What's Happening This Week

Please join us at 11am this Sunday, March 29th for a combined worship service. Rev. Susan Pate Greenwood will bring the message, and we will have music provided by the many talented music ensembles and choirs here at Centenary. We look forward to seeing you!

Lenten Noon-Day Worship Schedule

Wednesday, April 1 12:00 PM Lenten Noon-Day Worship

Preacher: Rev. Susan Pate Greenwood

12:30 PM Lenten Lunch prepared by

United Methodist Men

Prayer Labyrinth

Centenary's Prayer Labyrinth will be available to walk as a spiritual practice during Holy Week.

The labyrinth will be open to walk with a volunteer "shepherd" to assist those with questions or who have never walked a labyrinth before:

Sunday, March 29: 9:30-12:30
Wednesday, April 1: 11:30-1:30 & 5:00-7:00
Thursday, April 2: 5:00-7:00
Friday, April 3: 5:00-6:00 & 7:00-8:00

The Labyrinth will also be open for prayer walks during church office hours, Monday, March 30, through Thursday, April 2, 9:00-3:00, without a volunteer shepherd.

THIS WEEK AT CENTENARY March 22-29

SUNDAY 3/29

8:00am Prayer Ministry-Parlor

8:30am Worship-Chapel

9:00am Xperience Worship-Sanctuary

10:00am Sunday School

11:00am Worship-Sanctuary

MONDAY 3/30

8:00am Men's Covenant Grp-Rm 200

8:45am Women’s Covenant Grp-Rm 204

9:15am Covenant Grp-Rm 206

10:00am GriefShare-Rm 210

6:30pm Cub Scouts Pack 13, Rm 206, 210-212, Old Basement

TUESDAY 3/31

1:30pm Lenten Bible Study-Rm 206

5:30pm Handbell Rehearsal-Sanctuary

7:00pm Lord, Is it I? Rehearsal-Sanctuary

7:00pm Scouts America Troop 31, Old Basement

WEDNESDAY 4/1

12:00pm Lenten Service-Chapel

12:30pm Lenten Lunch-Fellowship Hall

6:15pm Choir Rehearsal-Choir Rm

7:00pm Boy Scouts Troop 13-Old Basement

MAUNDY THURSDAY 4/2

5:30pm Spiritual Formation Committee-Resource Center

6:00pm Girl Scouts Troop 194-Room 210

7:00pm Lord, Is it I?-Sanctuary

GOOD FRIDAY 4/3

6:00pm Stations of the Cross-Sanctuary

HOLY SATURDAY 4/4

10:00am Easter Egg Hunt-Greenspace & Fello

10:00am Choir Rehearsal-Sanctuary

EASTER SUNDAY 4/5

6:45am Easter Sunrise Service-Greenspace

8:00am Prayer Ministry-Parlor

8:30am Worship-Chapel

9:00am Xperience Worship-Sanctuary

10:00am Sunday School

11:00am Worship-Sanctuary

2026 Graduation Sunday

We will be celebrating Centenary's high school and college graduates on Sunday, May 3, during our 9 AM and 11 AM morning worship services. If a member of your family wishes to participate or to be recognized in the bulletin on Graduation Sunday, please contact the church office: email: centenaryumc@centenarychurch.com; phone: 252-637-4181.

2026 Scholarship and Campership Applications

Centenary United Methodist Church offers three scholarship opportunities for high school graduates intending to continue their education:

JOHN AND HELEN MORTON SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Eligibility:

Active members of Centenary.
Graduating high school in the spring of this year.
Accepted to enter college in the Fall, either a 2-year or a 4-year degree.
The maximum grant is $1,000.00 for one year.

Click for Morton Application

T. M. DIGGS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Eligibility:

Resident of Craven County for at least 2 years (does not require attendance at Craven County School).
Graduating high school in the spring of this year and accepted as a full-time student at a 4-year college or university.
Worthy student who has distinguished himself/herself personally, scholastically, and otherwise, who has a reasonable need for financial assistance.
The candidate selected must maintain an acceptable level of achievement and personal demeanor to be a credit to this program.
The scholarship is for 4 consecutive school years.

Click for Diggs Application

RONALD W. IPOCK CAMPERSHIP FUND

Purpose and Selection

The Ipock Campership Fund enables select Craven County youth to attend approved

residential summer camps (this does not include weekend retreats or family

weekends). Recipients will be selected based on need, with priority given to youth involved at Centenary United Methodist Church.

Disbursement of Funds

The amount of the campership award will vary each year depending on the revenue

generated by the Ipock Campership Fund and the number of qualified applicants. No

more than six (6) camperships will be awarded each year. A check for the campership

award will be made payable to the camp of the recipient’s choice to assist with the

cost of attendance.

Click for Ipock Campership Application

Print an Application form using the provided links or pick one up in the church office. The deadline for scholarship and campership application submission is Friday, April 3, 2026.

2026 Youth Summer Mission Trip

Our youth We will be returning to the Hinton Rural Life Center in the mountains of North Carolina for our 2026 Summer Mission Trip. The Hinton Center's Summer Mission Outreach Program includes three days of our Safe & Healthy Home Repair ministry, worship and devotional times, poverty awareness activity, and Appalachian Culture Night.

The cost per attendee set by the Hinton Center includes all lodging, meals, and materials and comes to $382.50 per person. In order to make this trip accessible to our youth, the church covers most of that cost. If you would like to support our trip, you can give financially by check or online here: LINK.

We have two exciting upcoming PRIMETIMERS EVENTS

These may fill fast and even if you aren't sure, please let us know if you are interested, or if you want to confirm early registration, THANK YOU! Please reply to Janet Buff trentriver25@earthlink.net or call Donna Lewis 252 288-4368.

THE NC SYMPHONY

April 7 at 7:30 Riverfront Convention Center, New Bern

Program is FROM CLASSICAL TO BROADWAY
Tickets $48 each (regularly $65.00) RESERVATION DEADLINE for PAYMENT is March 2nd
payment may be left in the white box marked PRIMETIMERS in the church office

TRIP TO MYRTLE BEACH

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday October 4-6

PLEASE LET US KNOW IF INTERESTED

All oceanfront rooms, accommodations at the Dayton House
Includes: hot breakfast, dinner at The Original Benjamin Calabash Seafood Buffet and a show
Package rates are per person*
(Includes ALL taxes and gratuity)
Single room- $291 Double- $179 Triple -$149 Quad- $134
We hope to provide the church bus and when we have the final group we may also arrange some carpooling as needed.

HOLY LAND CLASSIC TOUR: Join Educational Opportunities and host Dr. Bob Whitley on a tour of the Holy Land. The tour is scheduled for November 3-12, 2026. Christian tourism is returning to Israel, and registration is now open through June 2026. Brochures are available in the church office. Contact Dr. Whitley at 252-617-2727 or bobwhitley0427@gmail.com for more information.

Discipleship Ministries

Everyone has a place in music here at Centenary! For questions about our music ministry, contact Director of Music Ministries Paul Saik at paulsaik@centenarychurch.com or

252-637-4181 ext. 105

Children & Youth

Support Bear Town Youth!

There are always several ways you can help with Bear Town Youth! We couldn't do what we do with our youth without the dozens of people who offer their support by giving their time, talent, and treasure. Won't you be one of them?

Provide Snacks or a Meal:

One of the best ways you can help is to provide snacks for our Wednesday Middle School Hangout or a meal for our Sunday night youth meetings. If you are interested, sign up below:

Middle School Hangout Snacks: SIGN UP
Sunday Night Youth Dinner: SIGN UP

Volunteer Your Time:

There are a variety of ways you can get involved by volunteering with our youth:

Sunday Night Youth Meetings: In order to comply with our Safe Sanctuaries Policy, which exists to protect children and vulnerable adults, we are required to have at least two adults present with youth at all times, which means on Sunday nights, we need volunteers when we split into our high school and middle school small groups!
Youth Sunday School: We offer two small groups that meet during the Sunday School hour from 10:00 to 10:45 on Sundays during the fall, winter, and spring. These groups are split by age. We are looking to add additional adults who are willing to lead or co-lead these small groups!
Service Projects: Our goal is to participate in at least one service-oriented event each month, and these events often require additional volunteers to make them happen!

If you are interested in volunteering in one of these areas, please contact Pastor Tyler.

Support the Youth Designated Fund:

Our Youth Designated Fund provides funding for special events and other activities beyond the amount we have budgeted each year for youth ministry. You can give online using this link:

YOUTH FUND

Email or call Lindsay Roberts with questions or if you have ideas for how you want to get involved (lindsayroberts@newbernrespite.org | 919.428.0618).

Trinity UMC

2311 Elizabeth Ave

New Bern, NC 28562

Volunteer start time is 9:20 am

Connect with us on Facebook

Creation Care- A few facts about water

From the UMC Book of Resolutions #1211 Protection of Water

United Methodists shall affirm, educate, and advocate for clean, accessible, affordable water as a basic human right. It is to be shared and enjoyed by all God’s people; policy cannot favor the rich over the poor when it comes to accessing clean water.

1) The Earth is mostly water. 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water. Only 3% of it is freshwater, and 2/3 of that is locked away in glaciers and polar ice caps. That means only about 1% of the Earth’s water is available for drinking, making conservation and purification necessary. (US Bureau of Reclamation)

2) Human beings are made of water: Our eyes are 96% water; our brains and kidneys are 80% water; our hearts and muscles are 75% water.

3) 2.2 billion people lack access to safe and clean water. (UNICEF) Contaminated drinking water accounts for 6% of all deaths in low-income countries. (WHO) Over 1000 children under 5 die every day from diseases linked to unsafe water. (UNICEF)

4) Globally, agriculture accounts for 70% of freshwater use. A quarter-pound burger is estimated to require 460 gallons of water, one egg is estimated to require 50 gallons of water to produce. An orange takes 13 gallons to grow. (USGS) Reducing food waste matters. The US food waste is 30-40%.

5) Fruits and vegetables are mostly water. Cucumbers are 96% water; zucchini 95%, strawberries 92%, spinach 91%, carrots 87%, apples 84%, and bananas 74%. Eating fruits and veggies is an easy way to hydrate.

World Water Day is March 22nd a United Nations Observance day

Centenary is a Stephen Ministry congregation.

If you're going through a tough time and find it difficult to cope with it alone, Centenary has a solution for you. As a Stephen Ministry congregation, we offer one-on-one, confidential support from our highly trained and compassionate Stephen Ministers. Whether you're dealing with a personal or family crisis, grief, illness, or any other challenge, our Stephen Ministers are here to help.

To learn more about this caring ministry and how it could benefit you, please reach out to Jan Hood, Sherry Parker, or Judy Tymes.

We are here to support you through difficult times.

Stephen Ministers are at the altar following each service for confidential discussion or questions.

If you would like to have communion delivered to you at home by a Stephen Minister on first Sundays, please contact the church office at (252)637-4181.

The next session of GriefShare: Mondays 10am–12pm in Rm 210. GriefShare is a support group for people who have lost a loved one: spouse, family member, relative or friend. It is open not only to Centenary United Methodist Church members, but our entire community as well. ALL ARE WELCOME! Participants can join us at any time. If you know of someone who is hurting, please invite them. Contact Marion Bunn 252-670-2590 for more information.

Hey friends! Spring has Sprung in Eastern North Carolina!! Finally! Woo hoo! Blessings to you and your churches as we all navigate toward Easter and prepare to celebrate the resurrection!

It is time for our last Backpack Blessings Build of this school year! You all have worked so hard this year and done such a wonderful job packing food bags that we are going to be able to have a smaller build this time. Hopefully there will be slots for everyone who wants to come for the fun, fellowship and service!

Ruth

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D4BA9AB2AA0FD0-62837680-spring

Missions

There are many opportunities to get involved at Centenary! If you want to help us make a difference, please Click to see our Mission Brochure