Archive for December, 2009

Dear Centenary Church Family:

Happy New Year!

As you will note from the information below, there has been a change in the Worship service for this Sunday, January 3, 2010. I will not be preaching, as originally planned, but the Chancel Choir and supporting musicians/instrumentalists, will present the “Candles and Carols” Cantata which had been scheduled for Sunday, December 20…when our service was cancelled because of the significant snowfall. We will also change the order within the service. The Sacrament of Holy Communion will be offered earlier in the service, and the children will be encouraged to remain in Worship until after Communion is served. They may then participate in a special activity for this first Sunday in the New Year…or they may remain for the Cantata, which will compose the final part of the Worship service. We look forward to sharing in this special musical experience which will offer you the opportunity to hear once again the Christmas story and to sing many of your favorite carols with the Chancel Choir. (more…)

A Sermon Delivered by The Rev. John D. Painter at Centenary United Methodist Church Metuchen, New Jersey December 24, 2009 (Christmas Eve)

Text: Luke 2:1–20
2 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be regis-tered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, be-cause there was no place for them in the inn. (more…)