This Week at Centenary
Friday, August 21, 2020
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UPDATE
The article about The Pace Center/American Red Cross Blood Drive
was unintentionally left out of the prior newsletter.
Please read the information and support this important event!
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Dear Centenary Family,
If you’ve been worshiping with us online, you know we’ve been walking through some of the great stories of faith from the book of Genesis. This week, we turn to the book of Exodus and find the Hebrew people enslaved in Egypt.
As I was planning my preaching during this strange, unsettled time of pandemic, I was drawn to these stories in part because they are about people who faced great challenges and struggled to discern how God was working in their world and in their lives in the midst of their disappointments and often failed expectation about how they hoped their lives would turn out. Abraham and Sara are promised that they will be parents of many descendants, but Sarah was barren. Isaac and Rebekah were next in line for the promise, but Rebekah was also barren and their two sons, Jacob and Esau turned out to be rivals rather than friends. Jacob cheats Esau, Laban deceives Jacob. Jacob’s sons can’t stand their younger brother Joseph because he’s their father’s favorite and has the poor judgment of talking about his dreams that they’ll all serve him one day.
I’m also frequently drawn back to these stories because the people God uses are far from perfect. The stories of the way God is working out the salvation of the world through people’s disappointments, failed expectations, and flawed characters give me hope that in this time, God is working on our behalf for the salvation of all humanity, even when God’s presence is hidden from plain view.
The story from Exodus 1:8-2:10 we’ll focus on this Sunday continues that theme. At this point in the story, Israel’s fortune has quickly changed from being a people with power and prosperity, to being a people enslaved by Pharaoh. It would seem that the spotlight in this story that continues throughout the book of Exodus ought to be on Moses. But Moses’s work of liberation wouldn’t be possible without the courageous faithfulness of some “supporting actresses” who don’t get nearly the attention they deserve. So, in our time, perhaps the most important players aren’t the people who grab the headlines, but people who live courageous lives of faithfulness without ever being noticed. My title for this Sunday is “Don’t Follow the Spotlight!”
There’s so much ministry still going on right now “out of the spotlight.” Our staff and laity are still working hard, serving God in so many ways. Here are just a few things you may or may not be aware of.
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Thanks to the generosity of the United Methodist Women and the hard work of Ryland Bailey, the first and second floors of our building are being painted, and restrooms are being tiled and upgraded. (Check out the pictures on Facebook).
- The installation of our new A/V equipment is almost complete. We’re just waiting on some of the hardware, which is hard to come by right now.
- Rex Dazey is building an A/V desk where this equipment will be placed and stored and where our volunteers will work to deliver worship and other events online. (Thank you Rex!).
- Laura Nealley, Mitzi Golod, and Ann Kraft have spent hours helping us move to a next generation membership database called Realm that is much more user friendly (and less expensive!) Soon, staff and members will be able to connect and communicate much more effectively. You can even have an app for your cell phone to help you connect to your Centenary family! Much more to come on all this!
- We continue to feed our friends in downtown Richmond each Friday.
- Our young adults continue to connect and convene, virtually, and soon in person (in socially distanced ways, of course!)
- Our musicians and singers are learning new ways to work together to plan worship. What we do on Sundays requires more collective people hours than you might imagine! Thanks to Stan, Lee, Drew, and our section leaders!
- Our leaders continue to reach out to Centenary members in caring ways.
- Tim Gerde, our minister to older adults continues to connect with our older members, offering a listening ear and encouragement.
- We continue to explore ways to meet the challenge of racial injustice, and to live more fully into our identity as a Reconciling Congregation. (Watch for more opportunities along these lines!)
- And you have continued to support our ministry and mission so faithfully!
I’m just scratching the surface. I know so many of you are serving in your neighborhoods and supporting one another in wonderful ways. In all these things, we continue to learn what it means to trust God for our future mission and ministry and to remind ourselves that we are a congregation who, for over 200 years, has demonstrated resilience, an ability to adapt, and a willingness to follow God’s Spirit where it leads.
Peace,
Matt
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August 27, 2020 6:00-7:45 p.m.
Register via zoom in advance for this meeting:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email
containing information about joining the meeting.
GROUP DISCUSSION SESSIONS AND QUESTION & ANSWER
Following The Panel Discussion
Sponsored by Third Street Bethel AME Church Social Action Committee
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Centenary Young Adults!
It's been awhile since we gathered on Zoom and even longer since we gathered in person, of course, so how about we switch things up?
Get Together at Bryan Park next Friday, August 28, from 6:30-7:45 p.m. We'll gather outdoors for some socially-distant in-person time together. The Claytons advise that we park near the entrance to the 5k loop, over towards the playground.
Carytown Burgers & Fries Lakeside is close to the park entrance. Yum. For myself, I'll probably stop there first beforehand and pick up some supper to bring over to the park. You're welcome to join me.
Looking forward to seeing you there! We'll catch up in holy conversation, spend some time in prayer for each other and for our world, and talk about doing a river float at some point this fall, too. For more information, please contact Rev. Drew Willson.
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Join Pace, Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, and the American Red Cross
for a Blood Drive.
Blood donation has slowed during the pandemic,
but the need is greater than ever! Visit
Tues 8/25 - Thurs 8/27
10 am - 3pm
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Online Worship
11:00 a.m. This is the time and place that we gather to worship together. 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 Don't Follow the Spotlight.
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Pecan Sale
It is that time again! Time for the pecan sale. The nuts will be either delivered to your home or held in a location near you and you can pick them up at your convenience. The order will be sent in mid Sept. Please send your orders asap. The pecans should arrive early November.
Fancy mammoth halves - 16 oz. bag
Fancy medium pieces - 16 oz bag
Chocolate covered - 10 oz bag
Dark chocolate covered - 10 oz bag
Cinnamon glazed - 10 oz bag
Price is still the same. $12.00 for each bag.
To place your order please:
or
phone: 746-9537
Checks made out to Leah Hundley, please.
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Alex Hundley is now stationed in Korea. Hearing from friends back home is always encouraging for our military family overseas. If you would like to write to Alex, his address is:
PV2 Alex Hundley
CMR 374
Box 709
APO, AP 96273
Thanks for keeping those serving in the military in your thoughts and prayers!
Centenary UMC is not affiliated with the Department of Defense or any Military Service.
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Tips for Online Giving
Thank you for continuing to support the ministries of Centenary during this time. Check out these tips that will make online giving easier and ensure that your contribution is credited to the proper fund.
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Wednesday Morning Bible Study
Join us on Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m.
for our Bible Study via Zoom.
Watch for your Zoom invitation to join us on Tuesday!
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Tea with Tim
Thursdays at 4:00pm
Join us as we to check in, catch up, and chat a bit. Rev. Tim Gerde will host our time with his usual wit and wisdom! We look forward to delightful conversation as we share our lives together via Zoom. Look for the Zoom invite on Wednesday of next week!
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The Upper Room now
available as a PDF
From The Upper Room:
"During this time of anxiety and isolation The Upper Room wants to make it as easy as possible for people to find resources to support spiritual health. We are providing the July/August 2020 issue of The Upper Room magazine, both in English and Spanish, for download at no cost to our standing order partners and subscribers."
Centenary is a standing order partner, and we have permission to share the PDF with you! You may download your copy here.
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Birthdays This Week
August 23 - Lorna Leake
August 23 - Katie Shingleton
August 24 - Mirian Wickham
August 26 - Joseph Ciucci
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Jayne Baker - Stan's sister-in-law, in rehab recovering from COVID 19.
Ka Cheng - friend of Vicki and Phyllis Stump diagnosed with breast cancer.
Ronnie Clements
Jack & Denney Collins
Shannon Conway - requests prayer for the Charles Sherman, Peter
Oxborrow, Leon Beale and family
Les Dobbs
Jeff Hatch
Megan Mattax - a friend of Miranda Clayton, pregnant and diagnosed
with breast cancer.
David Newsome - husband of Vikki Brock's niece, who is very ill with COVID 19.
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.
Libby Rhame - Mitzi Golod's mother, health concerns
Phyllis Stump - at Lakewood Manor
Ally Weaver - youth pastor at Southside Church. She had brain surgery on a cancerous tumor. Prayers for her, her husband and children.
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