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Centre UMC Newsletter, Vol. II, Issue 2
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CentreNews Rev. Mark Gorman, Pastor
** Lenten Desire
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The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 18 this year. Lent can be a struggle for some of us. There is a lot of pressure to give something up, maybe chocolate or caffeine or soda, for the season, but it’s not always clear why we do that. What does (not) eating chocolate have to do with following Jesus?
Rather than seeing Lent as a time to give up things, I think we should approach it as an opportunity to desire God more. Giving something up opens a space in our lives. So it’s not just about what we give up; it’s about what we do with that open space.
If you give up an activity, like watching television, you open space in your schedule for reading the Bible or praying or coming to a small group at church. If you give up an expense, like going out to eat or buying a midday snack, you open space in your finances to give to the poor or to support a new ministry.
When it comes to food, I suggest committing to fast instead of giving up one type of food. Jesus fasted, and so should we. You can fast one meal per week, like lunch on Wednesdays, and use the money you save for almsgiving and the time for prayer and Bible study. Or you can fast for a whole day, like Fridays, and whenever you feel hungry reach for a devotional guide. I recommend The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis or God is on the Cross by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
To aid our Lenten practices, I’ll be leading a Worship and Study series on Wednesday evenings at 7pm beginning February 25. We’ll meet in the Community Building downstairs, have a short service of evening prayer, and discuss part of NT Wright’s Christians at the Cross: Finding Hope in the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. I’ll have books available to pick up at worship starting February 22. I hope you will be able to join me in this and other Lenten practices as we approach the cross and look for the resurrection of our Lord.
In Christ,
Pastor Mark
In Brief…
* Lent begins on February 18^th. There will be Ash Wednesday Services at 7am, 12 noon, and 7pm.
*A Lenten Worship and Study series will begin February 25^th at 7pm and meet each Wednesday in Lent after that.
*Youth group is now 1^st and 3^rd Sundays. See below for details.
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Announcements
Monthly Prayer: Please make Centre’s monthly prayer part of your daily devotional time. This month, you are asked to pray for the Kairos prison ministry. Pray for those inside who will be touched by Kairos weekends, for their families who are served by Kairos outside, and for those who enter the prisons to share Christ’s love. Find out more at ** www.marylandkairos.org (http://www.marylandkairos.org/)
.
Youth group will meet on the first and third Sunday of each month starting February 1. Since we partner with Jarrettsville UMC for youth group, we’ll be accommodating two different schedules. Jarrettsville meets Sunday evenings from 6-8:30pm; we meet on third Sundays from 5-6:30pm. On first Sundays we will travel to Jarrettsville UMC. Meet at the church at 5:45 for a ride (let Pastor Mark or Nicky Barthel know if you need a ride) or 6:00 at Jarrettsville UMC. On third Sundays we will meet at Centre from 5:00-6:30 and host Jarrettsville’s youth group.
Please remember to make the Food Pantry part of your weekly grocery shopping. Adding just a can or two each week to your trip takes very little on your part and helps sustain the pantry’s efforts from week to week. Regularly needed items include canned fruit, jelly, beans, baked beans, and cereal.
Ruth Burns, Sandy Barthel’s mother, will be celebrating her 100th birthday on February 9th. She loves cards, so any would be very much appreciated.
Scripture readers and Communion servers are needed each Sunday. If you would like to be a communion server, please contact Nancy Martin. If you are interested in reading Scripture, please contact pastor Mark.
Centre’s Directory needs to be updated. If your contact information has changed since the last directory was published, or if there was an error in that directory, please submit your correct contact information. A box will be in the gathering space after worship to place your new or updated information. Please include your home address, preferred phone number, and email address.
See the next page for the list of Centre’s 2015 leaders.
Pastor Mark will be away the afternoon of February 1-February 4 and February 25.
There is a signup sheet for the Flower Chart at the back of the sanctuary. Please consider giving flowers in honor or memory of a loved one.
The March Newsletter Deadline is February 19.
2015 LEADERSHIP TEAM
Charge Conference Action Effective January 1, 2015
Church Council
Chair: Jeff Smart
Lay Leader: Gene Davis, Sr. Lay Member Annual Conference: Jeff Smart
Treasurer: Sandy Barthel Financial Secretary: Carolyn Crawford
Recording Secretary: Robin Griffin Youth Representative: Beth Johnson
Trustees Chair: Jeff Smart Finance Chair: John Griffin
SPRC Chair: Lynn Davis Worship Chair: Nancy Martin
Members at Large: Nicole Barthel, Lina Warfield, Marc Reeves
Board of Trustees
Chair: Jeff Smart
2015
Andrew Winternitz
Marc Reeves
Carrie Placencia
2016
Bill Krach
Gene Davis, Jr.
2017
Lynn Blom
Dave Blouin
Jeff Smart
Staff Parish Relations (SPRC)
Chair: Lynn Davis
2015
David Blouin
Robin Winternitz
Walter Johnson
2016
Lynn Davis
2017
Dean Trimble
Kelly Hunter
Ex Officio Members: Gene Davis, Sr.; Jeff Smart
Lay Leadership Development Committee (LLDC)
Chair: Pastor Mark Gorman
2015
David Blouin
Robin Winternitz
Walter Johnson
2016
Lynn Davis
2017
Dean Trimble
Kelly Hunter
Ex Officio Member: Gene Davis, Sr.
Finance Committee
Chair: John Griffin
Ex Officio Members: Jeff Smart; Gene Davis, Sr.; Sandy Barthel; Lynn Davis; Carolyn Crawford
Members at Large: Ray Blank
Worship Committee
Chair: Nancy Martin
Members at Large: Susan Buttimer, Carol Deel
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