Sunday, December 23, 2007 – The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Dear Centenary Church Family:
With the lighting of the fourth candle on our Advent Wreath by the Valentine Family…the candle of “Inner Peace”… we begin our final Sunday in the Season of Advent and await the celebration of the birth of Christ at our Christmas Eve services on Monday and in our homes on Tuesday. I hope many of you will gather at 10:15 AM on December 23 to share in the praise and worship of God and to sing some of the festive songs of the season. I will offer a morning message for the children, after which those from pre-K through 12th grade will be invited to join together for a special Birthday party for Jesus offered by our Children’s Ministries program. My morning Message, Joseph Prepares to Take His Place, will be based on the Gospel reading from Matthew 1:18-25. We will also share in the Epistle reading from Romans 1:1-7. Our Chancel Choir will sing Christmas Day (Choral Fantasy on Old Carols) by Gustav Holst, as arranged by Dale Wood. Our Celebration of Found Coins will be designated for the United Methodist Bishops’ Katrina Church Recovery Appeal. Further information about the Bishops’ Appeal and the opportunity to donate online are available at http://bishops.umc.org//interior.asp?ptid=21&mid=11099
Read MoreSunday, December 16, 2007 — Advent Service of Lessons and Carols
Dear Centenary Church Family:
With the joyous sounds of festival brass filling our Sanctuary, we will gather for Worship at 10:15 AM this Sunday, December 16. The Gray Family will lead us in lighting the third (rose-colored) candle on our Advent Wreath. Our Harris Ringers will offer Away in a Manger, arranged by Frances Callahan just before we receive our “Barrel Offering.” Assistant Pastor Terrilisa Durham Bauknight will share a message with the children, after which Pre-K children through 12th Grade youth are invited to participate in Sunday School classes.
Read MoreSunday, December 9, 2007 — Annual Sunday School Pageant
Dear Centenary Church Family:
On this Second Sunday of Advent (December 9), we will gather at 10:15 AM for the annual Sunday School Christmas Pageant. The Mosteller Family will light the second candle on the Advent Wreath…the candle of Home…after which we will sing that great Advent hymn, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Our children and youth will present the Message of the morning through the words and music of their pageant, A Shepherd’s Story (Luke 2:1-20) by Hal H. Hopson. We will conclude the service with the singing of portions of three Christmas carols. Our Celebration of Found Coins for this Sunday is designated for the support of our Children’s Ministries at Centenary.
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