Centenary Newsletter - October 1, 2021

As we embrace the coming of fall, we realize we're not where we'd hoped to be in terms of Covid recovery. All of us had hoped that this fall, we would returning to more in-person activities. But, as you know, transmission and positivity rates are still high, particularly in the city of Richmond.

Even though we haven't resumed as many activities as we'd hoped, there is much going on. Our leaders are working hard on planning for 2022. We are setting modest goals for ministry, putting together our slate of leaders, and working on our budget. Our mission here in downtown Richmond is still vital as we continue to feed the hungry and utilize our building for the community's good.

Our Post-Covid Re-entry Group (PRG) has been meeting weekly, working through a study of a book entitled "How to Be the Post Pandemic Church." We asking hard and hopeful questions about what our ministry will look like in the post-covid world. One of the traits needed to navigate this time we discussed this week is flexibility. We are called to continually be learning and adapting to a world where most activities will have both in person and online components. Please pray for the work of this group. This process of revisioning will take some time and will eventually involve conversations among all of us as a church family.

We continue to care for one another in powerful and helpful ways even in these unusual times. One image that has meant a lot to me as we think about the church's mission these days is the image of healing. Many of us need healing from the disruption, if not trauma of the pandemic. Perhaps we can help one another find healing and grace, and then pass those gifts onto the world.

I am working on a sermon from this week's gospel lesson, Mark 10:2-16. This text is one place where Jesus addresses marriage and divorce. I think there's more to this text than we often see or hear. In fact, I think there may be good news in this text for all of us that sometimes go overlooked. (I may wish I'd picked another lectionary text for the day, but we'll see Sunday!)

This is also World Communion Sunday. So, whether in person or virtually, we'll remember God's love offered to us and all the world.

In these times, I hope you will remember that you are loved by God and your church family.

Peace,

Matt

Fellowship Opportunities

Everyone is welcome to drop in on Tuesdays at 11:00 am for a chat, a prayer, or wherever the spirit may lead.

No pre-registration is required. Questions? Please contact the church office.

Keeping You Informed

Organ Dedication

Our Stanley Baker will be a featured performer for the dedication of the 152 stop, 128 rank R. A. Colby organ at St. Giles Presbyterian Church, 5200 Grove Avenue, the largest organ in the greater Richmond area, October 10, at 6:00 pm. Music begins at 5:45 pm.

Five other Richmond area organists will also be featured performers including Scott Hayes from All Saints Episcopal Church, Christopher Martin from Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Jeffrey Hummel from Third Church, Daniel Stipe from All Saints Episcopal Church and Trinity Lutheran Church and Linus Ellis from St. Giles Presbyterian Church. There will be a combined Choir and special music for all those attending.

The Dedication will be followed by a reception.

Parking Update

The pandemic has brought many changes, and one of those is how we park in the back parking lot. There is no longer an attendant there all day. Instead, an attendant comes through at different times to be sure people have paid for the parking space. The attendant knows the spaces are reserved for Centenary people, but we need to help them out by making it clear and easy for them to know that you are with Centenary. If you will be at the church for any reason during the week, we have parking passes that are available in the office. The pass MUST be placed on your dashboard and easy to see. The passes are not dated, so you can keep and reuse the pass as needed. If you know you will be at the church and would like to print one out at home, please contact the church office.

Charge Conference Date

Our charge conference this year will be held on Tuesday, October 26, at 7:00 p.m. at Westhampton United Methodist Church. This year, we will participate in a cluster charge conference with 9 other churches. The meeting will begin with a devotional and proceed to five-minute reports from each church about their accomplishments in the last year and their goals for ministry for 2022. Following that portion of the gathering, each church will convene and vote on important matters such as the pastor's salary and election of leaders for 2022. Though members of the charge conference are the only persons eligible to vote, all church members are welcome to attend.

Laura Nealley, our Administrative Assistant, will be out of the office

until Monday, October 11. Emails will not be monitored, but voice

messages left at the church will be checked on a daily basis.

She will return any necessary emails once she returns.

October 4 @ 7:00 p.m. - Post-Covid Recovery Group -

October 12 @ 4:00 p.m. - Church Council

October 14 @ 7:00 p.m. - Reconciling Task Force

October 26 @ 7:00 p.m. - Charge Conference -

Westhampton UMC

CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH