Centenary's Weekly Newsletter Friday, August 17, 2018
A Message from Centenary

Stuff You Need to Know
Church Money Chat # 2
 
     Church Money Chat #1, printed in the August 10, 2018 newsletter, covered our completing the 3-year Capital Campaign. The generous giving was above the amount used for the Kitchen and Elevator Renovation. Today, we address more good news. When planning our fund raising, Kim Chen, a church member with expertise in tax credit, made the Campaign Committee aware that Centenary qualified for Virginia Historic Tax Credits. This rehabilitative credit is given for investments in preservation. With careful investigations, costs for 6 years of building capital improvements were researched and Kim submitted them with countless forms to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources for approval. To shorten this story, Centenary UMC, built in 1840, was approved for $195,223 in tax credits. If you would like more information on this process, go to DHR Virginia Department of Historic Resources-Rehabilitation Tax Credits.
 
Trustees are recommending that this money be used as follows:
  •  80% be placed in a Capital Reserve Fund to be used for planned and necessary work on the church
  •  10% be given as a Pastor's Discretionary Fund as we commend Dr. Bates for his leadership
10% be given to our Serving Team for use in our outreach ministry
     
The congregation will approve the use of this money at a church conference, with the time and date TBA.
 


Join our Renovation Celebration
12 Noon, September 9, 2018
Centenary Fellowship Hall
A Light Brunch and Party Horns
 

 
This Week at Centenary
 

Sunday, August 19, Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost

8:40 a.m.       Early Service
 10:00 a.m.        Sunday School 
       11:00 a.m.        Traditional Worship

This week, Rev. Dr. Tim Gerde will preach.

A Challenge from Bishop Lewis to Read the Bible with her in 2018
 

August 19       Jeremiah 26-29
August 20       Jeremiah 30-31
August 21       Jeremiah 32-34
August 22       Jeremiah 35-37
August 23       Jeremiah 38-41
August 24       Jeremiah 42-45
August 25       Jeremiah 46-48
Upcoming Events

Pecan Orders:
Our annual pecan sale is here! To order, a sign-up sheet will be posted on the bulletin board across from the kitchen. You may choose from:
  • Whole halves of pecans
  • Large or medium pecan pieces
  • Chocolate covered pecans
  • Dark chocolate covered pecans
  • Cinnamon covered pecans
Please note- we have to order cases of 24 and if we have multiple orders for over 24 bags, we will only be able to fill the first 24 orders. Extra bags of pecans will not be ordered this year so be sure to get in your order.



Pub Theology:  
Our next Pub Theology gathering is Sunday, August 26, 5:30 p.m. at Urban Farmhouse in Scott's Addition.  We will discuss,
"What do we mean when we say that the Bible is the "Word of God?"  Young adults--and any others interested--are invited.


Dementia Conference Information:   
Mark your calendar for Thursday, September 20, then click on the link or call the number below to register and join me for the Alzheimer's Association 2018 Education Conference. The keynote speakers this year are Melissa Andrews, President & CEO of LeadingAge Virginia, a consortium of non-profit organizations working to expand the world of possibilities for aging, and Doug Pace, Director of Alzheimer's and Dementia Care for the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association.  The 2018 conference promises to continue the Association's tradition of providing the most up-to-date information on the disease, care giving, and healthy living.

See you at the conference!


804-967-2580 (number to register for conference).

 
Grace & Peace,
Tim
Rev. Dr. Timothy R. Gerde

Annual Church Picnic:  
Join us on Sunday, September 16, when we will close Grace Street and have a picnic in front of the church after the 11:00 a.m. worship service! This will also be our "Bring a Friend to Church Sunday." What a great event to invite your friends and neighbors too! Please bring a casserole or dish to share. We hope to see you there and don't forget . . . to bring a friend! 



Bishop's Convocation on Prayer:  
The Bishop will be hosting a Convocation on Prayer Saturday, September 15, 2018, at Reveille UMC (4200 Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23221). Feel free to check out the conference website for more details: 

Items for School Kits: 
The children of Centenary will be assembling school kits for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) throughout the year.  With back-to-school sales already starting, this is the ideal time to pick up supplies for the schools kits!  Below are the items that go into each kit. 
 
  • Blunt scissors (round tip only, no plastic scissors)
  • Box of 24 crayons
  • One-subject notebooks (no marble composition books)
  • Loose-leaf paper (100-200 page packets, wide or college rule)
  • Hand-held pencil sharpener (1 inch or longer)
  • Ruler (12 inches or 30 centimeters long)
  • Unsharpened pencils
  • Eraser (2 inches or larger)
 
These items should not have any advertisements or religious, patriotic, military or camouflage symbols.  Please let Meredith Thrower (mersanderlin@yahoo.com) know if you have any questions.


Annual Shoe Drive:   
Children in the Richmond Metro area are gearing up to go back to school. It's a very exciting time for many children! However, many families are not able to afford comfortable, solid footwear for their children. When shoes are worn out, too tight, or otherwise uncomfortable, children have difficulty focusing on their studies. At Centenary, we have the opportunity to do something about this problem! One way you can help is by donating new shoes for these children. All sizes are needed! Children from kindergarten to high school need to start the new school year on the "right foot." There is a table in the sanctuary for donations to the Richmond Partnership of Churches Annual Shoe Drive. Shoes must be new, and sneakers are preferred (please no high heels, sandals, or bedroom slippers). If you would like to make a monetary donation, feel free to leave that in the piggy bank on the table. You can also include a check in the offering. Please note on your pledge envelope "For Annual Shoe Drive" as well as the bi-line of your check.  Thank you in advance for helping our children start their school year with a comfortable, solid foundation!



VA PrideFest 2018:  
On  Saturday, September 22 , Centenary Downtown United Methodist Church will be hosting a booth at the 2018 VA Pridefest on Brown's Island.  We invite you to assist at our booth as we take time to meet and invite our LGBT brothers and sisters to become a part of Centenary.  Please check your calendar and sign up on the 2018 VA Pridefest sheet on the bulletin board across from the kitchen.
 
We will be sharing information about our Reconciling Congregation that extends hospitality and encourages full participation of ALL regardless of age, race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, education or economic background, and physical or mental ability.  Please sign up today and work with our team to reach out and welcome new members to our family!


Peaks of Otter Centenary Travels Trip:  
This is an all-inclusive trip with motor coach transportation, snacks on the bus, lunch at the Peaks of Otter Lodge (Buffet), National D-Day Memorial, Poplar Forest, and all gratuities included. The trip will take place on Thursday, October 18, 2018.  Payment Due by September 1, 2018 -Make check payable to Robert Almond.  The cost of the trip is $125.00 per person and see the flyer on the bulletin board across from the kitchen for more information.
 

Canned Goods and Non-perishables Collection:  
The Smethie Circle would like you to join us in collecting canned goods and non-perishable items for The Doorways, formerly known as The Hospitality House.  It provides lodging and kitchen facilities for families of children undergoing medical procedures. Dear little Brandon Herman from St. Lucia, lived at The Doorways during his medical treatment by The World Pediatric Project. He and his mother, Sophia, attended Centenary and we fell in love with them. We would like for this project to be in his memory.   We will begin our collection in June and continue through the summer. Containers will be placed outside the Ladies' Parlor and in the Social Hall.  Thank you for helping to keep the memory of Brandon alive by continuing to serve other children and their families as they make The Doorways  home while undergoing medical treatment.


 
Jim Boice (Recovering from a recent fall)
Mark C. Inge (Job eliminated)
Greg deKramer and family (Leah & Bob Hundley's nephew who had a bone marrow transplant in May; transplant seems to be successful and Greg is back at work; please continue to keep him in prayer- especially in the next few months)
Joe Speidel (please keep Joe and his family in your thoughts and prayers; Joe's mother passed away Friday, August 3)
Alicia Webster (Sister of Rachel Hanning; had emergency surgery last)
Kayla Vigil (Cousin of Carrie Toro in Wyoming; in serious condition after ATV accident)
Nancy Grand (outpatient surgery)
Richard Steele (at home)
Serena Durst
Rev. Rita Callis
Lee Covington 
Leland Lycette (severe back pain)
Ron Davis (friend of Vic & Nancy Grand)
JoAnne Judd (close friend of Sharon Steele's, recovering from a massive brain injury in Boulder, CO)

Celebrating Birthdays in August

Timothy Siddons
Serena Durst
Kathleen Gregory
Mary Beth Siddons
George Vetrovec
John Seyfarth
Nancy Hundley
Goldie Craig
Tommy Speidel
Lorna Leake
Katie Shingleton
Grace Hinchman
Mirian Wickman
Joseph Ciucci
Shawn Gregory
Matt Bates
Kathy Talley
Meredith Thrower
Bob Hundley, Jr.
Sharon Steele
 
Photo of the Week!
Yesterday, we had an early birthday celebration for Tim Gerde, our new Coordinator of Older Adult Ministries. Happy birthday, Tim! 


Centenary United Methodist Church | (804) 648-8319 | www.centumc.org 
Visit Us: 411 E. Grace St., Richmond, VA 23219
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