News for the Week of May 14, 2021
Livestream Worship
Sundays at 11:00 a.m.
Join us on
This Sunday Rev. Drew Willson
will be preaching.
His sermon is titled
Higher!
Contacts
Church: 804-638-6319

New Email
Addresses

Rev. Matt Bates

Rev. Drew Willson

Rev. Tim Gerde

Stanley Baker

Office/Laura Nealley
Hi, wonderful Centenary family! 

We’re going back to in-service worship
in the sanctuary on Sunday, May 23.  

The Healthy Church Team (HCT) met recently and has made a decision to have an indoor/outdoor service on May 23, just in time for Pentecost and to celebrate the 2021 confirmation class: John and George Thrower, John and Thomas Stottlemyer, and Stella and Whit Vetrovec! After the service in the sanctuary, we will exit the front doors of the church into the closed-off street for fellowship and celebration!
With new UMC Virginia Conference guidelines, we will even be able to sing together while following procedures to distance and wear our masks. We will have one in-person service, as well as continuation of virtual services, each Sunday at 11:00, beginning on May 23 and continuing throughout the summer. Sunday School classes and other activities will begin in the fall, and you will be notified of any special CUMC events. If small groups wish to gather for study or fellowship in the building, please contact a member of the Healthy Church Team and we will consider those requests. Please click on the button below for more information and protocols for in-person worship.
Thank you for your love, understanding, and support as we enter into this new normal for our church and our community.  You are loved and appreciated.

Your HCT,
Matt Bates, Bob Almond, Jim Hill, Karen Junker,
Susan Thomas, Meredith Thrower (legal liaison)
& Dr. Jim Wickham (medical liaison)
Expanding Our Welcome
Expanding Our Welcome: Creating Safe Spaces for Transgender and Non-Binary Folks will take place on the first four Monday nights this May, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. on Zoom. We will spend the first part of our time engaging with a speaker, then move to Zoom breakout rooms to facilitate discussion.
 
We are committed to providing an opportunity for learning that feels safe for all. Regardless of where we are in the journey to better understand the experience of transgender folks and their loved ones, we can learn much together. Our goal is to become a more welcoming, inclusive community.
 
Week 3: Monday - May 17, 7:00-8:30 p.m., 
Guest speaker Shauntelle Rose Hammonds, Executive Director of Peter's Place here in Richmond, will speak about the opportunities and challenges in providing compassionate and accessible housing, resources, and trauma-informed care to LGBTQIA+ individuals seeking individualized recovery support.

For information about all weeks, click here.
Confirmation Celebration
Confirmation during In-person 11:00 a.m. Worship
May 23, 2021
Reception in front of church immediately following
Congratulations to our confirmands!

John Stottlemeyer
Thomas Stottlemeyer
John Thrower
George Thrower
Stella Vetrovec
Whit Vetrovec
United Methodist Women
SPRC Announcement
We learned last week that Rev. Drew Willson, our Minister to Young Adults, will be assigned to Boulevard United Methodist Church full time beginning July 1. While we are excited for Drew and offer him our sincere congratulations, we are sad to see him leave Centenary. Drew’s ministry to Centenary UMC, in part by initiating the Dream Like Jesus Project, and especially to our young adults has meant so much to the congregation during the past two years.
More News
The Upper Room
The Upper Room is
continuing to support
their standing
order partners with
a PDF of the
May/June issue!
Wednesday mornings
10:00 a.m.
Please join us as we look at the
scripture for the upcoming Sunday.
We meet together via Zoom
for study and fellowship.
The Zoom link will be sent
 via email on Tuesday.
We look forward
to seeing you there.
A heartfelt THANK YOU to the many members of the Centenary family who offered support during my recent convalescence in the form or prayers, cards, food, flowers, calls, and other acts of kindness. It is such a blessing to be a part of this wonderful church family.  -- Pat Shipley
Spring is Blooming
at Centenary!

Thank you to Vikki Brock for your work on the beds in front of the church and to Mary E Vetrovec and David Pippin for your work in the back. You have created a beautiful, springtime welcome!
Easter Offering Update
Thank you for your extremely generous response to our Easter Offering which will support Reconciling Ministries Network in their effort to expand their reach through the creation of a new website. Contributions to our Easter Offering totaled $6,970 which is being sent to RMN. We will be reaching out to other Virginia Reconciling Congregations and Communities to invite them to join us in this effort. Thank you for your generosity.
May 17 @ 7 p.m. Expanding Our Welcome

May 19 @ 10 a.m. Bible Study

May 19 @ 3:30 p.m. UMW Tea and Crumpets at Vetrovec's House

May 20 @ 6:30 p.m. Align Team

May 23 @ 11 a.m. Return to In-person
Worship with Confirmation Celebration
CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Find us at www.centumc.org
Email us at: admin@centumc.org