Family Feud
A sermon delivered by Keith Swatzel
on April 26, 2009
Luke 24:36-48
There are few times when most of us are able to gather our extended families together and share a meal. There is something about gathering together to eat that makes up for all of the time we spend apart. Thanksgiving is the meal of meals, the feast of all feasts. There’s no better way to show your gratitude for the abundance God has given than to enjoy it, a lot of it, with family. Yet, as millions of Americans each year travel hundreds of miles and gather around in homes to celebrate their blessings, something is not quite right. The turkey and dressing are good. The sweet potato pie is spectacular. In fact food is far from the problem. It’s the legend of Thanksgiving that is problematic. We all know the story.
Read MoreSunday, April 26, 2009 –The Third Sunday of Easter / Heritage Sunday /
9:00 AM — Adult Study – Nooma Video Series
10:15 AM — Worship & Sunday School (Pre K through 6th Grade)
Preacher: Keith A. Swatzel, II Theme: Family Feud
Lectionary Readings: Acts 3:12-19 1 John 3:1-7
Psalm 4 Luke 24:36b-48
Children’s Message: Pastor John Painter
Celebration of Found Coins: Red Bird Mission
Music: Chancel Choir – A Navaho Prayer by Cary John Franklin
11:30 AM — Fellowship Time(Room 20)
11:45 AM — Women’s Chorus Rehearsal (Music Room)
6:30 PM — Centenary Youth Fellowship (Youth Room)
Sunday, April 19, 2009 –The Second Sunday of Easter
9:00 AM — Adult Study – Nooma Video Series
10:15 AM — Worship (No Sunday School Classes at 10:15 AM on April 19)
Special Jazz Service of Worship featuring Leigh Pezet and his Ensemble
Lectionary Readings: Acts 4:32-35 1 John 1:1-2:2
Psalm 133 John 20:19-31
11:30 AM — Fellowship Time
11:45 AM — Women’s Chorus Rehearsal
6:30 PM — Centenary Youth Fellowship
Celebration of Found Coins: Red Bird Mission
Read MoreA Never-Ending Story
A Sermon Delivered by
The Rev. John D. Painter
at Centenary United Methodist Church
Metuchen, New Jersey
April 12, 2009
(Easter Sunday)
Text: Mark 16:1-8
When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Sa-lome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was cruci-fied. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. —Mark 16:1-8, NRSV
Answering Pilate’s Question
A Meditation Delivered by
The Rev. John D. Painter
at The Ecumenical Good Friday Preaching Service
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
Metuchen, New Jersey
April 10, 2009
Text: Matthew 27:11-24, 26
Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
Holy Week 2009
Sunday, April 5 — Passion/Palm Sunday (No Sacrament of Holy Communion on April 5)
10:15 AM — Worship Service & Distribution of Palms
Preacher: John D. Painter Theme: Behind the Scenes: Ordinary Details
Special Music by our Chancel Choir, Junior Choir and Harris Ringers
11:45 AM — Pot-Luck Lunch and Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by Children’s Ministries
Thursday, April 9 — Holy Thursday
6:30 PM — Soup & Seder Supper (Soup & Seder Items and Beverages will be provided.)
7:30 PM — Holy Thursday Service & Sacrament of Holy Communion at Tables
Friday, April 10 — Good Friday
12:00 – 3:00 PM –Ecumenical Good Friday Preaching Service
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Middlesex Ave. & Oak Ave., Metuchen
(Pastor John Painter will offer his Message at 12:20 PM)
7:30 PM — A Cantata: Behold, What Manner of Love by Eugene Butler
featuring the Chancel Choir, soloists, narrator & instrumentalists
Sunday, April 12 – Easter Sunday (No Sunday School Classes on Easter Sunday)
6:00 AM — New Hope Baptist Church Sunrise Service @ Roosevelt Park
(Gathering at the Gazebo by the Lake)
7:30 AM — Easter Breakfast sponsored by Children’s Ministries
($3.00 per person donation requested)
9:00 AM — Easter Children’s Ministries Pageant — Once upon a Caterpillar
10:30 AM — Easter Worship & Sacrament of Holy Communion
Festival Brass and Chancel Choir at 10:30 AM Service
Preacher: John D. Painter (10:30 AM) Theme: A Never-Ending Story
—Please invite your friends, neighbors and family to share in our
Holy Week and Easter Services and activities—
Sunday, April 12, 2009 – Easter Sunday
6:00 AM— New Hope Baptist Church Easter Sunrise Service
(Roosevelt Park at the Gazebo by the Lake)
7:30 AM — Easter Breakfast Sponsored by Children’s Ministries
($3.00 donation requested)
9:00 AM — Easter Children’s Ministries Pageant — Once upon a Caterpillar
10:30 AM — Easter Worship & Sacrament of Holy Communion
Festival Brass and Chancel Choir at 10:30 AM Service
Preacher: John D. Painter (10:30 AM) Theme: A Never-Ending Story
Lectionary Readings: Acts 10:34-43 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 Mark 16:1-8 or John 20:1-18
Music — Chancel Choir: Sound the Trumpet by Dale Peterson
11:45 AM — Fellowship Time sponsored by Children’s Ministries
Celebration of Found Coins: Red Bird Mission
Behind the Scenes: Ordinary Details
A Sermon Delivered by The Rev. John D. Painter
at Centenary United Methodist Church
Metuchen, New Jersey
April 5, 2009
(Passion/Palm Sunday)
Text: Mark 11:1-11
When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and im-mediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,