SEPTEMBER The Word as Life: Philippians

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1 T h e S p i r e SEPTEMBER 2016 The Word as Life: Philippians For whatever reason, the book Philippians has captured my imagination. What if the words of this book characterized a Christian community, a church? What if Philippians was a text that shaped our lives as Christians? Who would we be? What would we look like? I have found Philippians to be a book of hope, and it excites me! From the very beginning of the book, Paul draws the readers into being the people of God together. Paul uses the Greek word Koinonia to describe the people s shared life in the gospel. Simply put, in such a community, we find ourselves a part of something that is larger than us, while at the same time something that is completely us. We are a part of a people that make life more complete for each other. This communal life is shaped and guided by living within the gospel of Christ together. You can see in Philippians 1:3-11, the tenderness in which Paul and the community share. They hold each in their hearts, longing with compassion and desire for full insight in Jesus love. Living in such a community together helps each individual to find their identity; while also giving the space to discover the call form God or part to be played in this world. What if the book of Philippians described our reality together? What would it take to be a part of a community called church that shared such a Koinonia together? I believe we, here at Centenary are nothing less than this type of people together. It is our call and pleasure to help each other find their participation in such a community. In Philippians 2, Paul describes this community and also calls us to share together in the same mind as Christ who though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and become obedient to the point of death even death on a cross. At first glance, his call for us to be of one mind seems impossible. You get five Methodist on a committee in one room and you will have nothing less than five different opinions. How can we have one mind? We all have our different thoughts, desires, and opinions. Again Philippians speaks to me hope. The mind of Christ in this passage does not seem to be a union of opinions, but a union of mindset. Jesus did not seek equality with God (or power), but instead humbled himself as a servant and willingly was obedient to this mindset even with it cost him is life on a cross. Would not such a mindset transform the church in every way? Would not such a mindset help us to work through different opinion and quite possibly open us up more completely to the will of God? What if this text was actually a description of our life together? (Cont d on Page 2) C e n t e n a r y U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h E s t a b l i s h e d

2 When it comes to living for Christ, Philippians is a very challenging book. Strikingly, Paul declares, I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his suffering by becoming like him in his death. Does Paul really want to know the sharing of Jesus suffering though becoming like him in his death? In fact, in Philippians, Paul seems to take a completely new direction in life. The building up of life with status, position, and regard in the eyes of others, he now considers as rubbish as he pursues knowing Christ and his suffering. Are we to choose a path through life where we join in the suffering of Christ? Jesus suffered because of the love he had for the world. He chose a path to reach the lost, fellowship with the forgotten and heal the hurting. His radical path seems to upset the status quo to such a degree that some resented his new vision of life. What would it look like to join Jesus in this suffering for God s will in the world? What if a church and individual lives chose to embrace such a life with Jesus? Maybe the most wonderfully ironic part of Philippians is that it is considered the letter of joy. Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice. (Philippians 4:4) The gift of joy seems to be the fruit of a Philippians style of life. Joy seems to be the fruit of a community of Koinonia sharing the gospel together. Joy seems to be the fruit of lives together that have the servant mindset of Jesus. And maybe most wonderfully ironic is that joy seems to be the mindset of a people together seeking to share in the suffering of Christ. Joy is the result of a life lived in Jesus. In no way is this a comprehensive study of Philippians. I invite you to read this wonderful book. However, what if the scripture were truly the main text that shaped our lives? What if we desired to be a people of the book of Philippians? Would we be a people of hope and joy for the world? I believe so! Rev. Danny Walker With a few weeks of school under our belts, it s time to look ahead to what the Fall will bring to our Centenary Children s Ministry! We re back to our lectionary-based studies in Sunday School, and we ve added a new teacher, Melvinia Poitier, for Grades 3-4! Our next big event will be in October. On October 29th, at 3:00PM, we will have our annual Trunk or Treat party! This year we are emphasizing inviting the community. Our event will have bounce houses, caramel apples, a soup dinner, a hayride, costume parade and trunk or treating. So if you have friends or neighbors with children, be sure to spread the word! Nicole Jackson ~ Children s Ministries Coordinator On Sunday, September 18th, immediately following worship, we will be holding a reception for all those interested in possibly becoming members here at Centenary UMC. During that time, we will address any questions you may have. If you are interested in membership, but cannot be here that Sunday, please see Pastor Danny! historian = a student or writer of history; compiler of a chronicle We need someone to serve as Church Historian. If you are interested in doing this, please talk to Pastor Danny or call the church office at Good Neighbors Luncheons are resuming September 8th after being off for the summer. Come out and enjoy food and fellowship again as Fall activities begin again! 2017 Budget Requests are due by September 25th! Have you heard. Charge Conference forms are due in the office no later than October 23rd!

3 Centenary UMC SCRIP FUNDRAISER Family Order Form Please place your order with Cheryl Blythe or Debbie Putler Sunday morning. NAME: Make Check Payable to Centenary UMC Department Store QTY Total Dillard's $ % $ Dillard's $ % $ JCPenney $ % $ Kohl's $ % $ Kohl's $ % $ Macy's $ % $ Macy's $ % $ Sears $ % $ Sears $ % $ Stein Mart $ % $ Dining - Casual QTY Total Applebee's $ % $ Bob Evans $ % $ Bonefish Grill $ % $ Buffalo Wild Wings $ % $ Buffalo Wild Wings $ % $ Carrabba's Italian Grill $ % $ Chili's Grill & Bar $ % $ Chuck E. Cheese $ % $ Cracker Barrel $ % $ Cracker Barrel $ % $ Denny's $ % $ Gracie's Chinese $ % $ Hard Rock Cafe $ % $ Los Bravos $ % $ Los Tres Caminos $ % $ O'Charley's $ % $ Old Chicago $ % $ Olive Garden $ % $ Outback Steakhouse $ % $ Rainforest Cafe $ % $ Red Lobster $ % $ Red Robin $ % $ Texas Roadhouse $ % $ TGI Fridays $ % $ Electronics & Office % QTY Total Best Buy $ % $ Best Buy $ % $ Best Buy $ % $ Office Depot $ % $ Office Depot $ % $ Staples $ % $ DATE: TOTAL: Dining - On The Go QTY Total Arby's $ % $ Burger King $ % $ Chipotle Mexican Grill $ % $ Cold Stone Creamery $ % $ Culvers $ % $ Dairy Queen $ % $ Domino's Pizza $ % $ Dunkin' Donuts $ % $ Fazoli's $ % $ GD Ritzy's $ % $ Great Harvest Bread $ % $ Hardee's $ % $ Krispy Kreme $ % $ Little Caesar's Pizza $ % $ Long John Silver's $ % $ Panera Bread $ % $ Panera Bread $ % $ Papa John's Pizza $ % $ Papa Murphy's Pizza $ % $ Pizza Hut $ % $ Qdoba Mexican Grill $ % $ Spudz N Stuff $ % $ Starbucks $ % $ Starbucks $ % $ Steak 'n Shake $ % $ Subway Restaurants $ % $ Taco Bell $ % $ Wendy's $ % $ Discount Store QTY Total Gordmans $ % $ Kmart $ % $ Marshall's $ % $ Meijer $ % $ Meijer $ % $ Meijer $ % $ Target $ % $ Target $ % $ Target $ % $ TJ Maxx $ % $ Walmart/Sam's $ % $ Walmart/Sam's $ % $ Walmart/Sam's $ % $

4 Entertainment QTY Total AMC(Showplace West) Theatres 8% $ $25.00 AMC Theatres Gold Ticket $ % $ Barnes & Noble NOOK $ % $ Barnes & Noble $ % $ Family Video $ % $ Showplace North $ % $ Gas & Auto QTY Total Advance Auto Parts $ % $ AutoZone $ % $ BP $ % $ BP $ % $ Circle K $ % $ Circle K $ % $ Jiffy Lube $ % $ Marathon $ % $ Marathon $ % $ Marathon $ % $ Moto Mart Gas $50 5% $ Pilot/Flying J $ % $ Pilot/Flying J $ % $ Shell $ % $ Speedway $ % $ Sunoco $ % $ Texaco $ % $ Home Improvement QTY Total Ace Hardware $ % $ Ace Hardware $ % $ Lowe's $ % $ Lowe's $ % $ Lowe's $ % $ Lowe's $ % $ Menards $ % $ Menards $ % $ The Home Depot $ % $ The Home Depot $ % $ The Home Depot $ % $ Travel QTY Total Avis Car Rental $ % $ Best Western International $ % $ Budget Car Rental $ % $ Carnival Cruise Lines $ % $ Clarion Hotels $ % $ Comfort Suites $ % $ Disney $ % $ Disney $ % $ Hyatt Hotels $ % $ Discover Gift Card QTY Total Discover Gift Card $ % $ Discover Gift Card $ % $ Specialty Retailer QTY Total Aeropostale $ % $ Amazon.com $ % $ Amazon.com $ % $ American Eagle $ % $ Babies"R"Us $ % $ Babies"R"Us $ % $ Banana Republic $ % $ Bath & Body Works $ % $ Bath & Body Works $ % $ Bed Bath & Beyond $ % $ Build-A-Bear Workshop $ % $ Claire's $ % $ CVS/pharmacy $ % $ CVS/pharmacy $ % $ Dressbarn $ % $ Family Christian Stores $ % $ GFS Marketplace $ % $ Groupon.com $ % $ Hallmark $ % $ Honey Baked Ham $ % $ Icing $ % $ IGA $ % $ IGA $ % $ Itunes $ % $ Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft $ % $ L.L. Bean $ % $ Limited $ % $ Men's Wearhouse $ % $ Michaels $ % $ Payless $ % $ PetSmart $ % $ Sally Beauty Supply $ % $ Sephora $ % $ Toys"R"Us $ % $ Toys"R"Us $ % $ ULTA $ % $ Walgreens $ % $ Walgreens $ % $ Sporting Goods % QTY Total Academy Sports $ % $ Bass Pro Shops $ % $ Bass Pro Shops $ % $ Cabela's $ % $ Cabela's $ % $ Dick's Sporting Goods $ % $ Dick's Sporting Goods $ % $ Gander Mountain $ % $ NIKE $ % $ Under Armour $ % $

5 What a great summer of wonderful music. It started with Amber Walker and ended with Keeley Wingerter. Each musical offering was offered as a gift of worship and was received with joy and appreciation by the congregation. The Sunday after Amber, Miriam filled in; for Father s Day, a group of Centenary ladies honored our men with a special anthem, and Norma McNary finished out June. July 3rd, Roger and Julie Huebner reminded us of our freedom. Lauren Fendrich was followed the next Sunday by our VBS children with smiles everywhere. Brian Fleming, who always has a gift of God s love, led us into the Centenary quartet and their wonderful harmony. In August, we enjoyed the Ferguson family and Franco Bowden had an amazing offering on his saxophone. Our gifted Ronda, Shirley and Keith could be enjoyed as players, not just as accompanists. Kelly Wingerter inspired us with her gift of singing. These were offerings each Sunday by people of the church and each one was beautiful. Thanks again to each person. Miriam Siebert, Choir Director Fall is fast approaching, and it s time to go back to school! Some Sunday School classes have not been meeting during the summer, but are resuming. If you do not currently belong to a class, we would love to have you become a part of one! Below is a list of our current classes. Currently our children are following the lectionary and are learning about the parables that Jesus shared. Ages 2-3 Pre-K - Kindergarten Grades 1-2 Grades 3-4 Amber Walker & Amber Ferguson Greta Jackson & Norma McNary Nicole Jackson Melvinia Poitier Our Adult Classes, Teachers, & Subjects College/Young Adults - Brian Fleming, Book of Revelation Safe Harbor - Keith Schmett, Book of John *Meets at 8:30AM Seekers - Scheleen Unfried, Book of Revelation Builders - Nancy McCutchan, The Sovereignty of God Adult Class - Tim Blythe, A Study on Heaven Exciting News! The Scrip program has a feature called My Wallet that is very convenient and easy to use. You simply purchase cards that load instantly to your cell phone. Then you can redeem them on the spot at the restaurant or retailer. Go to Scrip Wallet.com or see us for more information. If you have Logan's Roadhouse cards, try to use them soon, as some locations are closing due to bankruptcy. The Evansville locations are not currently on the list to close, but we don't know when that might change. 150th Birthday The Administrative Council would like to announce that in 2017 Centenary United Methodist Church will be celebrating the 150th year of its formation. If you would be interested in being on a committee to help plan a celebration for sometime next year, please contact the Church Office, Pastor Danny, or Nancy McCutchan. This should be a special time at Centenary, so we need to start planning soon!

6 SEPTEMBER Birthdays 1 - Savannah McCutchan 1 - Ally Kempf 1 - Brad Marchand 1 - Katherine Sharp 2 - Carolyn Hortin 3 - Sylvia Seibert 3 - Marsha Stocker 7 - John Crow 10 - Malisse Stocker 11- Jesse Hewig 12 - Judy Hendrix 13 - Tensley Jackson 13 - Nicole Jackson 13 - Bob Freeman 13 - Joshua Walker SEPTEMBER Anniversaries 9 - Tom & Deb Wilson 9 - Larry & Alene Taylor 11 - Dan & Melba DeMuth 12 - Adam & Missy Stocker 17 - Jerry & Joan Carnahan 17 - Dan & Susan Elpers 17 - Sam & Judy Frederick 25 - David & Debbie Driggs 28 - Brad & Robin Marchand 15 - Pat Hewig 16 - Greg Beasley 16 - Keith Schmett 20 - Dan Walters 20 - Sterlen Stocker 20 - Kayden Williams 22 - Gloria Schneider 22 - Madeleine Gish 24 - Bev McDowell 24 - Bonnie Tindle 24 - MacKenzie Stocker 25 - Kiersten Wingerter 26 - Debbie Putler 26 - Tony Bowden 27 - Gayle Olberding 27 - Jennie Fuhrman 29 - Laura Freeman OCTOBER Birthdays 2 Morgan Falconer 3 - Loretta Gore 4 - Keith Woods 6 - Kathy Egnew 7 - Corrine Schwartz 7- Otis Ferguson 8 - Dava Cobb 9 - Susan Elpers 9 - Brenda Gore 11 - Felicia Bowden 11 - Gayla Kempf 12 - Larry Powell 13 - Chris Haywood 13 - Ron Johnson OCTOBER Anniversaries 7 - Bob & Lee Crow 8 - John & Loretta Gore 8 - Brock & Sherri Falconer 14 - Terry & Sharron Brace 23 - Steve & Gloria Schneider 30 - Darrell and Janet Resler 30 - Amber and Danny Walker 13 - Brad Smith 15 -Craig Vieira 17 - Mida Creekmur 18 - Lois Unfried 19 - OD Putler 20 - Darrell Resler 21 - Ira Knight 23 - Greta Jackson 25 - Missy Stocker 25 - Aaron Kaucher 27 - Colin Falconer 28 - Mike Warneke 30 - Suzanne Seibert FALL IS COMING What Season Is It, Anyway? Californian: Your weather on the east coast is boring! You have four boring seasons: winter, spring, summer, and fall. Bostonian: Well, I don t see how you can call our weather boring! We have more seasons than you do! Californian: You ever been to California? Wind, fire, mud, earthquakes! YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! If you find any discrepancies in our Birthday/Anniversary listings, please call the office or us. This would include names that are missing or misspelled, as well as wrong dates. Hmm. A man was driving a black truck. His lights were not on. The moon was not out. A lady was crossing the street. How did the man see her? A Record of Our Faithful n ess Date Attendance General Fund Offering 7/ $ / $ /7 175 $ / $ / $ / $ Prayer Concerns ~~ Kent Harrison, Don Robinson, Rachel Bailey, Rose Borman, Barb Marchand, Lee Crow, Rosie Ritchie, T.C. Gossett, George Creekmur, Eloise Overdorf, Walter Fanok, Joyce Smith, Mabel Blythe

7 September 2016 Sunda y Monda y Tuesda y Wednesda y Thursda y Frida y Saturda y 1 9:00AM Exercise :30AM Safe Harbor 9:30AM Worship Service 10:45AM Sunday School 5 LABOR DAY OFFICE CLOSED 6 7 9:00AM Walking Club Bulletin Information Due 8 9:00AM Exercise GOOD NEIGHBORS LUNCHEON 9 Children s Ministry Mtg 10 7:00AM UMM Breakfast 11 8:30AM Safe Harbor 9:30AM Worship 10:45AM Sunday School 12:00PM Shower Reba Hall 12 9:00 AM Walking Club 13 7:00PM Endowment Mtg 14 9:00AM Walking Club Bulletin Information Due 15 6:30PM Nomination Comm Mtg GOOD NEIGHBORS LUNCHEON :30AM Safe Harbor 9:30AM Worship 10:45AM Sunday School 10:45AM Reception For Potential Members 4:00PM Vision Meeting 19 9:00 AM Walking Club 11:30 AM Georgia s Girls/We Care 20 7:00PM Trustees Mtg 21 9:00AM Walking Club Bulletin Information Due SPIRE INFO DUE 22 9:00AM Exercise GOOD NEIGHBORS LUNCHEON :30AM Safe Harbor 9:30AM Worship 10:45AM Sunday School 2017 BUDGETS DUE 26 9:00 AM Walking Club 27 9:00AM Quilting 28 9:00AM Walking Club Bulletin Information Due 29 12:00pm Good Neighbors NORTH HS FOOTBALL DINNER 5:30 30

8 T h e S p i r e P o i n t i n g L i f e i n t h e R i g h t D i r e c t i o n Centenary United Methodist Church Old State Road Evansville IN RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Church Office: Fax: Office centenary@mw.twcbc.com Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 6 Inglefield, IN CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; everything old has passed away, see, everything has become new! 2 Corinthians 5: 17 Seeking God and God s Kingdom First Seeking to Live as Disciples Seeking to Be the Body of Christ, the Church Seeking to Discover the Joy of God