Sunday, November 16, 2008 – Pentecost 27 / Stewardship Sunday
9:00 AM– Adult Study: Serious Answers to Hard Questions (Sunshine Room)
10:15 AM– Worship & Sunday School (Pre-K through 12th grade)
Children’s Message: Pastor John Painter
Preacher: John D. Painter Theme: An Unimaginable Treasure
Lectionary Readings: Judges 4:3-7 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Psalm 123 Matthew 25:14-30
Music: Chancel Choir – I Will Lift up My Eyes by John Carter
Celebration of Found Coins: Katrina (Bishops’ Appeal for Churches)
11:30 AM – Fellowship Time (Room 20)
11:45 AM – Junior Choir Rehearsal (Music Room)
5:00 PM – Centenary UM Youth Fellowship Sunday Night Live (Bridgewater)
5:30 PM – Staff-Parish Relations Committee (Sunshine Room)
6:30 PM – 2008 Church Conference (Sanctuary)
Stewardship Reminder: Please bring your 2009 Commitment Card with you to Worship on November 16 for presentation and Dedication. You should have received your Commitment Card in the 2009 Stewardship Letter within the past week. Additional Commitment Cards will be available at the Worship service this Sunday. Thank you.
2008 Church Conference – Sunday, November 16 at 6:30 PM: The Rev. Robert W. Scott, Jr., Raritan Valley District Superintendent, will preside at the 2008 Church Conference of Centenary United Methodist Church this Sunday, November 16 at 6:30 PM at Centenary. You are encouraged to attend this annual conference of our church.
As required by The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, and by the laws of the State of New Jersey, official notice is hereby given that at the Church Conference of Centenary United Methodist Church at 6:30 PM on Sunday, November 16, 2008, nominations will be received for three members of the Class of 2011 of the Board of Trustees. All members of Centenary United Methodist Church are eligible to vote on all matters before the Conference, and to vote in the election of leaders for the congregation (except those under the age of 18 are not able to vote on the election of members of the Board of Trustees).
TGIF Intergenerational Dinner and Lectionary Discussion and a lot of fun together will meet on Friday, November 14 from 6:30-8:30 PM in the Sanctuary. 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, November 14 @ 7:30 PM: We will be discussing The Bear Went Over the Mountain by William Kotzwinkle. A fun book—join us. Centenary Book Club is open to anyone ages 18 years of age or older, male or female.
Women’s Retreat 2008
IT’S ON!!!!! Our Second Annual Women’s Retreat will begin at 5:00 PM on Friday, November 21. Check-out will be around 11:00 AM. on Sunday, November 23. The theme is “Serving Others – Serving One’s Self’”.
Terrilisa Durham Bauknight challenged the new owners of the Ocean Grove Inn, where we were last year. They have done some major renovations, but are willing to welcome us at last year’s price. The cost will be $125.00 per person plus $25 for meals.
However, Terrilisa also reports that she MUST hear from you now, if you wish to join us.
Any questions or additional information may be secured by contacting the Rev. Terrilisa Bauknight at (908) 419-4101 or by e-mail at beforethedawn88@aol.com.
ADULT CLASS OFFERS
A CHRISTMAS CAROL BIBLE STUDY AT ADVENT
Around the world, two Christmas stories are greatly loved. The first is the sacred birth of Jesus as told in the Holy Scriptures, and the second is Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, which was written in 1843. As its Advent offering this year, Centenary’s Adult Class will combine these beloved stories into a four-week study beginning Sunday, November 23.
With practical applications for daily living, this DVD-based Bible study will feature the classic black-and-white film, A Christmas Carol, and relevant Scriptures on the teachings of Jesus.
We invite you to join us in the Sunshine Room, on Sunday mornings from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, as we follow Ebenezer Scrooge on his life-changing journey from fallen man to redemption. The schedule is as follows:
November 23 Scrooge: Selfishness
November 30 Marley and the Ghost of Christmas Past: Regret
December 7 Ghost of Christmas Present: Repentance
December 14 Ghost of Christmas Future: Salvation
You don’t necessarily have to make a year-long commitment to be part of the Adult Class. We usually schedule our courses to run no more than five or six weeks so you can attend as your schedule permits. If you see a course that has special interest for you, please join us. If you have suggestions for courses you would like the Adult Class to offer, please contact Bob Carlson at 732-549-6296.
Attention Centenary Youth:
· This Sunday, November 16 – Sunday Night Live @ Jewish Community Center in Bridgewater, NJ. This is a unique opportunity to swim and play sports with other interfaith youth. We will leave the church at 5:00 PM and return at 8:30 PM. The cost is $3. THIS WILL TAKE THE PLACE OF YOUTH FELLOWSHIP TODAY.
· Friday, November 21 – Saturday, November 22 – Lock-In: Youth get free reign of the church to play for 13 hours. It is promised to be fun, original, and exhausting. Arrive @ 7:30 PM and leave @ 8:30 AM. We will provide breakfast. Please bring snacks as well as a pillow and sleeping bag.
· There will be no youth fellowship Sunday, November 23 due to the lock-in or Sunday, November 30 due to Thanksgiving.
Upcoming Children’s Ministries Events:
Advent Sunday—November 30 @ 11:45 AM: Come, join us for the opening celebration of Advent with a pot-luck brunch and Christmas crafts for all ages following our 10:15 AM Worship Service. Please sign up and provide a main dish or dessert. Thank you.
A Night in Bethlehem—Christmas Pageant—During Worship on December 14: Lights, Set, Action! Wanted: Animals, Mary & Joseph and Jesus, AND village people to participate in this year’s Christmas Pageant. A full rehearsal will be Saturday, December 13, at 1:00 PM. Hear the festive music…wander through a bakery and marketplace shops. Meet shepherds who can’t wait to share a remarkable story. We need adults to participate as the shopkeepers and shepherds. Please join us in a Hands-On Bible Times Event AND HAVE SOME FUN.
Upcoming Music Ministry Events:
December 21, 10:15AM Candles and Carols: A special lessons and carols service featuring instruments, choir, and congregational singing.
December 21, 6:30PM Carols & Cookies: A community carol sing in the sanctuary followed by refreshments featuring a “cookie exchange.”
THE UNITED METHODIST WOMEN’S MITTEN TREE will be in place before Thanksgiving. Please bring your mittens, hats, scarves, etc. These items will be sent to Red Bird Mission in Beverly, Kentucky.
The Red Bird Mission is a mission of the United Methodist Church and it is the place where we send our Campbell Soup Labels. It gets cold in the mountains of Kentucky so they really need our gifts to keep them warm. Be on the lookout for special bargains at our local stores for mittens, hats, etc. Frequently Target and Walgreens have good bargains. The deadline for collecting these items will be Sunday, December 7.
Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
Tuesday, November 25th @ 7:30 PM
The Metuchen Reformed Church
Everyone is encouraged to attend an Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration on Tuesday, November 25, 7:30 PM at the Metuchen Reformed Church, 150 Lake Avenue, Metuchen 08840. Sponsored by the Metuchen-Edison Area Interfaith Clergy Association, the event will include an interfaith community choir, interfaith youth group, African drums, and clergy representing many different faith traditions. Pastor John Painter will bring the evening Message. A reception will follow. A free-will offering will be taken to help those in need in our local community. Non-perishable food will also be collected to support area food pantries.
Thanksgiving Day Dinner At Centenary—Thursday, November 27 @ 12:30 PM: All are welcome! Come and bring your family to Centenary for Thanksgiving. Menu: roast turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots, corn, soup, salads, breads and muffins, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, coffee, tea, cider and water. A Barrel Offering will be taken. Please sign up on the reservation sheets in the Narthex so we can have an accurate count for the meal. Thanks, Cathy & Michael Savoia (732-826-1921).
Centenary will be serving dinner at the Ozanam Shelter on Monday, December 1. Please check the information on the bulletin board in the Narthex and sign up to assist with food preparation or serving in November. December Menu: roast beef with gravy, over-roasted potatoes, collard greens, Christmas cookies & holiday ice cream. For further information, please contact Glenna Gundell (732-463-1431) or Mary Ellen Heim (732-548-2587). Thanks.
PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Blueberry Pancakes Plain Pancakes Waffles
Scrambled Eggs Bacon and Sausage
Orangeand Apple Juice, Coffee, Tea, and Milk
Saturday, December 6, 2008
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 Spring 2009
Volunteer-in-Mission Trip to work with our
United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) in disaster repair and relief.
Centenary United MethodistChurch
200 Hillside Avenue, Metuchen, NJ
732-548-7622
UMCOR Granted Licenses for Hurricane Relief Work in Cuba
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) will immediately begin relief work in Cuba in response to September & November hurricanes under new licenses the U.S. government has given to the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM). United Methodists in the U.S. have been calling for a response to the hurricanes since they ravaged the island two months ago. GBGM’s license, however, along with the licenses of many other denominations and faith-based agencies, were not renewed by the U.S. government in 2006 and reapplications have been denied since then. UMCOR retained the services of Williams and Jenson, a Washington law firm with experience in obtaining these kinds of licenses in September. “Their experience and UMCOR’s persistence have come through in the resulting licenses allowing humanitarian assistance to reach our hurting sisters and brothers in Cuba,” says the Rev. Sam Dixon, UMCOR’s top executive. Two licenses were granted to GBGM—one for the short term (30 days) and a second one that extends the denomination’s ability to help until October 2009. The licenses give GBGM permission to implement up to $1.1 million in humanitarian response during this time period. While the license is restricted to specific activities as outlined in the license application, this opportunity represents a lifeline to thousands left in need by the storms with home reconstruction, food, psychosocial assistance, church repair and livelihoods assistance.
A new Advance has been set up specifically for these efforts. Donations can be made online to UMCOR Advance #3020821, Cuba Emergency, at www.new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor. You can also share your support for the relief efforts in Cuba by giving to this Cuba Emergency Advance through Centenary United Methodist Church. Please make your checks payable to “Centenary UM Church” (please write “UMCOR Cuba Emergency” in the Memo area) and place them in an offering plate at any Worship service or by sending them to the Church Office at any time. Thank you for your response to this emergency appeal.
Some Thoughts for This Week:
A feeling of responsibility for others is the first step toward unselfishness and maturity.
If there are two persons praying, there are three. If three meet to pray, there are four praying. There is always one more than you can see. – S. D. Gordon
The love we give away is the only love we keep. – Elbert Hubbard
One of the secrets of a long and fruitful life is to forgive everybody, everything, every night before you go to bed. – Bernard M. Baruch, Big Wisdom (Little Book), W Publishing Group, 2005
When you give until it hurts, it actually makes you feel good.
You cannot see faith, but you can see the footprints of the faithful. We must leave behind “faithful footprints” for others to follow. – Dr. Dennis Anderson
God holds us responsible not for what we have, but for what we could have; not for what we are, but for what we might be.
The life I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and that in turn another, until who knows where the trembling stops or in what far place my touch will be felt. – Frederick Buechner
Fix your eyes forward on what you can do, not back on what you cannot change. – Tom Clancy
Real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway. – Harper Lee
Speak little, listen much. – St. Ignatius of Loyola
The difference between holding on to a hurt or releasing it with forgiveness is the difference between laying your head at night on a pillow filled with thorns or a pillow filled with rose petals. – Loren Fischer
Next Sunday – November 23, 2008 – The Last Sunday After Pentecost /
Reign of Christ Sunday / Thanksgiving Sunday / Bible Sunday:
9:00 AM– Adult Study: A Christmas Carol Bible Study (Sunshine Room)
10:15 AM– Worship & Sunday School (Pre-K through 12th grade)
Preacher: John D. Painter Theme: Lest We Forget
Reign of Christ Readings: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 Ephesians 1:15-23
Psalm 100 Matthew 25:31-46
Thanksgiving Readings: Deuteronomy 8:7-18 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Psalm 65 Luke 17:11-19
11:00 AM – Centenary Women’s Retreat Concludes (Ocean Grove Inn)
11:30 AM – Fellowship Time (Room 20)
11:45 AM – Junior Choir Rehearsal (Music Room)
Bible Sunday—November 23 @ 10:15 AM: On November 23 the Children’s Ministries program will be giving Bibles to any child or youth that needs one. Please see Cathy Jean Savoia (or call 732-826-1921) as soon as possible, and provide the name and age of your child so we will have the correct number of Bibles needed.
Thanksgiving Food Collection—Sunday, November 23
Thanksgiving TurkeysNeeded by Monday, November 24
We will be accepting donations of canned goods and non-perishable foods (Thanksgiving Meal trimmings; fresh vegetables and fruit, cereals, peanut butter, etc.) at our Thanksgiving Sunday Worship Service on November 23rd. We plan to have the children bring these special gifts forward at the beginning of the service to create a Thanksgiving Altar of fruitful abundance.
Attention for Those Donating Turkeys for Thanksgiving Assistance: Turkeys need to be brought to the church by 9:30 AM on Monday, November 24. We are deeply grateful for your donations, and hope to donate a number of Thanksgiving turkeys and all the fixin’s this year to elderly residents in Perth Amboy. Please contact Mary Ellen Heim to let her know you will be donating a turkey of for further details (732-548-2587). Thank you.
Special Appeal for Diapers and Infant/Toddler Food for Amandla Crossing: Your assistance is needed to provide diapers (sizes #4, #5 & #6…not 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
Prayer for the Week of November 16: God of all creation, you give us so much that we take for granted. Rather than using our gifts wisely, we bury them to keep them safe, or squander them on things we don’t really need. We let the pitches and claims of marketers determine what is important, putting our wants ahead of our true needs, and our desires ahead of what you desire for us and your kingdom. In our selfishness, our eyes and ears are closed to the very ones you call us to serve and care for. Forgive us, O God, and strengthen us and help us stand firm in your ways. Amen.
I look forward to sharing with many of you in study, Worship and Christian fellowship on this Stewardship Sunday at Centenary.
In Christ’s Love, Pastor John