Governance Board Summary
A summary of the March Governance Board Meeting is available to read at the button below.
Holy Week
We hope you’ll make plans to join us for this week for Holy Week services:
Holy Thursday: April 2 at 6 PM
Good Friday: April 3 at 6 PM
Easter Sunday: identical services at 9:00 & 11:00 AM
Children’s Easter Celebration: Sunday, April 5 at 10:00 AM (Family Life Center)
Financial Snapshot & Ministry Center Building
Informational Meeting | Thursday, April 2 | 7:00 PM
As part of our commitment to transparency and faithful stewardship, we want to provide the congregation with a brief update on our church finances and the ongoing process of selling the Ministry Center building. We will be holding a brief meeting to provide an update on Thursday, April 2 at 7 PM (or directly after the Holy Thursday worship service at 6 PM).
We give thanks for the continued generosity of our congregation. Your faithful giving allows us to sustain our core ministries, support outreach in the community, and maintain the life of the church. While we continue to be mindful and careful with our spending, the church remains financially stable because of your commitment and support.
At the same time, we are continuing the conversation and discernment around selling the Ministry Center building. The first goal is to help our church become debt-free. We want to provide updates on where this conversation has moved and what we are exploring. We will continue to keep the congregation informed as updates become available. Thank you for your prayers, patience, and faithful support as we move forward together in ministry.
Catching Joy: A Study of Philippians
New Worship Series Begins April 12
Do you find it hard to be joyful these days? As you look around at the state of affairs locally and globally, is joy what you experience? Probably not. With our theme for the year being Joy & Justice, it seems only fitting that we spend some time in the book widely considered the most joy-filled book of the New Testament…the letter to the Philippians.
Ironically, this letter, written by the apostle Paul, was penned while in prison. Is it possible that we might discover a way to be filled with joy despite the challenges we face, the circumstances that surround us, and the news that bombards us? Could an ancient saint, missionary, and preacher of the gospel have some wisdom and guidance to share with us? Join us for Catching Joy, a six-week series during Sunday worship services and table groups, beginning the Sunday after Easter, and let’s find out together.
Catching Joy: Indianapolis Indians Game
Sunday, April 26 | First Pitch at 1:35 PM | Victory Field
Join Pastor Matt as we catch joy together at an Indianapolis Indians ballgame on Sunday, April 26 for a 1:35pm first pitch! There’s nothing better than a Sunday afternoon ballgame and time together as a church family.
Tickets are only $5 per ticket (the cost is subsidized thanks to the Lilly Clergy Renewal Grant). All children 14 and under receive a free hot dog, bag of chips, and a milk with the price of admission. Please reserve your tickets by contacting the church office by Tuesday, April 7.
VBS Volunteers
A fun week of games, crafts, worship and exploring the Bible returns June 15-18. Adults and students entering 6th grade in the fall and older can begin signing up to make a difference during our “What’s Cooking?” VBS week. Use the button below to sign up and learn details about available roles, training requirements, and more. Please sign up by April 5 to help us plan for the week!
Fish Fry Volunteers
Our 45th annual Fish Fry is scheduled for July 16-18, 2026. The Fish Fry is one of our biggest events each year and requires lots of volunteers to make it happen. Like we did last year, to ensure we can successfully host this event, we’re asking for volunteers to sign up early. We specifically need to know we will have enough volunteers for set-up (Mon-Wed evenings), cashiers, fryers, drive-thru, and kitchen. Please use the button below to sign up, or look for sign-up tables in the Narthex in April.
Trusted Mentors Chili Cook Off
Sunday, April 19 | 12:00-2:00 PM | CUMC Fellowship Hall
Trusted Mentors is excited to invite you to a fun and flavorful community event that brings people together for a great cause. Enjoy an afternoon filled with unlimited chili samples, friendly competition, and the chance to vote for your favorite in the People’s Choice Award. Admission is $5, and every ticket helps support mentoring relationships that empower adults to build stability after homelessness, incarceration, or aging out of foster care.
Interested in competing? Chili registration is $25 per entry, and individuals or teams are welcome. Compete for both Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice while sharing your best recipe with the community.
Save the Date & Special Announcements
- Easter Celebration for Children & Families | Sunday, April 5 | 10 AM | Family Life Center
- Breast Cancer Group | Monday, April 6 | 6:30-8:00 PM
- Senior Expo | Thursday, April 16 | 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM
- Donation Drop-off Update | Due to some issues, we won’t be accepting donations at the office door #12 outside of business hours. Donations will be accepted in the church office lobby Mondays through Thursdays, 9 AM – 4 PM, or at church on Sundays.
- Matthew: Story of the Messiah | Find study guides and table group info at castletonumc.org/matthew
- Current Needs in the IMPD Satellite Office | Diet Coke, Coke, Coke Zero, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Sprite, individual servings of chips