ASSETS (Singles) will meet for lunch on Wednesday, April 16, at 1:00 PM at Axel’s.  If you have questions, contact Henrietta Briggs at 651-489-4690.

Bridge Group meets on Friday, May 2 at 6:00 PM in Fellowship Hall for a potluck.  Contact Vern or Erma Comstock at 651-604-0646 to join.  Players of all levels welcome.

Deborah Fellowship (women of all ages) will meet for breakfast and fellowship at Baker’s Square in Roseville Friday, May 2 at 8:30 AM. Contact Nancy Ness, 651-483-3663.

Married Couple’s Group will attend the dinner and swing dance youth fundraiser on Saturday, April 26 at 6:00 PM. Contact Mark & Dawn Meyer at 651-486-0757.

Men’s Club will meet Monday April 21.
The speaker Steve Katovich, from the US Forestry Service, will be speaking on Invasive Species in Minnesota.  Contact Paul Lucas at 651-482-8592.

Piecemakers meet at 9:30 AM Wednesdays at the church for craftwork.  Contact Donna Hedblom at 651-633-4191.

RARES next meeting is on Thursday, May 8th at noon for lunch with a program by Jan Pettit to follow.  This a great way to learn how you or someone you know can serve and make a significant difference in the lives of people the world over. Sign up at the Welcome Table near Linden Court. Lunch is $6.50. Contac Joyce Rosene at 612-781-3500.

S.O.S. (Slightly Older Singles) UMW Silent Auction/Spring Luncheon on
May 10 at 11:00 AM. Contact Marilyn Dunshee at 651-489-1809 or Jan Pettit at 651-788-2509.

UMW Silent Auction/Spring Luncheon on May 10 at 11:00 AM.  Contact Clarene Seemann
at 651-633-4906.

Women’s Breakfast Fellowship meets Wednesdays at Byerly’s, 7:00 - 8:00 AM. Contact Thelma Boeder at 651-489-2604.

Women’s Night Out (women of all ages in fellowship) will be gathering at Good Earth, Monday, May 5 at 6:30 PM. Contact Wendy at wendyalucas@comcast.net.

Young Adult Ministry - Dinner on May 2 at Joy & Alan O ‘Donnell’s house.  Contact Kelly Swanson at kswanson@centennialumc.org or 651-633-7644.

*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 or emailing hewle002@tc.umnc.edu at least 48 hours before an event. If there are no calls, child care will not be provided.

Remember in Prayer

Steve Koehn, Todd Lewis, Carter Nerhaugen, Eric Nevalainen, and Perry Olson who are in active military service.  Steve is at a base in Korea, Todd and Eric are now home from Iraq, Carter is in Iraq, and Perry is at Fort Wainwright in Alaska.

Praying through our
Membership Rolls
Our prayers for each other empower us and create joyful bonds of love!

• Amanda & Uriah Welcome
• Emilie Werner
• Roy Wervey
• Susan & Scott Wesch
• Kurt West
• Alex, Amy, Zachary, & Jace Wheaton
• Don & Carole White
• Katherine White
• Chris, Ann, Charlie, & Gracie Whiting
• Brian Whitman
• Kenneth & Charlotte Whitman

We remember
Don Cederholm who passed away on March 10, 2008.  Don is the
father of Wendy Lucas.  His memorial service was held on April 12 at Centennial.

Sunday Worship Schedule
  9:00 AM  Worship
10:00 AM  Fellowship Time
10:30 AM  Worship and FaithWalk
  5:00 PM  The Well

Next Centinel Deadline:
April 21, 2008
Sunday Bulletin Deadline:
12:00 Noon on Tuesdays

Summer Brochure Deadline
Just a reminder that the deadline for the Summer Brochure is April 28.  It will be mailed on May 16.

First Quarter Financial Statements Available
Please pick up your financial statement in Linden Court by Sunday, April 27.  This will save on postage costs to mail them to you. 

UMCOR Project - Equal Exchange Fair Trade coffee, tea, cocoa and chocolate bars will be available for purchase April 20th, and the third Sunday of each month in the Lounge after the worship services.

Office Help Requested - Starting on April 28, help in the office is needed while Julie is on leave.
Answering phones and light office work are needed.  If you are available to help out with 2 to 4 hour shifts anytime between Monday, April 28 and Friday, June 6 please contact Lisa Schuler in the office at 651-633-7644 or lschuler@centennialumc.org.

Interested in exploring the step of faith of membership at Centennial?  You are invited to our Coffee with the Clergy Sunday May 4 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM with our three clergy...learn about Centennial, ways to get involved here, and our spiritual DNA as United Methodist Christians. 
Contact Brian Hacklander if you are interested.

Pictures Wanted -   Have you taken pictures of various events at Centennial?  Would you like your event picture(s) considered for inclusion in the new pictorial directory?  Please leave them with Julie Elholm or Tami Worden in the church office by May 12.

Rejoice and Sunshine Singers Present Elijah! God’s Faithful Prophet
Sunday, April 27
9:00 AM, 10:30 AM and 5:00 PM
Come hear the children tell the story of Elijah.  Through fire and rain, in prophecy and prayer, the power of the living God is revealed for all to see! 

Spring Ring at Centennial
Saturday, May 3, 2008
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Centennial's Spring Ring will be a day filled with handbell ringing, rhythm fun, and musical games for children and youth in grades 2-8. If your child has shown an interest in playing handbells and would like to learn more, please have them join us. If they are already ringing with Genesis or Praise Ringers, they won't want to miss Spring Ring! Please sign up on the bulletin board outside the Choir Room so we know how many to expect. There will be a mini-concert at 1:45 pm that day in Fellowship Hall; all are invited. Contact Deb Olsen with questions, debolsen26@gmail.com.

The UMW Reading Group meets on Monday, April 21, 2008 at 9:30 AM in the Lounge.  The following books will be reviewed: (1) A Song to Sing, A Life to Live by Don and Emily Saliers, (2) God’s Politics: A new Vision for Faith and Politics in America by Jim Wallis, (3) Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life by Queen Noor, and (4) Letters to a Young Doubter by William Sloane Coffin.  These books are selected from the UMW reading categories – Nurturing for Community, Social Action, and Spiritual Growth  All women are welcome to attend.

UMW Spring Luncheon and Silent Auction -  Saturday, May 10, Fellowship Hall, 11:00 AM Silent Auction, 12:00 Noon lunch, 1:00 PM program with Anne Zemke, "The Brave Journey of an Orphan Train Rider," which is the heartwarming story of an orphan train rider as told through the blocks of a quilt. Anne has handcrafted many special quilts and she teaches quilt making in a variety of settings. Her book, "They Named Me Marjorie," about her grandmother who came to Minnesota on an orphan train will be for sale. Tickets for $12 must be purchased in advance by May 4 and will be available on mornings, April 20, 27, and May 4.Donations are needed for the Silent Auction and should be brought to the lower level of the church, outside Fellowship Hall on Friday, May 9, between 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM. All women, friends, and SOS Members are welcome. Childcare is available by calling Jean Moline by May 1.

A WOW Event! - The North Central Jurisdiction meeting of the Women’s Division of the United Methodist Women held in Bloomington March 28-30 was an awe inspiring spiritual experience as we listened, shared, and explored the theme: “I Have Called You by Name, You Are Mine!”  Each presenter wove their “call” into their presentation.  Among the highlights were: Dr. Marcia McFee as she led the worship and sang with her energy and sensitivity to all; Rev. Mary Kathryn Pearce from the Illinois Conference who gave a humorous but thought provoking message; having all 12 of the North Central Jurisdiction Bishops present with some sharing their call; and Minnesota Bishop Sally Dyck and Iowa Bishop Palmer leading the Bible study and weaving their call into their presentations.  The over 700 presenters were from 12 conferences representing 9 of the upper Midwest states with 7 women from Centennial attending.    We were left with the thoughts, “Each of us is unique, we need to listen to the call because if we do not answer the call may never be met.” “I have called you by name, you are mine.”

Formal Dinner and Swing Dancing evening 6:00 PM on Saturday April 26.Dinner starts at 6:30 followed by basic Swing Dance Lessons.  All are welcome!6th grade students and older are invited to the formal dinner and 5th graders and younger will be served a less formal dinner upstairs with childcare and entertainment provided. So bring the whole family!  Tickets are $15/person or $45/family.Contact Kelly to buy your tickets!

Pastor’s Keyboard

Last Sunday morning, the 2nd Sunday of Easter (that is, March 30), we read the Scripture about the risen Christ coming to the fearful disciples behind locked doors.  "And he breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'"  (John 20:22)  We noted that the word for spirit in both biblical languages (Hebrew and Greek) can also mean wind or breath.  And so as we ended the sermon, we stood together, raised our palms slowly upward, held them there, and felt the breaths we were taking, noting that we have been given the Holy Breath-Wind-Spirit of God.  We did the same as we then extended our palms outward toward our neighbors, held them there and felt the breaths we were taking, noting that yes, we have been given the Holy Breath-Wind-Spirit of God to serve our neighbor as well.  (It's really something to see 250 United Methodists at each service raising their hands in worship all at the same time!)

Breathe.  Just breathe.  We all need times to breathe, to catch our second wind, to get a breath of fresh air in our lives.  That's why many people have two-day weekends--and occasionally take a three- or four-day weekend.  That's why vacations are important (the saying "I can do a year's worth of work in eleven months, but not in twelve").  That's why Sabbath-taking is included in the Ten Commandments.

Breathe.  Just breathe.  I'll be catching my breath during the month of July while I take my first-ever renewal leave, which is separate from vacation time.  This renewal leave comes with the approval of our Staff-Parish Relations Committee and our district superintendent, Cindy Gregorson.  The United Methodist Book of Discipline allows clergy to take a renewal leave for four weeks every four years.  Pastoral care, preaching, and worship will be well-cared for, as arrangements are being made for these parts of my ministry among you while I'm away during the month of July.  It is my hope that perhaps all the committees of the church can envision July as a time of rest as well. 

Our Holy Writings in Scripture are clear about the role of going to the wilderness to pray and reflect, to be in the presence of God, so that we may "dream dreams and see visions" (Acts 2:18).  Moses in Midian, Amos the tender of sycamore trees, Paul in Arabia, Jesus in the Judean desert...I believe that if the church is going to be ready for God's future, we need to spend time not only doing, important as that is, but also being.  And that is what I look forward to in the month of July.  I have not firmed up all my plans for the month, but some of the things I am considering are retreats at Kirkridge or Pendle Hill in Pennsylvania, a silent retreat at Church of the Savior in D.C., time with family at Holden Village in the Cascades, time with family in the Boundary Waters, and time with long-time friends in Michigan.  (I'm also considering a pilgrimage of holy places like Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, Camden Yards, and so forth.  I think there's a place for play in our lives...it's called Sabbath...in fact, it seems to me this might even be biblical because in Genesis 1:1, doesn't it say "In the big inning, God created the heavens and the earth"?)

I believe we are hitting our stride in many ways at Centennial--and I'm loving being here!  But there is much more that is new to do and to dare, to say the least, there is much more that God will dare you and me to move into.  (I love the lines from Louis Untermeyer's poem, "Ever insurgent let me be, Make me more daring than devout, From sleek contentment keep me free....")  God is good and provides for us as we move into God's future together of reaching new people and cultivating spiritual vitality.  One of the ways I believe God will provide is through this renewal leave.  And I firmly believe that toward the end of July, around the 27th or so, I will know that it's been a good renewal leave.  Why? Because I'll be saying "I can't wait to get back to Centennial."  

Yours in Christ,

Brian

Missions Committee

Food & Monetary Donations Drive: Centennial is well on our way to meet our goal of 500 food items and $1000 in monetary donations to support our local food shelf, Keystone Community Services!  Help us meet and beat our goal this April!  The cost of food is rising and our local Keystone food bank has informed Centennial of the increased need for donations in our neighborhood. list of specific needed food items is at the Welcome Center and in Linden Court.  Your food donations will go directly to clients and your monetary donations will allow the food shelf to purchase bulk foods at a significantly reduced cost—more food for your money! Throughout the month of April, please drop off food donations to the designated table in Linden Court or place financial donations in the offering plate. should be made out to Centennial with “Keystone” in the memo line.  If you have questions, please see Church and Society Chairperson Jim Sentz or contact Lauren Wendt at lwendt@centennialumc.org.

Mission Trip to Southeastern Minnesota - The Mission Committee is planning a mission trip to Winona County June 11-13, 2008. will be a good opportunity to take a mission trip close to home. People that can only be there for one or two days are welcomed. skilled and unskilled workers will be need to do various project such as sheet rocking, siding, roofing, painting and landscaping.  If you are interested or want more information call Michael Ash at 651-493-8241.  Please attend an informational meeting on April 24 at 7:00 PM to learn more about this mission experience.