News

One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) is a Special Mission Offering of the United Church of Christ that supports partners worldwide with ministries that fund health, education, and agricultural development, emergency relief, refugee ministries, and both international and domestic disaster response.

Your offering helps rebuild from disaster, feed the hungry, provide clean water to the thirsty, empower the oppressed, and restore hope.  Find more details here! 

The Board of Mission & Action invites you to give generously to this offering. You may donate in the offering plate on March 15th, or online on Central’s website at any time.  Thank you!

Rev. Thomas will moderate an engaging discussion with Rev. Brandan Robertson, focused on his new book Queer & Christian. Robertson is a nationally recognized author, public theologian, and advocate for LGBTQ+ Christians to reclaim their faith and take their place in the church and society.  Q&A, and book signing. Free event. Snacks & drinks provided. 

Tuesday, March 17th, 6pm @ Virginia Highland Church 

473 Virginia Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30316 

Registration is not required, but is helpful for our planning: https://bit.ly/centralQC or use the QR code.

@ First Presbyterian Church of Jonesboro (1842 Lake Jodeco Road, Jonesboro 30236)

Central’s own Will Hiltman is starring as Tevye in Front Porch Players’ production of Fiddler on the Roof, the classic musical about tradition, change, and family. There are several opportunities to see him over the run of the show: 

Friday, March 6th at 7:30 pm

Saturday, March 7th at 7:30 pm

Sunday, March 8th at 2:30 pm

Friday March 13th 7:30 pm

Saturday, March 14th at 2:30 pm & 7:30 pm

Sunday, March 15th at 2:30 pm

General Admission seats are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors.

Reserved seats are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and can be reserved online at Tickets & FAQs – The Front Porch Players. 

The Hiltmans have 10 General Admission available for purchase – good for any performance – contact Dianne H if interested.

We are excited to present to you “The Monthly” for March 2026.

Check out this month’s newsletter for:

• An Invitation from Rev. Liz
• Lent & Easter Season
• Lent Devotionals
• Community Conversations with Rev. Brandan Robertson
• 20s/30s This Month
• Special Offering: One Great Hour of Sharing
• Green Team updates

Click here to download “The Monthly”! There are also paper copies in The Commons, in The Sanctuary, and in the Church office. Be sure to add events and gatherings that you‘re interested in to your calendar.

Enjoy “The Monthly” and all the events and gatherings you are going to attend!

Dear Siblings,

You may recall a sermon from a few years back when Rev. Scott said “I like reading the biographies of former presidents.” I remember chuckling because I’m the opposite. I like reading the biographies of people who could have been president, but either didn’t run… or didn’t win. A few of my favorites include Mario Cuomo, Shirley Chisholm, Colin Powell, and Jesse Jackson. 

In a speech before the 1984 Democratic National Convention, Jackson said this:

“… We are not a perfect people. Yet, we are called to a perfect mission: our mission to feed the hungry; to clothe the naked; to house the homeless; to teach the illiterate; to provide jobs for the jobless; and to choose the human race over the nuclear race… My constituency is the desperate, the damned, the disinherited, the disrespected, and the despised. They are restless and seek relief.” 

Not a perfect people. Yet, called to a perfect mission. Serving a constituency of the desperate, the damned, the disinherited, the disrespected, and the despised. Among the many reasons why Jackson’s campaigns never really took off is the reality that he was speaking beyond politics in an effort to call our attention to the soul and substance of who we are and who we might become. 

I think much of our faith does that too. Ordained or not all ordained, we’re all ministers! And this season of Lent is the journey that Jesus took in preparation for his ministry. 40 days in the wilderness to get ready for all that would soon come. Our 40 days is preparation for the ministry that God and Jesus are calling us into. 

What are you getting ready for? What is Central Congregational Church getting ready for?

On this First Sunday in Lent, we’ll return to the story of Jesus being tempted on the mountain, refusing those temptations, and setting off for the wilderness. We’ll imagine what it means to be “rooted in resistance.” Bring your walking shoes for the Story for All Ages! We’ll spend a few minutes “in the wilderness” of the labyrinth on the chancel. Looking for community before worship? Our Christian Nationalism series and Lenten Devotionals small group start Sunday morning!

And, please plan to come stay in the area for lunch and join us for our Black History Month Concert, featuring the Trey Clegg Singers at 3pm. 

Be well, 

Thomas

On the First Sunday of Lent, February 22nd, we are starting the Lent Devotionals conversations in the Commons.

We are going to meet every Sunday of Lent, at 10 am. 

Pick up your copy of “The Work of Imagination”, our Lenten devotional. You can find it on the table at the entrance to the Sanctuary.

If you’d like to receive the devotional via email, click here.

If more paper copies are needed, please send an email to [email protected]. 

Pancake Supper | 6 pm | Fellowship Hall 

Ash Wednesday Service | 7 pm | Sanctuary 

Come catch up over the aroma of pancakes, bacon, and sausage cooking on the griddle.

Wanna help make pancakes? Join us at 5:15pm!

Supper will start at 6.

And our service will begin at 7.

8 – 10 am | Church Driveway 

We’re doing a new thing! Stop by the church “on the way” for ashes, prayer, and holy conversation from 8-10 am.