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Dear Centenary Family,
This Sunday (November 6), we celebrate All Saints' Sunday. This is always an inspiring, though somewhat solemn, time of worship. We remember our loved ones who have made the transition from the church militant to the church triumphant. As we recall the memories of these loved ones, we inevitably feel grief because of their absence from us. We remember these people, however, not just to recall their presence to our memories, but to ponder how and where we saw God's grace at work in their lives.
In the Protestant tradition, we have never made much of the notion that saints are people in heaven we approach to intercede for us, though, I have no doubt that our loved ones in the great cloud of witnesses that surrounds us are, indeed, praying for us. Though the New Testament sometimes refers to all disciples as beloved saints, we often think of people that the church has declared to have met certain criteria for sainthood. One of the reasons our Catholic brothers and sisters have a clearly defined process for identifying saints is to hold up people whose lives are models of faithfulness.
There is much value in this. The truth is, most of us learn how to be mature human beings by watching others. We learn by imitation. It helps to have an example of what we're trying to become, whether we want to be a pianist, brick mason, or sprinter. And to become disciples, it helps to have some pattern to follow.
I know that I have been drawn to those people whose names are known to us through history as saints because they lived lives of great compassion, or died as a martyr because of their faith, or were even responsible for some miraculous healing.
But as time goes on, I'm more interested to the ways I have seen God's grace at work in the lives of ordinary people - imperfect people through whom I have experienced God's grace at work. Who are those people in your life? We want to remember them and thank God for them this Sunday. The sermon this Sunday tackles some of these themes. It is based on the Gospel reading from Luke 6:20-31 and is entitled "Patterns of Faithfulness."
This Sunday, we also begin moving more intentionally toward our Stewardship Commitment Sunday on November 20. In both of our worship services the next three weeks, we will hear from some of our own saints how they have gotten free from the ties of materialism and moved toward generosity, as well as how they see their generosity making a difference through the ministries of our church.
One final note - last Sunday was a great milestone to celebrate! God has been good to us and is with us as we move into the future God has in store for us.
Peace,
Matt
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This Weekend at Centenary
Friday, November 4 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm
Visitation with the family of Jean Jones, who passed away on November 1, will be held at Morrissett Funeral Home, 6500 Iron Bridge Road, N. Chesterfield, VA 23234.
Saturday, November 5 at 8:45 am: Stop Hunger Now
We will gather in the Fellowship Hall to pack meals to provide for families in distressed areas of the world. This is a wonderful time for fellowship and commitment to missions. Bring family, friends and neighbors. Join in the fun! (Reminder: Wear a hat or use a hairnet.)
Saturday, November 5 at 2:00 pm: Memorial Service for Jean Jones at Centenary
A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall. (The burial will precede the Memorial Service on Saturday morning at 11:00 am at Dale Memorial Park.)
Daylight Savings Time: Don't forget to change your clocks back for Sunday morning!
Sunday, November 6 at 10:00 am: New Adult Sunday School Offerings Begin
Robb Stottlemyer will lead a study of the book
Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri J.M. Nouwen: Daily Scripture and Prayers Together with Nouwen's Own Words. The inspiring words of Henri Nouwen guide the faithful on a spiritual journey through the Advent and Christmas season in this book of waiting, hope, anticipation, and celebration. It celebrates the momentous arrival of the Christ Child and the joyous news of our salvation. It is also an ideal book for the individual seeking active participation in the season and a renewal of faith for the start of the liturgical year. Some books will be available on Sunday mornings.
A new young adult study will also begin with Pat Shipley and Dave Jarvis leading a study that starts with the foundation of "Love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind" (Luke 10:7) titled Dream. Think. Be. Do.
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About Sunday's Music
A Local Connection
This Sunday we celebrate the lives of those gone before us - All Saints. Our now very secular (not to mention commercial!) Halloween is actually related to All Hallows, another name for this ancient religious holiday which falls on November 1. All Hallows Eve (Hallows Eve =
Halloween) was supposed to be the last night of the year that mischievous spirits could roam before the solemnity of All Saints was ushered in.
Here is a very complete article about the history of Halloween.
The anthem I have chosen was written very close to us - here is the
inscription: "for the funeral of Colonel Gerard Edward Noble, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Bristol Parish, Petersburg, VA." Thomas Pavlechko (b.
1962) was the organist/choirmaster there in the 1990's. At the very end of the anthem, he has incorporated a bit of the Requiem Mass sung in quiet, close harmony. This piece could easily be described as ethereal and a beautiful expression of the spirits - the good ones - the saints.
Stan Baker
Director of Music/Organist
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Monday, November 7 at 6:00 pm: Invitation from the 2020 Committee
Joe Speidel, Chair of the 2020 Committee, invites you to join in an informal conversation about our vision for future ministry. This gathering will be at Pop's Market at 5th and Grace Street. Please email the church office at cent.umc@verizon.net if you plan to attend.
Saturday, November 12 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm: Remember and Recommit Workshop
The next workshop for the series "Remember and Recommit: Christian Faith and the Modern Civil Rights Movement" is scheduled for Saturday, November 12 from 10 am to 1 pm at Asbury United Methodist (Church Hill), 324 N 29th Street. All are encouraged to attend, even if you haven't been to one of the previous workshops in this series. Through a combination of worship. presentations, video clips and small group sharing, we will remember the witness and sacrifice of so many 50 years ago during the Civil Rights Movement and recommit to discerning and following God's ongoing call for racial justice and reconciliation in our time. Some of the events we will highlight include: the assassination of Malcolm X, the Selma Campaign, the Voting Rights Act, and the Watts Riots in LA.
Saturday, November 12 at 7:00 pm: One Voice Chorus Concert
The One Voice Chorus will present their fall vocal concert entitled "War and Peace" at River Road Baptist Church (
8000 River Road in Richmond). This will be an aural representation of Franz Joseph Haydn and Zoltan Kodaly's responses to political and social upheaval through their compositions Missa in Angustiis and Missa Brevis. O
ne Voice Chorus was founded in 2002 as an intentionally integrated adult community chorus serving Richmond's diverse population in a special way. "Singing the beauty and power of diversity" is more than a tag-line and is a very real description of the work of this choral group. If you are interested in attending. please contact Centenary Church members Vic or Nancy Grand (home phone 276-5362).
Sunday, November 13 at 5 pm: Movie Night
Join us for Movie Night at Centenary featuring the drama Mr. Church, which tells the story of a unique friendship that develops when a little girl and her dying mother retain the services of a talented cook - Henry Joseph Church - played by Eddie Murphy. What begins as a six month arrangement instead spans into fifteen years and creates a family bond that lasts forever. Rated PG-13.
Sunday, November 20 at both Worship Services: Stewardship Commitment Sunday
Sunday, November 20 at 2 pm: Theatre Outing to Assassins
A group from Centenary will be attending a Quill Theatre production of Assassins at the Firehouse Theatre (located at 1609 W Broad Street). A multiple Tony Award-winning theatrical tour-de- force, this explosive musical examines the lives of those who committed - or attempted to commit- the ultimate crime: the assassination of an American president. Boldly cutting-edge and alarmingly funny, the show freely mixes characters from different periods in a kaleidoscopic, hallucinatory revue. With Stephen Sondheim's signature blend of beautiful music and dazzling lyrics, this show entertains while it examines the sense of entitlement and yearning for fame that motivates an unthinkable act.Tickets will be between $0 and $25, depending on the size of our group. Sign up on the bulletin board across from the kitchen.
Monday, November 28 at 7:30 pm: Final Dress Rehearsal of Hamlet in Fellowship Hall
Come see this preview performance in our Fellowship Hall of the one-hour Hamlet that Quill Theatre will start touring the next day in the Richmond City Schools. Refreshments will be served. No reservations needed. Just come and support these actors who will be sharing their love of Shakespeare with Richmond City children!
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Outreach and Mission Opportunities
Leftover Halloween Candy?
Need a home for your leftover Halloween Candy? Donate it to the Evangelism Committee for use in the welcome mugs that they give to our first-time visitors at the end of each worship service. The donations of candy can be left in the church office.
Christmas Gifts for our Walk-In Guests
We will be offering gifts to our Walk-In guests to give to their loved ones for Christmas. If you have any items that you would like to donate, you can drop them off at the church office. Some ideas for gifts include gloves, scarves, holiday items found at the dollar tree, or items found in the dollar bin at Target. Here is also a link to the Oriental Trading Company, which is a wonderful way to buy neat items in bulk.
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Please Remember in Prayer
Ryland Bailey, Sr.
Joe Ciucci Jr.
Nancy Cook
Ruth Anne Davis
Rev. Katie B. Gooch, Minister at the Pace Center VCU and her husband Matt (in the death of Matt's father)
Tim Guill (friend of James Durst who is recovering from a car accident)
Grace Hinchman
Jack & Lois Hinerman
Judy Holland
The family of Jean Jones (who passed away on November 1)
Mike Jones
Debbie Kammeter (friend of Leah Hundley) in the loss of her father
Lundi Martin
Donna Mestre (Betty Brown's sister)
Troy Nelson
Barbara Pierson
Rives Priddy
Marcus Smith (Suzanne Ray's uncle)
John Seyfarth
Kevin Watson (son of Cheryl Owen-Watson)
Ina Wilson (her sister passed away October 3)
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Celebrating Birthdays in November
Ginny Jarvis
Mike LaBarre
Roy Lambertson
Todd Minnich
Lisa Miller
Charlotte Vaughn
Herb Young
Keith Hinerman
Sebastien Chasse
Nancy Lee
Jo Anne Berft
Susy Meyer
Aaron Clark
Twyla Kulp
Owen Armstrong
Thomas Stottlemyer
Sandy Armstrong
Lois Hinerman
Richard Steele
Stephanie Webster
Basil Smith
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Photo of the Week
Our Discover Downtown Eateries dinner Wednesday night was at the Tenka Ramen Noodle Bar - delicious food and wonderful fellowship!
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Visit Us: 411 E. Grace St., Richmond, VA 23219
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