Legacy Luncheon February 2025
2025-02-25 12:00 (America/Chicago)
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 of Blues music and its deep connection to community. Oh…and you won’t want to miss his surprise guest as we live and feel the blues just for a little while.
Canterbury Hall | Noon | $5
Please RSVP to Valerie Boyd 205.874.1523 or valerie.boyd@canterburyumc.org

Farewell Reception Honoring Sheryl Thornton
2025-03-02 11:30
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 – Sheryl Thornton’ in the memo line. A reception will be held for Sheryl on Sunday, March 2 in the Parlor immediately following 10:30 AM worship.

Ash Wednesday
2025-03-05 07:00
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 soulful and contemplative tones of blues music.
Evening Service of Ashes | 6 PM | Sanctuary
Join us as we mark the beginning of the Lenten season with this traditional evening service that promises to be both spiritually enriching and musically inspiring.
Dinner will be served on March 5 from 5-6 PM in Canterbury Hall.

5th Grade Milestone: I Can Give to my Church
2025-03-09 09:15 - 10:15
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 are doing life with you here at Canterbury!
We are so excited to see you and your 5th grader to join us on March 9 at 9:15 in the Dining Room. We will be learning about both our spiritual gifts and our financial gifts and how they are a part of what it means to belong to a church family.
Please RSVP so that we will be prepared with materials for your family.

March 9, 9:15-10:15
Room: The Dining Room
This is a parent & me event.

Register here.

Discovery Weekend
2025-03-14 00:00 - 2025-03-16 00:00
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 your life! Registration will open on Monday, February 3 at 7 AM! Not sure what Discovery Weekend is all about? Check out our 2024 Discovery Weekend highlight video to see why it’s so awesome!
Click here to register.

Holy Week Services
2025-04-14 08:00 - 2025-04-18 17:00
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.

Easter Services
2025-04-20 08:00 - 17:00
We cannot wait to celebrate Easter with you!
Sanctuary Worship: 8:15 & 10:30 AM & Contemporary Worship: 8:15 & 10:30 AM

TAYA Live in Concert
2025-04-24 19:00
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!

2K Milestone: I Can Sing!
2025-04-27 09:15 - 10:15
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 are doing life with you here at Canterbury!
We are so excited to see you and your 2K kiddo to join us on April 27 at 9:15 in room 211. We will be learning about why singing is important as we praise God together.
Please RSVP so that we will be prepared with materials for your family.

April 27, 9:15-10:15
Room: 211, the music room in the Elementary Hall
This is a parent & me event.

Register here.

Side By Side Concert
2025-05-13 14:00 - 14:45
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 event!

Calm Before the Stork
2025-05-18 09:30
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 need to consider when scheduling a baptism, talk about the nursery and Sunday School program, and share a few ideas about great books and Bibles for your little one. This also insures your family is on our church prayer list so we can be holding your family close in prayer as you prepare to meet each other.
We will hold our first bi-annual Calm Before the Stork on May 18 at 9:30 in room 213 in the Children’s Department. Please do us the favor of letting us know you plan to attend by RSVP’ing here.

Birmingham Boys Choir Spring Concert
2025-05-18 14:30
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.

Legacy Luncheon
2025-05-27 12:00
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 an anchor, a compass, but most of all by giving them hope and a loving home where God and faith are the center. Lunch is $5. Please RSVP by May 22 to 874-1523 or valerie.boyd@canterburyumc.org.

YAC Six Flags Getaway
2025-05-28 07:50 - 20:00
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!
This trip is for students who will complete grades 7-12 in the 2024-2025 school year.
Cost: $115
Sign up here!

Camp Sumatanga Day Camp
2025-06-02 00:00 - 2025-06-06 00:00
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 for Day Camp this summer on June 2-6, where we will be thinking about what it means to be peacemakers.

Rising 1st-3rd graders
June 2-6, 8am-4pm
Cost: $165
FULL, no more open spots

Senior High Lake Trip
2025-06-06 00:00 - 2025-06-08 00:00
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 are limited, so make sure you sign up ASAP!
This trip is for students who will complete grades 10-12 in the 2024-2025 school year.
Cost: $150
Sign up here!

Camp Sumatanga
2025-06-08 00:00 - 2025-06-13 00:00
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 camp. I’d love to have your kids join me at Sumatanga for Elementary 1 this summer on June 8-13, where we will be thinking about what it means to be peacemakers.

Rising 4th-6th grades
June 8-13
Cost: $450
Register through Sumatanga and learn more here: https://sumatanga.org/summer-camp/

YAC Activate Getaway
2025-06-11 14:00 - 16:30
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 complete grades 7-12 in the 2024-2025 school year.
Cost: $25
Sign up here!

2025-06-18 13:00 - 2025-06-19 00:00
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 Canterbury by midnight that night. It’s going to be a great night, and we hope you’ll be there! Friends are welcome, but make sure you sign up ASAP because spots are limited!
This trip is for students who will complete grades 7-12 in the 2024-2025 school year.
Cost: $80
Sign up here!

Junior High Adventure
2025-06-23 00:00 - 2025-06-26 00:00
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! It’ll be so fun, so make plans to join us! Spots are limited, so sign up ASAP!
This trip is for students who will complete grades 7-9 in the 2024-2025 school year.
Cost: $500
Sign up here!

EngAGE Lunch & Learn
2025-07-08 00:00
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

YAC Magic City Work Week
2025-07-13 00:00 - 2025-07-18 00:00
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 have sessions in the morning and night. We stay in dorms at UAB. It’s one of the best weeks in the life of YAC, and you don’t want to miss it!
This trip is for students who will complete grades 7-12 in the 2024-2025 school year.
Cost: $550
Sign up here!

Connect Serve Week
2025-07-21 00:00 - 2025-07-24 00:00
(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 our exploration of Wesley’s 3 simple rules by experiencing what it means to “Do good.” In the morning kids will play games, worship, and have small group Bible study & snacks. After lunch, we will go out into our community and serve our neighbors together.

Vacation Bible School | Dive Deep
2025-07-28 09:00
(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.

Kids Donut Party
2025-08-10 09:30 - 10:30
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.

Blessing of the Backpacks
2025-08-10 10:30
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!

YAC "Rodeo" Fall Kickoff
2025-08-17 17:00 - 19:00
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 hot dogs, serving up snacks and treats, and giving away awesome prizes, including a Party Rocker Speaker just for showing up. Everyone will get a free t-shirt, plus we’ll launch our first MYF series of the year and introduce small groups. The fun wraps up at 7:00 pm—don’t miss it!

Fall Bible Study & Wednesday Dinner Kickoff
2025-08-20 17:00 - 19:00
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
2025-09-07 09:15 - 22:15
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

Men's Breakfast
2025-09-25 06:30 - 07:30
Men’s Breakfast | September 25 | 6:30 AM
Join us in Canterbury Hall for our quarterly Men’s Ministry Breakfast featuring Canterbury’s Dave Wood, who will share inspiring stories from his Veterans Flights; a mission where he uses his own aircraft to help veterans travel when special needs arise. Enjoy a hearty breakfast ($12), meaningful fellowship, and words that will encourage and uplift. Don’t miss this opportunity to come and connect, bring a friend! Register: https://canterburyumc.org/mens-breakfast/
