We invite you to join us in praying with and for one another as a community of faith. Each prayer request represents someone in our church family who could use encouragement, support, and the power of prayer.  We are a community, and each of us has something to offer. Whether you are able to pray for a few moments or spend more time in prayer, we encourage you to pray as you feel led and as your time allows.
Our staff also faithfully prays over the entire prayer list each Tuesday morning, lifting each person and request before God.

Thank you for being part of a church family that cares, supports, and prays for one another. Together, let us continue to lift one another up in prayer.

Happy Fall! I missed everyone last Sunday but had a great trip to the beach with my family. Keep reading to stay up to date!

This week during Fusion we'll be talking about the importance of telling our stories. We'll be reading from Paul's letter to the Philippians. Dinner will be lasagna, salad, and a dessert provided by Ms. Jyrl.

Youth Leadership Team Guidelines and Application are live! Click below to read about the serving opportunities and download the application.

We have a great opportunity to worship and spend time with other youth groups next year! Registration fills up FAST so I need to know who wants to go, and if any adults/parents are interested in chaperoning (you are needed!) by November 1st. I do not know a price yet but will get that ASAP.  Please, DO NOT let price keep you from attending if interested. We will make it happen!! Sign-up with Kayla by November 1st!

Click below to sign-up to provide dinner for the youth!

There is something beautiful about watching small acts of generosity become something much bigger.

A bag of food becomes a weekend of meals for a child. A gift bag becomes a classroom full of excited children. A plate of treats reminds a teacher that someone sees and appreciates the work they do. A Saturday spent playing games and sharing a meal becomes another opportunity to build a friendship.

That is what happens when a church chooses to REACH.

This month, there is so much to celebrate - and so many opportunities ahead to continue sharing God's love around the corner and around the world.

The 2026-2027 school year has begun, and the need for the David Cox Elementary BackPack Ministry is greater than ever.

Already, 65 students have been identified as needing weekend food assistance. In past years, the program has typically started with fewer students and grown to around 65 as the school year continues. This year, that need is here from the very beginning, and we anticipate that the need will continue to grow.

Our UCUMC community has responded!

During the September 6 and September 13 collections, church members brought food to help fill weekend backpacks for David Cox students.

The filled bags are already making their way into backpacks and home with students.

One way to think about this ministry is to imagine sponsoring a child's backpack for a weekend. A gift of just $5 provides the food for one child's weekend backpack. Recurring gifts can help provide that support week after week throughout the school year. Click the button below to set up a recurring gift, and know that even a little gift helps! Just choose BackPack Ministry in the drop down.

Whether through food donations or financial support, every contribution helps make sure a child has food to take home for the weekend.

Sometimes a little gift can make a big difference.

Last month, the Missions Moment asked for 25 people, families, or groups to help fill the Treasure Boxes at David Cox Elementary. The response was far beyond what was expected - nearly 75 people stepped up and brought treasures to fill those gift bags!

Because so many people said yes, more than 50 classrooms and offices at David Cox began the school year with Treasure Boxes filled to the brim.

A rolling cart piled high with gift bags made its way through the school, delivering treasures to classrooms and offices. Teachers and staff were excited to receive them, and the students were already looking forward to earning their treasures.

It was a beautiful reminder of what can happen when a lot of people each give a little. Together, the UCUMC community found a simple way to bring the love of Jesus beyond the walls of the church and into the classrooms, offices, and lives of the children and teachers at David Cox.

This is what happens when we hear the call and say YES!

A little sweetness goes a long way!

The Covenant Keepers Sunday School Class recently prepared Teacher Treats for the teachers at Ignite Achievement Academy and the staff of the UCUMC Weekday School.

These monthly treats are a simple way to say, “Thank you for all that you do.”

There are still opportunities to sponsor Teacher Treats from December through May. Individuals, families, Sunday School classes, or small groups can help make someone's workday a little sweeter.

The UCUMC Nourish Up team is partnering with local Girl Scouts to collect food for neighbors experiencing food insecurity.

Food collections are taking place on Sunday, October 4.

And there's another way to help!

The Nourish Up ministry is looking for one or two people who can serve one Wednesday each month. It's a wonderful opportunity to spend a few hours serving alongside others and helping provide food for people in the community.

Could one Wednesday a month be your way to REACH?

On Saturday, October 10, Tori and Kristi will head back to Oceana, West Virginia, to spend time with friends at HarborLight Church and in the surrounding community.

The day will include a community meal followed by an afternoon of fun with crafts, games, and time together. On Sunday morning, breakfast will be served before joining the HarborLight congregation for worship.

These visits are about more than a project. They are about showing up, sharing a meal, laughing together, building relationships, and reminding friends in Oceana that they are loved and remembered.

Please keep the Oceana community, HarborLight Church, and Tori and Kristi in prayer as they prepare for this special weekend.

Mark your calendar for Friday, November 13!

UCUMC will gather to pack food boxes for families in West Virginia.

Volunteer sign-up will open in October, but this is one date worth putting on the calendar now. It will be a hands-on time of packing, serving, laughing, and working together - and a whole lot of food boxes will make their way from Charlotte to West Virginia.

Mark your calendar for May 1 for the Making Waves Block Party.

More details will be coming as plans take shape, but it's never too early to save the date!

Maybe there's time to volunteer. Maybe there's a bag of food to bring, a box to pack, a teacher to encourage, or a community to pray for.

Maybe there's a desire to make a regular financial gift to support REACH Missions.

However someone chooses to participate, there's always a way to REACH.

Every gift of time, talent, prayer, and generosity helps UCUMC share God's love around the corner and around the world.

Video Announcements

Musical Call to Worship: This I Believe (The Creed) (Arr. Hayes)
Alisha Brown, Music Assistant/Accompanist, UCUMC

Welcome: Kristi Miller,
Missions Team Chair, West Virginia Team Leader, Communion Coordinator

Prayer for Worship: Kristi Miller

Hymn: UMH # 314 He Lives (vs. 1-3) Matt Guild, Alisha, Choir, Praise Team, Congregation

The Apostle’s Creed (Ecumenical) UMH # 882: Kristi Miller and Congregation

Message in Music: Great is the Lord Almighty (Greer) Celebration Choir

Missions Moment: Kristi Miller

Passing the Peace: Kristi Miller and Praise Band

Song: Sing (Houghton, Lindsey)
Praise Team, Congregation

Call to Offering: Kristi Miller

Prayer of Dedication and The Lord’s Prayer: Kristi Miller

Offertory: Believe For It (Winans, Lee, Wong, Hill)
Christa Shephard-Shabazz, Praise Team

Series Video: Moments and Significance

Scripture: John 11:4-14, 43, 44 (NRSV)
Kristi Miller

Message: The Moment and Transformation; 
Pastor Donnell FitzJefferies, UCUMC

Altar Call: Pastor Donnell

Song: How Great Is Our God (Phillips, Brewster, Gall)
Praise Team, Congregation

Sending Forth: Pastor Donnell

Sending Forth Music: Praise Band

The Church's mailing address has changed:
University City UMC
PO Box 480021
Charlotte, NC 28269

Welcome to this week's calendar - the one place for everything happening in our church family. From kids to adults, small groups to special events, here's how you can get connected over the next seven days.

Please note that UCUMC has a new mailing address:
University City UMC
PO Box 480021
Charlotte, NC 28269

Budget Gifts Received (9/20/26) - $6,658
MTD Budget Goal - $41,250
MTD Receipts - $43,975
YTD Budget Goals - $580,250
YTD Budget Receipts - $546,146
Reach - $19,849  (Reach new year 11/1/25)

Restore, Renew, Rekindle
Amount Pledged - $417,164
Amount Given - $308,164
Amount Spent - $225,043

We invite you to join us in praying with and for one another as a community of faith. Each prayer request represents someone in our church family who could use encouragement, support, and the power of prayer.  We are a community, and each of us has something to offer. Whether you are able to pray for a few moments or spend more time in prayer, we encourage you to pray as you feel led and as your time allows.
Our staff also faithfully prays over the entire prayer list each Tuesday morning, lifting each person and request before God.

Thank you for being part of a church family that cares, supports, and prays for one another. Together, let us continue to lift one another up in prayer.

As we all gathered on Friday evening in Fancy Gap, we got busy setting up camp and getting a campfire going.  Trinity is quite the fire craftswoman!  As we sat around the fire, we connected with each other over stories of our week and a few spooky ghost stories.  Including our traditional "Taily Bone" that is requested year after year.  Even though we ended the night on the spooky side nobody had trouble falling asleep after such a great time around the fire.  

On Saturday morning, we had a delicious variety of pancakes with sausage and bacon made by Chef Tori and Chef Kristi.  The coffee was flowing, and the group was excited to go exploring.  Once our day trippers arrived and breakfast was cleaned up, we posed for our group picture.  After that, we piled into the cars and headed out for an adventure at Mabry Mill and Rocky Knob.  Aly and her adults stayed behind to tend the fire and nap the rest of the morning away.  
Mabry Mill is on the Blue Ridge Parkway and was built by Ed Mabry, who lived there along with his wife Lizzy.  We were able to go inside the mill that still functions today, although it doesn't get much use any longer.  In their time the Mabry's used the mill's power to grind corn and buckwheat.  We really enjoyed our step back in time at this beautiful spot on the Blue Ridge.  

From there, we hopped back in our cars and headed to the Rocky Knob Visitors Center, where we enjoyed a picnic lunch.  We even spotted a couple of deer; luckily, the dogs didn't really notice them.  After lunch, we enjoyed a lovely 1.5-mile hike on the Rocky Knob Picnic Area Trail.  It was a loop trail through a mature forest of large oaks, ashes, hickories, Fraser magnolias, hemlocks, and other native trees and shrubs.  Coan enjoyed picking up some of the largest acorns I have ever seen!  

It was a beautiful drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway as we headed back to camp.  When we arrived, the kids all ran off to play a big game of hide-and-seek, and the adults decided a rest or nap in the shade was our best option.  At some point, I decided I needed to start supper before the crowd got too hungry.  That night we dined on tacos with rice and black beans.  Leah and JB were unable to beat their PR's in their taco-eating contest.  We ended our evening together around the campfire eating an absurd amount of s'mores while we read spooky stories from a book that Miriam and Chris bought for Coan at the visitor's center.  Sleep came earlier for everyone that night after a long day of adventure.  

On Sunday morning, we began our day with another delicious breakfast made by Tori and Kristi with an assist by JB.  Bacon, sausage, hash browns, and farm-fresh eggs.  Then we had a great worship by the campfire.  God was with us all weekend long, and we had an amazing time building relationships with each other.  The church family bond is strong with this group, and we hope that you will consider joining us on next year's trip to Fancy Gap.  

There is a phrase that has become almost inescapable in modern culture. You hear it in movie trailers, television advertisements, and news headlines. "The moment that changed everything." We are obsessed with defining moments, with the idea that a single event can rewrite the story of a life. And while there is truth in that instinct, the question worth sitting with is this: what actually makes a moment significant? What gives it power? And perhaps most importantly, are we asking the right questions when we find ourselves inside one?
The ninth chapter of the Gospel of John opens with a scene that feels both ancient and remarkably familiar. Jesus and his disciples are walking along a road when they encounter a man who has been blind since birth. The disciples, seeing something unusual, something that defies easy explanation, do what human beings almost always do when they encounter suffering or hardship. They start looking for someone to blame.
"Who sinned," they ask, "this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
It is a question that reveals everything about how they understood the world. In their day, there was a widely held belief that suffering was the direct consequence of sin. If you were afflicted, someone had done something wrong. Either you had sinned, perhaps even before birth in some mysterious way, or your parents had, and you were now paying the price. The universe, in their view, was a place where punishment was always being distributed and someone was always at fault.
We may read that and feel distant from it, but if we are honest, we have not traveled as far as we might think. We still live in a world saturated with blame. We still hear people say that someone was "just born bad," or that a child never had a chance given the family they came from. We still watch public discourse collapse into arguments about who is responsible for every problem, every failure, every tragedy. When blame is placed on someone else, there is a certain relief in it. If it is their fault, then it is not ours. We are free to stand at a comfortable distance and observe.
But Jesus refuses to play that game.
His response to the disciples is not simply an answer to their question. It is a redirection of their entire way of thinking. He tells them that neither the man nor his parents sinned to cause this blindness. Then he says something that can be misread if we are not careful. He says the man was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. This is not a statement that God deliberately inflicted blindness on this man as a kind of divine setup. It is not a claim that God engineers suffering for the sake of a dramatic demonstration. Rather, Jesus is pointing toward a different way of seeing the moment entirely. Instead of asking who is to blame, ask where God is at work.
That shift, from blame to discernment, is at the heart of everything that follows.
The word discernment comes from roots meaning to detect, to recognize, to perceive. In spiritual practice, discernment is the discipline of learning to see what God is doing in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life. It is not passive. It requires attention, honesty, and a willingness to let go of the explanations we have already decided on before we even look closely at what is in front of us.
Jesus demonstrates discernment in action. He does not stand at a distance and offer a theological lecture about suffering. He kneels down, uses mud and saliva, and sends the man to wash in the pool of Siloam. And the man, who never even asked to be healed, comes back seeing. Grace arrived without being requested. Abundance appeared where there had been only lack. Light came where there had been only darkness. This is the character of God that Jesus is revealing, not a God who selects people for suffering, but a God who moves toward people with healing, with wholeness, with life.
And yet the religious authorities, when they hear what has happened, cannot bring themselves to simply receive it. They call the man back and tell him to give glory to God, but in the same breath they declare that Jesus is a sinner. They want the miracle without the one who performed it. They want the result without the relationship. They are still asking the wrong questions.
The man's response is one of the most quietly powerful statements in all of scripture. He does not argue theology. He does not try to defend Jesus or debate the finer points of religious law. He simply says what he knows to be true. He summarizes John 9:25 this way: he does not know whether Jesus is a sinner, but he knows one thing with absolute certainty. He was blind, and now he sees.
That is a witness. That is what discernment produces. Not a comprehensive explanation of every mystery, but a clear-eyed account of what has actually happened in your life when God showed up.
This is an invitation worth accepting in our own lives. When suffering arrives, when confusion sets in, when we find ourselves in the middle of a moment that feels impossible to understand, the blaming question will always be available. It will feel natural. It will feel satisfying in a hollow kind of way. But the discerning question opens something entirely different. Where is God in this? What is grace doing here that I might be missing because I am too busy assigning fault?
Repentance, which simply means turning around and moving back toward God, is only possible because God has not abandoned us in our worst moments. The Spirit remains present, not to condemn, not to expose, but to remind us that we are not alone and that the goodness of God is still being poured out.
The defining moments of a life are not defined by what went wrong or who is to blame. They are defined by whether we had the eyes to see what God was doing in them all along.

Video Announcements

Musical Call to Worship: Ancient Words/How Firm a Foundation (Arr. Tornquist)
Alisha Brown, Music Assistant/Accompanist, UCUMC

Welcome: Cynthia McCormick,
Celebration Choir, Sew & Sews

Prayer for Worship: Cynthia McCormick

Hymn: UMH # 370 Victory In Jesus (vs. 1-3)
Matt Guild, Alisha, Choir, Praise Team, Congregation

Affirmation of Faith from 1 Corinthians 15:1-6 and Colossians 1:15-20:
Cynthia McCormick and Congregation

Message in Music: Beyond All We Could Imagine (Choplin) Celebration Choir

Generational Ministries Moment: Cynthia McCormick

Passing the Peace: Cynthia and Praise Band

Song: What An Awesome God (Mullins, Wickham, Smith)
Praise Team, Congregation

Call to Offering: Cynthia McCormick

Prayer of Dedication and The Lord’s Prayer: Cynthia McCormick

Offertory: Always (Glover, Tomlin, Carson, Sojka, Cates) Praise Team

Series Video: Moments and Significance

Scripture: John 9:1-7; 24-25 (NRSV) Cynthia McCormick

Message: The Moment and The Question;
Pastor Donnell FitzJefferies, UCUMC

Altar Call: Pastor Donnell

Song: No One Like Our God (Phillips, Brewster, Gall)
Praise Team, Congregation

Sending Forth: Pastor Donnell

Sending Forth Music: Praise Band

The Church's mailing address has changed:
University City UMC
PO Box 480021
Charlotte, NC 28269

Welcome to this week's calendar - the one place for everything happening in our church family. From kids to adults, small groups to special events, here's how you can get connected over the next seven days.

Please note that UCUMC has a new mailing address:
University City UMC
PO Box 480021
Charlotte, NC 28269

Budget Gifts Received (9/13/26) - $11,522
MTD Budget Goal - $27,500
MTD Receipts - $37,317
YTD Budget Goals -$566,500
YTD Budget Receipts-$539,488
Reach - $19,749  (Reach new year 11/1/25)

Restore, Renew, Rekindle
Amount Pledged - $416,222
Amount Given - $307,222
Amount Spent - $225,043

Help Bring Comfort to Families at Ronald McDonald House
Join us to make pillowcases with care, kindness, and community.

Families staying at Ronald McDonald House are often far from home while a child receives medical care. A handmade pillowcase is a small, practical gift—but it can offer a bit of color, comfort, and encouragement during a difficult time.

You do not need sewing experience to take part. There will be many helpful jobs, including ironing, packaging pillowcases with ribbon, preparing materials, and lending a willing pair of hands.

This would be a great service project for kids and teens needing service hours.

We will also be doing some pillowcases for the Christmas Store.

When: Saturday, October 17, 2026 at 9:30 a.m.
Where: Lower Worship Center, Room 120

Did you know the Girl Scout saying is “Do a good turn daily”? That means we should try to help people every day.
Girl Scout Troop 3287 is working with UCUMC to collect canned food for Nourish Up and the Ada Jenkins Center. We will collect cans on September 27 and October 4 before and after church. Here is a list of items needed:

• Canned proteins like tuna, chicken, chili, and beans.
• Shelf-stable meals like pasta, rice, and boxed dinners.
• Breakfast staples like oatmeal, cereal, and pancake mix.
• Kid-friendly snacks like granola bars and fruit cups.

With your help, we can do a good turn!

We invite you to join us in praying with and for one another as a community of faith. Each prayer request represents someone in our church family who could use encouragement, support, and the power of prayer.  We are a community, and each of us has something to offer. Whether you are able to pray for a few moments or spend more time in prayer, we encourage you to pray as you feel led and as your time allows.
Our staff also faithfully prays over the entire prayer list each Tuesday morning, lifting each person and request before God.

Thank you for being part of a church family that cares, supports, and prays for one another. Together, let us continue to lift one another up in prayer.

Weekday School Connections
Last week UC Kids and Family Ministries set up a photo backdrop for our Weekday School families to capture first day of school memories!  Thank you to Miriam, Cindy, Patti, and Karen for joining me bright and early to help the families of our WDS have a special start to the school year!  Eye spy some familiar faces in the photos, do you? 

On Sunday we kicked off our school year programming!  
In UCKZ our pre-teens group started a new curriculum called Connect.  This curriculum is better suited for their age group.  Our pre-k through young elementary is enjoying the Holy Moly curriculum that we started last fall.  Our nursery kiddos got to enjoy Whirl curriculum but will be alternating between Whirl, Spark, and Holy Moly for this age group.  While this does seem like a lot of chaos there is consistency because all UC Kids will be learning from the same scripture each week.  
We also kicked off our UC Kids Arts and Little Lambs Choir.  We had snacks first and then split into our appropriate age levels to make some joyful noise!  Ms. Emily started with asking UCKA what they wanted to do this year.  They want to play instruments!  So she started with some music theory and those kiddos did a great job.  Ms. Olivia, assisted by Ms. Amy, led our Little Lambs in some familiar music.  I saw lots of smiles as I peeked in on them.  

The next two Sunday's you will not see my face on campus.  
On Sunday, September 20th I will be leading some of UCUMC on the Family Camping Trip.  Ms. Cindy, Mr. Matt, & Ms. Carrie will be holding down UC Kids Zone.  Ms. Emily and Ms. Olivia will be leading UC Kids Arts and Little Lambs.  
On Sunday, September 27th I will be on retreat with some of our preteen UC Kids and Mr. Allen at Camp Tekoa.  We are very excited to participate in The Tweens Vibe Retreat with other 4th, 5th, & 6th graders from the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church.  

Youth Leadership Team (YLT) Application

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Student Leader in our youth group! Leadership is an opportunity to serve others, grow in your faith, and help create a welcoming and encouraging environment for everyone.

Please answer the questions honestly. There are no perfect answers, we just want to get to know you better.

Basic Information

Name: __________________________________
Grade: __________________________________
Phone Number (optional): __________________
How long have you been attending youth group?
☐ Less than 6 months
☐ 6 months – 1 year
☐ 1–2 years
☐ More than 2 years

Short Answer Questions

1. Why do you want to be a student leader?

2. What do you enjoy most about youth group?

3. What are some strengths or talents you have?
Examples might include encouraging others, organizing games, welcoming people, speaking, music, helping behind the scenes, etc.

4. What is one area you would like to grow in as a leader?

5. How would you help make youth group a place where everyone feels welcome?

6. If you were leading a youth group night, what is one activity or idea you would bring?

7. What leadership role are you applying for? (You can select more than one)
☐ Youth Leader (11th or 12th grade only)
☐ Activities & Games Leader
☐ Hospitality & Welcome Leader
☐ Media/ Communications Leader

Leadership Commitment

Student leaders help set the tone for the group. As a student leader, I will do my best to:
☐ Attend youth group regularly
☐ Participate positively
☐ Encourage others
☐ Welcome new students
☐ Help create a respectful environment

Student Signature: ___________________________
Date: __________________

Director Notes

Leadership Qualities Observed:
☐ Encouraging to others
☐ Responsible
☐ Participates actively
☐ Positive attitude
☐ Shows spiritual growth

Additional Notes:

Leadership Decision:
☐ Selected for Leadership Team
☐ Selected as Apprentice Leader
☐ Encouraged to apply again later

Team Captain / Student Leader
11th–12th grader.
Responsibilities:

• Help plan youth nights
• Lead prayer or discussion sometimes
• Encourage younger students
• Help keep the group focused
  
  

Activities & Games Leader
Responsibilities:

• Plan or lead icebreakers
• Organize games
• Help keep energy high
• Help with special events

Hospitality / Welcome Leader
Responsibilities:

• Welcome new students
• Make sure no one sits alone
• Help create a friendly environment
• Assist younger students

Media / Communication Leader
Responsibilities:

• Help with slides/music
• Take photos
• Help promote events- make social media posts
• Assist with announcements
  
  

 Leadership Expectations
All Youth Leaders agree to:

• Attend regularly
• Participate positively
• Encourage others
• Help lead when asked
• Be role models

Leadership Meetings
We will meet once a month for 30–45 minutes.
 Leadership Development

We will rotate who does what occasionally

• Different leader opens in prayer
• Different leader leads a game
• Different leader helps with discussion

I hope everyone is having a great week! Here are a few updates...

Where's the Adult was a blast last Saturday! There were five adults that hid around Concord Mills and three teams of students that tried to find them. It was a lot of fun and we all ended our time with some ice cream!

Fusion was wonderful! Ms. Jyrl made an amazing taco bar and the students got to add their own personal touch to our space.

Any students that missed this past Sunday, there will be time in Prayer Furnace and Fusion this Sunday to add their hand print to the wall.

We still need someone to sign-up for dinner this Sunday the 20th! Next open date is Sunday October 11th.

Just and FYI, I will be out September 27th! Kristi Miller and Tori Rios will be leading Prayer Furnace with Carrie Hanes and Dee Price covering Fusion. Dinner will be provided by Meg Furlough that evening!

Video Announcements

Musical Call to Worship: Oceans/It is Well With My Soul (McDonald)
Alisha Brown, Music Assistant/Accompanist, UCUMC

Welcome: Aiden Gathings
Fusion Youth Ministry, Renovation Youth Choir

Prayer for Worship: Aiden Gathings

Hymn: UMH # 98 To God Be The Glory (vs. 1-3)
Matt Guild, Alisha, Choir, Praise Team, Congregation

A Statement of Faith of the United Church of Canada:
Aiden Gathings and Congregation

Message in Music: Cornerstone (Spacht)
Celebration Choir

Generational Ministries Moment:
Kayla Belk, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Passing the Peace: Kayla and Praise Band

Song: Holy Forever (Tomlin, Wickham, Johnson, Ingram)
Praise Team, Congregation

Call to Offering: Aiden Gathings

Prayer of Dedication and The Lord’s Prayer: Aiden Gathings

Offertory: Worthy of It All (Brymer, Hall)
Christa Shephard-Shabazz, Praise Team

Series Video: Stewardship

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41 (NRSV)
Aiden Gathings

Message: We Are All in the Boat;
Pastor Donnell FitzJefferies, UCUMC

Altar Call: Pastor Donnell

Song: Thank You, Lord (Jernigan)
Praise Team, Congregation

Sending Forth: Pastor Donnell

Sending Forth Music: Praise Band 

The Church's mailing address has changed:
University City UMC
PO Box 480021
Charlotte, NC 28269

Welcome to this week's calendar - the one place for everything happening in our church family. From kids to adults, small groups to special events, here's how you can get connected over the next seven days.

Church Family!  We need your help to welcome our community onto the UCUMC campus for Trunk of Treats on October 25 from 2-4.  

What you need to know now: We will set up tables for you to decorate as close to the end of the worship service as possible.  There will be a piece of paper with your last name or organization on the table.  Please allow time to decorate your table.  We would like for you to be ready to greet families no later than 1:45.  UCUMC provides one large bag of candy (200ish pieces) but you supply the rest.

Click the link below if you are available to help that day! 

The Veterans event is NEXT FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18! The event includes a BBQ dinner, entertainment, and guest speaker John Woodall, director of Camp4Heroes.

Please note that UCUMC has a new mailing address:
University City UMC
PO Box 480021
Charlotte, NC 28269

Budget Gifts Received (9/6/26) - $25,795
MTD Budget Goal - $13,750
MTD Receipts - $25,795
YTD Budget Goals - $552,750
YTD Budget Receipts - $527,966
Reach - $19,669  (Reach new year 11/1/25)

Restore, Renew, Rekindle
Amount Pledged - $416,222
Amount Given - $307,222
Amount Spent - $225,043

Men, you don’t have to carry life alone. Join us every Tuesday at 8:00 AM on Zoom for our Men’s Huddle Up—a simple, honest space to be encouraged, strengthened, and reminded that you have brothers standing with you. We’re currently studying Revelation together, leaning into God’s Word with courage, humility, and hope. Whether you’re winning, worn out, or somewhere in between, there’s a seat for you. Show up as you are, and let’s start the day with purpose, prayer, and momentum. For more information, email Jeff Hargett.

We invite you to join us in praying with and for one another as a community of faith. Each prayer request represents someone in our church family who could use encouragement, support, and the power of prayer.  We are a community, and each of us has something to offer. Whether you are able to pray for a few moments or spend more time in prayer, we encourage you to pray as you feel led and as your time allows.
Our staff also faithfully prays over the entire prayer list each Tuesday morning, lifting each person and request before God.

Thank you for being part of a church family that cares, supports, and prays for one another. Together, let us continue to lift one another up in prayer.