Dear Centenary Church Family:

Our Sea of Galilee Vacation Bible School program continues today at Centenary and then concludes tomorrow at Roosevelt Park, as the 50+ children and their teachers take a special walk around the “Sea of Galilee” before the VBS picnic. This Sunday at our 9:30 AM Worship Service a number of the children will share some of their VBS songs with us during the Children’s Time. Pre School and elementary-age children will then be invited to participate in our Summer Sunday School in the Sunshine Room. My morning Message, Stuffed Barns, is based on the “Parable of the Rich Fool” in Luke 12:13-21. Emily and Jeremy Mochel will offer special music during the Offertory and as we celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Our Celebration of Found Coins for August is designated for the Metuchen-Edison Interfaith Clergy Association, to assist individuals and families in our area with meeting temporary emergency needs.

Urgent Reminder: We could use some helping hands today (Thursday, August 2) at around 12:15 PM, as we need to return all of chairs to the Sanctuary in preparation for the Poet/Carron wedding this weekend and for our regular service of Worship on Sunday. So, if you can help out today at around 12:15 PM at the Sanctuary, we would be very grateful. Many hands make light work, and if you can share yours, we should be finished in about an hour. Thank you.

Wedding Bells! You Are Invited to join with Lindsey Rae Poet and Jonathan Martin Carron and their families as they share in A Service of Christian Marriage at Centenary United Methodist Church this Saturday, August 4, 2007 at 10:30 AM. Jon & Lindsey will be delighted if friends from their Centenary Church Family are able to be present for this joyous occasion.

We extend our Christian Love and Sympathy to the family and friends of Mitchell Barlow, Jr. (friend of Reginald Harmon & Terrilisa Bauknight) on his death on Tuesday, July 31, 2007, from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident earlier this year.

Centenary will be serving dinner at the Ozanam Shelter on Monday, August 6. 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.

ClothesLine Ministry Alert: Back-to school month is almost here and, in addition to clothing for our needy children, we have been asked to provide as many school supplies and backpacks (new or gently used) as possible. We consistently serve approximately 150 school aged children so we are asking for help from all of our partnering congregations and individuals to obtain these educational necessities. You may leave your school supply items and backpacks in the hallway across from the Counting Room at Centenary. If you would like to arrange a time to drop things off at the new ClothesLine storage/sorting facility on Jersey Ave. in New Brunswick, or wish items to be picked up, please phone Tookie Bacon on her cell at 732-306-8736. On behalf of our children, we thank you.

Food Collection—Sunday, August 19: 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

Refreshment Sponsors Needed: Persons are invited to sponsor the time of coffee and refreshments following our upcoming Sunday Worship services. Please consider sponsoring a refreshment time and signing up for one of the available weeks on the 2007 Refreshment Chart posted in the Narthex. Thank you for providing hospitality on a Sunday morning.

Last Call
Opportunity to Participate Still Available
Heifer International at Overlook Farm
Rutland, MA
August 12-16, 2007
There are still 5 to 6 openings for those youth or adults who would like to participate in the Heifer Project with our Centenary United Methodist Youth Fellowship. This is due to the fact that the project searches for groups of at least 12 (of which we will pay for even if we do not have 12 persons going with us).

We have been able to secure a 4-night/5-day lodging on this 210-acre working farm, which is part of the Heifer International Project. We are expected on Sunday, 12 August 2007, at approximately 3:00 PM and will leave to return to NJ on Thursday, 16 August 2007, no later than 12:00 Noon. We will be in a bunkhouse environment (housing for up to 17 people), spend one evening in the global village, and spend the remainder of our days working on projects that will help benefit the Heifer Project.
Cost: $180.00 (includes all meals, bedding and more while at Overlook Farm). Individuals must be at least 12 years of age.

For more information about Heifer Project International go to http://www.heifer.org/.
Specific information about Overlook Farm is available at http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.201558/.
Interested persons please contact Rev. Bauknight at (908) 419-4101 or by e-mail at REVTDB395@aol.com

Some Thoughts for This Week:
Your life is like a coin:
You can spend it any way you wish, but you can spend it only once.
I think we consider too much the good luck of the early bird, and not enough the bad luck of the early worm. – Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945), U.S. President

Good and bad luck is a synonym, in the great majority of instances, for good and bad judgment. – John Chatfield

The door of opportunity won’t open unless you do some pushing. – Anonymous

You’re never too old to grow up. – Shirley Conran

We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.

My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just to enjoy your ice cream while it’s on your plate. – Thornton Wilder

There are only two kinds of [people]: the righteous who believe themselves sinners, and the rest, sinners who believe themselves righteous. – Blaise Pascal

Be yourself. No one can ever tell you you’re doing it wrong. – James Leo Herlihy

The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do. – Walter Bagehot

Life is a compromise of what your ego wants to do, what experience tells you to do, and what your nerves let you do. – Bruce Crampton

The winds of God are always blowing, but you must set the sails. – Unknown

Prayer for the Week of August 5: We thank you God for every little kindness we receive from you and from others. We thank you that there are glimpses of your justice in the saints and martyrs of every age, and sometimes even among ourselves. We thank you for Jesus Christ, who never gathered up even praise and honor as he walked upon our earth, but moved on carrying only what was needed to ensure life for others. Thanks be to you, O God. Amen.

Next Sunday, August 12, 2007:
9:30 AM – Summer Worship & Sunday School
The 11th Sunday After Pentecost
Preacher: John D. Painter Theme: “Do Not Be Afraid, Little Flock”
Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23 Luke 12:32-40
10:30 AM – Fellowship Time (Room 20)
12:00 PM – Dreaming Fellowship Church Worship, SS, Fellowship
Sanctuary, Parenting Room, Sunshine Room, Room 20

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

Shalom, John