Dear Centenary Church Family:

We will gather for Worship at 10:15 AM this Sunday. March 26th, as we observe The Fourth Sunday in Lent and One Great Hour of Sharing. Please read the brochure which was included in the March Lamplighter and will be enclosed in our worship bulletins this Sunday, and use the attached envelope to share a generous gift for the One Great Hour of Sharing special offering. As indicated, this annual asking provides valuable support for our United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), enabling 100% of our special offerings for UMCOR appeals to go directly to assist in the work of the appeal. Our Celebration of Founds Coins offering for March is for UMCOR’s emergency appeal for the Philippines, following the devastating mudslides of last month, and 100% of your gifts will be directed to the relief and rehabilitation ministries now going on in the Philippines.

Centenary’s Puppet Ministry will bring a special word to our children during our worship service. Then our children will be dismissed for Sunday School classes. Please remember that there is no Sunday School for young children and middle school youth at 9:00 AM this Sunday–adults and senior high youth will still meet at 9:00 AM–but all other classes will be held during Worship following Children’s Time. We will return to our regular 9:00 AM Sunday School schedule on Sunday, April 2nd. My morning Message, The Good Snake, will be based on the familiar reading from the Gospel of John 3:14-21. We will also hear the reading from the Hebrew Scriptures, Numbers 21:4-9, which describes the remarkable Exodus story of the serpent in the wilderness.

A Special Reminder to the Men of Centenary: Centenary Men’s Club President Austin Banks has invited all of the men of the church to a special gathering this Sunday at 8:30 AM in the Sunshine Room to discuss some concerns. We hope to see you there.

We will receive four new members of Centenary during our service:
· Steven & Carol Orzechowski, who are being received by Certificate of Transfer from Trinity United Methodist Church in South Amboy, NJ.
· Pradipkumar & Shobhana Ingale, who are being received by Reaffirmation of Faith.

I know you will want to greet Steve, Carol, Pradip and Shobhana following Worship and welcome them warmly to the Centenary Church family.

A last-minute reminder:
United Methodist Women Communion Breakfast
Saturday, March 25th at 9:30 A.M. at Centenary
The women of New Dover and Wesley Churches have been invited as usual as well as the women from Jesus Followers Congregation. The Rev. Sunghee Park, pastor of Trinity UM Church in South Amboy will be our speaker. Child care will be provided and girls of an appropriate age are invited to attend. There is a sign up sheet in the narthex asking you to bring quiches, breakfast casseroles, fresh fruit, etc. for the breakfast. The cost for this event is $3.00. Any questions, please ask Sylvia Woodfield, Millie Pleuler or Giselle Esquivel Cordero. Assistance is needed to set up the Sanctuary this evening, Friday, March 24th, at 7:00 PM, and also to re-set the Sanctuary tomorrow, Saturday, March 25th, at Noon. If you can provide help, please let Sylvia, Millie or Giselle know.

Virginia Dinsmore to Be Ordained As a Priest: Former Centenary Student Assistant Pastor Virginia Carol Baker Dinsmore will be ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests in the Episcopal Church this Sunday afternoon, March 26th. The Right Reverend Geralyn Wolf, Bishop of the Diocese of Rhode Island, will preside at the 5:00 PM service at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, where Ginny been serving on the pastoral staff for the past six months, since her ordination as a Deacon. We extend our congratulations and best wishes to Ginny as she completes her journey toward full ordination into Christian ministry. Ginny’s address is 22 East Main Street, Portsmouth, RI 02871.

Discovering Everyday Spirituality Is Adult Class Study for Lent
“As I talk to people these days, I hear over and over again that they are hungry for a life that is more substantive, that has deep value in it, and that is spiritual. People are looking for a spiritual life that is intelligent and related to their everyday life.”
With these words, Thomas Moore, best-selling author of Care for the Soul, invites us on a journey called Discovering Everyday Spirituality, an eight-week video series profiling ordinary people who seek to reclaim and nurture the sacredness that can be found in everyday life. Centenary’s Adult Class is using this series as its Lenten study. The series is divided into four parts: Story, Place, Activity, and Ritual:
Story: March 19 & 26 Activity: April 30 & May 7
Place: April 9 & 23 Ritual: May 14 & 21
(No Sessions on April 2, Special Charge Conference; or April 16, Easter)
We invite you to join us on this journey on Sundays at 9:00 A.M. in the Sunshine Room.

Ozanam Shelter Dinner on April 3rd Centenary will be serving dinner at the Ozanam Shelter on Monday, April 3rd. 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.

Aldersgate Center Work Day Volunteers Needed Saturday, April 22nd – 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM: April 22nd is Aldersgate Center’s Work Day. There is a lot of work to be done in order to get Aldersgate ready for the summer. Even with the loss of Wesley Lodge, Aldersgate is offering an extensive program. Anyone who is interested in helping out, adults or youth, please contact Doug Woodfield @ (908) 233-2653 evenings or (908) 803-7118 cell phone. Doug will be available to take anyone up who needs a ride. Just as an added attraction, breakfast and lunch are included. We will be leaving the Church Parking lot at 7:00 AM on the 22nd. Please consider help us out, Aldersgate is a great place!

HEALTH KITS NEEDED BY UMCOR
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is the Methodist Church’s agency that responds to all sorts of emergencies such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc. nationally and internationally.

This past year as we all know has been quite a year for that sort of disaster locally and around the world. Their supplies have been depleted and they are in need of health kits to replenish their supplies.

The United Methodist Women in the Raritan District have made the gathering of health kits a project of their group. The health kits will be collected at their meeting on Saturday, April 8th.

Our United Methodist Women, with some help from our friends in the Youth Groups of our church and the congregation, will be collecting the items needed for these health kits during the month of March. We will have a box in the narthex to collect the items needed for the kits.

The Youth Group and United Methodist Women and anyone else who would like to help will be assembling these kits on Sunday, April 2 at 6:30 PM.

Items Needed for Health Kit

1 hand towel 1 bath-size bar of soap in original wrapper
1 wash cloth 1 toothbrush in original sealed package
1 hair comb, regular size (not pocket) 1 large tube of toothpaste
1 nail file or nail clipper (no sample or travel sizes)
6 adhesive bandages (such as Band-Aids*) *suggested brand-name item

Any questions, please contact Sylvia Woodfield (732) 549-9042. Thank you in advance for your help in making this project a success!

Mulching Party Saturday, April 8th @ 9:00 AM: The Centenary Board of Trustees invite everyone to a “Mulching Party” on Saturday, April 8th at 9:00 AM, as we prepare the front of the church for Easter and Spring. All are welcome to lend a hand as you are able during the day. There is a need for some additional shrubs to replace a number that have died. Donations of $20.00 per shrub may be made to the church to assist with replacing these. Please make your checks payable to Centenary UM Church and indicate “Shrubs” in the Memo line. Thanks for your assistance.

The Art of Muriel Harris at Centenary During Lent: We are richly blessed during the 2006 Lenten Season to have a number of Muriel Harris’ paintings adorning the walls of our Sanctuary. You will want to take time to pause on Sundays during Lent—or at other times you are in the building—to view these special works based on the indicated biblical passages, and reminding us of the themes of creation, liberation and justice. We are grateful to Muriel Harris for sharing the gift of her art with us once again this year.
Lenten University at Centenary: Lenten University is on Wednesday evenings, from 6:30 PM until approximately 8:00 PM. We gather for the meal, and the study is directed by our use of The Bread and Broth Study Series for Lent. (The study series on This Holy Mystery will also continue at 7:30 PM on Wednesday evenings during Lent for those who have been participating.) Supper and Study will be held on every Wednesday during Lent and conclude on April 12th in Holy Week. We look forward to seeing you and joining with you during this special time with fellowship and study.

Upcoming Children’s Ministries Events:
+Friday, March 31st-6:30-8:30 PM: Kids’ Night Out Game Night
Bring a game to share with others. Child Care provided. $8.00 per child.
+Friday, April 7th @ 6:30 PM – T.G.I.F.
+Saturday, April 8th 9:00 AM-3:00PM in the Sanctuary – Walking in His Footsteps
A multi-media, labyrinth journey through Jesus’ last week.
+Sunday, April 9th—Palm Sunday Brunch & Easter Egg Hunt (Following Worship)
+Sunday, April 16th @ 7:15 AM—Easter Breakfast (Following Sunrise Service)
+Saturday, April 29th @ 6:00 PM –Annual Talent Show
Handbell Concert: The Jubilation Ringers from Allentown, PA, one of the premier handbell choirs in the Northeast, will offer a concert at the Wesley United Methodist Church, 1500 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ, on April 9, 2006 at 7:00 PM. The Jubilation Ringers make music on one of the world’s largest church-owned collection of bells and related instruments: 7 full octaves of English handbells, 2 octaves of Silver Melody Bells, 3 octaves of Dutch handbells, and 5 1/2 octaves of handchimes–220 instruments in all! Tickets are available for a donation of $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for students in advance or $12.00/$6.00 at the door. To obtain tickets, call the Wesley church office at 908-757-2838, or Jack Willard at 908-754-3014.

Some Thoughts for This Week:
God has included you in his plans;
Have you included God in yours?
What do we live for, if not to make life less difficult for each other.
- George Eliot
Don’t complain about growing old;
Remember those who have not had the privilege.

God has been doing “a new thing” in drab deserts and wintry wastelands for centuries.- Charles Dickens
The worst prison would be a closed heart. – Pope John Paul II

May the wisdom of God instruct me;
The eye of God watch over me;
The ear of God hear me;
The Word of God give sweetness to my speech;
The hand of God defend me;
And may I follow the way of God this and every day.
-St. Patrick

Next Sunday: April 2, 2006@ 10:15 AM – The Fifth Sunday in Lent /
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
(Note: Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 AM on April 2nd)
Guest Preacher: Dr. Jennifer Woodruff Tait (Junior Choir will sing in Worship)
Theme: This Holy Mystery: On Constant Communion
Lectionary Readings: Jeremiah 31:31-34 Hebrews 5:5-10
Psalm 51:1-12 John 12:20-33
Dr. Jennifer Woodruff Tait will be our Guest Preacher on Sunday, April 2nd: A commissioned Probationary Member of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference seeking ordination as a permanent Deacon, Dr. Woodruff Tait is the Methodist Librarian at Drew University in Madison, NJ. She recently was awarded the Ph.D. degree in Methodist studies at Duke University. A native of Illinois, Jennifer Woodruff Tait and her husband, Dr. Edwin Tait, reside in New Providence, NJ, where Jennifer is active in The New Providence United Methodist Church. We look forward to welcoming Jennifer and Edwin Woodruff Tait to Centenary on Sunday, April 2nd for Worship and Fellowship. Dr. Tait has agreed to remain following our service to share in a time of conversation with her around Holy Communion and other Methodist interest. Her recent doctoral dissertation, for example, was on the topic of the conversion from the use of wine to grape juice for Communion in Methodist congregations.
Spring Forward! Daylight Saving Time returns at 2:00 AM on Sunday, April 2nd. Don’t forget to turn your clocks and watches ahead one hour before you go to sleep on Saturday evening, April 1st, or you will arrive an hour late for Church School and Worship on Sunday morning, April 2nd. You may also consider changing the batteries in your residential smoke and carbon dioxide detectors at this time, as recommended by safety personnel.
Sermons “Podcast” on Our Web Site: In addition to being available in print, the Pastors’ weekly sermons are now available as a “podcast” on our Web site. You may listen to each Message as it was delivered in Worship. Go to www.CentenaryUMCnj.org to explore this new feature. Our thanks to Web servant Ernie Agtarap.
I look forward to sharing with many of you in study, worship and fellowship this Sunday.

Shalom, John