CENTRAL TIME
weekly e-news from Central United Methodist Church
November 18, 2020
Central United Methodist Church

The Servant Leader
by Tom Norrell

Thank you for your stewardship efforts in this challenging year of 2020.

The financial leaders in our church have worked energetically and creatively. Since we are apart physically we will celebrate our Gratitude and Pledge Sundays, on both November 22 and 29.

Our 2021 budget has been reduced by $32,000. A task force is working on even more reductions. We are striving to continue our wonderful ministries in new ways including extensive use of social media. We continue to minister and give out of gratitude for what God does for us each day! 

We are asking you to mail, drop off or bring in person your pledge to the church. We will have a brief litany of consecration at the end of our worship services on the 22nd and 29th. Only one person totals the pledges, so your pledge is absolutely confidential.

In these strange times we are still working on delivering our ministries in different ways and continue to plan new ministries. I know you will be praying for God’s guidance as we prepare to support authentic, loving ministry in our community. 

Advent and Christmas is always meaningful and fun at Central. It will be both this year even though COVID-19 WILL SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASE OUR TIME TOGETHER AND CURTAIL SOME OF OUR SINGING.

Al Jeter, Keith Jones, and others have worked hard and creatively on our holy-day-celebrations. See schedule on the link above.
Upper Room Sunday School Class

You are invited to join the Upper Room Sunday school class on Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM on Zoom. If you want to join, click the link below and enter the meeting ID and password!

Meeting ID: 815 9104 7549
Password: 778963
November
22- Kathy Cann - Was Jesus Married?
29- Bill Kochler - Saving the Life of Your Fellow Church Member

Our Giving
COVID-19
In the midst of this time of great challenge:

as of October 31, 2020          
YTD Budget $534,722
YTD Received $407,355
YTD Expenses$495,830
YTD OVER/UNDER$(127,367)
YTD Expenses vs Gifts ($88,475)

Financial Statements are available in the hallway outside of the church office.

The work of Central continues and would not be possible without the prayers, generosity and support of our leaders and laity.
Sacred Traditions And Rituals

November 22
  
 Tranquility with Tea
      a service devoted to quieting minds, opening hearts, soothing souls

Reflection
Friendship and Cherishment
                                                              
The World is round so that friendship may encircle it.  ~ Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, we share a special opportunity to ponder the meaning and joy of friends … and be thankful for our friendships.    
 
Nearly twenty years ago, an article about friendship noted that one of the Japanese words for friendship means cherishment. As part of our service, we will reflect on what it means to cherish someone. Then, consider how we cherish our friends and what it means to have life-long friends, as well as those who grace our lives for a period-of-time. Speculating on spiritual selves, we will contemplate what it means to cherish ourselves … Do we cherish the divine light within ourselves? Certainly, how we do this for ourselves, can reveal how we cherish our friends.
Our Prayerful Meditation and Contemplation will be created and offered by Gail McCormick and Emily Nelson. Both serve in roles of S.T.A.R. Leadership – Gail is a member of the Elder Council and Emily is a member of the Planning Council.        

A portion of the offering collected has been designated for Foster Paws Rescue for Cats – honoring Gail and Emily for sharing their creative energy with us.   
 
Sunday Morning
11:00 AM

Order of Worship for
Christ the King
Thanksgiving/Pledge Sunday
November 22, 2020
Live - Stream on Facebook
and in-person

Tom Norrell, Pastor
Paige Wolfe, Liturgist
Al Jeter, Handbell Director
Keith Jones, Choir Director
Brian Dailey, Organist

Music for Sunday, November 22
Central Carillon and Organ

Zachary Rawlinson, trumpet
Carolyn Sparks, soloist
Quartet:
Ann Neeley, soprano,
Sarah Monroe, alto
Phil Vernesoni, tenor
Al Jeter, bass

Welcome and Announcements
Prelude: Hallelujah (arr. Thompson)
Introit: This Is My Father's World (arr. McKechnie)
Call to Worship
Opening Prayer
Old Testament Lesson: 1 Chronicles 21:18-24
*Gospel Lesson: Mark 12:38-44
Anthem: I Give You a New Commandment (Peter Aston)
Pastoral Prayer and The Lord's Prayer
Sermon: GRATITUDE AND GIVING
Response to the Word: Pledges 2021
Closing Response
Postlude: Thankful (arr. Eithun)
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
     
19 Jo Harris
20 Rubie Yonce
21 Mary Knight, Magdalene Nichols 
22 Ted Ellis, Jean Yonce 
24 Perry Henson, Lillian Zimmerman
25 Dianne Mercer
27 Gina Hamer, Keith Parris
28 Kit Maultsby
29 Ann Leonard
30 Sue Hurlbert
 
November Calendar






22 Sunday
9:30 AM Upper Room Sunday School Zoom (Adult)
11:00 AM Worship Service (Sanctuary)
6:00 PM S.T.A.R. (Fellowship Hall)

23 Monday
6:30 PM Transitions Women's Bible Study Zoom

24 Wednesday
7:30 PM Chancel Choir Rehearsal -
"Music for at Home Devotions"

The church office will be closed
Thursday, November 26
and Friday, November 27
 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
 
Church Announcements for
Central Time or Sunday bulletin
If you have an announcement that you would like to appear in the Central Time, Sunday bulletins, on social media, or on the church's website, please submit that information to: info@centralumcspartanburg.org
Central Time is published weekly except during holidays to keep you connected to Central UMC. 

Ways to Give to Central

We continue to be deeply grateful for continued support of the mission and ministry of Central Church. Even though we have started back worshipping in the sanctuary, we have limited the handling of offerings and cash. There are a few ways to continue to make offerings extremely easy.
  1. The US mail always works. We are at 233 North Church St., Spartanburg, SC 29306
  2. Contact Ann Darby to set up a recurring gift through an automatic bank draft.
  3. On the homepage on the church's website there is a "Give" link. Once you set up that app any additional gifts are as easy as one or two clicks.

Mission Statement:
"Our purpose is making
and nurturing
disciples of
Jesus Christ."
Please pray for . . .
Betty Jackson (Kay Lawrence's mother)
Anne Jeter (Al Jeter's wife) recovering from surgery
Debra Liner (recovering from ankle surgery)
Shelley Lyles (Rev. David and Eloise Clyburn's
granddaughter)
Melissa Parris (recovering from surgery)

LET'S STAY CONNECTED!

Central (864) 582-7263



Stephanie Newell


Ann Darby





Central United Methodist
founded 1837
from the Choirmaster's desk...

Each week members of the chancel choir are recording "Music for at Home Devotions". The recordings of organ music, hymns, anthems, and the occasional solo can be found on the church's webpage and facebook. Here is how to get to the page.

From Central's website using the navigation menu at the top, hover over the heading, "Learn." A menu will appear with "Worship Online," being the first option. Hover over "Worship Online" and a sub-menu will appear to the right. Click on "Music for at Home Devotions" to access the most recent recording. Past recordings are on the page marked "Music for at Home Devotions Archive." All video recordings are also posted on Facebook each week.
Central Office Hours:
COVID-19
Monday through Wednesday
and Friday
9:00 AM - 12 Noon
Get text notifications from Central
To sign up, text the word "Central" to 864-661-4726. After texting the keyword to this phone number, you will receive a reply asking for some simple info. Please click the link, include your name, and submit the form. You will be signed up! Any questions, contact Rev. Paige Wolfe.