This Sunday, April 30th, is the fifth Sunday of the month and is a Youth Sunday. It is also Native American Ministries Sunday (please read the brochure which accompanied your April Lamplighter, and use the attached envelope to make a generous contribution to this United Methodist Special Sunday offering). At 10:15 AM Sunday our Assistant Pastor Terrilisa Durham Bauknight and members of our United Methodist Youth Fellowship will lead us in a service of worship that features a number of prayers and songs from the Native American tradition, and offers a particular focus on the stewardship of our Earth…God’s good creation. Pastor Terrilisa and the youth will offer a children’s message around the themes of Water, and we will all sing a verse of Jesus Loves Me in the Cherokee language. The Scripture readings for the morning will be Genesis 2:4b-17 and 1 John 3:1-7, after which the youth will offer In the Beginning, God Created…(Modified from a message delivered by the Rev. Jeff Roberts).

The Chancel Choir will lead us into the Morning Prayer with Psalm of Thanksgiving, a Dakota Indian Hymn with a special setting by Carlton Young. Following our time of prayer, we will all sing that Dakota hymn, Many and Great, from our UM Hymnal. During the Offering the Chancel Choir will also sing For Beauty of Meadows by Walter Farquharson, to a tune setting by Hal H. Hopson. As we come to the close of our time of Worship, the youth will lead us in a Litany of Six Directions (Inspired by a traditional Native American blessing). Our Celebration of Found Coins will be designated for Centenary’s Budget Deficit Reduction. We are grateful for the generous response from so many members of the congregation to this special appeal during the month of April. I know you will want to be present to support our youth, and to receive the blessings of this service of Worship drawn from the Native American tradition.

In Memoriam: Edward F. Pleuler, Jr., a member of Centenary United Methodist Church since November 10, 1968, died on Saturday, April 22, 2006, following a brief illness. A Memorial Service celebrating Ed’s life was held at Centenary on Wednesday, April 26th. Expressions of caring and condolence may be shared with Millie Pleuler and her family. They are deeply grateful for your love, support and prayers during these days of Ed’s illness and during this time of their loss.

Reminder: UNO Fund-Raiser Extended to the End of the Week: You may still take any UNO coupon (dated April 26, 2006) and present it at a meal between now and the end of the week (Friday), and Centenary will receive a donation of up to 20% of the total price of your food bill: UNO Pizzeria and Chicago Grill on US Route 1 southbound in Menlo Park only. Please indicate to the server at the time you present your coupon that the manager has extended the fund-raiser and ask that it be honored. Additional coupons are still available in our Church Office. We are grateful to the UNO Manager for extending this gracious offer in light of last evening’s Memorial Service, and to all of you who are helping us raise additional funds for our ministry and mission through this tasty means.

Ozanam Shelter Dinner on Monday Evening: Centenary will be serving dinner at the Ozanam Shelter on, Monday, May 1st. Please check the information on the bulletin board in the Narthex and sign up to assist with food preparation or serving. Please have food items to the church kitchen by 5:00 PM. For further information, please contact Glenna Gundell (732-463-1431) or Mary Ellen Heim (732-548-2587). Thanks.

Tomorrow–Friday, April 28th @ 6:30 PM: CUMC Kid’s Night Out – Baking 101 Children will learn how to bake cookies and cakes for Sundays Fellowship Time. Child Care Provided – $8.00 per child.

TGIF Celebration Dinner at The Barge–Friday, May 5th @ 6:30 PM: Please speak with Michael or Cathy Savoia (732-826-1921) to make reservations. Final TGIF gathering for Spring 2006 on Friday, May 12th at 6:30 PM at the Church.

CUMC Talent Show–Sunday, June 4th @ 6:30 PM: Children’s Ministry Director Cathy Savoia has indicated that the Talent Show (originally scheduled for this Saturday evening) has been rescheduled for Sunday, June 4th at 6:30 PM. Please sign up to offer your talent for this special event.

Centenary Book Club—Friday, May 12th @ 7:30 PM (following TGIF): The club is reading The Garden, by Elsie V. Aidinoff. The book club remains open to men and women ages 18 and older—including those who have full schedules but wish to join us as ‘outside’ readers.
Fellowship Time Refreshments: Please consider sponsoring a refreshment time and signing up for one of the many available weeks in 2006 on the Refreshment Chart posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex. Information on what you need to provide is available from Pastor Painter or by speaking with Millie Pleuler (732-750-4434). Thank you for providing hospitality on a Sunday morning.

Persons are needed to sponsor Floral Arrangements for our Sunday Worship services. The 2006 Flower Chart is posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex. The cost is $20.00 per arrangement. Information is available from our Flower Chairperson, Linda Serentino (732-940-2135) or by calling the Church Office. Thank you for providing these beautiful tributes for our Sunday services.
“Hat Sunday” on Mother’s Day – May 14th

Women of Centenary! How long has it been since you’ve worn a hat to church? Do you still have a Sunday-go-to-meeting hat? We invite and encourage the women of Centenary to wear a hat to Worship on May 14th, Mother’s Day. Pastors John and Terrilisa plan to share some special thoughts about women’s hats that morning in their joint Message. Look for more information in our weekly Worship bulletins and e-mail announcements. We hope to see you in your Sunday finery.

Raritan Valley District Resource Day – Wednesday, May 17th: The Rev. Dr. L. Edward Phillips of Duke University Divinity School will be the featured speaker at the May 17th Raritan Valley District Resource Day to be held at the Union Village United Methodist Church in Berkeley Heights. Dr. Phillips served as the Chairperson of the committee which produced the document This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion that was received and approved by the 2004 General Conference of The United Methodist Church as the official statement on our denominational understanding of the sacrament of Holy Communion.
Clergy members of the district will attend an all-day session with Dr. Phillips from 9:00 AM till 3:00 PM. An evening session specifically designed for laity of the district will be held from 7:30-9:30 PM. Pastor Painter hopes that members of Centenary will plan to attend the evening session. Please speak with him for further information and for directions to the Union Village United Methodist Church.

“Centenary Men’s Review”
for Deficit Reduction
Saturday, May 20 @ 7:00 PM
Bring your checkbook and come help the Centenary Men in their endeavor on 20 May at 7:00 PM. Come and enjoy an hour or so of relaxed entertainment, laughter, fun, love and giving.
We need your help! Austin Banks, President of the Centenary Men
PS: Coffee and cake will be served…
Watch for further details in the weekly worship bulletins
and through E-mail announcements.

Men’s Sunday on May 21st

Men of Centenary! You will remember what a wonderful experience it was to share in worship on Women’s Sunday back in March. Well, your turn has come. May 21st will be Men’s Sunday, and we are looking for men to help plan the service, lead the service, sing in the service, and attend the service. If you would be willing to serve as a leader/reader in worship on May 21st, please speak with Pastor John (call him at the Church Office or e-mail him at RevJDP@aol.com). If you are willing to be part of a Men’s Chorus to sing that morning, please speak with Shirley Mosteller (call her at the Church Office). Let’s put together a powerful service of praise to God just as our sisters did in March.

2006 United Methodist Men Gathering
Come and you will see”

The Leadership Team for Greater NJ United Methodist Men is pleased to announce that its 3rd Annual Spring Gathering will again be at the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove on Saturday, May 6, 2006, from 9:00 AM—2:00 PM. The guest speaker for the event will be Joe Ehrmann. Joe is a former NFL Superstar, an ordained Minister connected with a large Baltimore church, and the founder of Building Men and Women for others.

Joe has been characterized as: “The Most Important Coach in America” based upon his coaching of high school boys at the Gilmore School – “love” is the operative word in the relationships between the coach and boys and among teammates and it works because they win most of their games.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Joe’s life changing message.
Individuals can register for only $10.00 and Youth for only $5.00. Go to the UMMen area of the Greater NJ Annual Conference website at http://www.gnjumc.org/umm.html to obtain a Flyer and Registration for the Gathering. Box Lunches must be ordered from John Dewart by May 1, 2006. Questions: Contact – John K. Dewart – 973-927-9399 and/or JKDewart@aol.com. Mailing Address: 6 Kern Drive Flanders, NJ 07836

2006 Summer Programs at Aldersgate Center
The schedule for the Aldersgate Center Summer Program is posted on the Aldersgate Center Web Site at www.aldersgatenj.com. You may find information there about a number of camp programs available for lower and upper elementary children, and for junior and senior high youth, between June 25th and August 25th. All necessary forms for registering your child or youth are available at the site to download and print out. We also have copies of the schedule and registration forms available through the Church Office. Registrations are coming in quickly and space is limited this year, so we encourage you to register your child or youth as soon as possible. Please remember that limited scholarship assistance is available for those who attend a camp program at Aldersgate through Centenary United Methodist Women and through the Church. Please speak with Pastor Painter at the time you seek his signature on the registration forms. We are delighted that Aldersgate Center will be able to hold a very active summer program this year despite the loss of Wesley Lodge to a disastrous fire in the fall.

Seeking Information About Our 2006 College Graduates: We are seeking information about those Centenary members who will be graduating from college this Spring. Please call or e-mail (CentaryUMC@aol.com) the Church Office so we may share in the joy of your accomplishments.

Some Thoughts for This Week:

No one grows old by living, only by losing interest in living. – Marie Beynon Ray

The future enters into us, in order to transform us, long before it happens. – Rainer Maria Rilke

The Christian faith is meant to be lived moment by moment. It isn’t some broad, general outline–it’s a long walk with a real Person. Details count: passing thoughts, small sacrifices, a few encouraging words, little acts of kindness, brief victories over nagging sins. – Joni Eareckson Tada

The love of God is like the Amazon river flowing down to water one daisy. – Unknown

We have a choice: to plow new ground or let the weeds grow. – Jonathan Westover

The cheerful giver does not count the cost of what he gives. His heart is set on pleasing and sharing Him to whom the gift is given. – Julian of Norwich

The weakness in our Christian life is that we do not take time to believe that this Divine Love really does delight in us. Love will awaken your faith and strengthen it. Occupy yourself with that love; worship it; wait for it. – Andrew Murray

Never cut the rope that can be simply untied. – K .M. Bryan

“What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. Your answers lie inside of you.” – Denis Waitley

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.” – Douglas Adams
May 7, 2006 – The Fourth Sunday of Easter / Sacrament of Holy Communion
Preacher: John D. Painter Theme: This Holy Mystery: Extending the Table
Lectionary Readings: Acts 4:5-12 1 John 3:16-24
Psalm 23 John 10:11-18

Sermons “Podcast” on Our Web Site: In addition to being available in print, the Pastors’ weekly sermons are now available as a “podcast” on our Web site. You may listen to each Message as it was delivered in Worship Service. Go to www.CentenaryUMCnj.org to explore this and other new features and links. Our thanks to Web servant Ernie Agtarap for providing this on-line ministry of Centenary.

I look forward to sharing with you this Sunday in Study, Worship and Fellowship at Centenary.

Shalom, John