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 Goldie Irving Respite Care Program Manager girving@centenary-ws.org
OUR PAGES Table of Contents/Clergy and Staff ~~~~~~~~~~~ 2 Lent: The Grace of Christ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 From the Editor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4 Good Friday Tenebrae ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 Glenn Kinken: Church Built Upon Grace~~~~~~~~ 6 Lenten Journey Worship~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7 Page Eight: Marvelous Grace ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8 Kate May: Thank You~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10 Easter Egg Hunt~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11 Stephen Ministry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 UMW May Meeting ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tammy Pollock: Grace in the Flesh~~~~~~~~~~~ Easter Morning Worship ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bret Cogan: Grace Changes Everything ~~~~~~~ Calendar ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jeremy Pegram: A Mysterious Force ~~~~~~~~~ Memorials ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Honoraria ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Glenn Kinken: House of Grace ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
13 14 17 18 20 22 24 25 26
OUR COVER
Reverend Kate May Associate Minister with Children kmay@centenary-ws.org
Our cover image features the Sacrificial Lamb from the "Christ's Crucifixion" window in the Sanctuary. The lamb, with its head surrounded by a three-rayed nimbus, signifies this is not an ordinary lamb, but the Lamb of God. Even as lambs were sacrificed, Christ was a sacrificial lamb.
Sandra Gramley Congregational Care Coordinator sgramley@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.
Stacy Holley Exec. Assistant to Senior Minister sholley@centenary-ws.org John Markle Director of Operations jmarkle@centenary-ws.org 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 John Rogers Director of Information Technology jrogers@centenary-ws.org
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From the Editor
C
an you believe it? We are already in the season of Lent! Wait! What? Yes, Lent is here. The Lenten roses in the garden are in full bloom and the back deck is yearning to welcome folks for warmer evenings.
offering a daily devotional. For 2020, we will be delivering these devotions straight to the in-box of your email account. You can read more about it and how to make sure you are signed-up to receive those devotions on page three.
As we consider what this time of year means to Christians, we take a journey from Ash Wednesday, to Holy Week, and then on to Easter Sunday. As we take this journey for 2020, we will be pondering the "Grace of Christ."
As Easter approaches, don't forget to bring your flowers to place on the Living Cross. We will have one in Memorial Auditorium and one on the 5th Street porch. Be sure to bring your camera or smart device to take a picture and create wonderful memories.
Have you ever really thought about it? I know we hear the phrase "passion of Christ" often. But have we ever really lingered on the idea of God's grace? God's amazing grace. As you read through this issue of Through Centenary Windows, our team writes from varying angles about their experience and understanding of the concept. I must confess, in full disclosure, that I wasn't sure there would be enough material. I was wrong. The more I thought about it and the more I heard what folks would be offering, I got excited. One article, in particular, got me. Tammy Pollock came to my office to pitch what she was considering writing. Now, I've known Tammy for many years. I consider her father a substitute for mine, having lost my father in my early twenties. I directed her wedding to Eddie. Needless to say, she is one of my dearest friends and I consider her family. All of that being said, after she told me her
story, in her own words and voice, I had tears in my eyes. The story she weaves of grace is beautiful and tender, not to mention, very personal. She wasn't sure it would be received well. I assured her that it needed to be given to you. You will know what I mean after you read it. Other writers offer different ideas and thoughts on the subject. I hope you will enjoy getting to understand the varying concepts of grace through their lens. There are a few things to note for this season. Be sure to mark your calendar for special worship services during Holy Week. It all begins on Palm Sunday, April 5. Continuing through the week we have Holy Wednesday worship at 7pm, Holy Thursday at 7pm and Good Friday Tenebrae worship at 7pm. Of course, we finish out the week with the celebration of Jesus' resurrection on Easter Sunday, April 12. A full calendar of events for the season can be found on page 7. During Holy Week, Bret Cogan will be
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As we enter this Lenten journey to discover grace, I hope each of us will find something new, or perhaps rediscover our faith in exciting ways. I hope we will see, hear and feel the grace of Jesus in ways we never imagined. I hope that the marvelous, infinite, and matchless grace of Christ will surround us all as we take this journey, together. I’ll see you at Centenary!
Doug Peninger Director of Communications
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| senior minister |
United Methodist: A Church Built Upon Grace
I
n his book, A River Runs Through It, Norman Maclean writes about a young college student who leaves the mountains of Montana to study in Chicago. The story told in first person records the young man’s return to home with a serious girl friend in tow. Of her family he writes, “The Burns family ran a general store in a one store town Rev. Dr. Glenn Kinken gkinken@centenary-ws.org and still managed to do badly. They were Methodist, a denomination my father always referred to as Baptist who could read.” Now before this paragraph starts a holy war between Presbyterians (Maclean’s denomination), Baptists, and Methodists, it is worth noting that Maclean misses the mark on Methodists entirely. It was the Methodists who settled the frontier of America (much to the chagrin of the Presbyterians). Methodism is a faith tradition founded upon the theological premise of grace. Grace being defined as “the love and mercy given to us by God, because God desires that we have it (The New Dictionary of Theology).” John and Charles Wesley, each rooted in Christian teaching and tradition sought to explain and interpret the Methodist movement as one with a deep understanding of experiencing and practicing grace. The Wesley’s saw grace in terms of three expressions. These three dimensions permeate our theology and inform our practice and understanding of the Christian faith and faithful living. The Way of Salvation in the United Methodist Church is not some big bang, one-time event from which we never grow, but is instead a process of understanding, growing and practicing grace. Grace is prevenient, justifying (or saving), and sanctifying. These expressions of grace are a part of the Christian journey and help us grow in our faith and understanding of God’s nature and love for us. Prevenient grace is the first expression of grace that followers of Christ encounter. It is sometimes called free grace, because God offers it to us, even before we know that we need it, or that it is available to us. Prevenient grace is that stirring within our soul which calls us into relationship with God. Prevenient grace helps us understand we are not alone in the universe and that God is present to walk with us along the
road of life. Prevenient grace compels us to seek to know God more and to seek God in all aspects of our life. In one sense it is the appetizer to a full course life of faith and discipleship. Prevenient grace whets our appetite for a relationship with God. Our relationship grows through faithful study, prayer, and contemplation. As we grow in faith, we become more aware of our human condition and our need for guidance, salvation, and forgiveness. It is in that moment we realize Christ died on the Cross not just for the whole world, but for us as individuals, that we receive the second expression of grace – justifying grace. Justifying or saving grace is the main course of faith and discipleship. Through this gift we have the assurance of our forgiveness. We can confess our shortcomings in life and faith, and declare our repentance in order to bring our lives in line with God’s hopes and dreams for us. John Wesley had his own moment of justification when he was preaching in London. As he read Romans, he felt his heart strangely warmed. He says it was in that moment that he knew that Christ had died for him. It was that justifying/ saving grace that set him free from his worry, doubt, and mourning of his human condition. It was justifying grace that filled his soul to contentment with God. The same is true for us as we grow in faith. While justifying grace quells our hunger for a relationship with God, it is sanctifying (or perfecting) grace that serves as the sweet dessert of faithful living. Sanctifying grace is God’s gift as we work to fully restored relationship between God and ourselves. It is marked by a life which seeks holiness of heart and faithful living whereby we unconsciously act in ways which reflect God’s love in every moment and situation. Sanctifying grace is what we ultimately seek in our lives and for the world. We become aware of its possibility through prevenient and justifying grace. This issue of Through Centenary Windows is focused on grace. Throughout the season of Lent, we will focus on seeking and sharing grace in our lives. Galatians will be our text for this journey. I look forward to seeing you in worship and how our journey together might make the world better for us all.
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Marvelous Grace Sing this with me....
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured, there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt. Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within; grace, grace, God's grace, grace that is greater than all our sin!
Doug Peninger
dpeninger@centenary-ws.org
I remember singing this hymn in my childhood at the Southside Baptist Church in Charlotte, my hometown. At first, I was always seated beside my mother and in later years on the front rows of the left side of the Sanctuary, where the youth group always sat. Yes, we always sat up front.
When I was a kid, I had no clue what this hymn was about. Marvelous grace. What in the world was that? All I knew at that time was that it was normally the altar call hymn and someone had better go to the front and talk to the preacher or we would be there for a while. I know I'm not the only one who remembers those days. We all come from somewhere.
When I think about the term grace, my mind goes in so many places. A former client named her daughter "Anna Grace." I 've always thought that was the most beautiful name. I am also reminded of a recent visit to Monaco and while walking through the Cathedral of Monaco came upon the crypt of Princess Grace. Another direction is the grace I see in my colleagues as they share the love of Christ to our congregation and community. When I continue to look at the lyrics to this hymn, the words are quite astounding. You know, grace is not something you can earn. It's given. It's given. We just have to receive it.
Growing up as a Baptist, before I saw the light and became a Methodist, I remember the nights in RA's and
youth group learning how by grace we are saved through faith. It's given to us before we ever know we need it or want it. I must confess, grace is a good thing. Being human, I mess up all the time. I try so hard, thinking I'm doing the right thing, and then realize I've messed up. Grace welcomes me back. Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace. This past summer, the senior high youth traveled to Puerto Rico on a mission trip. I was blessed to be given the opportunity to go as a chaperone. Let me preface this experience by saying this... it has been over twenty years since I served as a youth minister in Charlotte, so I was more than a little nervous about spending an entire week away with our youth. But, off we went. Once we arrived, we got our rental vans and traveled to the coastal town of Arecibo. There wasn't much to write home about, at least as American standards go, but these people called it home as they shared with us their beautiful culture and their love. As the week went on, the teams went to different locations and in the evenings we celebrated in worship. I was told that on the last night of worship, a tradition would happen. I had no clue what this meant. I figured everyone would have to share and it would be a big tear-fest. Imagine my surprise when I found out there would be foot washing. Yes, good-old-from-the-bible foot washing. Could I handle it? It just was not in my wheelhouse of things to do. The last night came and the time had come. The team that ran the mission outpost and worship were the first ones to illustrate how to do the foot washing. They carefully came to each of the chaperones first and gently asked, "may I wash your feet?" If this has never happened to you, believe me, it is very humbling. Here I was, almost a stranger, sitting there while another person humbly knelt down to wash my feet. Following the washing, a prayer was shared. After my feet were washed, I began to wash the feet of our youth, as did our other chaperones. This intimate, display of compassion and grace is something I will never forget. I'm not saying that foot washing is for everyone or that we should incorporate it into our worship at Centenary. But, in that moment, it was beautiful.
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When it was decided that our theme for Lent would be "the Grace of Christ," I immediately thought of when Christ humbled himself as a servant and gracefully washed the feet of his disciples. I have to ask myself, how have I shared the grace of Christ today? Where have I seen the grace of Christ today? If I blink, I will miss it. So, I'm older now. My mother lives in assisted living and cannot attend worship services. She still reads and studies her bible daily. I'll bet in her mind she stills sings along. I know I do. ď Ž
Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, freely bestowed on all who believe! You that are longing to see his face, will you this moment his grace receive? Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within; grace, grace, God's grace, grace that is greater than all our sin! MARCH/APRIL 2020 | 9 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST
| children's ministry |
Thank You
A
Rev. Kate May
kmay@centenary-ws.org
t our house we watch a lot of the show The Big Bang Theory. In one of the Christmas episodes Penny comes over to Leonard and Sheldon’s apartment with Christmas gifts and Sheldon, exasperated, tells her she didn’t bring him a gift but an obligation. He spends the rest of the episode trying to figure out a way to get her a gift that will be equal in value without knowing what her gift to him is. In the end his brilliant plan is outsmarted because she has gotten what is for Sheldon a priceless gift. To me this is a great illustration of grace. When we come into relationship with God we gradually understand that the gift of life, love, and eternal life is a priceless gift and a true gift because there is nothing we can do to deserve it and there is nothing we can do for God to take it away. God’s love is a "no-matter-what" gift. This can be a difficult concept for our culture to grasp completely when we are so focused on success and our ability to better ourselves. Recently in children and youth ministry we have been working to resource families about how to safely engage with social media. In one of the documentaries we viewed we were introduced to one of the women who worked with Facebook to create the “like” button. Full disclosure, I am not now and never have been on Facebook, but what I am about to describe is exactly why I do not engage with Facebook. As an employee of Facebook this young woman’s job was to get people to spend more and more time on the app and in creating the “like” button she and her colleagues created an emotional connection to the app that has become for some users a reflection of their own self-worth. Our society incorrectly convinces us that our worth is dependent not only on what we do but on the value that others see in us.
if each one of us lived into that fully? That we found our self-worth in being a child of God and then lived out our lives in gratitude for that priceless gift? For Sheldon, who does not like any kind of human physical contact, it meant that after receiving the priceless gift from Penny he gave her a hug. Her priceless gift brought forth a reaction born out of pure gratitude that was beautifully uncharacteristic of Sheldon but meant the world to Penny. So what would it look like if during the season of Lent we all looked up from whatever was distracting us and shared grace. Stop and look up towards God to be reminded that your worth comes from being a child of God and then look up to notice those around you and share grace with them whether you know them or not. This might look like being more intentional about family dinners where no one has an electronic device at the table, it might be engaging in the weekly kindness challenge that is a part of who we are in children’s ministry, or perhaps you need time to spend with God so that you can truly know in the deepest part of your being that you are loved no matter what. When I would put my son to bed when he was younger, he would always tell me he loved me. I would of course always respond back by telling him that I loved him too. One night when he told me he loved me I responded that I loved him and he said, “No, I love you.” I again responded that I loved him too. This continued back and forth a few times with him getting more and more frustrated each time that I misunderstood him and then of course I got frustrated because I couldn’t figure out why he was so frustrated. Finally, he told me with exasperation, “When I tell you I love you, you are supposed to say thank you!” How can you tell God thank you during this season of Lent?
God’s love that is an unstopping, never giving up, always and forever love is the exact opposite. God loves us because of who we are, period, full-stop nothing else. What would it mean
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Join us for the annual Easter Egg Hunt on the 5th Street Lawn. Sunday • April 12 • 10:00am
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GRACE FOR YOUR JOURNEY
Stephen Ministry
Centenary United Methodist Church Winston-Salem, NC
The Stephen Ministers of Centenary are ready to journey with anyone through any loss or difficulty such as a job termination, death of a loved one, divorce or acquired disability. A care receiver can expect a Stephen Minister to hold information during a listening session in the strictest of confidence. To ensure privacy, Stephen Ministers do not acknowledge the situations of care receivers in public settings. Please know, it is always the right and privilege of the care receiver to approach a Stephen Minister at any time. Once a referral is made for someone to receive care, the care receiver is matched with a Stephen Minister of the same gender. The Stephen Minister will meet with the care receiver at a time and place that is most convenient. A Stephen Minister relationship may be as short as six weeks, or could be as long as a year or more. We hope that others at Centenary and elsewhere (non-members are welcome) who are going through difficulties— family situations, illness, divorce, death, relocation to elder care, job loss, most anything that causes concern and disruption to normal daily life—will consider asking for a Stephen Minister to walk through this experience with them. If you or someone you know might benefit from a Stephen Ministry relationship, please contact Rev. R. Craig Ford (336.397.1353), Judy Ingram (336-407-3986), or Phil Ashley (336-766-0196).
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| youth ministry |
Grace in the Flesh And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. - 1 Peter 5:10-11 (NIV)
Tammy Pollock
tpollock@centenary-ws.org
W
hen I was just eight years old, my parents divorced. It was a very painful time in my young life, very. Due to many circumstances swirling around my parents separation (my mother was deeply mentally ill), my brother and I lived full-time with my father with minimal visitation with my mother, which back in the early eighties, was virtually unheard of. A couple years later my dad remarried an incredible woman, Elaine, who he’d met in the Air Force. Now, anyone who has a broken family and navigates a new step-parent knows that it can be a difficult road. The same was true for us. However, one thing I remember about my new mother was she required our family to attend church each Sunday. It wasn’t an option, it was just the way we lived together. Little did I know that her ‘encouragement’ for us to be a family of faith would shape and mold my young life into the person I am today. Years later, after I’d grown, graduated from college, had a family of my own, and was still navigating caring for my biological mother at a distance, I found myself at odds with God. In a
Tammy Pollock & Elaine Hewitt beautiful chapel on the campus of San Francisco Theological Seminary (where I was doing national research and study on youth ministry) I sat quietly in a prayer service grieving the relationship I had with my biological mother. I cried out to God and asked Him why I didn’t have the mother I’d always longed for. My relationship with Sarah Ann was so painful, so volatile, so deeply broken. And here I was, once again, preparing to travel from San Francisco, CA to Omaha, NE to try and help her once more. In the midst of my anguish and prayer, I heard God whisper to me, “oh, but I did give you the mother you always longed for, she just looks different then you expected.” In that beautiful place, in the midst of tears, music, and stillness, I realized that God, in His infinite wisdom, had bestowed the most beautiful gift to me all those years ago in my step-mother, Elaine. Our relationship had been so hard and frustrating at times, but she had stayed the course with our family. She had made the absolute decision when she married my father to, not just be his wife, but to be our mother as well. I remember writing Elaine a letter that day thanking her for her love and her grace, thanking her for not giving up on
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me, even when I was a difficult child at times. Her grace, God’s grace, washed over me in that moment and for the first time in my life, I realized grace in the flesh. Dr. Peter Graves always used to say, “Grace stands for: ‘God’s Reward at Christ’s Expense’.” Our relationship with God made right by the love and power of Jesus Christ. God coming to us in the flesh to reveal just how much He loves us…the very nature of God is love. We teach our young Confirmands that grace is not earned, it is freely and abundantly given by our God who loves us unconditionally. We remind them often and always that there is nothing they can do to make God love you any more and there is nothing you can do to make God love you any less…He simply loves you.
in weakness.” I believe that because I have lived that. And with every breath I have and every chance I get, I will proclaim the love and grace of Jesus Christ. And, my hope and my prayer is that as we live into the grace freely offered, we can walk well in grace.
As I reflect on my life and how I came to love God so fiercely, I know it had so much to do with Elaine making sure we knew who God was...staying the course and keeping us in church. Her recognizing that without God we (my brother and I) wouldn’t have what we needed to navigate life and love our biological mother with grace. I still mourn the loss of Sarah Ann (she went to heaven three years ago) and mourn the pain she suffered in this life. But because of the faith my ‘other’ mother taught me, I can rest in knowing Sarah Ann is brand-new and living with our Lord in the light and love of His grace. Paul tell us in 2 Corinthians, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power in made perfect
Front Fow: Elaine & Butch; Back Row: Chris, Tammy & Matt
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| adult formation |
Grace Changes Everything
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Rev. Bret Cogan
bcogan@centenary-ws.org
any years ago, long before I heard about Jesus and his message of love and forgiveness, I experienced the wonder of grace. Like many boys my age in late elementary school I loved all things related to toy cars, especially HO slot cars. It was the summer of 1971 and that year for Christmas I had found an AFX deluxe racing set under the tree with my name on it! That same summer I discovered within a bike ride of my house a hobby shop that specialized in these slot cars! I spent many hours in that shop, looking at all the cool cars. I went so often the owner knew me by name. He patiently put up with all my questions and seemed to enjoy my budding passion about this new hobby. One day I found a car I really wanted, a dark blue Shelby Cobra. It cost more money than I had and yet day after day I went into that shop to see it, hoping one day it would be mine. When I asked my mom if she would help me get it, she said something about “Your birthday is coming.” But I didn’t want to wait, so one day when the Hobby Shop wasn’t busy, and no one was around, I took it out of the package and put it in my pocket. I remember hurrying out the shop, almost running to my bike outside. I rode as fast as I could to my house and ran inside. I quickly went to my bedroom where my track was set up and was about to put that dark blue Shelby Cobra on the track when I realized I couldn’t. It wasn’t mine. I had stolen it from a man who had been kind to me. I had taken something from him, and I felt a deep sense of guilt. It was too late to take it back that day, but the next day I was waiting at his shop when it opened. He greeted me by name and as we walked in together he said, “I saw you leave in a hurry yesterday.” But before he could say another word I took the dark blue Shelby Cobra from my pocket and put it on the counter. He looked at me with kind eyes and said, “I wondered where that car went.” I expected him to be angry and I quickly told him I was sorry, and I would never take something from him again. He smiled and said,
“I know, you’re a good kid.” He then told me he would put that car back for me and let me make payments on it. That was the day I discovered the meaning of grace, and more importantly, I experienced the power of grace and how it lifts us into the love of God. More often than not when we talk about grace it sounds like a transaction. We say we are sorry and ask for forgiveness and grace is given. Grace is often described as undeserved mercy, or not getting what we truly deserve. This too seems more transactional than what I experienced that day, and what I have come to know throughout my life. Although I never stole anything ever again, I have found myself in need of grace more often than I want to remember. I have come to understand this thing we call grace as a deep experience of love and acceptance that reaches out to and from within me, often before I have returned to the one I have offended or hurt. Grace is the dynamic experience of the movement of God’s Spirit within us that affirms us by revealing where we have come up short. Where we have not lived into our best selves as God’s children. Grace uses our guilt to call us back into relationship with those we have wounded or misjudged. Grace is the energy and passion found within God’s love that will not let us go, not because God does not want us to hurt others, but primarily because God does not want us to hurt or lose ourselves. Grace was found in those words “I know, you’re a good kid.” Grace sees us for who we are beneath everything else that covers up our belief and trust that we are loved. Grace is lived and experienced within relationship with those around us, and most especially within our willingness to trust God’s love for us, and all of God’s creation. When we have experienced grace, allowed it into our heart, mind and soul, it changes everything!
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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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March
April
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| evangelism & engagement |
A Mysterious Force...
Rev. Jeremy Pegram
jpegram@cetenary-ws.org
R
ecently, I was asked about my favorite aspect of being in ministry. At first, I struggled to answer. Honestly, I enjoy much of what a minister does. I love preparing sermons and then stepping behind the sacred desk we call a pulpit to deliver the message. I love offering prayers. I love being the minister who stands with couples when they make their vows of Christian Marriage. And as hard and painful as it may be, I find walking through the corridors of the hospitals or standing by an open niche in our Columbarium as a sacred privilege. But I would be remiss if I didn’t share that one aspect that truly makes my heart sing: seeing God’s people engage in their own ministry.
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Just as I sat down to write this article, my cell phone alerted me of an incoming text message. That text message read, “we made it to the ferry.” It was from Michael Strickland, Centenary’s Facilities Staff Manager who took the week to go with our mission team to Ocracoke, NC. Just this morning at 7:30 am members of the team gathered on 4 ½ Street, the alley that runs behind the gothic-style cathedral we call Centenary, to load sleeping bags, suitcases and tools into the church’s tool trailer and vehicles. There was a roll call to make sure everyone was present and accounted for, a picture was taken and a prayer for safe travels was spoken. Unable to go with the team, but anticipating joining them later in the week, they headed east towards the coast, and I
headed west towards my home. I glanced in my rear-view mirror as I drove away, and in that moment, “my cup runneth over” – words from the 23rd Psalm came to mind. My heart was full as I saw a 15-passenger van and two pickups with a tool trailer in tow depart for a week of mission, a mission that will change the living conditions of a few
serve as the hands and feet of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. No matter how many square feet of subflooring is fastened to the floor joints, or how many sheets of drywall are installed, the work of this team will allow property owners of Ocracoke see that “the kingdom of God has come near,” the very words Jesus spoke as recorded in the first chapter of The Gospel of Mark. I truly believe that it is grace that has made this possible. You see, my personal definition of grace is, “The mysterious force from God that helps us do good things.” You won’t see this definition in any theological treatise collecting dust on any seminary or divinity school library shelf. My definition of grace might appear as if it is missing a few things. I don’t mention God’s unmerited love and forgiveness, which is certainly grace, and I believe that. However, I also believe grace is an active agent from God that works in our lives motivating, equipping, and empowering us to fulfill the mission or task that will ultimately bring about goodness, hope and mercy to all of God’s beloved children. Grace is what made our Ocracoke team become aware of a need. Grace opened thier hearts so that they could freely say “yes” to the mission. And, grace came to their aid, providing the ability to do good things.
people on a vulnerable island in the Atlantic. “We made it the ferry” told me the team had traveled 272 miles and arrived safely at the Swans Quarter Ferry Terminal. Soon, they would make their way across the Pamlico Sound to reach the community where they will
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Memorials
We remember the saints who have gone before....
Centenary Fund
Roots Revival
In memory of Blair Frederick Robert Barton-Percival by Allston & Jean Stubbs. In memory of Margaret Kennette Haley by Nicholas & Elaine Daves. In memory of Roy Walker Shelton by Hoyt & Mary Beard, Ray & Joan Byrd, Wes & Marie Murph, the Trinity Sunday School Class at Mount Tabor United Methodist Church. In memory of Reverend Jack Brown Yarbrough by Anne Copenhaver, Robert E. Curlee, Carl & Mimi Hein, Chip & Carol Holden, Thomas & Megan Lawson, Brenda Maready, Graham Rights, Dr. & Mrs. Jack Rogers. In memory of Robert “Bob” Somers Bell by Violet Shaver, Janice & Harry Tomlinson. In memory of Sara G. Rayburn by Danny & Kathy Newcomb. In memory of Stuart Ficklen Vaughn by Mrs. J. Robert Elster, Elizabeth & Jim Holmes, Janie & Jarman Jenkins, Betsy & Bill Joyner.
In memory of Dwayne Miller by Gene & Joan Lewis.
Children's Ministry
In memory of Stuart Ficklen Vaughn by Kaye & Dave Lambert.
DAYBreak Respite Care In memory of Charles & Patricia Nesbit by Mr. & Mrs. Charles Nesbit Jr.
General Fund In memory of Sally DeRamus by the DeRamus Family.
Senior Adult Ministry In memory of Reverend Jack Brown Yarbrough by Jean G. Beam, Mr. & Mrs. Henry M. Booke, John B. Brady, Missy Butler, Tom & Nancy Cannon, Elaine Conner & family, Billie & Kenneth Dabbs, Rebecca Deaton, David & Dianne Dill, Phyllis Dunning, Mrs. J. Robert Elster, Laura & Robert Esleeck, Kitty Felts, Margaret Felts Huber, Clark & Sherry Ford, Craig & Janet Ford, Frank & Mary Ann Graziadei, Marie Hathcock, Tom & Vicki Hunt, Janie & Jarman Jenkins, Mr. & Mrs. Philip Kinken, Milton & Janice Kirkland, Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Koontz, Carol & Reg Koontz, Kaye & David Lambert, Gene & Joan Lewis, Ann Lore, Martha Martinat, Lew & Sue Moore, Mr. & Mrs. Sam C. Ogburn Sr., Bill & Elaine Queen, Suzanne G. Raymond at Mack Trucks World Headquarters, Edward & Barbara Rogers, Phyllis Slawter, Alma Thompson, Bill & Gail Tucker, Sallie K. Tucker, Jerry & Nancy Warren.
Shining Light on Mental Health In memory of Philip Broyhill by the James T. & Louise R. Broyhill Foundation.
Love Thy Neighbor In memory of Edna Freemon Helms by Dr. & Mrs. Paul Gwyn. In memory of Robert “Bob” Somers Bell by Beverly Bell.
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IN MEMORIAM Karen Lea Prater Hocutt May 24, 2019 Mary West Crocker Ball December 2, 2019 Jack Brown Yarbrough December 24, 2019 Robert (Bob) Bell December 27, 2019 Jon Burkhart January 2, 2020 Margaret Howard Nicholson January 13, 2020 Alice Mae (Mitzi) Williams January 19, 2020 Roy Walker Shelton January 21, 2020 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.
Honoraria
We celebrate the kingdom of God among us...
Advent Missions
General Fund
Sacred Music Fund
In honor of McCall & Worth Stanley by Mark & Debbie Robinson.
In honor of Joellen Parks by Tracy Parks.
In honor of Reid Gilliam by Christopher Brand. In honor of Shelia Brame by Anne Saxon.
Handbell Choir
Backpack Program In honor of Joe Turner by Gwen Walter.
In honor of Camille Jones by Holly Gilliam.
Senior Adult Ministry
Centenary Fund
Loaves & Fishes
In honor of Jeff, Suzanne, Ollie, Maddie & Cassie Maggs by Dr. & Mrs. A. D. Kornegay. In honor of the Whitfield Foundations Sunday School Class by Mary Ann & Bruce Mulligan. In honor of Mary Ann Ratcliff by Cal & Mary Ratcliff.
In honor of Reverend Craig & Janet Ford by Phyllis Dunning. In honor of Elizabeth Fenwick by Aurelia Lagle.
In honor of Frank Hassell by Susan Hathcock & Gregory Collins. In honor of Holly Lee by Bill & Colleen Lee. In honor of Marie T. Hathcock by Susan Hathcock & Gregory Collins.
Shining Light on Mental Health
DAYBreak/Respite Care
Love Thy Neighbor
In honor of Ahwanda Jamison by Susan Stevens. In honor of Camille Jones by The Carillonneurs. In honor of Clayton & Ellie Boggan by Wade & Bernice Clayton. In honor of Deedee Fenwick by Kay Brogdon, Susan Stevens. In honor of Dr. & Mrs. Gerald Taylor by Wade & Bernice Clayton. In honor of Jean Sohmer by Kimberly G. Stephenson. In honor of Philip & Jean Ashley by N. Gruber & Ann Sires. In honor of Susie Smith by Susan Stevens.
In honor of David Lee by Bill & Colleen Lee. In honor of Dr. Philip Williford by the Wake Forest Dermatological Surgery Family. In honor of Tammy Pollock & The Centenary Youth by Circle #3.
In honor of Jane Poe by the James T. & Louise R Broyhill Foundation.
Youth Ministry In honor of Tammy Pollock & Tyler McDonald by Don & Kelly White at Salem Financial Group.
After more than 30 years of devoted service to Centenary, our Pearlie McCray has announced her retirement from her position as our cook. Our dear friend Pearlie was dedicated to her role and she provided many wonderful meals to many members and guests throughout the years. We are sorry to see her go. Pearlie began her employment at Centenary in 1986 and saw many changes in staffing and ministers along the way. She was the right person at the right time and the rest is history. Her smile and her friendly manner will be missed by us all. We have felt fortunate to know her and we wish her well in her retirement.
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| senior minister |
House of Grace
Rev. Dr. Glenn Kinken gkinken@centenary-ws.org
I
was in a fraternity in college. Fraternities at different points in history earned or carry a reputation that is less than stellar. Any organized group of people cannot maintain a stellar reputation unless there is a stringent, relentless focus on what the organization stands for, is about, and focused on its purpose and mission (assuming the purpose and mission are good). But this article is not about the pros and cons of the fraternity system or even the reputation of the Kappa Sigma house at Davidson College in the late 80’s and early 90’s. No, this is a story about grace. Each pledge in our house was assigned the task of spending at least 15 minutes with each brother
during pledge season. They were to interview us in order to build a relationship with all the brothers. Each pledge was given a printout with the name of each bother accompanied by their picture. The pledge was responsible for setting up an interview or catching the bother at the house during or after mealtimes. The interview usually consisted of the usual questions -- Where are you from? What’s your major? What do you want to do in life? How do you spend your free time? Dating anyone? (though on a small campus that was usually already known). What is your favorite music? Maybe an erudite question such as what was the last great book you read? – and so forth. The brother usually asked a similar series of question, as pledge and brother got to know each
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other. At the end of the interview, the brother signed his name by his picture as a sign that the interview had been completed. The pledges were charged with interviewing all the brothers before the end of pledge season. Each week during our house meeting the pledge master would give an update on the pledge’s progress in the pledging program including announcing which pledges had completed all their interviews. During the last week of pledge season, the week of the final vote before initiation, the pledge master declared that all pledges had completed their interviews. A cheer erupted. As the clapping and whistling died down, a new commotion stirred in the corner of the room. One of my brothers asked to see the signed interview sheet of a particular pledge. After a brief (in time) but uncomfortably tense (in atmosphere) meeting between the pledge master, chapter president, the brother who raised the question, and the big brother of the pledge named, it was shared with us that the pledge in question had not conducted the interview with the brother and had in fact forged his signature beside his picture. As you can imagine, a new stir spread across the meeting. In a house in which trust is valued, bonds of brotherhood were being tested. At an institution that prided itself on the honor code, integrity was called into question. What would be the pledge’s fate? An instant black-ball and thus expulsion from the fraternity even before he was fully admitted? Over the next seventy-two hours leading up to the final vote there were many discussions. Some centered on the familiar – He’s a good guy. Let’s just overlook this. This isn’t a big deal. Let’s give him house cleaning duty for a month and move on, right? Other discussions were more philosophical – What are the deeper implications of a possible brother forging a brother’s signature? Is this violation any more serious than a violation such as being caught without one’s pledge pin? And then there were the practical discussions – Do we still want him as a brother? Is there something that he can do in order to avoid being black-balled? As the answers to these questions swirled in conversations amongst the brothers across campus, the pledge in question took matters into his own hand. He asked to speak to the whole house, including the pledges. At the meeting he confessed to what he had done. He also shared how he knew it was wrong on many levels and that he had violated everyone’s trust. He specifically apologized to the
brother whose name he had forged. He admitted he knew he could and deserved to be black-balled, but that he hoped he would not be and thus be given the chance to live up to the ideals of the fraternity. Later that night as the brothers met in a closed meeting, the votes on the pledges were cast. By the fraternity rules any pledge receiving a black ball vote when their name was called would be denied admission into the fraternity. The pledge in question would be voted on last. As time came to vote on this pledge there was much speculation as to whether it even mattered. Many of the brothers were not convinced that his confession and pleading was sincere, or that they even wanted a person like this in their fraternity. It was at the moment before his name was read that the brother whose signature had been forged stood up. He cleared his throat and said, “I will not vote against him. Yes, he has done something stupid and egregious. Which of us has not done something stupid and ill advised? Which of us has not leaned on the rest of us for help when we were in need? Is he not asking for our help and guidance?” As the votes were cast, where there might have black balls from most of the brothers, there were none. The pledge was approved for initiation. His big brother relayed to him what had transpired during the vote. Fast forward ten years into the future. I was attending a class reunion and many of us gathered at the fraternity house. As we were standing around telling stories, laughing at the foolishness of our youth and amazed that we survived—-the pledge, now brother alumnus, approached our group. He spoke to my friend, the one whose signature he forged. He thanked my friend for what he had said the night of the final vote. He shared with us that he was a prosecutor in a rural southern county. He said, “I have never forgotten the lesson that you taught me. I have tried to share that same lesson of grace with young people who use poor judgement and make bad decisions. I try, where the law will allow me, to show grace so that they might have a chance to prove to the world that they are better than that.” As I ponder grace and faith, I am thankful that God showers me with grace. I am thankful God gives me that chance to prove to the world that I am better than my short comings and that, thanks to God’s grace, I might live a life which will honor God and God’s love for me.
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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