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A Message from Centenary
Dear Centenary Family,
This is a wonderful time of year. I always look forward to the excellent worship we experience during Holy Week. I hope you will be here for the beginning of this journey with Jesus through the last week of his life. We have our regular schedule of services this Sunday. In between services, we have a pancake breakfast at 9:30 a.m. Around 10:00 a.m. we will process down to St. Paul's Episcopal Church where we gather with the other downtown churches for our Palm Sunday Celebration, and then back to Centenary for our 11:00 a.m. service.
During our service at 11:00 a.m., we remember both Jesus' exciting entrance into Jerusalem at the beginning of Holy Week, but also hear the entire story of Jesus' passion read in dramatic fashion. We begin this journey hearing the whole story of Jesus' suffering, betrayal, trial, crucifixion, and death and consider what all this means for us and the world. My sermon this Sunday is based on the Palm Sunday account in Luke 19:28-40 (which doesn't mention palms at all!). But this sermon searches for the continuity between what happens at the beginning of Holy Week and what transpires as Jesus keeps willingly moving toward the cross. My title this Sunday is "A Time to Surrender."
On Thursday night, we spend time in the Upper Room with Jesus and the disciples as Jesus celebrates the Last Supper. We'll share Holy Communion that evening. And if you've never been to our Good Friday service, I hope you'll come this year. You'll leave sobered by the reality of Jesus' death, but spiritually ready to anticipate the miracle of Easter Sunday.
I hope you'll read the rest of this newsletter to see all the activities going from Palm Sunday through Easter. If we're open to it, our own personal faith can be renewed in powerful ways as we remember the events that show us most clearly who God is and what God intends for us and all creation.
I also want to let you know of an exciting development that I think will make an impact on our present and future ministry here in downtown Richmond. As you are probably aware, there are approximately 30,000 post-college age young adults within a three mile radius of our church. Connecting with this young people is central to our mission here at Centenary. We have been blessed with a strong nucleus of young adults who have vision for our future ministry with other young adults. And they have the commitment and gifts to build this ministry.
I have been in conversation with our District Superintendent, Rev. Peter Moon, and our Church Council over the past year or so about how we might step up our efforts in reaching young people here in downtown Richmond. Our District Superintendent shares our vision of reaching out to this new population, and our Conference recognizes the need for a robust United Methodist presence here in downtown Richmond.
In response to these possibilities, at this Annual Conference, Rev. Drew Willson will be appointed to serve with us as Minister to Young Adults ¼ time, and also serve Boulevard United Methodist Church ¾ time. Drew is a gifted pastor who feels called to taking the risk of engaging in this effort of reaching more younger adults with us. Drew is currently serving as the Associate Minister at Trinity UMC here in Richmond. Next week, we will have a fuller biography introducing Drew and his wonderful family with some more details about our hopes and dreams for this effort. But for now, I hope you'll join me in praying for Drew and his family. I believe God has great things in store for all of us!
I continually thank God for this congregation's commitment to serve Christ in this downtown setting. I am grateful for this congregation's openness to all people, its sensitivity and compassion for those who are struggling with homelessness and hunger and so many other challenges. I am grateful for the love we have for one another. And I'm grateful that though we have a rich history for which we are rightly grateful, we are open to the new things God may be calling us to do and be!
I look forward to Holy Week with you-and all the weeks to come!
Peace,
Matt
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Sunday, April 14, 2019- Palm Sunday
8:40 a.m. Early Service
10:00 a.m. Sunday School
11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship
Dr. Matthew D. Bates will preach a sermon entitled
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Please welcome Ruth Stewart, who will be joining us as a member this Palm Sunday, April 14.
Welcome to the Centenary Family, Ruth!
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Join us for our Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Services on
Thursday, April 18, and
Friday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m.
Have you ever wondered why we call these services
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday?
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bless My Sole Sock Drive:
Our Bless My Sole Foot Washing Ministry is in need of more socks. If you would like to make a donation of socks feel free to drop those off at the office on Sunday or during church office hours, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Men's long white tube socks are preferred.
"Announcing the Launch of the 4th Annual Warm Hearts, Toasty Toes Sock Drive!" Icon Credit Union, 5 June 2015, www.iconcreditunion.org/announcing-the-launch-of-the-4th-annual-warm-hearts-toasty-toes-sock-drive/.
The Praise Chorus:
The Praise Chorus will be practicing THIS
Sunday, April 14, (Palm Sunday)
and
Sunday, April 21, (Easter Sunday)
at 8:00 a.m. They will be singing
"Low in the Grave He Lay/Christ the Lord is Risen Today," at the 8:40 a.m. service on Sunday, April 21, (Easter Sunday). If you are in the Praise Chorus, please let Kathleen Gregory know if you will be able to practice and sing on Easter Sunday.
Pancake Breakfast:
Join us for a pancake breakfast at 9:30 a.m. THIS UPCOMING, Palm Sunday, April 14.
There will be NO SUNDAY SCHOOL Sunday, April 14.
Good Friday Stations of the Cross Walk:
On
Friday, April 19, beginning at 9:30 a.m., some of Richmond's downtown churches and friends from the larger Richmond metro area will conduct a Stations of the Cross Walk. The Stations of the Cross is a traditional form of devotion to help Christians remember the main events of Jesus' last day on earth as a man. This year, some of Richmond's downtown churches and friends from the larger metropolitan area will walk nine stations of the cross through Jackson Ward and downtown Richmond. This walk is an intentional attempt to bring people together across racial lines to witness to their common faith and share fellowship and friendship with one another.
The walk begins in the sanctuary of Third Street Bethel A.M.E. Church located at 614 N. Third Street. Participants are invited to park across from the church on Jackson Street. The walk will proceed making stops at churches and locations throughout downtown for prayer and to observe the stations of the cross. The walk will conclude at Third Street Bethel A.M.E. All are invited to do the entire walk or any portion of it they may desire.
Reconciling Task Force Meeting:
The next Reconciling Task Force Meeting will take place on
Thursday, April 25, at 6 p.m.
Easter Egg Hunt:
All children and youth are invited to an Easter Egg Hunt on
Easter Sunday, April 21, at 10 a.m.
in the upstairs Children's Sunday School rooms. Parents or grandparents of preschool children are encouraged to stay to help their children with the hunt.
There will be NO SUNDAY SCHOOL Sunday, April 21.
Flowers for the Cross:
Easter Sunday, April 21, don't forget to bring your spring flowers to adorn our cross in celebration of Easter.
Golf Tournament:
Join us on
Wednesday, April 24, at 11:00 a.m. for the 4th Annual Earl Siddon's Open! Proceeds will go to benefit Rise Against Hunger Now and the cost is $75.00 per person ($15.00 lunch only). Please note: Firm reservations are needed for catered lunch. Hole sponsors are $50.00 (any individual(s) may sponsor a hole as well) and individuals may also donate gift cards to be given away as prizes. Please contact the church office at 804-648-8319 or cent.umc@verizon.net to register.
Pricing has gone up for the Rise Against Hunger Meal Packing Events and we need YOU! You can help by sponsoring our golf tournament, all proceeds go to supporting our Rise Against Hunger Now meal packing events. If you would like to be a sponsor, feel free to write a $50.00 check and place that in the church offering with "Golf Tournament Sponsor" written on the bi-line. Also, please be sure to send an email to cent.umc@verizon.net or, call Centenary at 804-648-8319, to notify us so that we can acknowledge your sponsorship in the bulletin.
Fellowship, Food, and Fun!:
Join the United Methodist Women's group on
Thursday, May 2, at 6:00 p.m. at the home of our host, Mary E. Vetrovec (6404 Westchester Circle,
Richmond, VA 23225) for a quiche and salad dinner. We will be outside, weather permitting, as well as inside. Girls and Guests are all invited! Bring only one item- a quiche, a salad, or a dessert to share.
Rise Against Hunger Now Meal Packing Event:
Join us for our next meal packing event on
Saturday, May 18, 2019. We will gather in the fellowship hall (no later than 8:45 a.m.) 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).
Lay Visitors Meeting:
There will be a lay visitors meeting here at Centenary on
Sunday, May 19
, at 12:15 p.m.
Please note, this is a change of date.
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Centenary Downtown is Reaching Out
Team Reach is working on plans to further reach out to our community and church. We are focused on building relationships with our visitors and creating opportunities for service and fellowship.
Look for some new things happening around Centenary Downtown. We are:
- Changing how we follow up with visitors.
- Recording the sermon and service every week. We are currently posting it on our CentUMC Facebook Page and soon it will be on our Centenary website.
- Exploring an additional gathering area between services for fellowship near the sanctuary.
- Hosting the movie "Risen" on Palm Sunday, April 14th at 6:30 p.m.
We would love to hear your ideas. Reach out to one of our team members.
Left to Right: Mann Brown, Anne Kraft, Nathan Grubb, Pencye Bailey, Lynette Bailey, Rachel Bates, Susan Thomas, Mary Mismas, Steve Kraft. Not Shown: Reid Ashe, Sylvia Whaley, Clint Jones, Phyllis Stump, Mark Inge
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Hi Centenary Family,
Julie Landsdown is our missionary in Nairobi. Her thank you to CUMC for our assistance has been in our newsletter and she is in the picture above. Julie is doing a wonderful job and making a difference in the lives of many, many people.
Her birthday is
Sunday, April 21 (Easter Sunday)! Her email address is:
It would be great if she received some birthday wishes from her Centenary family!
Blessings,
Susan Thomas
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Sunday, March 17, we began our program of secret prayer partners. If you were not here for Sunday's service and would like to participate there are two baskets in the back of the church for that purpose. Please pick up a card from the small basket, write your name on it with any other information you may choose to add, and place it in the larger basket.
When you leave pick one or two cards with someone else's name on it from the larger basket and pray for that person every day during Lent. You will be both giving and receiving prayers. At the end of Lent, maybe you would like to reveal your identity to the person you have been praying for.
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Richmond Youth Host Home Program -
April 27th Training for Host Families
There are hundreds of homeless teenagers in Richmond, Chesterfield, and Henrico public schools who are struggling to earn their diplomas and become successful, independent adults.
There are also college students who have nowhere to stay over their breaks and holidays. Several youth- and young-adult focused programs and agencies have joined together with Change the World RVA (a ministry of Bon Air United Methodist Church) to create the Richmond Youth Host Home Program. This centrally organized program will place students in volunteer host homes and provide ongoing guidance for both the family and student.
If you are interested in becoming a short- or long-term host family for a high school or college student, please visit the Change the World RVA web site (www.changetheworldrva.org) to complete a preliminary application and to register for the workshop. All host families are asked to attend the workshop.
Our Host Home Training Program will be held on Saturday, April 27th at Change the World RVA (411 East Grace Street., in Centenary United Methodist Church) from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. The training will be an interactive and engaging combination of workshops, panel discussions, and conversation. Coffee, beverages, snacks, and lunch will be provided.
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Join us
Saturday, May 4, 2019
from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Moss on the James Chapter of the P. Buckley Moss Society Eleventh Annual Tea Party Fundraiser to benefit:
The event will take place at The Markel Corporation Conference Room (4521 Highwoods Parkway, Glen Allen, VA 23060).
Donation: $36.00 per person.
Checks can be made out to:
Moss on the James
Each person is invited to bring a teacup and saucer to be used
at the Tea Party.
A silent auction bidding opens at 12 p.m. and lunch service
will begin at 1 p.m.
Come and bring family members and friends- all are welcome!
Please RSVP by mailing in the RSVP card below and check no later than Monday, April 15. Flyers and RSVP cards can also be found on the bulletin board across from the kitchen.
Questions- call Bob Almond at 804-833-3355 or
Pat Whitlow at 804-335-7632
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Ten-Day British Landscapes Trip
Featuring England, Scotland, and Wales
You are invited to join a travel group from Centenary and friends on a special planned trip by Collette Travel Group. The ten-day trip is scheduled for
September 19 - 28, 2019
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Nancy Penman- Wendy Smith's mother who has had a stroke and lives in New Jersey
Les Dobbs
Gary Motley
A.J. Crick- is at Morningside at Bellgrade
Nancy Hill- at home recovering from recent hospital stay
Joe Speidel- recovering from leg injury and surgery this past week
Justin Laman- nephew of Lucy Hottle, a young father who has cancer
Charles Mills- brother of Jimmy Mills, at Regional Memorial hospital
Clyde Hundley- son of Leah and Bob Hundley, is currently on blood thinners for Afib
Jane Covington- wife of Lee Covington, recently broke her kneecap
Joe Kokoski
Jenny Bush- friend of Leah Hundley, is diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma.
Deirdre McElroy-friend of Gwynn Henderson, now undergoing radiosurgery to eliminate persistent cancerous tumors.
Lila Irby
R.B. Bennington
Lucille Hunt- at Morningside at Bellgrade
Wendy Tisdale- family friend of Agatha and Christina Kidd, diagnosed with staged 4 lung cancer
Mark Inge
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Vic Grand
Kevin Cooke
Patsy Wilson
Steven Cooke
Marjorie Landers
Luke Wolfe
Claire Hundley
Doug Wilson
Joseph Speidel
Stephen Lee
Vicki Stump
James Boice
Kate Stottlemyer
Julie Landsdown
Benjamin Armstrong
George Thrower
Chris Junker
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Photos of the Week!
This week, Ryland Bailey, Jr. gave a tour of the bells and bell tower to a class from Saint Gertrude High School!
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Visit Us: 411 E. Grace St., Richmond, VA 23219
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