Vision Statement of First-Centenary United Methodist Church: Build a healthy and diverse community of disciples of Jesus Christ.

The First-CentenarianThe First-CentenarianVolume 13, No. 01 June 26, 2020Volume 13, No. 01 June 26, 2020

Please plan to join us for Online Communion Sunday, July 5 @ 10:45 a.m.

Here are some guidelines to help you prepare for Online Communion:1. Prepare grape juice for all who are participating with you. Yes,

grape juice is preferable. If you do not have grape juice, then use your best judgement. The point is to participate in the body and blood of Christ.

2. Prepare bread or crackers for all who will gather with you.3. Light a candle signifying the presence of the Holy Spirit.4. Turn off all unnecessary electronics.5. Prayerfully enter into this time of worship.6. Your pastors will lead the liturgy and invite you to participate.7. Here are scriptures to refl ect on: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-

67; Psalm 45:10-17, Romans 7:15-25; John 15:1-11

If you would like self-serve Communion cups, we will have those available for you to pick up at the church. These self-serve cups contain a wafer and juice (see picture).

We will place these self-serve Communion cups in baggies in groups of single, two, three, or four and they can be picked up at the porte-cochere entrance (covered entrance at McCallie and Houston Streets). You can pick them up July 1 and July 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SUNDAY WORSHIPJune 28, 2020

4th Sunday after PentecostServices available online at

www.fi rstcentenary.comSanctuary at 10:45 a.m.

Come Take Up Your Cross Luke 9:23-27

Dr. C. Mark Gooden

The Vine at 10:45 a.m.Come Take Up Your Cross

Luke 9:23-27Rev. Will Lauderback

Reading from the LectionaryGenesis 22:1-14

Psalm 13Romans 6:12-23

Matthew 10:40-42Televised sermon

by Dr. Gooden - Come Follow MeTelevised on Channel 12, WDEF-TV at 6 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. each Sunday.

First-Centenary UMCPO Box 208 37401419 McCallie AvenueChattanooga, TN 37402 Dr. C. Mark Gooden, Senior Pastor(423) 756-2021 www.fi rstcentenary.com

What will worship look like?I know you are eager to get back to worship soon. I wanted you to

know what getting back together is going to look like in Phase 2.I share this with you so you will not be surprised. We will have

meaningful and enriching worship experiences, but these worship gatherings will not be what you are used to. The re-opening plans are based on the recommendations of the Holston Covid-19 task force led by Bishop Taylor. You can fi nd the Bishop’s plan at www.holston.org.

Worship – Phase 21 – Before worship

Numbers in worship:We will have a maximum number of 100 in each worship experience

including staff and volunteers.You will be asked to sign-up online or call the church offi ce. When we

have reached the maximum number allowed in each service, you will have the option to choose another worship service.

Parking places:There will be designated entrances and exits for both worship

experiences.The Sanctuary entrance will be at Houston Street only.

hn 15:1 11

we will urch.

Please remember that all activities at the church are suspended at least through July 12. We will off er digital services on June 28, July 5 and July 12.

(continued)

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The Vine worship entrance will be at back and side of the Oak Street parking lot entrance.

The Mustard Tree evening service will enter at the Oak Street entrance.

*Please note no other entrances will be open.

We will have limited access to the building for cleaning and sanitation purposes. We will have a professional cleaning crew to clean the worship areas and bathrooms after each worship experience.

2 – Entrance into the buildingWe will have ushers assigned

to each designated entrance to assist you in answering Covid-19 questions. Ushers will be available, as well, to give you instructions and answer any other questions you might have.

Please remember, everyone 2 years and older will be required to wear a mask to enter the worship space. This is a non-negotiable requirement mandated by Bishop Taylor and the Holston Covid-19 Task Force. Thanks to the UMW and others, we will have masks available if you happen to forget yours.

In Phase 2 there will be no coff ee, snacks, or meals available.

3 – During the serviceYou will be asked to sit in

designated areas and observe social distancing. There will be staggered seating.

In the Sanctuary, bulletins will be available for you at each pew.

Online giving will still be encouraged.

Off ering plates will be available near entrances and exits.

Off ering plates or attendance pads will not be passed during the service.

We will not be observing the “Passing of Peace” as we normally do.

There will be no congregational singing in the worship area.

Those leading worship will be singing so that those online can participate.

We will not have Children’s Time or childcare available during the fi rst 3 phases.

Worship participants will not be required to wear masks while exercising their responsibilities.

Please bring your Bible as Bibles have been removed from pews.

Worship services will still be live-streamed at 10:45.

4 – After the serviceAttendees in the Sanctuary

will enter and exit by side aisles. The center aisle will not be used.

In The Vine, instructions will be given upon entering and exiting the worship area.

Attendees will be asked to refrain from gathering after the service.

After reading all of the things that we cannot do, here are some things that we can do.

We will still enjoy gathering together, as the body of Christ.

We will still have prayers, responses, and children’s moments.

We will still be listening to music that will help us turn our focus to God’s, grace, mercy and love.

We will still have Scripture readings and sermons.

We will also still be off ering new and creative ways to be together as the body of Christ.

We will still encourage one another with smiles and waves and gestures of love. Remember, even at a distance, we can still share our love for one another.

Hopefully, we will not be in Phase 2 for very long. These are strange and unusual times but God is still at work and we will gather together to remember how good God is to us each and every day.

5 – SurveyIf you would, please fi ll out the

survey on Page 3 and mail it to the church or go to our website at www.fi rstcentenary.com/survey. It will help us in planning how best to serve you.

The results of the survey and data from the Hamilton County Health department, directions from the District Superintendent of the Scenic South District, Bishop Mary Virginia Taylor, Governor Bill Lee, the Executive Team of FCUMC, the Trustees, Church Council, the Staff of FCUMC and local medical professionals, will all have a voice in when we re-open or move from one phase to another.

Thanks again for helping us continue to proclaim the Good News of the Risen Christ in our world today! Be patient and stay the course!

Blessings, Mark

Complete the survey and mail to First-Centenary UMC,

P. O. Box 208Chattanooga, TN 37401

ORgo online

www.fi rstcentenary.com/survey

OR

scan the QR code below

Please let us know byJuly 1.

3

Many thanks to the mask making volunteers. If you have not yet done so, please bring your masks to the Welcome Center or let Donna Palmer at dsbpsych@gmail.com know that you need someone to come to you for pick-up. Remember, if you don’t have elastic turn them in anyway.

Re-Opening SurveyBased on the information in the June 26, 2020 First-Centenarian, would you feel comfortable returning to worship under Phase 2 restrictions? ___ Yes ___ No

If you were to come back to church in Phase 2, which service would be your fi rst preference?

Sunday:____ 8:30 a.m. Sanctuary ____ 8:30 a.m. The Vine (New service being off ered) ____ 10:45 a.m. Sanctuary ____10:45 a.m. The Vine____ 5:00 p.m. Mustard Tree Evening Service (The Vine)

Wednesday: ____ Noon Service (New 30 minute service being off ered)

If you answered no, what would you like to see happen before you would feel comfortable returning to church?

What questions can we answer for you as we re-open for in-person worship?

Clip and mail to the church offi ce.

Mustard Tree is so excited to continue providing food for our local Hispanic community during these diffi cult times. Our next event is Sunday June, 28!

They are trying to feed 80 families! Please drop off your food donations to the Oak Street Welcome Center before June 28.

• Spam• Black Beans• White Rice• Oatmeal

• Macaroni and Cheese• Fruit Cups• 5 pound bags of maseca• Little Debbie snacks cakes

If you are interested in helping out, donating, or just have any questions, please contact us!

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CLERGY CORNER (cont’d)

I shared a prayer book in worship earlier this year entitled “Every Moment Holy” that contained prayers for all kinds of life scenarios, situations, and celebrations.

One that has spoken to Christina and I recently is from a group of prayers entitled “A Liturgy for Changing Diapers,” as that action has become a big part of our lives lately! In the second of the two prayers, the author off ers an important reminder to the adult in the diaper changing relationship. It says, “Ah Lord, what a mess we sometimes make of our lives! What a tragic comedy is even our most sincere attempt to merit righteousness on our own. We are no more able to render ourselves holy than is this infant to keep itself unsoiled. I am as dependent upon your grace and your own righteousness, O Christ, to justify and make me clean, as this little one is dependent upon me to wash the residue of fi lth from its skin, wrapping it again in soft and freshly-laundered garments.”

Sometimes, if you are like me, our independent nature causes us to depend more on our own thoughts, actions, and desires than is healthy. And instead of “growing” or “succeeding” like we were hoping for, we fi nd that we have made a glorious mess for ourselves and sometimes of ourselves!

I don’t know what it is in your life that you feel like is a

Rev. Will Lauderback

mess right now. I hope that you, like me, can take comfort and fi nd encouragement in the truth that we have a God whose love for us in not dependent on our perfection or purity but simply on our being one of God’s created daughters or sons.

We are completely dependent on Christ’s grace and righteousness and are wrapped in the newness and cleanliness of Christ’s love each new day. May that truth inspire you to live wholly dependent on Christ and share the God news of God’s provision with all that you meet.

In Christ,Will

CLERGY CORNER FAMILY Sunday’s in June!This June the Children’s Ministry

is focusing in on Jesus by taking a closer look! When we focus on Jesus and form a relationship with Him the world around us begins to look a little diff erent. Because we can truly Know Jesus even though we’ve never actually seen Him in person. • Knowing Jesus changes the way we

see everything!• Knowing Jesus can help us

face our fears!• Knowing Jesus changes the

way we see others!!