If you love, you will grieve–and nothing is more mysteriously central to becoming fully human.

When a loved one dies, the pain of loss can feel unbearable. The process of grieving can feel wild and nonlinear–and often lasts for much longer than other people, the nonbereaved, tell us it should.

Bearing the Unbearable is a companion for life’s most difficult times, revealing how grief can open our hearts to connection, compassion, and the very essence of our shared humanity. Dr. Joanne Cacciatore–bereavement educator, researcher, Zen priest, and leading counselor in the field–accompanies us along the heartbreaking path of love, loss, and grief. Through moving stories of her encounters with grief over decades of supporting individuals, families, and communities–as well as her own experience with loss–Cacciatore opens a space to process, integrate, and deeply honor our grief.

Leaders: Arlene Morton and Carol Winegar

Click here to register for this group

Nursery: ages 0-5, not yet in kindergarten in Room 104

In nursery, you can expect the main goals to be that our littlest feel safe and loved. On Wednesday Nights we typically start with a meal, and then enjoy some time of imaginative play, wondering about who we are, and what we need to feel safe and loved because that looks different for everyone.

Come join us and play, explore, draw, color, paint, eat…

Heroes in Action: Kindergarten-2nd grade in Room 105

Heroes in Action was started by our very own Cindy Armbruster, but then she retired last winter, and we had to re-imagine what it could look like. Keeping much of the structure and flow of the class, and with lots of research and child development work, we have landed on using Celebrate Wonder. This program will rotate the entire Bible in 3 years, so when they go through the class, they will learn the whole Bible! Combine this with journaling, growth mindset, dancing, music and growing together, this class is so fun!

Sign up to volunteer here:

https://www.shelbygiving.com/App/Form/983ddbce-c95d-40e7-b100-990068ed347f

October Serve Saturday Summary

Please email Ginna Beckett at gwbeckett61@gmail.com or contact the church office at office@tccentralumc.org with any questions. 

Schedule: Saturday, October 19, 2024;

8 am – Coffee, Community and Donuts in Lounge (everyone is welcome)

8: 45 am  – Community Prayer and send teams off to work sites

9 am to Noon – Teams Serve

Blessing Bag Donation– Fill a bag with all the items needed for a family experiencing food insecurity. Pick up your empty Blessing Bag with an attached shopping list beginning Sunday, October 6th, and return it full to the church’s back door on the morning of Serve Saturday, October 19th. The Salvation Army, Kalkaska InterFaith Resources, Leelanau Christian Neighbors, Grace Episcopal Church, and Kingsley United Methodist Church are the distribution points for the 150+ bags collected through this effort. (No registration needed, just pick up a bag in the gathering space.)

Blessing Bag Sorting – Sort and prep the filled Blessing Bags for pick up by the various food distribution organizations at noon that day. Sign up to fill a bag or two, and/or sign up to help Saturday morning the 21st. (6 people)

Reining Liberty Ranch – Clean up projects and animal interactions. Reining Liberty Ranch offers community based programs that serve Veterans, their families, and other disabled/at-risk individuals within the Grand Traverse Community through horse-human therapy programing. Family friendly, off site project. From 9 am to noon. (20 volunteers)

Safe Harbor – Shelter volunteers needed beginning October 18 through the 23rd. This TC-based facility provides shelter, food and other resources to those experiencing homelessness. Saturday, October 19, is the first day of CUMC’s commitment to operate our Safe Harbor shelter. This link provides access to a separate sign up form for all of Safe Harbor’s shifts, including the shift that takes place during Serve Saturday: Safe Harbor Volunteer Registration. Here is a link to volunteer descriptions for more information. Please email at josh@gtsafeharbor.org or Ginna Beckett at gwbeckett61@gmail.com with any questions. 

Cherryland Humane Society – Cleaning projects and animal interactions. CHS provides a safe harbor for the animals entrusted to them and strives to find responsible, loving and permanent homes while advancing the well-being of animals. Please wear closed toed shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. From 9 am to noon. (8 volunteers over the age of 12 years).

Saturday, October 26th

10:30am – 11:30am

Central United Methodist Church

222 Cass Street

Traverse City, MI 49684

Parking lot (accessible from alley between Cass and Union)

Can you provide a trunk? Or treats?

Contact Erica Kozlowski at erica@tccentralumc.org to sign up!

Learn more here about how to get involved

We are trying something new this year with Disciple 1.  Alline Beutler and Darcy Dewling will be leading the 12 -week Fast Track Old Testament study in 2 6-week segments. If all goes to plan, we will then offer the New Testament Class in the Fall of 2025.

Chapters 1-6: Thursdays, October 10 – November 14, 2024 at 6pm

Chapters 7-13: Thursdays, April 10 – May 15, 2025 at 6pm

Disciple Fast Track, an adaptation of the original, bestselling Disciple Bible Study, provides a viable option for busy people seeking comprehensive engagement over time with the entire biblical text. Fast Track groups meet for a total of 24 weeks, devoting 12 weeks each to the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Participants read a manageable 3-5 chapters of the Bible daily in preparation for the weekly meetings, which last approximately 75-90 minutes.

Click here to register for this class