This Week at Centenary Friday, October 30, 2020

Dear Centenary Family,   This Sunday is All Saints Day. On this Sunday, we give thanks to God for all those faithful people, some famous, some known only to us, who have shown us what God’s love looks like. We also have the opportunity to consider what kind of example we have set and what legacy we will leave behind when our days on earth end.    We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper together again in our online worship service. I invite you to prepare the elements you need for Communion—a little bread, a little grape juice or wine. Some of you prepared your worship space last month with great care and shared that when had our virtual reception after worship. I encourage you to prepare some space in your home, and to prepare your hearts as we anticipate the presence of Christ in our midst.   On All Saints Sunday, I always think about the phrase in the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in the communion of the saints…” I stop and remember that our faith teaches us that we commune with all the people of God across time and space. How that happens is a mystery I can’t explain. Nonetheless, I believe it is real. And so, even though we are not gathered as we celebrate communion this Sunday, it seems to me that Holy Communion has been virtual from the beginning—communing with Jesus Christ even though he is not physically present with us, and communing with each other and the whole host of saints past and present—and I suppose future as well. It seems categories like that vanish in God’s presence.   We will again be trying to abbreviate our service for safety reasons as I shared with you last week. The eucharist will be our focus.    I’m working on a homily (I’m working on learning to shorten sermons!) based on the Epistle lesson for the day, I John 3:1-3. My title is “Family Resemblance.” The fist line of my sermon is, “You’re the reason our kids our ugly…” But you’ll have to join us in worship Sunday to find why a preacher might start a sermon like that!   God bless all of you.   Peace,   Matt

Online Worship Sundays at 11:00 a.m. Join us on Church Online Platform or Facebook Live as we gather together for worship this Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Church Online Platform is our new worship platform. It allows you to watch the worship service while you comment through Chat (just enter a nickname), see the order of worship (bulletin info) in Notes, search an online Bible, or see our upcoming Schedule. There is also a link to our online giving portal. Invite others to join us this Sunday and on the Sundays to come! This Sunday Rev. Matt Bates will be preaching. His sermon is titled Family Resemblance. Bulletin and scriptures for this Sunday.

Online Giving Centenary has moved to Realm E-giving. If you would like to give online, please click on the "Give" link on the top our our homepage. Here is a short tutorial about Realm online giving.

Edgar Allan Poe may have been born in Boston, but he considered Richmond his home and even called himself "a Virginian." It was here in Richmond that Poe grew up, married, and first gained a national literary reputation.  Centenary's Theatre on the Mount presents "An Evening of Poe" with readings of two of his most chilling works for Halloween. "The Tell-Tale Heart" is performed by Carri Platt and "The Masque of the Red Death" is performed by Benjamin Toro. We hope you enjoy these stories of fear and horror by the world's greatest writer of mystery and the macabre.  (Click on the title to open the video in a new window.) Happy Halloween!

Wednesday Bible Studies Wednesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. OR Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm Both groups will meet via Zoom - each with separate Zoom links. Keep an eye out for the Bible Study email that is sent out on Tuesdays. It will include more information about that week's study and the separate Zoom links!

The Upper Room available as a PDF The Upper Room is continuing to support their standing order partners with a PDF of the November/December issue! You may download your copy here.

Birthdays This Week October 30 - Anne Richardson November 2 - Ginny Jarvis November 3 - Mike LaBarre November 4- Roy Lambertson November 4- Todd Minnich

Remember to set your clocks back 1 hour on Saturday night!

Nov. 9 @ 7 p.m. Council/Dream Like Jesus Team Nov. 12 @ 7 p.m. UMW Racial Justice Webinar Nov. 18 @ 4 p.m. UMW Smethie Circle Nov. 23 @ 7 p.m. Council/Dream Like Jesus Team All events are on Zoom unless otherwise noted.

Ka Cheng - friend of Vicki and Phyllis Stump diagnosed with breast cancer. Ronnie Clements Jack & Denney Collins - Jack is now recovering at home. Continue to keep him and his wife Denney in your prayers. Jack and Denney are part of our young adult ministry. Cards and expressions of support and concern can be sent to Jack Collins, 1217 Stanhope Avenue, Richmond, VA 23227. Shannon Conway - requests prayer for the Charles Sherman, Peter  Oxborrow, Leon Beale and family. Jeff Hatch Clyde Hundley - recovering from a recent blood clot.  Heidi Kara - Please remember Heidi and her family in your prayers. Heidi's step-mother, Graciela Puente, passed away Wednesday, October 21 in Texas. Mary Mismas - recovering from back surgery. Patti Oman - health concerns - friend of Beth Hensley. Lolly Parker and family - friends of Barrett Brown, as Lolly struggles with COVID 19 and is in the ICU. Jerry Rodwell - Amy Bates's dad - recent cancer diagnosis. Phyllis Stump - at Lakewood Manor. Rev. Kathy Talley - recovering from surgery. Ron Towers - recovering from knee surgery. Cards can be sent to 202 North 20th Street, Apt. 306, Richmond, VA 23223. Chris Wimbush - the recent loss of his father.