Room 314 Central Building • 10:00 am • Sunday Mornings

The Celebration Class is made up of mostly retired singles and couples. However, being mostly retired is not a requisite for membership. Our studies are member-led and discussion-based. We are a small group averaging 9 to 11 attendees each week. Our class focuses on living and growing our Christian faith in today’s world with emphasis on fellowship, stewardship, prayer, missions and grandchildren. We have biannual fellowship meals and participate in a Christmas project of our choosing. We study the Bible through popular contemporary Christian writers, chosen by the class, as well as church-wide studies, when offered. Currently, we are following the Western NC Conference-wide Luke-Acts Bible Study. In the recent past we have studied Nearing Home: Life, Faith, and Finishing Well, by Billy Graham and Unrelenting Grace: A United Methodist Way of Life, by Bishop Ken Carter. We are particularly fond of books and studies created by Rev Adam Hamilton of the Church of the Resurrection, UMC, Leawood, Kansas. The latest was Unafraid, Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times. Because our members are generally very active, traveling and taking part in other church activities such as mission trips, we send out a weekly email containing class news such as lesson notes, mission opportunities, prayer requests and celebrations to help us stay connected throughout the week. All are welcome. We’ve set a place for you. Come join us!

Chapel • 10:00 am • Sunday Mornings

(Fellowship begins at 9:45 am, Lesson begins at 10:00 am)

The Chapel Class is perhaps the longest-running Sunday School class at Centenary, dating back at least four decades. We are open to everyone, with most of our class members being more senior adults who each Sunday come together for lessons and discussion in everything from the Bible to theology, church history, faith development and more contemporary events examined in light of Christianity and our Methodist heritage. We have multiple teachers throughout the year, with our longest-running theme in 2025 being a detailed treatment of Luke-Acts, which is this year’s primary Biblical focus of the Western North Carolina Conference of the Methodist church, including Centenary UMC. A weekly email keeps us all informed and we offer a Zoom option for those who can’t join us in person on Sundays. We are a welcoming group, and we’d love to have you join us!

Room 112 Central Building • 10:00 am • Sunday Mornings

Life is busy. Parenting tweens and teens raises its own set of challenges, none of which are easy to navigate on our own. We face questions like: how do we instill faith and confidence in God in our young people in this challenging world? How do we guide our children through the gauntlet of middle and high school while keeping our focus on God and at the center of our families? How do we continue to nurture and grow our own faith while balancing so many responsibilities? If this is your stage of life, the Come As You Are or CAYR (pronounced “care”) class is for you. This is a community of parents, step-parents, and other adults invested in the lives of tweens and teens. This fall we are going to follow along with the Parent Book Series sponsored by Centenary’s youth ministry. The book series is designed to help us walk alongside our teenagers as they navigate their world. The class will talk through the book(s) in class and participate in the churchwide event associated with each book. Class is led by facilitators but focused on open, non-judgmental conversation among class members. If you don’t have time to read or prepare for class, it’s okay; we want you to come as you are! If you have questions or want to know more, please contact Erin Bonsall or Meg Coppley.

Room 107 East Building • 10:00 am • Sunday Mornings

Founded in the 1990s, Mission Possible meets year-round on Sundays from 10:00 to 10:45 am in Room 107, with the option to join via Zoom. We use a wide range of studies—currently Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund—and weave in seasonal topics during Advent and Lent. Leadership is shared among three members who rotate in initiating and leading class discussion. Our core group is primarily 60 and older, though we’ve welcomed a steady stream of younger participants in their 20s and 30s over the years. All are welcome—membership is open to everyone!

Room 310 East Building • 10:00 am • Sunday Mornings

Raising young children is a challenge. From teething and tantrums to homework and soccer practice, it can be hard to find a free minute to spend time with God. We are parents of younger children who participate in member-led studies of books and topics to enhance our faith as parents. The conversation is geared so that those who have not been able to read the material can participate. We also discuss ideas, strategies, and support one another as we hope to raise our children with a strong Christian foundation. Please join us in Room 310 on Sunday mornings.

Room 307 East Building • 10:00 am • Sunday Mornings

The Pathfinders Class has a come-as-you-are approach as we seek to grow closer to Jesus through the study of scripture and other resources, prayer and fellowship. We are typically in our 40's, 50's and 60's (for now!) and enjoy a discussion-based time led by various class facilitators on subjects such as parenting teens and young adults, co-existing with aging parents and growing in our own faith journeys with Lenten and Advent studies. No preparation is ever required -- just show up and join us!

Room 115 Central Building • 10:00 am • Sunday Mornings

(Fellowship begins at 9:45 am, discussion begins at 10:00 am)

We are a community of seekers trying to get a better glimpse of Jesus, much like Zacchaeus did when he climbed up into a sycamore tree in Luke’s Gospel. We do so primarily through reading and discussing books that open our minds and hearts. We don’t have a designated teacher; class members read the material (usually a chapter or so per week) and share thoughts and insights. We encourage respectful expressions of all views and opinions. We are currently following the Conference Reading Plan – working our way through Luke and Acts during this liturgical year. Some of the authors we have read over the years include Will Willimon, James Moore, Barbara Brown Taylor, Richard Rohr, Adam Hamilton, Kate Bowler, Marcus Borg, NT Wright, and many others reflecting issues concerning religion, faith, and social/moral concerns. In addition to our studies, we frequently undertake mission projects, including efforts to help City with Dwellings, Love Thy Neighbor, winter overflow shelters, and others. We also have occasional social gatherings. The Sycamore Tree Class was founded in the 1980’s and some of the original members are still in regular attendance. As you might surmise, that puts us in the “Seniors” demographic, but we are always glad to welcome visitors and new members of all ages. We meet in Room 115. We try to convene at 9:45 for some fellowship time before commencing our discussions at 10. We dismiss at 10:45 in time for the 11:00 service. We also offer a Zoom link for those who can’t be with us in person. Our coordinator is Nancy Hipp, who sends out an email each week to keep us on track. Come join us!

Room 111 Central Building or via Zoom • 9:45 am • Sunday Mornings

The Whitfield/Foundations Class offers a welcoming community for individuals interested in engaging in deep, thought-provoking discussions on theology, faith and spirituality. We support our journey by exploring the writings of prominent theologians and scholars. By examining diverse perspectives that challenge and inspire us, we find opportunities for spiritual growth and experience the ever-present grace of God. Our past studies have included works by a wide range of influential thinkers. These include Bishop John Shelby Spong, Marcus Borg, and John Dominic Crossan; Jewish New Testament scholar Amy-Jill Levine; Franciscan priest and author Richard Rohr; Steven Charleston, a Choctaw Native American who served as the Episcopal Bishop of Alaska; Clarence Jordan, Baptist minister and founder of Koinonia Farm whose work helped inspire Habitat for Humanity; and Simon Wiesenthal, a Holocaust survivor whose book The Sunflower explores the complexities of forgiveness. We are currently reading and discussing If God is Love, Don’t Be a Jerk by John Pavlovitz: a book that challenges us to cultivate a faith that promotes compassion and justice. Our facilitators vary, with members of our class volunteering to lead us. If you are seeking a space where faith is explored with openness, intellectual curiosity and lively discussion, we invite you to join us. We welcome all and encourage you to visit us. We meet at 9:45 am in Room 111 on the first floor of the Central Building.