"We don't want you to miss a thing - scroll all the way down for all the details!"

With the ending of the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on May 11, the CDC will no longer track and report COVID-19 cases at the community level. Centenary’s Church Council has begun reviewing our reopening guidelines, which were put in place during the pandemic.

At its most recent meeting, the Council voted unanimously to make wearing masks at Centenary optional.

Please note that Centenary's reopening plan is a "living" document. Our Church Council will continue to monitor the latest science-based information and best practices concerning COVID-19. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we navigate these changes and strive to ensure the safety and well-being of our church community.

In-person/ Live Streaming Worship Service

May 21, 2023 at 10:15 AM

7th Sunday of Easter

*Scripture Lesson

John 14:1-14

*Sermon

"A Living Hope"

by Rev. Loraine Priestley-Smith

*Worship Assistant:

Peggy Martino

*Children's Message:

James Mojomick

Watch the Latest Worship

Announcements

Celebrate Our Graduates!

Do you have a loved one who is scheduled to graduate this spring? Centenary would like to recognize and honor your graduate on Sunday, June 18th.

If you are graduating or have a loved one that is graduating from Middle School level or above, please let us know.

Email your announcement before Monday, June 5th to church office. ([email protected])

Please include: a color photo and a bio of where you or your loved one are graduating from, accomplishments and plans for the future, in a Word Document.

Rev. Hoo Sug Lee Family Memorial Fund

FINANCIAL HELP SOUGHT FOR WIDOW AND

DAUGHTERS OF LATE WOODBRIDGE UMC PASTOR

The Rev. Hoo Sug Lee, who had served as pastor of the Woodbridge United Methodist Church since 2015, passed away on March 1, just six weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In addition to his grieving congregation, he leaves behind his wife and partner in ministry, Kyung Ja Lee, and their three daughters.  

   Having lived in parsonages for more than two decades, the Lee family must now find other housing as the Woodbridge UMC parsonage is made ready for the new pastor who will soon be appointed. Since neither Rev. Lee nor his wife were of retirement age, his pension benefits will not be available to help her live for several years.  

   Our Bishop, John Schol, has appealed to Methodists of the Greater New Jersey Conference to consider a donation to the recently established Hoo Sug Lee Family Memorial Fund, so that his widow and daughters can promptly obtain housing for the next two years. "We are urging every congregation to receive and donate an offering to assist the family," said Bishop Schol. "No gift is too small." The fund will be administered through the Conference treasurer's office.  

   Centenary has a special connection to the Hoo Sug Lee family, During the years when the Rev. John Painter was our pastor (2000 to 2010), Centenary had a shared facilities relationship with the Jesus Followers United Methodist Church, a Korean language congregation which held worship services in our building on Sunday afternoons for four years. The Rev. Hoo Sug Lee was the founder and senior pastor of that congregation. For Thanksgiving in 2005, the two congregations participated in a joint mission project, donating over 60 turkeys and "fixings" to the Senior Citizens Center in Perth Amboy.

  If you would like to assist the Lee family, leave a check in the offering plate any Sunday between now and the end of May, or send it to the church office at 200 Hillside Avenue, Metuchen, NJ 08840. Please write "Hoo Sug Lee Family Memorial Fund" on the memo line. Thank you.

Bob Carlson

Missions Chairman

Rise Against Hunger Meal Packing Event on May 20 (Saturday)

RISE AGAINST HUNGER MEAL PACKAGING EVENT 

SCHEDULED FOR MAY 20 AT NEW DOVER UMC

Every day, 27,000 children in our world die of hunger. Would you like to participate in a hands-on mission activity aimed at reducing that staggering number of deaths?

   On Saturday, May 20, New Dover United Methodist Church is hosting a Rise Against Hunger Meal Packaging Event at the church, located at 687 New Dover Road in Edison. The goal is to pack and ship 30,000 meals!  

   Rise Against Hunger is a hands-on international hunger relief program that coordinates assembly-line packaging of highly nutritious meals for needy third world countries. Community volunteers work together to package meals comprised of rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables, and essential vitamins and minerals into bags. These meals are then distributed to people facing hunger around the world. The meals are distributed through the schools, which helps keep the children in school.

   If you Google "Rise Against Hunger Meal Packaging," you can watch a short instructional video showing what goes on at one of these events. In 2019, eighteen Centenary volunteers participated in the first Rise Against Hunger Meal Packaging Event hosted by New Dover UMC and found it to be a great family mission activity.  

  If you would like to join in the upcoming event on Saturday, May 20, you can sign up for either of two shifts: 9 to 11 a.m. or 12 to 2 p.m. Sign up early to ensure a place on the assembly line. The maximum number of volunteers needed for each shift is sixty-five. Four years ago, many people from the local community, as well as area churches, participated in this event, Let me know as soon as possible if you would like to participate.

Bob Carlson,

Missions Chairman   

Register 2023 VBS is available now!

Registration for Centenary’s VBS 2023 is now open!

Join us for VBS 2023 on June 27-29 from 6-8 pm! This year's theme is "God is Love." All ages are welcome to participate in Centenary’s VBS. Parents may stay on-site or drop off children aged 5 and older; we ask that a guardian be present for children under the age of 5.

There is no charge for Centenary’s 2023 VBS, and dinner will be served each evening. We hope your family can join us!

Looking for VBS Volunteers - Teach the Power of God's Love!"

VBS is a wonderful opportunity for us to share God's love with the children and youth in our community. We would be grateful for your help in teaching them about the power of God's love.

If you're interested in volunteering, please let Grace know, or sign up online. (A sign-up sheet is also available in the Narthex at church.) Thank you!

Every Wednesday & Sunday

• Celebration of Found Cans (nonperishable item collection ministry from 9:30 am to 12 pm)

May 21st (Sunday)

• Guest Preacher Rev. Loraine Priestley-Smith

May 25th (Thursday)

• Communication Team Meeting at 7 pm (online)

June 4th (Sunday)

• Outdoor Worship & Spring Healing Concert (Potluck Luncheon following the concert)

June 8th (Sunday)

• Sandwich Thursday (Sandwich Making Night) at 6:30 pm in room 20

June 18th (Sunday)

• Honoring Father's Day & Graduates Sunday
• End of Sunday School Celebration

June 27-29th (Tuesday to Thursday)

• Centenary's 2023 Vacation Bible School

We pray for...

Remember in your prayers: John Lashley ; family of Celeste Ramsey (mother in law of Isabel Pichardo); family of Ed (friend of Mojomick family); family of Sylvia Woodfield; family of Heather Vail (friend of Ruth Lechelt); Noah (family of the Dingles); Amelia (student at Edgar MS- Metuchen); countries of Turkey/Syria/Ukraine; Mary Ellen Heim; family of Sandy Baks; family of Rev. Dr. Hoo Sug Lee; family of Mala Roberts; family of Anne Beattie; parents of Lester Gesteland; mother of Asher Irfan; family of Mary Kari (aunt of Shirley Kanchi); family of Rowena Principe (sister of Odessa Delos Santos); family of Monika Korte; family of Rev. Gary Frieze; family of Samantha Nu Nguyen Hogan (friend of the Tiernos); Shirley & Steve Mosteller; family of Lewis Hause; Monika Van Houten; Carolee Szajko; Patricia Thompson; family of Matthew Ferry (former teacher of Lily Tierno); Pvt. Brian Reppert (serving overseas and family friend of Ruth Lechelt); Miriam Dingle; Poonam Chauhan (sister-in-law of Mala Roberts); Arthur Manjourides (father of Paul Manjourides); Terri Sgambati (aunt of Nicole Tierno); Lori Loza; Reshma Rahi; Debra Martin (daughter of Mary Ellen Heim); Fran Koppell (friend of Bruce & Ellen Clarke); Melanie Spanko (daughter of Janet Spanko); Lee Lehman; Lester Heim, Jr.; Howie Reenberg (friend of Tom Moyer); Laura Vasile (daughter of Rita Vasile); Portia Lashley

*Bold indicates new to the list.

Prayer Request:

If you have a request for prayer, or a joy you would like to lift up, please let pastor Sooah Know or send your requests to: 

[email protected]

The requests will be passed along to Pastor Sooah. Please keep us updated on your requests.

LET’S REPLENISH!

Centenary continues its collection of non-perishable food items twice weekly to help “Replenish” (formerly the Middlesex County Food Network) make a dent in food insecurity! Food collection at Centenary takes place on Wednesdays and Sundays from 9:30 a.m. – noon. The collection bin is located at Centenary’s front door; just drop off an item or two (or more)!

Centenary – “The Friendly Church On the Hill” – is located at 200 Hillside Avenue in Metuchen. All are welcome!