FY 2023, our endowment grants supported:

• Church Women United in Atlanta – a racially, culturally, theological inclusive ecumenical women’s movement
• The Decatur-Area Emergency Assistance Ministry assists local communities with utility and prescription bills and a food pantry
• El Refugio Ministry assists immigrants at Stewart Detention Center and their loved ones through hospitality, visitation, support, and advocacy; offers a hospitality house in Lumpkin
• Furnish With Love transforms empty housing into uplifting homes for families coming out of homelessness
• Georgia Interfaith Power and Light inspires and equips communities of faith to organize, implement practical climate solutions, and advocate across Georgia on issues of climate change, environmental justice, and community resilience
• Global Spokes gives members of the Atlanta, Decatur and Clarkston refugee communities access to bicycles, safety education and equipment, and training to help with basic transportation and recreation needs
• The Harvest Ministries shares the gospel and builds mission homes in El Salvador
• Interfaith Children’s Movement is a grassroots interfaith advocacy movement working to ensure that all Georgia’s children have what they need to thrive.
• New Hope House (Possum Trot Ministries) offers support and hospitality for Georgia’s death row prisoners and their families in Jackson, Georgia. (it was originally organized by members of Open Door Community, Koinonia Farm and Jubilee Partners)
•  Students to Scholars provides tutoring and meals for K-12 students in the English Avenue and Vine City neighborhoods of northwest Atlanta
• Toco Hills Community Alliance provides assistance to Northeast Atlanta/North Central DeKalb area communities, including food, hygiene supplies, and clothing for families and individuals in need, and meals for unhoused neighbors
• The Urban Clinic of Atlanta is a free clinic in Fulton County providing primary care and medications to uninsured and low-income adults in Metro Atlanta
• Villa International provides a welcoming home for international guests and healthcare professionals