2020 January/February Through Centenary Windows

OUR CLERGY AND STAFF Reverend Dr. P. Glenn Kinken III Senior Minister gkinken@centenary-ws.org Mary Ann Wexler Executive Director mwexler@centenary-ws.org Susan Bates Organist and Music Associate sbates@centenary-ws.org Martha Bassett Alternative Music Leader mbassett@centenary-ws.org Reverend Bret Cogan Assoc. Minister of Spiritual Formation & Education bcogan@centenary-ws.org Kristy Eaton Contributions keaton@centenary-ws.org Jonathan Emmons Director of Music Ministries jemmons@centenary-ws.org Reverend R. Craig Ford Associate Minister cford@centenary-ws.org Reverend Kate May Associate Minister with Children kmay@centenary-ws.org

OUR PAGES Table of Contents/Clergy and Staff ~~~~~~~~~~~ 2 Friends for Fashion Tea & Runway Show~~~~~~~~ 3 From the Editor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4 Thrive Women's Retreat ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 Glenn Kinken: Impossible Is Possible~~~~~~~~~~ 6 Page Eight ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8 New Members~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10 UMW February Luncheon~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 A New Children's Ministry Logo ~~~~~~~~~~~~ 13 Kate May: Living Into the East Building ~~~~~~~ 14 Jeremy Pegram: Every One Has a Gift ~~~~~~~~ Tammy Pollock: Hope for Our New Home ~~~~~ A Peek at Renovation Progress ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jonathan Emmons: Three I's ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Save the Date for Special Worship ~~~~~~~~~~ Ash Wednsday Worship ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bret Cogan: What If?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lenten Worship~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Easter Worship~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Calendar ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Memorials & Honoraria ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thank You from Loaves & Fishes ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Glenn Kinken: Our Dreams~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Sandra Gramley Congregational Care Coordinator sgramley@centenary-ws.org

OUR COVER

Stacy Holley Exec. Assistant to Senior Minister sholley@centenary-ws.org

Our cover image features the window of the old Centenary church.

This is in one panel of the "Builder's Window," found in the east transept of the Sanctuary.

John Markle Director of Operations jmarkle@centenary-ws.org

What were the members and leadership of the old Centenary church and the old West End church dreaming and hoping for as they merged in 1927 to form the Centenary we currently know? What were their hopes and dreams? How did they continue to dream that dream as the stock market plummeted into the Great Depression in 1929?

They "planted trees" they knew they would never sit under. Now, we continue those hopes and dreams with new ones, as we renovate our building, planting a new seedling. May the beacon of this great community of faith burn ever brighter in the days and years to come.

Reverend Jeremy Pegram Assoc. Minister of Evangelism, Engagement & Missions jpegram@centenary-ws.org Doug Peninger Director of Communications dpeninger@centenary-ws.org Tamara M. Pollock Director of Youth Ministries tpollock@centenary-ws.org

You can learn more about the windows of the church by reading Centenary United Methodist Church Symbols: The Story Told in Glass, Stone and Fabric.

Debbie Pilson Director of DAYBreak/Respite Care dpilson@centenary-ws.org John Rogers Director of Information Technology jrogers@centenary-ws.org

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From the Editor

W

hen you were a child, if you were like me, you had lots and lots of hopes and dreams.

Some were more fantasy than reality. Some came true and some did not. I will admit, becoming a professional singer was one of mine. I was encouraged by family and friends to pursue that dream and I took it where I could. I have been blessed throughout my life to be able to share that gift through worship and performance.

What were the dreams and goals you had when you were younger or even now? A quote from a beloved movie says, "it ain't over until it's over." I can only imagine what the varied responses would be from our congregation.

Think about it, our congregation is represented by at least five generations and thousands of people. What would that wishbook look like if we were able to record all of them?

For this issue of Through Centenary Windows we will be hearing from our clergy and staff regarding what some of their hopes and dreams are for 2020. As you may have noticed, there is a lot of activity happening at Centenary and our team invites you to dream those dreams with them.

A few exciting things I am happy to share with you involve some new logos and branding. Yes, we are sharing with you an all-new Centenary logo and Children's Ministry Logo. We are also sharing with you a peek at what some of the renovated space is starting to look like. All of this is inspiring and I hope you will enjoy this early look.

Our magazine begins and concludes as we hear from our Senior Minister, Rev. Dr. P.

Our Director of Music Ministries, Jonathan Emmons, reflects on his calling into music ministry and invites all of us to consider what an inspired, inventive and imaginative music minstry could look like. What might your place be in this ministry as we dream a deeper dream.

Glenn Kinken III. First he shares with us that the impossible really is possible as it relates not only to our physical space but also to our spiritual transformation. Glenn concludes as he shares about dreams and invites us all into a special prayer for each week.

Kate May not only introduces the Children's Ministry logo and what it represents, but she shares with us her thoughts on what it might be like to live into the renovated East Building and what ministry could look like for the future.

Bret Cogan asks us to look at the stars, just as Abraham did. As Abraham could not imagine that his descendants would be as many as the stars, Bret encourages us to ponder that maybe our dreams can be even bigger than we might have imagined. What if?

There are numerous advertisements along the way inviting you to different worship experiences and events. I hope you will mark your calendars. And, one last thing, I hope you will join me in welcoming all of our latest new members! Be sure to get to know their names and faces beginning on page 10.

I’ll see you at Centenary!

Jeremy Pegram invites us to consider that each one of us has a gift and that gift can be put to use in the church. What would it look like if each member participated in one ministry of the church? He invites us to consider what that gift might be and how we might get started.

As Centenary is our church home, Tammy Pollock shares her journey through her time as a youth and how her church always was a home away from home. This is a key component to the youth ministry at Centenary. She shares her philosphy and great compassion for our youth.

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Doug Peninger Director of Communications

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| feature |

The Impossible Is Possible I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. – Joel 2:28 (NIV)

T

his year will be a big year in the life of Centenary United Methodist Church. In the early part of the summer, the construction work on the East and Central Building renovations will be complete and our facilities team will begin the arduous task of moving furniture and supplies back into those spaces. At the same time our ministries team will be putting the final touches on fall programming.

Rev. Dr. Glenn Kinken gkinken@centenary-ws.org Both teams will be working diligently with one goal in mind – full space utilization by the start of the school year. What an exciting time for our staff, ministry leaders, and the congregation. After years of careful planning and the last two years of making ministry happen in only 40% of the space, our ministries will be able to expand and flourish.

While this year culminates the years of planning for renovation, our work is really just beginning. As ministries move back into the renovated spaces, we cannot just go back to the way we did things. Instead I believe that God is calling us to use these new, modern, inviting spaces to accomplish more for the Kingdom of God than we ever have. These spaces will allow our ministry teams to innovate, develop, and seek new ministries which invite, involve, and impact members of our church and community. God is calling us to dream dreams and see visions.

A dream is defined as an aspiration, ambition, idea, or a

strongly desired goal. Vision is the mental image of what the future will be like. The verse from Joel is about dreaming God-sized dreams and visions. These are dreams and visions that seem impossible at first. But as a people of faith we know that the impossible is possible with God. It has always been and will continue to be.

As the renovation moves towards completion, it is not lost on me that our congregation has been located in this spot on Fifth Street for ninety years. I wonder about the dreams and visions of the people who laid the corner stone of our building during the Great Depression. Building this magnificent building at that time took God-sized dreams and visions. The impossible was possible. We know that their dreams were for more than an edifice that glorifies God. They were intentional about locating this church near the center of the city and the heartbeat of commerce. Their dreams were that Centenary UMC would be a center of hope, a place of praise, a center for discipleship, and beacon of light for the kingdom of God. That in and of itself is a God-sized vision.

God is calling this generation of Centenary United Methodists to dream God-sized dreams and to see God-sized visions.

Some of the issues facing our community include hunger, poverty, and education. Within our congregation we have the people, the skills and the resources to meet, address, and overcome these challenges. By way of collaborative partnerships, active involvement, and abiding compassion we can transform our community just as we transformed the East and Central Buildings, just as our forebears transformed Fifth Street. The impossible is possible.

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The issues facing the Church in America are really a crisis of discipleship. God is calling us to dream God-sized dreams for discipleship. Imagine a community of believers where every member is engaged in faith formation, passionately involved in ministry, gives with abundant generosity, and engages in intentional outreach. Imagine a place where every member of the congregation is cared for by concentric circles of care and community. Now that the physical transformation has happened to our campus, the spiritual transformation must happen in our hearts and in our community of faith. The impossible is possible.

This is an exciting year for Centenary. With the completed renovation we complete one chapter in our history. But as one chapter ends another begins. I believe that it will be one of the most wonderful chapters, because God will pour out the Holy Spirit upon us. I pray that we have God-sized dreams and God-sized visions. ď Ž

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Worship, Discipleship & Transformation

W

hen you think of company logos or branding…what comes to mind? Is it a feeling of nostalgia or some personal affect? Maybe a sense of corporate pride or vision comes to mind. Maybe this is something you don’t think about on a daily basis, but in my world…it’s central to just about everything I do.

When I first began my position as Director of Communications at Centenary, I was charged with developing a new logo and branding for the church.

There were different goals; leadership had different dreams and visions. Thus, a script-styled font was chosen and then various styles were vetted with trusted colleagues across the US. It has served us well over the last eight years and I thank the congregation for journeying together with the current branding.

Doug Peninger

dpeninger@centenary-ws.org

That being said, the time has come for a change. With all of the campus renovations upon us and with our hopes and dreams for the future never more alive than right now, in June of 2019, Dr. Kinken and I began exploring the idea of a new, branded logo for Centenary. I cannot tell you the countless hours I spent looking at the church campus, everything from architectural components to the faces of our membership, trying to understand what to share with our design team in order to start the process. I knew I wanted to include an architectural component and I felt confident that arches needed to be utilized in some fashion. We also knew we wanted the new logo to represent the institution of our church as a strong member of the community.

As we received our first set of concepts, two intrigued us, one of which was a concept I had begun development on years ago and had never shown anyone, and there it was in front of me. I was pleasantly surprised. A third option was eliminated during that meeting. As Dr. Kinken and I shared enhancements we wanted to see in the remaining two designs, we knew we needed to pray. This new logo would represent our great church for years to come, not only to our membership but to the community. It needed to represent not only a campus but who we are as a faith community.

instantly, that we had it. This would be the future. I am excited to introduce to you our new brand, our new logo.

Immediately you will notice the archways. All over the Centenary campus you will find similar structures, whether they be on the exterior windows of our Sanctuary, within our Sanctuary at the top of each column, the entrance at 4 ½ Street, or in the renovated East building. One thing to note is that the interior arches of the Sanctuary mimic the inverted construction of a ship, which has long been a symbol of the Church.

Our logo archways are not merely architectural components of a design. They represent three distinct facets of our mission and vision. Worship, discipleship and transformation are what these three arches share with us. As we journey together, we will further develop these three components in the coming months and years, but know this, they are intentional to our Christian faith and our community as we transform the world for Christ.

Next, we wanted a font structure that represented the institution of the Church and the leadership role Centenary represents in our community. The classic style font being used is timeless, just like the message of grace and hope found in the compassion of Christ.

The color chosen maintains our current family of swatches, thus making the transition to a new logo a bit less cumbersome. The color red is chosen because we are a people of Pentecost. This color represents the joy and fire of the Holy Spirit which was promised to be with us as our guide. Of course, from time-to-time, you may see our new logo used in “knock-out” colors of all black, all red, or all white, depending on the purpose.

I hope you will enjoy getting to know this new logo.

Over the next few months we will begin implenting it as we move to our grand reopening of renovated spaces.

We have a bright and promising future at Centenary and this new brand will help to guide our Ship as she sails into the future. 

A few weeks later, the final presentation was upon us.

As we met with the designers, they showed us the first concept. Honestly, it fell flat. Yes, it was attractive, but it did not say anything. It would not be easily recognizable.

It had no longevity. Then, the second concept was revealed. And, there it was. Dr. Kinken and I both knew,

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New Members We welcome you in Christian love...

John & Meg Coppley (Becca)

Cathy Canzona & Nancy Frye

Scott & Bethayne Carrigan (Reece and Dean)

Desiree Frost

Guy & Sarah Hignite (Molly and Noah)

Doug & Jessica Duda (Luca)

...we renew our covenant faithfully to participate in the ministries of the church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness, that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

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Lauren & Danny Frye (Matthew and Christopher)

Brooks & Catherine Jewett (Eliza)

Becky Linthicum

Emily Lott

Ashley Maner

Barbara Minges

Mark & Anne Schweppe (Jack, Ann Lucas and Sam)

Shirley White

Diane Womack & Warren Boyer

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Introducing the New Children's Ministry Logo

By Rev. Kate May

I

t is our greatest desire in children’s ministry at Centenary that when a child “graduates” from children’s ministry that they know without a shadow of a doubt that God loves them no matter what. From the moment that child enters our ministry as a tiny person they have God’s love poured into them at every turn by our amazing volunteers who remind them over and over that, “God loves you and so do I.” As they continue to grow both physically and in their faith, we have the privilege of introducing them to Jesus; God’s love for each and every one of us in the shape of a person.

Then we get to watch these amazing children of God continue to grow into the people God created them to be as we challenge them each week to share kindness, which is what it means for children when we talk about loving God and loving neighbor.

This is the story of children’s ministry. Now with our new logo we have a tremendously powerful storytelling tool to share the good news of what it means to be a part of the children's ministry of Centenary. The lightbulbs give us a visual reminder of the light that came into the world and into our lives in the person of Jesus, as well as a reminder that now it is our job to shine that light into the world. I am reminded of the words I say to each of our children at their baptism when we light their baptismal candle, “This candle can be lit every year with your family to remember your baptism and

as a reminder to shine like a light in the world helping others to see God, just like Jesus did.” Our kids work to do that every week as we intentionally give them a kindness challenge that takes what they have learned in Sunday School and children’s worship and live it out through the week.

The symbols inside the lightbulbs tell the story of how our children grow and develop as they move through children’s ministry. We have the tremendous opportunity to minister with them as they change physically, spiritually, and emotionally, almost daily it sometimes seems. The heart is the basis of all we do, that statement that we hope to imprint on the heart of every child, “God loves you.” The cross shows God’s love in the world in its most unique and powerful way and we have the gift and responsibility of sharing the story and message of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for the first of many times with these inquisitive kids. The leaf exhibits the growth that happens in so many ways in our children’s lives as they move through children’s ministry and serves as a reminder to each of us that we continue to grow each day into a more and more perfect version of the person God created us to be. 

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| children's ministry |

Living Into the East Building

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Rev. Kate May

kmay@centenary-ws.org v

s we have waited for the renovation work on the East Building to be completed and we have done ministry in space that is less than ideal, I have jokingly told people that this is simply our time in the wilderness while we wait for the promised land. Most recently I have joked that the best part of the promised land is going to be all of the bathrooms! But as I continue to walk through and see the progress on the East building and see the day that we can begin ministry in the newly renovated space come closer and closer; what makes me more and more excited is to be able to do ministry in a space that actually facilitates rather than hinders ministry. We will be using a space that is designed for the way we currently do ministry while also giving us the flexibility to grow and change as time goes on and ministry continues to evolve.

Ministry in this space might not look incredibly different, but it will feel magnificently different and we are equally grateful and excited! ď Ž

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| evangelism & engagement |

Every One Has a Gift [Paul] planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6 (NIV)

G Rev. Jeremy Pegram

jpegram@cetenary-ws.org

rowing up with grandparents who were tobacco farmers meant that I spent countless hours as a child in the fields. My grandfather assigned the jobs to all who gathered to help during times of planting and harvest. During many planting seasons, my assignment was consistently the same. I would follow the tractor as it pulled the tobacco setter which was an apparatus that four people would ride upon as they placed young tobacco plants into a contraption that would transplant the tender shoots into the ground. Every now and again, the setter would not sew the new plant correctly, or there might have been a plant missed by one of the folks on the setter. So, my job was to walk behind the tractor and tobacco setter with a pail full of plants and “fill-in” where a plant might be missing. It felt like a small and meaningless job, but one that needed to be done to ensure every available spot in the field would be planted to ensure the harvest would be increased.

We also find persons in the scripture appointed by God to do one job. Some jobs are revered and remembered, like Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Some jobs are small and can easily be overlooked because their story only fills a few verses in Scripture. One such person is Bezalel. Have you ever heard of him? I don’t think I ever heard a Sunday School lesson or sermon preached on this Old Testament figure. Bezalel is in the Exodus story, but you must read all the way to Exodus 31 to find him. His story comes much later than the more familiar story of Moses leading the Israelites from captivity and bondage through the sea to the wilderness where they spent the next 40 years making their way to the promised land. If I’m perfectly honest, Bezalel’s story isn’t one that I was all too familiar with until recently. Bezalel comes on the scene while Moses is receiving instructions from God about the mobile Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant. Bezalel was appointed by God because as a skilled artisan he would have the perfect gifts and graces to build and adorn the Ark of the Covenant that would contain the tablets of the law that Moses received while on Mt. Sinai.

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Bezalel had one job. He wasn’t a preacher, or choir director, or a Sunday school teacher. He worked and functioned behind the scenes along with his counterpart Oholiab. I imagine they spent countless hours crafting the beautiful work that God ordained them to create. I find this story inspiring because I believe God gives every person at least one gift or talent that they can use to bring glory to God, whether that is through acts of worship like singing in the choir, or participating in a Habitat for Humanity home build, or driving a bus for winter overflow, or teaching a child to read.

My hope and dream for Centenary is that every member will have at least one place to serve or volunteer and offer his/her gifts to the greater good. During 2020, I invite you to listen for how God might be calling you to discover your gifts and engage in ministry. God uniquely created you with gifts and graces. When those gifts and graces are put into action, God will increase the harvest. 

The Ark Passes Over the Jordan — James Jacques Joseph Tissott JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | 17 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST

| youth ministry |

Hope for Our New Home “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

I Tammy Pollock

tpollock@centenary-ws.org

grew up in a military family. My grandaddy was in the Navy and my mom and dad were both in the Air Force. Moving was a way of life for us. Every few years I could count on one of my parents getting a new assignment and we would have to pack up and make a new home in a new place. One of the greatest gifts our parents gave us was the opportunity to help choose our new church home. My parents felt strongly that if my brother and I found a church we loved, we would happily go to church each Sunday, and they weren’t wrong. When I was a sixth grader, my parents both had an assignment to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS, and found us a home in Ocean Springs, MS. Although I wasn’t thrilled with moving, yet again, we quickly found a new church home at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. The church was beautiful, the people were kind, and the youth seemed to have the “run” of the Wesson Building. The Wesson Building was a separate building on the church campus, right next to the Sanctuary building. It was where the Fellowship Hall was located and the classrooms in the upstairs of the building were where youth Sunday school met. Over the years, the Wesson building came to be my second home. There, I learned of the love and hope of Jesus Christ in Sunday school, youth group, prayer breakfasts, receptions, dances, theatre productions, clown ministry (that’s a story for another time) and, of course, over doughnuts on Sunday morning in between services. It was the place where I knew I was loved, a place where I knew I was accepted and cared for, and a place that helped form me. I loved everything about that place.

where all people could gather and find the love and hope of Jesus Christ. The plans we have for the fourth floor are spectacular! A magnificent commons area with seating and kitchen to share meals and fellowship, two large rooms for middle school and high school ministry, a prayer room for seeking solitude and quiet, beautiful bathrooms (including a shower to host other churches as they travel) and a recreation area where joy and laughter can be realized. Wide open space, intentionally created for gathering, hospitality, learning, eating, playing, praying…all of the same experiences I was given as a young teenager, in a church I loved so very much. My hope has always been and always will be to give teenagers the same love, grace, and experience that helped me grow in stature and wisdom, in faith and love.

I learned early on in ministry that Youth Ministry is all about hope. Hope that we will create a space that gives home to our young people. Hope that our students will continue to find a place of love and acceptance. Hope they will extend the same Christ-like hospitality to their friends and others.

Hope they will learn they are never, ever alone in this world. Hope they will learn the Way of Jesus Christ. And most importantly, they will find hope in falling in love with Jesus.

I am so thrilled and grateful our church would give us this beautiful new space. It is a true gift. A gift of hope for today and for the future. 

A few years ago, when a group of us sat in our Dining Room at Centenary and began dreaming about renovating our building, I couldn’t help but to go back to my own Youth Ministry experience growing up. My hope was to create that same experience for our youth. A place where our youth would have the ‘run’ of the space, but also a place

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“What keeps us alive, what allows us to endure?

I think it is the hope of loving or being loved.”

—Meister Eckhart

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| music ministries |

Inspired, Inventive & Imaginative If I were to write a spiritual biography, I would assuredly frame it with a line borrowed from German mystic Meister Eckhart:

“I am as sure as I live that nothing is so near to me as God. God is nearer to me than I am to myself.”

Jonathan Emmons

jemmons@centenary-ws.org

I

have come to understand that God’s work in our lives is most observable during periods of deep openness, vulnerability, helplessness, tenderness, and darkness.

These are often times when the things that define us are called into question: a relationship, a vocation, a position of status, a deeply held belief about who we are.

We need experiences that move us beyond the expected, the comfortable, the tangible, the mundane. We need experiences that transport us, that elevate us, that carry us somewhere new and unexplored.

Nearly a decade ago, I began to seriously explore a vocational shift. What would my life be like without music as a vocation? This question was the catalyst for a surprising spiritual quest, the fruits of which made it clear to me that my musical gifts and training are perhaps my greatest tools in cultivating a life in God’s spirit, both for myself and for those with whom I interact.

And so I am deeply grateful that this season of my life’s journey has brought me to Centenary. My vision and dream is that music and the arts at Centenary be central to the musical life of downtown Winston-Salem, that our musical and artistic endeavors are inspired, inventive, and imaginative, thereby drawing us out of the usual rhythms of our lives, transporting us beyond our usual expectations and into unexplored and previously unknown regions.

A growing Chancel Choir with profound potential, a devoted music department staff, and the upcoming completion of the Transformation on Fifth all position Centenary to be a beacon for those who long for nourishing musical experiences, who long for ways of expression that carry them deeply into themselves, perhaps for the first time.

This vision calls on you! In this new year, consider whether you might lend your gifts to Centenary’s music ministry in a formal way. Consider whether you might invite your friends and colleagues to engage in the musical life of our church.

Consider whether you might lift your voice a bit higher from your seat in the congregation. Consider what could happen if you arrived at worship each week with the willingness to be lifted, transported, transformed by what you hear, by what you sing, by what you experience.

God is calling each of us beyond ourselves. And God’s ravishing gift of music is ready-made to lead us into something fuller, into a deeper vision, a more dynamic dream. Prayerfully consider how you might take part.

Prayerfully ponder how your musical gifts are waiting to be used. Then, reach out to me as we partner to seek God, at work among us, moving deeply within us. 

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Image from the 2019 Lessons & Carols Worship JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | 23 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST

Save the Date for Special Worship Services

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Stay Connected with Centenary

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FACEBOOK centenarymethodist

WEBSITE

www.centenary-ws.org

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| adult formation |

What If?

N

Rev. Bret Cogan

bcogan@centenary-ws.org

ot long ago I was at the coast. The air was cold, and the night sky was clear. It was so thick with stars that no other light was needed as I sat on the porch. As the beauty of this night enveloped me, a childhood nursery rhyme arose in my thoughts…”Star light, star bright. First star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, have this wish I wish tonight.” I cannot tell you the last time those words came to me. Before that moment, and although I had no specific wish, my mind began to ponder… “What if?” This beloved rhyme has been shared with children since the late nineteenth century. Although it’s origin and author are unknown, still it reminds us of the wonderment within the world if we slow down, look and behold the majesty we can easily fail to see.

As I continued within this moment of clarity, I was drawn more deeply into it as I realized how often I miss the movement of God around and within me because my faith just doesn’t allow it.

That may sound strange for an ordained minister to say, and I admit it felt strange thinking it too! Where this thought came from was not a rejection or denial of my faith, as much as it was an awareness that I have only begun to scratch the surface of what it means to be a person of faith.

As my faith began it was more about wishes, wants and desires I hoped “my faith” would help come true. As I have grown in my experience of faith I now realize, although somewhat begrudgingly, faith is not about getting what I want from God or even life itself. Faith rests upon realizing that God, in God's infinite love for us, knows what we need far better than we do. Faith is not a noun,

based upon a specific event or ideas, or even specific beliefs as much as it is about a growing awareness of God’s desire and love for us. Faith as I understand it now, is our willingness to trust God to hold our dreams as we discover meaning and purpose within our living into God’s love and promise to each of us. Let me explain…

Think about the story of Abraham (Genesis 15) who as he looked upon the stars was given a promise that he would not only have a son, but his children would be greater than the number of stars he could see in the night sky! What was God really promising, and is that promise merely for Abraham or is it for us as well? I think God was asking Abraham, as well as you and me to look higher and beyond what we can imagine for our lives. God is asking us to have faith, that the dreams we hold may be too small. That our lives may have far greater impact than we imagine.

God is inviting us to take the chance by having faith, trusting God to hold the dreams we long for and to consider if they may actually be too small and really not what we need or truly desire. God is asking us to not only believe in God, but also ourselves and what we add to the lives around us.

I believe living by faith will enrich not merely for ourselves, but also see how our lives can touch and change the world around us. God is asking us to believe we are one of those stars of Abraham and the world is a better place simply because you and I have decided to live our life engaged, attentive and by faith. So, I ask you in this new year, the next year of our lives… What if? 

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LENT

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Be sure to mark your calendars with the events on these pages. For the most current information, be sure to see the Sunday bulletins and the church website.

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January

February

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Memorials

We remember the saints who have gone before....

Centenary Fund

General Fund

Sacred Music Fund

In memory of Andrea Barton Little

by Mary Amato, Dee Brown, John Downey, Sandra & Wayne Shugart, Wilma W. Smith. In memory of James “Jim” Bruce Mulligan by Sandra & Wayne Shugart. In memory of William M. “Buck” Butler by Thomas A. & Kay B. Carter. In memory of Robert “Mason” Linker lll by Dave & Janet Hill.

In memory of Dr. Harold “Rock” Pollard lll by Robert Welch, Jr.

In memory of Sara Fountain Lore by Ann Lore. In memory of Mike Holcomb

by Dave & Janet Hill.

Centenary LiveStream

Music & the Arts

In memory Charles W. Teague by Diana & Lamar Davis.

In memory of Thomas Allred Garvey by Jean Burroughs.

Loaves & Fishes In memory of Andrea Barton Little by Circle #1, Barbara Fenimore, Carl & Mimi Hein.

Roots Revival

DAYBreak Respite Care

In memory of Dwayne Kelly Miller by Aprille Bell & Bryan Crews, Annette & Brian Carroll, Robert & JoAnn Curlee, Doris Ditmore, “The Pearl Girls”: Tanna Bell, Laurie Teague, Wendy Hurley, Ellen Kainz and Theresa Furches.

In memory of Blair Frederick Robert Barton-Percival by Bill & Gail Tucker.

In memory of Oliver Thornton by The Thornton family. In memory of Harry Leon Reavis by Alma Thompson. In memory of Henry Anderson Taylor by Reade Taylor. In memory of Theresa “Ann” Presley Whitten by Thomas & Gail Pritchard, Dorothy Pritchard.

Stephen Ministry In memory of Howard Futrell by Dave & Janet Hill.

IN MEMORIAM Mildred Fay King Bryson October 22, 2019 Michael L. Starr April 6, 2019 Walter Dean Henrichs November 1, 2019 Stuart Ficklen Vaughn December 11, 2019

Honoraria

The ministers and members of Centenary Church extend their deepest sympathy to the bereaved families and pray they may know the comfort and peace of our Heavenly Father.

We celebrate the kingdom of God among us...

Backpack Program

Waters by Paul & Sara Sinal. In honor of Wade & Bernice Clayton by Gerald & Lynda Taylor.

In honor of Bryan, Magan, Avery and Corbin Smith by Susan Reiner.

General Fund

Children’s Ministry In honor of Molly & Bo Linker by Dave & Janet Hill.

In honor of the Reverend Doctor P. Glenn Kinken III by Maurice & Mary Langhorne.

DAYBreak Respite Care

Loaves & Fishes

In honor of Carl White by Kevin White.

In honor of Clayton & Ellie Boggan by Gerald & Lynda Taylor. In honor of J. Aubrey & Nancy Kirby by Gerald & Lynda Taylor. In honor of Mandy & Doug

In honor of Marianne Bach by John Van Zandt. In honor of Nancy Stallings by Barbara Minges.

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Sacred Music Fund In honor of Ann Futrell by Dave & Janet Hill. In honor of Kristen Linker by Dave & Janet Hill.

Senior Adult Ministry In honor of Julian Northcraft by Emily F. Lambert.

All of us at Loaves & Fishes would be remiss if we failed to thank the congregation for helping us with our mission in so many ways. Because of your contributions supplementing our partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank, we were able to feed 986 families representing 2,122 individuals. We often think people who frequent food banks are the very poor and unemployed, but some of these are people we see in our everyday lives—store workers, students in school with our children and people who work in offices around town. David Brooks said in his speech that he believes it is important for all of us to see everyone as people with “infinite souls.” No matter their circumstances, so many need help and YOU provide it every month with food from Food of the Month and Harvest Gifts and through many monetary donations. We might be the volunteers who see the clients and receive the “thank you,” but we know we couldn’t do it without you.

So for the over 2000 people, we say a heartfelt thank you for your generosity.

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| senior minister |

Our Dreams

W

e all have dreams (ambitions or strongly desired goals) and visions (an image of the future) for our lives. But these are our visions and our dreams.

They are not necessarily God’s dreams or God’s vision for us. Our dreams are good, but God’s dreams and God’s vision for our lives is so much richer and more fulfilling. They are at sometimes surprising.

Rev. Dr. Glenn Kinken gkinken@centenary-ws.org

If someone had told me thirty-one years ago that ordained ministry would be my career path, I might have laughed. While a good disciple, I had my heart set on business. At the time ministry would have seemed a ludicrous idea. How could anyone who had a tremendous fear of public speaking ever be called to ministry. In fact, I might have been so bold to say that the whole idea was impossible. Shows you what I know.

As I was ordained and beginning my first appointment in Western North Carolina, if one of my colleagues had said to me, “I’ll bet you will be Senior Minister at Centenary,” I might have wondered if they were in their right mind. I would have told them such a thought was impossible. The Conference never sends someone back to their home church to serve. Shows you what I know.

But here is what I have learned throughout my life.

With God all things are possible! The dreams and visions that we have for our lives are good, but they pale in comparison to the dreams and visions that God has for us.

A key practice of our discipleship is seeking the dreams and vision that God has for us. The passage from Joel 2:28, “I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams and your young men will see visions” is about opening our hearts to God so that we might see, hear, and know what God is calling us to do. While faith may make us bold in our

calling, it is our humility that gives us faith. We are able to receive God’s spirit when we check our egos and patiently seek God’s will. We begin to see God’s dreams and vision for our lives via a prayer life that seeks direction through scripture, is spent listening for the gentle whispers of God upon our souls, and listening to the words of God spoken through those around us. When we hear the impossible, we begin to understand the need to listen, because God can and does make the impossible possible.

I believe that God is calling us to do great things this year and in the years to come. I believe that God has a dream for each of us, for our church, and for our community. I invite you to join me in seeking that dream. Would you pray this prayer with me each Wednesday of this year?

Almighty God, you created us in your image. You have given us the capacity to care for and love each other and all creation. You have a dream and a vision for our lives.

May your dream and your vision be my dream and vision for life.

Show me where you would have me serve today.

Show me who you would have me serve today.

Show me how you would have me serve today.

Equip me to serve as you have called. Give me stamina to complete the task.

May I make a difference in the world today for the sake of your Kingdom. Amen.

May God show us the vision for our lives and how the impossible is possible.

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(USPS 628-480)

Periodicals Postage Paid at Winston-Salem, NC

Published By: Centenary United Methodist Church PO Box 658 Winston-Salem, NC 27102-0658 Church Office: (336) 724-6311 Fax: (336) 723-5840 Website: www.centenary-ws.org Postmaster Send Address Changes to: Centenary United Methodist Church PO Box 658 Winston-Salem, NC 27102-0658 A Stephen Ministry Congregation Printed on recycled paper

WORSHIP AT CENTENARY Traditional Worship Sunday 8:30 am Memorial Auditorium

Sunday 9 am Sanctuary Includes Children’s Worship

Sunday 11:00 am Sanctuary Includes Children’s Worship

Wednesday 7 pm Memorial Auditorium

While you are away from our church home, we invite you to worship with Centenary on your computer, smart TV, smartphone, tablet, or whatever electronic device that has access to the Internet. Our Live Stream worship will be there for you. Be sure to sign in so we may be in connection with you. Join us for worship each Sunday at 11:00 am.

www.centenary-ws.org/live-stream