Subject: Sunday, April 1, 2007 – Passion/Palm Sunday / Sacrament of Holy Communion
Dear Centenary Church Family:
We are nearing the conclusion of our Lenten journey to Jerusalem as we mark the beginning of Holy Week on this Passion/Palm Sunday, April 1, 2007. As we gather for Worship at 10:15 AM, we will hear “Hosanna to the Son of David” sung by our Chancel Choir in a special Palm Sunday antiphon, followed by the Palm Sunday Proclamation from Luke 19:29-40. Congregation and choir will join together to sing “The Palms” by J. Faure as a Processional Hymn and Act of Praise. Our Harris Ringers will play “Sing Hosannas” by Hart Morris. Michael Savoia will bring a special Palm Sunday message to the children, after which children and youth will be invited to participate in Sunday School classes. My morning Message, The King Nobody Wanted, will be based on the Palm Sunday reading from Luke and the Passion Sunday epistle, Philippians 2:5-11. Our Chancel Choir will sing “Prepare the Royal Highway” by Allen Pote during the Offertory, and a special anthem, “Remember Me” by John Innes and Ron Krueger as we share in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Our Celebration of Found Coins for April will be designated for the Red Bird Mission in Beverly, KY…a mission outreach project to Appalachia in the Red Bird Missionary Conference of The United Methodist Church. Our United Methodist Women annually request gloves/mittens and hats to share with the children at Red Bird Mission School. You can learn more about the Red Bird Mission at http://www.rbmission.org/index.htm.
Our Annual Palm Sunday Pot-Luck Lunch and Easter Egg Hunt will be held immediately following our Worship Service this Sunday. Please plan to bring a hot or cold dish to share and join together for food and fellowship.
A Reminder: Walking in His Footsteps in our Sanctuary this Saturday, March 31, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM:
It’s time to catapult into an incredible encounter with Christ—in the final days of his time on earth. Experience the awesome sacrifice made for you by walking the Lenten Labyrinth in His footsteps. (You may come to our Sanctuary anytime between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM to experience this multi-media presentation.)
Please remember in your prayers: Marion Banks; Doris Dawalt, Roland Gregg; Norma MacDonald. Extended Family: Bishop Sudarshana & Prima Devadhar (esp. Thurs. @ Noon); The Rev. Veronica P. Palmer (Raritan Valley District Superintendent); Jonathan Benjamin’s father; Mitchell Barlow, Jr. (friend of Reggie Harmon & Terrilisa Bauknight); James Chek (Mary Ellen Heim’s brother); Kelly Cogswell (granddaughter of friend of Judi Pogany, our church florist); Dwain (Terrilisa Durham Bauknight’s student); Harvey Franklin (Linda Serentino’s father); Gladys Harmon (Reginald Harmon’s mother); Ken Hull (friend of Glenna Gundell); Douglas Jackson (Julia Sanchez’s brother); Tom Marston (friend of Pat Iacone); Michelle (Terrilisa Durham Bauknight’s niece); Jane Sanford (Sue Brownlow’s sister); Sten (Äli Woodfield’s nephew); Patricia Stern (Ed Stern’s mother); Logan Strauss (step-grandchild of Jane Strauss); Alan Wagner (Pat Iacone’s brother-in-law); Kathy Kerns White (Kerry Abry’s sister); Clay Wilkinson (friend of Tom Moyer).
+Marion Banks continues her recovery at home and is undergoing additional medical tests.
+Norma MacDonald is also at home but continues to undergo medical tests.
+Harvey Franklin is at St. Peter’s Hospital in New Brunswick where he is recovering from a recent pacemaker implantation.
“Care Packages”: The Higher Education Ministry Team is collecting items once again in order to send ‘care packages’ to our students at various institutions of high learning for the Easter Holiday (having spoken with several, we realize that most students have already had their Spring Break). A donation of the following items is greatly appreciated: Oodles of Noodles, pocket size tissue packs, small snack bags (popcorn, cheese doodles, etc.), holiday sweets (candies and the like), soup, notes of inspiration, granola bars and such. We are preparing to pack some 13 packages, so whatever you can donate is greatly appreciated. We will continue our collection through this Sunday, April 1st and pack boxes on Monday, 2 April. Shipping and delivering will occur immediately after. If you have any questions, please see Mrs. Candi Kline. Thank you for your support of this special ministry.
Ozanam Shelter Dinner—Monday: Centenary will next be serving dinner at the Ozanam Shelter on Monday, April 2. Please check the information on the bulletin board in the Narthex and sign up to assist with food preparation or serving. For further information, please contact Glenna Gundell (732-463-1431) or Mary Ellen Heim (732-548-2587). Thanks.
Good Friday Tenebrae Service Singers Sought: Anyone who loves to sing but, because of scheduling, is unable to make a regular commitment to the Chancel Choir, is invited to join the choir for this special service on Good Friday, April 6. Extra rehearsal will be held following this Sunday morning’s Worship service. See Shirley Mosteller if interested.
Lenten Coin Folders: You are encouraged to return your filled 2007 Lenten Coin Folders between now and Easter Sunday, April 8th. You may place them in an offering plate during Worship or mail/bring them to the Church Office. Our Lenten Coin Folder offering is designated for support of The Fellowship Fund of The United Methodist Homes of New Jersey. These funds are used by our UM Homes to assist elderly residents whose financial resources have been depleted to remain in residence in our homes. (Note: If you choose to return your coin folder with either a check or paper bills [instead of quarters], our counting team will not be averse to your doing so…but we appreciate your gifts in whatever form they may be shared.) We are deeply grateful for your generous and sacrificial offering during these forty days of Lent.
The Art of Muriel Harris at Centenary During Lent: We are blessed during the 2007 Lenten Season to have a number of Muriel Harris’ collages adorning the walls of our Sanctuary. These smaller collages have served as the inspiration for a number of her larger paintings. You will want to take time to pause today and on the Sundays during Lent—or at other times you are in the building—to view these special works based on the indicated biblical passages, and reminding us of the themes of creation, liberation and justice. Muriel Harris, a long-time member of Centenary UMC, has received many awards and high recognition over the years for her artistry. Although in recent years she has endured the loss of much of her eyesight to age-related macular degeneration, Muriel Harris continues to create new art using a number of different media. We are grateful to Muriel Harris for sharing the gift of her art with us once again this year.
Stephanie Kline’s MSWalk: Once again this year (on April 22), Stephanie Kline will be participating in the MS Walk in Hershey, PA, and she is inviting her sisters and brothers in Christ at Centenary to join her team and make a donation on her behalf. You may sponsor Stephanie with a secure donation by going to the following Web page: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?px=1835958&pg=personal&fr_id=2110&et=12xNxIvNmI1NLcmOUNPwug..&s_tafId=2932 You may also sponsor Stephanie with a check made payable to “National MS Society” (or “NMSS”), and given to her or mailed to her at 40 Hillcrest Avenue, Iselin, NJ 08830. Your contribution can, and will, make an immediate difference for everyone who must face the unpredictable nature of multiple sclerosis. Because of your help, each stride Stephanie and others make in the MS Walk becomes more powerful and brings us closer to ending the devastating effects of Multiple Sclerosis.
Centenary Book Club—Saturday, April 14 @ 9:30 AM: Books: The Rapture at Canaan and The Messiah of Morris Avenue Location: In the Sunshine Room.
Food Collection—Sunday, April 15: Please bring cereals, staple food items in plastic jars or cans, and paper products to share with persons in need in our area. We are deeply grateful for your generous sharing.
Special Appeal for Diapers and Infant/Toddler Food for Amandla Crossing: Your assistance is needed to provide diapers (sizes #4, #5 & #6…not pull-ups) and infant & toddler food for children at Amandla Crossing. Please bring the items to Centenary and leave them in the boxes provided in the Narthex. Thank you. —Your Mission Committee
2007 Summer Camp Programs at Aldersgate Center and Pinelands Retreat Center: Information about the 2007 Summer camping programs for children and youth (and some specialized adult and family programs) are posted on the Children’s Ministry bulletin board in the hallway alongside the Sanctuary, near the Narthex. Please check out the dates and programs to see if your elementary-age child or Junior/Senior high youth may want to participate in a summer camp experience at Aldersgate Center (Swartswood, NJ) or Pinelands Retreat Center at Mt. Misery (Browns Mills, NJ). You may also check out the offerings and register online at either www.aldersgatenj.com or www.mtmisery.com. Scholarship assistance is available through the Church. Please speak with Children’s Ministries Director Cathy Jean Savoia or Pastor John Painter to get additional information about these programs and appropriate registration forms.
Centenary women will be on a special Spiritual Retreat Friday, 20 April – Sunday, 22 April 2007 at The Ocean View Inn at Ocean Grove, New Jersey. At the this time 15 women have stated both their interest and ability to attend. Retreat participants can begin arriving at the Inn between 5:00– 9:00 PM. We will return to our homes after breakfast on Sunday. Our theme remains Out of the Whirlwind, with our text reference being Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life by Joanna Weaver. Rev. Bauknight will order the book for any and all who wish a copy (participating or not). Please keep this weekend in prayer for all the participants and the purpose for which they gather. If you have questions, concerns, or want to participate in this Women’s Retreat, please contact Pastor Bauknight at 732-419-4101 or at RevTDB395@aol.com.
Holy Week 2007
Thursday, April 5 — Holy Thursday
6:30 PM — Soup & Sandwich Supper
(Bring a Sandwich, if you wish; Soup & Beverages will be provided)
7:30 PM — Holy Thursday Service & Sacrament of Holy Communion at Tables
Soup Preparers Needed for Holy Thursday: If you will be attending the Holy Thursday Soup and Sandwich Supper and Service, and are willing to prepare a pot of your favorite soup to share with others, please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex or let Pastor Painter or the Church Office know. Thank you. Don’t forget to bring a sandwich with you to enjoy with the soups that will be available that evening.
Friday, April 6 — Good Friday
12:00 – 3:00 PM –Ecumenical Good Friday Preaching Service
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Middlesex Ave. & Oak St., Metuchen
7:30 PM — A Service of Tenebrae – Passion Narrative
Interspersed with brief Bach Chorales
Sunday, April 8 — EASTER Sunday
6:30 AM — Sunrise Service & Sacrament of Holy Communion
7:15 AM — Easter Breakfast sponsored by Children’s Ministries
($3.00 per person donation requested)
9:00 AM — Easter Worship Service —
Easter Pageant: The Glorious Rainbow of Easter
10:30 AM — Easter Worship Service & Sacrament of Holy Communion
Preacher (10:30 AM): John D. Painter Theme: Lord, We Have Come…
Festival Brass at both Easter Services / Chancel Choir at 10:30 AM
—Please invite your friends, neighbors and family
to share in our Holy Week and Easter Services and activities—
Some Thoughts for This Week:
No one is exactly like you. Think of what the world would have missed had you not been born. – Unknown
Prayer is not asking for what you think you want, but asking to be changed in ways you can’t imagine. – Kathleen Norris
To show great love for God and our neighbor we need not do great things. It is how much love we put in the doing that makes our offering something beautiful for God. – Mother Teresa, from “A Gift for God”
The only difference between stumbling blocks and steppingstones is the way in which we use them. – Unknown
When a man is wrapped up in himself he makes a pretty small package. – John Ruskin
Never try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and it annoys the pig. – Author Robert Heinlein
If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can’t it get us out? – Will Rogers
Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken. -..Unknown
One cannot help being old, but one can resist being aged. – Lord Samuel
Prayer for the Week of April 1: O God, words of thanksgiving seem as nothing, as we experience this Holy Week. We can only stand in humble gratitude before the costly love of Jesus Christ. Nothing we have ever done, or will ever do, will be enough to bring our thanks to you, O God in Jesus Christ. Amen.
I look forward to sharing with many of you in Study, Worship and Christian Fellowship this Passion/Palm Sunday at Centenary.
Shalom, John
John D. Painter, Pastor