Sunday, March 29, 2009 – The Fifth Sunday in Lent / Youth Sunday
9:00 AM — Adult Study – Victory at Jerusalem
10:15 AM — Worship and Sunday School (Pre-K through 6th Grade)
Student Assistant Pastor Keith A. Swatzel, II and the 7th-12th Grade Youth
of Centenary will lead our Worship Service on Sunday, March 29, 2009.
Speakers: Centenary Youth Theme: Together, a Search for the Sacred
Lectionary Readings: Jeremiah 31:31-34 Hebrews 5:5-10
Psalm 51:1-12 John 12:20-33
Music — Youth Fellowship: Draw the Circle Wide by Mark A. Miller
11:30 AM — Fellowship Time
11:45 AM — Junior Choir Rehearsal
6:30 PM — Centenary Youth Fellowship
Celebration of Found Coins: “Nothing But Nets’ Anti-Malaria Campaign
Kids’ “Night” Out—THIS SUNDAY, March 29, from 12:00 Noon to 2:00 PM.: Come and have some fun at the Roosevelt Park Ice Skating Rink after Church. Admission will be paid by Children’s Ministries. Bring your own snacks.
The Art of Muriel Harris at Centenary
We have been blessed during the 2009 Lenten Season to have a number of Muriel Harris’ paintings and collages adorning the walls of our Sanctuary. You will want to take time to pause and view these special works reminding us of the themes of creation, liberation and justice. Muriel Harris, a long-time member of Centenary UMC, died on February 5, and these paintings were hung in the Sanctuary by her family for the celebration of Mrs. Harris’ life on February 28. During her long life, Muriel Harris received many awards and high recognition for her artistry. Although in recent years she endured the loss of much of her eyesight to age-related macular degeneration, Muriel Harris continued to create new art using a number of different media. Some of the collages in our Sanctuary represent her recent work in the more “tactile” media. We are grateful to the family of Muriel Harris for sharing the gift of her art with us.
Holy Week and Easter at Centenary
April 5, 2009 Passion/Palm Sunday (Harris Ringers play; Junior Choir sings)
(No Sacrament of Holy Communion)
Preacher: John D. Painter Theme: Behind the Scenes: Ordinary Details
April 9, 2009 – Holy Thursday
6:30 PM Soup & Seder Supper
7:30 PM Service of Holy Communion at the Tables
Soup Preparers Needed for Holy Thursday: If you will be attending the Holy Thursday Soup and Seder Supper and Service, and are willing to prepare a pot of your favorite soup to share with others, please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex or let Pastor Painter or the Church Office know. Thank you.
April 10, 2009 – Good Friday
12:00 – 3:00 PM – Ecumenical Good Friday Preaching Service at Saint Luke’s
Episcopal Church, Middlesex & Oak Avenues, Metuchen
(Pastor John Painter will be delivering his Message at 12:20 PM)
7:30 PM — A Cantata: Behold, What Manner of Love by Eugene Butler
featuring the Chancel Choir, soloists & instrumentalists
April 12, 2009 – Easter Sunday (No Sunday School Classes on Easter Sunday)
6:00 AM — New Hope Baptist Church Sunrise Service @ Roosevelt Park
7:30 AM — Easter Breakfast sponsored by Children’s Ministries
9:00 AM — Easter Children’s Ministries Pageant—Once upon a Caterpillar
10:30 AM — Easter Worship & Sacrament of Holy Communion
Festival Brass and Chancel Choir at 10:30 AM Service
Preacher: John D. Painter (10:30 AM) Theme: A Never-Ending Story
Easter Pageant: If you like to be Creative, the Children’s Ministries could use your help making props for the 9:00 AM Easter Pageant. Contact Michael or Cathy Savoia.
Lenten Coin Folders
You are encouraged to return your filled 2009 Lenten Coin Folders between now and Easter Sunday, April 12. You may place them in an offering plate during Worship or mail/bring them to the Church Office. Our Lenten Coin Folder offering is designated for support of The Fellowship Fund of The United Methodist Homes of New Jersey. These funds are used by our UM Homes to assist elderly residents whose financial resources have been depleted to remain in residence in our homes. (Note: If you choose to return your coin folder with either a check or paper bills [instead of quarters], our counting team will not be averse to your doing so…but we appreciate your gifts in whatever form they may be shared.) We are deeply grateful for your generous and sacrificial offering during these forty days of Lent.
Register Now!
Spring 2009 Spiritual Growth Retreat
April 17-18, 2009
Pinelands Center at Mount Misery in Browns Mills, NJ
Theme: Jesus’ Prayer
Reflections and Conversations Around The Lord’s Prayer
Led by the Rev. E. Randall Bean
Free Registration and Attendance for the First 30 Persons to Attend.
Brochures & Registration Forms are in The Lamplighter,
in Sunday’s Worship bulletins,
and on the table and in the literature rack in the Narthex.
Refreshments: 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 many available weeks on the 2009 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.
Flower Arrangements: Persons are invited to sponsor flower arrangements for our Worship services. A 2009 Flower Chart is posted in the Narthex. Floral arrangements cost $25.00 each week to sponsor. 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.
Don’t forget to order your Easter Lilies for our Easter Sunday Altar on April 12, 2009
Deadline for Ordering Lilies is Sunday, April 5, 2009
$13.00 per Order (which consists of two lily plants)
Order Forms are available in The Lamplighter and in Sunday Worship Bulletins
Or Call to Church Office at 732-548-7622
Or Flower Chairperson Linda Serentino at home at 732-940-2135
Plan Now to Attend
Jazz Worship Service at Centenary
Sunday, April 19th, at 10:15 AM
Featuring the Rev. Dr. Leigh Pezet and his Jazz Ensemble
Instrumental and Vocal Presentations
During the Service
Invite Your Neighbors and Friends to This Special Service
Food Collection—Sunday, April 19: Please bring cereals, staple food items in plastic jars or cans, and paper products to share with senior residents in Perth Amboy. We and they 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 #3, #4, #5 & #6…and 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
Annual Interfaith Holocaust Memorial Program
Monday, April 20, 2009 @ 7:30 PM
Sponsored by Metuchen–Edison Area Interfaith Association
& JCC of Middlesex County
We join together in readings and songs to remember all those who perished,
with the promise that we will never forget.
Location: Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County,
1775 Oak Tree Road, Edison, NJ 08820
Save The Date! Applebee’s Fund-Raiser on Wednesday, April 22
Have Lunch and/or Dinner (through 9:00 PM)
at Applebee’s at Edison Crossing on US Route 1
Funds raised will assist with meeting our financial goals for ministry & mission.
United Methodist Women: Annual Women’s Communion Breakfast will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 9:30 AM. The speaker will be the Reverend Hyekung Kang, pastor at Mount Horeb United Methodist Church, Warren, NJ. The women from Wesley and New Dover Churches of Edison, and Trinity Church of Highland Park have been invited to join us for this event. Child Care will be provided by either Lynn Colgan or Laura Crisco (our regular Sunday Child Care persons). We usually end our program before noon. You may bring muffins, quiche or fruit. There will be a sign-up sheet in the narthex in a few weeks. However, you may contact either Giselle Esquivel Cordero (732-549-6525) or Sylvia Woodfield (732-549-9042) if you have any questions. The donation for this event is $3.00.
2009 Summer Camp Programs
Aldersgate Center and Pinelands Retreat Center
Information about the 2009 Summer camping programs for children and youth (and some specialized adult and family programs) are posted on the Children’s Ministries bulletin board in the hallway alongside the Sanctuary, near the Narthex. Children’s Ministries Director Cathy Jean Savoia also has brochures available…and several copies of the brochure are in the literature rack in the Narthex. Please check out the dates and programs to see if your elementary-age child or Junior/Senior high youth may want to participate in a summer camp experience at Aldersgate Center (Swartswood, NJ) or Pinelands Retreat Center at Mt. Misery (Browns Mills, NJ). You may also check out the offerings and register online at either www.aldersgatenj.com or www.mtmisery.com. Scholarship assistance is available through the Church. Please speak with Children’s Ministries Director Cathy Jean Savoia or Pastor John Painter to get additional information about these programs, scholarship assistance, and appropriate registration forms.
Scholarship Opportunities: Information about scholarships and loans available to United Methodist students in higher education is now available. A poster 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. Scholarships and loans are available for those who will be beginning their studies in fall 2009, and for those who are continuing to matriculate. Several programs support students in graduate study, as well. The deadline for applying for many of these scholarships and loans is March 31, 2009. Please speak with Student Assistant Pastor Keith Swatzel for additional information about these scholarship and loan programs.
Women’s Sunday will be celebrated on May 3, 2009: Any women (youth & adult) who would like to participate as leaders/readers in the Worship service are asked to contact Lois Hines, Worship Committee Chairperson at 732-549-3910 or by E-mail at loislhines@hotmail.com. Women who might wish to sing with a women’s chorus in Worship that morning are asked to contact Director of Music Ministry Shirley Mosteller: 732-54321-1823; SSMosteller@juno.com.
Sight and Sound Theater: If you are interested in attending a show at Sight & Sound Theater in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area during the Spring, please contact Cathy or Michael Savoia. Reservations need to be made well in advance. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the Narthex on which you can indicate your interest. We will charter a bus to transport everyone. More information will be coming soon about the program. Tentative date is Saturday, June 20, 2009.
Some Thoughts for This Week:
In a successful marriage, there is no such thing as one’s way. There is only the way of both, only the bumpy, dusty, difficult, but always mutual path. – Phyllis McGinley
The few who do are the envy of the many who only watch. – Jim Rohn
It is not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, “What are we busy about?” – Henry David Thoreau
There never was a winner, who wasn’t a beginner. – Denis Waitley
You have to have Soul. But if you don’t have Soul, Halibut will do. – The Muppets
The way we treat our neighbor is the way we treat God.
Love cures. It cures those who give it and it cures those who receive it. – Dr. Karl Menninger
If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.
We either make ourselves happy or miserable. The amount of work is the same. – Carlos Castaneda
When I hear somebody sigh, “Life is hard,” I am always tempted to ask, “Compared to what?” – Sydney J. Harris
Asking is the beginning of receiving. Make sure you don’t go to the ocean with a teaspoon. At least take a bucket so the kids won’t laugh at you. – Jim Rohn
Before beginning a hunt, it is wise to ask someone what you are looking for before you begin looking for it. – Winnie the Pooh
I don’t follow Jesus because I think Christianity is the best religion. I follow Jesus because he leads me into ultimate reality. – Rob Bell
If you want to make peace, you don’t talk to your friends, you talk to your enemies. – Moshe Dayan, Israeli military commander and politician turned peacemaker.
Whatever comes from the heart carries the heat and color of its birthplace. – Oliver Wendell Holmes
The true secret of giving advice is, after you have honestly given it, to be perfectly indifferent whether it is taken or not and never persist in trying to set people right. – Hannah Whitall Smith
Advice is like snow; the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind. – Samuel Taylor Coleridge