FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY • JANUARY 29, 2023 • 9:00AM
THE COMMUNITY GATHERS
The gathering music signifies the beginning of worship. You are invited to be in a spirit of prayer and meditation. Please silence all mobile communication devices.
† Please stand as you are able
GATHERING MUSIC GREETING
†OPENING PRAYER
Creator God, who in the beginning commanded the light to shine out of the darkness, we pray that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ may dispel the darkness of ignorance and unbelief. Shine into the hearts of all your people, and reveal the knowledge of your glory in the face of Christ our Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE — Matthew 5:21-37 (pew Bible New Testament page 5)
This is the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.
SERMON — “The Greater Good” OFFERTORY Heart of the Matter — Don Henley
WE RENEW OUR COMMITMENT
†DOXOLOGY
#95 Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow — OLD 100th Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
†PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Receive these offerings, O Lord. We give you thanks for the blessings which you have bestowed upon us. We pray these gifts, the employment of our talents, the labor of our hands, the prayers of our hearts, and the witness of our lives will show the world the magnitude of your love and grace. Let us put you first in our lives. Use us this week to build your Kingdom. We ask this in the name of Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever more. Amen.
WE GO AS GOD’S PEOPLE INTO THE WORLD
†
HYMN
†
#402 Lord, I Want to be a Christian — I WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is the one true church, apostolic and universal, whose holy faith let us now declare:
We believe in God the Father, infinite in wisdom, power, and love, whose mercy is over all his works, and whose will is ever directed to his children’s good. We believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of man, the gift of the Father’s unfailing grace, the ground of our hope, and the promise of our deliverance from sin and death. We believe in the Holy Spirit as the divine presence in our lives, whereby we are kept in perpetual remembrance of the truth of Christ, and find strength and help in time of need. We believe that this faith should manifest itself in the service of love as set forth in the example of our blessed Lord, to the end that the kingdom of God may come upon the earth. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
†HYMN
#557 Blest Be the Tie That Binds — DENNIS
†BENEDICTION
†
BENEDICTION RESPONSE
Emmanuel — Kenneth Wilmot Sr. Emanuel, Emanuel, his name is called Emanuel. God with us, revealed in us. His name is called Emanuel. Let every heart prepare him room. O come, O come Emanuel. God with us, revealed in us. His name is called Emanuel.
†CELEBRATION
MUSIC
Thank you for joining us in worship today.
PARTICIPANTS IN WORSHIP
MUSIC
WELCOME!
The congregation and staff of Centenary welcome you to today’s worship.
It is our honor to have you with us! Our ministers, staff, welcome team and ushers are happy to assist you with any questions you may have. We hope our worship will inspire, comfort and challenge you as we hear God’s message proclamed through preaching, music, prayer and liturgy.
WORSHIP AT CENTENARY
SUNDAYS
9:00 am • Memorial Auditorium 11:00 am • Sanctuary
MEMBERSHIP
We are eager to share Centenary’s story with you. If you are interested in learning about church membership, please contact Rev. Meg Peters (336-724-6311 ext. 1361)/mpeters@ centenary-ws.org to schedule a time to meet.
WATCH
Each Sunday morning, our 11:00 am worship service is broadcast on the Internet through our Live Stream. Visit www.centenary-ws.org. Once there, scroll to the bottom of the home page and click on either Live Stream or the Live Stream arrow.
HEARING LOOP
Our Sanctuary is fitted with a Hearing Loop system. Please switch your hearing device to T-coil. If you need a listening device, please contact one of our ushers. Be sure to sit in the pews located on the floor of the Nave.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CENTENARY
There is always something happening at Centenary and we invite you to join us. To learn more about Centenary ministries and events, visit our website at www.centenary-ws.org. You may also contact our receptionist who will guide you to the appropriate ministry area.
STAY CONNECTED
Reception Desk • 336-724-6311
ANNOUNCEMENTS • JANUARY 29, 2023
Learn more and register for events at www.centenary-ws.org/engage
CELEBRATIONS & CONCERNS
Today we celebrate the baptism of Marshall Vance Edwards, son of Tripp and Anne Tyson Edwards and brother of Nathaniel (2).
ALTAR GUILD
FLOWER VASES NEEDED
The Altar Guild is looking for vases with which to distribute flowers to our congregation each week. If you would like to donate a vase, please bring them to desk at the 4 ½ St. entrance on Sunday morning or between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday-Thursday. Thank you!
ADULT FORMATION
WEEKLY LENTEN WORSHIP TUESDAYS • FEBRUARY 28-APRIL 4 • NOON • SANCTUARY
Join us in the Sanctuary each Tuesday of Lent at Noon for a 30-minute musical presentation. Each week will feature a different musician or ensemble. Musicians include the New Day Singers of Greensboro, Joshua Sobel (Centenary’s Organ Scholar), and Corine Brouwer (Winston-Salem Symphony Concertmaster). Join us as we prepare our hearts during this season of reflection and contemplation. For questions or more information, please contact Jonathan Emmons (jemmons@ centenary-ws.org). No registration required.
CONGREGATIONAL CARE
STEPHEN MINISTRY
In the beginning, a Care Receiver said of her situation, “I don’t know if can do this.” At the end of her time together with a Stephen Minister, she said, “I have hope, and I feel I can do this now.” That’s what a caring relationship is all about--someone facing a struggle getting over the hump. Stephen Ministry can be life-changing.
CENTENARY LEADERSHIP CONNECTIONS
Reverend Dr. P. Glenn Kinken III ext. 1362
Senior Minister
Mary Ann Wexler ext. 1346
Executive Director
Jonathan Emmons ext. 1339
Director of Music Ministries
Reverend R. Craig Ford ext. 1353
Associate Minister
Reverend Kate May ext. 1331
Associate Minister with Children
Reverend Meg Peters ext. 1361
Assoc. Minister of Evangelism, Engagement & Missions
Reverend Susannah Pittman ext. 1357
Associate Minister of Congregational Care
& Adult Formation
Tammy Pollock ext. 1337
Director of Youth Ministries
Rick Gibbons ext. 1342
Congregational Care Assistant
Stacy Holley ext. 1359
Exec. Assistant to Senior Minister
John Markle ext. 1347
Director of Operations
Doug Peninger ext. 1368
Director of Communications
John Rogers ext. 1356
Director of Information Technology
CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 646 W. FIFTH STREET • WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27101
WWW.CENTENARY-WS.ORG • 336-724-6311
If you or someone you know could benefit from Stephen Ministry, please contact Deena Morgan (336-692-2314), Wilba Brady (336-723-6236), Rev. Craig Ford (336-724-6311 ext. 1353) or Rev. Susannah Pittman (336-724-6311 ext. 1357).
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
BIBLE BONANZA
SUNDAY • FEBRUARY 26 • 5-6:45 PM
We want our 3rd and 4th graders to continue to grow in their relationship with God through reading the Bible so we invite them to participate in our Bible Bonanza on Sunday, February 26 from 5-6:45 pm. This is an Escape Room style adventure and dinner with friends. Cost is $15/student and registration will open through Realm and on the Engage Page of the church website on January 31. Mark your calendar now! Questions? Contact Kate May (kmay@centenary-ws.org/ext. 1331)
YOUTH MINISTRY
EVENTS
•January 29: Combined Youth Group look for more details in the weekly email
•January 31: Youth Basketball @7:00pm vs The Street School
MISSIONS
WINTER OVERFLOW SHELTER
NOW – MARCH 28
This vital ministry provides persons experiencing homelessness a meal and a warm place to sleep, and we are honored to be a partner with City with Dwellings in this effort. Centenary furnishes transportation from the check-in site to the overflow shelter on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings. We are in need of drivers and ridealongs. Ride-alongs help with boarding the busses and serve as an extra pair of eyes for drivers. To volunteer as a driver or a ride-along, please contact Rev. Meg Peters mpeters@centenary-ws.org/ext. 1361) or sign-up on our Engage Page.
MUSIC & THE ARTS
BRAHMS’ GERMAN REQUIEM
Please join us on Sunday, February 26 at 4:00 pm as the Centenary Chancel Choir and the Greensboro Symphony Master Chorale present this masterwork in our sanctuary. A requiem for humankind, Brahms’ opus focuses on bringing comfort to the living soul, a perfect accompaniment to our most contemplative of seasons: Lent. Admission is free.
JOIN THE CENTENARY CHANCEL CHOIR
Thinking about New Year’s resolutions? Consider joining the Centenary Chancel Choir! The choir is the heart of the weekly 11 am worship service and sings a wide range of choral repertoire. Open to high-schoolers and adults of all ages, the choir includes members from a variety of musical backgrounds and levels of experience. All are welcome and no audition is required! Join us as we seek to equip and empower the congregation to lift its collective heart and voice in worship and praise. Rehearsals every Thursday from 7:00 – 8:30 pm.
CHILDREN’S MUSIC & ART NIGHT CONTINUES IN JANUARY – NEW PARTICIPANTS WELCOME!
Children ages 2 through 6th grade are invited to join us every Thursday night from 5:00-6:35 pm for Children’s Music & Art Night. Programming includes choir, handbells, handchimes, Kindermusik, art and more! Dinner (suggested $5 donation) is available from 4:30-6:30pm. Adult supervision is required for dinner. (Children ages 2-3 are dismissed at 5:40, and those participants require adult accompaniment.) Current participants need not register; the QR code below will direct new participants to the registration form. For more information, please contact Music Ministry Assistant, Virginia Sheffield (vsheffield@ centenary-ws.org).
SIGN UP NOW FOR CHILDREN’S
MUSIC & ART CAMP
JULY 17 - 20, 2023
•February 1: Confirmation @6:00pm – Topic: The Story
•February 3: 6ers go Skating 6:45pm meet @ Skateland USA in Clemmons (look for more details in the weekly email)
For more information or to sign up to receive Youth Ministry updates by email, contact Tammy Pollock (tpollock@centenary-ws.org). Follow us on Instagram @centenary_youth.
Y
OUTH GROUP JANUARY 29
Tonight, we will be meeting at the Winston Salem Street School (630 W 6th Street #101). We will be cooking a meal to be served to the students at the Street School for lunch the next day. Join us along with the Youth Group of St. Paul’s for this wonderful opportunity to build relationships in our Winston-Salem community.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Join us every Sunday at 10:00 am on the fourth floor for ALL youth Sunday School taught by our Associate Director of Youth Ministries, Andrew Epermanis. There will be snacks and fellowship before the lesson every week! As we journey through Christmastide, Epiphany, and the beginning of the Confirmation season, we invite you to join us as we take a long, loving look at Jesus’ life as we see it lived out through Luke’s eyes.
CONFIRMATION
Confirmation by definition is faith formation, one part of a life-long journey. We have designed an incredible Confirmation process to help our 7th grade youth begin to claim their faith as their very own. Through our Confirmation ministry you will have opportunities, be given tools, support, and the inspiration you need to build your faith on a firm foundation. Registration is now open. Check the Youth Announcements for more details.
LOVE THY NEIGHBOR
We are so excited to be starting back our Love Thy Neighbor Ministry for the year! One Sunday a month, the youth and other church volunteers work together to provide a hot meal and medical clinic for our homeless and marginally housed neighbors from all around Winston. This is a beautiful time of community building that we hope you will feel called to join us for. LTN takes place from 12 pm – 2 pm (with set up beginning at 11 am) on the following Sundays:
•February 5, 2023
•March 5, 2023
•April 16, 2023
•May 7, 2023
OPEN FLOWER DATES
A wonderful way to honor or remember a loved one, friend, group, birthday, or anniversary is by providing flowers in our Sanctuary for Sunday morning services. Our Flower Calendar has several open dates available: January 29, 2023, March 19, 2023, July 16, 2023, and August 6, 2023. If you are interested, please contact Paige Morgan Foy (pmorganfoy@centenary-ws.org).
CREATED
BY GOD MARCH 3-4
Our 4th and 5th graders have growing and changing bodies, hearts, and minds. March 3-4 we will be offering our annual Created by God weekend for these growing 4th and 5th graders and their grown ups. Cost is $40/student. Registration opens January 31 through Realm and the Engage page of the church website. Space is limited so make sure to register early. Questions? Contact Kate May (kmay@centenary-ws.org/ext. 1331)
CMA Camp is offered for infants through rising 5th grade. Offerings include singing, handbells, handchimes, creative movement, art, Kindermusik, and more! Snack is provided daily. The week ends with a camper-led worship service on Thursday at 12:30 pm followed by refreshments. Don’t miss out on this fun-filled week! The QR code below will direct you to the registration form. For more information, please contact Music Ministry Assistant, Virginia Sheffield (vsheffield@centenary-ws.org).