Dear Centenary Church Family:

As the fourth day of our Fiesta! Vacation Bible School draws to a close, I have to share with you the fun and excitement which has been happening here at Centenary all week with a wonderful host of helpers and teachers who have been guiding over 80 children as they learn about Jesus. Tomorrow will be the final morning of VBS, and the children will have a special presentation and then we’ll share in a picnic for everyone on the front lawn to close another successful VBS program. Thanks to so many who have contributed so much of their time, energy and themselves to VBS this year.

The children, helpers and teachers of our VBS program will share some of the special music they have been learning this week with you at our 9:30 AM Worship Service this Sunday, August 6th. My morning Message, Jesus, the Bread of Life I, will be based on the Gospel reading from John 6:24-35…and will be the first of four messages this month based on this theme of Jesus. We will share together in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Our special soloist for this Sunday will be Joe McKee, bass. Our Celebration of Found Coins will be designated for the Metuchen-Edison Interfaith Clergy Association, to assist in meeting short-term emergency needs for individuals and families in our area.

Ozanam Shelter Dinner on August 7th: Centenary will be serving dinner at the Ozanam Shelter on this coming Monday, August 7th. 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.
Baby Food Appeal for Amandla Crossing This Sunday: Thank you for bringing jars of baby food to share with the infants at Amandla Crossing, a transitional residential center operated by Middlesex Interfaith Partners with the Homeless (MIPH). The number of young children at Amandla is presently higher than normal and the need is great…and you are encouraged to drop off additional jars of baby food in the basket in the Narthex during the next week and next Sunday, as well. Thank you.

Refreshments: Persons are invited to sponsor the time of coffee and refreshments following our Sunday Worship services. Please consider sponsoring a refreshment time and signing up for one of the available weeks in August and early Fall on the 2006 Refreshment Chart in the Narthex. (No one has signed up for August 13-27). 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.

THE CLOTHESLINE
August is here again—Centenary’s opportunity to assist some very needy mean, women and children of our community by giving our clothing and our time. TODAY, immediately following Worship and Fellowship Time, we need volunteers in the Youth Room to sort and size each item so that they can be loaded onto the bus for an orderly distribution.
On Sunday, August 13th (2:00-4:00 PM) we will be at Elijah’s Promise Soup Kitchen, 18 Neilson Street in New Brunswick, distributing clothing from The ClothesLine, our old school bus/mobile closet. Sign-up sheets are in the Narthex for the August 13th distribution at the Soup Kitchen. PLEASE! PLEASE!! Many, many people are depending on us… Thank you, Tookie Bacon

UMCOR Needs Funds for Middle East Crisis
By Elliott Wright*
July 26, 2006
NEW YORK (United Methodist News Service) – The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has issued an urgent appeal for funds to assist civilians caught in the renewed fighting in the Middle East.

“Our funds for Middle East emergencies are painfully low,” said the Rev. Paul Dirdak, UMCOR’s chief executive, on July 25. “As Christians and as a denomination, we need to equip ourselves to do our part in responding to humanitarian needs in this tragic situation.”
Contributions should go to the Middle East Emergency Fund, No.601740, of the Advance for Christ and His Church, the United Methodist designated mission giving fund.
This general fund allows UMCOR to respond to civilian needs on any front in the confrontation, Dirdak said.

“We are concerned for all civilians in this ongoing crisis,” he explained. “We have a number of options for channeling assistance into Lebanon, Gaza and Israel. We are deeply involved in the dialogue among humanitarian groups as to how to best respond to the emergency.

“We can do very little unless the United Methodist people are, yet again, willing to dig deep into their pockets for dollars that can translate prayers into action,” he said.
A small contribution of $5,000 has been sent from general UMCOR funds for emergency aid in Lebanon. Another $20,000 grant is in the emergency approval process.

UMCOR has years of experience in working with refugees in the Middle East and in assisting families and individuals affected by periodic wars there. It has several partners with which it can work in Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank. In Israel, the agency relies on United Methodist missionaries to identify clinics and other facilities serving those in greatest need.
“The humanitarian aid of the United Methodist Church knows no political or national boundaries,” Dirdak said. “In recent weeks, we have been concerned with families in Gaza affected by Israel bombing. Now we are also concerned about civilians in Lebanon and about civilians in Israel whose lives are being torn apart by the military action.”

The latest round of violence began two weeks ago with the abductions of two Israeli soldiers and the killings of eight others by the Hezbollah militant group, operating out of Lebanon. Israel responded with an attack on southern Lebanon. The violence on both sides has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Lebanese and Israeli civilians while displacing more than a half-million Lebanese, according to news reports.

Checks may be written to Centenary UM Church, designated for “Middle East Emergency Fund” in the Memo line, and placed in church offering plates on any Sunday. Credit-card donations may be made by calling (800) 554-8583. Online donations can be made at:

http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/donate.cfm?code=601740&id=30.

One hundred percent of the contribution goes to the Middle East Emergency Appeal.
*Wright is the information officer for the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

Some Thoughts for This Week:

Every day holds the possibility of miracles.

The more you have, the more you’re occupied; the less you have, the more free you are. – Mother Teresa

If you’re going to be a bridge, you’ve got to be prepared to be walked upon. – Roy A. West Educator

“Choose a career you love and you will never have to go to work.” – Denis Waitley

I pray for knowledge and experience of divine love everywhere around me and within me…I try to see the divine love from which each person springs. – Anne Lamott

It only takes one person to change your life–you. – Ruth Casey

Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them. – Lady Bird Johnson

I cannot do everything; but I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do. – Edward Everett Hale (1822-1909), Cleric and writer

I look forward to sharing with many of you in Worship/Holy Communion and Fellowship this Sunday.

Shalom, John