Dear Centenary Church Family:

We will gather for Worship at 10:15 AM this Sunday, February 12th, the Sixth Sunday After the Epiphany. Michael Savoia will offer a special word with the Children. Assistant Pastor Terrilisa Durham Bauknight will bring the morning Message, Humble Deliverance, based on the story of the healing of Naaman the Aramean general by Elishah the Israeli prophet in 2 Kings 5:1-14. We will also hear a reading from the Gospel of Mark 1:40-45. The Junior Choir, under the direction of our new Director of Music Ministry, Shirley Mosteller, will sing Jubilate, Sing to God! by Dave & Jean Perry. Our Celebration of Found Coins will be designated for the Greater NJ Annual Conference Media Center, from which we have received many of the media resources we use in our children’s, youth and adult educational ministries.

Adult Class Confronts the Controversial Issues: During February, the Adult Class is exploring some of the most controversial and divisive issues of our time. Using a video study program called Confronting the Controversies: Biblical Perspectives on Tough Issues, developed by United Methodist minister Adam Hamilton, the class is discussing the following topic on the remaining Sundays: Abortion (February 12); Homosexuality (February 19 and February 26). We invite you to be a part of this challenging study each Sunday at 9:00 A.M. in the Sunshine Room.

Painters Away Until February 25th: Tina and I will be leaving early Saturday morning for a mid-winter vacation in Florida. We expect to return to Metuchen on Saturday, evening, February 25th. During my absence, Assistant Pastor Terrilisa Durham Bauknight will be “on-call” for pastoral care emergencies. Please contact the Centenary Church Office if you have need of pastoral care. Or when our Church Office is closed, you may contact Pastor Bauknight at 908-419-4101 (cell) or 908-245-1529 (home).

TGIF Intergenerational Dinner and Lectionary Discussion and a lot of fun together will meet on Friday, February 10th at 6:30 PM. A barrel offering is taken to defray the costs for the meal and materials. Persons of all ages are invited and encouraged to attend.

Centenary Book Club—Friday, February 10th @ 7:30 PM in the Sunshine Room: This month’s book selection is Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. All are welcome.

Bring Your Sweetheart(s) to Dinner
Bring your Sweetheart(s) to Dinner Italian Style
Saturday, February 11th
5:00 PM — 7:00 PM
At Centenary United Methodist Church
3 Years and under—FREE / 4 to 12 Years—$5.00 / 13 to Adult—$12.00
Menu: Antipasto, Spaghetti w/wo Meatballs; Salad;
Homemade Desserts (Cheesecakes; Apple Cobbler; Italian Cookies)
Purchase tickets from Glenna Gundell or Sue Brownlow
Call the Church Office (732-548-7622) or E-mail CentaryUMC@aol.com to make Reservations.
This is a Fund Raiser to Support the Church Budget!!

Tuesday Luncheon Group—February 14th: This month, after not meeting since May 2005, we will be meeting at New Dover UMC, Edison. The usual time, bring a sandwich, etc. Also please let Millie Pleuler know if you plan to attend (732-750-4434).

Food Collection—Sunday, February 19th: 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.

The Annual Ash Wednesday Service of the Centenary, New Dover and Wesley United Methodist Church congregations will be held on March 1st at 7:30 PM. This year’s service will be held at Centenary United Methodist Church. Pastors Darryl Duer (New Dover UMC), John Jung Kwon (Wesley UMC), Terrilisa Durham Bauknight and John Painter will share in leading this annual service marking the beginning of Lent. The choirs of the three congregations are preparing special music for this service. During the service there will be an Imposition of Ashes and celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Communion. There will be a time of fellowship and refreshment in Room 20 following the service. Child Care will be available. Everyone is encouraged to come and share in this special service, as we begin our 40-day Lenten journey to Calvary’s Cross and the Garden of Resurrection.

The Art of Muriel Harris at Centenary During Lent: We will be blessed during the 2006 Lenten Season to have a number of Muriel Harris’ paintings adorning the walls of our Sanctuary. You will want to take time to pause on 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. Some of the paintings in our Sanctuary will represent her recent work in the more “tactile” media. We are grateful to Muriel Harris for sharing the gift of her art with us once again this year.

Mark your calendar !!
United Methodist Women Communion Breakfast
Saturday, March 25th at 9:30 a.m. at Centenary
Women from Wesley and New Dover United Methodist Churches in Edison will be joining us, as well as, we hope, some women from Jesus Followers United Methodist Congregation. Brunch items such as quiche, breakfast casseroles, muffins, fresh fruit, etc. will be served. The speaker will be the Rev. Sunghee Park, Pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in South Amboy. Babysitting will be available. Young girls (age appropriate) are welcome to attend.

Some Thoughts for This Week

When I first open my eyes upon the morning meadows and look out upon the beautiful world, I thank God I am alive. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Laying down your arms, surrendering, saying you are sorry, realizing that you have been on the wrong track and getting ready to start life over again from the ground floor – that is the only way out of a hole. – C.S. Lewis

You will be in our thoughts and prayers from Florida as you gather for Sunday School, Worship and Fellowship this Sunday morning.

Shalom y’all, John