Sightings & Soundings • Summer 2024

IA Firm Foundation

f you've followed this publication regularly, you've undoubtedly noticed the tremendous energy and momentum that Music & Arts at Centenary has generated during these recent years. In a time when engagement and vitality in civic organizations is flagging, we are growing and evolving. Now, as we reach the end of program year 2023-24, we celebrate the ways we have responded to the needs and patterns of a post-COVID world and established a foundation on which we will build as Centenary marches faithfully toward its second century of ministry and service to Winston-Salem and beyond.

Our doors are increasingly open, our circle of inclusion is growing, our welcome is wide, and we are intentionally expanding our embrace. We know that the arts empower and equip. In so doing, may they propel us out to transform the world.

- Jonathan Emmons, Director of

As the needs and patterns of our children and young families shift, we have built a flexible, dynamic Creative Arts Experience (CAE) that has infused worship with new vibrancy; as the need for childcare and early childhood education is increasingly acute, our Community Kindermusik Collaborative (CKC) has served over 100 families in its first two years of existence and will soon expand to serve our Love Thy Neighbor ministry; as music and arts opportunities for youth decline in our public schools and other community organizations, our newly-formed Youth Choir Collective (YCC) is balanced and growing; as the Stevens Center undergoes extensive multi-year renovations, we are now positioned and scheduled to host the Winston-Salem Symphony, Piedmont Opera, and Piedmont Wind Symphony next year and likely for years to come; as people of all ages search for new ways to express their faith, our Chancel Choir has grown substantially, and we have established a beginner handbell experience and entry-level faith-based art classes for adults.

Music Ministries

Fulfilling the Mission

instruments, creative movement and visual arts. I have the privilege of being one of the CAE leaders, in addition to the mother of two participants.

Help your child see their artistic potential: register them for . . .

CMA CAMP 2024

• July 15-18, 2024

• 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Infants - Rising 5th Graders

• Offerings include singing, handbells, handchimes, creative movement, art, Kindermusik, and more!

One of the primary goals of CAE is to give children opportunities to lead worship through their musical offerings. Centenary has a long history of supporting music and the arts and emphasizing the important role that they play in worship. Since last September, our CAE participants have enhanced worship through their artistic gifts on numerous occasions, from the informal setting of Worship in the Park to the lively Impromptu Christmas Pageant to many 11:00 AM worship services, including both Palm Sunday and our Children’s Music & Arts Spring Finale on May 5.

Snack is provided daily.

While worship leadership is a key component of what we do, Creative Arts Experience is about much more than singing and ringing in worship on designated Sundays. Our weekly programming is designed to help our participants develop musical and artistic skills that will serve as a foundation for future learning, enjoyment, and expressions of praise. The arts give us creative ways to express ourselves and to worship and praise God when words alone seem insufficient. As leaders, our hope is that CAE will spark a love of the arts and an appreciation of their place in worshiping our Creator. Additionally, CAE builds critical skills that are widely beneficial to our children's growth. We work to instill both comfort and confidence in front of others as well as leadership skills in worship and beyond. Our aim always is to facilitate the development of universally important skills whilst equipping our children with a lifelong love of worship through the arts.

Underlying every musical beat and artistic stroke of CAE is our strong desire to grow the faith of these young children, helping them to know just how much God loves them, how much their leaders love them, and how much their church family loves them. We strive to do this by teaching faith-based songs, by designing art projects that reflect our Christian beliefs, by incorporating Bible stories and prayer into our time together, and by emphasizing the mutual respect that comes through listening to, learning with, and loving one another. (Thank you for the 3 L’s, Rev. May!) Having grown up singing and ringing in church choirs and participating in Vacation Bible School, I still remember innumerable songs that helped to shape and strengthen my faith. I imagine many of you do as well. We pray that, in a similar fashion, our children will have lasting memories of the music they are learning and art they are creating and how they speak directly of God’s love for each of us.

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!

To register, scan this code:

CAE completed its first year triumphantly on May 5 with our children leading worship in more ways than ever before. While our Wednesday night program is over until Nourish resumes on September 11 (mark your calendars!), we are gearing up for more fun at our 3rd annual Children’s Music & Arts Camp! This year’s camp is July 15-18 from 9:00 AM -12:00 PM each day culminating with an end-of-camp worship service early in the afternoon on July 18. We are excited to announce our theme: Arts Unite, Friendships Bloom. It’s not too late to sign up (deadline is June 1), so please spread the word to family and friends. We are excited to have children ages 0 through rising 5th grade participate in this fun week of learning about God’s love for us and expressing our love for Him through music and arts!

- Mary Isom, CMA Leader & Parent

BELLS ON THE BALLFIELD CARILLONNEURS AT THE DASH

Tuesday, June 11 • 7:00 PM • Truist Stadium

Grab your peanuts and Cracker Jack, and come hear the Carillonneurs play ball! Our own handbell ringers will kick off the game performing the national anthem. Join us in the stands as we cheer on our home team! Tickets are available on the Dash’s website.

Worship with Us

June 2 11:00 AM Sanctuary

Each Sunday at Centenary is special, none more so than those filled with celebration! Join us as our Chancel Choir and Carillonneurs, accompanied by brass, lead worship and help to honor our graduating high school seniors.

Creative Arts Experience

Centenary's Creative Arts Experience immerses young people in a wide-ranging program which includes singing, ringing, Orff, Kindermusik (ages 2-Kindergarten), drumming, visual arts, drama, and more! This diverse model engages children with various levels of musical and artistic interests, all while cultivating more regular, more varied worship leadership opportunities for Centenary's youngest! Sign up now via the QR code below to join us on Wednesdays this fall!

Weekly Schedule

4:30 - 5:15 Kindermusik: Ages 2 & 3 in room 303 (Adult Participation Required)*

5:15 - 6:00 Church-wide dinner in Memorial Auditorium (Seperate Registration Required)

6:00 - 7:00 Creative Arts Experience for ages 4 & up on the 3rd floor of the East Building, nursery care for ages 2 & 3

*Ages 2 & 3 who are not available for the Wednesday night class are eligible for a Thursday night class beginning at 5:30 PM.

you Sept 11!