Alternative Gift Market
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. You can visit the market by clicking on this link: Virtual Alternative Gift Market
Wildwood Concerts
| Our church has lots of musical talent and we love to use our gifts for the enrichment of the wider community. Occasionally Bob Watson and others put on a fast-paced, 90-minute set of music in our sanctuary as an opportunity to raise money for a local charity. In years past, we have supported The Georgia Justice Project, New American Pathways (Refugee Resettlement), Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL), The Fuller Center, Toco Hills Community Alliance, and more. The concert is always free and open to the public. A free-will offering is taken during the show. Wildwood has its roots back in a Sunday night hymn sing in years past and its current form has been loosely organized and offered since the 1990s. |
Montclair Elementary School
Over the past several years, Central Congregational UCC has developed a special relationship with Montclair Elementary, a Dekalb County school just a mile from the church. Most of the students come from families that have recently immigrated to the United States. They face many challenges, and we at Central have been eager to be good neighbors.
Many Central members have offered regular tutoring. In addition, our church has provided a nature camp experience, backpacks, school supplies, books, math games, picnic tables, and workdays when we help to improve facilities and grounds. The congregation has stepped up to provide uniforms for a new school year, tee-shirts for graduating fifth-graders, and Thanksgiving gift cards for many of the Montclair families. Montclair is also a regular recipient of donations through our annual Alternative Gift Market in December.
Toco Hills Community Alliance
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, lisa@tocohillsalliance.org
Lena’s Place Coffeehouse
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.
The UCC Coffee Project (Every second and third Sunday of each month)
This is a partnership between our UCC Justice and Witness Ministries and Equal Exchange, a worker-owned cooperative founded over 25 years ago and dedicated to fair trade. Central has been participating in selling fair-trade coffee products for 10 years. Central UCC brews Equal Exchange coffee, and volunteers staff a sales station in The Commons the second and third Sunday of each month. For more information, contact Cindy Hoover (johnhoover@numail.org).
