Events

11:30-1pm Looking for the Fountain of Youth? Let us help by offering you a roadmap to successful aging. Whether we like it or not, we all age, so join us as we learn how to successfully navigate the seasons of our lives. Through engAGE, we will offer quarterly Lunch and Learn gatherings featuring engaging and...
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The Well House/Trafficking with Carolyn Potter Room 226

Women's Retreat & Writing Workshop Canterbury will host a Spring Women's Retreat, ENLIVEN, featuring guest speaker and author Kathy Izard. The 2-day event will be held here on campus, and will be a weekend of growth and fellowship including an optional pre-event workshop on April 25. For details, click here.

Senior Night | April 28 | 5:30-7:30 PM Mark your calendar for Sunday, April 28 as we celebrate our incredible Seniors! (5:30 PM, Canterbury Hall) All 7th-11th grade YACs are encouraged to attend to support our graduating 12th graders! The event is $10/person for families that do not have a Senior. Please click here to let us know that...
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What's Happening at Urban Ministries with Garrett Harper Room 226

Side by Side Community Chorus Spring Concert| May 14 | 2 PM The Side by Side Community Chorus presents "Peace, Love and Harmony" on May 14 at 2 PM in Canterbury Hall. From Louis Armstrong and the Beatles to Simon and Garfunkel, we'll bring you nostalgic tunes that you will love singing along to! Kanemaster...
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On Sunday, May 19, we invite you to join us in celebrating Rev. Ruth Grissom and her upcoming retirement. The reception will be held during the Sunday School hour beginning at 9:15 AM in the Parlor. Let’s wish Ruth well and thank her for the love and dedication she has given to Canterbury’s Children’s Ministry.

Take a break from your summer job, and join us at the lake! YAC Sr. High are welcomed to join us for a lake weekend full of fun, talks, and discussions. We will spend a weekend at Lake Martin from June 6-8, 2024. Our time will be spent on the lake during the day with...
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Join the adventure! VBC registration is now open for ages rising 4K through 5th grade. Register here!

Be in the know about what studies and offerings are coming this Fall and join us on Tuesday, June 11 to get all the details! Join us for a complimentary lunch at 12 Noon in the Renneker conference room - OR -  join us for a complimentary dinner at 6 PM in Room M227. This...
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Let’s get summer started with our first Wednesday Summer Getaway! For our first getaway, we’ll be going to the new Activate Birmingham! What’s Activate, you ask? Great question! Activate is a new gaming experience where they have several games rooms that are designed with interactive technology. Each room has different games & challenges that you...
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Who loves a good roller coaster? We know you do! We hope you’ll join us on Wednesday, June 19th as we venture to Six Flags Over Georgia! It will be a day full of fun rides, park food, and some of your favorite people! Could there be a better way to spend a Wednesday? We...
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Come and enjoy Taco Mama from 5-9 PM at the Crestline location 63 Church Street Make sure to mention “Canterbury Fundraiser” at checkout for each restaurant.

Our Junior High students will be heading to the beach this summer for an incredible trip, and we are very excited about it! BigStuf is a camp in Panama City Beach, Florida, and it is awesome. Great messages. Great worship. Incredible location. We will be attending BigStuf from June 21-25, 2024. This trip has all...
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Camp Mash Up at Canterbury June 24-27, 2024, 9am-1pm is for rising 1st grade through 4th grade students. We will do hands on science experiments each day, make fun crafts, create our own snacks, play lots of games and have so much opportunity to use imagination. And we will cover some scripture too!

June Legacy Luncheon welcomes Hand N Paw! Join us for lunch at noon on June 25! $5 Canterbury Hall rsvp by June 18 to Valerie Boyd at valerie.boyd@canterburyumc.org

Summer Night Out with Canterbury! Come enjoy lunch or dinner at Daniel George 11 AM-2 PM  |  5:30 PM-9:30 PM 2837 Culver Road Reservations are required, click here. Make sure to mention “Canterbury Fundraiser” at checkout for each restaurant.

For rising 1st – 4th grade for the 2024-2025 year. July 22-25, 2024 9:00am-1:00pm

Current 10th-12th grade students, this getaway is for you! We’re going whitewater rafting! Woohoo! This is an overnight trip where we will leave mid-morning on Wednesday, July 31st and head to Tennessee. We’ll spend the night at the Whitewater Express camp, and then we’ll go whitewater rafting mid-morning on Thursday, August 1st. We’ll be back...
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Book Club is back and will be held on the 1st Monday of each month! (8/5-4/1) Join us from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM in Room M226 for great discussion and fellowship. To reserve a lunch ($12) please email Clare Mallette. To register for book club, click here.

Let’s go back to Atlanta for our last Summer Getaway of Summer 2024! We couldn’t think of a better way to cap off a great summer than to go to a Braves game! Please note that this getaway is on a Thursday. We’ll meet at Canterbury at 8:30am on Thursday, August 8th, and then we’ll...
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Come and enjoy Davenport's Pizza from 5-9 PM 2837 Cahaba Road Make sure to mention “Canterbury Fundraiser” at checkout for each restaurant.

We invite you to a new way to kick off the school year at Canterbury. During the Sunday School hour will host a “meet the teacher” style event for kids and their parents to find their new classrooms and to meet their teachers in the kids’ area. Afterwards, we invite you and your kids to...
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Food, fun, fellowship All ages are invited to join us to kickoff fall with FOUR entertaining guys who will be here to have fun, share some music and make some memories...  Three on a String! Make plans to join us! Complimentary Dinner  •  Ice Cream Trucks Cornhole Tournament  •  Inflatables for Kids Lots of Fun ...
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Do you have an aging parent or loved one? The next engAGE Lunch and Learn will be August 22 from 11:30-1:00 PM in Canterbury Hall. The topic is WHAT'S NEXT? Putting the right pieces in place to be better prepared to care for an aging loved one. It will be led by a panel of four local experts. Lunch is...
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On Sunday, August 25, our 3rd grade students will take part in their Faith Milestone event during the Sunday School hour at 9:15 AM as they will receive their very own Bible from Canterbury. Please click here for more details and to RSVP.

Every month, Canterbury members and people from all over our community come together for a great lunch prepared by Canterbury Chef, Debbie Lofton. Come enjoy fellowship while being entertained by singers, dancers, musicians, or professional speakers. Join us at Noon in Canterbury Hall on August 27 to hear from and to meet Canterbury's new Director...
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Spiritual Practices and the Enneagram With Rev. Joseph and Suzanne Stabile Hosted by Canterbury UMC Friday, September 6 - 6-9 PM Saturday, September 7 - 9 AM-5 PM Our ways of connecting with God are as varied as our Enneagram numbers. This workshop will walk participants through varied spiritual practices, practical application and expectations, and...
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Book Club is back and will be held on the 1st Monday of each month! (8/5-4/1) Join us from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM in Room M226 for great discussion and fellowship. To reserve a lunch ($12) please email Clare Mallette. To register for book club, click here.

Thank you, Canterbury, for the feedback you provided through the recent survey on mental health. From the data collected, we've developed a 4-week program starting on September 11 that contains helpful sessions designed to support and equip persons caring for family members with mental health challenges. This support group is co-sponsored by United Counseling and all sessions...
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Hill Carmichael is starting a new study for men ages 35-50. It will kick off on September 12 at 6:30 AM in Room M208, and will be held on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month. Questions? Email Hill or click here to sign up.

Begins September 15 Considering joining Canterbury? This Sunday morning class is a basic introduction to our church family and a wonderful time to continue building connections with others. The next session will be held in the Dining Room at 9:15 AM on 9/15, 9/22, 9/29 & 10/6. To register, please email Becky King.

Begins September 15 | 5-6:30 PM The Divorce Journey: Past, Present & Future - Going through a divorce holds such a wide range of feelings, decisions and reassessments of life goals. This 10-week course on Sunday evenings is a safe and encouraging community where participants are guided along their unique journeys and beyond. Sessions include...
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This year we are including 4th graders in the Rise community of 5th & 6th graders. Make sure to sign up your child for our first RISE retreat on September 20-21, held in conjunction with Asbury UMC and Grace UMC. This will be a super fun fall weekend at Camp Sumatanga, click here to register. Questions?...
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Considering joining Canterbury? This Sunday morning class is a basic introduction to our church family and a wonderful time to continue building connections with others. The next session will be held in the Dining Room at 9:15 AM on 9/15, 9/22, 9/29 & 10/6. To register, please email Becky King.

Considering joining Canterbury? This Sunday morning class is a basic introduction to our church family and a wonderful time to continue building connections with others. The next session will be held in the Dining Room at 9:15 AM on 9/15, 9/22, 9/29 & 10/6. To register, please email Becky King.

Considering joining Canterbury? This Sunday morning class is a basic introduction to our church family and a wonderful time to continue building connections with others. The next session will be held in the Dining Room at 9:15 AM on 9/15, 9/22, 9/29 & 10/6. To register, please email Becky King.

Join us for breakfast on October 17 at 6:30 AM in Canterbury Hall! We’ll enjoy food and fellowship and discuss upcoming events specifically designed for men at Canterbury. So, if you are interested in being a part of a Life Group, signing up for a Men’s Retreat, or being a part of any of the...
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Faith Milestones are a chance for the church to celebrate exactly who your child is right now and connect that to important parts of our faith practices here at church. We are so excited to see you and your 4th grader at our 4th grade milestone on Oct 20. We will be learning about how...
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For years, Canterbury’s Outreach ministries have been guided by Jesus’ words in Matthew 25. Sunday morning, October 27, our church will experience this passage as we worship together through hands-on service from 9:30-11:30 AM. Please make plans to join us as we live out our call to love ‘the least of these’ on October 27,...
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Please join us for our October Juke Fest as we reminisce to the music from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s featuring Bob Norman and friends. Be on the lookout, you never know who is waiting in the wings to jitterbug. Enjoy a fabulous lunch, fellowship, singing and yes, some dancing! Canterbury Hall  |  Noon  |  $5 Please RSVP...
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Book Club is held on the 1st Monday of each month! (8/5-4/7) Join us from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM in Room M226 for great discussion and fellowship. To reserve a lunch ($12) please email Clare Mallette. REGISTER for Book Club, click here.

Faith Milestones are a chance for the church to celebrate exactly who your child is right now and connect that to important parts of our faith practices here at church. We are so excited to see you and your 1st grader at our 1st grade milestone on Nov 17. We will be learning about baptism...
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Please join us for a wonderful Thanksgiving lunch with Bishop Mike Watson. Learn practical ways to be grateful to God in the hard times, to be thankful for what we have, to look for ways to help and be there for one another all while embracing and meeting each other right where we are…in God’s hands.

For all who find themselves in a tougher season in life during the holidays, you are invited to join us for a luncheon on Wednesday, November 20. Maybe grief, illness, divorce, or another challenge has you wondering how to approach the holidays. Rev. Monica Harbarger, Director of United Counseling, will be our special guest and she...
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(Registration is now closed.) The Journey Retreat is a weekend retreat for students in grades 7-12 for the 2024-2025 school year. It is an incredible weekend full of amazing worship, great talks, meaningful experiences, and a whole lot of fun!

Samaritan Place Market: A Christmas Village | November 1-24 Canterbury, you have been so faithful over the years to provide new children's gifts to stock ASP's annual Christmas Village. This year's gift collection will be held from November 1-24. Shop for toys at your favorite local store or use the convenient Amazon Wish List. Financial...
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On Sunday afternoon, November 24, 2024 Avondale Samaritan Place will host a fundraising event. The “Pickle & Pours” Pickleball Tournament will be held at Magic City Pickleball Club (1651 Independence Ct. Suite 111, Homewood, AL 35209 | 205.201.0242). By participating you will have lots of fun – and will also be feeding an underserved family...
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All are invited to the UMW December Coffee on Monday, December 2 from 10:30-11:30 AM. Rachel Estes will be the guest speaker and, following the meeting, Community On The Rise and Thistle Farms will host a holiday pop-up shop featuring their Christmas items. Great shopping for gifts and stocking stuffers.

Let’s kickoff Christmas at Canterbury in the Chapel parking lot. A hot dinner will be served from 5-6 PM in Canterbury Hall and the event will begin outside at 6 PM. We will enjoy yummy hot chocolate, fire pits, fellowship and sing-along with the Contemporary Band. Invite a friend and bring your folding chairs!

All are invited to attend this special music event in Canterbury’s Sanctuary. It is the choir’s 88th year to perform Lessons & Carols.

We’re celebrating Christmas at YAC on Sunday, December 8! It’ll be a fun night filled with all of our favorite things. Check out YAC’s Instagram or Facebook for more details on the event. This will be our last MYF of the year, so make sure to join us!

Advent is just around the corner! It is time to place orders for poinsettias to beautify our worship spaces at Christmas. If you would like to order one to honor or remember a loved one, you may do so by filling out an order form located at the round desk. Each poinsettia is $25. The...
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Faith Milestones are a chance for the church to celebrate exactly who your child is right now and connect that to important parts of our faith practices here at church. We are so excited to see you and your baby at our 1st milestone for them on Dec 15. We will be learning about how...
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Please join us for our annual Christmas Carol Sing Along with our Canterbury staff! Enjoy a wonderful meal by Debbie, sing a few Christmas favorites led by Rev. Keith Thompson and share in wonderful fellowship and love as we embrace the spirit of hope this Christmas season.

What better way to enjoy the holiday season than with a fun and festive Christmas concert from an 80-voice chorus and band! The Side-by-Side Community Chorus is made up of folks from our Encore community who love to sing and be with friends! This year's concert will benefit the Encore Family Fund. No tickets are...
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You are invited to a special worship service to observe Winter Solstice - the longest night before Christmas. Join us at 6 PM in the Chapel on Thursday, December 19 – in a sacred space to reflect and accept where we really are, as we hold out for peace, healing and hope this season. * Service...
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Dec 22 at 10:30 Sanctuary Worship The Church Choir presents carols for the season coupled with scripture lessons outlining the advent and birth of Jesus on the last Sunday of Advent.

Mark your calendar and make sure to bring your children to participate in this sweet and fun morning activitiy! We will read the nativity story and create our own unique gingerbread nativities to take home. Fun for kids of all ages!

New Traditions Service * | 8:15 AM | Chapel A Storybook Christmas * | 1 PM | Canterbury Center Contemporary Service * | 3 PM | Canterbury Center Sanctuary Service | 3 PM | Sanctuary Sanctuary Service * | 5 PM | Sanctuary * Services to be livestreamed

New this year! A casual Christmas Eve Communion service designed especially for families with children. Join us in Canterbury Center to experience a unique telling of the nativity story, wonderful music, Christmas Eve communion and candlelight. Family Communion Service 

Faith Milestones are a chance for the church to celebrate exactly who your child is right now and connect that to important parts of our faith practices here at church. It is a great opportunity for you to have guided faith conversations with your kiddo and get to know some of the other families who...
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Save the date! Make plans to join us for a great breakfast, wonderful fellowship, and a time of inspiration on January 16. Click here to register.

Canterbury Rise kids will be gathering with other UMC kids from around the Birmingham area on Martin Luther King day, January 20. We will gather at Canterbury at 8:30 for donuts and a game before driving down to St Paul UMC, located across from the Civil Rights Institute. We will get to know some of...
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On Thursday evening, January 30, UMW will host a special event featuring local author and popular speaker Sophie Hudson. Make plans to join us at 6 PM to enjoy a fun night of stories and learn ways to find encouragement and hope in the everyday, joy-filled moments of life. Sophie has published seven books and...
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Men's Winter Retreat at Canterbury United Methodist Church Featuring Leonard Sweet Theologian, Pastor & Author  The Event will kick off on Friday January 31st with dinner and an evening session and will include sessions beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday in Canterbury Hall. On Sunday, Dr. Sweet will teach a combined Sunday School Class and...
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Faith Milestones are a chance for the church to celebrate exactly who your child is right now and connect that to important parts of our faith practices here at church. It is a great opportunity for you to have guided faith conversations with your kiddo and get to know some of the other families who...
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On Monday, February 10 in Wesley Hall, Kate will be with us to share about the story of challenging the status quo and digging deep into her own story to find connection, hope, and new answers to old problems in her book. It is a story of racial inequity, generational poverty, and finding community in...
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Please welcome Dr. Rick Owen as he talks about Canterbury’s recent musical field trip of Living the Blues. Music is more than music. It is community, it is a feeling, it is a part of our soul. Join us as we discover how this music has the power to unite us all with heartfelt stories...
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Sunday, March 2  |  11:30 AM  |  Canterbury Parlor Rev. Sheryl Thornton is retiring from Canterbury after 17 years of beautiful and dedicated service. If you’d like to express your gratitude to Sheryl, you may make a Love Offering in her honor. Please send your check to the Canterbury Finance Office noting ‘Love Offering –...
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Morning Ashes  |  7-8:30 AM  |  Chapel DRIVE THROUGH on your morning commute or after carpool drop off to receive your ashes and a special blessing from one of our pastors. Noon Blues Service  |  12 PM  |  Chapel New this season! This very unique service will combine the solemnity and reflection of Ash Wednesday with the...
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Faith Milestones are a chance for the church to celebrate exactly who your child is right now and connect that to important parts of our faith practices here at church. It is a great opportunity for you to have guided faith conversations with your kiddo and get to know some of the other families who...
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Get ready for the best retreat of the Spring! Discovery Weekend is March 14-16, and it's a retreat for all 7th-12th graders! Discovery Weekend is a weekend for our junior high students that is put on by our senior high students. It is a retreat here at the church that will be the best weekend of...
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Noon Services & Lunch | April 14, 15 & 16 (Chapel) -- Maundy Thursday Services | April 17 (Noon & 6 PM) -- Good Friday Services | April 18 (Noon & 6 PM) Please visit www.canterburyumc.org/lent for the full list.

We cannot wait to celebrate Easter with you! Sanctuary Worship: 8:15 & 10:30 AM & Contemporary Worship: 8:15 & 10:30 AM

Join TAYA at Canterbury UMC for the Come Into The Light Tour, a transformative worship experience featuring her latest single by the same name, as well as other new songs from her upcoming record. For tickets and parking information, click here!

Faith Milestones are a chance for the church to celebrate exactly who your child is right now and connect that to important parts of our faith practices here at church. It is a great opportunity for you to have guided faith conversations with your kiddo and get to know some of the other families who...
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The Side by Side Community Chorus presents "A Stroll Down Broadway!" on Tuesday, May 13 from 2:00-2:45 PM in Canterbury Hall. Great for all ages! No tickets are required, but donations will be accepted at the door to benefit McCoy Adult Day Care. Please come out and support us with your presence for this special...
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Introducing a new program at Canterbury UMC! If your family is growing through birth, adoption or fostering, we would love to spend a morning with you to talk about all the ways our church hopes to wrap around your family during these sacred days and years! We will discuss baptism and walk through what you...
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The Birmingham Boys Choir presents its 47th annual spring concert on Sunday, May 18 at 2:30 PM in the Canterbury Sanctuary. All are invited! The concert is free and is the Boys Choir's gift to the community. To learn more, click here.

May 27 | 12 Noon Join us for a very special Legacy Luncheon with Dr. John Waits from Freedom Farm, homes for abused, abandoned, neglected and at-risk kids. Learn how this amazing ministry is changing the lives of children and families giving them the “freedom to soar” and to succeed in life by giving them...
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Let’s getaway for our first Summer Getaway of the summer with a trip to Six Flags! We’re headed to Six Flags Over Georgia in Atlanta, Georgia on Wednesday, May 28th! This will be an all-day trip, and it’s going to be an awesome time! Friends are welcome, but spots are limited, so sign up ASAP!...
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Camp Sumatanga is unique among camping experiences because it has an explicit focus on spiritual growth and provides kids the opportunity to meet kids from all different backgrounds from across North Alabama.  Every summer, I volunteer to lead a Day Camp for early elementary kids.  I’d love to have your kids join me at Sumatanga...
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Lake Martin | Alexander City, AL Sr. High students are invited to join us for a lake weekend full of fun, talks, and discussions! We will spend a weekend at Lake Martin from June 6-8, 2025. Our time will be spent on the lake during the day with sessions in the morning and evening. Spots...
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I grew up at Camp Sumatanga and value that it is unique among camping experiences because it has an explicit focus on spiritual growth and provides kids the opportunity to meet kids from all different backgrounds from across North Alabama. Every summer, I volunteer to be on the leadership team of the upper elementary overnight...
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We’re headed to Activate on Wednesday, June 11 for another Summer Getaway! Activate is an interactive game room experience with tons of different active gaming experiences. It’s awesome, and you’re going to want to be there! As always, friends are welcome! Spots are limited, so sign up ASAP! This trip is for students who will...
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Let’s go cheer on the Braves on Wednesday, June 18th! We’re headed to the night game that will be against the New York Mets. We’ll meet at the church on Wednesday afternoon at 1:00pm, and then we’ll head to Truist Park. We’ll watch as much of the game as possible and then be back at...
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We’re doing something new this summer! Jr. High students are invited to join us as we travel to Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) in Bryson City, NC. The Jr. High Adventure Trip will be June 23-26, 2025. On this trip, we’ll go rafting on the Nantahala River & do some other awesome activities while we’re there!...
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Join us as Lifecare Solutions will provide us with valuable info to help us plan for care through all stages of the aging process. Come learn about resources to help you and your family. $10 RSVP to Valerie Boyd: valerie.boyd@canterburyumc.org

Magic City Work Week is just Mission Week with a new name & a twist! This year we will be partnering with another UMC church, and it’s going to be awesome! This is an amazing week where we spend the week serving in the West End area. We’ll paint houses during the day and then...
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(Registration Closed) We are switching up things for our upper elementary kids this year by helping them have their own unique week that is separate from VBS. Canterbury Rise students will gather with other upper elementary kids from Birmingham UMCs for a whole new experience we’re calling Connect Serve Week. Thematically, we will round out...
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(Registration Closed) Our rising 4K-3rd graders are going to have a blast at Dive Deep, Exploring God’s Grace!  We will go on our deep water adventure July 28-31, from 9-noon each day.

On Sunday, August 10 during the Sunday School hour, Kids@Canterbury will celebrate a new school year and a brand new year of ministry with a Donut Party! Make sure to join us in Canterbury Hall for this “sweet” event.

On Sunday, August 10 during the combined 10:30 AM worship service in the Sanctuary, we will have a special moment to bless the backpacks of all our children returning to school! Make sure to bring your child's special bag or backpack to worship that day!

For all YOUTH Jr. High & Sr. High! SUNDAY, AUGUST 17 - Get ready to kick off the year with our YAC Rodeo! Join us at 5:00 pm in the parking lot between the playground and parking deck for an evening packed with fun—featuring a mechanical bull, inflatables, rodeo games, and more! We’ll be grilling...
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Make plans to join us on Wednesday night, August 20 in Canterbury Hall for a special Fall Studies Kickoff event that all ages will enjoy! Chik-fil-A dinner and ice cream sundae bar, games, inflatables for kids, preview fall studies and more! Let’s connect this fall enjoying fellowship, faith, fun, and fresh insights.

NEXT STEPS | Begins September 7, 9:30 AM This 3-week Sunday morning class is a basic introduction to our church family and a wonderful time for you to continue building connections with others. If you are interested in making Canterbury your church home, please join us on 9/7, 9/14 & 9/21. Sign up: Email becky.king@canterburyumc.org