SUNDAY • JULY 6, 2025
“Opening Up!”
Mark 7:31-37
Preaching
Rev. Oliver Helsabeck
Associate Minister for Congregational Care
Liturgist
Rev. Kate May
Associate Minister with Children
Music
Keith Byrd
Alternative Music Leader
Zakiyyah Niang, vocals
Ahmad Johnson, vocals
Rodney Archie, vocals
Doug Wright, bass
Jacob Anflick, drums
CELEBRATIONS & CONCERNS
WELCOME NEW SENIOR MINISTER
Sunday • July 13 • Noon Memorial Auditorium
You are invited to join the Centenary family as we welcome our newly appointed Senior Minister, Rev. Lara “Willis” Greene. This will be a great time to say hello and welcome her with Centenary love.
HELP OUR
NEW MINISTER
GET TO KNOW YOU!
Our new senior minister, Rev. Willis Greene, is arriving in July, and we’d love to give her a warm and welcoming start by helping her learn names and faces. One way you can help is by updating your photo in Realm, our membership information system.
CONGREGATIONAL CARE
REFRESH
Wednesdays • Noon - 12:45 pm • Sanctuary
The Refresh Prayer Ministry invites you to be refreshed in a mid-week service of worship, reflection, and prayer in a sacred space. From Noon - 12:15 is a time for quiet reflection with music, and from 12:15 - 12:45 is a time for prayer, Scripture reading, and meditation. Parking is available in the Fifth Street parking lot; enter from the Fifth Street entrance to the Sanctuary. For more information, contact Rev. Oliver Helsabeck or Becky Tate.
CENTENARY CARES: SHOWING CARE AND SHARING ENCOURAGEMENT FROM SHINING LIGHT ON MENTAL HEALTH
MISSIONS
LOAVES & FISHES SUMMER STOCK
Loaves & Fishes is once again collecting items for Summer Stock! Anytime this summer, you can take a brown paper bag located in the Narthex or at the 4 ½ Street entrance to fill with needed items. This year we are collecting the following foods: canned chicken, canned tuna, canned beef stew, Spam, and Vienna sausages. Please make sure the canned items are regular sized cans. You can drop your donations off at the 4 ½ Street entrance or in the Narthex to the Sanctuary. If you have any questions, contact Mary Ann Wexler (mwexler@centenary-ws.org).
FOOD BANK GARDEN
YOUTH MINISTRY
Today 10 am: What’s Faith Got To Do With It? @ Youth Commons)
July 9 5 - 6:30 pm: Waffle Wednesday (@ Youth Commons)
July 13
10 am: Youth Sunday School (@ Youth Commons)
WHAT’S FAITH GOT TO DO WITH IT?
Youth Sunday School Hour • Now - August 10
Youth Commons
Now is the perfect time to add a recent picture. Simply log into Realm on your computer or mobile device, click on your profile, and upload a picture. Need help? Scan the QR code to get started or contact Stacy Holley (sholley@centenary-ws.org/ext. 1359).
Thank you for helping us extend a true Centenary welcome!
ADULT FORMATION
SAVE THE DATE! 2026 WOMEN’S RETREAT
April 17–19, 2026
Lake Junaluska Conference Center
Mark your calendar now for a weekend of renewal, connection, and spiritual growth in the Blue Ridge Mountains. More details coming soon—but for now, plan to join us and save the date!
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
FAMILY SUMMER CELEBRATION
Sunday • July 20 • 4 - 5 pm
We hope you’ll join us for this amazing afternoon for the whole family! We will have a foam party, slip and slide, playground and popsicles. Park in the 5th Street parking lot and meet us on the lawn outside of the chapel. Water shoes and goggles are recommended for the foam party. You won’t want to miss it!
OLDER ELEMENTARY MISSON WEEK
July 22-24 • 9 am – 3 pm
When we experience challenging circumstances that affect us and involve mental health, yet we wish to remain private, it is still important that we know we are cared for, prayed for, and loved by our church family. Centenary Cares, a ministry of Shining Light on Mental Health, is a simple way that our church can extend care and encouragement. If someone you know is stressed or has a loved one experiencing issues with mental health, submit the person’s name to Rev. Oliver Helsabeck, Associate Minister for Congregational Care (ohelsabeck@centenaryws.org/ext. 1357). A member of Shining Light will confidentially deliver a Centenary Cares bag to the recipient. More information can be found on the church website under Congregational Care/Shining Light.
HEALING HANDS MINISTRY
First Mondays • 10 am - Noon Gathering Room
Calling all knitters and crocheters! Join Healing Hands for a time of fellowship, instruction, and service as members create prayer shawls, lap throws, and other handmade items to provide a tangible blessing for people experiencing loss, crisis, or other need for prayerful care. Items are prayed over and blessed to be given away to others in time of need. No experience is necessary. Contact Rev. Oliver Helsabeck or Dianne Moore for more information.
MEN’S MINISTRY
THURSDAY MORNING FELLOWSHIP
July 10 • 7:30 am - 8:30 am Community Room
The Betty and Jim Holmes Food Bank Garden needs volunteers this summer. It is a great outdoor mission opportunity for families, individuals and groups. The garden is located at Crossnore Communities for Children, 1001 Reynolda Road and is open on Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings. If you are able to help one time or several times, contact us through our website at foodbankgarden. org or call 336-306-0690.
BLOOD DRIVE
Ever wondered what you might do when you grow up? All of us begin dreaming what we might be when we are little and continue to figure that out throughout our lives. Join us, once again, this summer as we host various members of our church & community to hear from them what they do, how they got there, and how their faith is lived out in their daily lives.
WAFFLE WEDNESDAYS
Wednesdays • Now - August 6 • 5 - 6:30 pm
Youth Commons
Tuesday • August 5 • 12:30 - 5 pm Community Room Centenary is partnering with the Red Cross to host a blood drive! If you would like to sign up to donate blood, you may do so by scanning the QR code or visiting our website. If you cannot give blood but would like to volunteer, please email Mary Ann Wexler, mwexler@ centenary-ws.org, or check the website.
MUSIC & ARTS
REGISTER FOR CHILDREN’S CREATIVE ARTS EXPERIENCE 2025/2026
We’re mixing things up this summer! Join us mid-week for a summer-long documentary series as we follow along with Morgan Freeman in his production “The Story of God.” Bring your appetite for thought-provoking exploration about God, and of course, an appetite for a waffle-bar spread and other breakfast-for-dinner foods!
ARE YOU HEADED TO CAMP?
Calling out to all you SUMMER CAMPERS! Let us know your camp address and how long you will be there...we will send you mail from your youth ministry family! I mean, who doesn’t love to get mail!? And we certainly love to send it.
An amazing chance for rising 4th – 6th graders to serve the community through daily mission projects and spend time in fellowship! $45/student, t-shirt, daily activities and more included! Please note this is a different week than when we typically have done OEMW. Register using the QR code – we have a limited capacity.
We will gather in the second floor Catering Kitchen for coffee, biscuits, and fellowship followed by a brief presentation by Dr. Russell Smith who leads the WSSU Spatial Justice Studio. Dr. Smith will share his communitywide research to better understand current community housing based on past practices. To learn more about Men’s Ministry at Centenary, contact Chris Munnelly, Tanner Robinson, Michael Rogers, or Tom Lawson.
Fall will be here before you know it! We invite children ages 2 through 5th grade to join us when CAE resumes on August 27! CAE’s multifaceted model engages children with various levels of musical and artistic interests, all while cultivating more regular worship leadership opportunities for Centenary’s youngest! Register via the QR Code. Email Music Ministries Assistant Virginia Sheffield (vsheffield@centenary-ws.org) with any questions.
LOOKING AHEAD
July 19 - 27: YouthWorks! Senior High Mission Trip
August 14: Youth Leadership Team
August 15: 6th Grade Promotion Party
August 17: Sunday School Open House & Fall Kick-Off
August 19: LTN Leadership Team
August 24: Love Thy Neighbor
September 3: Fall Bible Study begins (Nourish)
September 9: LTN Leadership Team
September 13: Niner, Niner
September 14: LTN
September 19: Sixers! @ Adventure Landing
For more information or to sign up to receive Youth Ministry updates by email, contact Tammy Pollock (tpollock@centenary-ws.org). Follow us on Instagram @centenary_youth.
