Through Centenary
WINDOWS 3 Summer Worship 4 Q&A with Lory Beth 6 History of Senior Ministers 7 Welcome Rev. Lory Beth Huffman 8 Prayers of the People 10 Celebrations 11 The Swanson Exhibit 12 Summer Stock 13 Music and the Arts 14 Glad Tidings for Loaves and Fishes
15 Food for Thought 16 Vacation Bible School 17 Creation Care Dinner 18 Memorials 19 Honoraria 20 Children’s Ministry 22 Knitting Circle 24 Creation Care 26 Youth Ministry A Look Back
We Can Pray
Hold On and Trust
From the Editor As Centenary enters the summer months; we also enter a new chapter in our rich history of sharing the Christian faith with the Winston-Salem community. On July 6, our new Senior Minster, Reverend Lory Beth Huffman, will begin her ministry at Centenary. Rev. Huffman’s first sermon will be July 12 at the 9:00am and 11:00am worship services. Following worship, we will welcome her with a reception in Memorial Auditorium at noon. This new chapter will not only be written by the Senior Minister. We must think of this time as a new chapter for each of us. Every one of us has a role in ministry. You may be a choir member, or greeter. You may be a volunteer in Glad Tidings or a member who helps to knit the prayer blankets. Perhaps your serve on a committee or make visits to our shut-ins. The list could go on and on. The important thing to remember is that it takes each and every one of us to help bring the kingdom of God to a world in need. I hope you will be in diligent prayer as this new time approaches and not only renew your commitment but dig even deeper to reach those in need right at our doorstep. Summertime doesn’t slow down very much at all! As you read through the articles in this issue, I hope you will be inspired, renewed and energized, and I hope you will turn the page of a new and exciting adventure in worship, service, and fellowship together.
Warmest wishes, Doug Peninger Director of Communications
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Welcome Reverend Lory Beth Huffman
lhuffman@centenary-ws. org 336-397-1362
Q&A with Lory Beth By Doug Peninger
Rev. Lory Beth Huffman With great excitement, the Reverend Lory Beth Huffman begins her ministry at Centenary on July 6. Rev. Huffman comes to us as a former District Superintendent for the Western Conference. As a means of introduction, Lory Beth and I did a brief question and answer session. I hope you will find her answers enlightening and inspiring. Following the 11am worship service on July 12, there will be a reception in Memorial Auditorium to welcome Rev. Huffman and her husband Greg. Be sure to mark your calendars. What is your favorite scripture and why? It depends on my mood and what is happening in my life as to which “goto” Scripture I use. But one of my consistent favorites is Romans 8:28. (Common English Bible) 28 We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. This Scripture verse is meaningful to me because it reveals that God is constantly at work weaving things together for God’s ultimate purpose. And even when we humans mess things up royally or when life deals us a horrific blow, we find hope. That even in the worst circumstances, God can find a way to use this for God’s greater purposes. And all that is asked of us is to love God. I’ve lived it many times in my life and now it gives me a deep and abiding hope and peace in all circumstances.
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Who has influenced your calling to ministry the most and how? This is a difficult question to answer because there have been many influencers along the way. I have a whole tapestry of people that have played important roles over the years. But one of the people who truly helped me figure out that I was wrestling with a call into ministry was Rev. Manuel Wortman (Manny), the Campus Minister at UNC Chapel Hill. He helped me work through the difference between being called to vocational ministry and being called to serve as a strong lay person in the church. Both are extremely important and in fact the church needs more strong lay persons than it does clergy in order for the church to move forward. But Manny helped me realize that my gifts were being called for full time vocational ministry. For that clarity I will be forever grateful to him. You are coming to CUMC from a DS position. What is it about the local congregation that excites you? I have missed the local church very much these past 3 years as a District Superintendent. I have missed the rhythm of church life, the heartbeat of weekly worship, the opportunity to impact your community and immerse yourself in your community. I have missed being intimately connected into the lives of people, the high privilege of walking with people and families through the highs of births, baptisms and weddings as well as the difficult valley of tragedy, death and illness. This
is life in its fullest both good and bad and that is always where you find God. I have enjoyed resourcing churches and pastors and working on leadership development and church vitality but I am thrilled to be back into hands on ministry with a church family trying to further God’s Kingdom in their part of the world. Knowing that you are a cat person, what are the names and ages of your cats? What kind are they? So actually Greg and I are animal people and we love dogs, too. Our lifestyle just doesn’t work well to care for dogs. So cats are the perfect pet for us. We have two cats. Hippity Hop was a feral cat that we found at the parsonage in Taylorsville and Greg took her in and tamed her. She is gray with white markings on her face that look like a rabbit (hence the name). She is 7 years old. Olive is a solid black cat we picked out at the animal shelter in Avery County and is 2 ½ years old. Her full name is actually Lady Black Olive of Linville Ridge! Both are mutt cats. Do they have favorite treats? Both are finicky eaters so Hippity’s favorite treat is to sit in Greg’s lap and eat Doritos. Olive’s favorite treat is to chase balls of rolled up tin foil that we throw around the house. Weird, I know! What book are you currently reading? Lead Like Butler: Six Principles for Values-Based Leaders by Judith Cebula and Kent Millard.
If you weren’t a minister, what would be your career? I honestly can’t imagine anything else but ministry but oddly enough I have thought that I might be interested in forensics. I love problem solving and I love psychology and trying to figure out why people do what they do so this might be intriguing. If not that, then working for a non-profit I believe in, like Habitat for Humanity or a crisis ministry. Duke or Carolina? (Had to ask.) Seriously? UNC all the way!
many hours I have spent driving in a car serving the Appalachia District the past 3 years. And we have no yard to have to worry about! What is a prayer you could offer to Centenary as you begin your ministry with this congregation? This prayer comes from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and offers powerful words of faith, hope, and expectation that I long for us as a church and you as individuals to live into. This is my spiritual hope and prayer for Centenary. Ephesians 3:14-21 (Common English Bible)
What’s your favorite food? Why? Ok, this is difficult to answer because I love good food. So I’m going to give you my favorites from several categories! So I love summer vegetables best of all and I have two favorites here- home grown corn on the cob and fried okra with a crispy corn meal coating. Prime Rib or beef tenderloin cooked medium rare- very red in the center! Homemade vanilla ice-cream. Yum! Why? I have no idea- they are some of my favorite flavors! What’s exciting about living in the downtown district? We are excited to have the chance to live downtown so close to the church. It will be a chance to truly live in the community and understand the context of ministry that immediately surrounds the church. We look outside of our window and see business people going to work. We also see homeless people playing chess. We see (and hear) people hanging out at the bar across the street until very late at night (even on a week night as my mother would say!) And we see culture expressed through music and the arts downtown. We are excited to see firsthand what happens in the heartbeat of the city and then reflect on what role the church might better play in the midst of all of this. Plus I am excited about the fact that I could walk to work if I wanted to. That is mind boggling considering how
This is why I kneel before the Father. Every ethnic group in heaven or on earth is recognized by him. I ask that he will strengthen you in your inner selves from the riches of his glory through the Spirit. I ask that Christ will live in your hearts through faith. As a result of having strong roots in love, I ask that you’ll have the power to grasp love’s width and length, height and depth, together with all believers. I ask that you’ll know the love of Christ that is beyond knowledge so that you will be filled entirely with the fullness of God. Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us; glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations, forever and always. Amen.
Centenary welcomes the Reverend Lory Beth Huffman as Senior Minister. Her first Sunday will be July 12 at the 9am Celebration Worship and 11am Traditional Worship. Following worship there will be a reception in Memorial Auditorium at Noon.
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Welcome A History Reverend of Senior Lory Ministers Beth Huffman As Centenary prepares to welcome a new Senior Minister, we pause to take a moment to reflect upon our past and offer prayers of reflection and thanks to the spiritual guides who have come before. We thank each of them for their friendship, leadership and vision in making Centenary the great church it is today.
Dr. C. C. Weaver 1924-1933
Dr. G. Ray Jordan 1933-1940
Dr. W. A. Stanbury 1940-1945
Dr. Mark Depp 1945-1961
Dr. W. Kenneth Goodson 1961-1964
Dr. Charles P. Bowles 1964-1966
Dr. Ernest A. Fitzgerald 1966-1982
Dr. George P. Robinson 1982-1998
Dr. Michael Brown 1998-2008
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Dr. Peter Graves 2009-2011
Dr. W. Mark Ralls 2011-2015
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Prayers of the People will continue through the summer months with the Centenary Chapel being open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm except where noted. Certainly we may arrange for special Prayer Vigils during this time and encourage you to request being added to our mailing list so that we might notify you of special events or any schedule changes. It is recommended that you use the 4 ½ Street Entrance and proceed to the Chapel. There will be directional information if a greeter is not present. For special requests or information please contact Judy Jones, Congregational Care (918-0346)/ jjones@centenary-ws.org. Following are the Focus Prayers for each Monday through the summer months. Again, we may add Prayer Vigils as requested. • Please direct any questions to Congregational Care, Judy Jones (918-0346)/jjones@centenary-ws.org.
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Schedule for July & August • July 6: Country • July 13: Elderly and Homebound • July 20: Youth Mission Trips • July 27: Vacation Bible School • August 3: Friends • August 10: Educators • August 17: Back to School Prayers – We will focus on our children, teachers and administrators as we approach the beginning of a new school year. There will be note cards with first names of children for which to pray. This will be a special day of prayers in the chapel, focusing on parents and their children for those comfortable with silent prayers. For those parents and children who are not so comfortable with the quiet, our Children’s Ministry team will have special prayer stations set up in the Dining Room encouraging a variety of prayer habits. We are so very thankful to encourage prayer with our youth and children and to support them and those who guide and lead them. • August 24: Personal Prayer Day – Renew Your Spirit
... this ministry is simply an opening of the doors of the beautiful Centenary chapel to anyone who would like to visit for a time of individual silent prayer and reflection...
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Celebrations
Welcom e
New Members
Ken & Sharon Gallup
Bill & Sue Lauer
Carter & Melissa Ward Caroline, William
Camille Smith
Catherine Woltz & Jarod Londry
We give thanks for all that God has already given you and we welcome you in Christian love.
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Music & the Arts
Music and the Arts Sunday At all four of our worship services on May 3, we celebrated the ministry of Music and the Arts. We lifted up the ways in which our creative spirit brings us closer to God. The accompanying graphic is a visual representation of the many avenues Centenary members celebrate this closeness.
rfrazier@centenary-ws. org 336-397-1339
Centenary United Methodist Church Music and the Arts Ministry
The mission of the Music and the Arts Ministry is: “As a source of life, God is the fountainhead of the creative spirit. With this belief as our guiding premise, Centenary’s Music and the Arts Ministry provides opportunities for service in, and enjoyment of, a variety of artistic programs related to growth of the mind, heart and spirit; that is, activities that move us toward healing, transformation and redemption.” Through weekly, monthly, yearly and special programs Centenary’s Music and the Arts Ministry provides us all with a creative outlet that seeks out the best in each of us and challenges us to delve deeper into our collective and personal Christianity. We all have been blessed by this incredible Ministry; whether it be through the Performing Arts (such as our choirs and bands that lead us weekly in worship), the Visual Arts (such as the exhibits in our 4 ½ Street Art Gallery and sculpting classes), the Written Word (such as the Voices book that our poetry workshop produces annually, prose writing workshops, Great Conversations study group, and Faith and Literature lecture series), Film and Cinema (such as our annual February Faith and Film Series), or through the commissioning of works for our congregation in any area of the arts. This ministry transforms us, opening our eyes to God in the world around us and to Christ in each of us.
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Glad Tidings
We will have a great promotion in Glad Tidings the month of July offering deep discounts on top of the line products, helping us reduce our inventory, preparing for fourth quarter holiday items. Beginning in September, we will offer to any group meeting at Centenary a discount and special shopping in Glad Tidings around your event. If you would like for your group to take advantage of this opportunity, please contact Judy Jones (918-0346)/jjones@centenary-ws.org. With the summertime relaxation and freedom, it is easy to forget a child’s birthday party or friend’s anniversary. Remember Glad Tidings when those last minute gift and/or card needs pop up. You can call and transact over the phone and pick up your wrapped gift at the 4 ½ Street desk. Our goal is to make gift giving as easy as possible. By the time the September/October issue of Windows reaches your hands, we hope that Glad Tidings new web store will be up and running! A Centenary member, Christine Loeffler, was approached by Laura Esleeck to be a volunteer in Glad Tidings. Christine agreed and as she found out more about the operation, she felt that her gifts would best be used to create a new web store for Glad Tidings. You may have been in Glad Tidings and someone asked you how you were going to use the gifts given to you by God to serve others, and Christine took the question to heart! We don’t know how many hours she has committed to this project or how much the work would translate to monies saved, but you can believe that we are so thankful for her love of Centenary and Glad Tidings! While Christine continues to stay busy with her consulting firm, she has led us to great ideas in Glad Tidings! • Good things happen when you shop Glad Tidings!
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jjones@centenary-ws. org 336-397-1338
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jbrake@centenary-ws. org 336-397-1334
Creation Care Dinner
Nourishing Body and Soul By Frank Hassell
The 2015, annual Creation Care Dinner was held Tuesday, April 28 at 6 pm. Originally scheduled for the pavilion at The Children’s Home on Reynolda Road, the venue was changed to our own Memorial Auditorium, which was well suited for the occasion, due to the medium range forecast calling for the possibility of cool, wet weather. As luck would have it we had beautiful weather inside and out. The evening began with live music by Martha Bassett, always a pleasure, followed by a meal crafted from mostly local foods and provided by Providence Catering, recently re-branded from Second Harvest Food Bank’s Triad Community Kitchen Catering, the name with which many are familiar. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the tasty and healthful meal consisting of: • Latin Rice Bowl – prepared with Joyce Farms all natural chicken breast or Cannelini Beans as a vegetarian option with Carolina Gold Rice, local kale, corn, peas, peppers, red onion, black olives, queso fresco, and fresh cilantro in a lime vinaigrette. • Fresh Fruit Salad • Jumbo Gourmet Cookie • Shore Farms baby lemongrass hot tea • New Beginnings Blend Coffee • Sweet Teas & Water This year’s theme was Nourishing Body & Soul by being good stewards of the natural world. Rather than having a single dinner speaker we heard from four area leaders from the business and non-profit arenas about how
their organizations address this goal. Our speakers are all inter-connected, have strong ties to Centenary, our members and the community and are united in their adherence to our theme as you will see. Thankfully, caring for God’s creation, is finding its way into many business practices. Being good stewards of the natural world is being accepted as not only the right thing to do it is also the “smart” thing to do. Chef Jeff Bacon talked about his role with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina in operating
Second Harvest Food Bank’s Triad Community Kitchen and Providence Catering. Using the evening’s meal as an example he explained how we could eat well, healthy, local, sustainable and organically. To emphasize collaboration he shared the example of his beekeeping at the Betty and Jim Holmes Food Bank Garden. Ellen Kirby spoke about the growth and activities of the Betty and Jim Holmes Food Bank Garden and its ongoing mission to supply 100% of its harvest to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina which allows the food bank to augment its offerings to their clients with much needed fresh produce.
She also mentioned the continued need for volunteers and community involvement. The addition of 10-raised bed, box gardens was mentioned, the funds for which came in part from Centenary. These allow for more variety, earlier harvesting and more individual volunteering. Marty Tennille spoke about HOPE of Winston-Salem, a mission, inspired by a sermon given here at Centenary, to feed children that are going without food on the weekends by literally going to where they live to provide healthy meals to them and their families. Secondarily, the mission includes an educational component to provide caregivers with training and raw ingredients with which to prepare healthy meals at home. The need is so great for fresh produce that HOPE has partnered with several local, sustainable farms to provide what is required. Again the need for more volunteers was mentioned. Ron Joyce, CEO of Joyce Farms explained how going back to basics and away from large corporate farms would have for everyone what he is experiencing for his company, better tasting and healthier selections. He said it not only makes sense from a taste and health perspective but it is in the long run more profitable. Everyone came away from the evening’s activities sated in body, invigorated in mind and blessed in soul. Now, this is what I call “Food for Thought.” •
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Memorials Centenary Fund In memory of Alan John Southard by Poindexter Lumber Co., Inc., Betty and Jim Brewer, Mike and Susan Starr, Laura and Robert Esleeck, Bill Hege Carpets, Inc., Harold and Peggy Gibson, J. Walter McDowell, Richard Stockton, Russ and Cherry Garmon, H. Vernon and Frankie Winters, Danny and Frances Southerland, Carolina Wood Floors, Inc., Judy and Harry Smith, Mr. and Mrs. James E. Martin, Wilson McGuire Creative, Jane and Sam Ogburn, Jr., Mrs. William Simpson, Daniel Stokes, Martha Deal, Charles and Lynn Young, Ronna and Kevin Adams, Kathy Battle, the Mejerle Family, Ronald and Sharon Shealy, Aubrey and Barbara Smith. In memory of Wendel Hill “Bunky” Stockton by Mr. and Mrs. James E. Martin. In memory of Libby Ann Voss by Wilba Brady. In memory of Nancy Carolyn “Cricket” Woosley by Wilba Brady. In memory of Dorothy “Dot” Eller Thomas Upton by Jane McDowell Williams, Dogwood Garden Club. In memory of Gordon Lee Williams by Frank and Sara Rayburn, Tom and Kathy Carter, Jim and Judy Lipham, Trent and Sondra Mize, Maria Mongelli, Tom and Nancy Cannon. In memory of Mary Tacy Allen Mann by Helen Wheeler, Henry and Dyeann Jordan, Kenneth and Mary Ann Moser. In memory of Joann and David Whelpley by John and Marilyn Bell. In memory of Dan Scott Williamson by Sara Long Spencer. In memory of Eugene Wilson by Douglas and Anne Gunnell, Jackie Tesh, the Chapel Class, Mr. and Mrs. Sam C. Ogburn, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Spach, David Pfaff, Harriet and Roy Hough, Richard Stockton, James and Joyce Gibson, Anne and Manford Haxton, Mr. and Mrs. James A. Cavenaugh, Jr., Bette Glance, Emily Lambeth, Mr. and Mrs. Henry M. Booke, Terri and Randy Welfare, Thorne Worley, John and Elizabeth Monroe, Martha Martinat, Sara Long Spencer, Frank and Sara Rayburn, Helen Barnhardt, Ralph and Gayle Atkinson, Deedee Fenwick, Nancy and Paul Gwyn, Margot Wharton, Jane Watkins, Henry and Dyeann Jordan, Tom and Nancy Cannon, Dr. and Mrs. Clair E. Cox II, Dr. and Mrs. James and Patricia Toole, Alice and Steven Earl and Howard Wilson, Grover and Jane McNair, Mr. and Mrs. Greg Wilson, Ken and Mary Jean Carlson, Mary and David Clanton and Ms. Boyce Burnett, Richard and Alison Barron. In memory of Julian “Jevie” Gibson by Sallie Millis Pryor. In memory of Kathleen Carter Daniel by Mr. and Mrs. Sam C. Ogburn, Sr., the Chapel Class. In memory of Zelma Lorene Hunter Dunnagan by Dean Pate, Betty Lawrence, Mary Causey, Elizabeth Neal, Martha and
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David Rothwell, Agnes Blalock and Susan, Jeff, and Roxanne Becker, the Clay/Chandler Sunday School Class, Sandra and Wayne Shugart. In memory of Bess Richardson by Betty Richardson. In memory of Joan Elizabeth Robinson Bell by The Chapel Class, William Bailey, Lawrence and Joan Yow, Blucher and Frances Taylor, Talmadge and Christy McInnis, Dewey and Betty Chapple. In memory of Rebecca Marlene Shinoda by The Chapel Class. In memory of Clyde Crutchfield, Sr. by Algie Crutchfield. In memory of Sarah “Sally” Brooks Pullen Kelly by David Warren. In memory of Matt Ransom Long, Jr. by Gabriel and Patricia Avram, Kathryn Snavely.
Loaves & Fishes In memory of Eugene Wilson by Mr. and Mrs. William Hathcock. In memory of Matt Ransom Long, Jr. by Jarman and Janie Fleenor Jenkins.
Miscellaneous In memory of Theodore Randall “T.R.” Keith by Theodore and Mary Jane Keith. In memory of Betty McCall Smith by Henry and Rhea Carter. In memory of Eugene Wilson by Henry and Rhea Carter. In memory of Alan John Southard by Mrs. Calder W. Womble.
Music and the Arts In memory of Alan John Southard by Pollyann and Greg Holthusen.
Respite Care In memory of Fred Kear by Deedee Fenwick. In memory of Benjamin Franklin “Frank” Niven, Jr. by Angela Kendrick.
Radio Ministry In memory of Zelma Lorene Hunter Dunnagan by Wilma Rush.
Sacred Music In memory of Richard “Dick” Tenney Bynum, Sr. by Mr. and Mrs. Nick Nichols.
Senior Adult Ministry In memory of Eugene Wilson by Jeffrey Coltrane, Jr.
In Memoriam Alan John Southard March 12, 2015 Gordon L. Williams March 21, 2015 George McCray March 23, 2015 Worth Eddie Masencup March 28, 2015 Zelma (Zel) Dunnagan April 6, 2015 Eugene (Gene) Wilson April 7, 2015 Kathleen Carter Daniel April 9, 2015 Joan Elizabeth Robinson Bell May 8, 2015 Rebecca Leonard Shinoda May 10, 2015 Matthew (Matt) Ransom Long, Jr. May 13, 2015 Margaret Austell May 23, 2015 Gregory (Greg) Lee White May 20, 2015 Helen Goolsby Hairston May 31, 2015 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.
Sympathy Sympathy is extended to Mrs. R. Scott (Bebe) Krewson in the passing of her mother, Beatrice Player Aycock of Farmville, NC, January 11, 1928 – February 7, 2015.
Honoraria Backpack Ministry In honor of Trent and Ashley Maner by Paul and Susan Armstrong.
Centenary Fund In honor of Walker Shelton’s 89th Birthday by Ann and Phil Wood. In honor of Rev. Jonathan Brake by Phyllis Slawter. In honor of Dr. Larry Walker’s 80th birthday by James Sifford. In honor of Paige Morgan-Foy by Betty Hamilton.
Loaves and Fishes In honor of Circle #1 by Mimi and Carl Hein. In honor of Kathy Battle by her Bible Study Class. In honor of Mo Marley by the Covenant Class.
Love Thy Neighbor In honor of Tammy and Eddie Pollock by Kristi Floria. In honor of Candace Mulherin by Iva Stinson.
Missionary Friendship Fund In honor of Loma Hopkins by Margaret Burgess.
Respite Care In honor of Stephanie Leonard by Deedee Fenwick.
Youth Ministry In honor of Edwin Welch IV’s Confirmation by Edwin and Sue Welch. In honor of Edwin Welch IV by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Welch, Sr. In honor of Caitlin Fuller’s Confirmation by Carolyn and William Brawley. In honor of Anne Rogers by Arthur and Sandra Rogers. In honor of Michael Rogers by Arthur and Sandra Rogers. In honor of Tammy Pollock by Spencer Muller and Ann Parke Muller.
Births We celebrate the birth of Weston Maxwell “Max” Herbst son of Kenny & Caroline Herbst, and grandson of Charlie & Honey Herbst on January 1, 2015. We celebrate the birth of William Ransome Lambert son of Trey & Kate Lambert, and grandson of David & Kaye Lambert on April 1, 2015
Baptisms We celebrate the baptism of Vance Barron Hyde son of Adam & Ruth Hyde, and brother of Charlie (5). We celebrate the baptism of Henry David Conrad “Hank” son of DJ & Jennifer Conrad, and grandson of David & Diane Eshelman. We celebrate the baptism of Richard Clark Bonsall son of Rick & Erin Bonsall, and brother of Reece (4) & Sloan (2). We celebrate the baptism of William Carter Ward son of Carter & Melissa Ward, and brother of Caroline (7). We celebrate the baptism of Elizabeth Galloway Keit, daughter of Weston & Brooke Keit. We celebrate the baptisms of Finnian Hartley Jones (2) & Lochlann McDonough Jones (6 months), sons of Will & Honor, and grandsons of Mike and Judy Jones.
On the Cover Welcome Lory Beth. Thanks to Rick Gibbons for the use of the portait! As we enter this new chapter in the history of Centenary, it only seemed fitting to celebrate on the cover. Doug Peninger
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kmay@centenary-ws. org 336-397-1331
Children’s Ministry
We Can Pray Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. –Philippians 1:3-4, The Message By Rev. Kate May Students face a variety of challenges in their lives which can be complicated when they head back to school. Many children go to school hungry and although these children receive benefits when at school, their hunger affects their academic performance. Many children and youth find themselves fearful when they go to school because they face bullies every day. How can someone be successful academically if they are afraid to go to school? Our society values success and this trickles all the way down to our children and youth who feel tremendous pressure to succeed in school. We know the effects that stress can have on our bodies and as adults we are often poor models of how to handle and decrease stress in our lives.
team to host a prayer vigil for our schools on Monday, August 17. On Monday, August 17 the chapel will be set-up for prayer all day, and as usual, everyone is invited to come for a time of silent prayer. However, we are adding a few elements on this day to really lift up our schools. In the chapel we will have index cards with the first
names and ages of the students from Centenary. You will be invited to take a card and pray specifically for that student throughout the school year. Included in the materials that day there will be a child-friendly focus prayer for children who come to pray. There will be interactive prayer stations set-up in the dining room that will be geared towards children who would like to
So what can we do? We can pray. We can pray for the students who are heading back to school, we can pray for the teachers, staff and administrators who are on the front lines of our children’s development, and we can pray that God would be with every child, youth, and adult who walks into a school this fall whether as a learner, an educator, or a support staff person. Something wonderful has been happening at Centenary on Mondays. The prayers of the people are igniting a culture of prayer at Centenary that is making an impact on the lives of our church family and our community. This August children’s ministry is excited to partner with the Prayers of the People
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Kate’s First Day of School
Quick Facts pray but also for any adult who would like to experience different ways to pray for our schools and our students. We will end our day at 5:30 pm with a short worship service in the auditorium during which students will be invited to bring their backpacks for a backpack blessing. This will be followed by a pizza dinner and time of fellowship in the auditorium. My first day of kindergarten my parents gave me a present; it was a locket with a picture of my family on the inside. My mom told me it was so that I could take my family to school and because of that I wouldn’t have to be worried or afraid of anything because my family was there with me. Let’s give our students the gift of prayer this year so that they know their entire church is praying for them and for that reason there is no need to be worried or afraid for they are surrounded by the prayers of the people. •
• 25.7% of children living in Northwest NC are food insecure (more than 1 in every 4 children). Nationwide, 1 in every 5 children lives in food insecure household. http://www.hungernwnc.org/about-hunger/index.html
• Approximately 160,000 teens reportedly skip school every day because they are bullied, and 1 in 10 teens drops out of school due to repeated bullying. http://nobullying.com/bullying-statistics-2014
• More than a quarter of teens (27%) say they experience “extreme stress” during the school year, vs. 13% in the summer. And 34% expect stress to increase in the coming year.
Together, We Pray Dear God, our great teacher,
( h t t p : // w w w . u s a t o d a y . c o m / s t o r y / n e w s / n a tion/2014/02/11/stress-teens-psychological/5266739/
Today I pray for students, May they grow in knowledge and in wisdom. I pray that they might show kindness to all they meet and that you would protect them from any hurts flung in their direction. Today I pray for teachers and all school staff, May they be gentle and guided by your Spirit to be not only teachers, but also mentors to the students, colleagues, and parents they encounter each day. Today I pray for parents, That they would find peace as they send their children off to school knowing that they are in your care. AMEN.
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Healing Hands Knitting Circle
By Judy Jones
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f you walk by the Centenary Parlor between 10:00 and 12:00 noon the first Monday of each month, you may hear the chatter and laughter of happy hearts, or the click, click, click of knitting needles busily making a variety of items. Walk into the room and you are greeted with smiles, invitations to sit and imploring to join this Centenary ministry. Welcome to the Healing Hands Knitting Circle. Don’t jump to any conclusions about those making up this group! If you are expecting quiet grannies you have another thought coming! This is a group of active women who are dedicated to taking the gifts that God has given them and using those gifts to bring joy and comfort to others. Some of the projects in the past have been caps for the men’s prison ministry, items for neo-natal at the hospitals, chemo-caps, caps for military troops, scarves and caps for students at the Winston-Salem Street School, and probably the most well known, prayer shawls. The prayer shawls have become a huge part of our Prayers of the People Prayer Vigils. We ask each person participating in the Prayer Vigils to lay their hand on the prayer shawl and say a blessing for the person for which we are praying. At
the end of the Prayer Vigil, the prayer shawl is given along with cards signed by the participants to the prayer recipient. Every single person who has received a blessed prayer shawl has been touched by this act of kindness and love. Our first Prayer Vigil recipient, Sylvia Shelton received her prayer shawl right after her surgery, and she takes it with her to each chemotherapy treatment. Sylvia says as she wraps the shawl around her, she can still feel the comfort of all the prayers from that day. The Prayer Shawl group started as a spin off from a UMW retreat with St. Paul’s maybe five or six years ago when the prayer shawl ministry discussion was one of the breakout sessions at the retreat. If you think you would enjoy the fellowship with others who love knitting and crocheting please consider being a part of this ministry. More people are needed to make these gifts of love and you would be making a transforming difference in someone else’s life. If interested, please contact Dianne Moore afr_dm@yahoo. com or Judy Jones jjones@centenary-ws.org for more information.
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Creation Care Creation Care Sunday On April 19, we celebrated Creation Care Sunday by giving one of 230 reusable grocery bags to each family (while supplies lasted). Each bag contained information about upcoming events such as the Creation Care Dinner, Christians and Creation small group, sheets about stewarding energy at home, and a 9.5-watt LED light bulb. When these bulbs are used to replace a 60-watt incandescent bulb, Centenary’s families will be saving collectively almost 12,000 watts of power!
Composting continues at Pentecost Festival & Worship in the Park For the last two years, all of our food waste has been composted at Worship in the Park and the Pentecost Festival. We partner with Gallins Farms in Davie County, the only commercial composting company in the Triad, to turn our food scraps, plates, cups, even our cutlery into nutrient rich soil. Some of this compost makes its way to the Betty & Jim Holmes Food Bank Garden to produce nutritious vegetables for food insecure people across our region. There is a message of resurrection somewhere in this whole process of composting. And you will get to be part of it again on September 27th at Tanglewood Park!
Energy savings in the IT Department Centenary’s Director of Information Technologies, John Rogers, has built two computers that use only about 10% of an off-the-shelf PC unit. One of these runs our HVAC system, the other runs the live streaming internet system for worship services. By building our own units, we were able to design only what we needed them to accomplish, thus reducing both the purchase cost and operational cost.
Guard House Finds New Purpose One of the most overlooked aspects of Creation Care is to “reuse” items instead of throwing them away. You may have noticed that the guard house from our 4 ½ Street parking lot disappeared back in the spring. But what you may not know is that it was “repurposed” to be a school bus stop for children to get out of the weather on rainy days. We no longer had need of it, our parking lot looks nicer now, and school children have a place to sit and rest on cold or dreary mornings.
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jbrake@centenary-ws. org 336-397-1334
Youth Kitchen Reduces Waste Whenever you have a meeting of teenagers, you had better bring plenty of food! Our youth kitchen on the 4th floor of the church is a very busy place. However, this year there is much less waste coming from those meals thanks to the purchase of reusable plates and cups that we run through our commercial dishwasher in the main church kitchen. Thanks youth, for being a leader in caring for God’s Creation and the world that you will live in for decades to come.
Creation Care Small Group In April and May, we completed a small group based on the book Green Church by Rebekah Simon-Peter. We discussed the biblical basis for our God-given responsibility to steward God’s creation, looking at ways to repent for humanity’s destructive ways, reclaim our role in being co-creators with the Holy Spirit, reduce our use of and impact on the natural world, reuse as much as we can in our throwaway society, recycling as a spiritual practice, and rejoicing in how God has made us to be an integral part of the whole of creation. Three of our participants have not been part of the Creation Care Ministry activities before this small group. We plan to offer a small group opportunity each Spring.
Monthly Planning Meetings The Creation Care Ministry Team meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month (except July, August, & December) at 6:30pm in Room 222. All are welcome to come to these planning meetings to find out what we are working on next, see how you can be involved, and bring ideas. For more information, see our page on the church website www.centenary-ws.org/?p=2110 or contact Rev. Jonathan Brake, jbrake@centenary-ws.org or 336-397-1334.
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tpollock@centenary-ws. org 336-397-1337
Youth Ministry
Hold On and Trust The Adventure of Childlike Faith”
By Tammy Pollock
L
ast Friday I sat in a gymnasium full of other excited parents as we watched our children go through their 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony. These young people were moving from the safety and innocence of elementary school to more independence and into the adventure of middle school. My Sam was very excited that he was finally leaving elementary school behind and finally heading to middle school. It is hard for me to believe that my baby boy is growing up so quickly. Over the last few weeks, many of you have had the same experiences, moving from one part of life to the next. Whether it was Confirmation, promoting from middle school to high school, getting your driver’s license, or graduating from high school and heading off to college, you are moving from one significant moment in life to the next. It is amazing to me that in our humanity we wish so much of our lives away. Much like Sam, who can’t wait to be in middle school, many of us can’t wait for the next big thing to happen in life, however uncertain that next big moment will be. It can be an exciting time, but it can also be a bit frightening. The father of my dear friend tells this story in his book “Dangerous Wonder,
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Several years ago a woman was spending her holidays on one of the barrier islands in South Carolina. It happened to be the time of year when the loggerhead turtles (huge, threehundred-pound sea turtles) were laying their eggs. One night a very large female dragged herself onto the beach and laid her eggs. The woman did not want to disturb the turtle so she left and came back the next morning, anxious to find where the turtle had laid her eggs. Alarmingly what she found were some tracks heading the wrong direction. The turtle apparently lost her bearings and wandered into the hot sand dunes where death was certain. The woman followed the tracks and soon found the turtle covered with hot dry sand.
Thinking quickly, she covered the turtle with seaweed, poured cool seawater over her, and ran to notify a park ranger. He arrived in a few minutes in a jeep. The rangers flipped the turtle over, wrapped tire chains around her front legs, and hooked the chains to the trailer hitch on the jeep. Then he drove off, dragging her through the sand so fast her mouth filled with sand and her head bent back as if it would break. At the edge of the ocean, he unhooked her and flipped her right side up. She didn’t move. The water began to lap against her body, cleaning off the dry sand. When the waves were much larger, suddenly she began to move, slowly at first, and then when the water was deep enough, she pushed off into the water and disappeared.
Much like that turtle we find ourselves doing exactly what we are supposed to do and then find ourselves in a place that is uncertain or even lost. All that turtle could do was to hold on and trust that the hands around her, were hands that would save her. Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and that He comes not only to give us life, but that we may have life more abundantly. More abundantly! Sometimes the ways of the world, the demands of school, and expectations we put on our lives and the next new thing, rob and steal true life from us. But Jesus comes to give us the abundant life of salvation, nourishment, healing, and so much more. With Christ, our lives can reach a beautiful quality and fulfillment in a way we could never know without the trust of Jesus.
because it will, we stand on the precipice of a brand new adventure and beginning a new school year, new found freedom with a driver’s license, or even a brand new job. Let us not be afraid even if what we hope to be exciting becomes something a little frightening. That God, in his infinite wisdom and deep love for us, sent Jesus to have his hands around us and offer us an abundant life. All we have to do is hold on. •
Our youth ministry here at Centenary is all about helping you know the lifechanging, relentless love of Almighty God. Reminding you frequently and often about how God’s love through Jesus is life-giving. Through prayer, Sabbath, community, accompaniment, discernment, hospitality, and authentic action, our hope is to love our youth on behalf of Jesus in hopes of loving them to Jesus. We know that spending intentional time together allows all of us the opportunity to encounter the living, loving Jesus so that our lives can be transformed into something much more abundant and beautiful. So as summer passes us quickly by,
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