Dear Centenary Church Family:

Greetings from Williamsburg, VA. Tina and I are enjoying our days of exploration of America’s colonial history here in Virginia’s “Historic Triangle” (Jamestown / Williamsburg / Yorktown). It is remarkable that so many critical events occurred in this relatively small area, from the first English-speaking settlement in Jamestown 400 years ago (May 1607), to the closing battle of the American Revolutionary War in Yorktown in October 1781, effectively ending the “Colonial Era.” In addition to the historical presentations, we have been enjoying some relaxation and reading, some time in the pool, and look forward to some adventures at Busch Gardens Europe.

This Sunday, July 1, 2007, our 9:30 AM Summer Worship will be built around the liturgy of “A Service of Holy Communion for Independence Day,” designed by leaders of the Worship Division of our United Methodist General Board of Discipleship. Michael Savoia will offer a word to the children, after which those into the elementary grades will be invited to participate in our one-room Summer Sunday School session. Using 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 as her text, Assistant Pastor Terrilisa Durham Bauknight will bring the morning Message, Generation to Generation. The Gospel reading for the morning will be from Luke 9:51-62. Director of Music Ministry, Shirley W. Mosteller, will be arranging some special music for the morning service and will herself offer The Lone Wild Bird by H. R. McFayden/M. Haugen during the celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Our Celebration of Found Coins in July is designated for the Capital Funds Campaign of Aldersgate Center, to assist with the rebuilding efforts of both Wesley Lodge and Asbury Village. (See article below about a special focus meeting at Centenary to review the plans for the rebuilding efforts at Aldersgate Center on Sunday, July 22.)

Pancake Breakfast
Saturday, June 30, 2007

8:00 – 11:00 a.m.
at Centenary UM Church

Only $7.00 per person
Children 10 and under – $5.00

Proceeds will help fund a Mission Trip in November 2007 to the Evangelical Methodist Church in Mar del Plata, Argentina, where we hope to bring materials, supplies, encouragement, and physical labor to an active and growing congregation trying to reach the poorest citizens living off what they can salvage from the city dump. Projects include a radio ministry, facility repairs and renovation, health education, starting a recycling business, a textile project, and leadership training for social and cultural mobilization.

Centenary will next be serving dinner at the Ozanam Shelter Monday, July 2. 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.

Come, See the Plans for Aldersgate Center: On Sunday, July 22nd following the Worship Service, Doug & Wendy Woodfield will be hosting a Focus Group meeting, during the Refreshment Time, to share with you the plans for the future Aldersgate. They will include the Architect’s drawings for both Wesley and Asbury Lodges. It will be an informational time with a chance for you to ask questions. Declan Thompson, Site Director of Aldersgate Center will also be here. Please look for more information in the mail and Sunday Bulletins. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Doug or Wendy Woodfield at (908) 233-2653.
On Saturday July 21st, Aldersgate will be sponsoring a concert at the camp that combines a fun day out with an opportunity for the whole family to experience spiritual renewal. The gates will open at 2:00 PM, the pool will be open so bring your suit, as well as boating and fishing on the pond, along with the many winding trails on the property. Bring a picnic or join us for a Bar-B-Q around 5:00 PM. Our evening will culminate with a concert starting at 7:00pm with guest speaker Terry Weaver and the Tommy Bowman Band. Families and Youth Groups welcome—children under 17 must be supervised. Call the Aldersgate office for more details: 973-383-5978.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL—July 30 through August 3 from 8:45 AM-12:15 PM Theme: The Sea of Galilee. $12.00 per child. Registration forms are available on the Sunday School bulletin board and through the Church Office. Bring a bathing suit and towel daily. More details in parents’ letters being sent out shortly.
Refreshment Sponsors Needed: 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 on the 2007 Refreshment Chart posted in the Narthex. Thank you for providing hospitality on a Sunday morning.

Worship and Summer Sunday School will be held at 9:30 AM through Sunday, September 2nd. (Except there will be no Children’s Summer Sunday School program on July 8th, August 26th, and September 2nd.) On Sunday, September 9th, we will resume our Sunday morning schedule with Worship and Sunday School for Pre-K through 12th Grade Youth at 10:15 AM. (The Adult Class will continue to meet at 9:00 AM next year.) Watch for further details in upcoming editions of The Lamplighter.

Some Thoughts for This Week:

Forgiveness is unlocking the door to set someone free and realizing you were the prisoner! – Max Lucado

We fear to trust our wings. We plume and feather them, but dare not throw our weight upon them. We cling too often to the perch. – Charles B. Newcomb

There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island… and best of all, you can enjoy these riches every day of your life. – Walt Disney

I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book. – Groucho Marx

The message of the good news is of the liberation of human beings from everything and everyone that keeps them enslaved. – Elsa Tamez

I am always doing things I can’t do; that’s how I get to do them. – Pablo Picasso

Let the Bible fill the memory, rule the heart and guide the feet. – Henrietta Mears

A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices. – William James

In the depths of winter I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. – Albert Camus (1913-1960), Writer

Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have. – H. Jackson Brown, Jr., Writer

Next Sunday, July 8, 2007:
9:30 AM – Worship (No Summer Sunday School)
The Sixth Sunday After Pentecost
Preacher: Terrilisa Durham Bauknight Theme: Newly Commissioned
Lectionary Readings: 2 Kings 5:1-14 Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16
Psalm 30 Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
10:30 AM – Fellowship Time (Room 20)

Prayer for the Week of July 1: We give you thanks, O God, for the liveliness of your word to us—always inviting us into a special journey toward life that rises up in challenge and hope. We give you thanks for the example of Jesus, who moves us out, past pious platitudes, and into risky and glorious living. We thank you for those moments, O God, when we know that we are truly on the way. Amen.

You will be in our thoughts and prayers as you gather for Worship and Christian Fellowship this Sunday at Centenary.

Shalom, John