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Feb 26, 2026

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!

Feb 20, 2026

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

Feb 20, 2026

The Southeast Conference invites you to actively prepare for the Resurrection of Christ this Lenten Season.

One Lenten Season. Three book conversations. Choose the one that interests you. Or read two or all three!

Conversation 1 – March 2nd at 7 PM ET/6 PM CT
Welcome, Friends: Stories of hope and hospitality with immigrants 
by Anton Flores-Maisonet
Author Anton Flores-Maisonet will join us to discuss the book and share about Casa Alterna

Register here: zoom meeting register

Conversation 2 – March 19th at 7 PM ET/6 PM CT
Building Up a New World: Congregational Organizing for Transformative Impact
edited by Anne Dunlap and Vahisha Hasan
Rev. Dr. Chris Davies, Executive Minister for Programs and Initiatives in the Southern New England Conference of the UCC will lead a conversation on her chapter in the book, Rural Organizing for Rural Congregations

Register here: zoom meeting register

Conversation 3 – March 26th at 7 PM ET/6 PM CT
The Search for Common Ground by Howard Thurman
Conversation on affirming identity while building community

Rev. Thomas Mitchell, Facilitator

Register here: zoom meeting register

Feb 19, 2026

“Create & Connect” is their new name and they are meeting on the last Thursday of each month​.
​The first meeting is on February 26th, at 6 pm, and they are inviting you to to make crafts, sew, or enjoy another artsy hobby in company.
​This is a great opportunity to meet more of Central’s creatives while making art of your own!
Bring your own project or borrow some provided art supplies.
All levels and ages welcome; snacks provided.
Contact Autumn if you need more details.

Feb 13, 2026

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]

Feb 13, 2026

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.

Feb 13, 2026

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. 

Feb 05, 2026

At Central, 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 is celebrated through music, and we’d love for you to join our celebration!
The beautiful voices of The Trey Clegg Singers will fill our Sanctuary and warm our hearts on Sunday, February 22nd.
“𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦: 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭 | 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 | 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫” concert is 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜, but registration is required, so fill out this form!

Feb 04, 2026

This year, Central has received an increased grant to feed almost 300 people each month through the Outreach and Advocacy Center at Central Presbyterian Church.

Join us on the second and fourth Sunday of each month to help make sandwiches and pack brown bag lunches. If you can’t make this time but would like to help, please consider dropping off a dozen pre-made sandwiches:

  • On the second Sunday, we meet in Room 209, after worship. For more information, email Autumn.
  • On the fourth Sunday, we meet in the Fellowship Hall, at 9:30 am. For more information, email Maureen.

Jan 30, 2026

We are excited to present to you The Monthly for February 2026.

 

Check out this month‘s newsletter for:

  • A Note from Rev. Liz
  • New Perspectives: Exploring Christian Nationalism
  • Mission & Action Minute
  • Sandwich Sunday updates
  • Black History Month Concert with The Trey Clegg Singers
  • Create & Connect

 

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!

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