Guest Columnist - Karen Junker, Lay Leader

Dear Centenary Family,

I was honored to attend the 2022 Virginia Annual Conference as Centenary’s alternate lay delegate, held June 16 – 18, 2022. The conference theme was “United as One in Worship.”  This theme was based on John 4:24: 

“God is spirit, and it is necessary to worship God in spirit and truth.” (CEB)

 As the Virginia Annual Conference had not been held in person in three years, there was a palpable excitement in the air as long lines of clergy and laity waited to register and then rush into large meeting halls at the Hampton Roads Convention Center.

Although a lifelong United Methodist, I had not attended a conference before. All I can say is: “WOW, I think I got to attend an especially exciting and inspiring conference!” I am grateful for this opportunity and to share some of the highlights of the conference further below. Many thanks to Pastor Matt Bates and Douglas Wilson for their help in preparing me for the conference and to Pat Shipley for her help with interpretation and translation during much of the conference proceedings. Also, please check out the online resources listed at the end of this report – there is so much to absorb right now about where our denomination is – and yes, much for us to be hopeful about! 

WORSHIP TIME FOR JULY AND AUGUST

One service at 10:00am

Sundays at 10:00am

In person and online.

Change the World/RVA is Collecting Gasoline Gift Cards

Gas. Our students need gas. Our summer gas gift card/donation drive has officially begun! When college classes start in August, our goal is to have enough gas gift cards to get them all through the semester. We DO NOT want a single student to miss class or work because they cannot afford gas. We have a student commuting from RVA to VSU, and we have other students commuting to John Tyler. This is such an important and relatively easy way we can support our young people. Centenary members can help by donating via cash or check. Please make the check out to Centenary UMC with Change the World/RVA in the memo line. Or, you can give online. Using the Fund pull down menu, scroll down to Change the World/RVA. Centenary will then give the collected monies to Change the World/RVA to purchase the gas cards. Thank you for your support!

The Chosen

Season 1

Join us this Sunday (July 10), to begin viewing The Chosen. We will gather in the social hall following our 10:00am worship service. The Chosen is a multi-season television portrayal of the life of Jesus. The series has been widely acclaimed. 

The Chosen carries the character development

of Hose of Cards or The Crown, but with an authenticity to the biblical narrative like

nothing I've ever witnessed 

in faith-based media. ~ Caleb Parke

You can read more here. The first season has 8 episodes and we will begin watching episode 1 this week. We'll take off July 31 for our churchwide picnic. Come grab a cup of coffee, perhaps even bring a friend, and join us for fellowship, inspiration, and learning!

Is the Pandemic Over?

Suzanne Ray, once again, has shared her talent for historical research and writing to bring us a timely update about the current COVID-19 pandemic and how it compares to the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. 

"As we saw previously, the 1918 Spanish Flu (hereafter The Flu) changed the world. It changed the overall human condition, it changed nations, and it changed individuals. A century of hindsight and examination allows us to see its impact clearly. The COVID-19 (hereafter covid) pandemic is also changing the world, although it is a “work in progress” and its full impact will not be recognized until long after it is over, whenever that may be. Still, it is possible to draw parallels and learn from 1918."