CENTRAL TIME
weekly e-news from Central United Methodist Church
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The Servant Leader
by Tom Norrell
In writing about Charles Wesley, Paul Chilcote, has beautifully summarized Wesleyan (Methodist) spirituality
. . .
"John Wesley said that there was no such thing as a solitary Christian - he would not have been able to build up and sustain a ministry in which his followers were able "to watch over one another in love," without the solidarity and support of his brother. The Wesley brothers' structure affirmed each Christian's need of others to successfully complete the journey of faith. Charles celebrated in his hymns mutual encouragement and genuine care for one another:
Help us to help each other, Lord,
Each other's cross to bear;
Let each his friendly aid afford,
And feel his brother's care.
Help us to build each other up,
Our little stock improve;
Increase our faith, confirm our hope,
And perfect us in love.
This type of spirituality is at the heart of our giving and giving thanks. Think gratefully how we support each other in college scholarships, Asbury Hills Camp, Sunday school curriculum, youth programs, the church library, Spiritual Retreats, Nurture Committee, Handbells, Chancel Choir, and the organ.
We help others outside our church "bear their cross" and "build each other up" by supporting Epworth Children's Home, U.M.C.O.R., Arch Ministries, Salkehatchie, Santahatchie, S.P.H.I.N., Africa University, Methodist Retirement Homes. The list goes on and on.
When we are grateful for how Central has built us up, we want to give to "build each other up" as Wesley wrote.
Blessing of the Pledges
Sundays November 22 and 29
November is a time for emphasis on God's blessings, gratitude, and response between now and Thanksgiving Weekend. This will culminate during Pledge Week, November 22-29, 2020, (a period devoted to gratitude and thankful response) in an appropriate spiritual activity to prepare us for Thanksgiving.
I would like to suggest a daily spiritual exercise in which you thank God for each of the following:
Ongoing Ministries of Central
Central's Future
Central's Caring Devotion to One Another
Central's Ministries of Missions/
Outreach to People in Need
Central as "Home"
Central is definitely a place we miss right now, but in the months to come we will return "Home."
Compared to many Americans, some of us are especially blessed during the pandemic. Our staff members continue their ministries but with adjustments, and they are able to work in the building.
Some of us can worship in-person on Sunday mornings. Many are also worshipping on-line live and later in the week. Our technology for live-streaming and recording continues to improve.
Pledge letters along with 2021 cards and self-addressed envelopes were mailed Monday, October 26th.
It is truly better to give than to receive.
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Upper Room Sunday School Class
You are invited to join the Upper Room Sunday school class on Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM on Zoom. If you want to join, click the link below and enter the meeting ID and password!
Meeting ID: 815 9104 7549
Password: 778963
November
8- Gloria Close -Motel homeless mission
15-Janet McConnell-Dealing with Stress
22- Kathy Cann -TBA
29- Bill Kochler-
Saving the Life of Your Fellow Church Member
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Our Giving
COVID-19
In the midst of this time of great challenge:
September Financial Statement
as of September 30, 2020
YTD Budget $485,014
YTD Received $335,657
YTD Expenses $447,742
YTD Over/Under ($149,357)
Compared to September 30, 2019
YTD Budget $502,086
YTD Received $407,673
YTD Expenses $451,199
YTD Over/Under ($94,413)
2020
YTD Gifts Received as of 09/30/20
$335,657
PPP Loan Monies Received 04/29/20
$64,755
YTD Expenses as of 09/30/20
$447,742
YTD Expenses vs. Gifts 09/30/20
$(112,085)
The work of Central continues and would not be possible without the prayers, generosity and support of our leaders and laity.
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Sacred Traditions And Rituals
November 8
Honoring and Remembering
a service devoted to El Dia de los Muertos
El Dia de los Muertos is not Mexican Halloween! It is not scary! Despite the skeletons and skulls, it is not spooky! Instead, it is a multi-day holiday, following a strong tradition of native and indigenous people to remember and celebrate loved ones who have died. From our own culture, we might recognize this celebration as one similar to either All Souls' Day or All Saints' Day, designated as part of the church’s calendar.
During the holiday of El Dia de los Muertos … streets are filled with flowers, colorful decorations and parades. Everywhere are the familiar symbols of ‘calacas’ and ‘calaveras’ – skeletons and skulls – shaped as candied sweets, masks and almost always portrayed as enjoying life in fancy clothes and entertaining situations.
Families celebrate by creating altars and place offerings of food – favorites of those who have died, pan de muertos – bread baked in shapes of skull and figures, candles, incense, yellow marigolds and, most importantly, photos of the departed souls. This is a time of gatherings, for family and friends of all ages … a time of praying, remembering those who have died and supporting one another in their own spiritual journeys.
As we will celebrate El Dia de los Muertos in a similar way, we will invite everyone to bring a photo of a loved one who has died, to display, as we create our own S.T.A.R. Family Altar. However we choose to recognize this time … it should be considered reflective and not sad.
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Order of Worship for
23rd Sunday after Pentecost
November 8, 2020
Tom Norrell, Pastor
Paige Wolfe, Liturgist
Al Jeter, Handbell Director
Keith Jones, Choir Director
Brian Dailey, Organist
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude
Introit Eternal Father, Strong to Save - arr. Tom Scott
Quartet:
Phil Vernesoni, Keith Jones, Al Jeter, Aidan Atance
Call to Worship
Opening Prayer
Prayer for Veterans Day - November 11
Almighty God, we thank you for your gracious care and keeping all these veterans of the armed forces at home and abroad. You defended them day by day with your heavenly grace; you strengthened them in their trials and temptations; you gave them courage to face the perils which beset them; and granted them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they defended our liberties; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Old Testament Lesson: Joshua 24:1-3 & 14-25
*Gospel Lesson: Matthew 25:1-14
Anthem Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying - J. S. Bach
Quartet: Anna Neely, Sarah Monroe, Phil Vernesoni, Al Jeter
Pastoral Prayer and The Lord's Prayer
Sermon: SERIOUS BUSINESS
Response to the Word:
O God, we would rather not decide today, anything that can be put off until tomorrow. Remind us that the kingdom is at hand and today is the day of salvation. Amen.
Choral Response
Postlude
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NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
6 Jamie Liner, Jane Proctor
7 Patsy Simmons, Gary Treat
9 Cynthia Bodine, Bert Sparks
11Theo Atance, James Liner
14 Bill Monroe
15 Graham Driggers, Ryan Smith
17 Thomas Wilkes
19 Jo Harris
20 Rubie Yonce
21 Mary Knight, Magdalene Nichols
22 Ted Ellis, Jean Yonce
24 Perry Henson, Lillian Zimmerman
25 Dianne Mercer
27 Gina Hamer, Keith Parris
28 Kit Maultsby
29 Ann Leonard
30 Sue Hurlbert
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The ECM of our church has developed an additional devotional activity for our congregation.
They have purchased small white candles with the Greek letters Alpha and Omega and a cross along the side. There are enough candles for every local home of our membership. Along with our online and in person Sunday worship services, our choir’s performances on Wednesdays, the Zoom sessions of the Upper Room Class, STAR programs, and the meditation programs on Sunday evenings, the committee believes that lighting a candle at the beginning of Sunday worship or at a time of personal prayer and devotion can add meaning to our distanced relationships this year.
We hope that you will welcome the receipt of the candles, which will be delivered by volunteers from our congregation. As you make use of these candles, it would be meaningful to let the church office know about what you are doing with them so that others might try the same. The committee believes that this can add a sense of community at Central.
If you would be able to take some candles to members in your neighborhood, please contact Bill Fitch; email: fitch2wbf@yahoo.com, cell: 864-621-5126. The candles will be in bags which can be placed on door knobs of your neighbors. Each volunteer would be asked to deliver 10 to 15 candles.
Thanks for making use of the candles and please be in prayer for our church.
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November Calendar
23rd Sunday after Pentecost
8
9:30 AM Upper Room Sunday School Zoom
11AM Worship Service (Sanctuary)
6PM S.T.A.R. Worship Service (Fellowship Hall)
9 Monday
4PM Girl Scouts (Education Building)
6:30 PM Transitions Bible Study Zoom
11 Wednesday Veterans Day
7:30 PM Chancel Choir Rehearsal -
"Music for at Home Devotions"
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November 9, 2020
WORLD THANK OFFERING
Our United Methodist Women circles will celebrate the annual offering supporting faith, hope, and love in action for women, youth, and children this month. Through The World Thank Offering, we support the total program of mission carried on through the UMW national office in the United States and around the world.
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Church Announcements for
Central Time or Sunday bulletin
If you have an announcement that you would like to appear in the Central Time, Sunday bulletins, on social media, or on the church's website, please submit that information to: info@centralumcspartanburg.org
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Mission Statement:
"Our purpose is making
and nurturing
disciples of
Jesus Christ."
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Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7
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Memorials November 1, 2020
To Charles Barrett by Paul Lofton
To Dot Bright by Keith & Louise Parris
To Eric Guest by Keith & Louise Parris
To Alice Heavrin by Don & Joyce Coggins, Joy & Sam Knight, Paul Lofton, Keith & Louise Parris
To Drew Lands by Don & Joyce Coggins, Cathy Inabnit
To Mary Morrison by Keith & Louise Parris
To Faye Smith by Keith & Louise Parris
To Carolyn Eubanks by Glen & Peggie Melton
To Julia Dempsey by Keith & Louise Parris
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Please pray for . . .
Betty Jackson - SRMC (Kay Lawrence's mother)
Shelley Lyles (Rev. David and Eloise Clyburn's granddaughter)
Anne Jeter (Al Jeter's wife) recovering from surgery
Debra Liner (recovering from ankle surgery)
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LET'S STAY CONNECTED!
Central (864) 582-7263
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from the Choirmaster's desk . . .
Each week members of the chancel choir are recording "Music for at Home Devotions". The recordings of organ music, hymns, anthems, and the occasional solo can be found on the church's webpage and facebook. Here is how to get to the page on the church's website:
From Central's website using the navigation menu at the top, hover over the heading, "Learn." A menu will appear with "Worship Online," being the first option. Hover over "Worship Online" and a sub-menu will appear to the right. Click on "Music for at Home Devotions" to access the most recent recording. Past recordings are on the page marked "Music for at Home Devotions Archive." All video recordings are also posted on Facebook each week.
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Central Office Hours:
COVID-19
Monday through Wednesday
and Friday
9:00 AM - 12 Noon
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Get text notifications from Central
To sign up, text the word "Central" to 864-661-4726. After texting the keyword to this phone number, you will receive a reply asking for some simple info. Please click the link, include your name, and submit the form. You will be signed up! Any questions, contact Rev. Paige Wolfe. |
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