9:00 AM — Adult Study – Nooma Video Series
10:15 AM — Worship & Sunday School (Pre K through 12th Grade)
Preacher: John D. Painter Theme: No Greater Love
Lectionary Readings: Acts 10:44-48 1 John 5:1-6
Psalm 98 John 15:9-17
Music—Chancel Choir: If Ye Love Me, Keep My Commandments
by Thomas Tallis
Celebration of Found Coins: Joy to the World Heifer Project
11:30 AM — Fellowship Time – Reception for Keith Swatzel & Ying Yu Wu
11:45 AM — Men’s Chorus Rehearsal
6:30 PM — Centenary Youth Fellowship Party

Reception for Keith Swatzel & Ying Yu Wu next Sunday, May 17: Our Staff-Parish relations Committee will sponsor an informal reception for our Student Assistant Pastor, Keith A. Swatzel, and his fiancée, Yin Yu Wu, next Sunday following Worship. This will be Keith’s final Sunday with us until September, and also the final Sunday prior to their wedding in New York City on Friday, May 22. We want to take the opportunity to say “Thank You” and to extend our congratulations and best wishes to Keith and Ying Yu before their marriage and de-parture to Texas for the summer.

Food Collection—Sunday, May 17: Please bring cereals, staple food items in plastic jars or cans, and paper products to share with senior residents in Perth Amboy. They and we are deeply grateful for your generous sharing.
Special Appeal for Diapers and Infant/Toddler Food for Amandla Crossing: Your assis-tance 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

Mendelssohn Anniversary Concert— This Saturday, May 16 @ 7:30 PM
We will offer a concert on Saturday, May 16th in honor of the 200th anniversary of Felix Mendelssohn’s birth. It will feature Aaron Abramowitz, Alison Williams, David Iskowitz and Shirley & Steven Mosteller in piano, instrumental and vocal music by the composer and is at 7:30 PM in the Sanctuary. Our past Anniversary concerts have been quite successful. Please come support our Music Ministry with your presence and your donations.

Information Requested About Our 2009 College and High School Graduates: We are still seeking information about those Centenary members and friends who will be graduating from college and high school in May or June. Please call or e-mail (CentaryUMC@aol.com) the Church Office so we may share in the joy of their accomplishments in our June Lamplighter. We will also have a special time of recognition for our high school graduates during our June 14th Service of Worship.

Plan to Partake! Applebee’s Fund-Raiser on Wednesday, May 20
Have Lunch and/or Dinner at Applebee’s at Woodbridge Center Mall
Centenary will receive 10% of your food bill
Coupon included in May Lamplighter, in Sunday’s bulletin

PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Blueberry Pancakes
Plain Pancakes
Waffles
Scrambled Eggs
Bacon and Sausage
Orange and Apple Juice
Coffee, Tea, and Milk

Saturday, June 6, 2009
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 2009
Volunteer-in-Mission Trip to North Carolina to work with our United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) in flood repair and relief.
Centenary United Methodist Church
200 Hillside Avenue, Metuchen, NJ
732-548-7622
and available on our Web Site: www.CentenaryUMCnj.org

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.

Looking for a Few Good Men for Sunday, June 7: We are putting together a Men’s Chorus to sing on June 7 for Men’s Sunday. Rehearsals will be held following Worship on Sundays May 17, 24 & 31, as well as a brief run-through before the service on June 7. If you can make at least 2 rehearsals, please join us. We had a great turn-out last year! See Shirley Mosteller for more information.
Male Worship Leaders & Readers are being recruited for the Worship Service on Men’s Sunday, June 7. Men and youth interested in serving are invited to contact Pastor John Painter.

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 Pastor John Painter to get additional information about these programs, scholarship assistance, and appropriate registration forms.

Sight and Sound Theater—Saturday, June 20, 2009: Because of the added number of people attending the Sight and Sound performance, our time has been changed to see the show at 4:15 PM. We will be eating dinner at Hershey Farms at 7:15 PM. Cost for adults (age 19+) is $65; teens (13+) is $30; and child, (3+) is $15. The price includes bus, show and dinner. We may have a few extra tickets available if you contact either Michael or Cathy Savoia ASAP. Transportation will be by Oak Tree Bus Co.

Vacation Bible School—“Rome”—July 27-31: Strap on your sandals for fun, adventure and God’s love—in Rome!
The children will explore a crowded Roman market place, tiptoe past Romans guards, encourage Christians in an underground church and visit Paul for daily discoveries about Paul’s life.
Rome…where the Bible comes to life! Race a chariot, try on a toga, and experience the power of Scripture and the courage of the early church.
Rome…where the Apostle Paul is your Bible teacher. Each day you will visit Paul’s cell, soaking in Scriptures as Paul shares what he’s writing and applies it to kids’ experiences.

Flower Arrangements: Persons are invited to sponsor flower arrangements for our Worship services. The 2009 Flower Chart is posted in the Narthex. There are several Sundays coming up that are available for sponsorship. 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.

Some Thoughts for This Week:

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

When I pray, coincidences happen. And when I stop praying, the coincidences stop. – William Temple

An attitude of gratitude creates blessings. – Sir John Templeton

If we see only ourselves, it’s a very lonely world. – Elizabeth L., Inner Harvest

I don’t ask for the meaning of the song of a bird or the rising of the sun on a misty morning. There they are, and they are beautiful. – Pete Hamill

Jesus’ life began in a borrowed stable and ended in a borrowed tomb. – Alfred Plummer

A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary. – Dorothy Canfield Fisher

Every perfect life is a parable invented by God. – Simone Weil

There is no point at which you can say, “Well, I’m successful now. I might as well take a nap.” – Carrie Fisher

You cannot add to the peace and good will of the world if you fail to create an atmosphere of harmony and love right where you live and work. – Thomas Dreier

Time flies. It’s up to you to be the navigator. – Robert Orben

To make peace with an enemy one must work with that enemy, and that enemy becomes one’s partner. – Nelson Mandela

When you determine what you want, you have made the most important decision in your life. You have to know what you want in order to attain it. – Douglas Lurtan

I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. – Maya Angelou

You’ll find as you grow older that you weren’t born such a very great while ago after all. The time shortens up. – William Dean Howells

Live your life and forget your age. – Norman Vincent Peale

I would rather live in a world where my life is surrounded by mystery than live in a world so small that my mind could comprehend it. – Harry Emerson Fosdick

Vacation Bible School will cost $15.00 per child. Registration forms will be sent shortly to children who have previously attended VBS. If there are children that have not attended before and would like to do so, they may call the Church Office for a registration form at 732-548-7622.