Dear Centenary Church Family:

We will gather for Worship in our Sanctuary at 10:15 AM this Sunday, May 14th, to observe Mother’s Day (The Festival of the Christian Home) and a special “Hat Sunday.” Women of Centenary! How long has it been since you’ve worn a hat to church? Do you still have a Sunday-go-to-meeting hat? We invite and encourage the women of Centenary to wear a hat to Worship this Sunday, Mother’s Day. Pastor Terrilisa and I plan to share some special thoughts about women’s hats that morning in our joint Message, Crowns of Faith. We hope to see you in your Sunday finery.

I will also offer some reflections about the 50th anniversary of the ordination of women…on May 4, 1956, the General Conference of The Methodist Church approved the reception of women as fully ordained clergy. United Methodist Bishop Sally Dyck, episcopal leader of the Minnesota Area, called May 4, 1956, a day of “prevenient grace” for clergywomen. “There was only one path for women like me” in our faith community in 1956, she said. “And I scarcely had the imagination to think beyond that path myself. But God was at work without my even knowing it. Thank God for prevenient grace because it is at work before we even have an imagination of who we can be and what we can do.” (“Prevenient grace” refers to the belief that God’s grace is present in one’s life before that person even knows God.) This is a special year of celebration throughout our denomination.

We invite you to read 1 John 4:7-21 in preparation for Sunday’s service. Pastor Bauknight and Children’s Ministries Director Cathy Savoia will share a special word with the children for Mother’s Day, following which they will share some special gifts with the women of the congregation. Our Chancel Choir will sing I Love You, Lord by Laurie Klein, arranged by Stan Pethel. Our Celebration of Found Coins for May is designated for the continuing appeal of our United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) for the areas of the Gulf Coast ravaged by Hurricane Katrina last August.

Our Adult Class will continue its video-based study of Discovering Everyday Spirituality for the next two weeks, as we consider the role of “Ritual” in our daily lives. Beginning on May 28th, we will conclude our Adult Class season with a three-week study of India-Pakistan, based on the resources developed by the Women’s Division of our General Board of Global Ministries for the 2005 and 2006 United Methodist Schools of Christian Mission. The Class meets at 9:00 AM in the Sunshine Room, and all are welcome to participate.

In Memoriam: Eugene Rooks, III, a member of Centenary United Methodist Church since April 3, 1955, died on Thursday, May 4th, following a long illness. A Memorial Service in celebration of Gene’s life is scheduled for Saturday, June 24th at 2:00 PM at Centenary. Please hold the Rooks family in your prayers during these days.

TGIF Intergenerational Dinner and Lectionary Discussion and a lot of fun together will meet for the last time for the 2005-2006 season tomorrow, Friday, May 12th at 6:30 PM. A barrel offering is taken to defray the costs for the meal and materials. Persons of all ages are invited and encouraged to attend.

Centenary Book Club—Friday, May 12th @ 7:30 PM (following TGIF): The club is reading The Garden, by Elsie V. Aidinoff. The book club remains open to men and women ages 18 and older—including those who have full schedules but wish to join us as ‘outside’ readers.

“Centenary Men’s Review”
for Deficit Reduction
Saturday, May 20 @ 7:00 PM
Bring your checkbook and come help the Centenary Men in their endeavor on 20 May at 7:00 PM. Come and enjoy an hour or so of relaxed entertainment, laughter, fun, love and giving.
We need your help! Austin Banks, President of the Centenary Men
PS: Coffee and cake will be served…

Men’s Sunday on May 21st: Men of Centenary! You will remember what a wonderful experience it was to share in worship on Women’s Sunday back in March. Well, your turn has come. May 21st will be Men’s Sunday, and we are looking for men to help plan the service, lead the service, sing in the service, and attend the service. If you would be willing to serve as a leader/reader in worship on May 21st, please speak with Pastor John (call him at the Church Office or e-mail him at RevJDP@aol.com). If you are willing to be part of a Men’s Chorus to sing that morning, please speak with Shirley Mosteller (call her at the Church Office). Let’s put together a powerful service of praise to God just as our sisters did in March.

Raritan Valley District Resource Day – May 17th The Rev. Dr. L. Edward Phillips of Duke University Divinity School will be the featured speaker at the May 17th Raritan Valley District Resource Day to be held at the Union Village United Methodist Church in Berkeley Heights. Dr. Phillips served as the Chairperson of the committee which produced the document This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion that was received and approved by the 2004 General Conference of The United Methodist Church as the official statement on our denominational understanding of the sacrament of Holy Communion.

Clergy members of the district will attend an all-day session with Dr. Phillips from 9:00 AM till 3:00 PM. An evening session specifically designed for laity of the district will be held from 7:30-9:30 PM. Pastor Painter hopes that members of Centenary will plan to attend the evening session. Please speak with him for further information and for directions to the Union Village United Methodist Church.

Raritan Valley District Conference – May 21st: Pastor John Painter and Lay Member to Annual Conference Dean Bender will be attending the 2006 Raritan Valley District Conference on Sunday, May 21st from 3:00-6:00 PM at Christ United Methodist Church in Piscataway. This gathering of the Pastors and Lay Members of Annual Conference from the churches of the Raritan Valley District is an opportunity to review and celebrate the accomplishments of the past year, hear information regarding the approaching 2006 Greater NJ Annual Conference (June 1-3 @ Valley Forge (PA) Convention Center), and elect persons to leadership positions in district committees and teams. The Rev. Veronica P. Palmer, Raritan Valley District Superintendent will preside at the Conference.

The Raritan Valley District is comprised of 68 United Methodist churches located in Middlesex, Hunterdon, Somerset, western Union and southern Warren counties.

Any members of Centenary are also invited and encouraged to attend this annual district gathering. Please speak with either John Painter or Dean Bender if you are interested in attending and/or need directions to Christ UMC.

Seeking Information About Our 2006 College Graduates: We are still seeking information about those Centenary members who are graduating from college this Spring. Those of whom we have been made aware at the moment:
+Erin Beattie, B.A. from the University of Tampa
+Dorothy Iacone, B.A. from Fairleigh Dickinson University
+Stephanie Kline, B.A. from Lebanon Valley College
(Stephanie will participate in Commencement this month and officially complete her degree requirements in December)
+Jodi Mochel, Ed.M. from Rutgers University
+Lindsey Poet, B.A. from Douglass College, Rutgers University
+Linda Stern, B.S. from Kean University

In addition, Millie Pleuler has shared with us that her grandson Derek Milone (daughter Connie’s son) will graduate with a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy from Springfield College, Springfield, MA on May 13.
Our congratulations to these 2006 college and university graduates. Please call or e-mail (CentaryUMC@aol.com) the Church Office with the names of any others so we may share in the joy of your accomplishments.
Food Collection—Sunday, May 21st: Please bring cereals, staple food items in plastic jars or cans and paper products to share with persons in need on our area. We are deeply grateful for your generous sharing
Talent Show—Sunday, June 4th @ 6:30 PM: Sign up now to share your talent with the congregation. Sign up sheet is on the Children’s Ministry bulletin board. Information is available from Cathy Savoia.

Notes/Cards/Letters to Pat Stiles: The Rev. Margaret “Pat” Stiles, former Pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church in Edison, will be retiring in June. Her last Sunday as Pastor of First UMC of Beach Haven Terrace will be on June 18th, following which Pat will depart for her new home in West Virginia. First UMC is putting together a “Treasure Chest of Messages” for Pat, and if anyone from Centenary would like to send best wishes to her, the envelope should be address to Ms. Cathy Sinopoli, First United Methodist Church of Beach Haven Terrace, 101 E. New Jersey Avenue, Beach Haven Terrace, NJ 08008, with “Note for Pastor Pat” on the envelope. Cathy will see that it is placed in the Treasure Chest.

Some Thoughts for This Week:

Do not pray for an easy life. Pray to be a stronger person.
Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle. – Phillips Brooks [adapted]

There is more to life than increasing its speed. – Mahatma Gandhi

Love is an act of faith, and whoever is of little faith is also of little love.
-Erich Fromm
God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. – C. S. Lewis

God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass – grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence. We need silence to be able to touch souls. – Mother Teresa

The early church had its greatest impact upon the world when it lived least like the world.

Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.
-Albert Schweitzer

Does your life make it easier for others to believe in God?

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 Service. Go to www.CentenaryUMCnj.org to explore this and other new features and links. Our thanks to Web servant Ernie Agtarap for providing this on-line ministry of Centenary.

I look forward to sharing with you in study, Worship and fellowship this Mother’s Day at Centenary.

Shalom, John