August 25, 2023

Editor's note: Matt seemed to be a short on words last week.

That was due entirely to a mistake on the editor's part. Nothing was missed and we are back on track this week! Thank you for your patience and understanding!

Dear Centenary Family,

Our main goal for ministry this Fall and on into 2024 is to recreate a strong sense of spiritual community. We want to develop opportunities for us to gather for fellowship with each other. We are hoping to create opportunities for us to invite friends and neighbors to join us in activities where we can meet in simple ways to build relationships. We are calling this focus “Centenary Connects.” We want to find ways to connect to each other, to our city, particularly our downtown community, in new ways, and want these opportunities to be welcoming to people who may be visiting our church or exploring faith in some new way. 

Our first Centenary Connects event is a “Fellowship and Fried Chicken” gathering after worship here at the church on September 10. I hope you’ll read about that event in the article below and plan to join us that Sunday. I hope you’ll use this as an opportunity to invite friends or neighbors to come with you and experience the warmth and hospitality of a caring Christian community. Watch for more opportunities to meet up in October. 

Maybe you have an idea of an experience, event, or place we could invite people to gather for fellowship. A restaurant? A walking tour of some part of the city? Farmer’s Market? A mission/service opportunity we could all share? Movie? Concert, play, lecture? Centenary friends in your neighborhood for coffee or dessert? The possibilities are many. Let me or Karen Junker, our Lay Leader, or one of our ministry team leaders (Mary E. Vetrovec, Doug Wilson, Nathan Grubb ) know if you’ve got an idea that will help connect us to each other, and through those gatherings to God and our neighbors in the city.

Thanks to some faithful volunteers and to Laura Nealley, we’re working on making sure everyone gets a name tag.   Please see the note below if you need a new name tag.   This will help us know one another better and care for each other.

The sermon I’m working on for this week is based on the Epistle reading, Romans 12:1-8. The title I’m working with is “A New Mind?” 

I’m looking forward to this Sunday, this fall and beyond as we explore new ways to grow in faith and mission.

Peace,

Matt

Sundays at 10:30am

In person and online.

Fellowship and Fried Chicken

September 10

after the 10:30 am service

Lunch on the grounds. Mark your calendar now! Join fellow pewmates for a picnic style meal. Meat and beverages will be furnished. Bring your favorite summer side dish to share. Don't cook or shop? Come anyway All are welcome.

Volunteers are needed for:

• table hosts- appetite for food and conversation necessary.
• dining room set up-30 minutes pre-worship and walking shoes needed
• food arrangers -ability to sort salads from desserts is important
• end of meal helpers-all hands on deck as "many hands make light work" just like mama said



 Contact the church office to volunteer.

Congregation Care Team

A small group gathered this past Wednesday morning on Zoom to take several names of older adults we'll be reaching out to. 

We will meet again on Wednesday, September 13 at 9:00 am. If you'd like to join us, please email me at srpastor@centumc.org.

Zoom Bible Study

Wednesdays at 10:00am

Join us as we take a look at the scripture for the upcoming Sunday!

An email is sent out with all the details on Tuesdays. If you would like to be added

to the Bible study email list, please contact the church office.

Bless My Sole Donations

The Bless My Sole ministry, part of our Friday walk in outreach, is looking for donations of white, women's socks. Although we receive generous donations from Bombas, those are mostly men's sizes. Please bring any donations to the church office. Thank you!

Name Tags

As we continue to try to build our sense of spiritual community, we invite you to try to resume the habit of wearing your name tag. You may recall we have racks for storing them just outside the sanctuary and downstairs in the hall across from the elevator. If you need a new name tag or have not ever had one, please contact the church office at admin@centumc.org. 

Grace & Holy Trinity Church, Richmond, presents a Music for a Cause concert presenting instrumentalists and singers of the

Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in a special

Benefit Event at on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 3:00pm.

A music-with-a-mission event featuring musicians performing classical and sacred works, with an emphasis on Ukrainian composers and folk songs. This outstanding musical group, performing part of its program in costume, has presented concerts in many prestigious venues. ALL funds raised in conjunction with this concert go directly to Ukraine toward meeting needs of the homeless, widows, wounded civilians and soldiers, orphaned children, Internally Displaced Persons, and all who require hope and healing. All contributions are tax deductible. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit Grace & Holy Trinity's website.

Pecan Sale

Did you know that just a handful of this nut a day can reduce risk of heart disease and diabetes?

Snacking on pecans comes with impressive health benefits, including lowering risk of heart disease and diabetes and helping with weight management. Read more about it here. So, get your pecan now! Please place your order by Sept 1. Halves, medium pieces, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and cinnamon glazed. To order please contact the church office.



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