Sunday, March 29, 2009 – The Fifth Sunday in Lent / Youth Sunday
9:00 AM — Adult Study – Victory at Jerusalem
10:15 AM — Worship and Sunday School (Pre-K through 6th Grade)
Student Assistant Pastor Keith A. Swatzel, II and the 7th-12th Grade Youth
of Centenary will lead our Worship Service on Sunday, March 29, 2009.
Speakers: Centenary Youth Theme: Together, a Search for the Sacred
Lectionary Readings: Jeremiah 31:31-34 Hebrews 5:5-10
Psalm 51:1-12 John 12:20-33
Music — Youth Fellowship: Draw the Circle Wide by Mark A. Miller
11:30 AM — Fellowship Time
11:45 AM — Junior Choir Rehearsal
6:30 PM — Centenary Youth Fellowship
Celebration of Found Coins: “Nothing But Nets’ Anti-Malaria Campaign
Read MoreGood News / Bad News
A Sermon Delivered by The Rev. John D. Painter
at Centenary United Methodist Church
Metuchen, New Jersey
March 22, 2009
(The Fourth Sunday in Lent)
Text: John 3:14-21
“And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”
—John 3:14-21, NRSV
Sunday, March 22, 2009 – The Fourth Sunday in Lent / One Great Hour of Sharing
9:00 AM — Adult Study – Victory at Jerusalem
10:15 AM — Worship and Sunday School (Pre-K through 12th Grade)
Preacher: John D. Painter Theme: Good News/Bad News
Lectionary Readings: Numbers 21:4-9 Ephesians 2:1-10
Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 John 3:14-21
Music — Chancel Choir: God So Loved the World by John Stainer
11:30 AM — Fellowship Time
11:45 AM — Junior Choir Rehearsal
6:30 PM — Centenary Youth Fellowship
Celebration of Found Coins: “Nothing But Nets’ Campaign
Read MoreLenten Distractions
A Sermon Delivered by The Rev. John D. Painter at
Centenary United Methodist Church
Metuchen, New Jersey
March 15, 2009
(The Third Sunday in Lent)
Text: Exodus 20:1-17
Then God spoke all these words:
I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my com-mandments.
March 15, 2009 – The Third Sunday in Lent / Reception of New Members
9:00 AM — Adult Study – Victory at Jerusalem
10:15 AM — Worship and Sunday School (Pre-K through 12th Grade)
Preacher: John D. Painter Theme: Lenten Distractions
Lectionary Readings: Exodus 20:1-17 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
Psalm 19 John 2:13-22
We will welcome four new members to the Centenary Church Family:
Joseph & Christine Cullin, Susan Granski, and Maria Morgan
Music — Chancel Choir: Amen, So Be It! By Natalie Sleeth
11:30 AM — Fellowship Time
11:45 AM — Junior Choir Rehearsal
6:30 PM — Centenary Youth Fellowship
Celebration of Found Coins: “Nothing But Nets’ Campaign
Cross Bearers
A Sermon Delivered by The Rev. John D. Painter
at Centenary United Methodist Church
Metuchen, New Jersey
March 8, 2009
(The Second Sunday in Lent)
Text: Mark 8:31-38
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turn-ing and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
Read MoreMarch 8, 2009 – The Second Sunday in Lent
9:00 AM — Adult Study – The True Easter Story
10:15 AM — Worship and Sunday School (Pre-K through 12th Grade)
Preacher: John D. Painter Theme: Bearers of the Cross
Lectionary Readings: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 Romans 4:13-25
Psalm 22:23-31 Mark 8:31-38
Music — Chancel Choir: I Love You, Lord by Laurie Klein, arr. by Stan Pethel
11:30 AM — Fellowship Time
11:45 AM — Junior Choir Rehearsal
Celebration of Found Coins: “Nothing But Nets’ Campaign
Where the Wild Things Are
A Sermon Delivered by The Rev. John D. Painter
at Centenary United Methodist Church
Metuchen, New Jersey
March 1, 2009
(The First Sunday in Lent)
Text: Mark 1:9-15
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jor-dan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
Up from the Ashes
A Sermon Delivered byThe Rev. John D. Painter
at Centenary United Methodist Church
Metuchen, New Jersey
February 25, 2009
(Ash Wednesday)
Text: Psalm 51:1-17
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.