As a community, we seek to offer care and support to one another. We offer a team approach to pastoral care at Centennial, with different teams available to serve you. We’re always looking for more people to help on these teams, please contact Pastor Melanie if you are interested in volunteering, or if you would like to utilize these services.
Did you know? Centennial is a partner congregation in the North Suburban Grief Support Coalition, which sponsors the “Growing Through Loss” grief and loss support ministry. The coalition hosts two six-week series each year at various locations that address both the educational as well as support aspects of a variety of loss and grief issues. The spring series will be held on Tuesday evenings, April 17th through May 22nd from 6:45 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1900 7th St NW, New Brighton, MN 55112. Each session offers an educational presentation by a professional from the community, followed by peer support groups facilitated by leaders who understand the grieving process. Each session is complete in itself, so you may attend any or all sessions. Registration takes place the evening before each session. There is no cost, although donations are welcome. Free childcare is available, but please call a week in advance so they are prepared for your children. If you have questions, call Pastor Melanie at 651.633.7644 or visit www.growingthroughloss.org for more information.
Pastoral Care Team
The Pastors provide care first of all by providing worship that is meaningful and relevant. They are also available to pray, counsel, and help people discover God’s presence in times of growth and challenge. Pastor of Pastoral Care and Nurture, Melanie Homan, coordinates the Pastoral Care Team. The team provides hospital visitation, as well as nursing home and homebound visitation.
A note about hospital visits: Due to hospital confidentiality, we will not know you are in the hospital unless you contact the church office (651.633.7644) or have someone contact the church office on your behalf. Please do so if you would like a visit from the Pastoral Care Team while you are hospitalized.
Pastor Melanie is available for some short-term counseling, as well as referring to additional community resources.
Parish Nurse
Julia Nordling offers health education, blood pressure clinics, support groups, and promotes wellness of mind, body and spirit; blending nursing and ministry.
Assistance with issues such as housing, driver safety, homecare, healthcare, and end of life concerns are provided by the parish nurse through referrals to the appropriate community agencies.
Members of the Pastoral Care / Parish Nurse Team:
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Melanie Homan
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Brian Hacklander
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Donna Draeger
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Julia Nordling
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Several retired clergy
Morning Worship on DVD
Unable to attend Sunday worship? Sign up to receive a DVD recording of the Sunday morning worship service by mail! If you or someone you know are interested in this service, please contact Julia Nordling at 651-633-7644 or parishnurse@centennialumc.org. Audio recordings of each Sundays morning’s sermon and music are also available for download on our website.
Care Team Ministry
“Doing what a friend would do for a friend”
Care partners offer respite to family caregivers, transportation, food, light housekeeping, friendly visiting, and yard work – meeting the basic needs of an individual or family.
For more information on Care Team Ministry (larger organization)
Leaders of the Care Team Ministry:
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Carole White, Chair of Care Team
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Julia Nordling, Parish Nurse
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Melanie Homan, Pastor
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Dorthea Doty, Lyngblomsten facilitator
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Care Partners (Lay persons)
Contact any of the leaders of the Care Team Ministry if you would like to volunteer or utilize the team’s services.
BeFrienders Ministry
Befrienders offer spiritual and emotional support to people through visits and phone calls in homes and nursing care facilities. These lay ministers also provide communion to homebound persons. This is a ministry of listening, caregiving, and support. These lay ministers make it possible for more people to receive care in the name of the church more often. Lay ministers receive extensive training in offering care and support to our homebound persons.
For more information on BeFrienders Ministry (larger organization).
Leaders of the BeFrienders Ministry:
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Carolyn Gibson, Administrator
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Jo Slifer, Trainer
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Julia Nordling, Facilitator
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Melanie Homan, Pastor
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BeFrienders (Lay persons)
Contact any of the leaders of the BeFrienders Ministry if you would like to volunteer or utilize the team’s services.
The Gathering
The Gathering provides a safe and enjoyable environment for those who are experiencing early- or mid-stage stage memory loss and giving respite to caregivers who desire a break.
For more information on The Gathering.
Leader of The Gathering
Prayer Shawl Ministry
“Shawls have been made for centuries. They are universal and embracing the symbol of an inclusive, loving God. They wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace, mother, hug, shelter, and beautify. We live up and affirm those who receive these shawls…”
The prayer shawl ministry team meets on Wednesday evenings, twice a month, to knit and crochet shawls. Individuals are also welcome to create shawls on their own. These shawls are given to persons who, because of some need or circumstance, could benefit from the warmth of a shawl and the knowledge that they have been prayed for by the person making the shawl. The team also creates shawls/baby blankets for each person baptized at Centennial.
If you would like to be part of this ministry, or know of someone who would benefit from receiving a shawl, please contact Leader Marilyn Roberts.
Psalm 139:13-14 “You created every part of me, knitting me in my mother’s womb. For such handiwork, I praise you. Awesome, this great wonder.”
Prayer Chain
Centennial’s United Methodist Women coordinate the church’s prayer chain. You can receive requests to pray over in your daily prayers by phone or email.
Please contact Joyce Markham if you would like to pray for others as part of the prayer chain team.
Leader of the Prayer Chain
Weddings at Centennial
Please download our wedding policies for more information about having your wedding at Centennial.
Wedding coordinators:
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Deanna Kieffer
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Tracie Ball
Please contact Deanna Kieffer for a list of wedding fees and calendar availability.
Marriage preparation classes are provided by Rev. Dr. Frank Nelson.
Visit www.mnmarriagepreparation.com for more information. Check the website for upcoming class schedules.
Funerals and Memorial Services at Centennial
Please download our funeral handbook for information on pre-planning your funeral service. You will also find information on filling out advanced directives, and a helpful guide on information that is important to have prepared for your family and loved ones.
Funerals and memorial services are one of the many ministries of Centennial.
If there has been a death in your family, please contact Pastor Melanie or the Church Office to begin planning a service. You will meet with one of the pastors, who will guide you through the planning process. You will also be in touch with our funeral coordinator, who cares for many of the details that need to be attended to for a service. We do all that we can to offer you care and support during this difficult time. We seek to celebrate the life of your loved one, grounded in resurrection hope.