Ministries
At Central you'll find a variety of opportunities to serve God and others. Some of these ministries may also meet a need in your own life as well. Browse the list below and look for a place to plug in and get connected!
Greeters
The
greeters have an important job each Sunday! They welcome each person with
a "hello" and a warm smile while handing out the bulletins and
name tags before each worship celebration. Greeters are also alert to
help newcomers who might have questions or need helping finding their
way around. This is a low-commitment ministry but one that is vital in
creating a warm and friendly church!
For more information, contact greeters (at) centralavenue.net.
Media
The
media ministry produces and delivers the multimedia content that enriches
our Sunday morning worship celebrations. Working with the pastors, media
team members use our media resources to support and reinforce the theme
of each week's teaching. If you have interest in visual design, photography,
presentation software or video production, this is the place for you!
Experience is not necessary for all duties; some training is available
from our other talented and experienced media team members. For more information,
email media (at) centralavenue.net.
Nursery
Nursery services are provided for children from
birth through three years old. Saffed
by two individuals each Sunday, the nursery
provides a safe and fun environment for small children during the Sunday
worship celebration. Parents can participate fully in the service, confident
that their little ones are in capable hands. For
more information, email Julie Metzler at nursery (at) centralavenue.net.
Children's
ministry
Every
Sunday after both the 9:15 and 11 AM Song Celebrations (or the single
10 AM worship celebration during summer and winter breaks), we also
provide a Children's Celebration for ages 4- 12 in the community room
downstairs. This time is designed to give children age-appropriate Biblical
instruction, worship time and opportunities for service during the message
time of the Sunday worship celebration.
For more information, contact children (at) centralavenue.net.
Youth
Central
provides a high-school student outreach ministry led by a team of dynamic
college students who have a heart for their younger brothers and sisters.
Come and find out what we're up to! The Youth Gathering takes place every
Sunday at 9:15 AM (10 AM in summer) in the youth room downstairs.
For more information, contact youth (at) centralavenue.net.
Small groups
We
have a special page just for our small groups. Look
here to find a small group you might want to join. Interested in leading
a small group? Contact Jim
Jennings, our associate pastor.
Signing
Worship Team
Central has developed a sign-language worship team that enhances the musical
worship experience through the use of signing. No experience is necessary
to join this team—just a desire to learn sign language and use it
to glorify God! If you are interested in joining the signing team, please
contact Betsy Keyes at 594-8455 or mb_keyes@hotmail.com.
Meal
Team
Help
for those major life events! Central’s Meal Team is ready to
provide meals to families who are experiencing an illness or major
event (such as a new baby). Let us share the burden and multiply the joy!
Alert us to a need or let know if you would like to help provide meals
by e-mailing meals (at) centralavenue.net.
Administrative
Team
The Administrative Team serves as the “central nervous system”
of Central Avenue; we help make things happen! Team members are needed
on a quarterly or yearly basis for 1 to 4 hours per week to help create
the Sunday morning worship presentation, prepare the weekly program, or
provide general office assistance. If you’d like to join us, contact
the office by email
or at 592-2389.
Operation
Christmas Child
Central
is a regional relay center for Operation Christmas Child. OCC is an outreach
of the international organization Samaritan's Purse to provide shoeboxes
full of Christmas presents to needy children around the world and share
the love of Christ with them. In 2001 and 2002 we collected more than
600 shoeboxes for this ministry from the Athens area. In addition, each
year we send a group of youth and adults to the Samaritan's Purse distribution facility in Charlotte, N.C. for several days to help process more than a million shoeboxes for delivery overseas.
For
more information about Operation Christmas Child, visit the Samaritan’s
Purse Web site or email our local coordinators, Alvin and Mary Ann
Hopple, at shoebox (at) centralavenue.net.
Encouragement
The
Encouragement ministry works to build up others in the body of Christ
by sending out encouraging notes. Jesus tells us to love our neighbors.
This is one simple but very effective way to show that love.
Two special tables have been set up at each end of the sanctuary with all the materials you need to help you participate in this ministry. It's quick and easy! Simply:
- pick a person you want to encourage,
- pick a card from the ones provided,
- pick a purpose (and maybe an encouraging Scripture verse)
- write your encouraging message
- address the envelope, and
- leave it for us to mail
You may also support this ministry by providing cards and stamps.
Don’t know what to say to a person who needs encouragement? Pick up a flyer title "Courage to COPE" from the Encouragement Center today and develop a skill that will bring blessing to others! For more information, contact Larry Jageman at 592-2123.
Special
events
Potlucks, picnics, caroling parties, the Talent Share and other special
events are important community-building activities in the life of Central,
and they're great outreach opportunities for inviting friends. These events
take some behind-the-scenes planning to make them so special! Watch the
Sunday bulletin or the Central home page for announcements
about upcoming special events, and offer to help with planning, setup
or cleanup. It's a great way to meet people, use your gifts and serve
others!
In
addition to ministries operating within Central, here are some other
great opportunities to serve in the Athens area.
Links will open in a new browser window.
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Good
Works, Inc. Prison
ministry Montaña
de Luz
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Campus
Crusade for Christ Young
Life
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Ministries at Central