News

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.

Dear Members, Friends, Siblings, All,

Why do you imagine the theme “Disruptive Blessings” so appeals to me? This is the theme given to us for Lent TWO in our resource from Illustrated Ministry. – If you have not claimed The Work of Imagination devotional booklet, it’s not too late. Look for it online and for printed copies at the back of the sanctuary. —

Where was I? Oh, yes. What do you suppose makes the notion of “disruptive blessings” so attractive to me? Because I was a contrary child and still bear the vestiges? Because I like to work in change spaces, especially congregations that are in transition?  Probably all those things and a few others.

I often wonder why “reversals” make me almost giddy. Reversals are what we called them in the Judeo-Christian Tradition (JCT) class I taught to ninth- and tenth-graders that was not (could not be) a Sunday School class. As we did our survey of the writings of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, we looked for patterns and themes, one of which was reversals. You know, where the narratives “flip the script” so that mothers of great men are of questionable repute, a warrior king is discovered keeping sheep, and barren and/or virgin women bear children. My favorite, of course, is Eve who has the imagination to push the envelope that sets us all free to make choices (in the image of God).

If you have ever taken a good look at me, you will notice that I am an African-American, clergy woman of a certain age and very little height, at least two diagnosed disabilities, a couple of personality flaws (that need not be mentioned), who struggles with discipline of every kind, and has an unnatural love of shoes (contemporary art; I am a collector). My favorite numbers are the odd ones. I often feel like I am looking at the world from someplace just outside the circle.

Why do I like disruptive blessings? Because in the “upside down way of love” Jesus invites us to imagine in Luke 6:17-29, the Sermon on Plain, I might find a place that includes me fully, just as I am. Because when we let our imaginations loose to practice mercy and generosity and welcome without condition, the kin-dom of God comes near. If God and those who follow in the way of Jesus work to flip the dehumanizing script we somehow cling to, there’s hope for me and others like me. Hope is born of imagination. And, to quote Toni Morrison again, “if you cannot imagine it, you cannot have it.”

Our text for Sunday finds Jesus early in his ministry and teaching. The crowd that gathers includes the disciples who will carry on the ministry, as well as others who want to hear more about this healer/teacher. In my JCT class, we called this the “Jesus Playbook” brought out at the beginning of the season so the team can begin to memorize and practice how they’re going to do this new thing. New team, new season, new playing rules.

Note, also, that his preaching is sub-versive. Walter Brueggemann* posits that “preaching is sub-version…never dominant version, never has been. It is always a sub-version, always a version, a rendering of reality that lives under [below] the dominant version…a sub-version of dominant imagination.” As one who has not been well served by that dominant version, this sounds like Good News.

The question for Sunday—my question for Sunday—is how to preach sub-version in Central Church. Rev. Thomas reminded us that we take part in the power of empire. Do we have a taste for disruption?

Join us for worship on Sunday “online or in the house” and we will explore this sub-version a bit more. We also will gather at the Communion Table, so please ready your elements (bread and beverage). And I am looking forward to Sunday afternoon’s Concert of Music by Howard Niblock beginning at 2:00 pm, and I know just the place to grab a bite between worship and the musical. Howard is one of Central’s newest members and is kind enough to share this gift with us.

Love and hugs,

Rev. Liz 

*Walter Brueggemann was a member of Central UCC up until his death last year. Many of you knew him years ago and went through a painful time with him and Mary B. That was a very difficult time for me as her friend. For years, I struggled to forgive the man whose genius is so important to me. I still struggle, but grace and mercy follow me—they chase me!

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.