Sunday, October 4, 2009 – The Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost / World Communion Sunday
9:00 AM — Adult Study – The Prayers of Jesus
10:15 AM — Worship & Sunday School (Pre-K through 12th Grade)
Preacher: John D. Painter Theme: The World at Our Table
Lectionary Readings: Job 1:1; 2:1-10 Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12
Psalm 26 Mark 10:2-16
Music—Chancel Choir: Blessed Be the Name, arr. Benjamin Harlan;
Come to the Table by Joseph M. Martin
Celebration of Found Coins: 2009 CROP Walk (October 18)
11:45 AM — Fellowship Time
11:45 AM — Junior Choir Rehearsal
6:30 PM — United Methodist Youth Fellowship (Grades 7-12)
World Communion Sunday
October 4, 2009
This Sunday, October 4—World Communion Sunday—more Christians will gather around the Table of Christ in 24 hours to receive the gifts of bread and wine than on any other day of the year!
We are asking each household (individual and/or family) to bring a special loaf of bread to our service on Sunday, October 4. It may be a loaf you or another member of your family prepares and bakes at home; it may be a special loaf you select to purchase from a bakery. During the Celebration of Found Coins Pastor Painter will invite you to come forward with your offerings and also place your loaves in two large baskets at the foot of the Altar. We will be using four different loaves of bread for our Communion serving at four different locations in the Sanctuary—representing “the four corners of the world.” We will bless all of the loaves and then distribute them back out to the congregation at the conclusion of the service. In this simple way you may enjoy the gifts of one another symbolized through these many different kinds bread. If there are loaves remaining when the service is concluded, we will arrange for them to be shared with people in our area who may be blessed by the gifts of our bread.
Flags: There will be a colorful display of flags from nations around the world in our Sanctuary that morning, thanks to a special gift made in 2007 by our Children’s Ministries program.
Fellowship & Food: Everyone is invited to share together in an International Fellowship Time following Worship. We invite you to bring a simple “goodie” to share with others during Fellowship Time that is reflective of your heritage. In a congregation like Centenary, composed of persons from a variety of different cultures we anticipate a delicious opportunity to sample simple foods from a wide variety of international cuisines. Come at Christ’s invitation to share in the Sacrament of Holy Communion and “International Fellowship Time” at Centenary on Sunday, October 4th.
When in Our Music God Is Glorified
A Sermon Delivered by The Rev. John D. Painter at Centenary United Methodist Church Metuchen, New Jersey September 27, 2009 (Music Recognition Sunday)
Text: Ephesians 1:3-14
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.
—Ephesians 1:3-14, NRSV
Sunday, September 27, 2009 – The Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost / Music Recognition Sunday
9:00 AM — Adult Study – The Prayers of Jesus
10:15 AM — Worship & Sunday School (Pre-K through 12th Grade)
Preacher: John D. Painter Theme: When in Our Music God Is Glori-fied
Lectionary Readings: Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 James 5:13-20
Psalm 124 Mark 9:38-50
Music—Chancel Choir: Come, Christians, Join to Sing
by Christian Henry Bateman, arr. Douglas E. Wagner;
Come, O Come, Our Voices Raise by Steven Scott
Celebration of Found Coins: Future Volunteer-in-Mission Trip
11:30 AM — Fellowship Time
6:30 PM — United Methodist Youth Fellowship (Grades 7-12)
Welcome the Child
A Sermon Delivered by The Rev. John D. Painter at Centenary United Methodist Church
Metuchen, New Jersey September 20, 2009
(Open House Sunday)
Text: Mark 9:30-37; Mark 10:13-16
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.
Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
—Mark 9:30-37, NRSV
Sunday, September 20, 2009 – The Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost / Open House Sunday / Dedication of Sunday School Teachers & Staff
9:00 AM — Adult Study – The Prayers of Jesus
10:15 AM — Worship & Sunday School (Pre-K through 12th Grade)
Preacher: John D. Painter Theme: Welcome the Child
Lectionary Readings: Proverbs 31:10-31 James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a
Psalm 1 Mark 9:30-37
Music—Chancel Choir: Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying
by Ken Medema, arranged by Jack Schrader
Celebration of Found Coins: Future Volunteer-in-Mission Trip
11:30 AM — Fellowship Time
6:30 PM — United Methodist Youth Fellowship (Grades 7-12)
Adult Class Studying “The Prayers Of Jesus”
Centenary’s Adult Class is meeting at 9:00 AM in the Sunshine Room for a DVD study on “The Prayers of Jesus.”
From his baptism to his crucifixion, the Gospels portray Jesus as a man of prayer who knew and deeply valued intimate communion with God. This series, led by some of the country’s lead-ing Bible scholars, will give us an in-depth look at the prayers of Jesus and provide new insights into prayer, the character of God, and how we can deepen our relationship with God.
The topics that will be covered and the scripture passages on which they are based include:
• Watch and Pray—Jesus’ Model Prayer Life (Mark 1: 32-39; 9: 9-29; 14: 32-42);
• Our God Listens—The Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8);
• Joining in Jesus’ Prayer—The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6: 9-13);
• Praying to a Good God—The Friend at Midnight (Luke 11: 5-13);
• Praying with Purpose—Jesus’ Final Prayer (John 17); and
• A Friend in High Places—Faith, Prayers, and Answers (John 14: 13-14).
We invite you to join us for a new year of Bible study from 9:00 to 10:00 AM in the Sun-shine Room.
Welcome Home!
A Sermon Delivered by The Rev. John D. Painter at Centenary United Methodist Church, Metuchen, New Jersey September 13, 2009 (Homecoming Sunday)
Text: Luke 15:1-32
The Story of the Lost Sheep
By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, “He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends.” Their grumbling triggered this story.
“Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of res-cue.
Sunday, September 13, 2009 – The Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost / Homecoming Sunday
9:00 AM — Adult Study – The Prayers of Jesus
10:15 AM — Worship & Sunday School (Pre-K through 12th Grade)
Preacher: John D. Painter Theme: Welcome Home!
Lectionary Readings: Proverbs 1:20-33 James 3:1-12 Psalm 19 Mark 8:27-38
Music—Chancel Choir: The Heavens Are Declaring by L. V. Beethoven
Celebration of Found Coins: Volunteer-in-Mission Trip to North Carolina
12:00 PM — Homecoming Sunday / Back to School Picnic (Merril Park, Colonia)
On “Homecoming Sunday,” September 13th, we will resume our regular schedule with Worship and Sunday School for Pre-K through 12th Grade Youth at 10:15 AM. The Adult Class will also resume its sessions at 9:00 AM on Septem-ber 13 in the Sunshine Room. Save the afternoon of Sunday, September 13 for our annual “Homecoming Picnic” at Merrill Park in Colonia (Rain Date: September 20). Details on our Web site, in the September edition of The Lamplighter, Worship bulletins, and in weekly Centenary E-pistles to those for whom we have E-mail addresses.
Adult Class Resumes September 13 with “The Prayers Of Jesus”
Centenary’s Adult Class will reconvene on Sunday, September 13, at 9:00 AM in the Sunshine Room with a seven-week DVD study on “The Prayers of Jesus.”
From his baptism to his crucifixion, the Gospels portray Jesus as a man of prayer who knew and deeply valued intimate communion with God. This series, led by some of the country’s lead-ing Bible scholars, will give us an in-depth look at the prayers of Jesus and provide new insights into prayer, the character of God, and how we can deepen our relationship with God.
The topics that will be covered and the scripture passages on which they are based include:
• Watch and Pray—Jesus’ Model Prayer Life (Mark 1: 32-39; 9: 9-29; 14: 32-42);
• Our God Listens—The Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8);
• Joining in Jesus’ Prayer—The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6: 9-13);
• Praying to a Good God—The Friend at Midnight (Luke 11: 5-13);
• Praying with Purpose—Jesus’ Final Prayer (John 17); and
• A Friend in High Places—Faith, Prayers, and Answers (John 14: 13-14).
We will conclude this series on Sunday, October 25, with a short film from the NOOMA se-ries called “Open,” which focuses on the question, “Does God answer prayer?” and offers a fresh perspective on how we approach the things in life that compel us to pray.
We invite you to join us for a new year of Bible study, starting Sunday, September 13, from 9:00 to 10:00 AM in the Sunshine Room.
Read MoreSunday, September 6, 2009 – The Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost / Sacrament of Holy Communion / Final 9:30 AM Service / Labor Day Weekend
9:30 AM — Worship (There will be No Summer Sunday School on September 6)
Theme: A Summer Hymn Sing, Part 2
Lectionary Readings: Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 James 2:1-17 Psalm 125 Mark 7:24-37
Music: Alison Williams, oboe
Celebration of Found Coins: Volunteer-in-Mission Trip to North Carolina
10:45 AM — Fellowship Time
Summer Worship & Sunday School will be held at 9:30 AM. through Sun-day, September 6, 2009. (Note: There will be no Summer Sunday School sessions on the holiday weekend of September 6.) On “Homecoming Sunday,” September 13th, we will re-sume our regular schedule with Worship and Sunday School for Pre-K through 12th Grade Youth at 10:15 AM. The Adult Class will also resume its sessions at 9:00 AM on Sep-tember 13 in the Sunshine Room. Save the afternoon of Sunday, September 13 for our an-nual “Homecoming Picnic” at Merrill Park in Colonia (Rain Date: September 20). Details in the September edition of The Lamplighter, weekly Worship bulletins, and in weekly Centen-ary E-pistles to those for whom we have E-mail addresses.
Read MoreHearing & Doing — Living & Giving
A Message on Health Care Reform
A Sermon Delivered by The Rev. John D. Painter at Centenary United Methodist Church
Metuchen, New Jersey August 30, 2009
Text: James 1:17-27
Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.