Be the Spark! We’re a big congregation with multiple worship services, so you may or may not know Jay Bearup. He is often in the back of the sanctuary, his beautiful young daughter, Win, crawling around and swaying to the music. She adds so much joy wherever she is present!  Win was Baptized in the… Read More »

Kalkaska Area Interfaith Resources (KAIR) Established in 1995, Kalkaska Area Interfaith Resources (KAIR) is a non-profit, interfaith, community-based, multi-faceted volunteer organization that assists individuals and families in Kalkaska County. In May of 2023, KAIR food pantry services expanded to include families in Antrim County.  According to KAIR director, Cathy Somes, each month KAIR serves from… Read More »

As the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Interlochen Center for the Arts, I have the opportunity to teach my Necessary Conversations: A Look at Implicit Bias session every two weeks for our new hires. In each of these sessions we begin with group agreements of how we are going to communicate with each… Read More »

Our Neighbors’ Garden Sowing Seeds of Hope: A Story of Blessings from Bountiful Harvests “Let us not become weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”  Galatians 6:9 Since 2011, John Ellinger and a host of tireless volunteers armed with ambition and green… Read More »

Sing A New Church into Being with Pastor Linda Stephan Every once in a while, I take a risk and I sing out a few lines in the middle of the sermon. I never really know ahead of time if I’ll have the courage to sing, or if I’ll just end up speaking the words.… Read More »

Pure Water – Luxury or Lifesaver? We take clean drinking water for granted, but many people in parts of the U.S. and some other countries struggle with waterborne diseases and related problems because of contaminated water. A major missional initiative for Central Church is Pure Water for the World – a grassroots organization with the vision of bringing an… Read More »

Justice for Our Neighbors Michigan is now Immigration Law & Justice Michigan (ILJ-MI)! Different Name. Same Mission. Immigration Law & Justice clearly defines the work we do and describes the people we serve. Our new logo the reflects hope, optimism, and opportunity that immigrants bring to Michigan communities. What hasn’t changed? Central Church is as… Read More »

During the past four years, life in Haiti has been far from normal. Disruption of basic needs such as public education, clean drinking water, proper nutrition, sanitation, and women’s health measures have been adversely affected. Political unrest, COVID, a 2021 presidential assassination and other civil and financial setbacks have rocked this already-struggling island country. Yet,… Read More »

Kyle Sonnemann Memorial Youth Mission Scholarships Help support CUMC high school students who wish to participate in Central’s annual summer Youth Mission trip! In late July, the group will travel to Cass Community Church in downtown Detroit, where they will assist with various projects to help local homeless neighbors. In prior years, the CUMC Youth… Read More »

Welcome to the New Gift-Carrier It is a big deal in the life of a congregation to change senior pastors. We have learned to respect, love, and trust our Senior Pastor, Chris. More than that, “we have grown accustomed to his ways.” We recognize his phrases; we watch for his familiar gestures; we hear the… Read More »