Sunday, November 9, 2008 – The 26th Sunday After Pentecost
This Sunday – November 9, 2008 – The 26th Sunday After Pentecost
9:00 AM– Adult Study: Serious Answers to Hard Questions (Sunshine Room)
10:15 AM– Worship and Sunday School (Pre-K Children through 6th Grade)
Children’s Message: Pastor Keith Swatzel
Preacher: Keith A. Swatzel, II Theme: A Placeof Covenant-Making and Discipleship
Lectionary Readings: Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Psalm 78:1-7 Matthew 25:1-13
Music: Chancel Choir – Here I Am by Daniel L. Schutte, arr. Jack Schrader
Celebration of Found Coins: Katrina (Bishops’ Appeal for Churches)
11:30AM – Fellowship Time (Room 20)
11:45 AM – Junior Choir Rehearsal (Music Room)
6:30 PM – Centenary Youth Fellowship (7th-12th Grades) (Youth Room)
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.
Attention Centenary Youth:
· Sunday evenings @ 6:30 PM. All youth are greatly wanted. Come share in a time to connect with friends and grow in Christ. It will never be dull, no never.
· Sunday, November 16 @ 5:00 PM we will meet at the church and head over to the Jewish Community Center in Bridgewater, NJ. For $3 you get to swim, eat pizza, and play other games with Interfaith groups from the area. We plan to be back around 8:30 PM.
· Friday, November 21 @ 7:30 PM—Saturday, November 22 @ 8:30 AM we will have our youth lock-in. Youth get free reign of the church to play for 13 hours. It is promised to be fun, original, and exhausting. Eat dinner before you come. Bring snacks. We will provide breakfast. Invite your friends! Keith A. Swatzel, II
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
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).
Upcoming Children’s Ministries Events:
Kid’s Night Out originally scheduled for Friday, November 21, has been canceled.
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.
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.
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.
Some Thoughts for This Week:
One of the oldest human needs is having someone wonder where you are when you don’t come home at night. – Margaret Mead
The sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be either good or evil. – Hannah Arendt
Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting. – Elizabeth Bibesco
We flatter those we scarcely know;
We please the fleeting guest;
Yet oft we deal a thoughtless blow
to those we love the best. – Ella Wheeler Wilcox [adapted]
I have always believed, and I still believe, that whatever good or bad fortune may come our way we can always give it meaning and transform it into something of value. – Hermann Hesse
You are a Christian only so long as you constantly pose critical questions to the society you live in…so long as you stay unsatisfied with the status quo and keep saying that a new world is yet to come. – Henri Nouwen
I know God promises not to give me more than I can handle. I just wish he didn’t trust me so much. – Mother Teresa
Perfection, in a Christian sense, means becoming mature enough to give ourselves to others. – Kathleen Norris
Joy is prayer—Joy is strength—Joy is love—Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. – Mother Teresa
If you’re already in a hole, it’s no use to continue digging. – Roy W. Walters
Next Sunday – November 16, 2008 – The 27th Sunday After Pentecost / 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)
The 27th Sunday After Pentecost / Stewardship Sunday
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
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 will be receiving your Commitment Card in the 2009 Stewardship Letter which will arrive in your mail in the next few days. Thank you.
2008 Church Conference – Sunday, November 16 at 6:30 PM: The Rev. Robert W. Scott, Jr., Raritan Valley District Superintendent, has announced that the 2008 Church Conference of Centenary United Methodist Church will be held on 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).
Prayer for the week of November 9: Holy God, our days and times are in your hands. Help us to set aside our fears—of the unknown, of what we can’t control, of death itself—to walk in faith and trust with you. We ask for the courage to live boldly, for the grace to forgive ourselves and others, for the audacity to pray, believing that you hear and answer us. Give us a spirit of expectancy, of watching for your presence in our lives and in the world and responding to it with faith, hope and love. For the sake of your Son, our Savior and Friend, Jesus Christ. Amen.
I look forward to sharing with you in study, Worship and Christian Fellowship this Sunday morning at Centenary.
Shalom, John