Centinel 1-27-06

Sunday Worship Schedule
9:00 AM Worship and Kids’ Time
10:00 AM Fellowship Time
10:30 AM Worship and FaithWalk

Upcoming Centinel Deadlines:
February 20 and March 6

Sweetheart’s Night
The Centennial Men’s Club presents Sweetheart’s Night
featuring the ‘Somewhat Dixieland Band’ on Monday, February 20 at 6:30 PM in Fellowship Hall. Honor Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart with dinner and great music. Tickets: $8.00 per person, seating is limited. Sign up at the Welcome Center. Everyone is welcome!

Church & Society Outreach Grows in 2005
Thanks to our committed membership, Centennial continues to grow in our Vision and Ministry to the community, contributing growing support by providing for those less fortunate and those suffering social injustices.

Our Church & Society committee distributed $18,650 during 2005 among 15 organizations and projects providing Housing and Shelter, Food Services, Clothing, and Human Services focused mostly on women and children. These included Emma Norton Residence, Simpson Housing Services, God’s Closet, People Incorporated, and Holy Hammers TC Habitat for Humanity, which is also supported by many Centennial volunteers.

We also provide food for breakfasts prepared twice monthly by our own Centennial volunteers serving 150+ at Dorothy Day Center in St. Paul. This outreach in 2005 exceeded our budget support through some innovative projects undertaken for Centennial Serves Day.

The greater part of our Church & Society giving is to support services that meet and alleviate immediate human needs, sometimes called “maintenance ministries.” We are also challenged to do social education, social witness and social action activities; “prophetic ministries” that seek to bring about change in the root causes of our social issues. If you have an active interest in any of these areas and would like to work with Centennial’s Outreach Program please contact Pastor Melanie.

Pastors’ Keyboard

The aches and pains of hard, manual labor have finally left my body, but the experiences will stay with me a long time from our recent Adult Mission Work Team trip to Port Charlotte , Florida . I didn’t think there would be much recovery work to do in a place hit by a hurricane over a year and a half ago. Was I wrong! Granted, much work had been done, but as often seems to be the case, it was the marginalized in the community who were still struggling to get back on their feet, as their previously precarious positions intensified.

We listened with sadness to the story of Barbara, mother of four, living with her grandmother in the home we demolished. We heard of the contractor who took their money but only supplied 3 pieces of plywood and some tar paper to fix the roof. We heard of the grandmother being hit and killed by a dump truck moving debris out of the neighborhood just weeks after the hurricane, and the families difficulty in getting insurance reimbursement. How awful! One of the men we worked with said, “God saves the needy and God saves the greedy”. I’m not sure what you will think of that, but it sure sparked some good conversation for those of us on the trip. We can choose to live our lives in service to God, with love towards our neighbor, or we can choose to look out for our own interests to the detriment of others. I obviously think the first way is the way to go – but either way we have this God of grace, who offers redemption without all the strings we might like to attach, to all who desire it. I guess that’s what’s so amazing about grace.

Melanie

A few more things:
Check out the missions bulletin board for pictures from the Port Charlotte Trip
Consider serving on a future work team from Centennial
Mark your calendars for the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition’s Day on the Hill on March 2. For more information, please see the “Day on the Hill” article in this issue of the Centinel.

Day on the Hill
The Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC) is the largest, most inclusive interfaith public policy body in Minnesota—people of diverse faiths bringing vision and wisdom to the public realm for the well-being of all Minnesotans. Authorized and governed by the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the Minnesota Council of Churches, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, and the Islamic Center of Minnesota, JRLC is the instrument by which faith communities work together on social justice issues in Minnesota. 

Every year JRLC hosts an annual Day on the Hill conference. This is a time to learn about how to be a citizen-lobbyist and to organize justice work in our community. Participants are briefed about justice policy issues and then lobby members of the legislature. Last year over 1,000 people attended. 

Please join our Bishop, the District Superintendents of our Annual Conference, and the pastors of Centennial for this empowering day, where we can live out our faith through advocacy for the least, the lost, and the left out. Registration forms are at the Welcome Center, or register on-line at www.jrlc.org. Let us know you’re attending by signing up at the Welcome Center or email Melanie Homan. There is also a space to sign up for carpooling. The date is Thursday, March 2! Registration is $25 per person, which includes lunch.

Thank you

Presbyterian Church of the Way thanks all Congregations for their participation in the Ecumenical Service at Thanksgiving. The service was meaningful to all attendees. The offering ($1,061.37) was sent to Feed My Starving Children.
Presbyterian Church of the Way

The House of Faith Nursery School Toy Sale for 2005 was a fantastic success! We raised over $2,600 to help low income students attend preschool and your efforts were part of the reason we were able to do this. The generosity of Centennial was overwhelming. Have a blessed New Year and know that we appreciate all that you have done to help House of Faith Nursery School continue to serve preschool children.
Lisa Hill, Director

Thank you to all who have donated to or bought books from the United Methodist Women’s “Books for a Buck.” We made more than $800 in 2005. Watch for the “Books for a Buck” sales on Sunday mornings during Fellowship Time.
The UMW

A Brave Heart: The Journey of Christ
Wednesday Night Worship services continue:
February 1: Holden Evening Prayer Service
February 8: Youth-led worship continues with A Brave Heart Entertains, the second in a series of “A Brave Heart: The Journey of Christ.” Join us as we journey through the life of Christ and discover how we can relate to his human experience. Services are 7:00-7:25 PM in the Sanctuary.

Eight Habits of Highly Effective Christians

Worship with others..
Serve others...
Welcome others...
Study together…
Find a small group...
Reach the young...
Find and share your gifts...
Be generous...

“Make Hunger History” An Inter-faith Conference
Sunday, Feb. 12, 1:00–4:00 PM at Hamline University
Student Center Ballroom
Featuring John Arnold, Executive Director, Second Harvest Gleaners Food Bank of West Michigan.

Join for this Inter-Faith Conference that will inspire, inform and call attention to the growing crisis in local area food shelves. To register, call Keystone Community Services, 651.603.6644 or visit their website, keystonecommunityservices.org.

RARES to feature photographer of “Wild Flowers of Minnesota”
Retired, Almost Retired, Energetic Seniors are invited to a luncheon at Noon on Thurs., Feb. 9. Donald Breneman, Associate Professor (retired) of the U of M Extension, will show slides of local wild flowers, and offer photography tips. Lunch is $6.50, payable at the door. Sign up by Feb. 5 or contact Joyce Rosene, 651.484.4582.

Singers Invited!
You’re invited to join the Chancel Choir in performing the Lenten portion of Handel’s Messiah. The concert will be on Palm Sunday afternoon, April 9 at 4:00 PM, and the dress rehearsal will be Saturday, April 8, at 10:00 AM. Rehearsals will be Wednesday evenings 7:30 PM to approximately 8:00 PM beginning February 8. All singers high school age and up are welcome. Contact Bob Nienaber, 651.633.7644 or rgnjr@centennialumc.org.

Bob Nienaber Organ Recital
Bob Nienaber will present a 20-25 minute organ recital at St. Louis, King of France Church on Tuesday, February 7 at 12:35 PM. This is part of the “noon-time recitals” at the church. The church is located at 10th and Cedar Streets in downtown St. Paul. There is no admission charge. The concert will immediately follow the 12:00 Mass.

“I’ve Got Good News!”
Rejoice Singers will participate in a children’s winter singing festival at the Basilica of St. Mary on Sat., February 11. “I’ve Got Good News” will be directed by Francisco Núñez, director of the Young People’s Chorus of New York City and the choirs of New York University. The all-day event will conclude with a service at 2:30 PM. You are invited to come and hear this massed choir of young voices from across the state of Minnesota.

Spring Women’s Retreat
The Women’s Retreat will be March 10-11, beginning with supper Friday evening and concluding right before lunch on Saturday. Save the date and watch for more information. Interested in helping plan the retreat? Contact Pastor Melanie, 651.633.7644 or email mhoman@centennialumc.org.

“Growing in Christlikeness—Feeding the Root”
Celebration of the Laity at Grace UMC, St. Cloud , MN
Friday, April 7, 6:30–8:00 PM
Saturday, April 8, 2006 , 7:45 AM to 3:00 PM
Keynote Speaker: Bishop Sally Dyck

The Lay Ministry Action Team of the Discipleship Ministry Team invites you to attend the 2006 Celebration of Laity. This is an opportunity to build your skills for ministry as a faithful disciple of Jesus and to join with others in worship and celebration. This is a day to be challenged and renewed in your personal faith journey. Bring a friend! This is an event for all Laity. For more information contact:
Darlene Fair, 218.837.5924 or email jdfair@wcta.net
Darrell Richter, 218.583.4036 or email darbonebl@arvig.net.
Cost: $15 per person. The registration deadline is March 27.

Remember in Prayer

Todd Lewis who is in active military service.

We remember

Mary Ann and Neal Martin on the death of Mary Ann’s father, Hubert Sheaffer, on January 1.

Paul Lucas and Wendy Cederholm on the death of Paul’s mother, Mary Lucas, who passed away on January 23.

Praying through our Membership Rolls

Our prayers for each other empower us and create joyful bonds of love!
Jerry and Shirley John
Edna Johns
Alan and Karen Johnson
Amanda Johnson
Amy, Ted, Casey and Drew Johnson
Brenda, Jerry and Rachel Johnson
Brian, Carol, Mitchell and Nathaniel Johnson
Earl and Charlotte Johnson
Jim and Char Johnson
Lorraine Johnson
Marlyn and Marilyn Johnson
Marvel and Howard Johnson
Phil Johnson
Russell and Patricia Johnson
Ruth Johnson

ASSETS** (Adult Singles Enjoying Togetherness). Dessert and Bingo February 15. Contact Margaret Chapin, 651.628.3728 or Polly Swoboda, 651.628.3859.

Bridge Club meets in homes the 1st Friday of the month. Marion & Dwight Peterson, 651.633.1786.

Deborah Fellowship meets the 1st Friday of the month, 8:30 AM, at Baker’s Square in Roseville. Contact Nancy Ness, 651.483.3663.

Jr High Fellowship Youth band rehearsals Sundays at 12:00 Noon, lunch provided. Sign up for the ski trip to Lutsen, Feb. 10-12. Contact Kelly Swanson ASAP if interested.

Married Couples Group (20’s, 30’s and 40’s) will meet Saturday, Feb. 18, 6:00 PM for fellowship. Contact Dawn and Mark Meyer, 651.486.0757.

Men’s Club will meet February 20 for the annual Sweetheart’s Night with the “Somewhat Dixieland Band.” Seating is limited, $8.00 per person. Sign up at the Welcome Center or contact Dale Noyed, 651.633.4197.

Piecemakers is a group of women that meet 9:30-11:30 AM each Wednesday at the church for craftwork. Contact Donna Hedblom 651.633.4191.

Plug & Chug (13 & over) work for Habitat for Humanity every Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Call Ken Tate 651.633.6108 or Don Hopkins at 651.628.9713.

Prime Timers (couples and singles 45+) Ski Trip to Superior Shores near Two Harbors, Feb. 4-5. Contact Dale Noyed, 651.633.4197, for more information.

RARES (Retired, Almost Retired, Energetic Seniors) will meet Thursday, Feb. 9, 12:00 Noon for a luncheon/program with photographer Donald Breneman of “Wild Flowers of Minnesota. He will show slides and offer tips for successful flower photography. Sign up at the Welcome Center or contact Joyce Rosene, 651.484.4582. Cost: $6.50.

Sr High Fellowship Youth band rehearsals Sundays at 12:00 Noon, with lunch provided. SOW, Servants of the World–our Senior High Mission Trip–will be June 17–26. Watch for information in the mail or contact Kelly Swanson.

SOS** (Slightly Older Singles) Game Night Feb. 18, 7:00 PM the church lounge. RSVP Barbara Hauck, 651.762.9525 or Ruth Kunze, 651.633.2257. Academy Awards party on Sunday, Mar. 5—who will you portray? Chalkboard Capers at Irondale HS April 1, tickets-$5.00, reserve by Feb. 12. Contact Barbara Stone, 651.633.4296 or Corky Donaldson, 651.765.0046.

U M W (United Methodist Women) will have a Program & Fellowship meeting on Feb. 2. at 10:00 AM. We have a program planned entitled “The Papers of Jan Love” led by Mary Hopkins and Marilyn Dunshee.

Women’s Breakfast Fellowship (women of all ages) meets every Wednesday from 7:00-8:00 AM at Byerlys. Contact Thelma Boeder 651.489.2604.

Women’s Night Out (women in fellowship) will meet Feb. 6, 6:30 PM, at Good Earth Restaurant in Roseville. Contact Wendy Cederholm, 651.482.8592.

Young Adult Ministry (Ages 18-35, singles & married with no children) Watch for information about events or contact Pastor Melanie, 651.633.7644, ext. #12.

*Scholarships are available and confidential for Centennial sponsored events. Please contact one of the pastors. Contact Child Care Supervisor-Coordinator, Jean Moline, by leaving a message at 651.633.7644 ext. 38 at least 48 hours before an event. If there are no calls, child care will not be provided.