The First-CentenarianThe First-CentenarianVolume 12, No. 23 November 15, 2019Volume 12, No. 23 November 15, 2019

Sowing Seeds of GenerosityDo not store up for yourselves treasures

on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. -- Matthew 6:19-21

At age 86, two years before his death, John Wesley wrote the following in “Causes of the Ineffi cacy of Christianity” (7-2-1789):

“Who regards those solemn words, ‘Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth?’ Of the three rules which are laid down on this head, in the sermon on ‘The Mammon of Unrighteousness,’ you may fi nd many that observe the First rule, namely, ‘Gain all you can.’ You may fi nd a few that observe the Second, ‘Save all you can:’ But how many have you found that observe the Third rule, ‘Give all you can?’ Have you reason to believe, that fi ve hundred of these are to be found among fi fty thousand Methodists? And yet nothing can be more plain, than that all who observe the two fi rst rules without the third, will be twofold more the children of hell than ever they were before….

“Does it not seem (and yet this cannot be) that Christianity, true scriptural Christianity, has a tendency, in process of time, to undermine and destroy itself? For wherever true Christianity spreads, it must cause diligence and frugality, which), in the natural course of things, must beget riches! and riches naturally beget pride, love of the world, and every temper that is destructive of Christianity. Now, if there be no way to prevent this, Christianity is inconsistent with itself, and, of consequence, cannot stand, cannot continue long among any people; since, wherever it generally prevails, it saps its own foundation.

“But is there no way to prevent this? -- to continue Christianity among a people? Allowing that diligence and frugality must produce riches, is there no means to hinder riches from destroying the religion of those that possess them? I can see only one possible way; fi nd out another who can. Do you gain all you can, and save all you can? Then

you must, in the nature of things, grow rich. Then if you have any desire to escape the damnation of hell, give all you can; otherwise I can have no more hope of your salvation, than of that of Judas Iscariot.”

Marie Farrar Baldree Stewardship Chair

Advent Wreath CreationsWednesday, December 4

This Thanksgiving Season I am beyond thankful for my amazing church family! But let us look ahead and set our calendars to

prepare our hearts for Advent. Join us Wednesday,

December 4, 4 - 7 p.m. for this First Kids sponsored Family Event! We will create beautiful advent wreaths as a family to decorate our homes and center our hearts on the Reason for the Season. Let the magic and wonder of Christmas begin!

Please reserve your spot by …• Calling the church offi ce –

423.756.2021• Emailing bspears@fcumc.org• Joining the FB Advent Wreath

Creations Event– Beth Spears, Children’s Ministry Director

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CLERGY CORNER (cont’d)people to do that today,” and other such reasoning. Mine is once it is out of my pocket and into Jesus’ hand I won’t be able to use that money to buy tickets to see LSU play in the national championship game. I am not as generous as my Eastern European friends.

As we look at “Sowing Seeds of Generosity” think of the possessions with great power that God has given us. Will we put them back in our pocket? I hope that the “Ring” doesn’t take possession of us, but when the time comes we can give it up. “Go sell all you have and give it to the poor.” Easier said than done.

Well Santa, I guess I really don’t want anything for Christmas this year, except maybe a bigger heart of generosity (and a national title for LSU). It is so hard not to think of my priorities!

Geaux Tigers, Barry

As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, I quickly begin to think about all the things I want to ask Santa to bring me. Then reality sets in. I just came from an In Mission Together conference. I sat with fellow pastors who are in the U.S. hoping someone will partner with them so they can keep doing the ministries (mostly with “the least of these”) in which they are engaged. I refl ected on the fact that many of my pastor friends in East Europe never get to take their families out to eat at a nice restaurant because they don’t get a big salary and they often use more than their “tithes” to make sure that the people they serve have basic necessities.

Sometimes I wonder just how generous I really am. The American Church is kind of like Frodo in The Lord of The Rings. We have been given a possession with great power to hold onto. When Gandalf warns Frodo of the great power the Ring has on the one who possesses it, Frodo is skeptical. So, Gandalf challenges him to give it up. Frodo takes it from his pocket intending to throw it into the hot fi re. As he struggles with the intention of throwing it away, he puts it back in his pocket.

I often wonder why we preachers (self included) when asked about Jesus telling the guy to take his stuff, sell it and give to the poor we hem and haw around saying stuff like, “Jesus doesn’t really ask

CLERGY CORNER

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Rev. Barry Kidwell

Prime Time Wednesday

Make dinner reservations by 4 p.m. Monday.Call 756-2021, ext 3123 or EMAIL foodrsvp@fcumc.org

November 20 – Chicken And Dressing, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Roll, Pumpkin CakeHarvest Salad available upon pre-order Non-dairy & meat free items available upon pre-order.

$25 max per household. $8 adults. $5 children & youth. With an adult meal, children 3 & under eat free. Thank you for keeping your dinner

reservations current. We pay in advance for the number of meals we order.

• Discipleship Essentials – A Guide to Building Yourself In Christ

• When Christians Were Jews• Divorce Care

Dinner at 5:15 p.m. Classes at 6 p.m.Children’s Music, Children’s Activities & Youth at 6 p.m.__________________________________________

As the weather gets colder, our Mustard Tree Ministries is in need of blankets. Please leave your donations in the Welcome Center. Thank you.

A very special thank you!

Thanks to everyone that helped and all who attended the It’s Your Birthday – 70 Plus Luncheon. You made the day extra-special and we continue to Celebrate You!

Looking for a Way to Share Your Christmas?Angel Tree – Give a present to a Centenary child.

Take an ornament from the basket outside The Vine or Sanctuary.

Donate to the Centenary – Make a donation to any Centenary fund in honor of a friend and that friend will receive a Christmas card designed by a Centenary student. eGiving on line at fi rstcentenary.com or by check.

Sponsor a Family in Need – Purchase presents and household items for a Centenary child’s family that is in need this Christmas. Contact Monique or Mary Grey. 423-266-3345, mstrickland@fcumc.org, or mgmoses@fcumc.org

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November 17 – The McCallie Men’s Chorus, directed by James

Harr, will participate in the 10:45 Service. (Children’s Choirs will participate in The Vine Worship service). In the 8:30 Service you will

hear beautiful fl ute music by Laurie Zeigler. November 24 – Commitment Sunday. The

Chancel Choir, brass, timpani and organ will accompany hymn singing and present festive music to celebrate the joy of generosity and giving thanks.

December 1 – Advent begins!December 15 at 4 p.m. First-Centenary’s Music

Ministry presents Joy to the World. Please join us for this musical celebration of Christmas offered by our Children, Youth and Adults.

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Music in the SanctuaryMusic in the Sanctuary

Oak Street Playhouse presents ...our Annual Dinner Theater ProductionThe Charitable Sisterhood Christmas Spectacular

December 6, 7, 12, 13 & 14 at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays, December 8 & 15 at 1:30 p.m.

As we prepare our hearts and give thanks to the Lord, with a

Thanksgiving Pancake Breakfast Everyone invited! Sunday, November 24 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. The Vine Lobby

Pancakes | Baked Cinnamon Spiced Apples |Apple Syrup | Maple Syrup | Bacon |

Pumpkin Muffi ns | Orange Juice, Coffee, Milk

Recently the youth went on our annual NEXUS fall retreat to Ocoee Ridge Camp with 10 other churches from the district! We spent the weekend in worship, hearing from our speaker, Kevin Alton, and participating in fun activities like paintball and high ropes! There were over 200 students in attendance! We had a great time and can’t wait for next year!

BaptismMarion Elizabeth Moore, daughter of Bradley and Lesley Moore, received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism on November 10. Also pictured is Fisher Moore.

R tl th th te

Christmas 1977 is only three weeks away, and the ladies of the Charitable Sisterhood are preparing for Second Trinity Church’s annual Spectacular, but they can’t stay focused because there’s a criminal on the loose. The baby Jesus fi gurine is missing from the church’s nativity scene. Sisterhood leader Bea Littleton is certain the culprit is her longtime rival, Lucille Orton, from First Salvation Church, a place of extremely strict beliefs up the road. Bea and the other Sisterhood members want to get to the bottom of things, so they call in honorary member and private investigator, Janet Murchison, to see if she can determine who the perp is. By the day of the Spectacular, Janet thinks she might know. But there is a show full of songs and skits to do, and we see onstage and backstage the hilarious hijinks of doing just that. And just wait for the showstopper!

Dinner in the Oak Street Center.The play is in the Flo Summitt

Theatre. Catered by Hour Place Restaurant. Tickets are $25.

To purchase tickets over the phone, call 800-838-

3006 (option 1), or to purchase on-line, go to www.

brownpapertickets.com and type in Oak Street

Playhouse.

Non-Profi t Org.U. S. Postage

PAIDChattanooga, TNPermit No. 428419 McCallie Avenue

Chattanooga, TN 37402 Dr. C. Mark Gooden,Senior Pastor(423) 756-2021www.fi rstcentenary.com

FIRST-CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH P. O. Box 208Chattanooga, TN 37401

SUNDAY WORSHIPNovember 17, 201923rd Sunday after Pentecost

Sanctuary at 8:30 & 10:45 a.m.Sowing Seeds of Generosity

Seeds of Simplicity2 Corinthians 8:8-15Dr. C. Mark Gooden

The Vine at 10:45 a.m.Sowing Seeds of Generosity

Seeds of Simplicity2 Corinthians 8:1-24Rev. Will Lauderback

Reading from the LectionaryIsaiah 65:17-25

Isaiah 122 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Luke 21:5-19

Televised sermon by Dr. Gooden – Seeds of Growth

Televised on Channel 12, WDEF-TV at 6 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. each Sunday.

Mustard Tree Worship at 5 p.m.in The Vine – Rev. Barry Kidwell

UMW Christmas CelebrationJoin us for our Christmas celebration on December 3 at 6 p.m. in the Oak Street Center. Everyone is invited to the UMW Christmas dinner.

Our speaker, Mrs. Rickie Pierce, will tell us the story of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Our guest musicians are Drs. Jan and Jonathan McNair.

Dinner Menu: Stuffi ng Baked Chicken with Gravy, Sweet Potato Casserole, Steamed Broccoli, Garden Salad and 2 cake options. (Gluten free options on request.)

Reservations for dinner should be sent to Peggy Wilkerson with a check for $15 per person by Wednesday, November 27 (3823 E. Abercrombie Circle Chattanooga, TN 37415)

Childcare is provided on request by November 27. Please call or email Beth Spears at bspears@fcumc.org or 423-756-2021.

y, Rickie Pierce

Drs. Jan and Jonathan McNair