Upcoming events.
Candlelight Christmas Eve Service
Join us for a special Candlelight Christmas Eve service at 4 PM on Tuesday, December 24th. Together, we'll celebrate the hope, peace, joy, and love of the season as we reflect on God’s presence with us. We will also have the opportunity to come together as a church family and make a lasting impact on our community through Cross Connection.
Our special offering will go toward the renovation of the kitchen at Parkview Community Foundation, a vital space that serves those in need in the Parkview neighborhood. The total cost of this project is $100,000, and thanks to generous contributions, Cross Connection already has $50,000 secured. They are seeking to raise the remaining $50,000 with the support of Light of Christ UMC and other churches in the Charlotte area. Your gifts will help transform the Parkview kitchen into a modern, fully functional space to better serve our neighbors. Together, we can provide a place where meals are prepared, hope is shared, and lives are changed. Let’s make this Christmas a season of generosity and community transformation. Thank you for prayerfully considering your gift to this meaningful project.
Un-Decorate Advent
Join us at 12 PM on Thursday, January 2nd to help take down all of the Christmas decorations from the Sanctuary, Nancy's Room, and the lobbies. All are welcome to come and UN-Deck the Halls!
January Room In The Inn
Light of Christ will be hosting 8 of our unhoused neighbors on the 1st and 3rd Friday evenings of December, January, February and March as part of Roof Above’s Room in the Inn program. Our neighbors are warmly welcomed with kindness, homecooked meals, soft beds, bagged lunches, warm showers and clean laundry. It takes “all hands on deck” to make sure this ministry is supported, and we invite you to serve! Children and middle/high school students are more than welcome to volunteer, as well. Find out more about the specific volunteer opportunities on church center!
Questions? contact John (john.mcmjt@gmail.com) or JoAnn (joann.mcmillan24@gmail.com) McMillan.
February Room In The Inn
Light of Christ will be hosting 8 of our unhoused neighbors on the 1st and 3rd Friday evenings of December, January, February and March as part of Roof Above’s Room in the Inn program. Our neighbors are warmly welcomed with kindness, homecooked meals, soft beds, bagged lunches, warm showers and clean laundry. It takes “all hands on deck” to make sure this ministry is supported, and we invite you to serve! Children and middle/high school students are more than welcome to volunteer, as well. Find out more about the specific volunteer opportunities on church center!
Questions? contact John (john.mcmjt@gmail.com) or JoAnn (joann.mcmillan24@gmail.com) McMillan.
Parent's Night Out
Please join us for our next Parents' Night Out event, on Saturday, February 8. We'll have pizza, play games, make crafts, and much more! This event is for children aged 3 years through fifth grade.
Registration is required. Please register HERE by Wednesday, February 5.
Sign-in and drop-off will be from 5:30-5:45 pm in the lobby of our phase 1 building. Pick-up is between 7:45-8pm, in the same location.
Please contact Tracy Vassil with any questions.
We look forward to spending quality time with your child, as you have your “Night Out!”
*Please note- If you have already filled out the medical and photo release form this year, you do not need to do so again, unless there has been a change you would like us to be aware of.
If you have a student who would like to volunteer, they can also register using this link.
March Room In The Inn
Light of Christ will be hosting 8 of our unhoused neighbors on the 1st and 3rd Friday evenings of December, January, February and March as part of Roof Above’s Room in the Inn program. Our neighbors are warmly welcomed with kindness, homecooked meals, soft beds, bagged lunches, warm showers and clean laundry. It takes “all hands on deck” to make sure this ministry is supported, and we invite you to serve! Children and middle/high school students are more than welcome to volunteer, as well. Find out more about the specific volunteer opportunities on church center!
Questions? contact John (john.mcmjt@gmail.com) or JoAnn (joann.mcmillan24@gmail.com) McMillan.
December Room In The Inn
Light of Christ will be hosting 8 of our unhoused neighbors on the 1st and 3rd Friday evenings of December, January, February and March as part of Roof Above’s Room in the Inn program. Our neighbors are warmly welcomed with kindness, homecooked meals, soft beds, bagged lunches, warm showers and clean laundry. It takes “all hands on deck” to make sure this ministry is supported, and we invite you to serve! Children and middle/high school students are more than welcome to volunteer, as well. Find out more about the specific volunteer opportunities on church center!
Questions? contact John (john.mcmjt@gmail.com) or JoAnn (joann.mcmillan24@gmail.com) McMillan.
RMN Discernment Process: Town Hall 4
Please plan to stay after church on December 8th for our 4th town hall meeting to learn about what it means to become a Reconciling Church, through affiliation with the Reconciling Ministries Network. Our Discernment Process continues with this meeting and we invite you to listen, ask questions, and share your feedback.
A church-wide vote, is anticipated in late 2024.
Check out our Resource page for more information about this process!
Community Table
Register Here by December 1st!
Join us for our advent Community Table! We will have dinner and activities!
Decorate for Advent
Join us in decorating both of our buildings for Advent! We will meet at 2 PM Sunday November 24th to decorate the Phase 1 building and again at 10 AM on Monday November 25th to decorate the the Phase 2 building. All are welcome to come and Deck the Halls!
2024 Charge Conference
All are invited to attend our 2024 Charge Conference, which is a business meeting where we will consider our 2024 ministry reports, 2025 budget, and 2025 leadership. Church Council members have vote and all are welcomed to attend.
Angel Tree
Angel Tree is here again! We're asking everyone to please consider taking an Angel off of the tree and help make a child’s or adult’s Christmas a little brighter this year. Gifts will be due back to church on December 11th, gift wrapped, with the Angel for each gift attached.
LOC's 25th Birthday Celebration!
Join us to celebrate LOC's 25th Birthday on November 14th! We will have dinner together and celebrate the ministry that has happened at Light of Christ over the last 25 years, while sharing our hopes for all that is to come.
Suggested donation: $5/person.
Families of 5 or more: $20 max.
Scholarships available!
November 10th Potluck
We hope you will join us for this special Potluck lunch! Sunday, November 10th, we will be joined by the previous pastors of LOC and we will be kicking off a week of celebrating LOC's 25th year of ministry.
Register here to bring a dish. We can't wait to celebrate with you!
Discover LOC
Discover Light of Christ is a 4-week class for newcomers to our church, designed to give participants a deep understanding of what it means to be part of the Light of Christ United Methodist Church community. Through engaging discussions and interactive activities, attendees will explore the church's history, core beliefs, mission, and values, while learning about the various ministries and opportunities available for personal and spiritual growth within the congregation. By the end of the class, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and sense of belonging necessary to actively and meaningfully engage in the life of the Light of Christ UMC.
RMN Discernment Process: Town Hall 3
Please plan to stay after church on November 3rd for our 3rd town hall meeting to learn about what it means to become a Reconciling Church, through affiliation with the Reconciling Ministries Network. Our Discernment Process continues with this meeting and we invite you to listen, ask questions, and share your feedback.
A church-wide vote, is anticipated in late 2024.
Check out our Resource page for more information about this process!
Trunk or Treat
Join us for Trunk or Treat on Saturday, October 26, from 5-7 pm! Enjoy food, games, candy, and a 'favorite trunk' contest. Hosting a trunk? You can arrive as early as 4 pm to set up.
This is a free community event. While registration is not required, we encourage it—especially if you're bringing a trunk. Please let us know when registering.
We also need volunteers to help with traffic control, food prep, and more. If you're interested in volunteering, please indicate this when registering.
Rain plan: We'll set up tables in place of trunks in the sanctuary.
Lower Avery Neighborhood Table
Please sign up here if you can help!
Light of Christ has been called upon to provide 2 lunches to serve to 100 people at Spruce Pine UMC, in lower Avery County. Volunteers are needed. We will need 1 driver for each date who can drive their vehicle (large enough for 4 people and the food). We will also need 3 volunteers to go with the driver to serve. We need 4 additional volunteers (who will not travel) to provide dessert (cannot need refrigeration) for 25 people. One of these desserts should be fresh fruit. Departure time for those going to Spruce Pine (the driver + 3 other volunteers) will be 8:30am from LOC's parking lot, and return time should be by 6pm. The dates are Thursday, October 24th and Tuesday, October 29th. Tony Sadler will cater the lunch for the 24th and Brett Butler will cater the lunch for the 29th. They will donate their time and food costs will be covered by LOC.
Fall Prayer Retreat
The Adult Ministry Team would like to invite you to a Fall Prayer Retreat at Starrette Farm in Statesville, NC on October 19th from 9:30am-2pm. Frieda Farfour Brown* will be our guest speaker, and the theme is "Using Your Character Strengths for God's Glory". There will also be time to wander the lovely grounds, walk the labyrinth, and visit the Stations of the Cross. Cost is $25, lunch is included, and scholarships are available.
Questions? Contact Denise Hembree, Kathleen Whiteman, or JoAnn McMillan.
*Frieda Farfour Brown is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 50 years of practice as a therapist, educator, supervisor, program director/manager, retreat leader, and writer. She has a PhD from the University of Louisville, a masters from UNC-Chapel Hill, a masters from Duke Divinity School, and has taught at four different universities. She established The Rainbow Connection, a church/mission-based preschool, which has served children for over 45 years. Frieda has also helped create and nurture the Stephen Ministry at Davidson UMC, the Reimagining Health Collaborative at Duke Divinity School and the Kingstown initiative. Author of five books and numerous published articles, her participation in the first national training program for positive psychology sparked her interest in finding ways to help others find meaningful ways to use their God-given gifts in behalf of the greater community. She continues to lead the yearlong retreat-based program, “The Sacred Invitation” which she developed as a way to help others identify and develop their God given gifts so that they might become the hands and feet of Christ in the world.*
October Prime Time Event
Join us for dinner and a hymn sing at 6 PM in Nancy's Room. We hope to see you there!
RMN Discernment Process: Town Hall 2
Please plan to stay after church on October 6th for our 2nd town hall meeting to learn about what it means to become a Reconciling Church, through affiliation with the Reconciling Ministries Network. Our Discernment Process continues with this meeting and we invite you to listen, ask questions, and share your feedback.
A church-wide vote, is anticipated in late 2024.
Check out our Resource page for more information about this process!
Parents' Night Out
Please join us for our next Parents' Night Out event, on Saturday, September 28th! We'll have pizza, popcorn, and other snacks and enjoy a movie together. Wear your comfy clothes and bring a sleeping bag for the ultimate experience. This event is for children aged 3 years through fifth grade.
Registration is required. Please register by Wednesday, September 25.
Discover LOC
Discover Light of Christ is a 4-week class for newcomers to our church, designed to give participants a deep understanding of what it means to be part of the Light of Christ United Methodist Church community. Through engaging discussions and interactive activities, attendees will explore the church's history, core beliefs, mission, and values, while learning about the various ministries and opportunities available for personal and spiritual growth within the congregation. By the end of the class, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and sense of belonging necessary to actively and meaningfully engage in the life of the Light of Christ UMC.
RMN Discernment Process: Town Hall 1
Please plan to stay after church on September 15th for our first town hall meeting to learn about what it means to become a Reconciling Church, through affiliation with the Reconciling Ministries Network. Our Discernment Process will begin with this meeting and we invite you to listen, ask questions, and share your feedback.
A church-wide vote, is anticipated in late 2024.
Check out our Resource page for more information about this process!
LOC Students X LOC Kids Wednesday Kick-Off
Wednesday nights just got a lot more exciting!
LOC students & kids programming starts back on September 11.
LOC Kids 5:30 - 7:30 PM
LOC Students 6 - 8 PM
If you have any questions or concerns, contact Taylor or Grace!
Prime Time Brunch & Boardgames
Join us for Brunch & Board Games at 9:30 AM on September 7.
Board Games are optional :)
CLT Pride Parade
Join us as we partner with other United Methodist churches to provide hospitality during the Charlotte Pride Parade on Sunday, August 18, 2024. We will provide water bottles, popsicles, and a warm welcome to LGBTQIA+ friends in the Charlotte area.
Grab some CLT Pride merch to support Reconciling Ministries Network!
Please indicate whether or not you would like to carpool.
EWO Haiti Child Sponsorship Drive
Our Missions Team will host an EWO Child Sponsorship Drive to benefit children in Bayonnais, Haiti. Light of Christ partners with the OFCB School in Bayonnais to ensure the education of individual students, “creating heroes in Haiti”. This Sponsorship Drive will take place on our Church Lobby on Sundays, August 18th and August 25th.
Community Table
Join us for our summer Community Table! We will have dinner, activities, and parent meetings* for kids AND students ahead of our fall kick-offs!
*Parent meetings will be offered at staggered times so if you have children in Kids Min & Student Min you'll be able to attend both meetings.
CLT Pride Interfaith Service
You are invited to join members of Light of Christ in attendance at the Charlotte Pride Interfaith Service on August 11, 2024 at 4:00 pm. The service will last about an hour and will be followed by an after-service social and refreshments. This service brings together the LGBTQIA+ community and different faith groups to reflect, celebrate, and build relationships.
Please indicate whether or not you would like to carpool.
Summer Picnic Potluck
Please join us for a Summer Picnic on Sunday, July 28th at 11:45 AM in Nancy's Room. Bring your favorite picnic foods and desserts! This is a great opportunity to invite someone to church since LOC always brings way too much food and it's always delicious!
VBS
At this year's VBS, we are going to learn all about how Jesus is worth celebrating!
Children ages four through rising fifth graders are invited to register. Attendees must be potty trained.
VBS will take place from July 15th through the 19th from 9:00am to 12:00pm. This is a free event to the community, however advance registration is required.
Youth (rising sixth graders and up) and adult volunteers should also register here.
Contact Grace Zelen with any questions at kidscity@locumc.org
Click HERE to register
VBS Decorating Party
Join us for a decorating party after the worship service on July 14! Make sure you register, as we will be ordering pizza for lunch!
Summer Kick-Off Potluck
Let's celebrate the end of the school year and the start of summer by sharing a meal together! This event is for the families of LOC Kids and the families of our amazing LOC Kids volunteers! Sign up to bring something to the potluck here! Please indicate how many family members will be joining you.
Contact Grace with any questions you may have. grace@locumc.org
Ice Cream Bar Thanking Sterling Elementary School Teachers
Sign up to Donate or Serve Here!
On Friday, May 10th, we will partner with Pineville Neighbors Place to thank those who serve at Sterling Elementary School. Sterling ES does not have a PTA, so we will provide an Ice Cream Bar for one of their Staff Appreciation Week events. We will serve Ice Cream and all the fixins to teachers and staff from 2-3pm. We need your help with donations and at least 4 volunteers to set up and serve from 1:30-3:00pm at the school.
General Conference Update | MAY 5th
Join us for a Post-General Conference Update on Sunday, May 5th during the Soup Cook Off in Nancy's Room, after our 10:30am worship service. After worship, join us in supporting our Student Ministry by eating and voting for the best soups, and then stay for an update given by Pastor Marianne regarding the important happenings at the United Methodist Church General Conference. We will process and pray together.