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
OUR PAGES Table of Contents/Clergy and Staff ~~~~~~~~~~~ 2 Roots Revial Lenten Series ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 From the Editor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4 UMW May Meeting ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 Ministry Spotlight: Haiti Medical Mission~~~~~~ 6 Page Eight: Engaging Discipleship~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8 Restored: Lenten Study ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10 DAYBreak/Respite Care~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chruch Life App/New Member Spotlight ~~~~~~ Learning Through Play ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Discipleship Through Sacraments: Part 1 ~~~~~~ Hoops4Him ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Celebrations ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Discipleship & Music for Worship ~~~~~~~~~~~ The Haven: Back Pack Ministry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ God Moment/Social Connections ~~~~~~~~~~~ Live Stream/Pizza with the Pastors ~~~~~~~~~~ Christian Discipleship: My Journey ~~~~~~~~~~ Discipleship Through Sacraments: Part 2 ~~~~~~ Calendar ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Memorials ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Honoraria~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Closing Thoughts from Senior Minister~~~~~~~ Back Cover: Lenten Worship Services ~~~~~~~~
12 14 15 16 18 20 21 22 24 25 26 28 30 32 33 34 36
OUR COVER The “Baptism” window is located at the West transept balcony of the church. The scenes in this window precede Jesus’ ministry. John the Baptist is the central figure. He prophesied the Messiah’s coming and baptized Jesus in the River Jordan. John can be recognized by his rough clothing and his coat of camel’s hair. The River Jordan is also visible. The Holy Spirit is symbolized by the dove. The flames are also symbols of the Holy Spirit. You can learn more by reading Centenary United Methodist Church Symbols: The Story Told in Glass, Stone and Fabric.
Doug Peninger, Director of Communications dpeninger@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1368 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 MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 2 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 3 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
From the Editor
W
explore how significant these sacraments are.
elcome to the March/ April Through Centenary Windows. We have a journey of discipleship in store for you. As you know, Centenary recently began a journey with a new vision as we discover how to be a vibrant community of faith as we love God and neighbor in downtown Winston-Salem and throughout the region. Along with the new vision, we have adopted a set of eight core values. Beginning with this issue, we will explore these core values one at a time. This deep-dive into each value will hopefully offer several perspectives as to how we may live into the value and incorporate it into our faith journey. For this issue, we will be examining Engaging Discipleship. Our core value is defined as: 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. So you may ask yourself, how does this apply to me? In this issue we are presenting how different ministry areas define discipleship,
whether it is a feet-on-the-ground approach or a more cerebral approach. Discipleship can be defined in numerous ways, so I hope you will find our definitions to be inspirational. When the team sat down to plan this magazine, it was very important that we continue to hear from different voices. Nancy Cannon offers her journey of discpleship to us. It is a must-read that I know will inspire you. On the flip side, you will read about a ministry that perhaps you have never heard of. Can discipleship live on the basketball court? Absoultely! Learn how and what it’s all about by reading about Hoops4Him. Did you know that our two sacraments of Holy Communion and Baptism are part of our discipleship journey? Jeremy Pegram and Sarah Howell offer two articles as they
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 4 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
These are just a few of the exciting articles that I hope you will enjoy in this issue. Don’t forget, as we travel through this season of Lent, be sure to mark your calendars for all of the worship services we have planned as we journey together to the cross and then on to the celebration of resurrection. ¢ I’ll see you at Centenary,
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 5 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
| ministry spotlight |
Haiti Medical Mission A
Jeremy Pegram
jpegram@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1361
s I write this article a team of 16 individuals from Centenary and other area churches are gearing up to head to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on a week-long medical mission. While in Haiti the team will interface with Haiti Outreach Ministries that operates in CitĂŠ Soleil, a medical clinic in a community of 350,000 to 400,000 people. Many of the residents have no indoor plumbing and no electricity as Haiti is considered one of the, if not the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.
This medical mission team will spend five days working alongside a Haitian team serving 150 patients per day. They are expecting to serve newborns, persons in their 90’s and persons of all ages in between. The team will treat acute illnesses, malaria, Zika, diabetes, and hypertension. Unfortunately, many Haitians are susceptible to developing diabetic and hypertension due to their genetic makeup. Among the 16-member team there will be two family doctors, one pediatrician, and one ophthalmologist. This team will
(From left to Right): Tom Lawson, Laura Carmichael, Phil McKinley, Dee Hettinger, Tori Wilson, Megan Lawson, Barry Boyd, Alisa Brake, Elizabeth Pleasants, Joan Dugan, Shannon Rainey, David Rainey, Tom Cannon, Alyssa Arnold, Keith VanZandt, and Dede VanZandt.
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 6 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
be taking their own medical supplies and medications to distribute among their patients; however, the clinic’s pharmacy will have some medications to furnish to patients as well. The ophthalmologist will be conducting vision screenings and fitting patients for corrective lenses and has hopes of helping the clinic prepare to perform future eye surgeries. The team will depart on Saturday, February 5, 2017. Once in country they will travel a short distance to their lodging site, which is a small motel that has partnered with Haiti Outreach Ministries to host mission teams. The team will purchase breakfast and dinner at the motel and plans to support the local economy by purchasing items from nearby markets to pack for lunch. The team will spend their only Sunday in Haiti among the Haitian people in worship at one of the three protestant churches in the area. Two of those churches have thousands in attendance each week. Even though the primary emphasis is medicine, this team will also spend time in local schools. Some of the team members plan to paint educational paintings on classroom walls. The team will also have an opportunity
to visit an orphanage run by Haiti Outreach Ministries where they will share toys and clothing with the children. This medical mission team is thankful for the generous support of Centenary. Many prayers have been prayed over this team, and financial contributions have provided medications, travel insurance, and scholarships to some of the team members. The 2016 Christmas Eve offering which totaled $7,071.77 was sent directly to Haiti Outreach Missions and used to pay personal expenses and purchase medications and supplies. To God be the glory as that offering supported the operation of the medical clinic for an entire month. I am indebted to Dr. Tom Cannon, who provided much of the information shared in this article, and to Centenary, a church who loves God and loves neighbor. That love is expressed through the giving and generous spirit of all who participated in this mission and all who made it possible. Below is a listing of team members who chose to serve those among poorest the in our world. ¢
Editors Note: The team arrived home safely on Saturday, February 10. We thank them for their dedication and committment to this important ministry.
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 7 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
8 | feature |
Page Eight
A
s I think about engaging discipleship, I must confess, I am immediately filled with a sense of unworthiness. I think about the first 12 disciples and how they left everything they knew to follow Jesus. They became “fishers of men” and cast their nets upon a population filled with angst and uncertainty. What sacrifices did they make? What was their journey really like? What was it like to walk alongside Jesus and learn from his teachings?
Doug Peninger
dpeninger@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1334
Flash forward to modern times, yes 2017. A new president has just been inaugurated. We see new companies in the space race. Technology is everywhere from wristbands to transmission towers on the side of the highway disguised as trees. Cars can now drive “hands free”. We’ve witnessed Great Britain voting to exit from the European Union and we have seen the devastation of earthquakes in Italy, destroying centuries old cathedrals and villages. These examples only mention a few of the events over the last few months. Closer to home, our own Forsyth County is ranked as one of the largest food deserts in the country. When I consider what discipleship might mean, I went to the Internet. Yes, there are probably about as many definitions to discipleship found on Google as their might be individual definitions in the general population. For this search, within milliseconds, about 11,300,000 results were found. How can that be? Could there really be that many definitions or views on what discipleship really is?
For Centenary, one of our Core Values is Engaging Discipleship. By this, we mean that 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 both critical now and for the future of the Church. For me to make sense of discipleship and what it means to me, I believe a little faith journey is in order. To begin, I am thankful for my mother and her own faith journey, part of which was taking myself and my two brothers to church, in Charlotte, when we were babies. We grew up Baptist (no apologies) and were blessed by nurturing Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, youth and music leadership. One leader that I’ll always remember is Dorothy Dillon. “Miss Dillon” as we called her, was the fifth and sixth grade Sunday school teacher for years at Southside Baptist. She took this position very seriously and always had creative solutions for her instruction. Recently, as I was looking through some old things at my mother’s home, I came across a New Testament, given to me by Miss Dillon. Each student received one as they graduated up to the youth department. To tell the truth, I had not thought about the Testament or Miss Dillon in decades. But upon, reflection, she was an important part in my discipleship. Next on the list would be my youth director, Jim Kelly. He taught me how to share the love of Christ through song. It was he, who encouraged me to sing and study music. It was he and his wife, Becky, who became very important to me during some turbulent times of adolescence. One lesson I’ll never forget from them was to “turn the other cheek.” A third example I must share is David Pegg, former Director of Music and the Arts at Centenary. As many of you know, I was fortunate to serve as a section leader/soloist at Centenary for 17 years. Over that period of time, the amount of sacred literature covered is immeasurable. David would challenge
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 8 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
The anthem is all about the journey of the three magi to see the baby Jesus. I want to share with you the text. “Who knocks tonight so late?” the weary porter said. Three kings stood at the gate, each with a crown on head.
Engaging Discipleship, for me, has more often than not, come in the form of music, whether it is the melodic line or the written text. Being in the choir, means you sacrifice Sunday school options where a book study or more in depth discussion occur. I find comfort and solace in the message the composer wants to share with the singer and the audience. I know this may seem shallow, but it’s not. It’s simply how I respond, most times. Others find routes to discipleship that have nothing to do with choirs. Some people are more “feet on the ground”. With so many options in our own church, there is something for everyone. You may be a person who likes to do mission trips to Haiti. Maybe your thing is helping out at Love Thy Neighbor or DAYBreak/ Respite Care. Perhaps your discipleship involves intense Bible or book studies in small group or Sunday school settings. You might be the person who sees a need not currently being met and creates something totally new.
The serving man bowed down, the Inn was full, he knew. Said he, “In all this town is no fit place for you.” A light in the manger lit; there lay the Mother meek. This place is fit. Here is the rest we seek. Come, come. They loosed their latchet strings, so stood they all unshod “Come in, come in, ye kings, and kiss the feet of God.” The phrase, “kiss the feet of God” always reverberates for me. I recall in rehearsal how David would always have the choir approach this ending with tenderness and encouraged us to gently caress the words as to not “wake the baby.”
What matters in all of it is that your discipleship journey should be constantly moving forward. What is the next level or what is the next chapter you need, or I need, to discover to keep our faith growing? Is it joining a running group like “Run for God” or is it serving at the Overflow Shelter? Right now, for me, I’ve started “Run for God.” Where will this chapter take me? I’m not sure. This I do know, it will be revealed to me when I am ready to receive it. ¢
CORE VALUE
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.
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 9 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
LOVING GOD AND LOVING NEIGHBOR
us with tremendous technical pieces while throwing in a great spiritual to awaken the soul. One piece, which is still one my favorites, is The Three Kings by Healey Willan.
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 10 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
| adult ministries |
Restored: A Lenten Study
Rev. Jonathan L. Brake jbrake@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1334
The season of Lent in the Christian church begins on Ash Wednesday (March 1 this year) and continues for 40 days, not counting Sundays, until the Saturday just before Easter. Historically, this was a season of fasting and preparation of converts, later morphing into a time for penance by all Christians. One of many special events that churches offer during this season is a Lenten study to assist us in our spiritual growth. By engaging in discipleship yearround, and especially during Lent, we grow in our discipleship, biblical understanding, and spiritual lives to become more like Jesus.
it all. We invite you to join in with one of our small groups or Sunday School classes studying how God wants us to be Restored. To find out when this study is offered, go to the small groups webpage for details and registration links: www.centenary-ws. org/adult-small-groups. Contact: Jonathan Brake (336-397-1334)/jbrake@centenary-ws. org. ¢
This year at Centenary, we will be offering a 6-week study from the new book by Rev. Tom Berlin, “Restored: Finding Redemption in Our Mess.” Life can be very messy, from mistakes that we have made, intentional actions we have taken or others have committed against us, to coping mechanisms we have employed to just survive. Many of these messes have left us feeling ashamed or guilty. We sense that God is also ashamed of us and holds us guilty for our messy lives. But it’s into the messes of life that Jesus comes, offering us restoration and wholeness in the midst of
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 11 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
t
DAYBreak/ Respite Care | daybreak respite care |
You know you’re getting older…things don’t work quite as well as they used to… you’re having trouble remembering things…and sometimes you forget what you had for breakfast even while you’re getting ready for lunch. Where do you go? What do you do?
D Victoria Kelly
vkelly@centenary-ws.org 336-724-6311
AYBreak Respite Care provides older adults who have some degree of memory impairment social interaction and mental stimulation on each of the four days. The Director, Debbie Pilson, puts together a calendar each month of activities for the DAYBreak participants, ranging from outings to music, art and exercise. DAYBreak is intentionally a small group which allows more one-on-one attention and care. The participants refer to each other as family, showing love and care for each other. Participants in the DAYBreak ministry live in the moment. Volunteers and staff provide those special moments in their day as well as allow the caregivers much needed time to themselves or time to get needed things done. The caregivers appreciate that their loved one has had a fun and stimulating day and also have the assurance the loved
one will be well cared for and in a safe environment. Volunteers are always welcome at DAYBreak. There are no special skills needed and duties are varied…you might be serving lunch or a snack and if you have a special skill such as music or a love for crafts you’re a perfect fit to help at DAYBreak. As Director Debbie Pilson says “all you need is a loving heart.” DAYBreak is held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:00am to 3:00pm in room 116 on the main campus at Centenary. For more information, contact the DAYBreak Director, Debbie Pilson, at dpilson@centenary-ws.org. ¢
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 12 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
You are invited to the DAYBreak Gala & Fundraiser
Affairs of the Heart
Benefitting DAYBreak Respite Care & the Caregiver Support Ministries of Centenary United Methodist Church March 25, 2017 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Heavy hors d’oeuvres Chi Rho and Minor Variations from Wake Forest University Live Auction & Raffle Tickets: $30.00 or $300.00 per table of 10 Centenary United Methodist Church Memorial Auditorium 4½ Street Entrance
Reservations due by March 18, 2017 Limited Seating For Additional Information: Debbie Pilson (336-397-1345) / dpilson@centenary-ws.org
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 13 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
| evangelism & engagement |
Church Life App By Rev. Jeremy Pegram
T
he churchlife app, once installed on your smartphone, gives you complete access to Centenary’s membership directory and calendar of events. You may also engage in ministry through the app as there is access to event registrations and an option for on-line giving. To install the app: 1. Open a browser on your smart phone 2. Go to www.centenary-ws.org 3. Tap the Menu button
6. Tap the “Go Mobile” icon You will then be routed to ACSTechnologies where you can download the churchlife app on an iPhone or Android device. One the app is installed, use your Centenary Login to get started. If you don’t have a Centenary Login return to the “Member Login” page and tap “Click Here” next to “Need a Login?”. If you need assistance, please contact Rev. Jeremy Pegram at jpegram@ centenary-ws.org/ (336) 397-1361.
4. Tap the plus sign next to “Give” 5. Tap “Member Login”
New Member Spotlight By Rev. Jeremy Pegram
T
he Patterson’s are one of Centenary’s newest families. Lee and Mandy and their two boys, Harper and Owen, became
active in worship and Sunday School at Centenary after moving to Winston-Salem from Raleigh, NC. Upon their arrival to Winston-Salem they began to make friends at work, school, and in their neighborhood. Mandy shared, “it seemed like everyone went to Centenary”, and so they decided to visit the church and quickly made Centenary their home.
which brought him and the rest of his family to Winston-Salem. Mandy is the coowner of Polished Picks, a retail business that started out as a hobby and now sells refurbished vintage furniture.
Lee and Mandy are both Tarheels as they hold undergraduate degrees from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While at Chapel Hill, Lee studied Health Policy and Mandy earned a degree in Business. Lee also attended graduate school at Wake Forest University where he completed their MBA program.
When these dedicated parents aren’t busy cheering for Harper and Owen during a game, Lee finds time to get in a round of golf, and Mandy catches some quiet moments with a book. Mandy also enjoys longs walks with the family dog, Virginia, a thirteen- year-old golden retriever.
Lee is currently employed by BB&T, MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 14 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
Harper, a third grader and Owen, a kindergartner keep mom and dad very busy in the bleachers and on the sidelines. Both boys are very active in seasonal sports playing soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. They are also competitive swimmers.
We give thanks to God for bringing the Patterson family to Centenary. We also look forward to the ways in which we will all grow in grace and faith together, as members of the body of Christ. ¢
| children’s ministry |
Learning Through Play “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning.” –Mr. Rogers What happened at Bible School today? We wrote God sightings on snow balls and threw them at Ms. Kate. What’s a God Sighting? Rev. Kate May
kmay@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1331
Something we see that makes us think of God. What happened at Sunday School today? We played on the back telephone. What’s on the back telephone? You know it’s like regular telephone but you pass a picture by using your finger like a pencil to draw on a person’s back.
So was that easy or hard? We weren’t very good at it. Our picture was always different by the end. The teacher said that is a little like how the Bible first got started and why the stories in the Bible about Jesus are so similar but different too. What happened at Children’s Worship today? We made kitty litter cake. You made what? We made kitty litter cake, it was delicious! Tell me more about kitty litter cake. It’s actually yummy stuff that looks like kitty litter and you don’t know how good it is unless you helped put it together. It’s kind of like us. God made us good, but sometimes we have to get to know someone before we see all the goodness in them. ¢
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 15 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
Discipleship Through Our Sacraments
I Jeremy Pegram
jpegram@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1361
had the privilege of going to the Holy Land in the early spring of 2011. It was an amazing pilgrimage where I saw the lands of the Bible and walked on the very ground where Jesus walked. The day my tour group arrived at the Jordan River, the very river where Jesus was baptized, if I’m honest, I was a little disappointed. I was expecting to see the water, stand on the riverbank, and feel the presence of God. Sadly, I didn’t. In my mind’s eye I couldn’t tell the difference from the Jordan River and the Yadkin River back home. I was disappointed. During the visit to the Jordan River our group leader, Tom Sigmon, a retired minister, led us in a baptismal remembrance. When he read the words that I had heard over a hundred times before, “Pour out your Holy Spirit, to bless this gift of water and those who receive it,
to wash away their sin and clothe them in righteousness throughout their lives, that, dying and being raised with Christ, they may share in his final victory…” everything changed. It was as if the Holy Spirit answered the prayer. The words Tom read captured the essence of baptism and what it does, or rather what God does. When we celebrate the sacrament of baptism we are not “getting” baptized, but rather we are “receiving” baptism as a gift from the Triune God who loves us and claims us as God’s own, and who initiates a covenantal relationship with us. Baptism signifies that God’s love, presence and grace will never be taken away. The sacrament also symbolizes the washing away of sin and gift of a new birth. This really means that at our baptism we become a new person whose identity is in Jesus Christ. Our baptisms also make us
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 16 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
part of the Church whereby we contribute to the church’s mission with our talents and gifts. As United Methodists we believe that baptism is the work of God and we only need to be baptized once whether baptized as infants or at any other age. God is always at work in our lives even before we know it, even before we are born. Jesus welcomed the children when he said “Let the little children come to me…for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs” (Mark 10:14) We welcome children to be baptized because we trust that God is always working in their lives. When infants are baptized, the church, along with their parents, share in God’s covenantal promise to nurture them in faith so that they might one day say “yes” to God on their own.
From time to time we might remember our baptism, just as I did that day in 2011 by the Jordan River. This remembrance or reaffirmation gives us the opportunity to remember what God has done on our behalf and grants the grace needed to say “yes” to God again with our whole selves and live out our promise to be faithful to God. The sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion are means by which God offers the grace we need to live into the vision of Centenary United Methodist Church: Striving to be a vibrant Christian Community, loving God and loving neighbor downtown and throughout the region. ¢
Editors Note: This article continues on page 26 as Sarah Howell discusses the sacrament of Holy Communion.
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 17 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
| youth ministry |
Hoops4Him
T
en years ago I was met by two, bright eyed, senior high boys after Sunday school. They wanted to know if I liked basketball, to which I responded that I liked baseball better. Before the beginning of 11:00 worship service that Sunday, I had somehow been named the new coach of Centenary’s Senior High boy’s Hoops4Him team. Needless to say, I went home and googled “how to coach basketball” that afternoon. It’s hard to believe that over the years I’ve had the privilege, alongside FAR better coaches than I, to have coached countless numbers of our precious youth, both girls and boys (some members of our church and others kiddos without a church home).
Tammy Pollock
tpollock@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1337
Hoops4Him is a citywide youth basketball
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 18 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
league that connects the students of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, North Carolina in a Christ-centered community. Why do we play? We play to connect students in our county across geographic, cultural, racial, social, and economic barriers through a fun and competitive basketball league, and in so doing be a community-building agent in our county that demonstrates the love of God in both word and deed through the development of meaningful relationships among administrators, coaches, players, parents, and officials. Over the years, I have witnessed so much love and grace, fierce competition, and great joy on the court. Teenagers have learned to play the game, work through differences, and to pray out loud. I’ve
watched parents form community in the stands and create friendships that lasted long after the season has ended. It is such a beautiful thing. It is amazing to me, that the simple game of basketball has had such a profound dicipleship impact on our youth ministry. It has created energy and excitement as they recruit and encourage each other to sign up for the next season of church ball and as they talk “smack” to one another’s opposing teams at school. It has caused us to reach across church denominational barriers on behalf of our love for God... to love and be in relationship with our neighbor. ¢
#centenaryrising #goblue #loosingforthelord MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 19 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
Celebrations New Members
We welcome you in Christian love...
Suzy Brown
Michelle Cobb
Baptisms We celebrate the baptism of Worth Peyton Stanley, son of Blake and Lindsay, and sister to McCall (4). We celebrate the baptism of Anders Beach Brooks, son of Brian & Ashley, and grandson of Marilyn Broyhill Beach and Robert Thompson Beach. We celebrate the baptism of William Lee Boone Coan, Jr., son of Lee & Marty, and grandson of Mary & Frank Coan and Bob Driskell. Jon Vickers New Member Not Pictured: Ross Meacham
We celebrate the baptism of Tucker Freeman Jones, son of Mark & Walker, brother of Graham and Frazier. We celebrate the baptism of Ike Adams Woodson, son of David & Abi, brother to Tripp (3). We celebrate the baptism of Emery Charlotte Elliott, daughter of Scott & Mary Ellen, sister of Georgia (3), and granddaughter of Larry & Sara Jane Elliott.
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 20 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
Discipleship & Music for Worship
A
Rob Frazier
rfrazier@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1339
s a disciple of Christ we should always be striving to be imitators of Christ in our daily living. This is not always an easy task, living in a contentious and godless world where our discipleship is constantly put to the test. There are at least 22 biblical passages of scripture that can help us on our journey of discipleship: (Matt. 28:16-20, John 8:3132, Matt. 4:19-20, 2 Tim. 2:2, 2 Tim. 2:2021, Luke 6:40, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:25-26, Matt. 10:37, Matt. 10:38, Luke 14:33, John 3:3, 2 Cor. 517, Rom. 12:1-2, John 13:34-35, 2 Tim. 3:17-17, Luke 9:24-25, Eph. 5:1-2, 1 Cor. 11:1, 1 Cor. 4:1, Matt. 9:9, Acts 9:36). The common thread running through all of these passages is human sacrifice and unselfish living, following the teachings of Christ. We are also reminded that faith alone is our saving grace, not works. Our works are a natural by-product of our faithful living. When Christ is in our hearts we become a new creation and begin to grow in grace. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Coming to worship on Sunday morning is an act of discipleship and a sacrificial gift to our Lord and Savior. As musicians of the church, congregation included, we are blessed with the miraculous gift of music to God’s people that enhances our memory of scripture, especially Psalms, and the spirit of Christ among us. We are also able to lift our voices in song by offering our prayers of praise, adoration, and contemplation. In essence, our music enables us to engage our mind, body
and soul (or heart) through our act of worshiping. Romans 12:1-2 reminds us that we are “to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.” One of my favorite choral anthems that rings of salvific truth and faithful discipleship is John Ireland’s, Greater Love Hath No Man, first published in 1912. Ireland took his inspiration for this profound anthem from John 15, 1 Peter 2, 1 Corinthians 6, and Romans 12: Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it. Love is strong as death. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness. Ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus. Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath call’d you out of darkness into his marvelous light. I beseech you brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies, a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto to God, which is your reasonable service. May we all continue to offer our bodies as living sacrifices and move into the marvelous light of Christ. ¢
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 21 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
| missions |
Back Pack Ministry
M Rev. Kate May
kmay@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1331
y son loves what we call “stay home days”. He just loves to have a day when we all stay home as a family. But every once in awhile when we are enjoying the laziness of a “stay at home day” I think about the kids who would much rather have a “go to school day” because on “go to school days” they know they’ll have a hot breakfast and a hot lunch.
for the child to participate. We are regularly in communication about the number of children enrolled. Quarterly our staff and volunteers pick up food at Second Harvest Food Bank and unload it into our storage space at The Haven. Weekly volunteers come to The Haven to pick up the food and deliver it to the school. The school then gets the food to the kids on Friday.
In recognition of these children who from Friday dinner until Monday breakfast are unsure of what if anything they will eat, Centenary has been partnering with local schools and the Second Harvest Food Bank to support the backpack program since 2008. In the years since this began at Brunson Elementary School we have been able to expand to two additional schools, Wiley Middle School, and Reynolds High School. Ideally this means we can support a child with food on the weekends and holidays from the time they start kindergarten until they graduate from high school.
So what about the backpacks and what kind of food do the kids get? The food we get from the foodbank is prepackaged shelf stable meals. In addition we have had the opportunity with the generosity of Vernon Produce to send fresh fruit home. We’ve also learned that sending a plastic spoon is helpful as some of these kids do not have access to clean utensils and others hide the food from their families so that they actually get to eat it rather than having it sold or eaten by someone else. Because of the different needs and appetites of the students at Reynolds High School we have moved to a food pantry model and fill their pantry primarily with donations of food items that the faculty and staff let us know is desired by the students. As far as the backpacks are concerned we have learned that the kids at Brunson Elementary are not bothered by a stigma around the Backpack food so their food is bagged in plastic grocery bags donated by Harris Teeter for easy transport. The Middle Schoolers at Wiley are a little more self-conscious so Wiley drawstring bags
So what does this ministry look like? It changes from year to year as we adapt to the needs of the students. At its most basic level a school teacher or administrator identifies a child or family who is in need. These folks are so talented at spotting the signs of hunger that affect learning: fatigue, inability to concentrate, and advanced susceptibility to illness just to name a few. The school then acquires permission from the family
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 22 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
are currently being used. At Reynolds the kids take what they can fit in their own backpack with the exception of when we provide more substantial options like spaghetti and sauce for long holiday breaks from school. So what does this have to do with discipleship? We at Centenary are being called to live out our discipleship journey in ways that show our love for God and our love for neighbor. These children are our neighbors. We can love them by continuing to support them with food and by continuing to build relationships with their schools so that as other needs are identified we can be a part of the solution.
it takes a surprisingly small amount of money to feed a child for a weekend: about $4.26. That means that for less than what most of us spend on lunch at a fast food restaurant we can help feed a child for a weekend. That’s about $20/month, $100/semester, $200/school year. As you consider the area of gifts in your own discipleship journey perhaps the Backpack Program might be a place for you to give back to God some of what you have been blessed with. ¢
This ministry does not require a lot of hands, but it does require funds. Because of our partnership with Second Harvest Foodbank
Suzanne Epermanis packs food for the program.
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 23 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
W
e continue in our sharing of “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 or complete the online form on the Centenary website: www.centenary-ws.org/ centenarygodmoments. For this issue, we hear from Charlotte Doud. “I see God when the sun is bright.”
#centenarygodmoment
Be Social & Stay Connected WEBSITE www.centenary-ws.org
TWITTER @centenaryonline
FACEBOOK centenarymethodist
INSTAGRAM centenary_umc
Sign up for our weekly email blast on the homepage of the website.
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 24 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
Centenary Live Stream
W
e are excited that our Live Stream participation has grown tremendously over the last year. We started on a cold, snowy Sunday in January of 2016 with a mere 28 IP addresses viewing. This past January 8, we had 217 IP addresses viewing our 11 am worship serice. Our typical viewership ranges between 80-90. One thing to keep in mind is that the IP address could represent a single viewer or a family. We are allowed to count one viewer per address for our numbers. That being said, as we phase out the radio ministry on the last Sunday of March, we greatly anticipate that viewership will once again gain in numbers. If you need assistance connecting with the Live Stream, be sure to connect with Doug Peninger or Craig Ford. We have a trained team of volunteers who will help you set up your computer or mobile device for easy access to the worship service.
PIZZA WITH THE PASTORS Sunday, March 26 Following the 11:00 AM Service in the HUB If you checked one of the first three boxes when you signed the pew pad at a recent worship service – meaning you’re a first-time guest or a regular visitor or guest – we’d like to treat you to lunch! Centenary’s pastors hope you’ll join them after church in The HUB for an informal lunch and conversation on Sunday, March 26. We don’t have an organized program; this will just be a time to get to know each other a little better. For more information, contact Stacy Holley (336-397-1359)/sholley@centenary-ws.org.
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 25 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
Christian Discipleship: My Journey By Nancy Cannon
T
he Gospels tell us that Jesus called twelve ordinary men with simple words such as “follow me” or “come and see”. They were known as His disciples as they travelled with Jesus over two thousand years ago listening to His stories and teachings. Others followed, watching and listening along the roads they walked and places they visited. They had no idea that these stories would travel through time to be relevant in the lives of 21st century Christians. Looking closely at their journeys with Jesus, I realize that I cannot fully define discipleship. It is created within each one of us as we claim our faith as followers of Jesus. It is an experience that is partly our own, but mostly Jesus’ work in our lives for the sake of the world. My experience has had ups and downs, joys and disappointments. Parts of my journey have been hard to understand. Sometimes I even have to pray for the simple desire to be a faithful disciple. Discipleship is not linear, but winding. In those times when I have felt very unlikely to be described as a disciple, God brings me back on the path, strengthening my faith and trust that God never leaves us alone to walk this journey. My hope is that describing some of the markers of discipleship in my life will encourage you to share your own. A dear saint and mentor, Nita, repeatedly told me that we all must tell our stories. Sharing them allows the threads of love, grace, and hope to surface again and again.mIt allows us to see God more clearly as we listen to our different stories. Disciples wear many different faces, live in varied places and contexts, and though some walk similar paths, others are on roads seldom traveled. A Southern Baptist church in a small town in Georgia provided the backdrop for my early years of faith formation. Making a decision at an early age to “join the church, to profess my faith in Jesus Christ”
was my first acknowledged step into discipleship. My pastor and his wife nurtured me, and I learned much about what it was like to live the life of a pastor, a pastor’s wife, and a child reared in such a home. There were even times when I wondered about a ministry call in my own life, but I did not see any way for that to happen at the time. This family was one of my early markers of understanding Christ’s love, compassion, and fellowship. In my youth worship became central to my life as a Christian. Certainly being at church every time the door opened contributed to that, but the worship experience, particularly the preaching that was enhanced by the music and liturgy, awakened me to the Bible and how God’s Word spoke into my life. As I became more familiar with the Old and New Testaments, the importance of worship in the life of faith was strongly affirmed. In later years, I have come to describe this as a connection between my mind and my heart that provides a sense of the holy and takes me beyond the doors of the church and into the world with renewed understanding of what it means to be a servant, a disciple of Jesus. Though he didn’t know it at the time, my father gave
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 26 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
me a glimpse of worship and my own faith DNA. In the town where I grew up there is a Trappist Monastery. My father would occasionally invite me to ride with him to check on a delivery of building materials while the new monastery was being built. I would peek through the doors of the chapel when I heard the monks chanting and loved the sound of it, the smell of the incense, and the beauty of the candles. It was years later that I realized why my heart was drawn to that particular style of worship. College years, marriage to a wonderful man, volunteer work and young children gave me little time to be as intentional about my faith as I had been. Anne Lamott’s prayer, “Help me, help me, help me. Thank you, thank you, thank you.” was often a mantra. In my early 40’s I was invited to join a Disciple Bible Study class, and within the fellowship of that group and the careful study of the Bible, I began to connect the dots of my early years of faith and church and that faint call to ministry. With mentoring from fellow Christians, my discipleship began to form around contemplative practices, harkening back to the days of my monastery visits. My prayer life changed from less talking to God to more listening. Using my education as a school teacher led to Bible study facilitating. Buechner’s words, “The place God calls you to be is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet,” rang true. Another marker was then on my journey, as my gift of teaching, my love for the Bible, and a need met. Later on I was trained as a spiritual director. This is a one-on-one ministry that provides confidential space for one to pay careful attention to God’s presence in one’s life and to practice ways that make us open to God’s work within us.
because of Jesus’ example. Jesus lived and worked among the poor. Whatever that means for you, I encourage you to find a place where you will experience Christ in such service. It will be rich with meaning about life and how God is present in all people. While my particular discipleship path has been closely related to church life, it is only one example of how one may follow Jesus. All the many possibilities for discipleship give us a chance to join God in His loving and compassionate work in our world. Any circumstance in life can be a path in discipleship, whether it be focused on family needs, sharing gifts of art and music, working directly with those who live on the margins of life, being a peaceful presence for someone- the list is endless. It just takes one’s willingness to desire to follow Christ and to take the journey step by step. God’s grace and love have been at the core of all that has ever happened to me and brings an overwhelming sense of gratitude. God has always been present even when I do or do not recognize it at the time. My husband, children and spouses, and four grandchildren are reminders of that love and grace every day. At this point in my life, I understand being a disciple is not what I do, but it is a gift from God. I find meaning in Fr. Richard Rohr’s wisdom: “God doesn’t love you because you are good. God loves you because God is good.” From that place, true discipleship enters the world carrying God’s love and hope to all. So be it. ¢
When I sense there is something God wants me to do, I have the image of a rope being thrown my way with an invitation to grab it and hold on tightly. Before long I can tell that it is really God holding on tightly to me. With gratitude to a number of ministers who have served Centenary and to this congregation who gave encouragement and support, my call into ministry turned into a call to church leadership in a number of different capacities. My prayer life and trust in God became alive in ways that it had never been before. Leadership teams with whom I served influenced my discipleship in countless ways as we looked to the future in challenging times. Service to others is an essential part of discipleship
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 27 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
Discipleship Through Our Sacraments
A
Sarah S. Howell
showell@centenary-ws.org 336-397-1348
t Roots Revival worship on Wednesday nights, we celebrate communion weekly. Even before we started the service in Advent 2012, we knew that we wanted this sacrament to be a central part of our worship time. For some, this is one of the main reasons they come to the service, because they value being able to receive communion frequently. We include it not just for the spiritual and worship value in the moment but also because we believe communion forms us as disciples of Jesus Christ. Receiving the body and blood lays a claim on us that extends beyond the worship hour. Every time I invite the congregation to communion, I remind them that as Methodists we practice an open table—all are welcome to receive. The only qualifier I add is a modification of one traditional invitation to the table, which says, “Christ our Lord invites to this table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another”—at Roots Revival, I say, “We only ask that you come with a desire to be at peace with God, with your neighbor, and with yourself.” Our open table theology draws on the Wesleyan idea of prevenient grace—the grace that goes before us—and puts worthiness to receive communion in God’s hands instead of our own. However, communion is not a free-for-all. It should be taken seriously, and there is something required of us—not to be
allowed to receive the sacrament, but to be able to. What is required is a desire to be at peace—the key word being “desire.” In Alcoholics Anonymous, the only membership requirement is the desire to stop drinking. You might pick up a white chip (a sign of that desire but not a marker of time sober) at every meeting, and still you are able to participate. We recognize that human beings are imperfect, that we sin and mess up every day—but we do not let those mistakes and missteps keep anyone from coming to the table. What allows us to come to the table is our desire to “live according to the example of Christ,” as our baptismal covenant says. We might pray with Thomas Merton: “…the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.” This approach to the sacrament shapes our approach to daily living. Our desire to please God has an impact beyond the worship hour—it should inform every hour of every day of our lives. I saw this invitation in sharp focus when a woman who attended Roots Revival emailed me to ask whether she should take communion the next week. She was in conflict with someone who had condemned her gay daughter. This person had said many hurtful things and was refusing to acknowledge the harm she had caused or engage in conversation. Remembering Matthew 5:23-24—“if you bring your gift to
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 28 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift at the altar and go. First make things right with your brother or sister and then come back and offer your gift”—she thought she could not take communion while that conflict continued. It was beautiful to see someone take the call of the sacrament in her life so seriously. I asked if it was her desire to be at peace with this person, and she said yes. I said that was all she needed to come to the table, that the grace offered at communion is precisely the
strength we need to seek peace in difficult circumstances—or to accept that at times, reconciliation is not within our control. She did receive communion that week, and although I do not believe that conflict was ever resolved, that experience had a profound impact on her understanding and practice of the relationship between the sacrament and Christian discipleship. May we all be so shaped and formed by the taking of the bread and cup that the desire that brings us to that table might permeate all we think and say and do. ¢
#centenaryrising #goblue #loosingforthelord MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 29 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
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.
1
6:00pm Confirmation 6:00pm Stephen Ministers Training
2 3 4 5 6 7
7:00pm Sol Train
4:00pm Created by God 4:15pm Piedmont Invitational Children’s Choir Festival
4:00pm Created by God 4:15pm Piedmont Invitational Children’s Choir Festival
Noon Love Thy Neighbor 4:00pm Discovering the Prayer Room
6:00pm Run for God
Noon Shining Light on Mental Health 7:00pm Tony Abbott Lecture Series
8
Noon Lunchtime Lenten Study Group 6:00pm Confirmation
13
9:00am Prayer of the People 6:00pm Run for God
14
7:00pm Tony Abbott Lecture Series
15
Noon Lunchtime Lenten Study Group 6:00pm Confirmation
16
11:45pm Senior Adult Lunch
20
6:00pm Run for God
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 30 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 30 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
March
22
Noon Lunchtime Lenten Study Group 6:00pm Confirmation
25
2:00pm Affairs of the Heart
26
Noon Pizza with the Pastors
27 28 29
6:00pm Run for God
7:00pm Tony Abbott Lecture Series
Noon Lunchtime Lenten Study Group 6:00pm Confirmation
April 1
8:00am SALT
10
2
Noon Love Thy Neighbor 4:00pm Discovering the Prayer Room
3
6:00pm Run for God
4 5 9
Noon Shining Light on Mental Health
6:00pm Run for God
12
Noon Lunchtime Lenten Study Group 6:00pm Confirmation 6:00pm Stephen Ministers Training
13
Noon Lunchtime Lenten Study Group 6:00pm Confirmation 6:00pm Stephen Ministers Training
14
5:00pm Youth Dinner and a Movie
16
17
All Day Holiday Church Closed 6:00pm Run for God
19
6:00pm Confirmation 6:00pm Stephen Ministers Training
11:45am Senior Adult Lunch
7:30pm Tenebrae
20 23
11:45am Senior Adult Lunch
4:30pm Starting Point
26
6:00pm Confirmation 6:00pm Stephen Ministers Training
All Day Easter Sunday
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 31 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 31 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
30
4:30pm Starting Point
Memorials
We remember the saints who have gone before....
Boy Scout Troop 920 In memory of Algie Alice Smith Crutchfield by J. Gale & Brett Thomas, Louise Brazemore, Mary Evelyn Stowe, Clifford F. Smith, Circle #7, Marilyn Rollins, Wilba Brady.
Centenary Fund In memory of Dr. Richard “Dick” Reece Glenn by Mr. & Mrs. Richard M. Crowder, Dr. & Mrs. Jack Rogers, Roma & Linda Combs, Fillmore Williams, Ron P. & Suzanne Stocks Hawley, Nell & Tom Taylor, Dr. & Mrs. Cyrus W. Bazemore, Jr., David & Phyllis Tate, David & Kaye Lambert, Jim Bunn, lll, Morris & Beverly Marley, Wade & Bernice Clayton, Jr., Frances Newman, Shippey McDowell, David Klinger, Andrew & Ann Copenhaver, Wilba Brady. In memory of William Fletcher Womble, Sr. by Ms. Lou Winship, Dr. & Mrs. Cyrus W. Bazemore, Jim Bunn, lll, Frances Newman, Anna & Bud Doughton, Ginger & Ed Finley, Richard & Bess Wagner, Jane Fuller Niven. In memory of Ann Shippey Lewallen King “Annie” Spencer by Jim Bunn, lll, Frances Newman, Allston & Jean Olive Stubbs, Jane Fuller Niven, Mr. & Mrs. Howard Gray, Jr. In memory of George Clyce Newman by Jim Bunn, lll, Tom & Teese Griffin, Mr. & Mrs. L. Glenn Orr, Jr., William Grantham, Richard & Brooke Burr, Mr. & Mrs. Howard Gray, Jr. In memory of Thomas Jefferey “Jeff” Koontz, Jr. by Jim Bunn, lll, Allston & Jean Olive Stubbs. In memory of William M. “Buck” Butler, Jr. by Jim Bunn, lll, Dewey & Betty Ann Chapple, Frances Newman, Allston & Jean Olive Stubbs. In memory of Jane Singletary Sugg by Jim Bunn, lll. In memory of Nicholas Worth Mitchell, Jr. by Jim Bunn, lll. In memory of Grover Cleveland McNair by Cannon Stoffel, Martha Martinat, Herb &Linda Baker, Dr. & Mrs. T.H. Collawn, Dr. & Mrs. Jack Hobson, Suzan Elster, Jim Bunn, lll, Frances Newman, W.Z. & Catherine Bradford, Richard & Brooke Burr. In memory of Donald C. Golding by Wayne & Sandra Shugart. In memory of Robyn Warden King by Morris & Beverly Marley. In memory of Ronald Eugene “Roy” Hoy by Wade & Bernice Clayton, Jr. In memory of Mike Holcomb by Janet & David Hill. In memory of Betsy Transou Nading by Jane Oehman, Nancy Taylor, Jane Fuller Niven. In memory of Elizabeth Hamrick Brady by The Chapel
Class, Phil & Ginny Thomas, Marguerite B. Taylor, Dexter & Wanda Campbell, J. Walter McDowell, Thorne H. Worley, Anna B. Steele, Sue Bunn Atkins, Elizabeth & Phil Pleasants, Betty & Jim Brewer, Vernon & Frankie Winters, Mr. & Mrs. John G. Gallins, Deedee Fenwick, Ralph & Gayle Atkinson, Susan Williams Mann, James A. Butler, Sr., Mr. & Mrs. John C. Whitaker, Harriet & Royce Hough, Heather & Tim Renegar, Elizabeth A. Ogburn, Mr. & Mrs. Sam C. Ogburn, Gordon Cox, Mr. & Mrs. Ed Battle, Tom & Megan Lawson, Ray Blevins & family, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Harris, Tom & Nancy Cannon, Mrs. J. Robert Elster, Debbie Marshall & Larry Rogers, Albert Butler, Virginia Caudill, The Board of Directors of the Bienenstock Furniture Library, Betty Felts Ellison, Bradford & Nancy Tazewell, Randall Sparger, Jr., James B. Crouch, Jr., Margaret Litton, James & Laura McNeill, Allison Copeland Williams, Peggy & James Fain, Dr. & Mrs. Hugh Napper, Frank & Sara Rayburn, Martha Martinat, Mr. & Mrs. Michael Terry, Betty Jo & Dan Forney, Sara Ellen Hamrick & Rebecca Hamrick, Beth & Gene Clark, Mr. & Mrs. David Howard, Ronald & Sharon Shealy, Dr. & Mrs. James F. Toole, Mr. & Mrs. Cliff Perry, Jr., Clayton & Eleanor Boggan, Tom & Kay Carter, Francis & Lana Dail, Charles & Lucille Patton, Shem Blackley, Jr., Nancy S. Neill Spencer, Ms. Susan L. Solomon, William & Betsy Blue, Frances Newman, Ann & Tom Connelly, Martha Deal, Lou Prongay, Martin & Susan Gilmore, Jane & Sam Ogburn, Mr. & Mrs. John Wells, Frank Rayburn, Lisa & David Rowell, Mararet Williams, Andrew & Anne Copenhaver, Countnry & Jim Kluttz, Jane Fuller Niven, Allston & Jean Olive Stubbs, Wilba Brady, Ms. Rhea G. Carter, Nella Purrington Fulton. In memory of Kimberlee Lambe Masich by Virginia Caudill, Jane Fuller Niven. In memory of David Goodrich by Beverly & Tim Isley. In memory of Emmett Howell Lacy, Jr. by Beverly & Tim Isley. In memory of Charles Hampton Mauzy, Jr. by Beverly & Tim Isley. In memory of Jerry Michael White by Beverly & Tim Isley. In memory of Dr. Lawrence C. Walker, Jr. by Dewey & Betty Ann Chappel, Richard P. Budd, Richard L. Fields, Mr. & Mrs. L. Glenn Orr, Jr., Lee & Judy Mills, Wilba Brady. In memory of Mr. & Mrs. Eugene C. Smith by Allen Dotson. In memory of Sam Brake by Frances Newman. In memory of Pope Babcock by Frances Newman. In memory of Mrs. Helen Bell Rankin by Frances Newman. In MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 32 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
memory of Alice Frazer Williams Hinman by Richard & Brooke Burr. In memory of Augustus Horace Deudney by Jane Fuller Niven. In memory of Hylton “Betty” Briscoe Whitt Crott by George & Linda Boyette. In memory of Jacqueline Schwab Hunt by Andrew & Anne Copenhaver. In memory of Patricia Grant Willard by William Joyner.
Children’s Ministry In memory of Elizabeth Hamrick Brady by Kaye & David Lambert. In memory of Rev. Ed Ritter by Bonnie Cook.
Congregational Care In memory of Herman Wideman Bryson by Wayne & Ann Yelverton. In memory of Aleta Ellison by Wayne & Ann Yelverton. In memory of Margaret Hill by Wayne & Ann Yelverton. In memory of Judy Lynn Morris Jones by Wayne & Ann Yelverton. In memory of Betsy Transou Nading by Wayne & Ann Yelverton. In memory of Minnie Louise Smith by Wayne & Ann Yelverton.
Extra Gift In memory of Elizabeth Hamrick Brady by Mr. & Mrs. Richard Crowder, Jr. In memory of Robyn Warden King by Danny & Kathy Newcomb. In memory of James L. & Corinne L. Newcomb by Danny & Kathy Newcomb. In memory of Charlie E. & Lois L. Oakes by Danny & Kathy Newman. In memory of Ann Shippey Lewallen King “Annie” Spencer by Mr. & Mrs. Wyatt Bassett. In memory of William Fletcher Womble, Sr. by Mrs. Calder W. Womble.
Mission Trips In memory of Charles Remy by Wanda Remy. In memory of Alice Frazer Williams Hinman by James Murdock.
Refugee Family Fund In memory of Sam Brake by Carolyn & Ray Branton.
DayBreak/Respite Care In memory of Grover Cleveland McNair by Mr. & Mrs. William Caldwell.
Sacred Music In memory of Sara Fountain Lore by Ann Lore. In memory of Dr. Lawrence C. Walker, Jr. by Paul Gwyn, Mary Preston Yates, Floyd & Mary Craven, Kathryn Snavely, Phyllis Dunning, Eve & Sherwood Smith, Mr. & Mrs. Richard S. Belton, Mr. & Mrs. Frank Kirk,
Bob & Jean Deaton, Kelli & Perry Clark, R. Edwin Shelton, Katy Boles, Dennis & Susan Carter, Jerr & Judy Sparks, the Staff of Ryan’s Restaurant, Charles M. Shelton, Suzanne M. Jessup, Richard & Pamela Williams, Nancy & John Davis, Anne & Norman Andrews, Dean & Vicky Harris, Ray & Sallie Edwards, Erynn & Lowell Benjamin, Donald & Carol Thomas, John & Susan Eaton, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas B. Chafin, Mrs. J. Robert Elster, Debbie Marshall & Larry Rogers, Tom & Nancy Cannon, Joseph & Bonnie Dempster, Robert & Susan Zammit, John & Hannah Appel, O.R. & Vivian Frazier, W. F. Gruble, Ray & Cathleen McKinney, James Sifford, John & Mary Jane Dewees,
Blucher Taylor, M.D. & Frances Taylor, Jerry & Judy Smith, Linda & Ed Kelly, Rosemary & Robert Pulliam, Ms. Sandra Linker, Kathryn & Tom Boyette, Ted & Sally Landis, Clarence & Eleanor Powell Hines. In memory of Dr. Richard “Dick” Reece Glenn by Allston & Jean Olive Stubbs.
Stephen Ministry In memory of Howard Futrell by Janet & David Hill.
Honoraria
We celebrate the kingdom of God among us...
Centenary Fund
Extra Gift
Music and the Arts
In honor of John Brady by the Board of Directors of the Bienstock Furniture Library. In honor of Marilyn & Bob Beach by Anne S. Carr. In honor of Pollyann Holthusen by Anne S. Carr. In honor of Marian & Jim Douglas by Anne S. Carr. In honor of Fowler & John Ruffin by Anne S. Carr. In honor of Ann & Borden Hanes by Anne S. Carr. In honor of Nell & Jim Cavenaugh by Jane Fuller Niven. In honor of Rev. Craig & Janet Ford by Jane Fuller Niven. In honor of Nancy & Aubrey Kirby by Jane Fuller Niven. In honor of Sarah & John Trulove by Jane Fuller Niven. In honor of Roots Revival by Melanie Barbee and Rolly’s. In honor of Martha Bassett by Melanie Barbee and Rolly’s. In honor of Sarah Howell by Melanie Barbee and Rolly’s. In honor of Jeremy Pegram by Melanie Barbee and Rolly’s. In honor of Sue Stephens by Tom & Nancy Cannon. In honor of Marsha Bledsoe by Tom & Nancy Cannon. In honor of Danny Newcomb by Tom & Nancy Cannon. In honor of Steve Poe by Tom & Nancy Cannon. In honor of Robin Stinson by Tom & Nancy Cannon.
In honor of Elizabeth “Betsy” Scott Welch by Rob & Elizabeth Welch. In honor of Elizabeth “Betsy” Scott Welch by Ed & Sue Welch
In honor of Pollyann Holthusen by Jean Burroughs, Barbara & Brent KIrby. In honor of William Gramley by Robert & Becky Koonts.
Children’s Ministry In honor of Elizabeth “Betsy” Scott Welch by Rob & Elizabeth Welch. In honor of Rev. Kate May by Mr. & Mrs. Mark Suttle & family. In honor of Ashley Maner by Mr. & Mrs. Mark Suttle & family.
Haiti Outreach Ministry In honor of Clergy and Staff by Deedee Fenwick. In honor of Lee Monroe by Jim & Ann Monroe. In honor of Jason, Kristen, Lilly & Charles Zaks by Deedee Fenwick.
Loaves & Fishes In honor of Dr. Holly Lee by Colleen Lee, Robert & Colleen Lee. In honor of Sue Stephens by Katherine Olinick. In honor of Carl & Mimi Hines by Ken & Pamela Haisty. In honor of the Loaves & Fishes Volunteers by Thomas & Marianne Bach.
Love Thy Neighbor In honor of Dr. David Lee by Colleen Lee, Robert & Colleen Lee.
Radio Ministry In honor of Elizabeth “Betsy” Scott Welch by Ed & Sue Welch.
Respite Care In honor of Deedee Fenwick by Kerri Crater, Billy & Aurelia Lagle and family, George & Eleanor Wilson. In honor of Elise Gmuca by Dorothy Carter. In honor of Camille Jones by the Centenary Carillioneurs. In honor of Jeanette Millsaps by Neal Millsaps.
Shining Light on Mental Health In honor of Jane Poe by the James and Louise R. Broyhill Foundation.
Miscellaneous
Sacred Music
In honor of the Backpack Ministry by Colleen Lee.
In honor of Reid Gilliam by Christopher Brand. In honor of Camille Jones by Dorothy Carter. In honor of Rob & Laura Lynn Frazier by Kaye Watts. In honor of Susan Bates by Kaye Watts. In honor of Cat & Frank Zachary by Kaye Watts. In honor of June & Joel Stegall by Kaye Watts. In honor of Camille & Kim Jones by Kaye Watts.
Missionary Friendship Fund Marie Hathcock, Jane & Steve Poe. MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 33 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
| senior minister |
Engaging Discipleship
M
aking disciples is at the heart of the calling of any minister. It was, after all, Jesus’s final and Great Commandment – “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20a CEB) We are called to teach people what Jesus taught. We are Rev. Lory Beth Huffman charged to bring lhuffman@centenary-ws.org new people into a 336-397-1362 relationship with Jesus Christ and then help nurture that relationship so they grow into engaged and mature followers of Jesus. John Wesley refined Jesus’ commandment a bit more when he explained how our relationship with Jesus matures over time. He used grace to talk about our discipleship. The Holy Spirit reaches out to us before we even know God exists (our fancy word is Prevenient Grace). Then once we are paying attention to God and begin to understand and see God’s love reaching out to us, we eventually make a choice to follow Jesus and receive that undeserved gift of grace (the fancy word here is Justifying Grace). And finally this leads us to a life of trying to emulate Jesus and learning to love God more and more which leads us to loving our neighbor more and more and becoming a
mature disciple (the fancy word here is Sanctifying Grace). The Holy Spirit moves and works within our lives to help us mature in our discipleship or following of Jesus. Of all of our Core Values, this one is pretty foundational. If we don’t flourish in this value of Engaging Disciples, our church is built on a House of Cards. We can do all the acts of service and kindness in the world but without a foundation grounded in loving God, they are nothing more than gestures of good will. We can worship God weekly in church but without a maturing discipleship forming in our inner soul, it’s just one more thing on the calendar. We can write a check once a month and give to the church, but without a foundation maturing in its understanding of God, it’s just dues to another organization or club. One thing has distressed me the last 10 years of ministry, and especially when I served as a District Superintendent. I oversaw 135 churches and around 88 clergy. I spent time in these churches, often when there was conflict that I had to help mediate or when helping a church try to turn things around from the decline that had taken over. So often what I discovered was a lack of deep discipleship. Somewhere along the way, the church just stopped forming and shaping people’s lives. It stopped being about their relationship with Jesus Christ and it started being about controlling the church, running the
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 34 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
organization, or families in smaller churches dominating the decision making. It was certainly not about how to engage people into fruitful discipleship or nurturing Prevenient, Justifying or Sanctifying Grace in anyone’s lives. It was as if the church had failed at its number one task and acted more like a club than community of Jesus believers. How can we prevent that from happening at Centenary? How can we avoid from falling prey to distraction and instead stay focused on helping people love Jesus more and more in their lives? I’m pleased to say that we have been working on a plan to answer this very question the past 11 months. Rev. Jonathan Brake and a team of deep disciples from this church have worked on establishing a disciple making system here at Centenary. Instead of a collection of random programs that staff and ministry teams offer for your participation and interest, we have created a system to organize our ministry offerings and then help you assess where you are in your own spiritual journey and how you can engage your faith more deeply. This is not just another program. This is an organized, intentional look at how you go about loving God and loving neighbor. It’s called The Discipleship Path. We will be unrolling this with leadership to pilot it early spring and then begin offering it to the whole congregation as the year progresses. Our
groundedness within them and contentment that seems unflappable and wish you were more like them? Come, let’s travel the Discipleship Path together and nothing would please me more than to help draw you more closely into the loving arms of Jesus. That is Engaging Discipleship. ¢ Grace and Peace,
Lory Beth
I do know that if we are engaging people in discipleship and creating mature followers of Jesus, the rest of the work of the church will fall into place. We will be building the strong foundation from which God can launch just about anything. As you think about your own faith journey, what is your relationship with Jesus like these days? Would you say you felt close to God? Have you seen the Holy Spirit move personally in your heart or life in the last month? Can you recognize Christ in your midst as you live day to day? Do you see people that seem to have such a calm and
CORE VALUE MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 35 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
LOVING GOD AND LOVING NEIGHBOR
hope and dream is that each one of you will choose to start down the Discipleship Path. Well, actually, you have already started down the path but you may be lost along the way or just not sure how far along you have gotten. You may be hiking the same path over and over and need a new challenge. We will help you assess your own Spiritual journey and then show you the Centenary Map that offers all kinds of pathways to explore so that you are intentional in nurturing and deepening your own relationship with Jesus.
(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
March 1 • Ash Wednesday • 7pm • Memorial Auditorium Roots Revival with Communion & Imposition of Ashes April 9 • Palm Sunday • 5pm • Sanctuary Lenten Vespers April 12 • Holy Wednesday • 7pm • Memorial Auditorium Roots Revival with Communion April 13 • Maundy Thursday •7pm • Memorial Auditorium Worship with Foot & Hand Washing April 14 • Good Friday Tenebrae • 7pm • Sanctuary Service of Darkness