Dear Centenary Church Family:

We will gather at 10:15 AM this Sunday, May 7th for Worship and sharing in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Often called “Good Shepherd Sunday” because of the Scriptural references, we will share in the beloved 23rd Psalm, hear the Gospel reading from John 10:11-18 and sing a number of hymns based on the shepherd themes. I will share a word with the children and then offer my final morning Message on the Holy Communion themes of This Holy Mystery: Extending the Table, before we kneel at the rail to receive the bread and cup of Holy Communion. Keeping with the shepherd theme of the morning, our Chancel Choir will sing Jesus, Shepherd of My Soul by Michael & Leanne Sharp. Our Celebration of Found Coins (Barrel Offering) for May is designated for the United Methodist Committee on Relief to support UMCOR’s ongoing rehabilitation ministries in the areas of the US affected by Hurricane Katrina last summer. You may learn more about this ongoing effort by UMCOR in the Gulf Coast region at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/newsroom/releases/archives06/200604051/.

Thank You from Stephanie Kline:

Dear Centenary Family,
I want to thank you for all the support in my recent MS Walk. The weather was a bit rainy but the walk went well. Because of your generosity I was able to raise over $2,500! Thank you! With great appreciation,
Stephanie Kline

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.

Church Women United of Metuchen/Edison will observe May Friendship Day at 12:30 PM today, Friday, May 5th, at the First Presbyterian Church of Metuchen, Woodbridge Avenue in Metuchen. A covered-dish luncheon will precede the meeting. The women of the Oak Tree Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Metuchen will present the program, whose theme is “Signs of Growth.”

The Centenary Board of Trustees invite everyone to a Mulching Party tomorrow, Saturday, May 6th@ 9:00 AM. All are welcome to lend a hand at the church as you are able during the morning.

TGIF Intergenerational Dinner and Lectionary Discussion and a lot of fun together will meet for the last time this season on 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

“Hat Sunday” on Mother’s Day – May 14th: 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 on May 14th, Mother’s Day. Pastors John and Terrilisa plan to share some special thoughts about women’s hats that morning in their joint Message. We hope to see you in your Sunday finery.

“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…
Watch for further details in the weekly worship bulletins
and through E-mail announcements.

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.

Seeking Information About Our 2006 College Graduates: We are seeking information about those Centenary members who will be graduating from college this Spring. Please call or e-mail (CentaryUMC@aol.com) the Church Office so we may share in the joy of your accomplishments.

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.

Some Thoughts for This Week:
Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use. – Wendell Johnson
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. – Helen Keller
A church is the place where we can admit our failures to one another.

Knowing God makes us humble;
Knowing ourselves keeps us humble.

The most important thing is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.

One must care about a world one will never see. – Bertrand Russell

Life is like a ten-speed bike. Most of us have gears we never use. – Charles M. Schultz

Happiness comes when we stop complaining about our problems,
and begin to be thankful for the problems we don’t have.

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 & Holy Communion, and fellowship this Sunday at Centenary.

Shalom, John