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Dear Centenary Family,
I'm very excited about new things going on here at Centenary. Our new ministry teams are meeting and planning our mission and ministry for 2018. We are seeing lay people step up and utilize their gifts for ministry and consider what imaginative new things God might be calling us to do.
I am particularly excited about our Lenten Wednesday evening gatherings that begin this Wednesday, February 28. This is part of a larger effort to help us consider the central importance of worship our life together, how worship relates to forming disciples of Jesus Christ, and how worship empowers us for mission and ministry in the world. We have some wonderful lay speakers ready to share with us about their experiences and look forward to great meals and a time of study and conversation. I hope you'll check the schedule below and join us.
I also hope you'll pay close attention to the luncheon being put together by our Serving Team on Sunday, March 18, as well as the dates for us to host CARITAS here at Centenary.
This Sunday's sermon is based on Mark 8:31-38 and is entitled: "Hey Jesus-This Isn't What We Signed Up For." I can imagine those words coming out of Peter's mouth when he realized Jesus wasn't going to be a powerful military liberator but was headed toward a cross-and wanted others to go with him. And honestly, I have to stop myself from letting those words Peter might have spoken from coming out of my mouth. Being a disciple and follower of Jesus calls us all to embrace the challenging, but finally redeeming work of letting go of our attachment to ourselves, our agendas, our success, and our importance. Of course, the paradoxical promise is that when we lose our lives, we find them in the end. I hope you'll come think about this with me this Sunday.
I look forward to the next steps on the journey with you.
Peace,
Matt
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This Weekend at Centenary
Sunday, February 25, Second Sunday in Lent
8:40 a.m. Informal Worship
10:00 a.m. Sunday School
11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship
This week, Dr. Bates will preach
"
Hey Jesus- This Isn't What We Signed Up For!
"
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Church meals live in legendary lore-Sunday dinners, church picnics, circle suppers, etc. The "Wednesday Night Supper" is a time honored Methodist tradition. These meals strengthen and forge friendships, entertain strangers, and celebrate God's goodness.
Join Centenary's Wednesday Night Lenten Fellowship for food, learning and discussion. We begin with a brief time of worship in the Chapel at 6:00 p.m. followed by dinner and conversation at 6:30 p.m. in the Social Hall.
Here are the themes for each of these four gatherings, as well as the menu for each week:
Feb. 28--Liturgy as the "Gate of Heaven" (Barbeque and Steve Kraft's world famous beans)
March 7--Rhythms of the Spirit--Daily Prayer and The Christian Year (Grandma's Chicken Casserole)
March 14--By Water and the Spirit: Living out our Baptism (A Winter Picnic)
March 21--The Rhythm of the Table: Eucharistic Living (Pizza)
Our study will be based on a book by Daniel T. Benedict, Jr. entitled "Patterned by Grace: How Liturgy Shapes Us."
It's not mandatory for you to have the book, but if you'd like to purchase it and read it during this Lenten season, we certainly invite you to do that.
We hope you'll join us for this journey-and share it with someone else who is searching for God's presence and a loving Christian family.
***Promising homemade goodness or a good phone app for pizza. A donation basket will on the table.
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A Challenge from Bishop Lewis to Read the Bible with Her in 2018
This week's readings:
February 25
Numbers 33-34
February 26
Numbers 35-36
February 27
Deuteronomy 1-2
February 28
Deuteronomy 3-4
March 3
Deuteronomy 11-13
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Centenary's Thursday, March 22, 2018, Plantations Tour: The first 2018 Centenary trip is a Plantation Tour (Berkeley and Shirley Plantations) with lunch at the Kings Arm Tavern in Williamsburg. The Kings Arms lunch will feature
Mrs. Vobe's favorite salad of seasonal greens with tomatoes, cucumbers and raspberry vinaigrette dressing, Southern-fried chicken with Smithfield Ham, fresh garden vegetables, crispy-herb-crusted potatoes, fresh tavern bread, beverages, and hand-scooped ice cream with fresh berries (yum-yum). The trip is on Thursday, March 22, 2018, and is teamed with Kenwood UMC in Ashland to help boost the number of participants needed for the trip. We need a minimum of 40 participants. Please pick up a flyer on the bulletin board across from the kitchen for detailed information and reservation form. Reservations and checks are due to Bob Almond by March 1, 2018. The $105.00 fee is all inclusive with entry fees, motor coach, lunch, refreshment on the coach, and taxes and gratuities. Early reservations and checks will ensure that the trip meets the minimum of participants needed. Respond today and join the group for an exciting and enjoyable trip on a luxury motor coach. If you have questions, please contact Bob Almond at 804-833-3355. Thanks!
Bishop's Convocation on Race and Reconciliation: Bishop Lewis has called a Convocation on Race and Reconciliation on Saturday, April 14, 2018, at Annandale UMC. The convocation will empower participants to become lifelong, learning disciples who will be able to conduct the difficult conversations we all need to have related to issues of racial division, justice, and God's call to ministries of reconciliation and peace. Visit this link to sign up for this event.
The Next Big Thing:
What's the next big thing in mission and outreach for us here at Centenary? What is God calling us to do? Where is God calling us to serve? What kinds of resources is God calling us to deploy to help us fulfill our mission of changing the world through love?
The Serving Team (formerly Outreach) invites you to help us begin to discern answers to those questions on Sunday, March 18, after our 11:00 a.m. worship service. Bring a covered dish and learn about missions "here, there and everywhere." (Beverages will be provided). We will hear of some mission opportunities from our Serving Team and then brainstorm together about new possibilities.
Save the Date:
We will be hosting Caritas the week of Saturday, April 21- Saturday, April 28, here at Centenary. Please put that week on your calendar. More information soon about how you can serve, share God's love, and make a difference!
Connecting with our Older Adults:
Rev. Rita Callis, our Coordinator of Older Adult Ministry, recently hosted a meeting with some of our older adults (and not so old adults) to think about ways we can connect more effectively with our older adults.
We have many ideas, but two we'd like to explore immediately. Here are ways you can serve.
- We'd like to connect younger adults with older adults in relationships of friendship and care. If you are a younger adult and would like to be paired as a friend with an older adult, please consider this opportunity.
- We'd like to involve more lay volunteers in a ministry of visitation with our adults. If you have an interest in learning more about this, please consider joining us.
- If you'd like to know more, please speak to Rev. Rita Callis or contact the church office at 804-648-8319.
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Please Remember in Prayer
Jennifer (friend of Nancy Grand with lung problems)
Linda Vegas (friend of Doug and Patsy Wilson)
Lou Rosypal (Westport rehab following broken hip)
Ron Davis (friend of Vic & Nancy Grand)
Bill Steele (youngest brother of Richard Steele-in hospital from complications from gallstone surgery)
Sonia Smith
John Lampe (recovering from surgery)
R.B. & Connie Bennington
Merle Brown (recovering from broken hip)
Mitzi Golod & Libby Rhame (in the recent loss of Libby's son & Mitzi's brother)
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Celebrating Birthdays in February
Chloe Simpson
Rachel Bates
Maria Dandridge
Troy Nelson
Jim Hill
Eli Armstrong
Clinton Jones
Greg Speidel
Christina Kidd
Andy Jordan
Agatha Kidd
Nancy Grand
James Armstrong
Justin Bates
Alan Davis
Melissa DeVader
Ina Wilson
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Photo of the Week!
We are excited to officially welcome Beth Hensley into our Centenary church family as a new member. She was introduced to Centenary by her sister and brother-in-law Nancy and Vic Grand. Welcome to Centenary!!
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Visit Us: 411 E. Grace St., Richmond, VA 23219
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