Sunday, December 31 – Epiphany Sunday
Sermon text: Hitch Your Wagon to a Star.doc
Dear Centenary Church Family:
We will gather in our Sanctuary at 10:15 AM this Sunday, December 31, for our final Worship service of 2006. (Just a reminder that there will be no Sunday School classes this Sunday…our regular Sunday School schedule resumes on January 7, 2007.) It is The First Sunday After Christmas, which we will also observe as Epiphany Sunday, since the Day of Epiphany will occur on January 6. This festival day in the Church Year marks the arrival of the Magi (Wise Men) in Bethlehem to share their precious gifts with the Christ Child. Assistant Pastor Terrilisa Durham Bauknight will share a special Epiphany message with the children. My morning Message, Hitch Your Wagon to a Star, will be based on the story of the Magi from Matthew 2:1-12. We will also hear the prophetic reading from Isaiah 60:1-6. Our Chancel Choir will sing Saw You Never in the Twilight by C. F. Alexander and Austin C. Lovelace as a Prayer Anthem, and A Jazz Christmas Alleluia by Austin C. Lovelace during the Offertory. Our Celebration of Found Coins will be designated for the United Methodist Committee on Relief Emergency Appeal: Philippines Typhoon Durian. You may go to http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/ and click on the link for the Philippines Typhoon Durian Appeal to receive further information.
Read MoreSunday, December 24th – The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 24th – The Fourth Sunday of Advent
10:15 AM Worship (Note: There will be no Sunday School Classes on December 24th)
Preacher: John D. Painter
Theme: Tree Christmas O
Lectionary Readings:
Micah 5:2-5a Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:46b-55 Luke 1:39-45
Music: Our Chancel Choir will sing Sifuni Leo! (He’s Born Today-O!)
by Patrick M. Liebergen
Celebration of Found Coins: UMCOR Emergency Appeal: Philippines Typhoon Durian
O Come, All Ye Faithful!
Celebrate the Birth of Jesus the Christ at Centenary
Sunday, December 24th – Christmas Eve
7:00 PM — Christmas Eve Service for the Young of Heart and Spirit
Special Children’s Message, Soloists, Carols and Candle lighting
11:00 PM — Christmas Eve Service of Carols, Candlelight and Holy Communion
Chancel Choir, Soloist, Carols and Candle lighting
Preacher: John D Painter Theme: Unto Us…A Child
Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 9:2-7 Titus 2:11-14
Psalm 96 Luke 2:1-20
Sunday, December 10 – Annual Sunday School Pageant
Dear Centenary Church Family:
“Light two candles: Christ is coming, Christ brings Peace for the world…” With this verse of The Advent Candle Song, we will light the second candle on our Advent Wreath at our 10:15 AM Service of Worship this Sunday, December 10th. The children and youth of our Sunday School will then bring us closer to the birth of the Child of Bethlehem through their presentation of The Very Important Christmas Program: The Story of the Birth of Christ Told with Humor, Mystery and Awe!, a pageant written by Dennis Hartin. Throughout the presentation, the congregation will be joining with the children and youth in singing a number of familiar Christmas Carols. The annual Sunday School Pageant is always a special time at Centenary, and I know you will want to be present to receive this Advent/Christmas blessing from our children and youth. Our Celebration of Found Coins for this Sunday will be designated for Centenary’s Children’s Ministries program, and will be used to supplement funds available through the general budget to enhance our ministries with children.
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Sunday, December 3 – The First Sunday of Advent / Holy Communion
Dear Centenary Church Family:
We will light the first candle on the Advent Wreath at our 10:15 AM Worship Service this Sunday, December 3rd, as we mark the beginning of the Advent Season and the new Church Year. We are on our way to Bethlehem once again and the unique joy of these days of preparation for a promise fulfilled. I will share a special word with the children before dismissal for Sunday School classes for those in Pre-K through 12th grade. My morning Message, Here I Come…Ready or Not!, will be based on the Gospel reading from Luke 21:25-36 and the Prophet Jeremiah 33:14-16. Our Chancel Choir will sing a stirring rendering of Veni, veni Emmanuel (O come, O come, Emmanuel) by Zoltan Kodaly. We will share in the Sacrament of Holy Communion together…and the choir will offer a special Communion Anthem, I Remember You by Gene Grier, as we come forward to receive the bread and wine. Our Celebration of Found Coins is designated for the Global AIDS Fund of The United Methodist Church…please see the information below about this important outreach of our Church.
Our Annual Advent Pot-Luck Lunch and Crafts Workshop will be held immediately following Worship this Sunday. Please bring a dish or dessert to share and plan to join together for a time of fellowship and crafts for all ages as we begin our Advent journey.