Through Centenary
WINDOWS 3 Lessons & Carols 4 Senior Minister: Spiritual Journey 5 Stewardship/Consecration Sunday 6 Harvest Gifts 7 Celebration of the Saints 8 Introducing: Debbie Pilson 10 Prayers of the People 11 Poinsettias for Advent 12 Church-wide Study: The Journey 13 Advent at Centenary 14 Celebrations
15 Impromptu Christmas Pageant 16 United Methodist Women 17 Angel Tree 18 A Different Perspective: Joseph 20 Big Silence Retreat 22 Memorials & Honoraria 23 Stock Delivery 24 Children’s Ministry 26 Children’s Books for the Journey 28 Senior Adults 29 Glad Tidings 30 Youth Ministry Reflections of the Kingdom
From the Editor It’s a journey. This phrase was given to me from a beloved mentor in Charlotte while I was completing my Master of Photography degree. During that time I was only a few merits away from completion and the pain of digging deeper was becoming very real. Needless to say, she was correct and the journey had a fruitful ending which was actually only the beginning to the next chapter. What does that mean? Well, for me, each step leads to the next one. We learn new things and grow as we become ready to receive the lesson being presented. The journey does not end. I hope you will pause a few moments to reflect upon your journey in several ways as your read through this issue. There is your faith journey, stewardship journey, journey to the manger and your journey to the New Year. May each step you take help you to grow deeper in your faith On the Cover and in your connection to the community Each year, at the around us. Impromptu Christmas I’ll see you at Centenary.
Warmest wishes, Doug Peninger Director of Communications
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Pageant, we see the many faces of the manger. In 2014, this image was captured as “Joseph” held the baby Jesus in his arms. Be sure to read “Joseph” on page 22 from Sarah Howell as we contemplate his journey to the manger.
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lhuffman@centenary-ws. org 336-397-1362
Senior Minister
The Spiritual Journey of Giving God our Gifts By Rev. Lory Beth Huffman
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es, as we approach fall the leaves change colors, every coffee and dessert start having pumpkin flavor added in, I put in the cinnamon air fresheners in the wall sockets, the days get shorter and shorter and yes, the preacher talks about stewardship at some point. I think you will notice with time that I actually will choose to talk about stewardship at other times of the year as well. But fall is the time where we as a church and individual Christians make some important stewardship decisions. I would like to share with you my vision for how we will do this together this year. You have already seen signs and received mailings giving you a heads up about our special Consecration Sunday on November 15th and it’s going to be a glorious day in the life of our church. Here is why I believe that will be true. I believe that stewardship is not a financial decision but is a spiritual decision. It is a spiritual decision just like choosing to read your Bible, to engage in prayer time, or even to choose to give 4 hours of your time to build a Habitat House or some other service project. Spiritual decisions are part of a journey that we travel along especially after we make a commitment to follow Jesus. It is a journey that each of us must travel as we figure out how to model our lives more and more after Jesus.
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God has blessed you and me in so many ways. We live a life that is privileged in comparison to most of the people in our world. I work very hard to not take that for granted. Part of the way I express my gratitude to God is to be generous with giving back to God what is already God’s in the first place. And I believe that the church has a unique ability to make a difference in the lives of people on an ongoing basis. When I add my gifts to your gifts then God has so much to work with in our church family, our community and our world. And when I see children being loved-on and nurtured to know whom Jesus is and even more importantly to try and act like Jesus, I am blessed to be a part of supporting that nurture. When I join the HOPE Truck (Help Our People Eat) and I see the Centenary logo on the side of the truck and know that we helped give money to start that ministry and provide volunteers to staff the ministry, my heart sings for joy! When I receive an email about how meaningful worship was to them and how they experienced God’s voice speaking words of comfort or challenge to them or how the choir/band moved them to tears in the musical offering, I am honored to be a part of supporting our worship ministry so people’s spirit can be oriented to Jesus. When I see men, women and children eating 2nds and 3rds at Love Thy Neighbor and waiting patiently to see a doctor that this church provides for them when they have no other options, I jump for joy at the Kingdom love we are sharing in that moment and I am thankful to support it.
And so in a few weeks, we will celebrate all the ways that God has blessed us and our families by giving back our gifts to God. I hope that you will experience joy as you discern ways to show God your gratefulness. I pray that maybe this year this conversation will not feel like obligation or frustration but opportunity and blessing. God is so good. I can’t wait to express my gratitude!
Grace and Peace, Lory Beth
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We remember...
On Sunday, November 1, Centenary will celebrate All Saints Sunday when we will remember the Saints who have gone before us. May the fire of their devotion light our way. * Margaret Austell Joan Elizabeth Robinson Bell Katherine Hardison Boone Edward Gregory (Greg) Brewer Jeannine Amelia Brunstetter Elizabeth Wellborn Alexander Caudill Dr. Robert (Bob) Wesley Clinard Nancy Secrest Helmbrecht Cockman Reverend Francis (Frank) Beaury Cook Kathleen Carter Daniel Zelma (Zel) Dunnagan Grace Richardson Early Julian (Jevie) Gibson Thomas Jackson (Jack) Greenwood, Sr. Helen Goolsby Hairston Lester Peter Halverson (Les) William Marvin (Bill) Hanes III Betty Jean Jones Holmes Sarah (Sally) Brooks Pullen Kelly Lucille Kurre Matthew (Matt) Ransom Long, Jr. Martha Lowrance Mary Tracy Allen Mann Worth Eddie Masencup George McCray Carlinda Watts Meier (Linda) Robert (Bob) L. Miller Marianna Morgan
*This list is as of October 15, 2015
Benjamin Franklin (Frank) Niven, Jr. Richard Douglas Ramsey (Dick) Norwood E. Robinson Roberta (Dot) Saunders Royal Rebecca Leonard Shinoda H Kenneth Smith Alan John Southard Jean Aleen Steelman Thatcher Lovejoy Townsend, Jr. Dorothy Upton Robert Hines Vaughn Libby Ann Voss Jayne C. Walker James A. (Jim) Wallace June Ward Robert (Bob) Edward Warhover Carolyn Gilliam Warlick David Bullard Whelpley
Gregory (Greg) Lee White Gordon L. Williams Dan Scott Williamson Eugene (Gene) Wilson Josephine Pugh Woestendiek Nancy Carolyn (Cricket) Woosley
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kmay@centenary-ws. org 336-397-1331
Introduction
The Biggest Journey She Ever Took: Introducing Debbie Pilson By Julie Drinkard
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ll of us are on a journey. Sometimes they are small journeys; journeys that end just as quickly as they started. Sometimes they are the biggest journey we will take in our lives. And we may not always know where the end destination is supposed to be. Frankly, sometimes we may not even be able to tell we’re moving. The best news in all of this is: none of us are standing still if we’re listening to God’s call. Someone who has taken one of the biggest journeys of her life, and paved the way for others to follow, is Debbie Pilson, Director of the DAYBreak Respite Care at Centenary. Debbie’s journey to her place here is one that may give you some inspiration to stop the hustle and contemplate if you’re on the right path with your own journey. Debbie spent 20 years in corporate America working in a Human Resources capacity when she felt a lightning bolt call for her to switch paths and work with the elderly—an occupation with which she never had any previous connection. She decided to go back to school and get a master’s degree in Gerontology from UNC-G. She was then hired by senior services in Forsyth County to work in their home care department. She moved on to become a social worker in a nursing home before trying her hand at the North Carolina Baptist Aging Ministry. There, she was the first Regional Director they hired and she worked in central North Carolina to train volunteers in churches who also wanted to work with seniors
in their community.
diseases.
Debbie’s journey seemed to be moving along at a nice, comfortable pace during all of this time until she decided there was a calling for her to accomplish more in this capacity. After a short safari trip in Tanzania, Debbie fell in love with the people there, and it’s where she left her heart.
DAYBreak is open four days a week, from 10am—3pm, and each of those days Debbie is right there alongside the volunteers when caregivers drop off their loved ones for a day of special programs. Her goal is to never do anything for them, but to do things with them; to help them feel safe and engaged in a world that doesn’t always feel familiar anymore.
It became clear to Debbie that her journey was taking turns she hadn’t anticipated. Instead of fighting the changes, she stepped up and embraced them. Last December, Debbie retired, turned her life upside down, and moved to Tanzania for almost six months to continue teaching English to children and to help with a mobile medical clinic. Unfortunately, her volunteer opportunities began to dry up and all she was left with was a call from God to keep moving forward. She arrived back in the U.S. on a Thursday night feeling like her journey had hit a wall. By the next Tuesday, Debbie had a job offer to work for Centenary to run the DAYBreak program. Not only had her journey not stalled, it had actually sped up even faster than she could have imagined. When one door closes, a Respite Care Ministry opens up! What’s so exciting about all of this is that Debbie’s journey to find her true calling may have found some closure, but she’s on a new journey now. A journey to meet the needs of those with Dementia and Alzheimer’s, and a journey to challenge society’s tendency to be afraid of memory impairment
The kind of program Debbie runs is the kind of program any church or community member should consider if they are caring for a loved one with Dementia or Alzheimer’s. Each day is filled with creative activities and also includes exercise, special guests playing music, and so much love and laughter that the room just might burst. Preserving the dignity of those who take prt in this program and helping them feel respected, safe, and loved is really Debbie’s specialty. It’s pretty clear following her journey through God’s word is also her specialty. If you’d like to learn more about enrolling a loved one in DAYBreak Respite Care at Centenary, or if you would like to volunteer to help out, please call 336-397-1345. Volunteers are desperately needed! Participation in DAYBreak costs $40 per day, with a Scholarship Fund available for hardships. Donations made to the church and designated to DAYBreak are truly appreciated and will be a wonderful blessing to other families. •
Debbie Pilson
“I followed my heart...” 9
Centenary’s Chapel is open to everyone for silent prayer and quiet meditation every Monday from 7:30 am until 5:30 pm. Prayers of the People is open to all, so invite friends and those you may feel interested. Please direct any questions to Stacy Holley (397-1359)sholley@ centenary-ws.org.
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Churchwide Advent Study
jbrake@centenary-ws. org 336-397-1334
The Journey By Jonathan L. Brake
This Advent Season we invite you to take a Journey … Together, we will walk through the Holy Land, retracing the steps of those involved in the birth story of our Lord and Savior. We will learn from historians, archaeologists, biblical scholars, theologians, and pastor Adam Hamilton in an effort to discover the real meaning of Christmas. Come put your feet into the footprints of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and others as we join Christ in The Journey.
Rev. Lory Beth Huffman will share a message from the stories of Journey in the Gospels throughout the Advent Season.
Nov. 29 – 1st Sunday of Advent Mary of Nazareth
Dec. 6 – 2nd Sunday of Advent Joseph of Bethlehem
Dec. 13 – 3rd Sunday of Advent Mary Visits Elizabeth
Dec. 20 – 4th Sunday in Advent From Nazareth to Bethlehem
Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve The Manger
Small Groups Sunday School Classes and weekly small groups will study together from the book, The Journey, by Adam Hamilton. You will follow with him onsite in the Holy Land via DVD, discuss the impact of the Bible passage, and discover how the truth of these events still impacts our life of faith today. Registration for a group can be found online at: www.centenary-ws.org/index.php/journey
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Celebrations
Welcome
New Members
Douglas and Betsy Brown Bailey, Logan and Keegan
Ella Lively
Kelly Moose
We give thanks for all that God has already given you and we welcome you in Christian love.
Thank you Centenary’s Glad Tidings Books and Gifts for sponsoring our annual fund raiser luncheon for the third time! We were able to share our mission with over 300 guests, many of whom had never heard of our WS Street School. Please come and visit and see your support in action. If you would like to donate please go to www.wsstreetschool.com.
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Be an Angel O
ur journey through the Christian year begins with the seasons of Advent and Christmas. During these seasons we are all reminded of our own child-like wonder that makes each of these seasons so precious. This time of remembering also makes our hearts incredibly generous and we look for opportunities to enhance the journeys of others so that they might be as joyful as we are. This year as you feel that child-like wonder begin to creep into your spirit, take a moment to stop by the second floor gallery and make the journey of a child at Christmas incredibly joy-filled by adopting
one of our angels. Our angels have tough journeys through life and the generosity of our church family is a bright spot along the way. These angels are from the Hispanic congregations of El Aposento Alto Church, Marvin United Methodist Church, and the Winston Salem Street School. The angel trees will go up on November 1 and I encourage you to adopt an angel quickly because we have an extremely generous congregation and these angels will be gone before you know it! All gifts must be returned by Sunday, December 6. When you adopt your angel make sure to grab a red bag to return
your gifts in and sign your name in our book so that we can follow-up with folks as needed. These things help us to organize the abundance of gifts we have as we have the opportunity to deliver to these amazing kids. Would you like to participate but can’t or don’t want to go shopping? Contact Kate May (336397-1331/kmay@centenary-ws. org) with questions about other opportunities. Also contact Kate if you would be interested in helping to organize and deliver the gifts. This is an amazing way to share the love of God at Christmas!
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A Different Perspective
Joseph By Rev. Sarah Howell
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he cover art for this edition of Windows depicts Joseph holding the baby Jesus. It’s not the traditional image of mother and child that we usually see around Christmas, but it’s an important image nonetheless. Joseph was there every step of the way on the journey to Bethlehem, and though he did not carry the child as Mary did, though Jesus was not even biologically his, he was to be the provider and caretaker for the holy family. Imagine what a tall order this was. Joseph had just gotten engaged and was surely excited about the life that he and Mary would be sharing. And suddenly, he learns that she is pregnant. He knows the child is not his. What was he supposed to think? And then an angel comes in a dream and tells him this child is born of the Holy Spirit, that he is to marry this woman and care for this child as his own—and not just as his own, but as the very Son of God. It is, quite literally, unbelievable. But Joseph obeys; Joseph perseveres. Despite whatever misgivings he might have, despite the confusion that must have clouded his mind in these days that should have been new and exciting, he stays the course; he takes the next step on
showell@centenary-ws. org 336-397-1348
the journey. Just look at that image of Joseph and Jesus. In a way, it echoes the typical icon of Madonna and child— Joseph’s loving gaze on the tiny infant in his arms, the warmth and trust and tender care that exists between a parent and child being exchanged without a word. It is at once paternal and maternal, though in reality, Joseph is neither father nor mother to the baby he holds. I can only imagine the floods of emotions that Joseph must have felt when he first held the baby Jesus. Surely there were still remnants of the betrayal and hurt he must have felt when he first learned Mary was pregnant, presumably by another man. Did that mistrust seep in as he gazed at the child? Did he think to himself that it was ridiculous to believe this baby came of only woman and God, that something so obviously flesh and bone might have come from Spirit instead?
Soon, Joseph would grow more accustomed to holding Jesus, to seeing him, to watching him grow. It would become more routine to pick him up, to bathe him, to wrap him in bands of cloth. Yet I imagine there were moments when he felt as if he were holding the baby for the first time all over again, when the enormity of his role and task hit him like a bolt of lightning. May it be so for each of us, that we might experience the wonder and amazement of looking on the infant Christ as if we were seeing him for the very first time. May the joy and mystery of that experience lift us to worship and praise, that even if our minds linger in confusion and doubt, we might know deeply that we are in the presence of God incarnate. •
And yet, surely he knew deep down that what was contained in those swaddling clothes was sacred. Imagine holding God incarnate as an infant in your arms. The weight and lightness must have hit him at once, the heaviness of carrying full divinity and humanity counterbalanced by the sense that at any moment this child might take flight on angels’ wings. Anyone who has held a newborn can attest to the profound connection and yet the deep mystery we encounter when we look on a brand new human. How much deeper was the mystery Joseph must have experienced when he looked on the newborn Christ.
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jbrake@centenary-ws. org 336-397-1334
Retreat
Journey Inward The Big Silence
January 17-20, 2016 St. Francis Spring Prayer Center • Stoneville, NC
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e are all on a spiritual journey in this life, but so much of our journey is spent outside of ourselves. How often do you get away from the distractions of this world to find a holy place within? When was the last time you just hung out with God with no expectations whatsoever? Maybe it’s time for you to journey inward at The Big Silence Retreat. Start the new year with a different kind of experience. Through Henri Nouwen’s guidance in The Way of the Heart, this retreat clears before us a spiritual path consisting of three stepping stones: Solitude (learning not to be alone but to be alone with God); Silence (the discipline by which the inner fire of God is tended and kept alive); and Prayer (standing in the presence of God with the mind in the heart).
• Explore optional opportunities to connect with God in the spaciousness of silence: walking the labyrinth; soaking in the beauty of nature; the sacred art of mandalas; one-on-one and/or small group processing; iconic images; and praying the Divine Hours in community—Morning, Midday, Vespers (evening), and Compline (before bed). • Receive rich and empowering resources for your continued journey into the heart of Christ.
Retreat Details Place: St. Francis Springs Prayer Center, Stoneville, NC (www. stfrancissprings.com) When: Arrive Sunday, January 17
We will . . .
between 3:00 and 3:30 pm. Retreat begins at 4:00 p.m. and concludes Wednesday, January 20 at 2:30 pm
• Experience community and conversation on Sunday as we prepare our hearts and minds to enter into The Big Silence.
Leaders: Rev. Jonathan Brake and Rev.
• Nurture trust as we seek to move/ stumble/fumble our way into the heart of Christ.
Cost: $500 by December 15, 2015
• Deepen our contemplative grounding through brief daily teachings/readings to help break through obstacles and illuminate The Way of the Heart. • Expand our capacity to listen to God through prayer, wisdom, and silence.
Dianne Lawhorn, Directors of Spiritual Formation
$525 after December 15, 2015 (Cost includes tuition, private room, and meals. Sixteen single rooms available.)
Registration: Friday, January 8, 2016. Early registration is HIGHLY suggested. This retreat is often sold out a month prior to the deadline.
Printed registration forms are available in the information stations around the church building or visit the Centenary website. For more information, contact Rev. Jonathan Brake for more information, jbrake@centenary-ws.org / 336-3971334.
Prepare: please read The Way of the Heart and/or Out of Solitude and watch Finding Silence with Fr Christopher Jamison at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=eDEYaLfhSkQ.
Former Participants Said: • “Here was another step along life’s journey toward knowing God and finding my own place and purpose in the kingdom of God here on earth.” • “This was a blessed time apart to experience God’s presence: a sacred space simply to be with God in rest and peace, to listen for God’s voice and know God is with me.” • “In the first 24 hours, I had profound realization of my own sin and brokenness. But in the second 24 hours in solitude and silence, I began to hear God’s voice of love, calling me beloved. My spirit gained a sense of belonging and wholeness that I had not felt in a long time.”
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Honoraria
Memorials Betty and Jim Holmes Garden
Loaves & Fishes
Centenary Fund
In memory of Jim and Betty Holmes by Betsy Ivey Sawyer.
In memory of Edward Norwood Robinson by Jarman and Janie Fleenor Jenkins.
Centenary Fund
Music and the Arts Fund
In honor of Lester and Maxine Halverson’s 68th Wedding Anniversary by Frank and Becky Foster. In honor of Dr. Travis Howell by Paul and Phyllis Lemly.
In memory of Edward Norwood Robinson by WR Loftis, Jr., Ray Blevins, E. Marie Davis, Betty and Jim Brewer, Richard Stockton, Ed and Maria Trulington, Paul Fulton, Charles Shelton, R. Edward Shelton, Stephen Gault, Mr. and Mrs. Russell Robinson, II, Mr. and Mrs. Sam C. Ogburn, Sr., Elizabeth Ogburn, Michael Swinson, and Mary Ogburn Swinson, Suzan Elster, Allan and Bill Womble, J. Walter McDowell, Sarah Ferrell Sloan, Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Vaughn, George Cleland, Martha Martinat, Dyeann and Henry Jordan, Aurelia Gray Eller, Rev. and Mrs. Craig Ford, Bernhardt Furniture Company, Bethany C. Hagan, Betty Alexander, Mary Ann Ratcliff, David and Caroline Gray DenHerder, Ben and Marty Tennille, Robert Esleeck, Charles and Elizabeth Duckett, Mr. and Mrs. F. Nelson Tomlinson, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. F. Borden Hanes, Jr., John Loughridge, Jr., Ralph and Gayle Atkinson, Tom and Nancy Cannon, the Edwin Welch Family, Phil Phillips, Jane and Buddy Norwood, Gwynne and Dan Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. William Maready, Thomas Gray, Kay D. Snavely, Dr. and Mrs. Clay Williams, Allison McCall, Aurelia Cathey, Glenda Cook, Marianne Mebane, Kathryn and Bobby Edwards, Fowler and John Ruffin, James A. Gray, III, Mr. and Mrs. Henry M. Booke, Joan and Dave Stevenson, Jane Gray, Tom and Megan Lawson, Charles and Lynn Young, Deedee Fenwick, Brendle CPA, PA, Comerford and Britt, LLP, Chapel Class, Karen Wilson and Roger Grippe, Steve and Buffy Fussell, Alex Whaling, Dr. William McCall, Jr., Anne Faircloth, Chip and Carol Holden, Norman Smith, W. Andrew and Anne Copenhaver, Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Perry, Jr. In memory of William Marvin Hanes, III by Dyeann and Henry Jordan, J. Walter McDowell, Elizabeth Sloan. In memory of Eugene Wilson by Mrs. J. Robert Elster. In memory of Carolyn Gilliam Warlick by Mrs. C.N. Steele, Cynthia Lackey, Mary Martin, Phyllis Hardin, the Nicks family. In memory of Alan John Southard by Steve and Sandy Jones. In memory of Ruth Henry Patterson McLelland by Jay and Becky Perkinson. In memory of Richard D. Ramsey by Harry and Judy Smith. In memory of Leslie Stewart Hobbs, Sr. by Ralph and Gayle Atkinson.
In memory of Carolyn Gilliam Warlick by Margaret Felts.
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Respite Care In memory of Shasta Monroe Bryant by Deedee Fenwick. In memory of Carlinda “Linda” Watts Meier by Dewey and Betty Chapple.
Radio Ministry In memory of Zelma Lorene Hunter Dunnagan by Ellen Kirby and Richard McGavern.
Sacred Music Program In memory of Sara Fountain Lore by Betty Ann Lore. In memory of Carolyn Gilliam Warlick by Rev. and Mrs. Craig Ford.
Children’s Ministry To the glory of God and in honor of Jane Welch by Edwin and Sue Welch, Rob and Elizabeth Welch.
Births We celebrate the birth of Weston Maxwell “Max” Herbst son of Kenny & Caroline Herbst, and grandson of Charlie & Honey McAnally on January 1st, 2015
Baptisms
Youth Ministry
We celebrate the baptism of Helen Elizabeth Ransom daughter of Matt & Lisa Ransom, and sister to Katherine (9).
In memory of Alan John Southard by Home Builders Association of Winston-Salem Professional Women in Building.
We celebrate the baptism of Katherine Lynn Ransom daughter of Matt & Lisa Ransom, and sister to Helen (11). We celebrate the baptism of William Ransome Lambert, son of Trey & Kate Lambert, and grandson of David & Kaye Lambert. We celebrate the baptism of Christopher Roan Frye, son of Danny & Lauren Frye, and brother of Matthew (23 months). We celebrate the baptism of Graham English Suttle, son of Mark & Wesley Suttle, and brother of Ward (7), Nan (7), & Meyer (3). We celebrate the baptism of Miguel Eduardo Jerome Londono, son of Miguel & Nicole, and brother of Barbara Isabella Londono (4).
Stock Delivery Instructions Making a gift of securities to Centenary United Methodist Church is another way to contribute to the church. Such a gift offers tax savings to most donors. Electronic transfer is the most common method of delivering a gift of securities to Centenary. To deliver your gift of securities electronically, please follow these simple instructions. (1) Instruct your broker that your DTC-eligible securities are to be transferred electronically to: Centenary United Methodist Church Federal Tax ID # 56-0552783 (2) Provide Centenary or instruct your broker to provide Centenary with:
1. a description (name of stock) and the amount of your securities to be transferred 2. the name of brokerage firm 3. the name of the fund to be credited or the purpose of the gift
(3) Provide your broker with the list of brokerage firms listed below that Centenary has accounts with: Charles Schwab Account # 2184 0742 DTC # 0164 Phone #: 1-800-435-4000 Commission: Less than $10 per transaction
Scottrade Account # 20746083 DTC # 0705 Phone #: (336) 794-0044 Commission: Less than $10 per transaction
Stephens, Inc. Account # 160980382 DTC # 0419 Phone # (336) 251-0423 Commission: $50 per transaction
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kristy Eaton (397-1341)/keaton@centenary-ws.org.Always be sure to notify Centenary when you authorize an electronic transfer of securities.
Security Alert In our ever changing world, one primary goal of the clergy and staff at Centenary is to assure our members and guests that the church building is a secure and safe place to worship and learn. With this care and concern at the forefront of ongoing ministry, a new entry system has been installed at the right side of the 4 1/2 Street entrance. During the business week and when programming levels are less active, please access this easy-to-use method and you will be “buzzed in.� As always,we welcome your feedback and inclusion in the conversation to maintain a secure campus.
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kmay@centenary-ws. org 336-397-1331
Children’s Ministry
The Journey through
Children’s Ministry By Rev. Kate May
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s a child makes their way through children’s ministry their journey is highlighted by a variety of milestones. These milestones serve as rites of passage as well as acknowledgements of their growth and development physically, relationally, emotionally, and in their faith.
Welcome Baby As a family anticipates the birth of their child they are paired with one of our Welcome Baby partners who is their link to the church for prayer needs and questions. Following the baby’s birth this partner brings a meal to the family along with gifts for the new baby and any siblings.
Baptism When a family is ready to have their child baptized they attend baptism orientation and then schedule the baptism at any of our five worship services. As a memento of the baptism the family receives a certificate and baptism candle. Through this sacrament we welcome these children into our church family and promise to nurture them in their life and faith.
Kindergarten Bibles Starting school is a huge milestone in the life of any child. To recognize this
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important event and to acknowledge the development that this also signals in the child’s faith, the church gifts these children with a Bible storybook.
Third Grade Bibles As our children grow their inquisitive minds ask more and more questions about everything including questions of faith. Third grade is a moment where the ability to reason and the ability to read come together to make these children ripe for a whole new level of Bible study and learning. For this reason we give these children a new Bible to acknowledge their continued growth and development.
Created by God Our children’s development is incredibly multifaceted. One of the ways we acknowledge this is by offering a Created by God weekend for fourth and fifth graders each year when they, along with their parents, have the opportunity to learn about the way their bodies were created by God, about the ways those bodies are growing and maturing, as well as how to use those bodies and to be in relationship with others in ways that are pleasing to God. The journey through children’s ministry is one that is filled with celebrations and
we are grateful to have the opportunity to celebrate with and support our children and their families. •
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Great Children’s Books for the Journey By Rev. Kate May Children’s Ministry is partnering with Glad Tidings again this year to bring some great children’s Christmas stories into your family’s celebration. At our welcome meeting on Promotion Sunday I expected groans when I told the group I needed them to think about Christmas, but instead when I told them I needed suggestions of Christmas books for families I was overwhelmed with great book suggestions that came with many smiles as the joy of Christmas was evident even at the end of August! Come by Glad Tidings and pick up one or all of these books to share with your family this holiday season!
Mortimer’s Christmas Manger By Karma Wilson Mortimer the Mouse moves into the nativity in this sweet story for the whole family. As Mortimer hears the Christmas story he realizes how special his new home really is.
•
Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree By Robert Barry What happens when Mr. Willowby’s Christmas tree arrives and it is too tall? It gets shared with a forest full of animals who all get to experience the joy of Christmas. Read this one by your own Christmas tree!
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The Crippled Lamb By Max Lucado Join Joshua the Lamb as he realizes that although his legs don’t all work the way he’d like them to God still has an amazing plan for his life. A great reminder to all of us of God’s plans for each of our lives.
The Best Christmas Pageant By Barbara Robinson This small chapter book tells the story of the Herdmans, the last kids that anyone expect to show up in Sunday School, and the way they take over the Christmas Pageant. What no one is prepared for is the way these unexpected children remind everyone of the true meaning of Christmas. A great read-aloud book to share through the whole season!
The Three Wise Guys By Mike Thaler
If you love puns and a little sarcasm then this fun re-telling of the Christmas story through the eyes of a young man chosen to be one of the “three wise guys� in the church Christmas pageant is for you! Kids of all ages as well as adults will enjoy the humor so this is one not to be missed.
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cford@centenary-ws. org 336-397-1353
Senior Adults
Every Journey Leads to the Manger approaching retirement. It will be an honor to have her share with us many of her experiences as a news anchor.
By Rev. R. Craig Ford
I
am honored and humbled to work with senior adults of Centenary United Methodist Church. We have had a wonderful year and look forward to 2016, confident that it will be a meaningful year as well. In the month of January, we will have the privilege of having the new president of Salem College, D.E. Lorraine Sterritt, Ph. D., as our guest speaker for our Senior Adult Luncheon. Dr. Sterritt was officially installed as the president of Salem College during this past year. Prior to becoming President of Salem College, she served on the faculty of Harvard University. We welcome Dr. Sterritt to Centenary and look forward to learning more about the present and future plans of Salem College. In February, we will be honored to have Wanda Starke, of WXII, as our speaker for the Senior Adult Luncheon. Many have enjoyed watching Wanda as she has delivered the news daily. I understand that Wanda is
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For the program in March, we will be blessed with members of a Salem College chorus. Dr. Barbara Lister-Sink, a member of Centenary, is Music Department Chair, and she, along with the director of the chorus, will bring a chorus to Centenary and provide a concert of Irish Music. You will recall that last year, we had the honor of hearing three Centenary tenors: Craig Collins, Frank Zackery and Jeff Magg sing selections of Irish music. After so many expressions of enjoyment of the tenors’ program, we thought our seniors would enjoy another program of Irish music. We are pleased that the chorus from Salem will be with us. In the month of April, the Senior Adults will enjoy a program of favorite selections by Jason McKinney, a member of the Chancel Choir. Jason promised me that “Old Man River” will be one of the selections. Another selection will be “The Holy City.” On different occasions, I have heard Jason sing those songs and I know you will not want to miss the program he presents. Several years ago, Jule Spach wrote a book titled Every Road Leads Home. Last year, I was fortunate to
borrow the book and read it. The book is an account of the life of Jule and his family and the great work he and Mrs. Spach did in Brazil as missionaries for the Presbyterian Church. He also wrote about the tremendous responsibilities he undertook when he returned to the United States, serving as the first president of Arbor Acres. If you have not had the privilege of reading the book that Jule wrote, I hope that you will find that opportunity. I love the name of the book, Every Road Leads Home. As I think of the Advent Season, we could almost say something similar: every journey leads to the manger. Indeed, our journey should lead us to the manger because, here alone do the forces that divide and hurt find the one that unites and heals. At the manger, the rich and the poor, the humble and the proud, the black and the white realize that, as we look into the face of the Christ Child, we look at one who has the greatest possibility of bringing love and peace to our troubled world. May God Be Close to You.
November 1 | Support our local ministries with Love Came Down at Christmas November 8 | Nativities and Advent Calendars November 15 | Nancy O’s Pepper Jelly and Introducing NEW Mixes Tasting November 22 | Holiday Open House-- Last Day for See’s Orders November 29 | Geo Central --Just for Kids December 6 | Celebrate Children’s Ministry Christmas Book Recommendations. See’s Delivery begins December 13 | Great Books Signings December 20 | How many Days till Christmas? December 27 | End of the year 50% discount sale.
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tpollock@centenary-ws. org 336-397-1337
Youth Ministry
Journey – noun
1. A traveling from one place to another, usually taking a rather long time; trip 2. A distance, course, or area traveled or suitable for traveling 3. Passage or progress from one stage to another
“This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt, and holding you in great contempt, you in your great mercy, didn’t abandon them in the wilderness. The column of cloud continued to guide them on their journey during the day, and the column of lightening lit their path during the night.” - Nehemiah 9: 18-19
By Tammy Pollock
L
ast weekend I journeyed back to Valparaiso, Indiana, to assist in the funeral of a dear friend of mine. Jeanne was diagnosed with cancer last Christmas and died just a few weeks ago on August 29th. Over the years, Jeanne and her husband, Dave, have become dear friends of mine. I met them when their daughter, Laura, joined Confirmation during her 7th grade year of middle school. Laura was like most middle schoolers, trying to figure out life and living an awkward balance of childlike faith and desperately longing for a deeper understanding of how her faith really changed the way she lived her life. Laura’s faith journey took her to amazing places of questions and reassurances. It challenged her, caused her to respond and react and, at times, retreat. However, the most profound thing that Laura’s faith did for her was help her discover who God had created her to be. By the time Laura was a senior in high school, Laura knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was made to be a missionary. Unfortunately, two weeks into her senior year of high school, while out for a morning run, she was hit by a car and
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died, on August 29th, 2003. Her journey of faith in this life very quickly became the eternity she believed in so deeply. In the midst of her death, people who had never heard about Jesus or had a relationship with God came to know Him because of the story of Laura’s life. Through prayer vigils, her visitation, and funeral, people heard about Laura’s faith and came to believe as well. It was a beautiful thing. Laura was the missionary she was made to be, even in her death. I tell you that story because in just a few short months we will begin the journey of Confirmation again here at Centenary. For Laura, Confirmation was the most important faith-formational time in her life. I know that is true of so many people as well. Confirmation, by definition, is faith-formation. Forming one’s faith is an ongoing journey throughout life… beginning with baptism. Our hope here at Centenary United Methodist Church is that through our Confirmation journey you will be given the opportunity, tools, support, and inspiration you will need to build your faith on a firm foundation. (“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who
builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.” Matthew 7:24-25) Our Confirmation journey is for those youth that are in the 7th grade and will begin on January 6th, 2016. We will meet each Wednesday night from 6:00pm-7:30pm to learn about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the spiritual life, and how they form us and cause us to change the way we live our lives. Each Confirmand has a Shepherd (an adult spiritual guide from our church) that will walk beside you in faith. These Shepherds become so much more than just another person in your life; they become a spiritual friend, a person who promises to journey through life. There will be several field trips and two retreats to help us along this journey of faith as well. Our prayer is that through these experiences, you will come to encounter Jesus in a very real way and that you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt what you were made to be and that is a child of God. Although our Confirmation is just five short months, the journey of faith will continue your whole life long. There
will be moments on your journey that God seems palpable and tangible and there will be times in life where you will feel uncertain about where God could possibly be. People all throughout scripture had the same experiences, thoughts and feelings, and were reminded, just as we are, that God is with us and will not abandon us. The Confirmation journey will give you tools and resources, prayers, companions to join you, and knowledge so that as you wander through your faith you will know that God is certainly with you
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