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.