Archive for November, 2009

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.

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 (more…)