Commitment 2027

As we enter into the 2027 budgeting season, we invite you to make your financial commitment to Centenary. Our online pledge for Is quick and easy to complete. If you have any questions, please contact our Executive Director, Mary Ann Wexler.

Pledge

October 28 - December 2

Have you adopted an angel yet? Find your angel on one of our trees when you enter through 4 ½ Street or 5th Street. Don’t want to shop? Make a donation and we’ll pick an angel and shop for you!

• All gifts should be returned by December 2
• Wrapping Party: December 6; 3-5 pm

If you have questions or want to help make this amazing ministry a success please be in touch with Kate May ( /ext. 1331)

Sunday • November 8 • Noon • 4th Floor Youth Commons

Lunch Available with Reservation

Centenary members are invited to attend Church Council and our annual Charge Conference meeting. The business of the Charge Conference includes setting salaries for appointed clergy and approving the lay leadership for Centenary for the coming year. Voting members of Charge Conference are members of Church Council, the lay delegates to the 2026 Annual Conference, and retired clergy for whom Centenary holds charge conference membership. The deadline for lunch reservations is Wednesday, November 4. Register below or email Stacy Holley.

Register

Germany • May 17-29, 2027

Join tour guides Rev. Lara “Willis” Greene and husband, Dr. David Greene, on a 12-Day tour through Germany as you encounter a story of courage, faith and conviction that still speaks today. Along the way, we’ll wrestle with one of history’s most urgent questions: how a deeply Christian nation became the setting for profound moral tragedy. For more information, contact Stacy Holley.

Learn More   Brochure   Video

Sunday • November 1 • 2 pm

Bring your leashed or crated pets for a time of fellowship and blessing of our animal companions. We will be on the front steps of the church. There will be a drive-thru option in the Fifth Street parking lot for pets who do better staying in their vehicle.

Love to read and enjoy great conversation? Join our monthly short story discussion group, meeting the second Tuesday of each month, September – May, from 6 –7:30 pm, with an optional dinner afterward at West End Cafe. This fall, we’ll continue exploring A Century of Fiction in The New Yorker, 1925–2025, featuring some of the finest short stories of the past century. New readers are always welcome! Contact Steve Karr for more information.

Mondays • November 30 - December 28 • 1:30 - 3 pm • Room 411

Make space for what matters most this Advent.  Join Rev. Dianne Lawhorn for a reflective journey through The Uncluttered Heart by Beth Richardson. Through daily Scripture, reflections, and prayer, we’ll prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming and make room for God’s hope, peace, joy, love, and presence. Using Holy Listening, a guided group spiritual direction practice, participants will share insights from their readings and daily spiritual journeys. Space is limited, so register today through Realm! 

Register

You are invited to come apart to experience big spaces of solitude and silence in community for the purpose of tending the inner fire of your soul through The Big Silence Retreat.  This 4-day mostly silent retreat will take place January 17-20, 2027 at St. Francis Prayer Springs in Stoneville, NC.   To register or to find out more, go to: www.thebigsilence.org.

Save the Date • April 9-11, 2027

Mark your calendars for our Spring Women’s Retreat as we gather once again at beautiful Lake Junaluska! We look forward to a time of fellowship, renewal, and connection together. We hope you’ll join us for this special weekend. Stay tuned—more details will be coming soon!

Sunday • November 22 • 3:30 - 5:30 pm

This event is a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season. When you register, you will choose and pay for the crafts that your family would like to create. Click below to see the craft choices and prices for this year. On November 22, you'll join us in the East Building to complete your crafts and have them ready to be the first Christmas decorations in your home! Not able to be here in person? Sign up for take-outs! There are a limited number of spots available for each craft, so register soon! Registration closes Wednesday, November 13. Questions? Contact Kate May (ext. 1331).

Register   Craft Options

Mark your calendar now!

• Vacation Bible School 2027: June 14-17; 9 am- 12 noon (3 year olds through 5th graders)
• Centenary Week at Camp Tekoa: July 4-10
• Register now through Camp Tekoa website (https://camptekoa.org/)
• Older Elementary Mission Week: July 20-22 (3rd-5th graders)

CareNotes are concise booklets that provide uplifting guidance to those who are hurting. They address topics that include grief, aging, healthcare, mental wellness, family care, spiritual support, and more. Our collection of CareNotes is located on the 3rd floor near the Resource Room.

Each week after Sunday worship, the Altar Guild takes the beautiful altar flowers from Centenary’s Sanctuary and creates several small arrangements that are shared with church members and friends who may be home-based, those who may be recovering from surgery, or who just may need a sign of love and care from our congregation. We are in need of someone to help coordinate this congregational care ministry. Volunteers who have a couple hours a week to deliver flowers are also needed. Associate Minister for Congregational Care, Rev. Oliver Helsabeck, will provide the list of persons to receive flowers each week. If you feel a calling to lead this ministry or to help deliver flowers, please contact Oliver.

Centenary Cares, a ministry of Shining Light on Mental Health, is a simple way that care and encouragement are extended from Centenary UMC. If someone you know is struggling or has a loved one struggling with mental health, submit the person’s name to Rev. Oliver Helsabeck, Associate Minister for Congregational Care, (ext. 1357). A member of Shining Light will confidentially deliver a Centenary Cares bag to the recipient. More information can be found here.

First Mondays • 10 am - Noon

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 times of need. No experience is necessary. Contact Rev. Oliver Helsabeck or Dianne Moore for more information. Look for a Healing Hands opportunity during Nourish on Wednesday evenings starting in January! No experience is required.

Join the Refresh Prayer Ministry for a mid-week service of reflection, music, and prayer. Each Wednesday from Noon-12:15 pm there will be a time for quiet reflection with music, and then the service will begin at 12:15 pm and finish by 12:45 pm. Parking is available in the 4½ Street parking lot, and you may enter from the 4½ Street entrance to the Chapel. For more information, contact Rev. Oliver Helsabeck or Becky Tate.

If someone in your family is experiencing a mental health crisis, it’s important to know you are not alone. Shining Light on Mental Health is launching the Peer Connector Ministry, which establishes a confidential connection between you and someone who has experienced a similar situation. Peer Connectors serve as supportive friends and listening ears, and they can provide prayerful, emotional support and can help to direct you to additional support or resources, as needed. Send a confidential message to Rev. Oliver Helsabeck and he will connect you with a Peer Connector.

Stephen Ministry is an intentional caring ministry. Stephen Ministers are trained and supervised, and they can offer a listening ear through difficult times in life. If you (or someone you know) is going through a challenging time and could benefit from a caring friend, contact Rev. Oliver Helsabeck (ext. 1357) for a referral. You can also find more information and a link to an online referral form on the church website under Congregational Care. All referrals are confidential.

First Thursday • 7:30 - 8:30 am • Community Room

We gather in the second-floor Catering Kitchen for coffee, biscuits, and fellowship, followed by a presentation from a special guest speaker. We hope you will join us in this time of community and fellowship!

To learn more about Men’s Ministry at Centenary, contact Chris Munnelly, Tanner Robinson, Michael Rogers, or Tom Lawson.

We are exploring ways to strengthen and grow our Men’s Ministry. To help us better understand the interests, needs, and priorities of the men in our congregation, we are asking all men to complete a brief survey.

Whether you currently participate in church activities regularly or are looking for new opportunities to connect, your feedback will help shape future fellowship events, Bible studies, service projects, retreats, and other ministry opportunities.

Please take a few moments to complete the survey and share your thoughts. The survey is available at the link below. Your responses will help us create a Men’s Ministry that continues to encourage spiritual growth, meaningful relationships, and faithful service.

Survey

Atrium Gallery

Join Art in the Atrium as we celebrate our opening exhibit by potter Rev. Andrew Craver. The exhibit, inspired by Psalm 23, will be on display until November 15.  We hope you will attend!

Thursday • November 19 • Noon • Memorial Auditorium  

 
November’s guest speaker will be Bob Cain from Piedmont Home Care, who will speak on "Navigating Senior Care Options." We gather at 11:45, and lunch will be served at noon. To register, send an email to or call the church office during business hours. Luncheon cost is $12.00, and the sign-up deadline is Wednesday, November 11th. If you need a ride to the luncheon, please let Rev. Oliver Helsabeck know. The Senior Adult Council will meet briefly in the choir room at 11:00 before the luncheon.

Wednesday • November 11 • 9 am • Auditorium

All Veterans, their families, friends, and anyone who would like to honor our veterans for their service are invited to attend. There is no charge for breakfast, but donations will be accepted. We invite you to join us for a special program to give thanks for our veterans and their families. To register, please contact Rev. Oliver Helsabeck. The deadline for registration is Wednesday, November 4.

Register

Commemorate baptisms, weddings, confirmations, or joining the church with a personalized Centenary sanctuary ornament. The cookbook Be Present at Our Table features cherished recipes, photos, and our congregation’s history—perfect for gifts. Both items are available at the Reception Desk. Proceeds support missions serving women, children, and families locally and around the world. For purchases or questions, contact Laurie Dray at (336) 830-4701. 

Tuesdays • October 27 - February 2 • 6 - 8 pm • Fulton YMCA 

Twin City Conference is a co-op basketball league in partnership with our friends at Winston-Salem Street School and other churches in Winston-Salem. If you’re a Senior High boy (9th-12th grade) who is not on your school’s varsity basketball team, come lace them up and play for Centenary! Cost is $50, and friends are welcome too. To register, scan the QR Code above. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Kevin Garrity.

Register

Tuesday • November 3 • 9 am • Duluth, MN • July 18-25, 2027

It’s that time of year; mark your calendar for (11/3) when our Sr. High Mission Trip Registration goes live via Realm! If you’re a Senior High youth (rising 9th- to just-graduated 12th grader), we hope you will plan to be a part of our team! Come serve in Duluth, Minnesota, where we’ll serve at a local youth center, help elderly folks with yard projects, sort donations at food pantries, and explore beautiful Duluth & enjoy Lake Superior! For questions, contact Tammy Pollock.

Sunday • November 8 • 5 - 7 pm • Memorial Auditorium

Saul Malek is a nationally recognized expert and trusted voice in gambling prevention. Teenagers, parents, and all community members are invited to LISTEN! and learn about the unprecedented and exponential rise in gambling among young men (11-25 yrs old). This event is free and open to the public. For any questions, please contact Tammy Pollock.

Register

Friday • November 13 • 6 - 8 pm • Urban Air

Meet us at Urban Air for a night of jumping, playing and eating with all your 6th grade friends! Cost is $20 per person – which includes entry into Urban Air Adventure Park and dinner. Please bring your signed Centenary liability release form and complete an Urban Air Adventure Park Waiver ahead of time online. For any questions, please contact Kevin Garrity.   

Register   Liability Form

2026

• September 20
• October 18
• November 8
• December 6

2027

• January 10
• February 7
• March 7
• April 11
• May 2