OUR CLERGY AND STAFF Reverend Lory Beth Huffman, Senior Minister lhuffman@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1362 Reverend Jonathan L. Brake, Associate Minister jbrake@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1334 Reverend R. Craig Ford, Associate Minister cford@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1353 Dr. Robert E. Frazier, Director of Music and the Arts rfrazier@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1339 Reverend Sarah S. Howell, Associate Minister showell@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1348 Reverend Kate May, Associate Minister with Children kmay@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1331 Reverend Jeremy Pegram, Assoc. Minister of Evangelism & Engagement jpegram@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1361 Tamara M. Pollock, Director of Youth Ministries tpollock@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1337 Mary Ann Wexler, Executive Director mwexler@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1346 Susan Bates, Organist and Music Associate sbates@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1340 Martha Bassett, Alternative Music Leader mbassett@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1343 Kristy Eaton, Contributions keaton@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1341 Stacy Holley, Exec. Assistant to Senior Minister sholley@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1359 John Markle, Director of Operations jmarkle@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1347 Doug Peninger, Director of Communications dpeninger@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1368
OUR PAGES Table of Contents/Clergy and Staff ~~~~~~~~~~~ 2 Tony Abbott Lecture Series ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 From the Editor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4 2017 Women’s Retreat ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 Ministry Spotlight: Prayer Shawls ~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6 Page Eight: Vision ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8 Art Exhibit for January ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10 Pathway to Discipleship ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Meals on Wheels ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Starting Point/New Member Spotlight ~~~~~~~~ Stop Hunger Now ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Community: Who Is My Neighbor? ~~~~~~~~~~ Creation Care ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ January Sermon Series ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ New Year’s Worship ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Haven ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ God Moment ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UMW/Stephen Ministry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Glad Tidings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Loving God and Loving Neighbor ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Calendar ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Memorials ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Honoraria/New Members ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Closing Thoughts from Senior Minister~~~~~~~ Back Cover: Run for God ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
11 12 14 15 16 18 20 21 22 24 25 26 28 30 32 33 34 36
ON THE COVER The “Growth and Majesty” window is at the 5th street entance to the church. Scenes in the window include the nativity and the Last Supper. Also featured are eleven of the disciples at the Last Supper. Featured on the cover is the Christ, after the resurrection, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. He wears a kingly crown, and in his hand the cross now appears as a scepter, and the orb is topped with a cross. The orb is symbolic of kingly power and justice, and the scepter is the emblem of authority. The red of His robe and the seraphs’ robes symbolized blood, fire, zeal and the power and ministry of the Church.
Debbie Pilson, Director of DAYBreak/Respite Care dpilson@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1345 John Rogers, Director of Information Technology jrogers@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1356 Deana Vickers, Congregational Care Coordinator dvickers@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1352 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 | 2 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
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From the Editor
W
elcome to the January/ February Through Centenary Windows. As you can see, we’ve been busy making some changes and updating our look. The communications team has spent untold hours and meetings to refresh our magazine not only cosmetically, with new font structure and design concepts, but with fresh ideas on content and direction. I hope you will enjoy the new look as you read through and get to know your magazine. Of course, we will hear from familiar contributors, but, we will also see some new names. We are introducing a new series based upon the new Vision for Centenary. In this issue, Sarah Howell will introduce a series we will “Loving God and Loving Neighbor.” In this issue, she asks “Who is my neighbor?” I’ll leave it to her to explain the concept. As we journey together over the next several months, we will be introducing different pieces of the newly approved Vision and Core Values for Centenary. Our goal will be to take one concept per issue and examine it closely. We will see and learn how it relates to various areas of ministry as well as the community around our downtown location and the communities where we live. For this issue, we are going to be
begin their work. I know they would treasure your prayers and reflections as you discover what the words on the Vision mean to you.
looking closely at what we will be using as our main “tag line,” “Loving God and Loving Neighbor.” You will see this phrase everywhere. It will be on banners in the parking lots, it will be on silicone wrist bands we hope you will wear. You will see it on the all-new website and the walls of The Hub. This phrase is the closing words to our overall vision statement. I hope you take it to heart, feel it in your heart, and make it yours. When that happens and you allow it to reach you on a spiritual level, it will come alive and take root. From there, the possibilities are endless. With that, I invite you to read and get to know the Vision and Core Values, found on Page 8. What in the world is Page 8? This is our all-new featured article for each issue. I also ask you to pray for the numerous ministries and church leaders as they discover new and exciting ways to live into this new Vision. On February 4, 2017, church leaders will have a retreat to
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One major change is that the article from the Senior Minster has been shifted to the final article. This is intentional and strategic as we want it to be a way for you, the reader, to hear a closing word of inspiration and vision from Lory Beth. 2017 is going to be an exciting year at Centenary. I hope you will make plans to be an active participant through your prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. I’ll see you at Centenary. ¢
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| ministry spotlight |
Prayer Shawl Ministry JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 | 6 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
C Jeremy Pegram
jpegram@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1361
ome to the Parlor at Centenary on the first Monday of each month at 10:00 am and you will find a group of committed folks whose hands are busy crafting beautiful articles with tender love. The namesake of the Prayer Shawl Ministry does not adequately convey the blessings of this ministry and the lives it touches. Did you know this group knits caps for persons in prison? They also knit caps and scarves for our neighbors and friends who attend the Love Thy Neighbor luncheons. Even babies and their parents are blessed by this ministry as they knit caps for premature infants born in Winston-Salem. This ministry especially blesses the parents of still born babies with caps provided for burial. This group also provides caps to persons undergoing chemotherapy at our nearby hospitals, and lap robes for men who are in nursing homes or rehabilitation centers. And, yes, they do knit prayer shawls that are sent all over the region to persons who are ill or in crisis.
Despite all the knitting that is done by this group of knitters, Dianne Moore, the coordinator of this ministry says, “the fellowship and the prayer is the most important aspect, much more than the material being produced”. The Prayer Shawl Ministry is open to men and women who desire to knit in a group. All ages and skill levels are welcome! Knitters are free to knit anything they enjoy knitting. If it is within you to bless others with something you’ve made with your own hands, consider joining this ministry’s effort that blesses many in our community. To learn more you may contact Dianne Moore at (336) 768-2182 or by email at dgmoore215@gmail.com. May the hands that knit shawls, scarves, caps and dolls with love, be a reminder to our call to love God and to love our neighbor. ¢
Recently, this group has begun work on a special project for Haiti by making Duduza Dolls. Duduza is Swahili for comfort, and these dolls are knitted with brightly colored yarn and given away as a symbol of the comfort God offers to all persons. The Prayer Shawl ministry has set a goal to knit at least 40 dolls to send to Haiti with Centenary’s medical mission team in February.
Duduza Doll
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8 | feature |
Page Eight
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Doug Peninger
dpeninger@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1334
ack in the summer of 1997, I was in the middle of a production of “The King and I” with the Kernersville Little Theater. I was playing the role of Lun Tha, opposite April Hill, who was playing Tuptim. During the course of rehearsals, she suggested that I journey over to Centenary to meet David Pegg and audition to be a soloist/section leader in the Chancel Choir at Centenary. With great excitement, I made the call to David and went for the audition. From 1997 until 2012, I had the great pleasure of serving in that role. Over the many years, I had the great privilege of sharing the message through song and was always greeted by a congregation who welcomed and supported me. My favorite song I ever sang was on the fourth Sunday of Advent. I sang “Some Children See Him” from the floor of the nave with David Pegg playing the piano. The message of that song resonates for me as we look to what the church will be in the future.
When I was invited to become a member of the Vision team at Centenary, I knew this would require a lot of work and great determination. It would also require a lot of prayer and listening to the voices of the other team members and of the Holy Spirit.
We began our work in January 2016. We read numerous books on church growth and advancement. We visited a vast number of churches, both local and throughout the state, to understand best practices for worship and hospitality. We studied demographic data of the population surrounding Centenary, not only in downtown, but throughout the county. We took a bus tour and walking tour of the downtown area to better understand our immediate surrounding. Perhaps most importantly, we studied the book of Acts to understand how the early church came into existence and thrived as a community of faith.
Flash forward to September. The time had come to put words on paper. We knew the statement had to be broad enough to encompass the multi-faceted ministries of Centenary but we also knew it had to challenge us to become more than we currently are. Members of the team presented several statements and the conversations over selection of words and phrases began. Over several weeks, we changed sentences and prayed over clarity of interpretation. Finally, we were ready to present to church council for approval and then to the congregation for vetting. Once those steps were complete, the vision team gathered to finalize the statement and core values you see on the next page. Centenary has a great history, but it also has a tremendous future. A future we cannot even fathom because it is God’s plan. Where will God lead us? What course will be set for our church? The vision statement and core values are tools to help us on that journey as we allow the Holy Spirit to move among our congregation to do the work of the Kingdom. Each of us comes from a different background and faith narrative. Some of us came into the United Methodist church from another denomination because the message of the church resonated in our hearts. What matters is that we are together as a strong, Christian community of faith. As the song says, “The children in each different place will see the baby Jesus’ face, like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace, and filled with holy light.” May each of us bring our many and varied gifts and backgrounds to the Vision of Centenary. For therein, we will be the vibrant community, loving God and loving neighbor. ¢
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VISION The Vision of Centenary United Methodist Church: Striving to be a vibrant Christian community, loving God and loving neighbor downtown and throughout the region.
:
The Core Values of Centenary United Methodist Church: We celebrate and prayerfully embody our core values to fulfill God’s vision for our church and God’s Kingdom Intentional Hospitality- We welcome all God’s people, respect differences and nurture faith with love and grace, one community in Christ.
Excellent Worship- We worship by gathering and engaging our community of faith to glorify God in a variety of ways through inspirational preaching, music for all generations, and opportunities for life-changing holy encounters.
Creative Music and the Arts – We celebrate music as an integral part of worship and also believe that, combined with varied artistic expressions, Music and the Arts is an invitational way to share the Word of God with others.
Engaging Discipleship- We grow disciples through Biblical, intergenerational and
age-specific spiritual formation that helps us become more like Jesus. We acknowledge that discipleship for children and youth is critical both now and for the future of the Church.
Nurturing Fellowship – We enjoy being together, celebrating life in community, and forming life-long relationships.
Compassionate Service- We care for our congregation, the downtown community, Winston-Salem and beyond in ways that offer hope and transform lives.
Exceptional Generosity- We joyfully share and wisely utilize the resources with which we are richly blessed, including the gifts of time, talents, finances and intellect for the advancement of God’s kingdom.
Christ-like Leadership- We build on the rich history of this church and the talents of our congregation by leading in our community as a witness for Jesus Christ. .
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LOVING GOD AND LOVING NEIGHBOR
CORE VALUES
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| adult ministries |
A
Rev. Jonathan L. Brake jbrake@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1334
dult Ministries is more than just a continuation of children’s Sunday School. Throughout our lives we are constantly growing and developing in knowledge, character, and spirit. The development of Christian community happens whenever we gather for study, worship, service, and fellowship. Proverbs 27:17 says “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” By spending quality time together in Sunday School or small groups, in prayer, practicing spiritual disciplines, studying the Bible, and serving others, we help one another to grow deeper and stronger in our faith. We create safe spaces to ask questions, try out new activities, and explore ways to live a Christlike life every day. We learn from each other how to love God more deeply and to see all people as worthy of our love because they have already received God’s love.
will help you discover how your faith might grow in the months ahead. There will be many different “pathways” along eight distinct “trails.” Trail Guides are being trained to come alongside and help you to discover new vistas. What an exciting time to be an adult at Centenary! ¢
This year, Adult Ministries is introducing an intentional way to help us mature in faith as an integral part of this vibrant Christian community. If you have ever wondered what opportunities are available at Centenary, or struggled to find the right next step for growing your faith, we want to help. Soon, you will begin hearing about “Pathways to Discipleship.” In a nutshell, this process JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 | 11 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
| senior adults |
Meals on Wheels M
any local seniors are homebound and struggle to obtain healthy meals. Hundreds have no one to talk with―or check on―them on a regular basis. When volunteers come to the door with a hot meal Monday through Friday, the food and visit help these seniors stay healthy and independent longer.
Victoria Kelly
vkelly@centenary-ws.org 336-724-6311
Meals-on-Wheels operates three nutrition programs to assist the homebound elderly in Forsyth County: hot meals, groceries and frozen meals. Did you know that over the past eight years Subaru and its retailers have helped the nationwide Meals on Wheels network deliver more than 1.4 million meals to seniors in need? When you buy or lease a Subaru during “Share the Love” event (November 17 – January 3) and select Meals on Wheels America, Subaru will make a donation of $250. Meals on Wheels are programs nationwide (and not just in the Winston-Salem area!) that deliver meals to individuals at home who are unable to purchase or cook their own meals. meals usually consist of a protein, grain and vegetables. Meals also include milk, bread and a dessert.
meal or $10 per week. No one is denied help if they cannot afford to make a donation. Meals on Wheels can receive support from federal, state and local government agencies. Many volunteer drivers make a personal connection and check that the person to whom they are delivering is okay. The driver can deliver the meal to your door or bring it into the kitchen. Each meal generally supplies 1/3 of the daily dietary needs for an older adult. Entrees include beef, chicken, pork, fish and pasta. A low-salt diet can also be accommodated. New menus are distributed at the beginning of each month so each person can see what meals will be delivered. Now, here are the specifics: in order to qualify for Meals on Wheels, a client must be over 60 years old and unable to cook nutritionally complete meals. Individuals under 60 may qualify for Meals on Wheels if they are disabled and meet the income guidelines. Do you have interest in becoming a volunteer driver? Email Rev. R. Craig Ford at cford@ centenary-ws.org for more information. ¢
You should be aware that Meals on Wheels does not charge for its services. They do, however, accept donations, usually $2 per
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| evangelism & engagement |
W
Rev. Jeremy Pegram
jpegram@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1334
e invite you to come and explore your faith journey at Centenary with a four-week series of classes designed to give you needed tools to discover a deeper connection to the church and its membership. Each session meets from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm in Room 221. If you are interested in joining the sessions, please contact Stacy Holley (336-397-1359)/sholley@centenaryws.org. Childcare is available with a reservation: please arrange when you register to attend. ¢ February 5 Introductions/What We Believe • United Methodist Theology Basics • Wesleyan Quadrilateral • Faith and Good Works • Personal Piety vs. Social Holiness • Grace
February 12 Who We Are as Centenary UMC • History of the Church • Sacraments • Tour of the Church February 19 What We Do ~ Spiritual Formation • Journaling • Lectio Divina • Fasting • Prayer February 26 How We Understand Membership • Layout of Ministry Areas & Leadership Teams • How can we connect you to ministry? • Membership Process: Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service and Witness
New Member Spotlight By Rev. Jeremy Pegram
S
ue Joyce is one of Centenary’s newest members who can be found on most Wednesday evenings singing in the Roots Revival Choir. Upon meeting Sue, one quickly discovers that she is a very talented vocalist who loves music. She is a singer-songwriter who has written songs and the music that accompanies them. Her music is a mixture of blues, jazz, and spirituals. Sue shared that she once found inspiration while driving behind a car that was weaving all over the road. The lyrics and the music came to her instantaneously, so she pulled over into a vacant church parking lot, found a napkin and began to pen the words. Even though Sue has a love for music, anyone that gets to know her will quickly discover that she has an even deeper love for people. Upon moving to WinstonSalem, Sue has spent the last seven years teaching courses at Forsyth Technical Community College on college success strategies that equip students with goal setting skills. Sue has spent much of her
professional life committed to having a better understanding of how to support individuals to become more self-aware of their own prejudices and biases and how those prejudices and biases affect their own professional development and goal setting. In her words she wants to “help people understand why they believe what they believe about themselves and others.” Sue’s desire is to help individuals acquire the skills they need to be empowered. This desire has lead Sue to pursue a Master’s Degree of Education in Birth to Kindergarten Leadership at UNC-G. Her coursework has had a primary focus of early childhood educators. Upon graduating in the spring of 2017, Sue, a life-long educator, plans to pursue new opportunities for leadership in the field of early childhood and to continue her work with the empowerment process. Beyond her studies, Sue’s life is full of love for family. She has two adult children and three grandchildren. With a twinkle in her eye, Sue shares that another JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 | 14 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
grandbaby is on the way. When asked why she made Centenary her church, Sue remarked that “It’s home to me” and further expressed that this church feeds her soul. She found Centenary to be welcoming from the very first time she attended and loves the many opportunities for fellowship. One last note about Sue, the three words she uses to describe herself are, “love, respect, and compassion.” These words tell us about the gift that Sue Joyce is to Centenary. ¢
| children’s ministry |
Stop Hunger Now “Jesus said to them, ‘There’s no need to send them away. You give them something to eat.’” -Matthew 14:16
Rev. Kate May
kmay@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1331
Did you know that the only Jesus miracle found in all four gospels is the feeding of the 5,000? In the account in Matthew when the disciples urge Jesus to send everyone home for dinner after a long day of teaching, Jesus responds that the disciples should give all of these people something to eat. I can only imagine the thoughts that ran through the heads of the disciples in that moment. In John’s version it is a young boy whose lunch is offered that is the seed for the miracle.
of all ages diligently working to package 20,000 meals that will be used by Stop Hunger Now as they encourage us all to work together to end world hunger. We have each been given the same directive from Jesus as the disciples, “You give them something to eat.” So we, like the disciples, after having spent time learning from Jesus about what it means to love God have the opportunity to respond by loving our neighbor. These neighbors are global neighbors who we will likely never meet but who are a part of our family, because they are a part of God’s family. ¢
I am often reminded of this story when I am in the midst of our annual Stop Hunger Now food packaging event. I find myself working amongst a sea of people
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Who Is My Neighbor?
A
legal expert stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to gain eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What is written in the Law? How do you interpret it?” He responded, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.” But the legal expert wanted to prove that he was right, so he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:25-29)
Sarah S. Howell
showell@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1348
Most of us have heard the story of the Good Samaritan. The above verses are the preface—the introduction—to that story. Jesus doesn’t tell it unprompted; it comes out of a question about what the greatest commandment is. One thing I’ve always loved about this passage and a similar one about the “greatest commandment” in Matthew 22 is that loving God and loving neighbor are not separated. When asked how to summarize the entire law (which, if you haven’t visited your Old Testament in a while, is a LOT!), or what law is the most important, Jesus doesn’t give or affirm just one answer—it’s a twofer. “Loving God and Loving Neighbor” is how we sum up Centenary’s vision statement: “Striving to be a vibrant
Christian community, loving God and loving neighbor downtown and throughout the region.” The first part—“Striving to be”—is the what; the second part—“loving God and loving neighbor”—is the how. We become a more vibrant and faithful Christian community the better we love God and our neighbor, and we find that those two always go hand-in-hand. Of course, the specifics of how to love God and neighbor may look different for different people and ministries of the church. However snarky the legal expert was being, he asked a really good question: “Who is my neighbor?” So I pose that question to you now: Who is your neighbor? What is a neighbor, anyway? It could be your physical neighbor, the person who lives next door or around the corner from you; it could be a coworker or friend; and based on Jesus’ response to the original question, it certainly includes the vulnerable and broken. Over the course of this year, we’ll talk to and share about a few of Centenary’s neighbors to help us all get to know them. In the meantime, start where you are. Ask yourself, Who is my neighbor? And how do I love God through loving them? ¢
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LOVING GOD AND LOVING NEIGHBOR Pictured: Street scene of The Haven at 633 West 4th Street, home of community ministries of Centenary United Methodist Church.
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Creation Care
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By Rev. Jonathan L. Brake
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rom the first book of Genesis through the last book of Revelation, the Bible calls humankind to care for Creation. Therefore, God holds us accountable for the state of the earth and the quality of our stewardship. United Methodism teaches that our Covenant with God requires us to be stewards, protectors, and defenders of all Creation. Therefore, the Creation Care Ministry is a part of our church to educate about our responsibilities through raising awareness in ourselves, our church, and our community. We strive to meet the needs of God’s Creation, by being active in our church, community, state, and nation individually and in organizations committed to these ideals.
by working to make sure that water is clean, air is clear, food is free of toxins, and waste is reduced, we love our neighbors who are adversely affected by human actions every day. By adopting part of Silas Creek, planting trees around the city, and growing vegetables at the Food Bank Garden, we improve the lives of people we may never see face-to-face. John Wesley said to “First, do no harm. Then, do good. Finally, Love God.” By raising awareness and educating our congregation, the Creation Care Ministry releases the potential of Centenary to become a vibrant Christian community which impacts the greater Winston-Salem area for generations to come. ¢
In caring for God’s Creation, we clearly honor God by loving what God loves. And
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Worship in the New Year
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re you making a New Year’s resolution for 2017? If so, you’re joining countless people resolving to lose weight, exercise more, spend more Rev. Sarah S. Howell showell@centenary-ws.org time with family, 336-397-1348 to save money, or anything else—in short, to become a new you. But perhaps the new year is a good time to pause and reflect on the old you—not in a negative sense, but in a deeper sense, the you that is older than your memory, the you that God knit together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). Not only that, but it’s a good time to put yourself in the context of the broader community—the plural “you” (or, as we Southerners would put it, “y’all”!). Our identity is more than our weight or gym attendance, more than how good of a parent we are or how well we steward our finances; our identity was and is being formed by God—each of us individually and particularly, and all of us together as one body. The first two Sundays of 2017 at Centenary will provide opportunities to connect with the old, deeper, collective “you” in different ways. On January 1, we’ll have just one worship service at 11:00 due to the holiday—but we’ll mark that day with a special service of commitment to
God as individuals and as a community. The Covenant Renewal Service dates back to 1775, when John Wesley introduced it to the early Methodists as a yearly rite of rededicating oneself wholly to God. This ritual is traditionally observed the Sunday closest to January 1—and this year, we’re hitting the nail on the head! The covenant renewal service places our identity firmly in Christ, particularly with the Wesley Covenant Prayer, which begins, “I am no longer my own, but thine.” If you have committed yourself to Christ before, this is a sacred opportunity to renew those vows, as it were; and if not, here is your chance to do so for the first time. On January 8, we will observe another service of remembrance and renewal. How many of you actually remember your baptism? I don’t—I was 4 months old. And yet, in a Baptismal Remembrance service, which we will hold on this Sunday, we say to you, “Remember your baptism and be thankful.” Perhaps some of you were baptized as older children or even adults, and so you do have a memory of the event. But for those of you who were infants, what do we mean when we say this? This is another instance of looking beyond our individuality and seeing ourselves as part of a bigger whole in Christ. I may not remember my
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baptism in the way you remember a friend’s birthday or remember what you had for lunch yesterday—but I do remember it through the memories of my parents, my godfather, all those saints of the church who were present; and we trust that God holds all memories, remembered and forgotten, and my remembering rests on and in God’s. I know the claim laid on my life at my baptism, the calling to ministry that came from it (not just ordained ministry— we are all called through our baptism!), the bonds that were formed when I was initiated into the body of Christ by water and the Spirit. And so I am thankful, deeply thankful, for that event that took place in August of 1987 and rests, if not in my cognitive memory, in the collective memory of my family, the saints of the church, and even God. In each of these services, both the Covenant Renewal service and the Baptismal Remembrance service, we let go of worldly definitions of self-advancement or becoming “new and improved.” Instead, we remember who we are and whose we are, an identity older than time and transcending any of the mistakes and shortcomings we had in 2016 or any other year before. Ironically, in doing so, we actually do become new— “anyone who is united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new” (2 Corinthians 5:17, The Message). ¢
| missions |
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n the last issue of Windows, I introduced you to our building at 633 W. 4th Street. Previously a rental property, it is being transitioned over to a space for missions and ministry. I’m excited to reintroduce you to it by its new name—The Haven! The word “haven” comes from the old Norse hǫfn, meaning “harbor.” A harbor is a coastal spot where ships can escape rough water and come into a space of safety and refuge. We imagine The Haven at 633 W. 4th Street in a similar way—a place for all kinds of people to come in and find refuge.
Sarah S. Howell
showell@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1348
That refuge is offered in many forms— our Loaves & Fishes community ministry offers financial assistance, groceries, and children’s books to families in need; our Backpack Program helps supply kids dependent on free and reduced lunch at school with food over the weekend; some of the ESL classes taught through Forsyth Tech are meeting there; it has become home to The Shalom Project’s medical clinic; and City with Dwellings is operating checkin for the winter overflow shelter as well as some daytime case management to help homeless or marginally housed individuals get stabilized out of our space.
homes there, but also that new missions are emerging and incubating in that space. Many Centenary members are entrepreneurs and bu siness leaders; why not innovate and lead in service to our community as well? We invite you to find your refuge from the rat race in The Haven, whether that means helping stock the pantry at Loaves & Fishes, shop at the food bank for the Backpack Program, volunteer with the overflow shelter now through March 31, offer your medical expertise at The Shalom Project’s clinic, or anything else. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a help always near in times of great trouble.” Just as God is a refuge for us, may we the church offer refuge to all who seek it, from groups gathering to build one another up in love to those seeking help with meeting basic needs, all in The Haven at 633 W. 4th Street. For more information on ministries to support at The Haven, contact Rev. Sarah Howell (336-397-1348) / showell@ centenary-ws.org. ¢
It has been a great joy to see this building transformed over the last year and a half, and we are thrilled not only that current ministries are finding new
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Lobby space and offices where Loaves and Fishes meets with clients each Tuesday morning.
Lobby space and offices where Cities with Dwellings nightly check-in happens for our neighbors.
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or each issue of Through Centenary Windows, we will be sharing “God Moments” from different members of the congregation. We would love to hear from you. Be sure to visit one of the four silver ballot boxes found around the Centenary campus and complete a card. For this issue, we hear from Judy Reed. “For me, The Big Silence retreat was so meaningful. For thirteen hours over a period of three days, I was silent! This time of prayer, reflection and renewal brought me closer to God. I left the retreat knowing I am His child, and devote quiet time each day to thank Him for my blessings.”
#centenarygodmoment
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United Methodist Women
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ou are invited to join the United Methodist Women members for lunch and meeting on February 6 at Noon in Memorial Auditorium. Readers in prose and poetry from the Music and the Arts ministry classes will be their guests. Martha Brown, Chris Myer, Jean Ashley, Jason McKinney, Richard Cassidy and Barbara Byrd will share their memorable writings for your listening ears. Come and enjoy. Lunch is $8 and reservations may be given to Mary Ceile Ogburn (336-725-7573).
An Opportunity to Learn, Serve, and Grow
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tephen Ministers are members of Centenary United Methodist Church who go through 50 hours of care-giving training. Then they work alongside our pastors in providing emotional and spiritual support to people who are going through a difficult time, such as divorce, grief, hospitalization, unemployment, terminal illness, relocation, chronic illness or loneliness. We will be training a new class of Stephen Ministers at our church beginning on Wednesday, January 11, from 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm. To find out more about becoming a Stephen Minister, talk with Wilba Brady, Training Coordinator (336-723-6236); Craig Ford, Associate Minister (336-397-1353); or Deana Vickers, Congregational Care Coordinator, (336-397-1352). ¢
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By Mary Ann Wexler
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lad Tidings Books and Gifts is a truly special place at Centenary. Established years ago, it originally offered only books. Under Judy Jones’ guidance, it became much more and we now offer special gifts and cards in addition to continuing to provide reading materials and beautiful Bibles.
volunteers come from all areas of the church and are all ages. You will be inspired by the dedication of this group who work so hard to make the store beautiful and accessible to everyone. Please contact Geri Milner at gerimilner@gmail.com for more information on our shop or to volunteer. ¢
Glad Tidings is more than a gift shop! It is a comfortable place for conversation, coffee and the chance to catch up with old friends. Our profits always go to a local mission. We currently are supporting The Winston-Salem Street School. It is shopping with a purpose and we are pleased to offer it at Centenary for our members and visitors. One way you can get involved is to volunteer in our store. Sundays are very busy and it’s a great opportunity to meet people as they wander into Glad Tidings. It gives us another avenue of fellowship and we invite you to join us! Our current roster of
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All proceeds from Glad Tidings go to support the mission and ministry of the Winston-Salem Street School.
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| youth ministry |
Loving God and Loving Neighbor
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Tammy Pollock
tpollock@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1337
few months ago, I checked my email only to discover a very well written request by one of our precious youth to the Coleman Company. This sweet sophomore had recognized a serious need within our Love Thy Neighbor (Our Youth led ministry to the homeless and marginally housed friends and neighbors in downtown WinstonSalem.) community for warmth in the coming cold months. Sarah boldly and courageously asked the Coleman Company for donations of sleeping bags for all of our neighbors (150-200 people). As the emails flew back and forth and costs were explored, what happened was a beautiful realization of a teenager’s determination to “love God and love neighbor”. Her simple ask, turned into an incredible gift for each of our neighbors this month. At our January 8th Love Thy Neighbor, each neighbor will receive their own sleeping bag to take with them wherever they may wander. Whereas, Coleman couldn’t donate all of the sleeping bags, they were able to offset the cost significantly. And how were we able to pay for the reduced cost of the sleeping bags? Because of YOU! For the last ten years, Centenary has graciously supported this incredible ministry with your prayers, presence, and donations. Each February our youth host a wildly successful “Friends for Fashion Runway Show and Silent Auction” (mark your calendar for this year’s date, February 18, 2017) to raise money for Love Thy Neighbor. Last year, with your support, we
raised $21,000. That money, not only goes for the food we serve and the medical clinic we offer, it also goes towards hospitality gifts for our neighbors (toothbrushes, hats, gloves, socks, underwear, hoodies…and now, sleeping bags). Isn’t that incredible? As I have prayed over and pondered our new Vision Statement for our church, I can’t help but be excited that our youth, in so many ways, are already “loving God and loving neighbor” especially in “downtown”. Clearly we continue to strive to improve our ministry and break down socio-economic barriers, fiercely loving people on behalf of Jesus, and hoping for them to have a strong sense that they aren’t alone in this world. But what an affirmation and delight that we are already leaning into our new vision with determination, faith, and courage. *As always, we invite you to join us for our Love Thy Neighbor lunches on the following Sundays: January 8 February 5 March 5 April 2 May 7 “He replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.” - Matthew 22:37-39 ¢
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Be sure to mark your calendars with the events on these pages. For the most current information, be sure to see the Sunday bulletins and the church website as well as the weekly “Engage” email blast.
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6:00pm Shining Light on Mental Health
6:00pm Confirmation
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7:00pm Father/Daughter Dance
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Noon Love Thy Neighbor 4:00pm Discovering the Prayer Room
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9:00am Prayers of the People
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January 24
7:00pm Church Council
6:00pm Confirmation
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The Big Silence Retreat
6:00pm Confirmation
10:00am Tony Abbott Poetry Workshop 11:00am Senior Adult Lunch
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3:00pm Art Exhibit Reception 6:00pm Shining Light on Mental Health 6:00pm Confirmation
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4:00pm Confirmation Retreat Camp Hanes
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12:00am Confirmation Retreat Camp Hanes
February 1
6:00pm Stephen Ministers Training
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10:00am Tony Abbott Poetry Workshop
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All Day Haiti Medical Mission Trip 9:00am Leadership Planning Retreat 2017
HAITI
MISSION TRIPS
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All Day Haiti Medical Mission Trip Noon Love Thy Neighbor 4:00pm Discovering the Prayer Room
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All Day Haiti Medical Mission Trip
HAITI
MISSION TRIPS
All Day Haiti Medical Mission Trip 6:00pm Shining Light on Mental Health
All Day Haiti Medical Mission Trip 6:00pm Confirmation 6:00pm Stephen Ministers Training
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10:00am Tony Abbot Poetry Workshop
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11:00am Love Thy Neighbor Fashion Show
All Day Haiti Medical Mission Trip 10:00am Tony Abbot Poetry Workshop
HAITI
All Day Haiti Medical Mission Trip
HAITI
MISSION TRIPS
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All Day Women’s Retreat All Day Youth Ski Trip
All Day Haiti Medical Mission Trip
MISSION TRIPS
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6:00pm Confirmation 6:00pm Stephen Ministers Training
6:00pm Confirmation 6:00pm Stephen Ministers Training
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All Day Youth Ski Trip
All Day Youth Ski Trip
Memorials
We remember the saints who have gone before....
Centenary Fund In memory of William Fletcher Womble, Sr. by Betsy Alexander, Grubb Ventures, Ruth Sandie Hoehne, Tom & Vicki Hunt, Winston-Salem State University Foundation, Betty Alexander, Mr. & Mrs. David McDaniel, Scott & Louann Vaughn, Nell P. Fulton, Valarie Easterling, Kathryn & Bobby Edwards, Betsy & Bob Whaling, Robert & Cama Merritt, Luther & Ellen Upton, Ms. C. Kemp Norman, Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Adams, Nancy & Jules Spach, Deedee Fenwick, Mr. & Mrs. Donnell Cobb, Fillmore Williams, Elizabeth Daniel, The Staff and Faculty of The Children’s Center and The Centers for Exceptional Children, Edith Chatham, Andrew & Anne Copenhaver, Jim Bunn, Dr. & Mrs. Cyrus W. Bazemore, Jr. In memory of Grover Cleveland McNair by Ross Allen, Mary Ann Cross, Anna & Fletch Steele, Bobby Herring, Mr. & Mrs. Sam C. Ogburn, Sr., Ralph & Gayle Atkinson, Toni Corpening, The Chapel Class, John & Shelia Fox, James & Molly Southern, Stan & Deborah Senft, Billy Shelton, Cannon Stoffel. In memory of George Clyce Newman by Ted & Mary Jane Keith, Deedee Fenwick, Martha Martinat, Herb & Linda Baker, Dr. & Mrs. T. H. Collawn, Dr. & Mrs. Jack Hobson, Suzan Elster, Jim Bunn. In memory of Edna Weaver Carmichael by Laura & Robert Esleeck. In memory of William M. “Buck” Butler by Phil, Ginny, Ann Bennett & Janie Thomas, Jim Bunn. In memory of Ann Shippey Lewallen King “Annie” Spencer by Phil, Ginny, Ann Bennett & Janie Thomas, Jim Bunn. In memory of Dr. Richard “Dick” Reece Glenn by Sally Burns,
Missy Butler, Alice & Mick Wrenn, Tom & Nancy Cannon, James Butler, Sr., Mr. & Mrs. Sam C. Ogburn, Sr., Elizabeth A. Ogburn, Martha Martinat, Mr. & Mrs. J. Kirk Glenn, Jr., Albert Butler, lll, Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Sledd, Mr. & Mrs. David Gatewood, Ken & Susan Sommerkamp, Suzan Elster, H. Vernon & Frankie Winters, Larry & Debbie Robbins, William & Marie Hathcock, William Shelton, Deedee Fenwick, Charles & Elizabeth Duckett, Mary Ann Ratcliff, Dawn & Clawson Jernigan, Norma Jeanne Lisenby, Mary Stowe, Mr. & Mrs. Borden Hanes, Jr., Alison & Dick Barron, Paul Gwyn, John & Jean Neese, Mr. & Mrs. James W. Douglas, Phil & Ginny Thomas, Dr. & Mrs. Michael R. Lawless, Mr. & Mrs. Richard M. Crowder, Jr., Dr. & Mrs. Jack Rogers, Roma & Linda Combs, Fillmore Williams, Suzanne Stocks Hawley, Nell & Tom Taylor, Dr. & Mrs. Cyrus W Bazemore, Jr., Jim Bunn, David & Phyllis Tate, David & Kaye Lambert. In Memory of Kimberlee Lambe Masich by Judy Salisbury. In memory of Jacqueline Schwab Hunt by Missy Butler. In memory of Jane Singletary Sugg by Jim Bunn. In memory of Thomas Jeffery Koontz by Jim Bunn. In memory of Nicholas Worth Mitchell, Jr. By Jim Bunn. In memory of Donald C. Golding by Sandra & Wayne Shugart.
Sacred Music In memory of Bob L. Myers by Steven & Cathy Kirby. In memory of Richard Faw by Mr. & Mrs. Frank Craver, Barbara Byrd. In memory of Dr. Richard “Dick” Reece Glenn by Phyllis Dunning.
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Senior Adult Ministry In memory of Donald C. Golding by Becky Wheeler, Ruby Hunt.
Shining Light on Mental Health In memory of Charles L. Crockett, lll by Pamela Johnson Lee, Bill Scarlett, lll.
Honoraria
We celebrate the kingdom of God among us...
Centenary Fund
Miscellaneous
In honor of Jerry & Nancy Warren by Martha Martinat. In honor of Paul Meier by Martha Martinat.
In honor of the baptism of Elizabeth “Betsy” Scott Welch by Rob & Elizabeth Welch.
Children’s Ministry
Radio Ministry
In honor of the baptism of Elizabeth “Betsy” Scott Welch by Rob & Elizabeth Welch. To the Glory of God and in honor of the baptism of Elizabeth “Betsy” Scott Welch by Ed & Sue Welch.
To the Glory of God and in honor of the baptism of Elizabeth “Betsy” Scott Welch by Ed & Sue Welch.
Sacred Music Fund In honor of the 54th Wedding Anniversary of John & Glenda Williams by Leslie Williams.
New Members We welcome you in Christian love...
Lee and Mandy Patterson Harper & Owen
David and Katy Stith
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| senior minister |
Catching the Vision
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ome folks have been questioning what is the point of this vision? What is going to be different? What will this vision statement mean for me and for the church? All very valid questions. I am so excited over the next several months to help lead this church into beginning to live into this new vision. It is not something that will happen over night but will begin to take shape within the next year and the few years Rev. Lory Beth Huffman following. lhuffman@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1362
When a church has no vision they can easily slip into a maintenance mode where the focus is on taking care of the week to week ministries and before you know it you have been doing the same things year after year after year and forgot why you even started them. But a church with a vision has a future sense of where they hope the church will arrive. A church with a vision puts energy and resources behind growing and strengthening a church by working together on living into a preferred future. Centenary United Methodist Church: Striving to be a vibrant Christian community, loving God and loving neighbor downtown and throughout the region. Some have asked what is the preferred future that this particular vision paints? The honest answer to that
question is we are waiting for that to unfold. Until vison was adopted we chose not to put energy into visualizing in tangible ways in case the vision shifted directions. And I realize for some that is frustrating. You want to know exactly what is going to happen and how. So do I! But the Holy Spirit works in a different time line. The Spirit tends to unfold in starts and stops and it is our job to pay close attention and respond. As you have read all of the articles in this edition of Windows, hopefully you are beginning to see how each ministry area has an important role to play to align and move us forward into our preferred future. Some ways in which we can begin to visualize where Centenary is headed is to think about what a vibrant church looks like? Are we vibrant on Sunday mornings? How can we be more vibrant so there is a buzz in the air and the Spirit is tangible in our midst. (Please note- that spiritual buzz can happen in the midst of the jazziest song the Rejoice band plays to the joy of passing the Peace in Simplify as well as in the most sacred and quiet moments in the Sanctuary!) What does vibrant programming look like? Do we have places in our ministry that is lacking vibrancy? Life? Light? Energy? Purpose? A great deal of focus will go into aligning our energy and resources to make sure that everything we do EITHER Loves God or Loves Neighbor in obvious and tangible ways.
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That is the practice we must make a priority, truly living daily Jesus’s Commandments. And we are going to spend time figuring out how to more specifically Love our Neighbors that are BOTH downtown and in our various zip codes. Coming your way later this year we will practice the Art of Neighboring and equip you to connect right where you live. But we will also be putting some energy into finding our place as a downtown church in the amazing growth and potential of the heart of Winston-Salem. Maybe that includes exploring our physical property fronting 4th Street. Maybe that means connecting with existing organizations that are shaping further development or happenings in downtown. Maybe that means having a Food Truck Sunday and invite our downtown residential neighbors to come to our parking lot and have a feast! Maybe that means taking Bible Studies into a few key locations around town to reach new people. So many possibilities to explore. So many new people to reach within walking distance of our church! And there are so many potential people in your own neighborhoods that we want to invite to be a part of developing a relationship with Jesus here at Centenary. For those of you that fear some kind of seismic disruption to the ministry of our church, take a deep breath and breathe out slowly. That is not how vision work goes. For those of us in leadership, having vision makes
I think you will find this vision will help Centenary and its leaders function in as focused and faithful way as it has in many years. God is doing some amazing Kingdom work in our midst. Using The Haven at 633 building to serve some of the least of these through the Shalom Project health clinic as well as Overflow Check-in during the winter months is a beautiful example of new work God is doing. Continuing to progress towards a renovation project in order to leverage our facility to strengthen some of our ministry areas is forthcoming and incredibly exciting. Growing our evangelism ministry so that we equip our people to invite and reach out to new people,
because we are excited to bring them to our church, will help grow our Body. That’s just to name a few! So let’s take 2017 as a year to put in action the preferred future God is calling us towards so that we can explode with vibrancy and consistently fulfill Christ’s commandments to Love God and Love Neighbor and to build meaningful relationships both in the growing downtown area as well as throughout our greater Winston Salem community. These are exciting days for our church! ¢ Grace and Peace,
Lory Beth
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LOVING GOD AND LOVING NEIGHBOR
leading this church so much easier. We now have a way to prioritize all of the amazing ideas out there so that we can be focused in how we use our amazing staff, volunteers and precious stewardship dollars. It signals to the congregation what will be most important to the church. It invites creative ideas from anyone in the church that is inspired by the vision to share and be a part of the Kingdom work. But you don’t turn a ship in one day.
(USPS 628-480)
Periodicals Postage Paid at Winston-Salem, NC
Published By: Centenary United Methodist Church PO Box 658 Winston-Salem, NC 27102-0658 Church Office: (336) 724-6311 Fax: (336) 723-5840 Website: www.centenary-ws.org Postmaster Send Address Changes to: Centenary United Methodist Church PO Box 658 Winston-Salem, NC 27102-0658 A Stephen Ministry Congregation Printed on recycled paper
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un for God is a running group that helps anyone go from couch potato to 5K. Over 12 weeks this group will train together and learn running basics. At the end of the training there will be an option to run as part of the Centenary Team in the Hammberbird 5K on April 22.
Run For God, led by Rev. Jeremy Pegram, will begin with an orientation on Monday, January 23rd at 6:00 pm at Centenary, and will meet for a short devotional and training time each Monday evening at 6:00 pm up to the week of the 5k. Each session will last about an hour. The cost is $22.00, which covers the Run for God training manual. Register online or by contacting Rev. Jeremy Pegram at (336) 397-1361/jpegram@centenary-ws.org.