Ingathering Sunday Stewardship Celebration
Sunday, November 23 | 10:00 AM
Stewardship Celebration
We will gather for one worship service this Sunday, November 23 at 10 AM to celebration stewardship season and our annual Ingathering Sunday. Please make plans to turn in your pledge card, or complete an online pledge card at https://castletonumc.org/pledge. Following the worship service, we invite you to join us for a Stewardship Celebration Lunch During this time together, we’ll celebrate the generosity of this year’s stewardship campaign, share a brief update on our church finances, and hold a Charge Conference where Castleton members will vote on the use of two endowment funds. Childcare will be provided.
Ingathering Sunday
Please consider bringing donations with you on Sunday for our ministry partners (Barnes United Methodist Church, The Community Cupboard) with you to worship on November 23. Sorting and packing will happen in the Narthex.
- Fletcher Place Community Center: blankets, backpacks, and arts/crafts for teens (Legacy Room)
- The Community Cupboard of Lawrence: cereal, any non-perishable food (Tables)
- Barnes UMC: clothing and toys for ages infant -12 yrs old, any non-perishable food (Library)
We will continue to collect coats for the next few weeks:
- Coats for adults go in the big box marked COATS at Door 2
- Coats for children go in the smaller, painted box at Door 2
Thank you for sharing in our big day of giving with a grateful heart!
Help Us Brighten Christmas for Local Families in Need
2025 Community Christmas Fund – Donation Deadline is Sunday, December 7
As the holiday season approaches, we continue our cherished tradition of supporting families in our community who are experiencing financial hardship. Help make their Christmas a little brighter by contributing to the 2025 Community Christmas Fund.
How to Contribute:
- Give online at castletonumc.org/give
- Select OTHER
- In the Note section, write Community Christmas Fund or CCF
- Give in-person
- Drop off a check at the church office with CCF in the memo line
Goal: $10,000
Deadline: Sunday, December 7, 2025
Early donations help us plan and distribute gift cards in time for the holidays. Thank you for sharing the spirit of the season!
Live Nativity
Friday, December 5 & Saturday, December 6 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM
On December 5 and 6, we’ll welcome our neighbors to take a walk through Bethlehem to celebrate the birth of the newborn King. Play a role in this big event by helping with set-up, baking cookies, being in the cast, and more. Click the button below to learn how you can help.
Soul School
2026 Session Beginning in January
Are you wanting more when it comes to your faith experience? More depth, more insight and understanding, more connection, more relevance to every aspect of life? Are you willing to invest time and effort in order to have such an experience?
If you answered “yes” to these questions, then Soul School might be right for you. Soul School is a 12-month experience of discipleship and spiritual formation, in community, that provides more intention and intensity to your faith journey. The discipleship/transformation process is inherently slow (lifelong, in fact), but there are things we can do to accelerate growth. Soul School is designed to be such an accelerant.
For more information, go to www.castletonumc.org/soul-school. To get a sense of what Soul School is like, be sure to watch the video on that page. (approximately 19 minutes of participant testimonies.) The 2026 session of Soul School begins in January.
Salvation Army Bell Ringing
Saturday, December 13 | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM | Kroger on 71st Street
CUMC continues its annual support for The Salvation Army by volunteering to ring bells at the kettle at the Kroger Store, East 71st St. and Binford Blvd. on Saturday, December 13. We will have nine 1-hour shifts starting at 10:00 AM, with the last one being from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. We encourage family groups to participate. To sign up for a shift, please email, call, or text Rush Yelverton: rsyelvertonsr@gmail.com, 317-366-9611. Please provide names of volunteers, email address, and phone number (cell number preferred). This is a great opportunity for “Being the salt and light in an easy and natural way.” our website at castletonumc.org/about/#board.
Save the Date & Special Announcements
- First Sunday of Advent | Sunday, November 30
- Live Nativity | Friday, December 5 & Saturday, December 6 | Sign Up to Help
- Christmas Music Sunday | Sunday, December 7
- Family Ministry Christmas Party | Sunday, December 14 | 5:00 PM | Sign Up to Attend
- Christmas Eve Worship | Wednesday, December 24 | 6:00 & 8:00 PM
- One Worship Service | Sunday, December 28 | 10:00 AM