Centenary Newsletter - Friday, March 5, 2021

Friday, March 5, 2021

Dear Centenary Family,

The last year has been a trial in many ways. It does seem as Spring begins its arrival, there is hope around the corner. We all anticipate the time when all of us are vaccinated. We all anticipate a time when people can return to work, school, and church—in-person! In the past year, we have all had to learn new skills as we’ve adapted to working more from home, and gathering for worship, study, and fellowship online.

I want to update you on a few important things as we keep trying to be faithful in our mission here at Centenary.

Some of you may be aware that the General Conference which was rescheduled from last May to this August (2021) has been delayed yet again until August of 2022. This delay, of course, has been necessitated by the inability of delegates from around the world to travel to the U.S. for an in person meeting because of Covid.

This is particularly challenging for us at Centenary. You may recall that early in 2020, with the help of a professional mediator, representatives of various points of view agreed to a Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation that provided for opponents of same-sex marriage to leave the denomination in an orderly and amicable way. We’d been eagerly awaiting the time when we could treat all marriages equally and support LGBTQ+ persons who feel called to ministry. Unfortunately, that moment of great inclusion has been delayed.

Our leaders have been in earnest conversation about how we live in this interim time of waiting for a resolution to the tension in our denomination.

There is much information about these developments if you would like to read more. Here is one resource that you might find helpful: Another GC2020 delay brings relief, chagrin | United Methodist News Service (umnews.org)

In spite of the challenges of the past year, ministry and service have gone on in robust ways here at Centenary.

Notice the thank you note from United Methodist Family Services below. Thank you for your generosity to this great ministry.
Thank you for your support, week by week of our ongoing ministry. I hope you’ve had time to read with some care that letter from our Finance Team you received recently.
We have been led by Rev. Drew Willson in a visioning process called “Dream Like Jesus” which has been shared with our Council and Congregation. And a number of you have responded to the invitation to become part of a group to discern how to move forward with this vision: Richmond is a community where every person is thriving and has access to nutritious food and learning opportunities. If that is something that speaks to you and want to be part of, let Drew or me know.
We have six young people in the process of Confirmation training. They’re a remarkable group of young people. Keep them in your prayers as they discern where they are in their own journey of faith.
Our Healthy Church Team will be working diligently in the next week to consider what in-person opportunities for worship, study, and fellowship, we might begin to consider.

And Easter is just around the corner—which is the best news of all! Christ is alive. God is with us!

I admire your faithfulness, determination and generosity and am buoyed by your faith and faithfulness every day.

Peace,

Matt

Livestream 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.

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 Put Jesus on the Building Committee.

Bulletin and scriptures for this Sunday.

Registration Deadline March 19, 2021

Please use this link to register: t.ly/ZMQB

UMW - Smethie Circle

March 17, 2021 at 4:00 pm

Show and Tell About 2020

Be thinking of what you learned about yourself in 2020.

What has been the worst part and the best part

of the forced Covid shut down.

Zoom Link. -- Meeting ID - 892 1490 8470. -- Passcode: 519402.

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Geranium sale

$4.50 each (4 “ pot)

Come in red, hot pink, white and salmon.

Orders due by April 5, 2021

We will take orders for specific colors but cannot guarantee color. Call Leah Hundley to place orders. Please make checks to UMUMR and send to Leah Hundley.

Susy Meyer will pick them up on April 9, 2021 and they can be picked up at her house or she will kindly deliver.

From United Methodist

Family Services

We were overwhelmed with gratitude when Bob Almond kindly hand delivered Centenary UMC’s amazingly generous $11,000 Christmas offering check yesterday. Thank you so much for your wonderful gift! Please let your congregation know how much we appreciate their generosity, and their support of the children and families at UMFS! This has been such a crazy year for all of us, and it means a lot that you were able to share this gift with us in the midst of all of the challenges.

If you have any questions, or there’s anything we can do to support you, please let me know. I’d be happy to arrange for a UMFS speaker for your congregation if that would be helpful, or anything else you might need.

Thank you for your partnership in this ministry!

Jill Gaynor

RICHMOND’S UNRECONCILED HISTORY

How did we get here?

Please join us for an exploration of Richmond’s history using the Rev. Ben Campbell’s book, Richmond’s Unhealed History. This study will be guided by Pat Shipley, Karen Daly Junker and Barrett Brown - with guest appearances by the author.

An Online Book Study - Monday Evenings at 7:00 – 8:15 p.m.

To register, please email: Barrett Brown

Weekly Bible Study

Wednesday mornings at 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.

The Upper Room available as a PDF

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

Offering Envelopes

We know you may be wondering about how to get your offering envelopes. If you would like your envelopes, please email the church office or call 804-648-8319 and leave a message. While the office is closed, we are at the church on Thursdays and can make arrangements for you to pick them up. If that is not convenient for you, we will make other arrangements when you contact us. Thank you for your patience while we find new ways to get the business of church done!