CENTENNIAL NEWS

Final Governance Presentation: Before voting on the Governance change (vote to take place June 27th), please join us on Sunday June 4th after worship at either service and/or Wednesday June 7th at 5:30pm at the Roseville campus for a presentation on the Governance change documents. Final documents will be sent out in a church-wide email, as a link Centennial News, and paper copies will be available in the church office.

Congregational Vote on Governance Change @ Church Conference: Tuesday evening (time TBD) June 27th on Zoom – Per the Book of Discipline, voting is open to Centennial UMC members and members must be present on the Zoom call at the appointed time in order to vote. Because this is a specially called church conference, only the matters of governance for which the meeting was called may be addressed. If you need accommodations because you are unable to log onto Zoom, please contact Pastor Whitney.

Creating a Welcome: Centennial has always taken its welcome seriously. You can read more [HERE] on how we will be expanding our welcome to the LGBTQ+ community and why display of the rainbow flag is a vital part of that welcome now.

Love Offering at Minnesota Annual Conference: It is a tradition of the Minnesota Annual Conference to receive a love offering each year when the conference meets. This year’s offering will go to address the growing mental health needs in Minnesota. Sixty percent of the Love Offering will fund a new grant that will support churches that have partnerships with mental health services offered in local schools or communities. Thirty percent of the Love Offering will go to three Minnesota nonprofits engaged in mental health education and advocacy: Mental Health Connect, Mental Health Minnesota, and Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health. Finally, 10 percent of the Love Offering each year goes to Volunteers in Mission scholarships, which support first-time mission trip participants. We will collect gifts to the Love Offering thru Sunday May 28th and our delegates will take a check with them to the MN Annual Conference on Wednesday May 31st. Please consider making a contribution to this year’s Love Offering.

Open Position: Part-time Roseville Custodian: Centennial UMC is seeking a part-time Roseville Custodian. To learn more about the position and how to apply click [HERE].

Join us in the Centennial Summer of Service: Sign up [HERE] to get involved with any or all of the events we have coming up this summer to serve our community both near and far. All are welcome regardless of age or ability to find ways to get involved and serve the community as a church family this summer! For questions, contact Amanda Schultz at mandaroo112@gmail.com.
 
Farewell/Send-Off Gathering: Sunday June 11, 2023 Fellowship Hall Roseville | Rev. Pimpinan Sijabat has completed his Master’s degree from Luther Seminary on May 21, 2023. Rev. Whitney Sheridan and Rev. Brian Hacklander were mentors. Together with his wife, Roma, and their twin boys, they will return to Sumatra, Indonesia to continue planting Christian churches (22 and counting). Please join in a send-off blessing for them and their future endeavors. We plan to gather in Fellowship Hall on Sunday, June 11 from 1 pm to 5 pm for a potluck meal. All are invited.
 
Connectivity plans for summer: NO Connectivity on May 28th with monthly meetings: June 18, July 16, August 20 10:30 in Asbury 1 and Zoom.                                      
Kids on a Mission: Wade in the Water (VBS) 5-8pm, Wednesdays July 19, 26, August 2, 9, 16 at the Roseville Campus | Open to kids 3 years old (& potty trained) to current 5th graders. You can click [HERE] to register your child(ren) and click [HERE] to sign-up as a volunteer.

Renewal Leave: Pastor Jen will be on renewal leave from June 6th to July 5th. During that time please reach out to Pastor Dave or Pastor Whitney.

Volunteers for Reconciling booth at Pride fest needed! Saturday, June 24-Sunday, June 25th | Twin Cities Pride fest is back and better then ever! The UMC Reconciling Ministries host a booth at Pride every year to spread the love of Christ, and we need Centennial volunteers to sign up to staff the booth! 2-hour shifts are available throughout the 2 day event, or sign up to walk in the parade. For questions about what to expect from the best volunteer opportunity of the year, or for more information, contact Amanda Schultz, mandaroo112@gmail.com or sign up for a shift [CLICK HERE].

2024 Midwest Mission Trip: Centennial UMC will be sending two teams to serve at the Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Pawnee, IL in July of 2024. 1 Team of 10 will serve for 4 days, Mon July 15-Thur July 18 (cost to register: $150). Another Team of 16 will serve for 2 days, Wed July 17 & Thur July 18 (cost to register: $63). Sign up HERE for the 4 or 2 days of service.

Sierra Leone Mission Trip early 2024: Centennial has been sending mission teams to serve in Sierra Leone West Africa since 2011. We partner with Africa Uplifted, a 501c3 public non-profit organization, which was inspired by UMC OC Ministries and works in coordination with the Sierra Leone UMC Conference. We are again planning to form a mission team to serve in late January or February 2024. Trips typically span 12-14 days including travel time. More information to come, but if you have questions feel free to reach out to Eric Bjorklund bjork349@gmail.com or Randy Oelschlager randyo@fabricsupply.com.

Old Salem Shrine Founders Day: June 4, 2023 | Old Salem Shrine, one of our conference historic sites, invites everyone to its Founders Day Open House and Service, Sunday afternoon, June 4. Open House, 1-3 p.m., service in the church at 3 p.m., led by Rev. Wes Gabel and Rev. Amy Jo Bur. The church is located on Upper 55th Street East in Inver Grove Hts., a short distance east of Robert St. or about a mile west of Hwy. 52, exit on Upper 55th. Want to know more? Check the website, www.oldsalemshrine.org.
 
Senior Self-Defense Series - Krav Maga: Wednesdays, June 7, 14, 21  10:30-11:30 am  lawn at 2200 Hillside Ave. | Would you like to feel more confident and stronger when you are “out and about”?  Learn through drills and games situation awareness and prevention skills as well as defend and fight as a last resort. Gail Boxrud, a certified instructor from Krav Maga Minneapolis, will lead this course. Participants may attend any or all sessions. Registration is required.  Contact the St. Anthony Park Area Seniors office at 651-642-9052 or sc@sapaseniors.org to register. This course is offered at No Charge.

Congratulations To Centennial United Women of Faith (UMW): At the MN Annual Conference meeting next week our Conference UWF will be receiving the Jean Audrey Powers Award for Healing a Broken World. This award honors those who have made significant efforts to build the beloved community, in particular through collaborative partnerships and ecumenical efforts, working for justice and reconciliation for all persons. Thanks for Centennial UWF efforts to make this happen in our MN Conference.