CENTRAL TIME
weekly e-news from Central United Methodist Church
Mission Statement:
"Our purpose is making and nurturing
disciples of Jesus Christ."
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From the Minister of Christian Education and Programs |
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A former youth minister of mine recently celebrated her birthday with friends by taking some time to reflect together on what they had lost, gained, and kept during this year of the pandemic. It struck me that this conversation was more than generalities. It was more than platitudes or a gripe fest. They intentionally created space for the good, the bad, and all the things in between.
This Sunday in worship, we will take some time to reflect on where we are after a year of the pandemic. We could have similar conversations about our lives or even the life of the church. Leading up to Sunday, I invite you to take some time alone or with friends to reflect on where you are after this past year. What are the things you have lost, gained, or kept?
The pandemic has treated everyone differently, but we can all glean benefits by examining where we find ourselves in the midst of such change. Do your homework, and come, Sunday, as we take some time to reflect on this change and how we can move forward.
Paige Wolfe
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The church is forming a team of volunteers to operate the video camera on Sunday mornings and connect our live stream to Facebook and our website. Please contact Al Jeter (864) 585-7308 or Paul Wood (843) 222-5257 right away if you are interested in receiving training and joining the team. |
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From the Mission Committee:
2021 Mission Food Project:
The Mission Committee wants to have a Mission Food Project for T.O.T.A.L. Ministries. They need food and financial assistance for their clients. It has been a year since the Mission Committee asked Central members to give to the 2020 Mission Food Project. We had no idea that after a year COVID-19 would still be affecting us and the economic situation of many people in Spartanburg. Please help us show our love and compassion to these less fortunate people by contributing.
The Mission Committee asks you to do one of the following:
Give money on-line at Central’s website, noting that it’s for the Mission Food Project.
Mail a check to the church, noting that the check is designated to the Mission Food Project.
Give canned goods
Since there is now in-person worship, you may place food in the T.O.T.A.L. Ministries food basket near the church office.
Please contribute now. The Mission Food Project will continue through the month of May.
Thank you in advance for your help and generosity!
Elaine Crosland and the Mission Committee
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April 25, 2021
Fourth Sunday of Easter
In-person Service
streamed at 11 am
centralumcspartanburg.org and on Facebook
The Reverend Paige M. Wolfe, Preacher
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude Crown Him with Many Crowns - arr. McKechnie
Central Carillon . . . Al Jeter, director
Chiming of the Trinity
*Hymn 383 This Is a Day of New Beginnings . . . (verses 1-4) . . . BEGINNINGS
*Invocation
*Psalter UMH 805 (Response) Psalm 84:1-12
*Gloria Patri 70 Glory Be to the Father . . . MEINEKE
Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer, and The Lord's Prayer
Anthem Easter People Raise Your Voices - arr. McChesney
Central Carillon
Old Testament Lesson Haggai 1:2-11
Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house. Then the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying: Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared. You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and you that earn wages earn wages to put them into a bag with holes.
Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord. You have looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because my house lies in ruins, while all of you hurry off to your own houses. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the soil produces, on human beings and animals, and on all their labors.
Sermon: FIXER UPPER . . . Rev. Paige M. Wolfe
Response 555 (The Book of Worship, 1965, Alt.)
Almighty God, giver of every good and perfect gift, teach us to render to you all that we have and all that we are,
that we may praise you, not with our lips only, but with our whole lives, turning the duties, the sorrows, and the joys of all our days into a living sacrifice to you; through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
*Hymn 519 Lift Every Voice and Sing . . . LIFT EVERY VOICE
*Benediction
Chiming of the Trinity
Postlude
ALTAR FLOWERS
The flowers on the altar are given in loving memory of Bobby Hudgens
by his mother, Gladys.
Note: Tom Norrell is away on vacation April 20-27.
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Lord, in Your Mercy . . . Hear Our Prayer . . .
Bob Monson
Carol Loar
David Harrelson
Dennis Simopoulos
Dianne Cantrell
Dottie Broyles
George Fields
Helen Sloan Fitch
James Ellis Griffeth
Jerry Williams
Larry Bissell
Mary Grace Brown
Mike Vandiver
Mildred Ragan
Ray McLees
Stephanie Hartley
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Helpful Reminders and Seating Arrangements . . .
Continue to join us in-person or at our regular time on-line. In order to make sure that we seat people and maintain safety precautions in distancing, parties of three or more in the smaller pews, (alcove) please continue to sit in every other pew. Restrictions do not apply to S.T.A.R. activities in the Fellowship Hall or the Palmetto Moravian Fellowship which is held in the Cannon Memorial Chapel, and only meets once a month. The next Moravian worship service is scheduled for April 25, 2021. If you have any questions, please contact the church office. For those activities that are taking place in-person, masks must be worn that cover both your nose and mouth, and a distance of six feet or greater between yourself and others must be maintained at all times. Remember our "ten commandments" for safety and health.
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Upper Room Sunday School Class
You are invited to join the Upper Room Sunday school class on Sunday mornings at 9:30-10:30 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
April 25 Birth Matters
Speaker: Molly McPhail
Below is the link and password to the recording of the Upper Room from Sunday, April 18.
Meeting Recording:
Access Passcode: UpperRoom4/18
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Sacred Traditions And Rituals
Tranquility with Tea Service
a service devoted to quieting minds, opening hearts, soothing souls
Sunday, April 25, 6:00 PM
Fellowship Hall
A Call to Community Around Birthing . . .
Reflection: Birth Matters
Teen pregnancy is linked to multiple disparities, including negative birth outcomes, welfare, and foster care. Investing in reproductive health education and prevention services for youth reduces teen pregnancy, promotes the development of healthy families, and strengthens the greater Spartanburg community.
Parents and caregivers are valued as their children's primary educators. Community programs, schools, and religious institutions are important partners in addressing teen pregnancy. Providing emotional and educational support to underserved young parents throughout their pregnancies and births enables families to make well-informed, intentional choices and to lead healthy lives.
We will welcome Molly Chappell-McPhail, Executive Director of Birth Matters, who will share more about this local nonprofit seeking to reduce teen pregnancy through reproductive health education. As well as providing Doula support to vulnerable expectant mothers and their families.
A portion of the offering collected has been designated for Birth Matters. - honoring Molly for sharing her creative energy as part of the service.
Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 864 7886 0640
Passcode: 079828
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Cannon's Memorial Chapel
Palmetto Moravian Fellowship
Worship Service
Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 25, 2021, 9am
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Nursery Volunteers Needed
We are considering the possibility of opening the nursery back up during worship. In order to provide nursery care in the safest environment possible, we need volunteers to serve in the nursery each week with Scotti Killian. Please let Paige know if you are interested in serving with the youngest members of our congregation. Volunteers will be assigned on a rotation to serve during the worship service. You may reach Paige by email at paige@centralumcs.org or by calling the church office.
Youth Fellowship
The May 2nd meeting of MYF will be a special trip to listen to Chris Singleton Live at Bethel UMC. Chris is an inspirational speaker and former baseball player whose mother was among those killed at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC. Seating is limited and must be reserved prior to April 26. Please RSVP to Paige Wolfe if you or your youth plans to attend. The Chris Singleton Live event will be livestreamed for those interested and unable to join in person.
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We will recognize our graduates this year on May 9, Mother's Day.
High school and college graduates, please send the church office your graduation pictures and plans. We can't wait to celebrate this accomplishment with you.
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Eva Hoffman Scholarship Fund 2021
Letters of interest are being accepted.
If you are a senior in high school and planning on attending college this year, or you are already a college student (undergrad), you may send a letter of interest to the attention of:
Mr. Henry Sparrow, Chair
c/o Central UMC
233 N. Church St.,
Spartanburg, SC 29306
Please give information regarding the name of the college, and your ID #. Thank you.
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Epworth Children's Home
special offering
Mother's day is Sunday, May 9th, and it's a day that brings up a variety of emotions for all of us. For the children at Epworth's Children's Home, these emotions are front and center as they go through this time of year without their mothers.
It is our role as Methodists to make sure that on Mother's Day and every day, the children at Epworth have everything they need to be loved and grow up happy and healthy.
Please give generously.
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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 before noon on Mondays. Thank you!
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Ways to Give to Central
We continue to be deeply grateful for continued support of the mission and ministry of Central Church. There are a few ways to continue to make offerings extremely easy.
- The US mail always works. We are at 233 North Church St., Spartanburg, SC 29306.
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Contact Ann Darby to set up a recurring gift through an automatic bank draft.
- 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.
Central United Methodist Church
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Tuesday Evening Bible Class taught by Andy Crosland on Zoom, at 6:00 pm.
You are welcome to join or to rejoin us.
The Zoom link information for every class is . . .
Meeting ID: 847 8558 8972
Passcode: 800422
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April 18, 2021
Memorials
To Grier Diangikes by Don & Joyce Coggins, Andy & Elaine Crosland, and Ann J. Kelly
To Jan Francis by Fran Bagwell, Don & Joyce Coggins, and Joy & Sam Knight
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Birthdays
21 Daune Teague
22 Carolyn Sparks
23 Claire Younger, Emma Younger
24 Kathy Quackenbush
25 Bralyn Crocker
27 Carl King
28 Donna Treat
29 Thom Henson, Michael Henson
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Our Giving
COVID-19
In the midst of this time of great challenge:
2020/2021 MONTHLY COMPARISON
a/o March 31, 2021
YTD Budget $150,826
YTD Received $ 98,461
YTD Expenses $126,095
YTD OVER/UNDER $(52,365) RECEIVED
YTD OVER/UNDER $(27,634) EXPENSES
a/o March 31, 2020
YTD Budget $161,911
YTD Received $109,003
YTD Expenses $142,675
YTD OVER/UNDER $(52,908) RECEIVED
YTD OVER/UNDER $(33,672) EXPENSES
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.
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2021-2022 United Methodist Women
"Reading books at home and sharing them with friends and family can be a way to relax and engage the world without leaving home."
-response magazine
Where to find books
Spartanburg County Library
Local bookstores, on-line
Central's Library
Laptop, tablet, e-reader, or other device
Plan I: 5 books a year
One book from each category: Education for Mission, Leadership Development, Nurturing for Community, Social Action and Spiritual Growth
Plan II: 10 books a year
Two books from each category: Education for Mission, Leadership Development, Nurturing for Community, Social Action and Spiritual Growth
And so on . . . up to 20 books a year
We would like 10 people to commit to read.
-Mary Lou Miller
Membership, Nurture, and Outreach
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May Love Offering for Pastor Tom Norrell |
The Staff/Parish Relations Committee is sponsoring a collection for the entire month of May to honor Pastor Tom's retirement. If you choose to mail a check or include it in the offering plate, please be sure to make your gift payable to Central UMC, designated to "love offering for Tom". Or you may donate online through the Central website. In this case, when designating your gift, please check "other" and fill in "love offering for Tom."
Thank you, Mary Knight, Chair
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The Reverend Dr. Thomas H. Norrell
We are grateful . . .
- for the years you have served as our pastor. We appreciate your teaching, your sermons, your leadership, your comfort and compassion. Thank you.
- for your many, many years of service in the ministry to other congregations and groups. Thank you.
We hope your imminent retirement will prove to be a time of contentment and blessing.
The members of Central United Methodist Church, Spartanburg, SC
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LET'S STAY CONNECTED!
Central (864) 582-7263
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Central United Methodist
founded 1837
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Central Office Hours:
COVID-19
Monday through Wednesday
and Friday
9:00 AM - 12 Noon
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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.
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