Central needs your responses to the following survey about when and how we reopen. It will take about 6 minutes to complete. Most answers are fill in the bubble. Your answers will help guide the staff along with the most current recommendations from health providers.


Thanks,
Pastor Greg
One of the questions I can get ask a lot is when are we going to be back in the sanctuary and things will get back to normal. The answer is never. Yes, we will be back in the sanctuary sometime, but things will not go back to “normal.” Some of us will not feel comfortable coming back until a vaccine is widely available and will continue to join us by livestream.  Some of our cherished traditions will have to be greatly modified or disappear. That answer and realization will cause grief.

This past week I did a lot of deep work/deep thought on this topic. Texas Methodist Foundation did an excellent presentation entitled “The Challenges and Opportunities of Our Current Reality: A Look Toward the Post-Pandemic Church. The presentations talks about how we at Central and the Church have muscles we haven’t used in awhile that need to be stretched. One of those muscles is learning to grieve well. The Church has been undergoing great change and the pandemic is only going to accelerate that change. Nobody really likes change because cherished things are lost. For us to move forward we need to learn to grieve well.
The challenge is people are dying and so are traditions, institutions, and assumptions. The things we love and it is sad. But there is an opportunity. We can give ourselves over to real grief and lament, trusting in God’s ability to hold it all. As we grieve what has been lost, we can begin to discern our purpose. That is next week’s reflection.

SUNDAY’S SCRIPTURES

Acts 17:22-31
Psalm 66:8-20
1 Peter 3:13-22
John 14:15-21

The focus scripture for the sermon is Acts 17:22-31. But if it takes 5 drafts again this week, they all could wind up in the sermon again.
Children and Youth Ministries
  • Children, youth and families are invited to join Pastor Kelly every weekday morning at 10:00am for a devotional and activity. We will post the daily video on our website and FaceBook page, with a link to a YouTube Channel.

  • Youth are invited to join Pastor Kelly for a youth zoom meet-up every Thursday at 10:00am. Please contact Pastor Kelly to be included in the zoom youth meet up at kellyb@centraltolife.org.
Adult Ministries
Pastor Greg is hosting a zoom Bible study devotional and check in every Wednesday at 6 PM. Please contact Pastor Greg to be included on the zoom invite at gkennedy@centraltolife.org
Third Space Ministries
Pastor Kelly is providing a weekly 3rd space devotional every Monday morning. Please contact Pastor Kelly to receive this third space devotional at kellyb@centraltolife.org .
This ministry helps keep members in contact with each other by writing notes to
someone in the congregation. If you would like to receive a note from a member of the Circuit Writers or be part of this ministry, please contact Cindy at pwcin1963@gmail.com.
For more information about the ministries of Central United Methodist Church,
email info@centraltolife.org, call the church office at 243-7834
or check out our website at www.centraltolife.org
May 17, 2020 Order of Service

  • Welcome/Centering Words/Passing the Peace Digitally
The Spirit of truth dwells among us. Bask in this awareness. In the Lord, we live and breathe and have our being. Rest in this presence.

  • Prelude..........“Be Still, My Soul”..........Finlandia, arr. Marrolli

  • Call to Worship (Acts 17) 
God made the world and everyone in it. 
(All) Our life and breath come from God.
God made all nations under heaven. 
(All) We are all God’s offspring. 
Search for God in our time of worship. 
(All) When we search, we find God near.

  • Hymn of Praise..........O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing (vs 1-3,5), 57 UMH

  • Opening Prayer (Acts 17, Ps 66, John 14) 
The Lord be with you
(All) And also with you
Let us pray:
(All) Hear our prayers, O God, as we come to sing your praises. Bless us with your steadfast love, in times of peace and in times of trial. Make your presence known to us this day, for we seek to know you better. Enliven us with your Spirit of truth, and increase our faith, even as we place our hope and trust in you. Amen.

  • The Lord’s Prayer

  • Prayer Response..........Precious Lord, Take My Hand 
(solo 1st, “congregation” 2 and 3), 474 UMH

  • Central to Life: Prayer for Graduates 

  • Scripture Lesson: Acts 17:22-31

  • Anthem..........“God is Near”..........Karen Marrolli

  • Sermon.....“Sharing Our Faith”

  • Catalytic Generosity

  • Doxology..........Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow, 94 UMH

  • Hymn to Engage the World..........My Hope is Built (vs 1,2,4), 368 UMH

  • Blessing

  • Sending Forth

  • Postlude..........“Lead Me, Lord”..........Samuel Sebastian Wesley
How to Give:
  • Mobil – Text #505.384.7589
  • Online – centraltolife.org
  • Mail a Check – 201 University Blvd, NE Albuquerque NM 87106
  • Bank Draft – Contact your bank directly 
  • Recurring E-Giving Through Employee or United Way
For more information about the ministries of Central United Methodist Church,
email info@centraltolife.org, call the church office at 243-7834
or check out our website at www.centraltolife.org
201 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 • (505) 243-7834 • www.centraltolife.org