Centenary's Weekly Newsletter June 9, 2017
A Message from Centenary
Dear Centenary Family,
 
Pastor Matt Bates
It is hard for me to believe that not only is summer on the way, but that Annual Conference is also just around the corner. The Virginia Annual Conference will meet June 16-18 in Hampton. It will be our new bishop, Bishop Sharma Lewis's first Annual Conference with us.

As many of you know, an offering is received each year to support important mission work of our Conference. 

Bishop Lewis has announced the Annual Conference mission offering goal of $200,000 to focus on the following missional priority projects:

$50,000 Cambodia - For continued support for our partnership with the Methodist Mission in Cambodia as they move toward being an autonomous Methodist Church.
$25,000 Brazil - For our continued long term support of the Shade and Fresh Water ministry with at-risk children across several conferences in the Methodist Church of Brazil.
$25,000 Mozambique - Our partnership with the United Methodist Church of Mozambique focuses on education by providing lay training resources that strengthens their discipleship and witness across both conferences in Mozambique.
$50,000 Virginia Long Term Disaster Recovery - We are committed to a long term response to those whose lives were changed by tornadoes and Hurricane Matthew in 2016. The funding of the recovery will allow further teams to answer the call to make a compassionate response.
$25,000 Ethnic Minority Missional Ministries - Funds for grants to go toward developing ministry outreach in the conference to immigrants and other marginalized groups.
$25,000 Virginia Volunteers in Mission - To provide funds available to small membership faith communities who wish to engage in mission that may lack resources.

You can participate in this effort by simply designating a check or envelope as "Annual Conference Offering." You can contribute any time over the next few Sundays.

Also, I'm very happy to let you know that Rev. Brooke Willson will be preaching on Sunday, June 18 while I attend Annual Conference. Brooke and Vicki have become much loved members of our church family since Brooke's retirement. Brooke has a wonderful and varied record service. Brooke has served in rural areas, large membership churches, as a Campus Minister, and as a District Superintendent. I'm so grateful that Brooke is available to preach June 18.

And on June 25, please remember that we will celebrate our love and appreciation for Dave and Ginny Jarvis as they prepare to move to Winchester (regrettably!). As many of you know, Dave also has had an outstanding record of service in the Virginia Conference, including his service as a student minister, Associate Minister, and Senior Pastor here at Centenary as well as serving two different stints as a District Superintendent. Dave will be preaching at both services on June 25. We look forward to this opportunity to hear Dave preach and to spend time with Dave and Ginny as they make this transition.

We have so much to be grateful for here at Centenary!

Peace,

Matt

Church
This Weekend at Centenary

Sunday, June 11
8:40 am - Informal Worship Service
10:00 am - Sunday School for all ages 
11:00 am - Traditional Worship Service 
Senior Pastor Matt Bates will preach "A Greater Commission" 
based on the scripture reading Matthew 28:16-20.

Sunday, June 11 at 12 noon:  Assembly of School Kits
Join us for a pizza lunch as we assemble school kits for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). School kits provide children around the world with basic school supplies such as paper, pencils, and other items. 
To complete our goal of 100 school kits, we still need:

pencils - unsharpened, no advertisements, religious, patriotic, military or camouflage symbols
paper - spiral side bound or top bound, or packs of 150 or less sheets of loose leaf paper
rulers - 12 inch/30 centimeter, hard or flexible, no advertisements

To learn more about UMCOR and the need for relief supplies,  read here.

Important Notice about Sunday Parking on 4th Street
Please remember that on Sunday mornings if you park on 4th Street in one of the handicapped parking places (right hand side of the street as you head north - see photo below), you must  display a handicapped parking tag or risk being ticketed. 


A Challenge from Bishop Lewis to Read the Bible with Her in 2017
 
This week's readings:
 
June 9:   Job 29-31
June 10:   Job 32-34
June 11:   Job 35-37
June 12:   Job 38-39
June 13:   Job 40-42
June 14:   Psalms 1-8
June 15:   Psalms 9-16
June 16:   Psalms 17-20

You can now register if you are joining Bishop Lewis in her challenge to the Virginia Conference to read the Bible in entirety in 2017. The short poll allows you to add your name as well as district (Richmond) and your home church (Centenary). Register here. 
Calendar
Upcoming Events

CD's Available
CD's are available from the worship service on April 30th that featured special harp and trumpet music by Mary Walter Bircher and Craig Bircher, with Pastor Matt's sermon  Walking the Way. Please call Sharon Steele at 912-2549 if you would like one!

Help Needed
Even though we have successfully helped with the purchase of a van for our Afghan family, the mother and children of the family are still in need of assistance running errands and getting to medical appointments. We are in need of someone from Centenary to help with transportation during the month of June, since the regular "car helper" is going on vacation. In order to qualify as a volunteer, you must submit a background check and $45.00. If you would like a sponsor for this fee, see Vic and Nancy Grand, who will be able to provide assistance. You may also contact Vic and Nancy Grand, vicgrand@verizon.net , for further information. Thanks to all who help. 

VUMH Samaritan Program
The Hermitage is part of  Virginia United Methodist Homes, Inc. (VUMH) , a not-for-profit organization that makes a commitment to provide assistance to those who, through no fault of their own, may become unable to meet the financial responsibilities of their residence or care. The Samaritan Program  provides peace of mind to residents who have outlived their financial resources. If you would like to make a contribution to this program, you can do so by going to this website and clicking on the "Gift to the Hermitage Samaritan Program" link at the bottom of the webpage; http://www.hermitage-vumh.com/make-a-difference . If you would like to mail a check or contribution, you can send it to 5101 Cox Road, Suite 225, Glen Allen, 23060 and please write "VUMH Samaritan Program" on the bi-line.

Wednesday, June 14 at 12 noon:  Weekly Fellowship Group
Note that the weekly fellowship group that has been meeting at Aunt Sarah's now meets at Bob Evan's on Glenside Drive.
 
Sunday, June 18 at 6 pm:  Summer Movie Night
Centenary's Fellowship Hall is being turned into a movie theatre (yes, with popcorn!) one Sunday night each summer month. The featured movie in June is Hidden Figures, about a team of brilliant African-American women who provided NASA with important mathematical data needed to launch the program's first successful space missions. Rated PG.

Sunday, June 25 at 12 noon:  Reception 

A Centenary Love Story
 
Ginny came to Centenary as a child.
Dave came as a Youth Pastor 1955 - 59.
 
They met during Methodist Youth Fellowship.
Ginny entered college. Dave entered Divinity School.
THEN romance ensued. They graduated and married.
 
The Methodist Church issued marching orders and they
marched around Virginia (including Assistant Pastor and Senior Pastor
at Centenary and area District Superintendent).
 
Years passed with 2 sons, 6 grandchildren and retirement to Richmond.
Now they plan their next to last move to the Village at Orchard Ridge
in Winchester, Virginia.
 
Please join us on Sunday, June 25 for a reception following the 11:00 am Worship Service and share our love for Ginny and Dave Jarvis.
And give thanks for their combined 73 years of love for Centenary.

Thursday, June 29:  Centenary Travels - Trip to Staunton, VA
If you are interested in joining the Centenary group traveling to Staunton to visit Sunspot (glassblowing demo), Woodrow Wilson Museum, Library, gift shop and birthplace, country buffet lunch at Mrs. Rowe's, and the P. Buckley Moss Art Gallery in downtown Waynesboro, please let Bob Almond know by Monday, June 12

Reservations need to be confirmed at the library and at Mrs. Rowe's for the country buffet. You can reach Bob at (804) 833-3355 or by email at bob.almond@verizon.net . You can mail your check to Bob Almond, 1309 Westbrook Avenue, Richmond, VA 23227. We have 12 people signed up for the trip and welcome others to join us!
Outreach Accomplishments 2016-2017

All too often Outreach moves at a hectic pace, and we forget to give thanks for our accomplishments. So, let's take a few moments to enjoy our successes and to give thanks to our generous, caring congregation. The Outreach Committee applauds you!
 
September 2016 - Donation of four classroom sets of books to Chimborazo Elementary School ($552.68).
 
September 2016 - Support for our missionaries, Clara Biswas in Cambodia and Pat Watkins in U.S. ($2,000.00 to each).
 
October 2016 - Support for the Fall Golf Tournament and funds for Stop Hunger Now ($1,600.00).
 
November 2016 - Stop Hunger Now packaging event ($2,900.00).
 
November 2016 - Bring in the Harvest Thanksgiving food donations.
 
December 2016 - Christmas cards for our Walk-In guests for three Fridays;
each Walk-In guest was able to choose two Christmas gifts; also provided a comb, clippers, and razor to each Walk-In guest.
 
December 2016 -  Provided Christmas cards to McGuire VA Medical Center.
 
December 2016 - Donations received for Gifts that Count Cards ($2,517.00).
 
December 2016 - Christmas Eve offering given to UMFS ($2,001.00).
 
March 2017 - Chili Cook-Off to raise funds for scholarship for UMFS camper ($652.00).
  
April 2017 - Accepted donations of clothing, personal items, and money for the Richmond Justice Center.
 
April 2017 - Support for the Spring Golf Tournament and funds for Rise Against Hunger ($1,200.00).
 
April 2017 - Helped our Afghan refugee family purchase a van ($2000.00).

May 2017 - Provided funding for consultant, Dr. John Wimberley, for Strategic Planning ($3,500.00).
 
May 2017 - Gave additional money to support Afghan family ($2,000.00).
 
June 2017 - Packaged 10,000 meals for Rise Against Hunger ($2,900.00).
Please Remember in Prayer

From Jim and Mirian Wickham:  The Wickhams wish to thank our church family for all your kind attention during Jim's recent experience as a patient. Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated.

Ryland Bailey, Sr. ( in hospice care at Retreat Hospital, 2621 Grove Avenue in Richmond, in Room 546)
Joe Ciucci Jr.
Bobby Davis (now a patient at Hanover Health and Rehab)
Rebecca Enos, her church and her friend, Marlys Johnson  
Kim Golden
Mary Hazelgrove
Jack Hill (back at home)
Grace Hinchman 
Jack & Lois Hinerman
Judy Holland
Leah Hundley (recovering from wrist surgery)          
Lila Irby
Ginny Jarvis
Joe Kokoszki 
Theresa Mason (friend of Agatha Kidd)
Nikita McCormick, our weekly parking lot attendant (in the loss of her mother, Robin McCormick)
Troy Nelson (recovering from heart surgery)
John Seyfarth
Neil Shingleton and family (in the loss of his brother, Will Shingleton)
P.C. and Carol Yerby (parents of Mary Mismas)
ten_striped_candles.jpg
Celebrating Birthdays in June

Mike Darlington
Alex Hundley
Doug K. Wilson
Amelia Davis
Susan Somma
Lynn Martin
Clint Jones
Tara Swinford
Barrett Brown
Travis Levasseur
Will Petty
T.J. Speidel
Sue Siddons
David Pippin
Neil Shingleton
Rebecca Enos
Matthew Parks
Christie Siddons 
Marshall Balance
Christian Brock
Rachel DeVader
Bennett English
Karen Willis
Leah Hundley
Scott Cooke
Eleanor Brock
Albert Nuckols
Sandy Shaw
Anne McCutcheon
Florence Clay Bishop
Ken White
Warren Hottle
Wirt Brock
Connie Bennington
Charlotte Smith

Photos of the Week
David Storey giving the pipes of Centenary's organ a little "chiropractic" treatment. 
Photo Credit:  Stan Baker
Centenary United Methodist Church | (804) 648-8319 | www.centumc.org 
Visit Us: 411 E. Grace St., Richmond, VA 23219
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