Sunday, July 27, 2008 — The 11th Sunday Aftwer Pentecost / Rev. George Watt, Jr
Dear Centenary Church Family:
This Sunday – July 27, 2008 – The Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost
9:30 AM – Worship and Summer Sunday School
Children’s Message: Michael Savoia
(Summer Sunday School for children following the Children’s Message)
Preacher: George Watt, Jr. Theme: Climbing Higher
Lectionary Readings: Genesis 29:15-28 Romans 8:26-39
Psalm 105:1-11, 45b Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Special Reading: Judges 6:11-16
Celebration of Found Coins: Centenary UM Youth Fund
10:30 AM – Fellowship Time
We welcome The Rev. George Watt, Jr. to Centenary This Sunday, July 27: Rev. Watt is no stranger to many at Centenary, having preached here previously (February 2003), and also having served as our District Superintendent from 1966-1971.
Rev. Watt began his ministry 60 years ago in the former Northern New Jersey Annual Conference, when he was ordained Deacon in 1948 and appointed to serve as the Associate Pastor at First Methodist Church in Plainfield. In 1950 he was ordained Elder and appointed as Pastor of Hilton Methodist Church in Maplewood (1950-1956); Simpson-Grace Methodist Church in Jersey City (1956-1962); Caldwell Methodist Church (1962-1966); Superintendent of the Southern District (1966-1971); and, Ridgewood United Methodist Church (1971-1984). From 1984-1992, Rev. Watt served as the Conference Treasurer and Director of Administrative Services for the Northern New Jersey Annual Conference.
Though he retired from the “active ministry” in 1992, Rev. Watt has remained active on the staff of the Morristown United Methodist Church, and frequently preaches in churches throughout the northern area of New Jersey. He and his wife, Dorothy, reside in Convent Station, NJ. We welcome the Rev. George Watt, Jr. to the Centenary Pulpit this Sunday morning.
Pastor John Painter will be attending the 2008 Greater New Jersey Annual Conference (GNJAC) School of Christian Mission, Living the Sacred, at Centenary College in Hackettstown, NJ, from this Friday afternoon, July 25 through lunch on Sunday, July 27. Should you need to contact him with a pastoral concern, you may reach him on his cell phone at 201-463-5552.
2008 Vacation Bible School—“Power Lab”—August 4-8 – 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
· Registration is $15.00 per child. Children’s groups will be made up of mixed ages. Children will learn that Jesus gives us the power to be thankful, help others, be brave, live forever, and tell others about God. The program includes science experiments.
· Helpers Wanted to Share in Teaching, Assist with other Tasks. Please contact Cathy Jean Savoia for information or to sign up. 732-548-7622, Ext. 12 or (H) 732-826-1921.
· VBS Donations Wanted: bottled water; small-boxed raisins; seltzer water; apples and oranges; ice pops; yogurt; 6 boxes baking soda; 6 squirt bottles; 6 plastic pails; 6 hula hoops, balloons.
Centenary will next be serving dinner at the Ozanam Shelter on Monday, August 4. Please check the information on the bulletin board in the Narthex and sign up to assist with food preparation or serving. The August Menu: Meat Loaf, Mashed Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, Green Beans, Cupcakes, and Ice Cream. For further information, please contact Glenna Gundell (732-463-1431) or Mary Ellen Heim (732-548-2587). Thanks.
You are invited to sponsor the time of coffee and refreshments following our Sunday Worship service. Please consider sponsoring a refreshment time and signing up for one of the many available weeks on the 2008 Refreshment Chart in the Narthex. Information on what you need to provide is available on the information sheet attached to the Refreshment Chart. Thank you for providing hospitality on a Sunday morning.
Please faithfully use your offering envelopes during the Summer, and at every possible opportunity to help with the progress our Church is making in underwriting our ministry and mission this year. God is good to us, and one by one we can make a difference in sharing the gospel story, if we work together in the days ahead.
Thank you in the name of Jesus Christ for making ministry possible.
You are invited to sponsor flower arrangements for our Worship services. The 2008 Flower Chart is posted in the Narthex. Floral arrangements cost $25.00 each week to sponsor. (Please make your check payable to Centenary UM Church and write “Altar Flowers” in the Memo line.) 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.
PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Blueberry Pancakes
Plain Pancakes
Waffles
Scrambled Eggs
Bacon and Sausage
Orange and Apple Juice
Coffee, Tea, and Milk
Saturday, August 9, 2008
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Only $7.00 per person
Children 10 and under – $5.00
Proceeds will be designated to support a proposed November 2008
Volunteer-in-Mission Trip to either Mississippi or the Midwest to work with our United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) in flood/tornado repair and relief.
Centenary United Methodist Church
200 Hillside Avenue, Metuchen, NJ
732-548-7622
Some Thoughts for This Week:
We must alter our lives in order to alter our hearts, for it is impossible to live one way and pray another. – William Law
Aside from the teachings of faith, there is no answer to the problems of life. – Calvin Coolidge [adapted]
Work as if you were to live a hundred years. Pray as if you were to die tomorrow. – Benjamin Franklin
I do not believe in a fate that falls on men and women however they act; but I do believe in a fate that falls on them unless they act. – G. K. Chesterton
The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith. – Franklin D. Roosevelt
Material success may result in the accumulation of possessions; but only spiritual success will enable you to enjoy them. – Nido Qubein
Aspire to decency. Practice civility toward one another. Admire and emulate ethical behavior wherever you find it. Apply a rigid standard of morality to your lives; and if, periodically, you fail–as you surely will–adjust your lives, not the standards. – Ted Koppel, Broadcast journalist
We are healthy only to the extent that our ideas are humane. – Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast Of Champions (Dell)
Don’t go through life, grow through life. – Eric Butterworth
Never get so caught up in who’s right and who’s wrong that you forget what’s right and what’s wrong.
In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you. – Deepak Chopra
If faith can see every step of the way, it is not faith. – William Barclay
My religion is very simple—my religion is kindness. – the Dalai Lama
What is beautiful is not always good, but what is good is always beautiful. – Unknown
Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless. – Mother Teresa
Always remember to be gracious: Everyone you meet is likely facing some kind of struggle.
Next Sunday – August 3, 2008
9:30 AM – Worship and Summer Sunday School
The Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost / Sacrament of Holy Communion
Preacher: John D. Painter Theme: Wrestling with God
Lectionary Readings: Genesis 29:15-28; 32:22-31 Romans 9:1-5
Psalm 17:1-7, 15 Matthew 14:13-21
10:45 AM – Fellowship Time (Room 20)
Prayer for the Week of July 27: We give you thanks, O God, for those who worked to establish our congregation in this community. We thank you for those who have loved your church enough to give time and energy to organize and build it. We thank you for leaders who have shared their gifts to plan and oversee the work of our church. We thank you for pastors and teachers and all other staff members who have served you through this congregation. And we give you thanks for those who have led each of us to belong to this body, for parents and mentors who have taught the faith, to those encouragers who have invited us, and to all who have given us reason to value this community of faith. May they all know your great love and may we all honor their efforts by seeking to faithfully follow you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
You will be in my thoughts and prayers as you gather for Worship and Christian Fellowship this Sunday at Centenary.
Shalom, John