Departments
Portrait Directory
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Go Vision: Mark Ralls
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Stewardship
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Gospel Concert
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UMW Fall Celebration
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Feature: Tom Ogburn
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EDITOR
From the Editor
I hope you enjoyed your summer and found plenty of time for relaxation and rest. Guess what, it’s time to get busy. There are many incredible opportunities that await you during September and October and I do not want you to miss anything. To start off, we have a new Portrait Directory project which commences on September 23. Be sure to make your appointment online. The process is simple!
Creation Care/Fall Small Groups
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The Big Silence
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Pragna Shah/Children’s Choirs
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Foundations at 4½ Street
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Food Bank Garden
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Spectrum of the Arts
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Glad Tidings
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Senior Adults
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Food For Thought
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Ordination & Commissioning
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Western Conference Report
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Memorials & Honoraria
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Worship in the Park
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Children’s Ministry
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Events & Announcements
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I’ve only named a few of the numerous activities. As you read through the magazine, get out your calendar and make notes.
Youth Ministry
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I’ll see you at Centenary!
John Wesley Society
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Also, we kick off our very important new vision for our church. Be sure to read the article from Mark Ralls which will tell you everything you need to know. Get excited to GO! Worship in the Park is September 28 at Tanglewood. You do not want to miss this amazing celebration of the Centenary community as we come together for a combined worship experience. Be sure to bring your most excellent side dishes and desserts as we share lunch and don’t forget your lawn chair. Like last year, we will be collecting canned goods for Loaves and Fishes.
Doug Peninger
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Vision
GO Dr. W. Mark Ralls
Senior Minister mralls@centenary-ws.org
mralls@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1362
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onsider this scenario: A little white van is parked in your drive. A man in a nice suit is standing on your doorstep. He’s holding one of those huge cardboard checks from the Publisher’s Clearing House. You notice that the check has your name on it and lots and lots of zeros! Do you wait for him to ring the doorbell? Of course not! You run to the door, hurdling a coffee table and knocking over a lamp in your haste. You fling the door open and breathlessly hold out your hands to collect your prize.
What if something of infinitely greater value than any check – however large and whatever the value – was there for you just outside your door? You wouldn’t drag your feet. You wouldn’t tarry. You would go. One day, Jesus noticed that the disciples were feeling – as we all do some days – reticent, cautious, unsure of themselves. So, he encouraged them with this bold promise: “God’s kingdom,” he said, “is right on your doorstep!” (Luke 10:9, The Message) And so it is for us – modern day disciples of Jesus – a whole kingdom just outside our door. Consider this scenario: What if the people of Centenary United Methodist Church were to take this promise to heart? What would we do together? What would happen in our city and to each one of us? My vision for our congregation is simply this. We will not tarry. We will open our hands to the treasure that awaits us. We will share this gift with the world. We will go to God’s kingdom “right on our doorstop.” GO! This little word – that I believe makes all the difference – will be our invitation, our rallying cry as we embrace together God’s vision for us.
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REASONS TO GIVE TO CENTENARY The Kingdom of God is right at your doorstep.
FA ITH
GROW
LUKE 10:9 The Message
g.o..
H C A E R T U Y O T I N U M M CO
SERVE Will you make Centenary your top giving priority? STEWARDSHIP 2015 5
Make a
Joyful Noise Gospel Concert
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Free and open to the public: Featuring the Craft Brothers and the Praise Team from St. Paul’s UMC in Kernersville.
entenar y
Memorial Auditorium
September 7 | 3:00 pm Centenary United Methodist Church 646 W. Fifth Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 | 336-724-6311
u n i t e d
m e t h o d i s t
w i n s t o n - s a l e m
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Feature
Centenary’s Tom Ogburn and “HOME RUN”, a new piece of public art at BB&T Ballpark
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By Charles Monroe
n Tuesday morning, April 1 at BB&T Ballpark here in the “City of the Arts and Innovation,” Mayor Allen Joines and artist/sculptor Tom Ogburn unveiled “HOME RUN” a ten-foot bronze statue of three children stretching to catch a fly ball in their leather baseball mitts. As reported in local media, Geoff Lassiter, President of the Winston-Salem Dash, called it the “nicest piece of public art in any stadium.” In addition to Mayor Joines, those attending the dedication included Councilwoman Molly Leight, Councilman Dan Besse and Councilman Jeff Macintosh along with many of the people who provided financial support to help make the project possible. As artist/sculptor, Tom presented the statue to Mayor Joines as a gift to the city on behalf of himself and the various benefactors. Tom outlined three reasons why he undertook the project which he first initiated in 2009: 1. To give back to the city that has been so good to his family. 2. To recognize the youth of WinstonSalem. 3. To contribute to public art in WinstonSalem. Tom was born in Winston-Salem. His father, Thomas Lynn Ogburn Sr. was in the insurance and real estate business. His mother, Katherine Davis Ogburn, was a well-known portrait and landscape artist. She had established the art department at Salem College and taught there for nine years after graduating from the New York School of Fine and Applied Arts. Both Tom’s parents grew up in WinstonSalem and were childhood sweethearts before marrying in 1936. They remained active in the community and at Centenary UMC, where Tom, Sr. served on the Board of Stewards and Katherine was a circle leader and served as president of United Methodist Women.
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Tekoa. Friendship and dating continued back in WinstonSalem as they participated in Methodist Youth Fellowship at Centenary. After graduating from Reynolds High School in 1962, Tom entered Davidson College on a football scholarship. He participated in ROTC and football, but also included art (painting and wood cut) in his studies. Tom graduated from Davidson in 1966 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics. In the meantime, after graduating from Reynolds High School, Anita earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Meredith College, where she was elected President of the Student Government Association. She was awarded a scholarship for graduate studies at Duke and completed partial requirements toward a Master’s degree.
Tom, Jr. grew up in the family home on Reynolds Drive with his parents and two sisters, Kaylynn and Missy. Tom enjoyed tending a variety of pets including, at one time or another, hamsters, raccoons, a fox and 21 beagles. When asked how he obtained 21 beagles, he answered “I acquired three females and one male.” Tom was baptized and confirmed at Centenary and participated in the Methodist Youth Fellowship and what is now Boy Scout Troop 920. He attended Whitaker School, Wiley School and Reynolds High School where he played on the football team. During high school, he experimented with drawing and some painting along with other activities. The summer before Tom’s sophomore year at Reynolds, Porter and Wilma Hauser and their daughter Anita moved to Winston-Salem from High Point and began attending Centenary. Tom and Anita met that summer and became friends while both were attending Camp
Tom and Anita were married in Winston-Salem at Centenary United Methodist Church on August 20, 1966. The couple moved to Chapel Hill while Tom undertook the program to earn a Master’s of Business Administration Degree at the University of North Carolina. Anita taught high school mathematics while the couple lived in Chapel Hill, until Tom received his Master’s in 1968. Tom and Anita returned to WinstonSalem to live in 1968 and Tom joined the corporate world of R J Reynolds Tobacco Company. They later built a home on Buena Vista Road and were blessed with two sons – Tate, now an attorney in Charlotte and married to Kristin, and Allen, who works in marketing for Lowe’s in Mooresville and is married to Alisa. The family includes five grandchildren. During their growing up years, Tate and Allen participated in Boy Scout Troop 920, both achieving Eagle Scout rank. Tom served as Chairman of the
Administrative Board at Centenary in the period following Reverend Ernest Fitzgerald’s departure. The Music and the Arts Ministry at Centenary is delighted to have Tom’s involvement as an active member of their team. Anita has been very active in church and community activities over the years. She has served on many committees at Centenary and is now on the Board of Trustees. She and Nancy Cannon led the church in a strategic planning effort. Anita has served as president of the Junior League and in a variety of capacities for many other local organizations, including service on the boards of Arbor Acres, where she was Board President, and the Forsyth Early Childhood Partnership. She was named Outstanding Fundraising Professional of the Triad and received the Alumni Achievement Award from Meredith College. The Salvation Army Girls Club recognized Anita with its “Strong, Smart and Bold Award” for her service to women and children. Anita retired as Executive Director of the Ronald McDonald House in Winston-Salem in 2011 after serving 14 years. Before joining the staff she was a volunteer and board member for the House, serving as President of the Board of Directors. Anita also served 13 years on the Board of Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Carolina and on the Global Advisory Council for Ronald McDonald House Charities. After 25 years with Reynolds in both the Domestic and International Companies in market research, marketing and public issues management, Tom left his Vice President position in 1993 to pursue an entrepreneurial calling. After considering various business opportunities, Tom founded Buena Vista Farms and raised ostriches in North and South Carolina. The business became one of the largest ostrich businesses in the southeast, supplying most of the ostrich meat found in restaurants and grocery stores in western North Carolina. Anyone who knows anything about ostriches can imagine the challenges of building fences high enough to contain an ostrich as well as trying to control their behavior. Tom eventually prevailed, but it is not surprising that his next career stage began to evolve toward a more predictable occupation.
In the mid-1990’s Tom began teaching at Wake Forest University as an adjunct professor and then for ten years as a member of the faculty at the Babcock Graduate School of Management. He also taught at the Institute of Business Studies, in Moscow (Russia); and was a visiting professor of marketing at the Universidade Catolica Portuguesa in Lisbon (Portugal). While at Wake Forest he founded the university’s Family Business Centers in Winston-Salem and Charlotte, developing them into some of the largest and most successful in the world. He also directed the Wake Forest Marketing Summit which became one of the world’s premier academic marketing events. Tom initially began his study of sculpting in the year 2000 while teaching at Wake Forest. At the urging of friend Jane Craver, he joined a sculpting class taught by Earline King, an internationally known sculptress. Tom fell in love with sculpting. He continued taking courses from Earline and other well known sculptors around the world. In July, 2008, he decided to leave what he called “the perfect job” at Wake Forest to pursue his passion for sculpting full-time. He has shared his talent by teaching sculpting at The Sawtooth Center and Arbor Acres. He has created numerous commissioned pieces as well as limited editions in clay and bronze. His work can be found in 15-20 states including large scale pieces at the Ronald McDonald House, Forsyth Hospital and most recently at the BB&T Ballpark in Winston-Salem. Tom will be teaching a Tuesday afternoon sculpting class (6 sessions) at Arbor Acres this fall. Those interested in enrolling should call Misty Decker James at Arbor Acres. On
Thursday, October 16, Tom will be speaking at a Senior Adult Luncheon at Centenary about sculpting and will outline the stages involved in creating a ten-foot bronze statue such as “HOME RUN.” Along with his business, academic and artistic activities, Tom has found time to serve as Chairman of the Board of Easter Seals of North Carolina and on a variety of other advisory boards including the Culinary School of Guilford Technical Community College and the Wake Forest Demon Incubator. Tom’s achievements have been recognized by Congresswoman Virginia Foxx on the floor of the US House of Representatives as reported in the Congressional Record and by Mayor Allen Joines when he declared Tom Ogburn Day in Winston-Salem. Tom has said that his own career path has been one of “serendipity.” With the good fortune of having careers in the corporate, entrepreneurial and academic worlds, he is now pursuing his dream in the world of sculpture. Tom attributes his artistic ability to his mother Katherine and her family. His opinion is supported by a one-night art show in December, 2012, at the Fine Arts Center at Salem College. The show “A Family Affair” exhibited works by Katherine Davis Ogburn; two of her children, Tom L Ogburn, Jr. and Missy Ogburn Butler; and Butler’s granddaughter Madison Harrington, age 10 (great-granddaughter of Katherine). It was reported in the Winston-Salem Journal that “the show was an amazing testament to an inherited passion and talent for art.”
Creation Care
jbrake@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1334
“I believe in my heart that faith in Jesus Christ can and will lead us beyond an exclusive concern for the well-being of other human beings to the broader concern for the well-being of the birds in our backyards, the fish in our rivers and every living creature on the face of the earth.”
~ John Wesley, founder of Methodism
• Fall Book Discussion: “Serving God, Saving the Planet” by Dr. Matthew Sleeth (available in Glad Tidings) • Documentary Screening: “Chasing Ice” on Thursday, September 25, 6:15 pm in the Dining Room • Projects around the church building include lighting, composting, recycling • Projects around the community include litter cleanup, stream cleanup Find out more at www.CentenaryOnline.com/CreationCare or search groups on The City for “Creation Care Ministry”
The Creation Care Team is open to all Centenary members and meets on the First Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm in Room 222. Stop by and see what’s going on
Fall Small Groups Start after Labor Day Now is your last chance to sign up for Fall Small Groups. There is nothing as wonderful as learning in a group and we have a wide variety to choose from. Whether you are looking for a Bible Study or understanding Methodist beliefs, help with finances or developing a Christlike character, trying out ancient spiritual practices or simply growing your faith in a comfortable and supportive place, we have got something for you. Check out what’s available on our website, or find small groups booklet in Glad Tidings or the information stations around the church. You can even register online at www.centenaryonline.com/ smallgroups. For more information, contact Rev. Jonathan Brake (3971334)/jbrake@centenary-ws.org.
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The Big Silence Stumbling into the Heart of Christ January 25-28, 2015 St. Francis Springs Stoneville, NC Rev. Jonathan Brake, Retreat Co-Leader
If you hunger for a deeper experience of God through prayer, then join us for this special four-day guided retreat. Sunday afternoon through Wednesday afternoon, will contain big spaces of silence so that we might experience the gift of God’s transforming grace. Inspired by the documentary The Big Silence (see link on our webpage), this retreat will be grounded in the modern classic The Way of the Heart by Henri Nouwen. There are only 16 rooms available. Information & Registration forms can be found at: • Glad Tidings books and gifts • The box outside of Rev. Brake’s office (Room 317) • Online at www. centenary-ws.org/SF • Contact Rev. Jonathan Brake, Associate Minister, jbrake@centenary-ws.org.
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Thank You My Dear Centenary Friends, This is a bitter-sweet note for me to write. It has been a privilege, delight and honor to serve this great church, called God’s House for the past sixteen years. Wow, how can I find words to express my deep, deep appreciation for all heartfelt goodbyes, gifts, cards and luncheons you gave me for the past month or so?
thanks to members who have become such wonderful friends during my time at Centenary. You all have been kind and generous in innumerable ways. I am slowly but surely settling into my new routine. Now I have been able to spend more time with my family, specially my granddaughter Aarna in Durham. I wish you well. Love and Peace
I want to say thank you to my fellow staff for their continuous support for all these years. I also want to express my sincere
~ Pragna Shah
Editor’s Note: Pragna Shah retired on June 30, 2014.
Children’s Choirs The Children’s Music Ministries’ Team has been busy planning our new fall line-up for children age 2 - 5th grade, and we are excited about our upcoming season! Our first rehearsal night, complete with dinner, orientation and rehearsals, will be Wednesday, September 3. Parents, please put this date on your family calendars. We hope you will join us! Wednesday Schedule • Dinner: 5:00 - 6:00 (no reservations necessary) • Grades 3 - 5: Cathedral Choir, 5:45 - 6:30 • Grades 3 - 5: Joyful Noise Ringers, 6:30 - 7:15 • 1st & 2nd Graders: Carol Choir & Chapel Chimes (combined), 6:00 - 7:00 • Pre-K - Kindergarteners: Orff and Beyond, 6:00 - 7:00 • Ages 2 - 4: Kindermusik, 6:05 - 6:55; an earlier class from 4:15 - 5:30 will be offered if enough children are registered. • Childcare is offered from 6:00 - 7:15, led by Rev. Kate May and Ashley Maner. You can register your child online at www.centenary-ws.org/childrenschoirs, or during the orientation. Note: Some “seasoned” choir parents are needed to help chaperone rehearsals during the orientation. Please contact Anne Saxon to sign-up: Midpatch@ aol.com.
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Foundations art, music, literature, science, culture and religion. • Unsurpassed environment of nurture compassion and security for each child to feel special, loved and safe.
By Rev. Kate May
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n 1961 Centenary looked at the community of Winston-Salem and saw a need for faith-based, high-quality, and affordable childcare for the growing number of families in which both parents were working. Out of that observation the Centenary Childcare Center was born.
Vision: A Christ-centered nurturing
and learning environment where children are loved, cared for and inspired daily.
Mission: To serve the Winston-Salem community by offering an excellent Child development Ministry to families with preschool age children that seeks the ideal in physical, mental, social, emotional and spiritual growth. Values:
• Commitment to the foundations of the Christian faith where children are exposed to God’s love and the Biblical witness. • Enriching experiences for children where they are encouraged to reach their fullest potential. • Dynamic cultivation for each child to learn and foster their unique creativity and personality. • Exceptional curriculum aimed at introducing each child to the worlds of
• Supportive ministry to the whole family to experience value and encouragement so that they become a vital and positive contributor to the community. • Faithful inviting to share in the Centenary mission and outreach, both within the walls of the church and to the world at large. Since then, the Centenary Child Development Center has seen a variety of changes in leadership, scope and enrollment. In 2008 the center was revitalized with the efforts of Dr. Mark King and the center’s board and new director Marissa Corra. With fresh energy, Foundations at 4 ½ Street gained in enrollment, made a name for itself in the community and finally in March of 2013 was awarded a 5-Star rating, the premiere status for daycares. In early 2014 Centenary found itself considering the difficult possibility of closing Foundations. In this decisionmaking process the impact that this center has made on families was brought to the attention of church leadership by numerous parents, children, friends, grandparents and staff who shared countless stories of the indelible impact that Foundations had made on themselves and their loved ones. Hearing stories of multiple generations within single families served by Foundations were particularly poignant making it obvious the legacy that was hanging in the balance. In those most difficult moments opportunity presented itself in the company of The Sunshine House, a company with local ties desiring to branch out into new markets by operating a faith-based daycare center. Centenary’s great history of birthing a community resource and then giving it
wings, as seen in the example of Crisis Control which had its origin with Centenary, seemed to be coming to fruition again. After many months of negotiations the partnership of Centenary with The Sunshine House became official when on June 30 The Sunshine House took over operations and ownership of Foundations with Centenary continuing to offer Christian Education staffing and resources. Foundations will remain in its current location at Centenary for up to two years as The Sunshine House prepares a new site. When the move from Centenary’s building takes place, the Christian Education resourcing from Centenary will remain a part of the Foundations curriculum and philosophy. In this way Foundations can go on to even greater achievement in the area of high quality childcare that retains its faith basis. The Sunshine House has hired a new director for Foundations, Cheryl Smith, who has an abundance of both classroom and administrative experience in the daycare industry. Everyone is enjoying getting to know Cheryl and her graceful leadership is already making an impression on staff and families. The Sunshine House has retained the majority of the staff which has offered a wonderful consistency for the children. As Foundations continues to offer high quality childcare, Centenary members will, as before, be moved to the top of the waiting list when registering a child. Should you desire to contact Foundations please call 336-723-0189 or email center200@sshouse.com. We as a congregation can be proud of the beautiful testament to support of families in our community that we created and now prepare to release from the nest in order that it might fly to even greater heights. We are grateful to the congregation members and leaders, church and childcare center staff and families who have and will continue to make Foundations great.
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Food Bank Garden
Beans and More Grow at the Food Bank Garden The New “Adopt a Box” Project By Ellen Kirby
Situ Shresha is among 20 adult, 10 youth and 15 children who are participating in a new project of the Betty and Jim Holmes Food Bank Garden. The “Adopt a Box” program provides a different kind of gardening for volunteers. It is experimental, it is personal and it is proving to be a great success. Each individual or group is responsible for a box filled with soil and compost. The purpose of the Food Bank Garden is to grow nutritious and fresh vegetables and melons for Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC. With grant money support from the Centenary Outreach Committee as well as enthusiastic volunteers, this new project will continue as a fundamental part of the gardening options at the Food Bank Garden. Daniel Johnson, an experienced farmer, provides leadership for the project.
“This project has changed my life. Although I always wanted to grow food, this is the first time I ever had the chance to learn.” ~ Situ Shresha
Centenary member Jason Wenker recruited other fathers and daughters to join the project.
Using the raised box method, a variety of food is grown, including tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, beans and herbs.
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Why did you get involved with the project “Adopt a Box” and how did you hear about it? “Our small group at church wanted a meaningful mission that we could do around busy work and family schedules. We wanted a way for our children to help others and see their parents doing the same. We helped pick at the garden last year but the raised beds were a way to have a more personal connection.” ~ Elaine Phelps “ I heard about the boxes first through Centenary’s literature and having had such great success with my own raised beds, I thought it would be a good way to contribute, help my garden club members, and of course learn more.” ~ Carol Holden
What does it mean to be part of a Food Bank Garden?
Carol Holden’s granddaughter helps her with weekly watering duty.
“I have gained a greater appreciation for all the volunteers, joy in seeing all the beauty of the garden, and have also picked up some more knowledge about gardening. ~ Carol Holden
“It is wonderful to know our hands-on efforts will lead to needy families having healthy options for their meals. Bad nutrition is so much more affordable and accessible than good. Organic produce is especially out of reach for many families.” “It’s a mini vacation every time I visit the ~ Elaine Phelps farm. Meeting new people with the same interest to serve. Not being so selfish with “Not only are we helping to feed those my time, that I can’t spend a few hours to less fortunate, but you get closer to God do what God put me here to do – SERVE throughout the miracle of watching a OTHERS. It opens my eyes and heart plant grow. Soil, water, sunshine, bees pollinating – truly a Godly miracle. It fills to help me see and feel my Heavenly Father.” my heart to work hard for a couple of ~ Chris Pace hours, and within a few weeks, see what you have accomplished. Few things in life bring immediate satisfaction, and the garden is one of them. I enjoy watching the children play together and help with the garden. It teaches them that food just doesn’t come from a can in the grocery store. You have to work for what you want.” ~ Chris Pace
What have you gained from the experience? “I’m inspired to make more container gardens at my home and plan for our own raised bed in the future. I have also learned how excited kids can get about gardening!” ~ Elaine Phelps
For more information about this project and the schedule of the garden, see our website at http://jimandbettyholmesfoodbankgarden. shutterfly.com or Call Ellen Kirby (Groups, PR/Media, Planting) 336-922-7195 or Patsy Dwiggins (Volunteers) 336-413-5963
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SpEcTrUm
of the
ArTs October 7
Dr. Edwin Wilson
The Poetry of the Great War: One Hundred Years Later A lecture by Dr. Edwin Wilson Professor Emeritus of English at Wake Forest University
October 21 Robin Voiers Zelda
A performance based on the writings of Mrs. F. Scott Fitzgerald Written by William Luce Directed by the late William Voiers
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October 28
The Reverend Kelly P. Carpenter & Jazz Ensemble The Story of Job: A Theodicy in Jazz and Spoken Word
A presentation combining jazz standards and poetry to tell this Biblical story
entenar y
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All events at Centenary United Methodist Church 646 West Fifth Street Memorial Auditorium 7:00PM Enter at 41/2 Street
Glad Tidings
jjones@centenary-ws. org 336-397-1361
By Judy Jones Glad Tidings Volunteers have been on the go this summer moving out of the shop and into the food lines! The Winston Salem Street School (WSSS) Graduation Reception was well attended with over 300 gathering in Memorial Auditorium for a celebration complete with deliciously prepared food by GT Volunteers! The reception was underwritten by Centenary Outreach. As the WSSS students and their guests entered the Auditorium, one student was overheard saying, “Can you believe that they did all of this for us?” If you were one of the fortunate ones who attended the Centenary Pentecost Festival, you certainly noticed the Glad Tidings Volunteers in their burgundy aprons collecting and placing food in the Auditorium. The goal at this event was to feed attendees faster than the 45 minutes it took to feed the 600 out at Tanglewood last fall. Adding more lines proved to do the trick with over 550 people being served in 20 minutes.
As the Centenary Staff and some of the leadership gathered to bid farewell to our dear Pragna Shah, several of the Glad Tidings Volunteers prepared and set up a delicious luncheon. Pragna and her sunny disposition will be missed but we wish her well as she moves into the glory of retirement! Glad Tidings has expanded and will hold an unveiling on Sunday, September 14. As you would expect, there will be tasty treats and good fellowship as we begin enjoying our new reading room and coffee café. As we have recounted from the beginning of its inception, Glad Tidings is much more than “buying and selling.” It is a ministry where a Christian environment is cultivated for gift selection and compassionate
conversation. Enjoy private moments in our new room as you review a book being considered for purchase, or perhaps an intimate conversation with a friend, or maybe just a moment to yourself with a cup of brewed coffee. This move was made possible by the Whitfield/Foundations Sunday School Classes gracious relocation to the beautiful newly outfitted Room 222, and we thank them for their kindness towards our ministry.
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cford@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1353
Senior Adults peacefully. We will all remember 9/11 and the devastation and loss of life that was caused by the planes flying into the two towers of the World Trade Center in New York. Rev. Dr. Hoke, our speaker for the luncheon in September, is a retired Chaplain from Trinity Church in New York City and a missioner to St. Paul’s Chapel at Ground Zero.
By Rev. R. Craig Ford
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e are blessed to have such wonderful senior adults in Centenary United Methodist, and, of course, to have the opportunity of working with you is indeed a privilege. Throughout 2014, we have had interesting and well attended luncheons and outstanding programs. As we come together now in September, I want everyone to know about the upcoming programs for the luncheons in September, October, November and December, as well as the Veteran’s Breakfast in November. Arrangements have been made to have The Rev. Dr. Stuart Hoke as the guest speaker for our luncheon in September. Charles Monroe has provided the information that I am sharing about Rev. Dr. Hoke. Before writing about Dr. Hoke, I want to mention a television series, “The Sixties,” on CNN that I have been following. The program vividly reminded us of many of the events that affected America as they were televised. A segment of the program was on what was referred to as “the most dangerous time in world history,” when missiles were installed by the Soviet Union in Cuba and pointed in the direction of the United States. The series noted the negotiations between President John Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev of the Soviet Union. Because of the naval blockade and the hopeful restraint of President Kennedy the negotiations were successful and the crisis ended
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Dr. Hoke was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and reared in northeastern Arkansas. After graduating from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, he attended the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he received his Master of Divinity Degree. Later in his career, Dr. Hoke received the Doctor of Theology Degree from New York’s General Theological Seminary. Dr. Hoke served congregations in Arkansas and Texas, and now resides at Fearrington Village in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he serves several rural congregations. Dr. Hoke was standing under the North Tower of the World Trade Center when it was attacked. In his presentation, he will offer reflections and provide insight gained from this experience, as well as offer thoughts about ways we can be Christian Disciples in the post 9/11 era. I have previously made reference to the hymn, “Immortal Love, Forever Full.” The fourth verse in that great hymn comes to mind again and again: “The healing of his seamless dress is by our beds of pain; we touch him in life’s throng and press, and we are whole again.” In October, the luncheon program will be presented by Tom Ogburn. Charles Monroe has written a beautiful article about Tom and Anita Ogburn and their many contributions. We look forward to Mr. Ogburn’s presentation as he describes the different aspects of his art. As noted in Charles Monroe’s article, there are many displays of Tom’s sculpture artistry around the city of Winston-Salem, the latest one being at the BB&T Ball Park.
Centenary’s Respite Care has asked to present the program for the November meeting. We will welcome Jan Sawyer, Carol Leinbach and the Respite Care Committee, who will provide updated information about this ministry. Also, in the month of November, the Senior Adults will sponsor the Veteran’s Day Breakfast. Tom Deleot has arranged for our speaker to be Major General Charles “ Chuck” Swannack. General Swannack was an outstanding student and athlete in high school. He then attended and graduated from the Military Academy at West Point. General Swannack fought beside the enlisted men in many of the battles in Iraq. You will not want to miss this dynamic speaker as he will tell us of his military experiences and will witness to his walk with Christ. Unlike previous years, we will have a December luncheon this year. This will provide us the opportunity to recognize persons who have been very helpful with the Senior Adult Ministry this year. Our Christmas program will be presented by Kristin Schwecke. Kristin sang the solo part of the anthem “Blessed Assurance, ” that was presented by the Chancel Choir on Pentecost Sunday. Our programs are selected to be entertaining, informative and relevant. All seniors are welcome and encouraged to enjoy the Senior Adult Ministry. May God be Close to You. Craig Ford Senior Adult Contact Information: Craig Ford: 397-1353 cford@centenary-ws.org Handy Helpers: John Anthony • 765-3804 Senior Adult Chair: Charles Monroe • 773-0446 Programming: Jean Burroughs • 759-2387 Church: 724-6311
Food for Thought is your weekly dose of Lunch and a Lesson for only $7.00. Wednesdays in the Memorial Auditorium at Noon
Doors Open 11:45 am
Welcome 12:10 pm
Lesson
12:20 pm
Dismissal 12:45 pm
Rev. Jonathan Brake will bring us a new series based on the book by Leonard Sweet, 11 Indispensable Relationships You Can’t Be Without. His witty charm and insightful teaching will open your eyes to the person you could be if only you found relationships like these we read about in the Bible. We all need various people in our lives, but do you know why? Come find out this fall. Food for Thought is open to the community and is a great place to come for employees working downtown! September 3 | You Need an Editor September 10 | You Need a True Friend September 17 | You Need a Butt-Kicker September 24 | You Need a Protégé October 1 | You Need an Encourager October 8 | You Need a Yoda October 15 | You Need a Back-Coverer October 22 | You Need a Reject October 29 | You Need a “Little One” November 5 | You Need a Lydia and Lazarus November 12 | You Need a Place November 19 | You Need a Paraclete (Check the menu each week at www.CentenaryOnline.com/Lunch)
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Western NC Conference
Ordination and Commissioning By Sarah S. Howell
I decided to take this opportunity to answer some questions I’ve heard—about who gets to wear a stole, who can do what during communion, why some of our staff are “Reverend” and some are not, and why Kate’s stole resembles a Miss America sash as compared to the more common scarf-looking vestments the other clergy wear.
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n June 20, 2014, I was commissioned as a provisional elder in the Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church. Wait, what? I’ve gotten lots of questions, both before and after my commissioning, that tell me that most people have no idea what the Methodist ordination process entails— which is understandable, because it is a long, involved process that has changed over the years.
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The idea of ordination in general is that certain people are designated to serve a particular purpose in the life of the church. All people are called to be ministers in their own way. Ordained ministers are not set above but set apart. Here’s how the United Methodist Book of Discipline says it: “Ministry in the Christian church is derived from the ministry of Christ, who calls all persons to receive God’s gift of salvation and follow in the way of love and service. The whole church receives and accepts this call, and all Christians participate in this continuing ministry. Within the church community, there are persons whose gifts, evidence of God’s grace, and promise of future usefulness are affirmed by the community, and who respond to God’s call by offering
themselves in leadership as set-apart ministers, ordained and licensed.” Our starting point is Jesus Christ, and we are all called to minister as members of the body of Christ. Ordained persons are called to minister in a specific way. In the United Methodist Church, we have two what we call “orders” to which ministers may be ordained: elders and deacons. Once upon a time, a person was ordained first (and temporarily) as a deacon, and then became an elder. Now, both of these orders are permanent orders. Elders don’t have to be a certain age, and deacons are not demons. An elder is ordained to the ministries of Word, Sacrament, Order, and Service—that is, to preaching, to celebrating the sacraments (baptism and communion), to ordering the administrative life of the church, and to serving the church and its people—they are pastors, most often within a church. Here at Centenary, Mark, Jonathan, and Craig are ordained elders. A deacon is ordained to the ministries of Word, Order, Compassion, and Justice—they are ministers, sometimes in a specific ministry within a church, but often to ministries outside the walls of the church. Here at Centenary, Kate is an ordained deacon. Deacons can assist with the sacraments (which is why you will often see Kate presenting the communion elements and assisting at baptisms), but an elder must pray over the bread and cup (for communion) and water (for baptism). Elders are also allowed to officiate at weddings and funerals. Tammy, our youth director, is not ordained, so she and I have started teaming up on a few weddings to co-officiate. Tammy has completed theological studies relevant to her ministry and functions as one of our ministers on Sunday mornings and elsewhere. So I am now what is called a provisional elder. It’s sort of like a residency after
medical school, before you become a full doctor. Before my commissioning, I was a licensed local pastor, which for me was an intermediary step to becoming a provisional member but for some can be an ongoing appointment. Here’s how the ordination process works (assuming all goes well): 1. A person who feels called to ordained ministry contacts their pastor and becomes an inquiring candidate. 2. This person applies to the district superintendent and works through preliminary requirements with a candidacy mentor. 3. The charge conference of the local church recommends this person to the District Committee on Ordained Ministry (DCOM). 4. This person appears before the DCOM, is examined, and is approved as a certified candidate. This step requires written responses to some theological questions, a psychological assessment, and agreement to certain life disciplines.
5. The candidate can pursue studies as a licensed local pastor, or he/she must complete graduate/seminary studies to become an elder or deacon. 6. The candidate applies to the conference Board of Ordained Ministry (BOM) for provisional membership. This requires a health check; the submission of papers on theology, doctrine, vocation, and disciplined life; the recording and analysis of a worship service, sermon, and Bible study; a background check; and an interview with the BOM. 7. If for some reason (this happened in my case) the person is appointed to a church before becoming a provisional member, he or she may be licensed as a Local Pastor.
membership in full connection. This requires a paper-writing and interview process similar to that of applying for provisional membership. If approved, this person is fully ordained in The United Methodist Church. So what does this mean? It means that when you see me on Sunday mornings, I won’t be wearing a stole—at least for another 3 years. I will, however, be wearing the cross that was presented to me at my commissioning this year. You’ll see Mark, Jonathan, and Craig with their elder stoles and Kate with her deacon one. But as you observe your clergy in their robes and stoles, remember that they are not the only ones called to ministry— we all are! What does your call look like?
8. Provisional elders (that’s me!) and deacons spend 3 years in a residencytype state where they receive further mentoring and development through the conference alongside other provisional members. 9. After 3 years, the provisional elder or deacon applies to the BOM for
Conference Report By Walter Carmichael The theme of this year’s Western North Carolina Conference was Celebrating Generosity. This was a theme we heard from Bishop Goodpaster, and other preachers like Rev. Jan Davis, of Texas. This year Centenary had four lay delegates and our own pastoral staff in attendance. The Methodist Church is a connectional church and as such we meet once a year to spend time in conference with each other to settle the larger business issues of the conference. Not only does each United Methodist Minister find out his or her appointment for the upcoming year, new clergy like Sarah Howell are commissioned and other ministers are granted full ordination. Still a few more retired like our former pastor, Rev. Steve Rainey. We approved an annual budget for the conference, which determines the ways that some of our church apportionments are spent. We spent time discussing the new Healthcare plan options offered to pastors and their staff, which will result in some savings.
One of the topics that much time was spent on was the state of the Children’s Home in Winston-Salem. The Western NC Conference owns the property but it is run by a group of trustees through the Home. There was a presentation made by Maurice Ware, the CEO . The Bishop spoke about how our conference should embrace the Children’s Home as a Conference wide project. The Conference chose not to confirm the submitted list of trustees due to the fact that their bylaws stipulate that 60% of the trustees must be members of a United Methodist Church. Currently this is not the case. The Conference and the delegates expressed a great deal of interest in supporting and helping the Children’s Home in its struggles. There will be a great deal of discussion over the coming months to carry out a plan to make certain that solid plans for the future can be made. Bishop Goodpaster and our new District Superintendent, Jeff Patterson, are planning on being involved as trustees on the Board. If this is something you feel passionate about, contact Maurice Ware at the Children’s Home to see how you
can help as a volunteer or in some other capacity. As a reminder of the need for generosity there was an offering taken for End Malaria Now. In addition, Reverend Goodpaster sent us out with a reminder that our brothers and sisters in Africa and South America are living in poverty that is even more extreme than some of the poorest in our own conference. As a connectional church we are charged with staying communion with our worldwide congregation. We must engage the community in which we live and the world around us in a way that embraces generosity and a gospel of having enough instead of one of scarcity.
Centenary Delegates Walter Carmichael, Elizabeth Pleasants, Jennifer Rogers, Sue Stephens & Harry Underwood (District Delegate)
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Memorials Centenary Fund
Loaves and Fishes
Missionary Friendship Fund
In memory of Ruth Howard Mundy by Connie and Terry Vogt, Connie Allen, Anne and Tom Pierce, Leonard Ryden Burr Real Estate, Janette Griffin, DeeDee Fenwick. In memory of Phillip Robbins Broyhill by Henry and Dyeann Jordan. In memory of Wendel Hill Stockton by Henry and Dyeann Jordan, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Craver, Emily Lambeth, Kay and Bill Baldridge, Tom and Megan Lawson, Joanna Vaughn, H. Vernon and Frankie Winters, L. Glenn Orr, Jr., Carol Cassidy, Louise Austell, David and Lynn Odom, Sally McLeod, Ray Blevins, Ken and Susan Sommerkamp, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Duckett, Katy and Mickey Boles, Anne and Tom Pierce, Bruce and Bernie Clapp, Dr. and Mrs. David Kelly, Jean G. Beam, Jane and Steve Poe, Dick and Peggy Ayscue, Charles M. Shelton, R. Edwin Shelton, Stuart and Priscilla French, Mary June Darden Ward, Norma Lockwood, Mary Allen and Jim Martin, Mrs. J. Robert Elster, Edward Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. John C. Whitaker, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Sam C. Ogburn, Sr., Elizabeth A. Ogburn, Mo Swinson and Michael Swinson, Bill and Allan Womble, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel P. Rothrock, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hauser, Phil and Jean Waugh, Mary West and Bill Ball, Mark and Karen Sohmer, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Edwards, Dee and Jane Smith, Dan and Emily Williamson, Wilba Brady, Josephine Phillips. In memory of Louise Carson Highsmith by Alice Jones Brock, June D. Ward. In memory of Laura Beth Smith Spivey by DeeDee Fenwick, Jack and Ruth Robinson, Sue Green Temple, Perry Mitchell. In memory of Franklin Reid Warren, Jr. by Sheila and John Fox, Susan and George Bonham, Wilba Brady, Julian and Sudonna Drake, Deana Vickers, Larry and Wanda Foster, Jo Ann Frazier, Gabriel and Patricia Auram, Ralph and Gayle Atkinson, Charles and Joy Shore, Susan Blalock, Thomas Watts, Jr., Pat Lawrence, Gordon Cox, Mark and Susan Doughon, Charles and Kathryn Morgan, Hester Booker, Jean Townsed, Susan Spence, Dan and Georganna Armstrong, Mary Lou and Peter Wilson. In memory of T.R. Keith by Theodore and Mary Keith. In memory of Susan York Hinkle by Perry Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hauser. In memory of Gregory Jacobs by Circle 5. In memory of Herbert Dale Burton by Susan Bly.
In memory of Wendel Hill Stockton by Janie and Jarman Jenkins. In memory of Patricia Grimsley Chatham by Donald and Susan Murfee, Joellen Parks. In memory of Franklin Reid Warren, Jr. by Janie and Jarman Jenkins.
In memory of Ruth Howard Mundy by Circle 1. In memory of Lucy Hubbard by Circle 1.
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Sacred Music Fund In memory of Betty McCall Smith by Bob and Chris Myers. In memory of Louise Gauldin Idol Wall by Bob and Chris Myers. In memory of Wendel Hill Stockton by Elizabeth Brantley.
Senior Adult Ministry In memory of Laura Beth Smith Spivey by Carl and Delores Clarke, Karen Knott, Dr. and Mrs. Kevin Matthews, Colin, Finn and Molly Matthews, Julia Doud, Joan Kale Spry and Alma S. Kale, Robert Howard, Michael and Sandee Lawless, Beth Jones, Bill and Sandra Gramley, Doug Mead, Gary and Claudia Fleming, Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Gfeller, Jr., Paul and Jackie Amthauer. In memory of Ruth Howard Mundy by Laura Young. In memory of Louise Carson Highsmith by Garden Study Club of Winston-Salem.
In Memoriam Lucy Foard Greene Hubbard May 21, 2014
Radio Ministry
Margaret Rose Tennille July 21, 2014
In memory of Louise Carson Highsmith by Clay/Chandler Class.
Virginia Ruth Connor Dyar July 24, 2014
Respite Care
Dr. William Arnold Lambeth Jr. July 31, 2014
In memory of Franklin Reid Warren, Jr. by Alma Thompson.
Maxine McKaughn Mathis August 2, 2014
H.O.P.E. In memory of Franklin Reid Warren, Jr. by Missy and Buck Butler.
The ministers and members of Centenary Church extend their deepest sympathy to the bereaved families and pray they may know the comfort and peace of our Heavenly Father.
Honoraria Centenary Fund
We celebrate the birth of...
In honor of Caleb, Eva and Jacob by Larry and Frances Hollar. In honor of Scout Cox by Jean Brown and Kris Cox.
...Corbin Taylor Smith born July 1, 2014. He is the son of Bryan & Magan, brother of Avery and grandson of Susan Reiner.
Children’s Ministry In honor of Kate May by Mildred Schultz.
Children’s Music Ministry In honor of Choir Parent Volunteers by Children’s Choir Directors: Anne Saxon, Camille Jones, Kellee Church, Carol Penney, Jennifer Rogers.
Loaves and Fishes In honor of George Robinson by Dan and Nancy Culp.
Love Thy Neighbor In honor of Charles Wattleworth by Dottie and Charlie Bryan. In honor of Dr. Eddie Pollock and Simplify Band Members: Adair Sheppard, Natalie Reeder, Kate Watts, Caroline Morgan, Candace Mulherin, Garrison Pollock, McKinley Pollock by the Family of Ruth H. Mundy.
Ministers Discretionary Fund In honor of Mark Ralls by the Family of Ruth H. Mundy.
Respite Care In honor of Lynette Harrell by Laura Young, Nancy Warren.
Senior Adult Ministry In honor of Craig Ford by Mildred Schultz
Simplify In honor of Tammy Clark by the Family of Ruth H. Mundy.
...Vance Barron Hyde born June 24, 2014. He is the son of Adam and Ruth Hyde, and brother of Charlie.
We celebrate the baptism of... ... Kenneth David Woodson III (Tripp), son of Kenneth & Lauren (David and Ali). ...Chloe Faith Thomas, daughter of Don & Allison Thomas, and sister of Stephen (14) & Charlie (9). ...Thomas Andrew Saxon, son of Stephen and Diana Saxon, and grandson of Paul and Anne Saxon. ... Robert Williams Brinson Jr., son of Will and AK Brinson, and grandson of Kerry and Sheree Avant.
We celebrate the marriage of... Addison Dillard Ruffin, daughter of Fowler & John Ruffin, granddaughter of Sara Spencer and the late John Spencer, to Jason Alexander Kon on Saturday, May 10, 2014. They will live in Charlotte, NC.
Summer Swing As we turn our attention to the fall and Worship in the Park, I wanted to illustrate a memory from the previous year. When I came across the image of Laura and Russell Carmichael, I knew I had to use it as it immediately brought a smile to my face. I hope you will join us as we worship at Tanglewood and create some of your own special memories.
Doug Peninger
Winston-Salem Street School In honor of Tom and Nancy Cannon by the 2013-2014 Christian Believer’s Class.
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Worship in the Park
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A Celebration Kickoff
ast year at our first Worship in the Park, I was standing in line for food when several people said to me, “We ARE doing this again next year aren’t we?” That day at Tanglewood Park allowed about 600 men, women, and children of our church to see one another in a new light. Those who always attend only one of our Sunday morning worship options were able to experience the great diversity of style and ability available in Centenary’s many worship settings. People who don’t cross paths on Sunday morning sat next to each other and made new friends. There was laughter, there was excitement, there was fun, there was fellowship, and there was a lot of playfulness. It was also the kickoff of a new mission food truck called “H.O.P.E. of Winston Salem.” Another comment we often heard from that experience at Tanglewood was “I don’t know how you’re going to top this!” Well, all I can say is – Come and See!
By Rev. Jonathan L. Brake
This year will be another great Kickoff. We will GO to Tanglewood Park. We will GO and worship together. We will GO as one church united in one place. We will GO to fellowship and eat together. We will GO be a witness to all around. We will GO to launch into a new Vision for Centenary. And we will GO from that place into the world, sharing the love of Christ. “GO! … God’s kingdom is right on your doorstep!” (Luke 10:3a, 9) In addition to kicking off our new church vision, we will be kicking off a year of celebrating the biblical feasts together. How appropriate that this very weekend is Rosh Hoshanah (beginning … the year). This will be the beginning of our spiritual year at Centenary where we launch into a new church vision, a vision that is grounded in our spiritual heritage as celebrated throughout the year on the feast days of our Judeo-Christian tradition.
Rosh Hoshanah was established with these words, “… observe a day of complete rest. It will be an official day for holy assembly, a day commemorated with loud blasts of a trumpet.” (Leviticus 23:24). Rest assured that we will hear some trumpets on that day! The setting at Shelter 4 is fully handicapaccessible. We encourage families to bring blankets and chairs for the grassy area, but seating is also available at the picnic tables. Everyone is encouraged to bring something to share for the covered dish lunch (chicken and iced tea will be provided by the church). Come early for music at 10:30 and stay after lunch for a hymn-sing and games. If you are unable to make it to Tanglewood Park, please join us for the regular 8:45 am worship service in the Centenary Sanctuary.
September 28, 2014 Tanglewood Park
(tell the gatehouse you’re with Centenary UMC)
Shelter 4 (follow the signs)
10:30 am Music 11:00 am Worship Noon Covered Dish Lunch Games and activities to follow Dress Casual
Images on the next page are from
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the 2013 event.
kmay@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1331
Children’s Ministry
Fall Children’s Ministry Happenings By Rev. Kate May
Promotion Sunday
Bible Sunday
August 24
September 21
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n Sunday, August 24 we will be celebrating the new school year with our Annual Promotion Sunday. On this Sunday all children will move up to their new classes for the 2014-2015 school year. Sunday School (9:45-10:45 am) on this day will be a time filled with opportunities to get to know the new Sunday School teachers, build a feeling of teamwork among the classes, and of course eat ice-cream! Additionally, in each worship service we will be praying for our students as they begin a new school year. As you try to determine your child’s placement for Sunday School this year it will be helpful for you to know that our children’s ministry follows the public school policy so that children’s classes are determined by their age on August 15, 2014. We find that following the dates that the school uses and keeping them in Sunday School in the same grades they find themselves in for school gives consistency for the kids as well as helping them to be with other children at their similar level of development. This includes our preschool nursery classes as this way kids begin to develop relationships with the children they will travel through school with. During the Sunday School hour we will also be having a parents meeting in the chapel. This will give you an opportunity to hear some of the exciting things coming in children’s ministry this year! I hope your whole family will be with us on this exciting Sunday.
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Children’s Choir Rehearsals Begin September 3
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s activities get started for the new school year I hope that you will keep your Wednesday evenings free to participate in our wonderful children’s music ministry. Rehearsals will begin on Wednesday, September 3 for two year olds through fifth graders. You can find more information and get your child registered for choir by visiting http://centenary-ws.org/ChildrensChoirs
ne of Centenary’s wonderful traditions is sharing the faith with our children by gifting them Bibles at special milestones in their lives. On September 21 at all of our worship services we will be giving Bibles to our new kindergartners and third graders. All families should be receiving information about how to participate in this exciting rite of passage but please contact Ashley Maner (amaner@centenary-ws.org, 3971332) as soon as possible if you know of someone we might have missed. We look forward to sharing with our children as they grow in faith and develop a deeper relationship with God.
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Events & Announcements CONCEPT COMMITTEE The Concept Committee is concluding its charge and will present an exciting renovation concept at two informational meetings to be held on: Tuesday August 26 at 7 pm, in the Dining Room Tuesday September 2 at noon, in the Dining Room All are invited to attend. PORTRAIT DIRECTORY
Portrait Directory September 23 - October 25 You can sign-up beginning today! Click on the Events tab at www.centenary-ws.org and search for Portrait Directory and you will be directed to the appointment calendar. Make your appointment for the first week and you could win an iPad Mini. See more details about the portrait directory on the bulletin insert. SAVE THE DATE Worship in the Park September 28 at Tanglewood. CREATION CARE Leave Some : Take Some Again this summer you will have the opportunity to share your extra garden vegetables with others in the church, or pick up something grown by a church member that you can enjoy during the week. From now through August, the “Take Some : Leave Some” table will be set up in the 4½ Street foyer. When you have too many vegetables, drop them off at the table on your way into the building. After worship, stop by and pick out something to eat that week. There is no cost involved, just a wonderful way to share with one another from our abundance.
STEPHEN MINISTRY Summertime Stress Slowing You Down? Many times our difficulties seem even worse during the summer because everyone else seems to be enjoying life while you are feeling down. If you are experiencing a difficult time—emotionally, spiritually, or relationally—you don’t have to suffer alone. Our Stephen Ministers are trained caregivers, ready to listen, care for and encourage you, pray with and for you, and provide one-to-one Christian care to help you through whatever it is that you are facing. It’s free. It’s confidential. And it will make a difference in your life! If you would like to find out more about Stephen Ministry for yourself or someone you know (possibly a friend, neighbor, coworker, or relative) talk with Mark Ralls (397-1362), Craig Ford (397-1353) or Deena Morgan (764-4239) to find out how you can receive help from a Stephen Minister. All calls are confidential. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Loaves and Fishes occasionally needs help to make appointments for clients. Work can be done from home using a dedicated cell phone. Calls are received on Tuesday mornings on a church voicemail and appointments are made from those calls usually on Tuesday or Wednesday. For information, please contact Marianne Bach at mdbach332@hotmail.com or 760-3248. CHILDREN’S MINISTRY Nursery Care Nursery care for infants through prekindergarten is offered during every Sunday morning worship service. During the 11:00 am worship service, 3’s and 4’s in the nursery have a time of engaged Bible storytelling led by children’s ministry staff. Our nursery classrooms, staffed by professional childcare workers, are located on the second floor of the children’s building.
YOUTH MINISTRY October 19: Scarowinds IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS November 2: Love Thy Neighbor December 7: Love Thy Neighbor December 10: Confirmation Parent Orientation January 7: Confirmation begins January 8: Confirmation Shepherd Night Orientation January 11: Love Thy Neighbor REGISTRATION FORMS AND BROCHURES GO OUT THE FIRST OF NOVEMBER FOR SUMMER MISSION TRIPS. ADULT ED. / SPIRITUAL FORMATION Food for Thought (Lunch and a Lesson) Fall Series: “Indispensable Relationships” Noon • Memorial Auditorium Memorial Auditorium $7 includes lunch, drink, dessert, music and message You’ve heard it said that life is a journey, which means that there is a destination we’re headed toward. But how are we going to get there? Or more importantly, WHO will be with us on this journey? Rev. Jonathan Brake will introduce us to the people we need in our life to reach our destination, to release the dynamic power of traveling together, and to draw us beyond ourselves. Pulling from Leonard Sweet’s book, “11 Indispensable Relationships You Can’t Be Without,” we will learn from various relationships in the Bible. Food for Thought is open to the community and is a great place to come for employees working downtown! Adult Sunday School is for You! You are invited to try out a class on Sunday mornings. A complete listing is available in the information stations or at www. CentenaryOnline.com/School The Story Room 306 • 10:00 am This is our newest Adult Sunday School Class which started in 2014. Primarily parents of elementary-age children, but all ages of adults are represented. We are studying the book The Story which
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is the Bible in novel form. Each week we read about another character or era in the biblical story, learning from their experience about the history of God’s people, the character of God, and about ourselves as part of The Story. We watch a short video in class, discuss together what we are learning and find ways to apply our new understanding to daily living. Four facilitators take turns leading the weekly class. During the summer we are learning about various denominations in “Christianity’s Family Tree” by Adam Hamilton. We will resume The Story after Labor Day. Contact: Laura Carmichael (682-6462)/ LCarmichael17@gmail.com. Announcing Fall Small Groups Go to our webpage for the full list of Fall Small Groups. You can read the descriptions, find out times, and even register! www.CentenaryOnline.com/ SmallGroups Bible Study: The Story—The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People Discover the Bible as one complete story, condensed into 31 accessible chapters like a novel, unfolding the progression of Bible characters and events from Genesis to Revelation. Using the text of the New International Version, The Story is filled with intrigue, drama, conflict, romance, and redemption. Come find out how your story connects to The Story of history. This 31-week study will begin on Wednesday, September 10 (9:30-11:00 am) / Kathy Battle, facilitator. The Big Silence Retreat January 25-28, 2015 • St. Francis Springs Prayer Center Rev. Jonathan Brake will be leading this “4-day mostly silent” retreat again for the third time! If you would like to experience the closeness of God in a beautiful setting, then contact Rev. Brake. This retreat is open to all adults, regardless of experience with silence, meditation, contemplation and other forms of prayer. Optional activities on sight include a nature trail, walking the labyrinth, praying the hours and much more. Registration is now open and space is limited. Information and registration can be found at www.CentenaryOnline.com/ sf, in Glad Tidings or in the box outside Rev. Brake’s office (Room 317). MISSIONS September/October Food of the Month The September food of the month is canned spaghetti and packaged noodles. The October food of the month is canned
meats and dried mashed potatoes or canned potatoes. Please bring your food donations to the Missions bins, located in the Reception Narthex at 4½ Street. Food Bank Garden Harvesting Mondays & Wednesdays • 5:30 pm Saturdays • 9:00 am We have harvested around 4000 lbs already this summer and there is much more coming off the vines of the Betty and Jim Holmes Food Bank Garden at The Children’s Home! Many people are needed to pick the squash, cucumbers, tomatoes and melons that are ready for harvest. All of this fresh and nutritious produce goes to Second Harvest Food Bank which serves food pantries and community centers in 18 counties of Northwest NC. Children, youth, adults, and seniors are welcome. If you would like to be on the weekly updates, send an email to harvest.tomatoes@ gmail.com. For more information and schedule updates, visit the garden website at: jimandbettyholmesfoodbankgarden. shutterfly.com JOHN WESLEY SOCIETY What is the John Wesley Society? The John Wesley Society of Centenary United Methodist Church started in 2004. The purpose of the Society as stated then “is to acknowledge and encourage our members to strengthen Centenary’s financial foundation for the future by including the church in their estate plans.”There are currently over 80 members of the John Wesley Society. If you have included Centenary with any type of an estate gift or to receive further information, please contact Thad Lewallen, Director of Stewardship and Planned Giving (397-1352)/tlewallen@ centenary-ws.org. UNITED METHODIST WOMEN September 8 • Noon • Memorial Auditorium The September luncheon will feature Becky Perkinson from the Crosby Scholars. Officers will meet at 10:30 am. MUSIC AND THE ARTS Make a Joyful Noise Gospel Concert September 7 • Memorial Auditorium • 3 pm The choir of St. Paul UMC and The Craft Brothers join together to sing praises. This concert is free and open to the public. Be sure to bring a friend to this afternoon of gospel singing.
Spectrum of the Arts October 7, 21 & 28 See our poster on page 16 for complete information Youth Music CUMC’s Youth Music begins our fall schedule on Wednesday, September 3. Camille Jones will direct the West End Ringers, which will rehearse from 5:30 6:30, and Frank Zachary will direct the Cantus Youth Choir from 6:40 - 7:20. All Youth from 6th - 12th grades are invited to join! Besides providing worship leadership, highlights this year will include a handbell festival, a musical and a Spring Tour. For more information: jkjones45@ msn.com or fzachary@gmail.com. Children’s Music The Children’s Music Ministries’ Team has been busy this summer in planning our new fall line-up for children age 2 5th grade, and we are excited about our upcoming season! Our first rehearsal night, complete with dinner, orientation, and rehearsals, will be Wednesday, September 3. We hope you will join us! You can register your child online at www. centenary-ws.org/childrenschoirs. GLAD TIDINGS It is with great pleasure that we announce the expansion of Glad Tidings to the room next door (formerly Whitfield/Foundations Sunday School Class) that will relocate down the hall to a much bigger, sunnier room 222). We are working hard putting things in place and adding new things; hoping to be completed by September 7, when we have our grand reopening! There will be everything for our congregation to enjoy that day, except maybe fireworks! Please mark your calendars. As we approach this new beginning for Glad Tidings, we ask each of you to make a commitment to visit at least one time in the next twelve (12) months. If everyone in our congregation would purchase one gift, what a wonderful contribution Glad Tidings could make back to Centenary. Remember all proceeds over operating cost are donated directly back to Centenary for use in support of its ministries and missions. Be a part of this beautiful win-win and visit Glad Tidings! Judy Jones, Manager (918-0346)/jjones@ centenary-ws.org.
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tclark@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1337
Youth Ministry
Summer Memories By Tammy Clark
Just a few weeks ago a group of twenty
eight youth and adults stood at the top of the PICO building in downtown Philadelphia. We looked out over a city that was busy with cars and people coming and going. We saw a lot of brokenness and destruction. We saw very little “green anything” in the midst of this concrete city, and we heard people talk of the plight of the homeless and the poor in that community. It was hard to see any hope for a city that suffers from a fragile sewage system that floods frequently, a 50% high school drop out rate and a community that struggles daily with food insecurity. The same was true a month earlier when a group of thirty one youth and adults submerged themselves in the little community of Hayesville, North Carolina. This group divided up and scattered across that county to help those who could not help themselves. We went to homes that were broken down and spent time with people who barely had enough money to put food on their tables. There were many moments when we didn’t know where the hope was for these incredible people we were there to serve. Throughout our summer youth mission trips, God reminded us of the moment in scripture where the Lord told Ezekiel to prophesy over the dry bones. Ezekiel 37:7, 14 “So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons... I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’” There were moments during our trips when we saw nothing at all except brokenness, dry and barren land, sadness and grief, very little room for hope. However, as we faithfully listened and went where God lead us, we could see
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opportunity for growth, change and perseverance. We heard people tell of how they were changing the city of Philadelphia by planting “green roofs” on the top of many of the businesses and corporations in the inner city to help with rain run off and to ease the energy use of these buildings. We worked tirelessly in an abandoned field, clearing it for the sole purpose of creating a community food garden so that those who didn’t have access to fresh food and produce could receive nourishment from the earth. We served in a food distribution site, Philabundance, to sort ‘cast-offs’ from local grocery stores so homeless and marginally housed friends could have food to put on their table. We built ramps, installed flooring, applied fresh coats of paint and held the hands of those we served. We saw those “dry bones” come to life again and the spirit of the Lord breathe life into the situations and lives we thought were hopeless. It was a magnificent and beautiful thing. My hope is that as we have come back home, into our community, where there are equally desolate and desperate situations, that our youth and adults will continue to live as the Lord has commanded us. To speak truth and love and life over those areas of desolation and know that God will breathe new life into each of those situations. I know God will and does.
In a few weeks we will begin another year in ministry with our own homeless and marginally housed friends in downtown Winston through Love Thy Neighbor. There, in the midst of that incredible ministry, God uses faithful and loving youth to speak life and hope into dry and broken lives. We hope you will come and join us and see how God is bringing people to life again.
tlewallen@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1352
John Wesley Society John Wesley Society Celebrates 10 Years
Thad Lewallen – Director of Planned Giving and Development - Celebrates Two Years By Thad Lewallen This year the John Wesley Society celebrates its 10 year anniversary! Since its inception more than 80 Centenary members have qualified for membership by including Centenary in their estate plans.
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f you look above the doors of Centenary’s main entrance and between the words “Centenary” and “Methodist” you will see the carved likeness of John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement. His statue, inside the Narthex (sculpted and donated by Ralph P. Hanes), points straight at you as you leave the church. It is thus fitting that in May of 2004 the Trustees of Centenary recognized Wesley’s foundational role in our church’s history by creating the John Wesley Society. The purpose of the Society as stated in 2004 “is to acknowledge and encourage our members to strengthen Centenary’s financial foundation for the future by including the church in their estate plans.”
In May of 2012, the Board of Trustees, upon a recommendation from an appointed Planned Giving Task Force, decided to hire, on a part-time contract basis, a Director of Planned Giving and Development. Long time church member, Thad Lewallen, assumed the new role. The stated purpose of the new position was to provide comprehensive services related to stewardship with particular attention given to planned giving and the development of membership in Centenary’s John Wesley Society. In May 2014, Thad Lewallen celebrated 2 years in his part time role. In the first year of his work, while being interviewed by Senior Minister Mark Ralls during a stewardship moment, Mark asked Thad “What is it that you actually do each day?” Thad answered by stating “Good question! I feel it is my job each day to help Centenary’s members understand what Planned Giving means and how they can make a gift to the church through their estate and also to help them understand the importance of such gifts in developing the future long term missions of Centenary.” He states that this is done through informing members of the opportunities and methods a Planned Gift can be made,
having one on one meetings with members and understanding what aspects of Centenary that they are most passionate about. Thad says” the most fun part of my work at Centenary is being able to hear the individual stories that our members tell about our history and their passion for all the various programs they have for our beloved church. Then, being able to help them craft a Planned Gift to perpetuate their passion well into the future through a Planned Gift. I feel blessed to be a part of such a vital role in developing the financial future of Centenary and have fun coming to work each day.” Your generous support and your participation in the legacy of Centenary, by making a Planned Gift and becoming a member of the John Wesley Society, are deeply appreciated. For further information on how you can include Centenary in your estate planning or to let the church know if we are already a part of your estate plan, please contact Thad Lewallen, Director of Planned Giving and Development at tlewallen@centenaryws.org or 336-397-1352.
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