Dear Centenary Church Family:

The Third Sunday of Easter is observed as Native American Ministries Sunday in our United Methodist Church. Members of our Centenary United Methodist Youth Fellowship will lead us in our 10:15 AM Worship service as we share in prayers, acts of worship, and music reflective of Native American Christians. We will begin our time of Worship with a congregational Act of Centering drawn from the a traditional prayer of the Lakota Tribe. Michael Savoia will share a word with the children, after which they will be invited to participate in Sunday School classes. My morning Message, In Our End Is Our Beginning, will be drawn from the story of the Walk to Emmaus in our Gospel reading for this Third Sunday of Easter, Luke 24:13-35. We will also receive the reading from Acts 2:14a, 36-41. Our Chancel Choir will sing an Indian Hymn of Praise, arranged by Austin C. Lovelace, following which we will share together in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Our Celebration of Found Coins for April will be designated for support of the Red Bird Mission in Kentucky (See the article below). In addition, we will receive the annual special offering for support of Native American Ministries of The United Methodist Church.

Sunday Morning Adult Class—Serious Answers to Hard Questions: The Adult Class is engaged in a study called Serious Answers to Hard Questions. In this video study, hosted by Methodist Bishop Kenneth Carder, well-known theologians discuss important issues that sometimes prove to be obstacles to faith. The remaining issues we will be focusing on are: Religion and Science, The God of the Old Testament, The Sins of the Church, and The Gnostic Gospels. Join us in the Sunshine Room on Sunday mornings from 9:00 to 10:00 AM for this provocative series.

TGIF (ToGether for Intergenerational Fun) A gathering for dinner, conversations, storytelling and fun. All ages are welcome to attend. Fridays, April 4 & 11, and May 2 & 9, from 6:30-8:30 PM. Dinner is provided by The Barge in Perth Amboy. A barrel offering is taken to defray the costs for the meal and materials.

CUMC Music Ministry presents
Silent Movie Night
featuring
Comedy “Shorts”
by
Buster Keaton
&
Charlie Chaplin
with
Jonathan Benjamin
at the piano

Saturday, April 5th 7:00 PM

Centenary will next be serving dinner at the Ozanam Shelter on Monday, April 7. Please check the information on the bulletin board in the Narthex and sign up to assist with food preparation or serving. The April Menu: Sliced turkey breast with gravy; mashed potatoes; broccoli; cranberry sauce; vanilla ice cream; apple pie. For further information, please contact Glenna Gundell (732-463-1431) or Mary Ellen Heim (732-548-2587). Thanks.

Centenary Book Club will meet at 7:30 PM on Friday, April 11, in the Sunshine Room (following the TGIF Meal). We will discuss Black, White, and Jewish: Autobiography of a Shifting Self by Rebecca Walker. The Club will continue to meet while Rev. Bauknight recuperates from her surgery. In her absence, Mrs. Nancy Rapp will be responsible for leading the Book Club. The Centenary Book Club remains open to men and women, ages 18 years of age and older. See you there for some great discussion and reviews.

The Centenary Board of Trustees are planning a Clean-Up Work Day at Centenary on Saturday, April 12, beginning at 9:00 AM. There are many areas around the church exterior (and in parts of the interior, as well) where some attention is needed to remove the remains of winter and spruce up our facilities for spring. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Wear work clothes and bring gloves, and whatever implements (rakes, shovels, trimmers/clippers, wheel barrows, etc.) you can to help spruce up the church property. Contact persons: Trustees Scott Woodfield or Bruce Clarke would be pleased to know you are planning to be there or can provide further information. Thanks so much for helping out with this project.

Centenary United Methodist Women Communion Breakfast–Saturday, April 19 at 9:30 AM. Special Guest Speaker: The Rev. Linda Ross of St. Mark’s UM Church in Trenton. Come enjoy a morning of good food, reflection and fellowship to enrich your faith. If you’d like, bring a quiche, muffins or fresh fruit to share. Child Care will be available. Questions? Sylvia Woodfield (732-549-9042); Giselle Esquivel Cordero (732-549-6525); Centenary Church Office (732-548-7622)

Children’s Ministry Talent Show—Saturday, April 19 at 6:00 PM. Dinner will be served. Dust off your voices, instruments, and jokes for a family fun night. Sign up on the sheets on the Narthex bulletin board or on the Children’s Ministries bulletin board. A barrel offering will be received.

Food Collection—Sunday, April 20: 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

United Methodists Make MidwestFlood Response
Many residents are experiencing a “nightmare” as they deal with a series of weather-related systems affecting parts of the U.S. Midwest, according to Maxine Allen, the disaster response and missions coordinator for the United Methodist Arkansas Annual Conference.

Allen is working with partners and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to assess the needs created by all these events and to organize response and recovery. According to The Associated Press, at least 17 deaths have been linked to the flooding and other weather effects in parts of Arkansas, Ohio, southern Illinois and Missouri.

“We are in touch with the annual conferences affected by the flooding to provide support as events unfold,” said the Rev. Tom Hazelwood, who leads UMCOR’s domestic disaster response.
United Methodists can support UMCOR’s flood relief efforts with donations to Advance #901670. Write “Midwestern Floods” on the memo line of the check (payable to “Centenary UM Church”), and drop it in an offering plate at a Sunday morning Worship service, or mail it to our Church Office (200 Hillside Avenue, Metuchen, NJ 08840-1900). You may also mail a check (payable to “UMCOR”) directly to UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087. Online giving is available at www.givetomission.org

2008 Summer Camp Programs at Aldersgate Center and Pinelands Retreat Center: Information about the 2008 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.

You are invited to sponsor the time of coffee and refreshments following our Sunday Worship service. Please consider sponsoring a refreshment time and signing up for one of the many available weeks on the 2008 Refreshment Chart in the Narthex. Information on what you need to provide is available on the information sheet attached to the Refreshment Chart. Thank you for providing hospitality on a Sunday morning.

Music Ministry Date to Remember: Saturday, May 3rd at 7:30 PMBrahms Recital featuring piano, English horn, clarinet and voice

HELP WANTED—PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR/TEACHER; Wesley Preschool, Edison : The Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) of Wesley UMC of Edison has been advised that the current Director/Teacher of our Wesley Preschool will be leaving this position at the end of this school year (June 2008). As such, the SPRC will soon be commencing the search and interview process to fill this paid position for the start of the next school year in September 2008. This position requires that the person have a current, valid NJ State Teaching certificate (early childhood or elementary education). This is a part-time position (currently mornings Mon – Fri during the school year, September thru June). If you know of anyone with these qualifications who may be interested in learning more about this unique, part time position, please have them contact: Carl Weindel, Chairperson, SPRC 732-634-7434

Red Bird Mission
April 2008 Celebration of Found Coins

Red Bird Mission is a non-profit agency affiliated with The United Methodist Church and located in the Appalachian mountains of Southeastern Kentucky. Guided by Jesus Christ, the Red Bird Mission empowers individuals and advocates for justice by providing educational, health, and community outreach ministries to area low-income residents.
Areas of Ministry:
Education
K-12 Christian School, Residential Dormitories, Early Childhood Development
Health & Wellness
Medical Clinic, Dental Clinic, Pharmacy, Lab, X-Ray, Public Health
Community Outreach
Community Aid Ministries, Elderly Ministries, Family Ministries
Economic Opportunities
Community Store, Craft Marketing
Community Housing Improvement
Work Camp, Home Repair, Mission Facilities
You may learn more about Red Bird Mission at http://www.rbmission.org/index.htm

Some Thoughts for This Week:

It is a mistake to look to the Bible to close a discussion; the Bible seeks to open one. – William Sloane Coffin

Since countless people have given their lives for the freedom to worship as we choose, should we not make more use of that liberty?

That the birds of worry and care
fly about your head
This you cannot change
But that they build nests in your hair
This you can prevent. — Chinese Proverb

Help me today to be a help and example to all; to bring strength and encouragement wherever I am: Through Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen. – William Barclay

Nothing worth keeping is lost in serving God.

Faith for my deliverance is not faith in God. Faith means, whether I am visibly delivered or not, I will stick to my belief that God is love. – Oswald Chambers

Exercise Daily: Walk with God

We may not be able to give much, but we can always give the joy that springs in a heart that is in love with God. – Mother Teresa

As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. – Nelson Mandela

Prayer is a participation in willing God’s will. – Marjorie J. Thompson, Soul Feast

There is nothing better than the encouragement of a good friend. – Katharine Butler Hathaway

If you would be loved, love and be lovable. – Benjamin Franklin

Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime. – Martin Luther

Next Sunday–April 13, 2008:
9:00 AM– Adult Study—Serious Answers to Hard Questions (Sunshine Room)
10:15 AM– Worship &Sunday School (PreK Children through 12th Grade Youth)
The Fourth Sunday of Easter / Sacrament of Christian Baptism
Preacher: John D. Painter Theme: The Gated Community
Lectionary Readings: Acts 2:42-47 1 Peter 2:19-25
Psalm 23 John 10:1-10
11:30 AM– Fellowship Time (Room 20)
5:45 PM– Junior Choir Rehearsal (Music Room)
6:30 PM– Centenary UM Youth Fellowship (Youth Room/Room 20)

Prayer for the Week of April 6: Almighty God, who raised Jesus from the dead, we want to trust that you will raise us to new life. Not only at the end of our days on earth, but now in the midst of life when we are discouraged and worried, anxious and fearful, we ask you to raise us to new life. And when we come to the close of our days, help us to trust in you for our final resurrection. Fill us with eager longing that you, the Lord who created, embraced, and pursued us in this life, will do the same for us in our death. Renew our trust today in the resurrection of the dead. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

I look forward to sharing with many of you in study, Worship &Holy Communion, and Christian Fellowship as our Easter celebrations continue at Centenary this Sunday.

Shalom, John