Dear Centenary Church Family:

We begin our new Fall schedule of Worship and Sunday School this Sunday, September 10th, as we gather in our Sanctuary at 10:15 AM for Worship. Pre-K children through 8th Grade Youth will be dismissed following the Children’s Message by Pastor Bauknight for their Sunday School classes. (Our Sunday Morning Adult Study and Senior High Youth Class will still meet at 9:00 AM in the Sunshine Room and Youth Room, respectively. Please see the detailed article below about our new schedule.) My Morning Message, Good News for the Desperate, is based on the reading from the Gospel of Mark 7:24-37. We will also share in the Epistle reading from James 2:1-17. Our Chancel Choir returns from their Summer hiatus and will sing a wonderful arrangement of Amazing Grace / Pachelbel’s Canon by Jean Anne Shafferman. Our Celebration of Found Coins will be designated for our annual Spiritual Growth Retreat in October.

Following Worship this Sunday, all are invited to join together for a year-opening Sunday School Picnic on the front lawn of the Church. Please plan to attend and bring a side dish to share…hamburgers/hot dogs, condiments and beverages will be provide.

New Sunday Morning Schedule at Centenary Begins Sunday
Approved by our Church Council in the spring, on the recommendation of our Children’s Ministries program, our new schedule will change the time for Sunday School classes for pre-K children through 8th grade youth. These classes will be held during Worship: Dismissal to classes will come following the Children’s Time in the Worship service (approximately 10:45 AM). Classes will conclude between 11:30 and 11:45 AM. We hope this will make it more convenient for families of children and Middle School youth to participate in Worship and Sunday School. At the same time, our Sunday Morning Adult Class and Senior High Youth Class (grades 9-12) will continue to meet at 9:00 AM. Infant and Child Care will be available beginning at 9:00 AM so that persons with young children may continue to participate in the Adult Class.
Please note the changes in our Sunday morning schedule, effective this Sunday:
9:00 AM – Adult Class and Senior High Youth Class
10:15 AM – Worship and Sunday School Classes for Pre-K through 8th Grade
(Sunday School classes begin following Children’s Time in Worship)
Our Children’s Ministries Director, Cathy Savoia, will provide additional details and support to the Sunday School during the opening weeks of Sunday School. Because of the commitment required of those who will be teaching, Cathy is also seeking additional volunteers to assist as they are available to provide for a rotation of teaching teams for the Sunday School. Please speak with her and offer your services as you are able.

India & Pakistan Adult Study Sundays at 9:00 AM – This “mission study” on India and Pakistan presents the richness and diversity of the cultures of these two countries, and explores key issues common to both, including gender issues, poverty, child labor, population, caste, illiteracy, religious extremism, globalization, and the complexities of the border conflict over Kashmir. “A handful of women” organized for mission in 1869 sent Isabella Thoburn and Clara Swain to India, a story that is at the core of United Methodist Women’s mission with women, children and youth. Since 2006 is the 150th year of Methodist mission, ministry and heritage in India and Pakistan, this study is a fitting reminder of mission that is at once global and local—a mission that is rooted in the local, but whose wings are stretched across the globe.
In July Pastor Painter participated in the India & Pakistan course offering at the 2006 School of Christian Mission, and he will look forward to sharing this study with you. The five-week India & Pakistan study will continue through Sunday, October 8th. Copies of the study text, India & Pakistan by Glory Dharmaraj, are available in the Church Office and at the Adult Class for those who wish to use them during the study. We invite everyone to come and participate in this first Adult Study of the fall at 9:00 AM on Sunday mornings in the Sunshine Room.
“Toddler Food” Appeal for Amandla Crossing: The number of young children at Amandla Crossing, a transitional residential center operated by Middlesex Interfaith Partners with the Homeless (MIPH) is presently higher than normal and the need is great…and you are encouraged to drop off toddler-age food items in the basket in the Narthex this Sunday and during the week. Thank you.

JUNIOR CHOIR: Our first rehearsal for the Junior Choir will be this Sunday, September 10th, at 5:30 pm in the Choir Room. We will be singing a piece with the Chancel Choir on Sunday, September 24th, and will present a piece during Children’s Sabbath on October 22nd. Any child who is able to read and loves to sing is invited to join the Junior Choir. We will sing again in December, February, April and June. It should be a fun year!

Centenary United Methodist Youth Fellowship: August has rolled into September and the CUMYF has entered a new fellowship year. The Fellowship begins officially this Sunday, September 10, 2006, at 6:00 PM, instead of the usual 6:30 PM. At this time we will welcome new members (those in 6th grade and any other eligible youth who would like to join) as well as welcoming back all CUMYF youth members. We will enjoy a time of fellowship with food, games and light business with family members joining us as well. Other activities before the end of the month include the youth adding new color to the Youth Lounge.

September 11th Fifth Anniversary Observance at “Freedom Plaza”: The Metuchen-Edison Interfaith Association is sponsoring a Service of Remembrance at Freedom Plaza (at the Metuchen NJ Transit Station on the corner of Main Street & Woodbridge Road) from 8:30-9:00 AM on Monday, September 11th. The service will include participation by Metuchen Mayor Edmund O’Brien, other community leaders, and members of the clergy. There will be a moment of silence at 8:46 AM, at the time the first airliner struck the World Trade Center five years ago. The Orr Chapel at Centenary United Methodist Church will also be open throughout the day on September 11th, beginning at 8:00 AM through 9:00 PM, for those who may wish to pause for a time of prayer and remembrance.
GARAGE SALE AT CHURCH
Saturday, September 16 – 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 or 4:00 P.M.
We will participate in the Metuchen Town-wide Garage Sale. This will be a time for you to bring your treasures (we don’t want junk) and let us sell them and the church budget will receive the proceeds. What a good way to sort out your treasures and let us sell them!
You may bring your items to church starting after worship this Sunday, September 10 and Monday through Friday, September 11-15 between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 12:00 Noon. If you need someone to come and pick up your items, please let Sue Brownlow or Sylvia Woodfield know. We will need help in sorting and pricing items during these times. We will need help on Saturday the 16th with the actual sale—especially some strong persons. There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex.
For more information about the Garage Sale, please call either
Sue Brownlow (732) 494-9217 or Sylvia Woodfield (732) 549-9042.

Becoming Jesus’ Prayer Study begins September 13/14: At the 2006 session of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference, Bishop Devadhar encouraged every local United Methodist Church to engage in a reflective study of the book Becoming Jesus’ Prayer: Transforming Your Life Through the Lord’s Prayer by Gregory V. Palmer, Cindy M. McCalmont and Brian K. Milford. Pastor John Painter will facilitate weekly studies of this book beginning on Wednesday, September 13th at 7:30 PM and on Thursday, September 14th at 9:30 AM. The sessions will be identical each week, and offered on Wednesday evenings and Thursday mornings, to provide flexibility for persons to be able to participate. Each weekly session is designed to last for one hour. Becoming Jesus’ Prayer invites readers to take a new look at the Lord’s Prayer—words so familiar to Christians, yet often muttered without thinking. Each chapter of the book features a story, some theological reflection, discussion questions for the group, guidelines for weekly prayer at home and corporate prayer, and hymn suggestions. It is a rich resource and a wonderful guide for a deeper involvement in prayer in general and in the Lord’s Prayer in particular. Pastor John invites you to join with him as we explore Becoming Jesus’ Prayer together. Copies of the book are presently available in the Church Office for those who plan to participate in one of the study sessions.

1756 Mozart Anniversary 2006
Centenary United Methodist Church
Presents
A Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Music by Mozart
Saturday, September 30
7:30 PM
Musicians:
Shirley Mosteller, Soprano
David Iskowitz, Piano
Alison Williams, Oboe & English Horn
Aaron Abramovitz, Clarinet
A Free-Will Offering will be Received

Centenary United Methodist Church
200 Hillside Avenue
Metuchen, NJ
732-548-7622

MUSIC DATES TO REMEMBER: There will be several events sponsored by the Music Ministry throughout the year. If you are interested in helping with these events or serving on the Music Committee, please contact Alison Williams or Shirley Mosteller, or leave a message at the church office.
September 30th at 7:30 PM: A Concert in Celebration of Mozart’s 250th Birthday, featuring piano, vocal and instrumental music.
October 29th at 6:30 PM: A Spooky Silent Movie, with live piano accompaniment, popcorn and refreshments.
February 20th: A Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner, followed by a Jazz/Cabaret Evening to usher in Lent.
All are sponsored by the Music Committee and will be fund-raisers for the church. We hope they will be well attended. Let your friends and neighbors know!

Some Thoughts for This Week:
If we’re not perfect, let us at least be progressing.

Opportunity may knock only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell.

We will never have time to pray – we must make time. On this score we have to be ruthless with our rationalizations. We must never, for instance, excuse our prayerlessness under the guise of “always living prayerfully.” – Richard Foster

When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another. – Helen Keller
Christians who are too severe in their criticisms of others
are usually too lenient with themselves.

The conversion of the soul is the miracle of a moment;
The growth of a saint is the work of a lifetime.
The abundant life is often smothered by the abundance of things.

Next Sunday, September 17, 2006:
9:00 AM – Adult Class & Senior High Youth Class
10:15 AM – Worship & Sunday School (Pre-K thru 8th Grade)
Preacher: Terrilisa Durham Bauknight Theme: Your Actions, Not Your Words
Lectionary Readings: Proverbs 1:20-33 James 3:1-12
Psalm 19 Mark 8:27-38
11:30 AM – Fellowship Time (Room 20)
5:30 PM – Junior Choir Rehearsal (Music Room)
6:30 PM – CUMC Youth Fellowship (Youth Room/Room 20)

I look forward to sharing with you in study, Worship and fellowship this Sunday at Centenary.

Shalom, John