Sunday, January 21, 2007 – Epiphany III
Dear Centenary Church Family:
Come, come, everybody Worship…this Sunday, January 21 at 10:15 AM in our Sanctuary, as we celebrate the Third Sunday After the Epiphany. Michael Savoia will share a special word with the children, after which they and our youth will be dismissed for Sunday School classes. My morning Message, Gifts for the Body, is the second of a series of three sermons based on chapters 12 & 13 of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian Christians…this week we will hear the reading from 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, along with the story of Jesus’ preaching at his hometown Nazareth synagogue from Luke 4:14-21. Our Chancel Choir will sing Praise God! Sing All Ye Heavens (From “Missa Brevis in F,” K. 192 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) as edited and arranged by Hal H. Hopson. Our Celebration of Found Coins for January is designated for the Raritan Valley District Church Union.
NEW FILM SERIES REINTERPRETS GOSPEL MESSAGE IN A VIBRANT WAY: This Sunday the Adult Class will begin a six-week 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 this Sunday, January 21 at 9:00 AM in the Sunshine Room, as we view and discuss the first film in this series called Dust, which focuses on discipleship and addresses the question: “We believe in God, but does God believe in us?”
Wedding Bells: Congratulations to Reginald Gardiner Harmon and Terrilisa Durham Bauknight who were united in “A Service of Christian Marriage” at which the Rev. John D. Painter and the Rev. Paul D. Bauknight, Sr. presided in Centenary’s Sanctuary on Sunday, January 14, 2007. Upon their return from their honeymoon on January 23.
Food Collection—This Sunday, January 21st: Thank you for bringing cereals, staple food items in plastic jars or cans, and paper products for 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
Ozanam Shelter Dinner on Monday, February 4: 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.
Scholarship Opportunities: Information about scholarships and loans available to United Methodist students in higher education is now available. A flyer listing many of these scholarships has been posted on the bulletin board in Room 20. In addition, an extensive booklet—The United Methodist Loans and Scholarship Program—is available on the literature rack in The Library. Please contact Pastors Bauknight or Painter for any additional information about these scholarship and loan programs.
Upcoming Children’s Ministries Events:
· Kid’s Night Out – Friday, January 26 @ 6:30-8:30 PM: Rockin’ & Rollin’ with Mr. Danny Adlerman.
· TGIF Intergenerational Dinner and Lectionary Discussion and a lot of fun together will meet on Fridays, February 2 & 9 from 6:30-8:30 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—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.
2007 Flower Chart Available: The 2007 Flower Chart is posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex. The cost is $25.00 per arrangement. Information is available from our Flower Chairperson, Linda Serentino (732-940-2135) or by calling the Church Office. Thank you for providing these beautiful tributes for our Sunday services.
2007 Refreshments: Please consider sponsoring a refreshment time and signing up for one of the many available weeks on the new 2007 Refreshment Chart in the Narthex. 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.
Pastor Painter to Attend Convocation on Ministry: I will be attending the Greater New Jersey Conference Convocation on Ministry at Willow Valley Resort in Lancaster, PA, from this Sunday evening, January 21st through Wednesday afternoon, January 24th. Formerly known as the “Bishop’s Convocation,” this annual event brings together United Methodist clergy from across our Annual Conference for continuing education and fellowship. This year’s theme is One in the Spirit, All in Ministry: In the Spirit of Stewardship, and will be led by the Rev. Dr. Sandra Lackore, General Secretary and Treasurer of the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church, and by the Rev. Phyllis Bowers, Director of Planned Giving and Stewardship Service for the Central Pennsylvania Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. N.J. Area Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar will also share time with the gathered clergy in Worship and conversation. I look forward to sharing in this time away for spiritual renewal and formation. If a Pastoral Care need should arise while I am in PA, please contact either the Church Office (9:00 AM-1:00 PM weekdays) or call me directly on my cell phone: 201-463-5552.
Some Thoughts for This Week:
The most beautiful thing we can experience is the miraculous. – Albert Einstein
Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you;
They’re supposed to help you discover who you are. – Bernice Johnson Reagon
I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
No one is able to stand up indefinitely under the weight of carrying a grudge.
If we want God to work through us, we must let God work in us.
We have grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected the Sermon on the Mount . The world has achieved brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience.
Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. – Omar Bradley
Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face. – Victor Hugo (1802-1885), Writer
Every survival kit should include a sense of humor. – Author unknown
[I]t’s never too late. You can’t screw up so badly that God can’t find something worth building in the wreckage, that life can’t assert its return when it is time. – Barbara Crafton
Prayer for the Week of January 21: O God, without the gifts of your Holy Spirit we cannot be your true church here. Send us the abundance of these gifts as we discover your presence this day and lead us on in hope. Come, Holy Spirit, come. Amen.
Next Sunday: January 28, 2007 – The Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany
9:00 AM – Adult Study (Nooma Series: Dust)
10:15 AM – Worship and Sunday School (Pre-K through 12th Grade)
Preacher: John D. Painter Theme: The Gift of Love
Lectionary Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-10 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Psalm 71:1-6 Luke 4:21-30
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)
I look forward to sharing with many of you in Study, Worship and Christian this Sunday at Centenary.
Shalom, John
John D. Painter