Dear Centenary Church Family:

As our Sunday School program for the 2005-2006 year comes to an end this Sunday, June 11th, we will gather at 10:15 AM for a Worship service led by children, youth and teachers from our Sunday School. The theme for much of the service is built around the Trinity, as we also observe Trinity Sunday, the First Sunday After Pentecost. Our Junior Choir will sing , Our Maker, Give Us Peace by H. Stensrud & D. Christopherson. Assistant Pastor Terrilisa Durham Bauknight and Children’s Ministries Director Cathy Jean Savoia will share in a message with the children, as well as a recognition of those who are involved in our Christian education ministries. We will also recognize our high school graduates during the service. Our children and youth will present a special morning Message, Isaiah’s Amazing Story, based on the morning’s reading from Isaiah 6:1-8. Our Celebration of Found Coins is designated for the ClothesLine Ministry. Following Worship and the brief Financial Update Session, everyone is invited to share in a picnic on the front lawn provided by our Sunday School. Please being a salad or dessert to share.

Special Offering for Utility Bills This Sunday: In the past several weeks, the members of Centenary have responded generously in support of our church and its programs. In particular, the music and children’s programs depend on your continued support in both time and money. The fund raisers and direct contributions have increased income by approximately $9,000 and will help Centenary to maintain the programs while reducing the need to draw on investment funds. Unfortunately, the additional income has been largely offset by increases in gas and electric rates. Therefore, this Sunday morning we are requesting a special offering specifically to help with gas and electric bills. As always, your generosity is appreciated. —Richard Asmuth, Finance Committee Chairperson
Opportunity for Updating our Financial Situation This Sunday Morning Following Worship: A brief time of sharing around our current financial situation will be offered immediately following our Worship service on Sunday. While the grills are started and hamburgers and hot dogs start sizzling for our Sunday School Picnic, we hope many of you will remain while several of our leaders share updated information since our March information session and April Special Church Conference. And thank you all for the special efforts you are making toward assisting us with decreasing our projected 2006 deficit.

Our Adult Study group will conclude the focus on the granting of full clergy rights to women in our 9:00 AM sessions in the Sunshine Room this Sunday, June 11th, our final gathering before the summer. Pastor Bauknight will join us to offer her perspectives and reflections. All are welcome.

Holy Communion Questionnaire
Congregations of The United Methodist Church are being encouraged to move toward a richer sacramental life, including weekly celebration of the Lord’s Supper at the services on the Lord’s Day. This has been advocated by the 2004 General Conference (This Holy Mystery) and the general orders of Sunday worship in The United Methodist Hymnal and The United Methodist Book of Worship.
During the year we have had classes in This Holy Mystery and four sermons have been preached on Holy Communion. Your Church Council would like to know your feelings as a congregation on this important issue. A simple questionnaire will be included in your bulletin this Sunday, June 11th. Please take a minute to fill it out and drop it in the offering plate. —Thank you, CUMC Church Council

This Sunday, June 11th, will be the final 10:15 AM Worship service until September 10th…please see the note below:

Summer Worship & Church School at 9:30 AM Begins on June 18th: From Sunday, June 18th, through Sunday, September 3rd, Worship and Church School / Children’s Worship-Sunday School will held at 9:30 AM. (Except there will be no Children’s Worship/Sunday School program on July 2nd and September 3rd.) Please make note of this seasonal change in our Church School and Worship schedule for the Summer. On Sunday, September 10th, we will begin a new Sunday morning schedule with Church School and Worship at 10:15 AM. (The Adult Class will continue to meet at 9:00 AM.) Watch for further details in upcoming editions of The Lamplighter.

Next Sunday-June 18th: 9:30 AM – Summer Worship & Sunday School /
Father’s Day “Neck and Bow Tie” Sunday / Peace with Justice Sunday
Preacher: John D. Painter Theme: A New Creation
Lectionary Readings: 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 2 Corinthians 5:6-17
Psalm 20 or 72 Mark 4:26-34

“Neck and Bow Ties Sunday” on Father’s Day – June 18th: Men of Centenary! How long has it been since you’ve worn a necktie or bow tie to church? We invite and encourage the men of Centenary to wear one or the other to Worship on June 18th, Father’s Day. And, the more ostentatious the better!! We hope to see you in your finest flamboyant neck wear.
Food Collection—Sunday, June 18th: 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.

Congratulations to our 2006 High School Graduates: According to our membership records, these two young persons will graduate from High School this month. We congratulate each of them. We will share in a brief time of recognition for our graduates during our morning Service of Worship this Sunday: Katherine Clarke and Joseph Martin.

INDONESIA: UMCOR EARTHQUAKE RELIEF AND RECOVERY
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is working with partners in the region to respond to survivors of the May 27 earthquake on the Indonesian island of Java. An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale shook the city of Yogyakarta and surrounding areas on the highly-populated Indonesian island of Java in the dawn hours of May 27. More than 5,000 people are reported to be dead with more than 200,000 people left homeless by the violent quake.

UMCOR Indonesia’s offices are located on the neighboring island of Sumatra. UMCOR is in contact with ACT International, one of UMCOR’s international partners already on the ground in Yogyakarta. UMCOR Indonesia staff is at the ready to provide any additional assistance ACT may need. UMCOR is working with another long-time partner, Church World Service, which is distributing supplies since the quake and is assessing further needs throughout the region. UMCOR is also sending needed financial support to assist with their efforts.

Contributions to UMCOR’s “Indonesia Emergency” relief efforts can be placed in an offering plate on any Sunday (Please make your check payable to Centenary UM Church and write “Indonesia Emergency” in the Memo line), or sent directly to UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087. Designate checks for UMCOR Advance No. 217400 and “Indonesia Emergency.” Credit-card donations can be made online at www.methodistrelief.org or by calling (800) 554-8583.

Church Council Planning Retreat – June 17th: Members of Centenary’s Church Council will gather in the Sunshine Room from 8:45 AM to about 3:00 PM on Saturday, June 17th, for the annual Church Council Planning Retreat. In addition to reviewing the proposed church calendar for 2006-2007, the Council members will focus their primary attention around visioning, especially in the areas of evangelism and stewardship. Church Council meetings are always open for members of the church to attend, and you are welcome to come for part or all of the day, as your schedule permits. If you have thoughts you would like to share with the Council as it prepares for this day, please share them with Church Council Chairperson Jim Iacone, or any other member of the Council. Jim can be reached at 732-906-1871 or via e-mail at jiacone@panynj.gov. Please hold the Church Council in your prayers on June 17th as they gather in retreat for “Holy Conferencing.”

DVD’s of Centenary Men’s Extravaganza Available: An additional dozen copies of the DVD of the May 20th Men’s Extravaganza are now available for a donation of $15.00. Please see Austin Banks following Worship this Sunday to get your copy. All proceeds go to support the deficit reduction. To date, the Men’s Extravaganza has shared a little over $4,000.00 in funds to assist with reducing our 2006 budget deficit. Thanks for your support.

Some Thoughts for This Week:

You are only what you are when no one else is looking. – Robert C. Edwards
Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity they think of you. – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

God does not want hearers and repeaters of words, but followers and doers, and this occurs in faith through love. – Martin Luther
You can never win respect by demanding it.

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. – Mother Teresa

Love is something you do, not something you feel.
Faith is something you do, not something you think.

Of all commentaries upon the Scriptures, good examples are the best and the liveliest. – John Donne

From birth to death, we are all guests at a table which we did not spread. The sun, the earth, love, friends, our very breath are parts of the banquet. Shall we think of today as a chance to come nearer to our Host, and find out something of the One who has fed us so long?
-Rebecca Harding Davis [adapted]

Shalom, John