OUR CLERGY AND STAFF Reverend Dr. P. Glenn Kinken III Senior Minister gkinken@centenary-ws.org Mary Ann Wexler Executive Director mwexler@centenary-ws.org Susan Bates Organist and Music Associate sbates@centenary-ws.org Martha Bassett Alternative Music Leader mbassett@centenary-ws.org Reverend Bret Cogan Assoc. Minister of Spiritual Formation & Education bcogan@centenary-ws.org Jonathan Emmons Director of Music Ministries jemmons@centenary-ws.org Reverend R. Craig Ford Associate Minister cford@centenary-ws.org Reverend Meg Gaston Assoc. Minister of Evangelism, Engagement & MIssions mgaston@centenary-ws.org Reverend Kate May Associate Minister with Children kmay@centenary-ws.org Sandra Gramley Congregational Care Coordinator sgramley@centenary-ws.org
OUR PAGES Table of Contents/Clergy and Staff ~~~~~~~~~~~ 2 Advent Worship at Centenary ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 From the Editor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4 Remembering the Saints~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 Meg Gaston: A Year of Following~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6 Page Eight: Comfort Music ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8 Collage: Renovation Update~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10 Lessons & Carols ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 Jonathan Emmons: Will Not Day Come Soon?~~ 13 Stay Connected, Shining Light & Prayers~~~~~~ 14 Centenary Ministry Values ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 15 Stephen Ministry: Pandemic Fatigue ~~~~~~~~~ 16 Know Your 3 W's ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 17 Kate May: Activities for Advent ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 18 Impromptu Christmas Pageant ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 20 Advent Devotions, Check-In & Coffee Break~~~ 21 Bret Cogan: Live Into the Light ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 22 Stock Delivery & Fashion Show Save the Date ~~ 24 Mary Ann Wexler: 2021 Pledge Update~~~~~~~ 25 New Members & Angel Tree~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 26 Sanctuary During Advent~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 27 Tammy Pollock: Still Waiting~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 28 Memorials ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 30 Honoraria ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 31 Susannah Pittman: Send Back the Song ~~~~~~~ 32 Glenn Kinken: A Road Trip ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 34 Live Stream Worship~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 36
Stacy Holley Exec. Assistant to Senior Minister sholley@centenary-ws.org John Markle Director of Operations jmarkle@centenary-ws.org Doug Peninger Director of Communications dpeninger@centenary-ws.org Reverend Susannah Pittman Assoc. Minister of Congregational Care spittman@centenary-ws.org
OUR COVER Our cover image features "The Nativity" from Christ's Nativity window in the Sanctuary. You can learn more about the windows and their symbols by reading the booket about the Memorial Windows. CLICK HERE to read more.
Tamara M. Pollock Director of Youth Ministries tpollock@centenary-ws.org John Rogers Director of Information Technology jrogers@centenary-ws.org
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S P E C I A L A DV E N T W O R S H I P AT
CENTENARY SERVICE OF HOPE & HEALING Sunday • December 13 • 5pm • Virtual IMPROMPTU CHRISTMAS PAGEANT Sunday • December 20 • 10am • Virtual LESSONS & CAROLS Sunday • December 20 • 5pm • Virtual PRE-SCHOOL PAJAMA PARTY Thursday • December 24 • 10am • Virtual CHRISTMAS EVE CHILDREN’S WORSHIP Thursday • December 24 • 10:00am • Virtual CHRISTMAS EVE TRADITIONAL WORSHIP Thursday • December 24 • 10:00am • Virtual CHRISTMAS EVE COMMUNION* Thursday • December 24 • Sanctuary 11:30am • 1:00pm • 2:30pm • 4:00pm Limited Seating & Registration Required *Subject to change based upon restrictions To register for in-person worship, visit www.centenary-ws.org and click on the Engage tab. Once there, locate the service you wish to attend. Strict safety guidelines will be in place, including mandatory mask wearing and social distancing. Our virtual worship services will be distributed through an email with a link.
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From the Editor
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ave we been on an interesting journey this year? I don't know about you but this whole COVID-19 pandemic has really caused me to examine what is really important in life. Who would have ever dreamed that toilet paper would become such a precious commodity, and yet, here we are. From ordering our groceries online, then driving up to the market and popping open our trunk, to making sure we traverse down the correct aisles as we shop, to not getting to hug our friends or shake hands as we greet one another. It's made for some interesting experiences and conversations. Maybe for just a few moments, we can let some of the craziness go and focus our attention on Advent as we hear from our staff the different approaches we can take to "follow the star." One item we had to have numerous conversations and prayer ovcr was the special advent worship opportunities. Almost all of these will be delivered to you electronically this year. One hope we do have is that we will be able to have in-person worship for Christmas Eve communion. You will note on the ad, found on page three, that this option is based on current metrics and health restrictions. We promise to keep you posted should this need to be canceled. The good news is that should we not be able to have the in-person Christmas Eve Communion worship services, we will still have a virtual option of a full, traditional worship service. We plan to release that
work as he contemplates "will not day come soon?"
service at 10:00am on Christmas Eve morning. This way, you may view it and worship whenever you are ready. Make plans to be on the look out for a special email regarding the candles we normally light during the singing of "Silent Night." If we are not able to be together, we still want you to be able to raise your "candle" high. Although our campus is closed at this time, the important work and ministry of the church continues. Throughout this issue of Through Centenary Windows, you will hear from our ministry team as they share everything from ways to be engaged in missions, to ways of being creative with your kids as they are at home for advent. We also will learn how to live into the light this season and find ways of healing should you be reaching the point of pandemic fatugue. An important worship experience that will be completely virtual this year is the annual "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols." Jonathan Emmons shares with us how this will
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I hope you will be sure to join us each Sunday at 11:00am for our Live Stream broadcast. As we keep our community safe, Dr. Kinken will lead us through our theme for advcnt: "Follow the Star." You will see our Sanctuay completely decorated for the season. We hope as you watch and worship, that the sounds, messages and scenes of the season will inspire you and bring your closer the message of Christ. Until the next time, I'll see you at Centenary. Well, at least on a Zoom call or video release from Centenary. I miss you all.
Doug Peninger Director of Communications
We remember...
On Sunday, November 1, Centenary celebrated members of our congregation who have joined the church triumphant. May the fire of their devotion light our way. *
*As of October 31, 2020.
Peggy Wiggs Ayscue Mary West Crocker Ball Robert "Bob" Bell Rodney Cain Brown Mildred Fay King Bryson Jon Mac Burkhart George W. Chandler Jr. Bernice Hughston Clayton Joseph Boyles Dudley Kent Robert Curlee Sara Sue Ferrell Willis Jackson "Jack" Grant III Linda Walker Hanks James "Jim" Carlton Hardwick Jr. Walter Dean Henrichs Karen Lea Prater Hocutt Larry Lee Hutchens Rebecca "Becky" Linthicum Gloria Anne Marlette Kathleen "Kathie" Lee Hoyle Masten Joanne Meier Margaret Howard Nicholson Clifford "Cliff" Webster Perry Jr. Margaret Smith Pittard Andrew "Andy" Kenneth Reed Daphne Ann Campbell Robinson Jack Marrell Rogers Sarah Sands Robert R. "Bob" Severs Sr. James "Jim" Colin Sifford Roy Walker Shelton Ian Shober Stokes Wilson Rose Tennille Sr. Judith Adkins Thompson F. Nelson Tomlinson Jr. Stuart Ficklen Vaughn Herbert Monteith Wayne Jr. Robert "Bob" Miller Weatherman Randy Lee Weddle Barbara Long Welch Alice Mae "Mitzi" Williams Jack Brown Yarbrough
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| evangelism, engagement & missions |
A Year of Following
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his year as I have been preparing for the Advent season, I have been thinking about what it must have been like for the magi to follow the star to Christ. They did not know what to expect, but they continued on anyway. The same has been true for us as well. You do not need me to tell you how different this year has been with all that has gone on in our world and country. We have entered grocery stores and found arrows to follow telling us which way to walk down each aisle. We have followed a line of cars as we have waited to get a COVID test. We have followed the directions as we filled out our ballots for a tumultuous election season. And unfortunately, some of us have followed a hearse as we made our way to a cemetery where a loved one was laid to rest.
Rev. Meg Gaston
mgaston@centenary-ws.org
Every day, whether we notice it or not, we are following something. We are following instructions on how to create projects or bake desserts, we are following the road signs that lead to our places of employment...or perhaps just following the scent of the coffee pot to the kitchen as we begin yet another day of working from home. We have done our best to follow the instructions on wearing masks, washing our hands, and staying six feet apart from those who are not in our bubble or home group.
On the missions page of our website you will find a section called “Ways to Serve our Partner Agencies” with a button that takes you to a list of our partner agencies and what they are needing and doing during this time. I have followed these links to their pages countless times to see how it is we can help. Like most of you, I find it has been hard to engage with missions when I am unable to do it in the ways I have always known. Yet, just like the Magi, I see the warmth of Christ in these ministries and celebrate that regardless of where we are, we can still serve and be connected to them during this time. So that you may get to know a few of our partner agencies better, on the next page you will find video links to a few of the “Mission Moments with Meg” which we have been releasing each Monday on social media. Once you have viewed the video, I hope you seek out and follow ways to engage in these important ministries.
This has been a year filled with “following” and yet I find myself wondering when it is I will reach that level of joy the Magi must have felt when they finally came to the place where they found the Christ child with Mary. As I have continued to step into this role as Associate Minister of Evangelism, Engagement, and Missions, I have been able to meet with - both virtually and at a safe distance in person - our partner agencies. I am overwhelmed at how they have adapted to this odd time and are still doing such wonderful ministry around our city. As I thought about all they were doing, I realized that we can continue to serve with them by following the links they have provided to us.
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CRISIS CONTROL MINISTRY
THE BETTY & JIM HOLMES FOOD BANK GARDEN
CROSSNORE SCHOOL
SAMARITAN MINISTRIES
THE SHALOM PROJECT
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| page 8 |
Comfort Music
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rue confession. Each morning, since September 28, as I begin my morning walk at 6:15am, I have been listening to the sounds of the season. That's right. Christmas music. I had reached a point that I needed to hear the rich chordal structures, the familiar lyrics, the tunes we all know and yes, something that could lift me up as I started each new day. Now, I was not depressed at all. I was merely ready to move into the next phase of the year and find some positivity. I think for many of us, it's been a hard year. That's not to say that there have not been wonderful things happening throughout the year (see my article in the October issue) but, if I'm honest, I would never have dreamed that upon returning from vacation in early March, I would still be basically working from home some nine months later.
Doug Peninger
dpeninger@centenary-ws.org
So what is on the playlist as I walk? I have quite the eclectic taste in music. I like it all. For this year, I started out with Leontynne Price. Her "Christmas with Leontynne Price" album is one I turn to year after year and it always pulls me in as I escape into the melodies. Her "Alleluia" from "Exsultate Jubilate," by Mozart is true worship all by itself for me.
Other favorites include the many albums from Chanticleer to Nat King Cole. From James Taylor to Bette Midler. From Lea Michelle to The Carpenters. And there are many, many, many more. If you are like me, I just can't seem to get enough. I'm always saddened that at some point in January I have to let it go and return to more non-holiday offerings as I walk.
There's another aspect of the morning walk that always greets me. Each morning as I step out onto the front porch and quietly close the door, the stars are shining down from the heavens. As I look out toward the eastern sky, there she is as always, the planet Venus twinkling up above. She, along with the uncountable others, welcome me into their realm and invite me into a time of mediation and thought as I listen to the music.
As I think about our Advent theme for 2020, Follow the Star, I like to think of all the Christmas songs which mention the star of Bethlehem. Indulge me for a few minutes as I share some thoughts on some of my favorites. “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” as sung by Chanticleer is one of my all-time favorites. The lyrics include:
O beautiful star of Bethlehem Shining far through shadows dim Giving the light for those who long have gone Guiding the wise men on their way Unto the place where Jesus lay O beautiful star of Bethlehem Shine on
Shine on. Think about that, shine on. Can you imagine what all the stars have been witness to over the centuries and yet, they shine on, just like the star in Bethlehem did that one special night as Christ arrived. Then there is “Star Bright.” Perhaps you may not know this one by Vanessa Williams. Here are the lyrics:
Star bright, first star I see tonight. Could you, oh would you, please shine your light? Shine it so I can see, my savior smilin' at me. Star bright, I hear you once proclaimed This is the way, keep on followin' me And at the end of the road will be, a baby. And there, in him you'll find, a love that is truly blind. Given so from your heart that love that light, could shine. Shine, shine, shine, shine
Can you imagine following the star and once arriving at the manger, seeing the savior of the world smiling back
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at you? What could that possibly be like? How could we even comprehend? Shine…shine...shine…a love that is truly blind.
may the perfect light that leads us, open our hearts and minds to the message from the manger, whatever it may be for your heart this season and bring you comfort.
One last one to share are a few words from “We Three Kings.” This hymn as always had a mysterious quality to me. Perhaps it’s because it’s about three kings from the Orient. Those aren’t words you hear everyday. Truthfully, what do we really know about them except that they were lead by a star to find Jesus.
Oh, star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright. Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light. Just like that star from the hymn, we too must keep proceeding, even in the midst of a pandemic, a season of political change, a new year on the horizon and many other unknowns. As we follow the star to the manger,
JOIN US FOR WORSHIP ON SUNDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS
Traditional Worship Sundays at 11am www.centenary-ws.org/live-stream
Wednesdays at 7pm via Email Link
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Will Not Day Come Soon?
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| music & the arts |
e live in times of turmoil. We trudge through days of despair. We ache with hearts full of anguish. As arguments over doctrine divide the church and American political strife rips at the fabric of our society and our relationships, COVID-19 continues to ravage life around the globe.
Indeed, Christ came down to reveal the true depth of all our longings, to cure our inability to see things as they really are. He came down to reveal that which we seek – love, light, peace, joy. He came down to show us the very life of God, the sacred nature of this world, the divine spark in all of humankind, the lifeblood for which we long.
Today, we are witnessing collective upheaval on a devastating scale. We grow impatient waiting for restored relationships, for restored economies, for restored health, for restored routines, for restored ways of being. We hurt. We ache. We long.
Our service might be scaled back, our voices may not rise together. Nonetheless, our broken hearts are united, our worn spirits are held together, our longings are consecrated in Christ.
And yet, we rest in the assurance that all our aching and longing finds attainment in God, the very source and vitality of our lives. We hold vigil in these dark days, knowing that God hears our collective cries, knowing that something truer and deeper will emerge from this dark night of our soul.
In Christ, day has come. Morning vanquishes the darkness. Our hearts full of anguish find their rest in that enchanted manger, rocking gently with the Christ-child.
Hope in the face of anguish. While this tension is inescapable in 2020, it has always been at the very heart of the Christian faith, and it palpably sets the stage for next month’s Festival of Lessons and Carols. This year’s service is not immune to the restrictions of COVID-19, and so while we cannot come together in flesh to sing of Christ’s birth, we are called to come together in spirit and lift our broken hearts toward the God who became human, the God whose heart thus breaks, too. As the service begins, the virtual Chancel Choir reminds us of the world into which Christ is born. This world. Our world:
Lost in the night, do the people yet languish, Longing for morning the darkness to vanquish, Plaintively sighing with hearts full of anguish, Will not day come soon? With and through these words, I invite you to rest in the promise that Christ holds us in this anguish and dwells with us in this tension. Allow the familiar story of Christ’s birth to emerge from and through this angst. Hold vigil with the world’s pain. At the service’s climax, you’ll again hear the Chancel Choir, singing ‘He came down that we may have love, light, peace, and joy.’
Jonathan Emmons
jemmons@centenary-ws.org
Lost in the night, do the people yet languish, Longing for morning the darkness to vanquish, Plaintively sighing with hearts full of anguish, Will not day come soon?
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Stay Connected with Centenary
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Let's Have Lunch December 3 • Noon-1pm • Zoom “Let’s Have Lunch” is hosted by our Shining Light on Mental Health ministry. This one-hour Zoom gathering will feature Dr. Glenn Kinken and Rev. Susannah Pittman speaking on ways to experience and cultivate love, joy, peace, and hope in this unique Advent season. To register, visit the Engage tab on the website.. For questions, contact Sandra Gramley (336-724-6311 ext.1352).
Advent Prayers of the People Wednesdays • December 2, 9, 16 & 23 • Noon • Zoom Our Prayers of the People service will resume during the season of Advent as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. Each Wednesday at Noon, we will gather via Zoom for a 30-minute worship experience of music, prayer, and contemplation. To register, please visit www.centenary-ws.org and click on the Engage tab.
...making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world... DECEMBER 2020 | 14 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
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hen I was a very young girl, I became seriously ill with the flu. Because of COVID-19, I recently recalled a conversation I had during my illness with my Grandpa Harris who was a young man during the flu pandemic of 1918. He brought me treats and shared a story of how everyone had to wear a mask for a long time. He even showed me some pictures that verified his claim! At the time, I couldn’t imagine what it would be like for everyone around me to have a mask on. Though one hundred years apart, the people of 1918 had to work and live differently while fighting a disease, eerily similar to our own experience this year. The year 2020 has been a year to remember. Or perhaps one we would like to forget. Dealing with COVID-19 since March has forced us to live our lives differently. It has also forced us to find new ways to worship together and stay in contact with each other virtually as well as through phone calls and visits while keeping six feet away from each other. Thankfully, ministry has continued during this time and we have been blessed to be able to provide worship and social interaction with your church via new and innovative platforms. Normally, about this time of the year, we would be planning for the annual ask for pledges for the next year so we can prepare the new budget. For 2021, I am expecting a relatively flat budget. This year, our pledge campaign will be functioning differently.
There will be no official pledge campaign for 2021. Rather, we are asking you to allow us to use the same pledge that you made in 2020 for 2021.
Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, giving has declined during this season of COVID-19. To those of you who are able, we ask you to consider an increase to your pledge as we work with the complexities and uncertainties of coming back together for classes, events and worship as we did before. We also must continue caring for our facilities and taking good care of our incredible staff. Finally, the important missional needs are greater than ever now, and we must be able to provide even more resources to our outreach partners. Of course, with the impact of COVID-19, we fully understand that some of you may have to reduce your pledge. If you would like to adjust your current pledge, please contact me at mwexler@centenary-ws.org or 336-724-6311 x 1346. Otherwise, we will keep it the same for 2021 as it was in 2020. If you have never made a pledge to the church and would like to do so, you can visit our Give tab on the website or just give me a call. As you have heard time and time again, we are in this together.
TOGETHER We will continue to make Centenary a vital source of God's love as we restore programs, bring others to know Christ and care for each other in the coming days ahead.
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ARE YOU EXPERIENCING PANDEMIC FATIGUE? Are you experiencing pandemic fatigue—that feeling of being mentally and emotionally exhausted by everything that’s going on right now? We’re all facing different kinds of life challenges during this time — • Isolation and loneliness; • Anxiety over health; • Grief; • Juggling work, childcare, and schooling responsibilities; • Financial strain or job loss; • Uncertainty about the future . . .
The list goes on. It’s no wonder we may be hit by pandemic fatigue. But you don’t have to go through it alone. If you or someone you care about is experiencing difficulties like these, our Stephen Ministers are ready to listen, care, encourage, and be there to offer support. A Stephen Minister will meet with you privately to focus on you and your needs. It’s free and completely confidential, and it offers real care, comfort, and hope. You can find out more by contacting Sandra Gramley, Congregational Care Ministry Assistant, at 336.724.6311 ext. 1352/sgramley@centenary-ws.org or Rev. Craig Ford (336) 831-5997, as well as Stephen Ministers Deena Morgan (336) 692-2314 or Wilba Brady (336) 723-6236.
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| children's ministry |
Activities for Advent While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. -Luke 2:6-7
A
Rev. Kate May
kmay@cetenary-ws.org
s you might expect a church staff member to say, I have been thinking a lot about Christmas this year. I have been thinking about how it will be different. I have been thinking about how we can re-imagine our typical offerings, and I have been thinking a lot about how to make the best of all of this stuff. What I keep coming back to is Mary and Joseph on that first Christmas. If I put myself in their place I imagine that it all happened differently than they had planned. I feel like they probably had to reimagine some of their plans and I am hopeful that they found ways to make the best of an unexpected situation. So, as Mary and Joseph did many years ago, let us find joy in the unexpected this Advent and Christmas season. In our December Oxygen Mask video, which is filled each month with ideas and encouragement for families, I lift up two ideas for families during this Advent season: The Star from Afar (if you made our woodblock nativity from Christmas Craft Night this set works great for this!) and an activity oriented Advent calendar. Check out the video and those resources by clicking on the image on the next page. This year for our Impromptu Christmas Pageant we are excited to share a virtual version of this event which will not only include readings from our current fifth graders, but along with the Christmas carols recorded by our amazing music ministry, we will celebrate the many years of this sweet event with a collage of pictures from pageants of years past. This video will be sent to your inbox on Sunday morning, December 20, so keep an eye out for it and enjoy it’s beauty and simplicity as we follow the star closer and closer to Bethlehem. Do your kids love to dress up as a part of the pageant? Be thinking now about what costumes you could create for your kids to wear as they watch! Or print and color these fun nativity masks! Just click on the Nativity Masks image on the next page.
We have all kinds of fun in store for everyone for Christmas Eve! In addition to the offerings from the larger church, Children’s ministry will be sharing two additional offerings for your Christmas Eve celebrations! In the morning at 10 am we will be hosting a Zoom Preschool Pajama Party! We hope that our young friends will join us in their coziest pajamas for a time of music and story-telling to start the day off on the right slippered foot! Watch your email for all the details on how to join the party! We will also be sharing a pre-recorded version of the Children’s Christmas Eve service during which Glenn and I will explore the Christmas story in a super fun and child-friendly way, interspersed with Christmas carols and of course ending with glow sticks. You may be thinking: “If this is virtual how can this include glow sticks?” Here’s the answer! You can sign up for a Christmas Eve Box! Just click the image on the next page and you can access our sign up form so that on December 20 from 4-5 pm you can drive through the 5th Street parking lot and receive your Christmas Eve box filled with all the goodies you’ll need for an amazing Christmas Eve experience! Make sure to sign up by Noon on Wednesday, December 16. You’ll also want to make sure you check out our Children’s Ministry Resources page throughout the month of December to find all kinds of great resources for your family as you celebrate Advent and Christmas together! To access, just click on the image on the next page. This Advent and Christmas season may be unexpected in the ways that we celebrate, but what a beautiful opportunity to continue to have special family time and have the opportunity to reach out to those who may be feeling isolated and alone. Our kindness challenge for the month? Find one person every day with whom you can share the hope and joy of God’s love coming to earth in the shape of a person!
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To register for any of the events below, visit the Centenary website at www.centenary-ws.org and click on the Engage tab, or CLICK HERE.
ADVENT DEVOTIONS Mondays • Email Link For 2020, our Advent Devotions will come to you each Monday via an email blast link in sets of five. Devotions will be from laity and staff. The devotions offer you opportunities Monday through Friday to reflect upon our journey to the manger. Each Saturday, you are encouraged to create your own devotion. Then, each Sunday, our 11am Live Stream worship will get us ready for the next week. For questions, contact Rev. Bret Cogan.
CHECK-IN with SUSANNAH Mondays • November 30 & December 7, 14, 21 • 1pm-2pm • Zoom Rev. Susannah Pittman invites you to six, stand-alone sessions where we will Check-in with one another. Each session will offer a scripture passage to center and guide the conversation as we seek to offer support and care during this season. Sign up by clicking on the Engage tab on the Centenary website and look for this event. For more information, contact Rev. Susannah Pitmman (336-7246311 ext. 1357).
COFFEE BREAK with DOUG PENINGER Every Other Wednesday • 10:15am • Zoom
Join Director of Communications, Doug Peninger, as he welcomes special co-hosts and friends to a 30-minute coffee break. Sign up by clicking on the Engage tab on the Centenary website. For more information, contact Doug Peninger (336.724-6311 ext. 1386). December 2 • Jonathan Emmons is our guest as he shares all things related to music ministry and most imporant, the upcoming, virtual Lessons & Carols. December 16 • Rev. Dr. P. Glenn Kinken III joins the coffee break as we draw close to Christmas and the year end. He will be sharing how we will worship for Christmas Eve.
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| adult formation |
Live Into the Light
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Rev. Bret Cogan
bcogan@centenary-ws.org
he Saturday following Thanksgiving was the day we put up the Christmas tree in my childhood home. We did not celebrate the season of Advent as a family, so this marked the beginning of our journey toward Christmas. My mother loved decorating the tree and she was in charge of the ornaments, but always left a few for me to place. The one thing she didn’t like to do was hang the lights, so that task was left to my stepfather and then passed to me when I got to middle school. We agreed on most of the basics of decorating, it was always a fresh tree, we always used colored lights that did not twinkle, silver tinsel, but no popcorn… due to the year we discovered our beloved beagle, Sheba, loved popcorn and pulled down the tree in her attempt to eat every last kernel! The one aspect of decorating where there were differing opinions was on what went on top of the tree. Each year it came down to a choice, and I use that word loosely, between an angel or a star. More often than not it was an angel, even though I was, and still am, more of a star person. So now on top of the tree in my home you will find a star surrounded by white lights, that do not twinkle and my collection of ornaments with no tinsel or popcorn! During this season, when the days are growing shorter and our nights skies clearer, the stars shine brightly calling us to follow the Light the ChristChild brings to our world. Light is central to who I understand God to be and how God moves in my life. Light is one of the characteristics of God that speaks deeply into my faith and movement through the darkness of my life. That has been especially true this year. Light is where God began in the beginning (Genesis 1:1-4). Jesus’ coming is the light that shines in the darkness and which the darkness cannot overcome (John 1:5). Jesus also taught us we are the light of the world and our lives are to shine so people can see the good that God is doing (Matthew 5:14-16). As a Methodist leaning Quaker, I still hold dear the belief there is a light within us all, and it is this light that will lead us from those places of darkness we know as fear, loneliness, heartache and sadness. This light, also known and experienced as the Holy Spirit, beckons us to follow the starlight of this season, light that cuts through all that has happened to make this year one like no other.
During Advent, each Monday, you will be receiving a devotion guide with five readings for Monday through Friday. On Saturday, I hope you will take time as families and individuals to ponder the meaning of this season and what the coming of the One we know as the Christ-Child means in your life. My intention is that we will use our Saturdays during Advent to remember moments when each of us felt the wonder of this season, using this a as reminder that the darkness of this year cannot extinguish our joy. Each Sunday the faith formation lesson will follow and reflect the sermons from Glenn as we consider what it means for us to follow the star in our journey to Christmas. As I have begun my own Advent preparation, the scripture that I was drawn to was not specifically all that “Christmassy.” What I felt lead to read and ponder were the words of creation, Genesis 1:1-5 specifically…
“When God began to create the heavens and the earth—the earth was without shape or form, it was dark over the deep sea, and God’s wind swept over the waters—God said, “Let there be light.” And so light appeared. God saw how good the light was. God separated the light from the darkness. God named the light Day and the darkness Night. There was evening and there was morning: the first day”. In these verses I hear a calm whisper, a loving invitation to let the events of this past year fade into the darkness behind us. I feel a gentle pull to move into the light God has created and continues to renew within the darkness of our lives and within our world. God’s desire is for us to live into the light and allow the light of God’s love and grace to extinguish our darkness, our fears, regrets, sorrow, and loss as we begin again our journey of faith following the stars of Advent and beyond.
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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. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mary Ann Wexler (336.724-6311 ext. 1346)/mwexler@centenary-ws.org. (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 Charles Schwab information listed below. Always be sure to notify Centenary when you authorize an electronic transfer of securities.
Charles Schwab Account # 2184 0742 DTC # 0164
SAVE THE DATE The 15th Annual Love Thy Neighbor fashion show will be coming your way on Saturday, February 20, 2021 and it will be all-virtual. February 20 15th Annual All-Virtual
Look for more information in the January/February issue of Through Centenary Windows. There will be new and exciting ways for you to partcipate. For more information, contact Tammy Pollock (tpollock@centenary-ws.org). “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' Matthew 22
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2021 Pledge Update
| stewarship |
As we continue to muddle through this time of COVID my message to you is a huge THANK YOU.
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any of you have been faithful givers to the church for years and for that we are sincerely grateful. When we made the decision to rollover annual pledges from 2020 to the same amount for 2021 because of COVID-19, I was surprised and pleased with the outpouring of support from our members. Several of you have increased your pledge for 2021 which is most welcome given that some of our folks have understandably had to reduce their annual pledge. I have heard from many of you the appreciation for the ongoing work of the staff at Centenary during this time. Several have taken on extra duties and no one has complained. The staff has worked extra hard to continue programs in new ways to accommodate a virtual world. They have also worked hard to find ways to re-engage in person while practicing safety measures to keep you well. Finally, our incredible maintenance crew has worked non-stop to enhance our facilities. The level of care given to our buildings and our landscaping from our staff has been quite impressive. As noted above, unless you have contacted our office, your pledge for 2020 will continue on as the same pledge for 2021. If you choose not to pledge, I would like to understand why and encourage you to join us in making a financial gift to your church. Our budget for 2021 will remain substantially flat and we continue to rely on contributions to pay our bills. As I write this article mid November, our total pledged for 2021 stands at $2,894,558 which is $17,825 less than what was pledged for 2020. This is due to the adjustments to pledges I noted earlier. We still have a significant number of our members who choose to not pledge. How great would it be if more of our members supported our church financially? How wonderful
it would be to be able to put more dollars to ministry and outreach. If you would like to adjust your current pledge, please contact me via email at mwexler@centenary-ws. org, give me a call at 336724-6311 x 1346 or visit our website at centenaryws.org to make an online pledge. As you have heard time and time again, we are in this together. ď Ž
Mary Ann Wexler
mwexler@centenary-ws.org
TOGETHER We will continue to make Centenary a vital source of God's love as we restore programs, bring others to know Christ and care for each other in the coming days ahead.
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New Members We welcome you in Christian love...
Pete Driscoll & Jo May
...we renew our covenant faithfully to participate in the ministries of the church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness, that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
Gifts can be dropped off on Friday, December 4 from 9 am - 1 pm, Sunday, December 6 from 1 - 5 pm, and Monday, December 7 from 11:30 am - 3:30 pm by coming by The Haven. Volunteers will collect the gifts from your car and bring them inside. More specifics about gift drop-off will be sent to you when you sign up for an angel. In addition to your gifts, we are looking for volunteers. Volunteers are needed to shop for sponsored angels, assist with gift drop-off and organizing, as well as getting gifts to our partner organizations. If you are interested in volunteering for any of these roles or have any questions regarding the Angel Tree, contact Jeanette Juran (jjuran@centenary-ws.org/336724-6311 ext. 1332). We are excited to continue supporting kids in our community through this ministry.
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The Sanctuary during Advent DECEMBER 2020 | 27 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
| youth ministry |
Still Waiting
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Tammy Pollock
tpollock@cetenary-ws.org
unday night, outside the Target on Hanes Mall Blvd., a gaggle of masked teenagers gathered. You could see passersby’s giving us ‘side eye’ as they walked past us, wondering what in the world was going on. Once all our youth arrived, we divided into teams, each team was given the name of a little Angel Tree angel and details of all their Christmas wishes. After each team connected with their adult chaperone, ‘met’ their little angel, and made a plan, they were off and excited to purchase all the things that would fulfill the hopes of these sweet little people. There was so much joy within our group! This is an annual event for our Youth Ministry and one that everyone loves. But this year, that joy and goodness was even more palpable than usual…in a time and space where we are so limited to what we can do together due to Covid-19 guidelines, this moment felt ‘normal.’ We’ve been waiting, waiting for something to feel normal for a long time. And then there was Wednesday evening, when I closed my laptop after finishing the last of our Confirmation Interviews and smiled. Hours and hours spent in the ZOOM-room talking and listening to each of our Confirmands think about the Way of Jesus and their hope in living out their faith. This class has had anything but the normal Confirmation experience, and yet, they have navigated it with grace. We began our journey together in January, in-person, only to pivot quickly to online classes in mid-March. Every week these young believers would show up in the ZOOM-room as we tried to make their Confirmation experience as flawless and effortless as possible. And, even though we offered the best we could during this strange Coronavirus season, they still waited, with great expectation, that we would soon be able to be together and they would get to have their Confirmation service in-person. Friday, our Youth Ministry team sent out sixty-five care packages to our college church babies. We sent them these packages to remind them that even though they
are no longer in middle school and high school, they still are ours and we love them. We see the struggle and difficult these days are for them as they navigate college in a whole new and unexpected way. We know they long for a ‘normal’ college experience. If we weren’t in these strange times, they would get a college care package in time for their exams, so why not now? Why make them wait for something they would ordinarily receive from their church family even if they are at home or in an apartment doing their classes online? Our neighbors, our sweet Love Thy Neighbor neighbors, they too are waiting. Waiting and asking when we will be able to have time with them again. They have been greatly impacted by all that has happened in our world. They are perhaps the most vulnerable to Covid-19. We have partnered with City with Dwellings, Shalom Project, and filled Blessing Boxes all around town to help those who we have come to love and those we don’t know. Even though we haven’t been with our neighbors the way we always have been, we continue to love them well from a distance…waiting with great expectation for the day we will be able to all be together, eating lunch, playing BINGO, and offering them free medical care. So, why do I tell you all these things? Because as I write this, we are entering into the season of Advent. Advent, the time in the life of the church where we wait, we anticipate, we hope for the Savior of the world to come into place, into view, for His arrival. I always look forward to this season of anticipation, wonder, and hope. However, Advent always before seemed to be juxtaposed to our culture that drives us to do more, get more, have more. But not this year. This year it seems we have been in a perpetual time of waiting, haven’t we? In fact, we still are waiting...waiting for things to get back to normal, hoping for a cure and vaccine for Covid-19, and longing for the news cycle to settle down...all as we enter into the Advent season which invites us to continue to wait. It’s so surreal. I don’t know about you, but I have been listening intently and waiting for the Lord to reveal to me the mysteries of this time. I have sat with this passage for the last many days:
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“But as for me, I will look to the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.” Micah 7:7
This passage comes after the famous words of Micah that reminds us that God wants us to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with him. It also reminds us that our relationship with God is like a walk, that our faith isn’t something we someday arrive at, but a lifelong journey that brings us closer with God and with each other. For me, that walk, that journey, that hope, it involves a lot of waiting! This season of Coronavirus and the Christmas season are about waiting and hoping. If we are willing to ask God, He will give us the grace to put this time of waiting into perspective.
Walking alongside our young Confirmands, seeing our youth continue to look for ways to serve others during our waiting, knowing our teenagers are navigating new waters in their education; has been a deep source of encouragement and inspiration to me. One of my favorite speakers and writers, Louie Giglio, says, “God will help us remember how loved we are and how faithful He is. If we wait expectantly on Him.” That is how we have been living out these past days in our Youth Ministry, and the way we will continue to live into the days to come. My friends, I hope you will join alongside our church babies, let us wait together, let us hope and anticipate that the Lord, our God, He is hearing us, He is waiting with us in this season, and He will provide for us the salvation of our souls.
Scenes from Angel Tree shopping and Blessing Box.
CENTENARY
To love youth on behalf of Jesus in hopes of loving them to Jesus.
MINISTRY
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Memorials
We remember the saints who have gone before....
Centenary Fund
Sacred Music Fund
In memory of Peggy Wiggs Ayscue by Mimi & Carl Hine, Nancy & Jerry Warren. In memory of Reverend Rodney Cain Brown by Tom & Megan Lawson, Bobbi M. Caldwell, Margie W. Cashion. In memory of William "Bill" Caldwell by Bobbi M. Caldwell. In memory of George W. Chandler, Jr. by the Chapel Class, Tom & Vicki Hunt. In memory of Bernice Hughston Clayton by Margie W. Cashion. In memory of Julia Speas Davis by Stephen Robertson. In memory of Sarah Sue Ferrell by Josephine & Bobby Vance, Brenda Maready & Brenn Kennedy, Angela Breeden, Mrs. Douglas Dillard. In memory of Kathleen “Kathie” Lee Hoyle Masten by Louise Nixon. In memory of Anne Marlette by Jane M. Martin. In memory of Beverly Bunn Michaux by Mrs. J. Robert Elster. In memory of Clifford "Cliff" Webster Perry, Jr. by Ellen & Bill Parsley. In memory of Daphne Ann Campbell Robinson by Circle 3, Sandra & Wayne Shugart. In memory of F. Nelson Tomlinson by Marjorie Hoots, Mr. & Mrs. Sam Ogburn, Sr, State Farm Insurance Companies, Karen & John Turpin.
In memory of Bob L. Myers by Christine Myers. In memory of Margaret “Minnie” Louise Smith Pittard by Ellen Crowther, Doris C. Hawkins, Lillian & Jim Lawrence, George & Jackie Norman, Claudia & John O’Hale, Reggie & Dianne Parker, Linda & David Smith, Sandra & Wayne Shugart, Gaither & Steve Velker, John & Ann Wood.
Stephen Ministry In memory of Larry Lee Hutchens by Wilba P. Brady.
General Fund In memory of Clifford "Cliff" Webster Perry, Jr. by Judy Booker and Elizabeth Perry. In memory of Arthur & Dorothy Klinger by Tim & Peggy Klinger.
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In Memoriam Judith Adkins Thompson September 19, 2020
Sarah Sands September 29, 2020
Sara Sue Ferrell September 29, 2020
F. Nelson Tomlinson, Jr. October 20, 2020
Julia Speas Davis November 3, 2020
The ministers and members of Centenary Church extend their deepest sympathy to the bereaved families and pray they may know the comfort and peace of our Heavenly Father.
Honoraria
We celebrate the kingdom of God among us...
Building Fund
Sacred Music Fund
Simplify
In honor of Dexter Chip Campbell lll by Old Dominion Freight Lines, Inc.
In honor of Jonathan Emmons by Sharon Shealy.
In honor of Eddie Pollock by Elizabeth “Beth” Wilson.
Celebration Class
Senior Adult Ministry
Youth Ministry
In honor of Barbara Sterchi by Marie Hathcock.
In honor of Janet & Craig Ford by Bob & Ann King.
In honor of Tammy Pollock by Elizabeth “Beth” Wilson.
General Fund In honor of Jean Sohmer by Sammie & Darrell Garner.
Senior Minister's Discretionary Fund
Loaves & Fishes
In honor of Reverend Dr. P. Glenn Kinken lll by Sharon Shealy, Daniel S. Stokes.
In honor of Marianne Bach by Susan & William Lauer. In honor of Velna Pollock by Susan & William Lauer.
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| congregational care |
Send Back the Song
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usic has played a formative and transformative role in my faith journey, especially during the seasons of Advent and Christmas. Hymns such as “Joy to the World”, “Angels We Have Heard on High”, and “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” capture the joy of the coming and arrival of Christ. Over the years, however, I have also developed an appreciation for some of the “quieter” carols of the season. These songs with gentle melodies and contemplative lyrics offer a different perspective of this season of preparation and anticipation. They give voice to the longing and weariness that we may be experiencing in our hearts, and they ground us in the steadfast and enduring hope we have in Christ.
Rev. Susannah Pittman
spittman@centenary-ws.org
One such carol that has especially resonated with me this year is “It Came upon the Midnight Clear”. Written in 1849 by Edmund Sears, the lyrics reflect the hardships and social strife of Sears’ context. Sears particularly articulates this pain and weariness in the following stanza:
And ye, beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow,look now! For glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing. O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing! These lyrics acknowledge the “weary road” on which we may journey as we follow the star. Indeed, for many of us, we may be experiencing a sense of weariness as we begin this season of Advent. Our hearts may feel burdened by grief, anxiety, sadness, longing, loneliness, frustration, and fatigue. The traditions to which we are accustomed for observing this season may have been disrupted, or perhaps festivities and cheer seem incongruent with our daily realities. Following the star may feel “slow” and “painful," in the words of Sears.
Even if—or especially if—our journey feels wearisome, the Good News of Advent and Christmas is for us. Just as Christ was born in the midst of humble and imperfect circumstances, so, too, does Christ come to us in our lives, even if our circumstances feel imperfect or challenging. We do not have to have our homes perfectly decorated or be in a “festive” mood in order to receive and experience the hope, love, peace, and joy that mark the Advent season. God meets us where we are, and as Sears reminds us in the carol, we are invited to “rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing!” As we journey together to follow the star, the Congregational Care ministry is offering opportunities to “rest beside the weary road.” Our Service of Hope and Healing, which will be a virtual worship experience on Sunday, December 13 at 5pm, will be a time to reflect upon and experience Christ’s peace, comfort, and hope in the midst of our pain, sorrow, and hardships. The Shining Light on Mental Health Committee is hosting a virtual “Let’s Have Lunch” event on December 3 from Noon until 1pm; at this event, Dr. Kinken and I will explore ways that we can cultivate hope, love, peace, and joy in this unique Advent. To center ourselves in Scripture and offer support and care for one another, I will be hosting virtual “Check-In” sessions during the Tuesdays in Advent (December 1, 8, 15, and 22) at Noon. Our Stephen Ministers and pastoral staff are also available to provide individual support and care. You are not alone in your journey. While the lyrics of “It Came upon the Midnight Clear” acknowledge the weariness we may experience in life, they also ground us in the hope we have in Christ. The final stanza looks forward to the time “when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendor fling, and the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing.” The One who is coming and to whom the star is guiding us is the Prince of Peace, the Savior of the world. The Light of Christ shines in the darkness and cannot be extinguished. May we find rest, comfort, and hope in the Good News of Christ as we travel the weary road, so that we may be like the angels and “send back the song” of Good News to our world.
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| senior minister |
A Road Trip
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Rev. Dr. Glenn Kinken gkinken@centenary-ws.org
ne year in college, my closest friends and I decided to go camping on the Outer Banks for Spring Break. It was a great plan. On the ferry ride to Ocracoke the weather was perfect – high 70s, clear, sunny. As we took the ferry from Ocracoke to Hatteras, we noticed a few clouds on the far horizon but thought nothing of them (foreshadowing). As we were setting up our tents later that evening, we noticed flashes of lightening off in the distance. A little while later we could hear rumblings of thunder as the flashes moved closer. As we were about to turn in for the night, a mighty wind rushed out of the northeast, rain fell incessantly, the thunder roared, and the temperature began to drop. By two in the morning the rain had stopped, but the wind continued to howl, uprooted tent stakes, and caused general disarray in our campsite. In the gray light of the morning, we shivered as the temperature hovered in the high forties and the wind continued to blow mightily and without care. We surveyed our camp and considered our options for the day. At some point in our discernment one of our crew simply said, “Let’s drive north and see what there is to see.” With those words an epic journey began. Major stops on this journey began with the following sentences: “I’ve never been to Jockey’s Ridge;” “Let’s cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge;” “I’m not paying that much to cross back over the Bay Bridge. What’s north of here;” “Have you ever been to Annapolis;” “While we are here, we might as well go to DC;” and “Let’s go to the White House and see if we can catch a glimpse of the President (and we did!)” We set upon a journey earlier this year beginning with the Wesley Covenant Prayer and sharing dreams and visions for our church. It was a great plan. Unbeknownst to us at the time, clouds were gathering on the far horizon. The mighty storm of the COVID
pandemic rushed in and leaving our plans and lives in great disarray. Our journey has been marked by phrases such as: “Let’s try this…;” “Since we can’t do Tenebrae, what if we tried a virtual Stations of the
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Cross;” “Virtual Sunday School is possible;” “We may not be able to gather for lunch, but the Senior Adults can do gatherings by Zoom;” “Let’s offer a virtual faith formation option to accompany virtual worship;” “Why not renovate the staff offices;” “Virtual VBS it is;” “Let’s offer Prayers of the People on Wednesdays;”
each week, and celebrate.” This journey in ministry has been like no other. Each week our staff team refines the plans we have made for the week and we look ahead on the calendar to make plans for the coming weeks and months. We know the winds of the pandemic continue to blow and our plans must continue to adapt. Advent itself is a journey. It is marked by candles of Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, with Christ tying them all together. The journey is marked by plans-- great plans – for events, worship services, decorations, lights, and, familiar, soul inspiring music. The mighty wind of the pandemic has rushed into the neat and orderly camp of our traditional Advent plans and tossed things about. This will be an Advent like no other. The waypoints on this year’s Advent journey will be preceded by sentences such as: “We can do Lessons and Carols virtually. Sure it will look a bit different, but the carols and the lessons are the same;” “We must offer some hope and healing for a world that mourns not only those who have died, but also the loss of dreams and visions of life as we know it. Yes, and since some may not feel safe coming out, let’s offer a live and pre-recorded option;” “We can produce an Advent devotional guide;” “The Christmas Eve basics are—coming to the sanctuary; Holy Communion; hearing St. Luke’s Christmas account; hearing Silent Night, and holding a candle. We can do this;” and “For those who want a children’s worship or more traditional worship option on Christmas Eve let’s pull out the stops and develop a virtual offering for them that reminds them of the familiar.” As I think about our Advent journey this year and how it is being disrupted, I think about the Christmas story itself and how the mighty wind of God’s Holy Spirit disrupted life as it was known. Mary and Joseph had one set of plans for their life together. The shepherds in the field had plans to watch their sheep in the fields. The inn keeper was busy. The inn was full. The Magi watched the night sky and dispensed wisdom. They all had plans – great plans. But God intervened. Their journeys were marked by sentences such as: “Do not be afraid, you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son and you are to call him Jesus;” “She placed him in a manger because there was not room for them in the inn;” “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, he is the Messiah, the Lord;” and “Where is the one born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” In each instance, their lives were disrupted by the Holy Spirit. They followed Jesus’ natal star as they were led to His side. There is no doubt about it. This year’s Advent journey is disrupted. But God is with us. If we follow the star. If we listen with our hearts to the whispers of God’s gentle Spirit, the journey will bring us to the manger. It will be a journey we talk about for years to come.
“We are still going to offer the Roots Revival! Costume service albeit, prerecorded;” “Let’s offer a drive through back-pack blessing;” and “Now that we can resume in-person worship, let’s celebrate baptisms, holy communion, or receive new members
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(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
While away from our church home, we invite you to worship with Centenary on your computer, smart TV, smartphone, tablet, or whatever electronic device that has access to the Internet. Our Live Stream worship will be there for you. Be sure to sign in so we may be in connection with you. Join us for worship each Sunday at 11:00 am. www.centenary-ws.org/live-stream