YAC Activate Getaway
2025-06-11 14:00 - 16:30 (America/Chicago)
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/

Grief Care
2025-10-01 12:00
When we lose someone we love, we embark on a journey not of our choosing. But it is a vital and sacred journey for grief just the same. This group serves as a means of self-care and shared community for persons in grief. During this 6-week course, we will listen, share and gain important tools in navigating our unique grief experiences. Led by Hill Carmichael on Wednesdays at 12 Noon in Room M200.
Click here to register.

4K Faith Milestone
2025-10-19 09:15 - 10:30
We are so excited to see you and your 4K kiddo on October 19 at 9:15 AM in the Small Dining Room. We will be learning about prayer and how it helps us feel connected to God’s heart. Please click here to RSVP so that we will be prepared with materials for your family.

Youth Costumes on the Court
2025-10-26 16:30 - 18:00
Spooky season is officially here! To celebrate Halloween, we will be having a special MYF this Sunday, October 26 beginning at 4:30 PM. We will meet on the top level of the Parking Deck – making breakfast on the Blackstone, playing lots of games including Pickleball and Spike Ball, doing some Halloween activities, and having a costume contest with a great prize. But the main event will be a 3v3 basketball tournament! 🎃

Sage Legacy Luncheon
2025-10-28 12:00 - 13:00
All are invited to October’s Legacy Luncheon as we welcome Canterbury’s very own Perryn Carroll. She is the Executive Director of The Jimmie Hale Mission – and was named the 2025 Remarkable Woman of the Year for Central Alabama! Come for great food and fellowship and to hear her compelling story! Lunch ($5). RSVP by emailing Valerie Boyd by October 23.

Kids Halloween Fun Night
2025-10-29 17:00 - 19:00
Wednesday, October 29 will be spook-tacular! 🎃 Wear your costumes to church for dinner and a night full of Halloween fun!

Session 3 Fall Bible Studies
2025-11-05 18:00 - 19:00
Our 3rd fall session of Wednesday Night studies will begin on November 5 and will run through December 3. This great lineup is available for you to register now!
• Tori Hastings – Christian Community in a World Torn Apart: Lessons from Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• Rick Owen – Feeling the Blues: More than Music it is Community
• Keith Thompson – The Wesley Way: John Wesley’s Approach to Spiritual Growth
• Caroline Bundy & Rachel Estes – Faith Works: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat”
• Jordain Boland & Natalie Moon – The Gifts of Imperfection, by Brene Brown
• Eleanor Christiansen – Woven: Teaching Your Kids Faith
• Lisa Donnell & Team – Letters of Paul (ongoing)

1st Grade Faith Milestone
2025-11-09 09:15 - 10:30
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 9. We will be learning about baptism and how it teaches us who we are in God’s eyes. Please register here so that we will be prepared with materials for your family.

Book Club
2025-11-10 11:30 - 12:30
Bring a friend to Book Club in November! It is held on the 2nd Monday of the month from
11:30 AM-12:30 PM. Bring your lunch and join in the discussion.
For book titles and dates, click here.

Kids Critter Day Event
2025-11-11 10:00 - 11:00
Join us on Tuesday, November 11 at 10 AM in Canterbury Hall for a wild morning of fun! We’ll start with a short story time, then make a cool critter-themed craft you can take home. After that, get ready to meet some amazing animals native to Alabama… brought by none other than Aaron the Snake Professor! Invite your friends and come learn, laugh, and get up close (but not too close!) with some incredible critters! No charge, all welcome!

Kenya Information Meeting
2025-11-16 11:45 - 12:30
Join us in Wesley Hall on Sunday, November 16 to hear about the Canterbury mission trip to Kenya in Summer 2026. We will discuss the mission project, costs, dates and logistics. If you are unable to attend but still interested in learning more, please email Hill.carmichael@canterburyumc.org or Rachel.estes@canterburyumc.org for notes from the meeting.

Men's Breakfast
2025-11-20 06:30 - 07:30
Canterbury UMC Men’s Ministry is excited to welcome author Russell J. Levenson, Jr. as the guest speaker for the November Men’s Breakfast. Join us for a delicious breakfast, great fellowship, and a compelling talk on Levenson’s book, “Witness to Belief: Conversations on Faith and Meaning”.

Youth | Journey Retreat
2025-11-21 - 2025-11-23
Journey Retreat will be November 21-23 at Shocco Springs in Talladega, AL. This is a retreat for all 7th-12th graders (friends are welcome!). Registration is now closed.

Canterbury Christmas Chili Cookoff
2025-12-17 17:30 - 19:00
Join us for a fun and festive evening at Canterbury’s Christmas Chili Cookoff! Enjoy a hearty spread of homemade chilis and grilled cheese while celebrating the season with friends, games and great food! Enter your best chili to compete for fun prizes… or simply come ready to taste and vote for your favorites! Proceeds will benefit the Jackson Olin High School feeding program, helping ensure students have meals over the holidays. All ages are invited to come share in the Christmas cheer and make a difference! [ $10 adults | $7 kids & youth | $30 family max ] Enter your chili by clicking here, $20 reg. fee, deadline to enter is December 10.

Iron City Men's Event
2026-01-10 09:00 - 12:00
Save the date for a powerful morning of inspiration and fellowship at the Men’s Ministry Gathering on Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 9 AM to Noon at TopGolf. This event features two dynamic speakers, Jerry Pate, U.S. Open Champion and Alabama Hall of Fame golfer, and Aaron Feld, renowned strength coach from the University of Oregon and University of Miami. Enjoy great conversation, encouragement, and connection with men from across the community. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today: $50 per person or $25 for college students. Sponsored by Bluff Park UMC, Canterbury UMC, Grace UMC, New Beginnings UMC, St. Mark UMC, Trinity UMC, and West District UMC. Register now by clicking here.

Serve Day
2026-01-25
Serve Day at Canterbury returns on Sunday, January 25! After such an incredible experience last year, we can’t wait to come together again to serve our neighbors and community. Mark your calendar and make plans to join us for this special Sunday of hands-on ministry, fellowship, and impact – you won’t want to miss it!
