View the HTML Version
http://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2Fcc8Ysn Share (http://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2Fcc8Ysn)
http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Centre+September+Newsletter: http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2Fcc8Ysn Tweet (http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Centre+September+Newsletter: http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2Fcc8Ysn)
http://us9.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=69a6577287c49a350b2087c8a&id=8213bb0e85&e=[UNIQID] Forward (http://us9.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=69a6577287c49a350b2087c8a&id=8213bb0e85&e=[UNIQID])
https://plus.google.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2Fcc8Ysn +1 (https://plus.google.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2Fcc8Ysn)
Centre UMC Newsletter, Vol. III, Issue 9
View this email in your browser (http://us9.campaign-archive2.com/?u=69a6577287c49a350b2087c8a&id=8213bb0e85&e=[UNIQID])
CentreNews Rev. Mark Gorman, Pastor
Back to School
It’s funny how the fall signals a time to get back into routines of work and commitment. Even those of us who don’t live by the public school schedule still sense that September is a time to re-engage with normal life after the summer lull.
In the spirit of back-to-school transitions, I want to encourage you to examine your engagement with the life of discipleship at Centre. Here are some suggestions:
-Sign up to help teach Sunday School for our children or youth.
-Commit to making dinner for the youth group this school year.
-Join the short-term Wednesday morning adult Bible study on the life of King David.
-Sign up for (Re)New at Centre, the Sunday School class I’m teaching this month and next.
-Offer to help with the rotating emergency homeless shelter this winter; talk with Nancy Martin or Lynn Davis.
-Help out on the September 24 Workday as we take care of our buildings and grounds.
If none of these suggestions is possible for you, then pray for each of them; we need prayer as much as (maybe more than) anything else. If they’re not possible because of commitments you’ve already made, then it’s probably time for you to rethink those other commitments: do they bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)? Do they witness to Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23)? Do they contribute to how you love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself?
Congregations are like schools of Christian discipleship. We learn to follow Jesus together so that each of us can grow in faith. One hour a week Sunday mornings is not enough. This fall, find a way to get involved with the fuller life of our congregation. When you do, you might discover how much you have to learn about following Jesus. And you might be surprised at how much your faith grows.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Mark
In Brief…
*The October newsletter deadline is September 22.
*Youth group meets September 11, 18, and 25 at Centre from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
*Christian Education Sunday is September 11. We will commission our Sunday School teachers and celebrate the start of the school year together.
*Pastor Mark is teaching “(Re)New at Centre,” a 6-week Sunday School class that starts September 11.
*Wednesday morning Bible study begins September 14 at 10:00 a.m. This will be a 7-week study on the life of King David.
============================================================
Announcements
The youth group will kick off for the school year on Sunday, September 11, at Centre, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dinner for youth will be provided. When you bring your youth, there also will be a mandatory parents’ meeting at 5:30 in the youth room that should last ½ hour.
** ()
Children’s Sunday School: A new Sunday school year is about to start, and I would once again like to invite our congregation to take part in teaching our children’s class. Maybe you haven’t thought of children’s Sunday school as “your area” of ministry before, but let me offer 5 reasons to consider it for the upcoming year:
1. You’ll be joining one of our larger ministry teams. We currently have 8 congregation members who actively help with children’s Sunday school. Come see where all the action is!
2. Whenever a child (or for that matter, anyone) is baptized in our church, the whole congregation promises to “surround these persons with a community of love and forgiveness, that they may grow in their trust of God.” Teaching Sunday school is one way to fulfill this baptismal promise for our youngest members.
3. The vision prayer group that has been meeting since the start of the school year has identified increasing the number of families with young children as a possible area of ministry focus as our church moves forward. If we want to welcome more families with children, we must maintain a vibrant place for these children to grow in their faith.
4. If you don’t feel prepared, we’ve got you covered! You can start by simply signing up as a helper (we require 2 adults be present in Sunday school each week). If you do sign up as a teacher, we provide a curriculum with weekly lessons, and supplies as needed. You can also start small by just signing up for a few Sundays to start.
5. It’s fun! Members who already teach Sunday school have talked about how they enjoy getting to know the children in the church, and our children love seeing adults that they know when they come to worship. Plus, you probably don’t get to do nearly as many crafts or games in adult Sunday school!
If you want to find out more about teaching or helping with Sunday school for this school year, talk to Libby Gorman, either in person or via e-mail at ** libby.gorman@gmail.com (mailto:libby.gorman@gmail.com)
. Here’s to a great Sunday school year!
On October 3 Centre will join other United Methodist congregations at the Grove at William Watters UMC on Jarrettsville Road for a Community Worship Service. You don’t want to miss this service! Worship starts at 10:00 a.m. and is followed by a potluck picnic. Mark your calendars now.
Our annual Charge Conference is Saturday, September 17 at 2:00 p.m. Emory UMC in Street will once again host. Anyone from Centre can attend, and you are encouraged to come, but if you are on Church Council you must be there! Please speak with Pastor Mark if you have any questions.
(Re)New at Centre: God, Us, and Me: Pastor Mark will lead a new short-term Sunday School class that begins on September 11. If you have started coming to Centre in the last 3-5 years, or if you returned to Centre recently after time away, this class is for you! We will meet in the Fellowship Hall on September 11, 18, 25, October 9, 16, and 23. Topics include the Bible, our beliefs, discipleship, faith, and our calling. If you are new to Centre or still trying to find your place in this community of faith, you don’t want to miss it!
Workday: There will be a workday on Saturday, September 24, from 9:00-noon. Our focus will be on the Community Building. Workdays are a great chance to get to know others at Centre, and they save the church money by fixing small issues before they need the attention of paid professionals. Please join us for some or all of the time on the 24^th.
Purse auction: The purse auction and sale that supports Harford Family House runs September 9-10 at the Bel Air Armory. On the 9^th, there is a preview event from 6:00-8:30 p.m. On the 10^th, the doors are open from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. For more information, please talk to Nancy Martin.
Rotating shelter: The church council hopes to host a rotating emergency winter shelter this year. Centre would provide space as well as volunteers for meals, driving, and other needs. Please prayerfully consider how you can help make hosting this shelter possible.
Centre’s Finances
If you have questions about financial stewardship at Centre or about Centre’s budget, please speak to John Griffin, Finance Chair, or to Pastor Mark.
Total Received Through August 21: $83,462.35
Total Needed Through August 21: $86,361.81
Ahead/(Behind): ($2,899.46)
** (https://www.twitter.com/centreumc/)
** Centre on Twitter (https://www.twitter.com/centreumc/)
** (https://centreumc.org)
** Centre’s Website (https://centreumc.org)
** (https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/102609068550505779311/102609068550505779311/posts)
** Centre on Google Plus (https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/102609068550505779311/102609068550505779311/posts)
** (http://centreumc.blogspot.com)
** Centre Sermon Blog (http://centreumc.blogspot.com)
** (mailto:centreumc@gmail.com)
** Email Centre (mailto:centreumc@gmail.com)
** (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz6ZrUnVGuueM8J7dn2yApQ)
** Centre’s YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz6ZrUnVGuueM8J7dn2yApQ)
Copyright © 2016 Centre United Methodist Church, All rights reserved.
** unsubscribe from this list (http://centreumc.us9.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=69a6577287c49a350b2087c8a&id=0b339c364c&e=[UNIQID]&c=8213bb0e85)
** update subscription preferences (http://centreumc.us9.list-manage.com/profile?u=69a6577287c49a350b2087c8a&id=0b339c364c&e=[UNIQID])
Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp
http://www.mailchimp.com/monkey-rewards/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=monkey_rewards&aid=69a6577287c49a350b2087c8a&afl=1