All who enjoy knitting, crocheting, quilting, and fellowship are welcomed. This group has a number of ongoing service projects, including prayer shawls, as well as special and individual projects. Experienced, as well as inexperienced, “stitchers” are welcome. For more information contact Linda Wolgast at: linda65ac@gmail.com

Event Details:

During National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend, join us as we honor survivors of gun violence. Central Church will host blacksmith and pastor Corey Simon. Friday night, June 2, he will bring his forge to our downtown parking lot will melt a gun and fashion a gardening tool instead. This is a great event for the whole family, offered in conjunction with Moms Demand Action-Traverse City.

This in an open-house style outdoor demonstration event.  Please come and go as you are able.

From the Disruptive Disciple Blacksmithing website:

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, we find repeated this image of the Day of the Lord when the people “shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” We don’t have many swords or spears in our modern arsenals but we do have a lot of guns. 

A hunter and a gun owner himself, Corey takes guns that people donate (his first was his own handgun) and converts them into garden tools. He does this not with the intent to support any efforts to “take people’s guns or rights away” but rather to offer a space to imagine a world with less violence and to mourn with those who have lost loved ones to gun violence. The desire is to break the idol of the gun we cling onto in our hearts rather than purely the gun itself. 

It is our effort to provide a space where anyone can come together to find a moment to grieve, to imagine, to dream dreams and have visions. Whether you’re a 2nd amendment lover or strict pacifist, the hope is that this will offer space to imagine and dream of a better world. 

All are welcome to this unique and casual outdoor worship experience on the shores of West Grand Traverse Bay.

Bring your own lawn chair or blanket and dress for the weather, as we will hold worship outdoors unless there is heavy rain or thunder and lightning.

Well behaved and leashed pets are welcome to attend.

NOTE FOR THE 2023 SEASON: We will not meet at Sunset Park on June 11 or July 2.  9AM worship will be held in the Central Church sanctuary at 222 Cass Street in downtown Traverse City on these dates.

Experience a familiar pattern of liturgy with prayers, hymns and an encouraging message.

Features music from Central’s Chancel Choir and historic pipe organ weekly.

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the Chancel Choir takes a summer vacation, and special guest musicians and vocalists share their gifts during the worship service.

This service is livestreamed year-round on the Central Church Facebook Page.

Deputy Preston from the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office will present on Fraud Awareness at the NMC Innovation Center.  He will discuss the current trend involving email/text scams that target the elders of this community.  He discusses why the elders are targeted and how email/text scams work. The presentation includes testimony from a fraud victim and time for questions and answers from the in-person audience.

This is a free event at Northwestern Michigan College. This is not a Central Church event, but posted for informational purposes. Click here for more information and to register.

We will have a special recognition of graduates at Church in the Park June 25 at 9am.

If you are graduating, or know a student graduating from high school or college, please contact Pastor Linda Stephan.

All are invited to casual conversation with one of Central’s pastors.  This is a great time to get to know our pastors a bit more, ask questions about the church and meet new people!  No registration required.

DATES:  MONDAY JUNE 26 THROUGH FRIDAY, JUNE 30

TIMES:   9:00AM-12:00PM EVERY DAY

FRIDAY FAMILY PICNIC AT 12:00 PM AFTER VBS

LOCATION:  SILVER LAKE REC AREA

1785 N EAST SILVER LAKE ROAD

TRAVERSE CITY, MI 49685

COST: FREE

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED, CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW

Eternal Heart: The Mystical Path to a Joyful Life

Eternal Heart: The Mystical Path to a Joyful Life

The heart is where the human soul and God meet.

This is what teachings from Scripture and the mystics reveal: the heart is the temple of God within us, and within the heart, we hold the key to live a truly divine life. But how do we embody the tremendous love available to us, deep in our hearts?

In Eternal Heart, Carl McColman, author of The Big Book of Christian Mysticism, invites us to create an optimistic, visionary, and imaginative path to personal happiness and fulfillment. Weaving together teachings from the biblical tradition, literature of the mystics, and wisdom of the world’s contemplative traditions, McColman engages us in profound, practical exercises for cultivating fuller, more abundant, and more satisfying lives.

The path of Christian Mysticism is a path of both contemplation and action. By unlocking the mysteries in our hearts, we discover a source of divine love deep within us: a power for spiritual growth, and for creating meaningful relationships and working together to change the world for the better.

Our group format is an informal gathering where we can visit before starting promptly on the hour with the discussion lasting about an hour.  Visitors/house guests/young people are welcome to join us!  Reading the book is encouraged, but not required. Drop ins are always welcome, so come join us when you can!  Running late??  Need to leave early??  Not a problem with this group, just come and become more aware of the active presence of God in our world.

 LOCATION: 7:00 PM group meets at the Boardman Nature Center Pavilion on Cass Road (see map)

CLICK HERE for details about the 10:00 AM group.

Call/text Kathy 231-409-5179 or Zeke 231-649-3040 for more information.