Dear Centenary Church Family:

We will join with faith communities throughout the nation this weekend as we observe the 16th annual observance of Children’s Sabbath, sponsored by the Children’s Defense Fund. Founded and led by Marion Wright Edelman, the Children’s Defense Fund seeks to address major concerns affecting children in our nation. This year’s annual focus is on issues of health care. Under the guidance of Cathy Jean Savoia, our Director of Children’s Ministries, the children and youth of Centenary will share in the leadership of our 10:15 AM Worship Service this Sunday. Much of the liturgy has been drawn from resources provided by the Children’s Defense Fund. Our older children and youth will bring the message to the children. We will hear the Gospel reading from Luke 18:1-8. Our main morning Message will be a video presentation from the United Nations. Our Junior Choir will sing Climbin’ Up the Mountain by Linda Spevacek. The Celebration of Found Coins for October is designated for the 2007 CROP Walk, which will be held this weekend. (Please see the article below.)

Reminder to Children and Youth: Rehearsal for Children’s Sabbath is on this Saturday, October 20 at 10:00 AM in the Sanctuary.

FAREWELL OPEN HOUSE
FOR
MILLIE PLEULER

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20TH – from 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P. M.
IN THE SUNSHINE ROOM
AT CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Most of you may have heard that Millie Pleuler will be leaving our area and moving to Florida to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Connie and Don Milone.
Millie will be leaving by October 24. This Open House will give you an opportunity to say your farewells to Millie, tell her how much you will miss her and remember good times we have had together.
There will be some light refreshments and punch and coffee and tea. If you are able to provide some of the refreshments or help in any other way, please contact Sylvia Woodfield (732) 549-9042. Millie wanted us to share her new address with everyone, after October 25:
Mildred Pleuler
538 West Cashew Court
Punta Gorda, FL 33955

Food Collection—This Sunday, October 21: Thank you for bringing cereals, staple food items in plastic jars or cans, and paper products to share with persons in need in our area. We are deeply grateful for your generous sharing. 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

2007 CROP Walk – This Sunday, October 21 at 12:30 PM: The Metuchen-Edison 2007 CROP Walk for World Hunger will begin with sign-in and registration at 12:30 PM, and “Step-Off” on the Walk at 1:00 PM from First Presbyterian Church in Metuchen (to which all walkers will return at the end of the walk). Envelopes to secure sponsors for the 2007 CROP Walk are still available through the Church Office. We need persons who are able to walk and those who can sponsor walkers, and others who can offer support as needed… Please speak with Pastor John Painter for additional information or to offer your assistance.

2007 Church Conference – This Sunday, October 21, at 5:30 PM: The Rev. Veronica P. Palmer, Raritan Valley District Superintendent, will preside at the 2007 Church Conference of Centenary United Methodist Church that will be held this Sunday evening in our Sanctuary 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 5:30 PM on Sunday, October 21, 2007, nominations will be received and an election held for a vacancy in the Class of 2009 and for three members of the Class of 2010 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 (except those under the age of 18 are not able to vote on the election of members of the Board of Trustees).

Upcoming Children’s Ministries Events:
· Friday, October 26 – 6:30-8:30 PM: Kids’ Night Out
· Wednesday, October 31 – 7:00-8:30 PM: Halloween Trunk or Treating. Please park your car in the rear parking lot…trunks with goodies facing the sidewalk.

Wanted: Children’s Sunday School Teachers for 2007-2008 – Are you looking to help guide a child through their spiritual journey, and become the happiest person around? Working with children can be very exciting and uplifting. Join us, and become a part of the Centenary Sunday School Team. Contact Children’s Ministries Director Cathy Jean Savoia for more information: 732-826-1921 or 732-548-7622 x12.

Acolytes Needed: Young persons in the Fourth Grade and above who are interested in serving as Acolytes in Worship are invited to contact Acolyte Coordinator Leslie Hale (732-906-8581) or the Church Office (732-548-7622 or CentaryUMC@aol.com) to receive information and to sign up to serve on a specific date this fall/winter. At 11:45 AM this Sunday, October 21, Pastor Painter and others from our Worship Committee will be available in the Sanctuary to assist any new Acolytes to undertake their important responsibilities. Those who have served as Acolytes previously are especially encouraged to place their names on the sign-up sheet in the Narthex.

Centenary United Methodist
Youth Fellowship
- presents -
A Night at the Movies
Saturday, 27 October 2007
7:30 PM – Until
Come have some pre-Halloween fun
Feature Presentation:
Monster House
(Columbia Pictures Rated PG. 91 Minutes. 2006)
Three teens discover that their neighbor’s house is really a living, breathing, scary monster but no adults will believe them. When they disturb the house creepy events start to take place and they must save the neighborhood in this animated adventure.
Donation: $3.00
Popcorn and Beverages available for purchase

All Saints’ Sunday, November 4, 2007: At our 10:15 AM Service of Worship on November 4 we will name and remember those members and friends of the Centenary Church Family who have joined the Communion of Saints since last November. If you have loved ones or friends who have died since November 5, 2006, and you would like their names lifted up in memory during our All Saints’ Sunday Service, please provide that information to the Church Office by Wednesday, October 31, so that they may be included. You may leave those names with Mary Kay Dangremond by phone during regular Church Office hours (9:00AM-1:00 PM weekdays), or provide them to the Church by E-mail (CentaryUMC@aol.com ), Fax (732-548-6256), or regular mail.

Centenary will next be serving dinner at the Ozanam Shelter on Monday, November 5. Please check the information on the bulletin board in the Narthex and sign up to assist with food preparation or serving in October. For further information, please contact Glenna Gundell (732-463-1431) or Mary Ellen Heim (732-548-2587) before November 3. Thanks.

Campbell Soup Labels – or rather the barcodes- are still being collected. There is a listing of exactly what is collected located on the United Methodist Women’s bulletin board adjacent to the men’s room off the narthex. You can put what you have collected in the basket in the library. These barcodes are sent to the Red Bird Mission in Kentucky, a United Methodist Mission. They use these coupons to acquire educational equipment for their mission school.

PECANS, PECANS, PECANS: United Methodist Women will again be selling pecans, cashews, pistachios, candies, trail mix, etc. this year. So don’t go out and buy any pecans from anyone else. We will have the pecans, etc. in the fall, hopefully by mid-October for your holiday baking.

Refreshment Sponsors Needed: Persons are invited to sponsor the time of coffee and refreshments following our upcoming Sunday Worship services. Please consider sponsoring a refreshment time and signing up for one of the available weeks on the 2007 Refreshment Chart posted in the Narthex. Thank you for providing hospitality on a Sunday morning.

PRAYERS REQUESTED FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION: We are thankful for the members of our Volunteer-in-Mission team who are bearing the personal expense and taking the time out of busy schedules to witness and serve in Mar del Plata, Argentina, from November 3-11. We lift our entire VIM Team before you for prayer as they prepare to travel to South America on the evening of November 3, and especially while they are serving there in mission in the name of Jesus Christ:
Maria Armington Arlene Gray John Painter
Giselle Esquivel Cordero Carla Gray Sue Poet
Mary Ellen Heim Emily Mochel Michael Savoia
Glenna Gundell Jodi Mochel Cathy Savoia
Kevin Mochel Hazel Srebi

Some Thoughts for This Week:

Salvation is joy in God which expresses itself in joy in and with one’s neighbor. – Walter Kasper

The recipe for perpetual ignorance is: Be satisfied with your opinions and content with your knowledge. – Elbert Hubbard

Go the extra mile. It’s never crowded. – Executive Speechwriter Newsletter

Those who want much, are always much in need. – Horace

Lower your expectations of earth. This isn’t heaven, so don’t expect it to be. – Max Lucado

Live out of your imagination, not your history. – Stephen R. Covey

Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere. – Albert Einstein

You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. – Mark Twain

Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand. – Mother Teresa

One who thinks most of heaven will do most for earth. – Anonymous

Jesus was not a law-giver, but a life-giver.

Imagination was given to humans to compensate them for what they are not; a sense of humor to console them for what they are. — Sir Francis Bacon, adapted

You don’t have to be a “person of influence” to be influential. In fact, the most influential people in my life are probably not even aware of the things they’ve taught me. – Scott Adams

You become that to which you are most exposed. – Denis Waitley

Next Sunday, October 28, 2007:
9:00 AM – Adult Study — Israel-Palestine (Sunshine Room)
10:15 AM – Worship and Sunday School (Pre-K through 12th Grade)
The 23rd Sunday After Pentecost / Reformation Sunday
Preacher: John D. Painter Theme: A Magnifying Glass Or a Mirror?
Lectionary Readings: Joel 2:23-32 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Psalm 65 Luke 18:9-14
11:30 AM – Fellowship Time (Room 20)
12:30 PM – Dreaming Fellowship Church Worship, SS, Fellowship
(Sanctuary, Parenting Room, Chapel, Room 20)
5:45 PM – Junior Choir Rehearsal (Music Room)
6:30 PM – CUMC Youth Fellowship (Youth Room)

Prayer for the Week of October 21: We give you thanks, O God, for the springing forth of surprising life – flowers in the wilderness and green shoots in the barrenness. Thank you for hope lived out among the most vulnerable of people. Thank you for all the prayers that keep on rising in the midst of every human life. Amen.

I look forward to sharing with many of you in study, Worship and Christian Fellowship on this Children’s Sabbath at Centenary.

Shalom, John