Sunday, February 4, 2007 – The 5th Sunday After the Epiphany / Holy Communion
Dear Centenary Church Family:
Greetings from central Florida…where it’s a bit cooler than usual for this time of year. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in these days. And we will be thinking of you especially this Sunday, February 4, as you gather for Worship at 10:15 AM. Assistant Pastor Terrilisa Durham Bauknight will bring a special message for the children…after which they and youth through 12th grade will depart for Sunday School…and she will offer the main morning Message, Extra! Extra! Read All About It! based on the reading from 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. There will also be a reading from the Gospel of Luke 5:1-11. Our Chancel Choir will offer the beautiful Here I Am, Lord by Daniel Schutte, arranged by Jack Schrader. And as you gather to share the Sacrament of Holy Communion, the choir will sing Communion Song by Mark Weston. The Celebration of Found Coins for February is designated for the Greater NJ Annual Conference Media Center, from which we receive many of the video materials we use in our Christian education programs.
TGIF Intergenerational Dinner and Lectionary Discussion and a lot of fun together will meet on Friday, February 2 from 6:30-8:30 PM. A barrel offering is taken to defray the costs for the meal and materials.Reminder: Kids’ Night Out and TGIF will meet together for a Family Night on Friday, February 9 from 6:30-8:30 PM. Featuring Rockin’ & Rollin’ with Mr. Danny Adlerman. Persons of all ages are invited and encouraged to attend.
NEW FILM SERIES REINTERPRETS GOSPEL MESSAGE IN A VIBRANT WAY: The Adult Class is engaged in study based on an innovative series of short films featuring Rob Bell, a break-through communicator in the Christian community. Bell is the Pastor and founder of Mars Hill Bible Church, an independent evangelical congregation in Grandville, Michigan, which has a weekly attendance of 10,000 and meets in a former mall. His series of short films is called Nooma, a phonetic spelling of the Greek “pneuma” or “spirit.” Each film in the series reinterprets gospel messages in a vibrant way. They tackle tough questions about faith, authenticity, and living as a follower of Jesus Christ. Like Jesus’ parables, they use common daily experiences to explore topics like forgiveness, discipleship and unconditional love. Join us on Sundays at 9:00 AM in the Sunshine Room, as we view and discuss the Nooma series.
Ozanam Shelter Dinner on Monday, February 5: 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.
Centenary Book Club—Saturday, February 10 @ 9:30 AM in the Sunshine Room: This month’s book selection is Mary Called Magdalene by Margaret George. This novel portrays the life of the mysterious figure of Mary Magdalene, “Apostle to the Apostles,” and companion to Jesus. Margaret George creates a new portrait of one of the most controversial figures in biblical scholarship: a strong, independent woman, given to visions and gifted with a unique faith in Jesus and his message. All are welcome.
Food Collection—Sunday, February 18: 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
Charles Wesley Tercentennial Concert—February 18: A United Methodist-related concert at New York’s Lincoln Center will honor hymn writer Charles Wesley as it raises funds for relief work. The 2007 Wesley Choral Festival, presented by Music Celebrations International, commemorates the 300th anniversary of Wesley’s birth. Events will culminate with a concert at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 18. All proceeds from the $35 to $55 ticket sales will go to the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s landmine removal program in Angola. To order tickets online, visit http://www.lincolncenter.org/show_events_list.asp?eventcode=13723 or call Center Charge at (212) 721-6500.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner / Gospel & Jazz Evening—Tuesday, February 20th at 6:30 PM: Bring your friends to enjoy a dinner of international pancakes with scrumptious fillings. Be entertained by the sounds of a jazz ensemble featuring Jackie Jones, vocalist, and Jonathan Benjamin, pianist, in a combination of jazz and gospel tunes. Sponsored by the Music Committee as a fund-raiser for the church. Let your friends and neighbors know!
The Annual Ash Wednesday Service of the Centenary, New Dover and Wesley United Methodist Church congregations will be held on February 21 at 7:30 PM. This year’s service will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church in Edison. 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. There will be a time of fellowship and refreshment in 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.
Lenten Wednesday Evening Bible Study: Pastor John Painter will lead a five-week Wednesday evening Lenten Bible Study from 7:30-8:30 PM beginning on Wednesday, February 28, and continuing through Wednesday March 28. The focus of the study will be The Passion Narratives of the four Gospels. As part of your Lenten discipline, you are invited to bring your favorite translation of the Bible and participate in the reading and discussion.
Some Thoughts for This Week:
Strength in prayer is better than length of prayer.
The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity. – Benjamin Franklin
No matter how difficult the challenge,
When we spread our wings of faith and allow the winds of God’s spirit to lift us,
No obstacle is too great to overcome. – Roy Lessin
Character is not made in a crisis; it is only exhibited. – Robert Freeman
Consider how hard it is to change yourself,
And you’ll understand what little chance you have in trying to change others.
- Jacob M. Braude
There is nothing that wastes the body like worry; and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever. – Mahatma Gandhi
No one is wealthy enough to buy back their past.
Prayer for the Week of February 4: God of variety and innovation, God of eternal creativity and renewal, we are thankful for all that you are to us and the world. We thank you for universal signs that we will never fully know what lies over our horizons as the wonder of your life expands and enhances and refuses to live with death. Amen.
Next Sunday, February 11, 2007:
9:00 AM – Adult Class (Nooma Series)
10:15 AM – Worship and Sunday School (Pre-K through 12th Grade)
The Sixth Sunday After the Epiphany / Youth Sunday
Our Centenary United Methodist Youth will plan & lead the Worship Service.
Lectionary Readings: Jeremiah 17:5-10 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
Psalm 1 Luke 6:17-26
11:30 AM – Fellowship Time (Room 20)
5:30 PM – Junior Choir Rehearsal (Music Room)
6:30 PM – United Methodist Youth Fellowship (Youth Rm./Rm. 20)
Painters on Vacation: Tina and I are in Davenport, Florida, for a mid-winter vacation, and will return to Metuchen on Tuesday afternoon, February 13th. During my absence, Assistant Pastor Terrilisa Durham Bauknight is “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).
You will be in our thoughts and prayers as you gather this Sunday for Study, Worship and Christian Fellowship.
Shalom, John