Sunday, November 29, 2009 – The First Sunday of Advent
9:00 AM — Adult Study – The Best Songs Come at Night
10:15 AM — Worship & Sunday School (7th through 6th Grade)
Preacher: Keith A. Swatzel II Theme: Divine Dirt, Soiled Hope
Lectionary Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Psalm 25:1-10 Luke 21:25-36
Children’s Meditation: Keith Swatzel
Music— Congregational Song: All My Days by Mark Miller
Celebration of Found Coins: “Joy to the World” Heifer Project
11:30 AM — Fellowship Time
11:45 AM — Junior Choir Rehearsal
4:40 PM — Centenary United Methodist Youth Fellowship Trip to NYC
Adult Class Advent Study: The Best Songs Come at Night
Beginning on Sunday, November 29, Pastor John Painter will lead our annual Advent Study: The Best Songs Come at Night (And Other Christmas Proverbs). In the pages of this fascinating little book, popular pastor, teacher and author J. Ellsworth Kalas shares proverbial nuggets of wisdom from the biblical Christmas story. For example, he points out that many of history’s greatest inspirational songs were written in the most dire circumstances, places, and times of darkness within the human soul, and similarly, Christ the Savior was born into a nighttime world to bring the light of salvation to all humankind. Our weekly topics will include:
• November 29: “Miracles Begin as Babies” (Matthew 1:18-25)
• December 6: “The Best Songs Come at Night” (Luke 2:8-18)
• December 13: “Wise Men Follow a Star” (Matthew 2:1-11)
• December 20: “Christmas Lasts Longer Than You Think” (Luke 2:25-38)
For those who wish to participate fully in this Advent Study, copies of The Best Songs Come at Night are available in the Sunday morning Adult Study sessions during November at a cost of $8.00 each. Copies of the book may also be secured through the Church Office.
We invite you to join us for any or all of these sessions on Sunday mornings from 9:00 to 10:00 AM in the Sunshine Room.
We Shall Come Rejoicing, Bringing in the Sheaves
A Sermon Delivered by The Rev. John D. Painter at Centenary United Methodist Church Metuchen, New Jersey November 22, 2009 (Thanksgiving Sunday)
Text: Psalm 126
Psalm 126
A Harvest of Joy
A Song of Ascents
When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us,
and we rejoiced.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the watercourses in the Negeb.
May those who sow in tears
reap with shouts of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
carrying their sheaves. —Psalm 126, NRSV
Sunday, November 22, 2009 – The Last Sunday After Pentecost / Christ the King/Reign of Christ Sunday / Thanksgiving Sunday / Bible Sunday
9:00 AM — Adult Study – Opening Ourselves to Grace
10:15 AM — Worship & Sunday School (7th through 12th Grade)
Preacher: John D. Painter
Theme: We Shall Come Rejoicing, Bringing in the Sheaves
Reign of Christ Readings: 2 Samuel 23:1-7 Revelation 1:4b-8
Psalm 132:1-12 John 18:33-37
Thanksgiving Readings: Joel 2:21-27 1 Timothy 2:1-7
Psalm 126 Matthew 6:25-33
Children’s Meditation: Cathy Jean Savoia
Music— Junior Choir: Let the Whole Creation Cry Alleluia!
By Joanne Brown LeDoux
Chancel Choir: Come, Christians, Join to Sing by Dave & Jean Perry
Celebration of Found Coins: “Joy to the World” Heifer Project
11:30 AM — Fellowship Time
11:45 AM — Junior Choir Rehearsal
6:30 PM — Centenary United Methodist Youth Fellowship
Sunday, November 15, 2009 – The Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost / Stewardship Sunday
9:00 AM — Adult Study – Opening Ourselves to Grace
10:15 AM — Worship & Sunday School (7th through 12th Grade)
Preacher: John D. Painter Theme: Hannah’s Song
Lectionary Readings: 1 Samuel 1:4-20 Hebrews 10:11-25
1 Samuel 2:1-10 Mark 13:1-8
Children’s Meditation: Terrilisa Durham Bauknight
Music—Chancel Choir: Gonna Be a Great Day by Joseph M. Martin
Celebration of Found Coins: “Joy to the World” Heifer Project
11:30 AM — Fellowship Time
11:45 AM — Junior Choir Rehearsal
6:30 PM — Staff-Parish Relations Committee
7:30 PM — 2009 Church Conference
2009 Church Conference – Sunday, November 15 @ 7:30 PM
The Rev. Robert W. Scott, Jr., Raritan Valley District Superintendent, will preside at the 2009 Church Conference of Centenary United Methodist Church on Sunday, November 15 at 7:30 PM in the Sanctuary at Centenary. You are encouraged to attend this annual conference of our church.
As required by The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, and the laws of the State of New Jersey, official notice is hereby given that at the Church Conference of Centenary United Methodist Church at 7:30 PM on Sunday, November 15, 2009, nominations will be received for one unexpired term in the Class of 2011, and for three members of the Class of 2012 of the Board of Trustees. All members of Centenary United Methodist Church are eligible to vote on all matters before the Conference, and to vote in the election of leaders for the (except those under the age of 18 are not able to vote on the election of members of the Board of Trustees).
Ruth’s Story
A Sermon Delivered by The Rev. John D. Painter at Centenary United Methodist Church Metuchen, New Jersey
November 8, 2009
Text: Ruth 1:1-18; 3:1-5; 4:13-17
It is one of my favorite books in the entire Bible. It is a magnificent love story with re-markable overtones and subtleties that make it as rich and relevant today as it was when first told back in the post-Babylonian-exile days of Ezra and Nehemiah. It is the story of Ruth, and of her faithful and devoted love for her mother-in-law, Naomi. It begins where it will end, in Bethlehem of Judea, but it reaches across boundaries both political and social in its winding journey home.
Sunday, November 8, 2009 – The Twenty-Second Sunday After Pentecost
9:00 AM — Adult Study – Opening Ourselves to Grace
10:15 AM — Worship & Sunday School (7th through 12th Grade)
Preacher: John D. Painter Theme: Ruth’s Story
Lectionary Readings: Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17 Hebrews 9:24-28
Psalm 127 Mark 12:38-44
Music—Chancel Choir: Road to Glory by Greg Sewell
Celebration of Found Coins: “Joy to the World” Heifer Project
11:30 AM — Fellowship Time
11:45 AM — Junior Choir Rehearsal
12:00 PM — Confirmation Class
6:30 PM — United Methodist Youth Fellowship
Risen Sinners Come from Fallen Saints
1 November 2009
Rev. Terrilisa Durham Bauknight – Centenary UMC
Proverbs 24: 1-5, 16
Saint Terrilisa! (excited) Saint Terrrilisa (serious); Saint T (final) – now that has an original ring. Seriously, there is always that child-like thought that runs through my mind when it comes to All Saint’s Day, the day after Halloween or what it was originally know of as, All Hallows Eve.
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