What’s Happening at CG 10/20/2021
A Note From Our Associate Pastor:Pastor Ruth J. Smith
 Lessons Learned from Nehemiah For the past several weeks we journeyed through a bible study entitled “Walking with Nehemiah – Your Community is Your Congregation” written by Joseph W. Daniels Jr. He used the book of Nehemiah as a model for writing this book. This pandemic has forced us to look beyond our next-door neighbor. It has forced us to look at a broader perspective of who our neighbors are. The story of Nehemiah gives us a perfect example of how the church is to connect with the communities it serves. The first lesson learned from Mr. Daniels’ book is that we must too have a burden for our troubled communities. Nehemiah’s heart became heavily burdened and he mourned for days when he was told that the city of Jerusalem was left in ruins and of the horrible condition the children of Israel who were left behind were facing (Nehemiah 1:4). The second lesson learned is that we must pray before taking any actions. After Nehemiah had finished mourning, he prayed and cried out to God asking for guidance (Nehemiah 1:4). The third lesson learned is that we must be willing to take a risk. Nehemiah was a cupbearer to the king. It could have been life-threatening going before the King with a sad face. It would have caused the King to become suspicious of his actions, but Nehemiah took a risk to show his emotions. God gave Nehemiah favor with the king. The king not only gave him permission to go, but gave him the resources he needed (Nehemiah 2:1-9). The fourth lesson learned is that we must remain silent until God shows us the need. We can’t share things right away because of naysayers and people who will kill the mission before it can take place. Nehemiah went out during the night so he could see the need. After he saw the need, he shared the mission (Nehemiah 2:10). The fifth lesson learned is once we see the need, we must be willing to commit all the way – “we must be all-in.” Nehemiah established a “oneness” with God and surrendered to God’s will. Now he is ready to begin the task at hand. We must become one with God and totally surrender to His will (Nehemiah 3). The sixth lesson learned is we should not do the work for them, but we should invite them to join us in doing the work. The last lesson learned I want to highlight is we must stay alert, focused, and determined to complete the task. Nehemiah had many distractions to deal with, but he remained committed to the task at hand. He held a sword in one hand and his tools in the other hand. He stayed ready to face any obstacle that came against him. There were so many lessons to be learned that I can’t share them all. I highly suggest you read the book. It is a very good tool to use when trying to connect/reconnect with the communities that you are serving. I want to thank our Associate Pastor, Marian Royston for being an excellent facilitator in leading us through this Bible Study. Ready to put the lessons learned into action! Your Associate Pastor Ruth Smith |
Worship Celebration
Oct 31, 2021
Join us for our Worship Celebration on Sunday at 9:31 a.m. via In-Person, or Facebook Live on the Center Grove United Methodist Church Facebook page.
You can also join our live streaming celebration via the following media outlets:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFfMEFeWdt294sXw_EOH7jA
Church Website: http://centergroveumc.org/
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/event/51681
Click the link below to access the 78th Harvest Ad Form. The ad deadline is Friday, November 5th, 2021. 78th Harvest Celebration
The Charge Conference of Center Grove UMC will meet on Sunday, November 14, 2021, 6:00-6:30 p.m. via Zoom. All members are invited to participate. To receive the login credentials in order to attend, please contact the church office no later than Tuesday, November 9th.
Remember The Sick & Home-bound
Mrs. Gladys Jacobs
Mrs. Madgie Jamar
Ms. Marjorie Ewing
Mrs. Cora King
Ms. Theresa Hope
Mrs. Zena Love Hill
Mr. Carl Bradley
Mrs. Barbara Baker
Mr. Bobby Readus
Mrs. Ollie Gilliam
Pastor Ruth J. Smith
Mrs. Carla Larry
Rev. Carolyn Hillard
Mr. Matthew Baker
Community Information
National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2021 Click the image below to read the article America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion published by the US Department of Labor.
Words of Encouragement
A Note From Pastor Cowser
| A Note From Our Pastor |
 Dear Center Grove Family & Friends: Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! The COVID-19 pandemic has touched us all in many ways and I continue to pray daily for our church family and community. Although the times have been challenging, we have continued to be blessed at Center Grove. Because we have strong and dedicated church members and ministry partners, we have continued to be an irresistible light in our community and beyond by the new and renewed ways we offer worship services, Bible studies, and mission opportunities. I have heard countless testimonies from many of you of how your faith in God, and hope for the future, have grown stronger, especially in this season. I am writing to announce our 2021 Annual Harvest Celebration. This year’s theme will be “In Due Season” based on Galatians 6:9 in which the Apostle Paul writes, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (NKJV). I will be preaching our 34th Youth Harvest Celebration and it will be on Sunday, November 14, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. Our 78th Church Harvest will be Sunday, November 21, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. and Rev. Dr. Tiwirai Kufarimai, Pastor of St. Paul UMC-Triana, will be our guest preacher. In keeping with our Harvest Tradition, the Harvest Souvenir Book will still be available this year—in print and digital. Advertisements may be purchased for: Encouragement, Fraternity and Sorority, College and University, Business Advertisement, In Memory or In Honor, and Church Committees/Auxiliaries. Our souvenir book is a wonderful testimony to the faith, heritage, and excellence of the people of God called Center Grove Church. Click the link for more information on purchasing an advertisement (78th Harvest). The deadline is Friday, November 5, 2021. In closing, thank you for the many ways you continue to support the ministries of Center Grove. Some amazing things have happened in the life of our church this year. I am truly amazed by the ways that the members and friends of our church go over and beyond to bless our church, our ministries, and our community. It’s Harvest Time! Pastor Cowser |
Choir Robe Pickup! Attention ALL CG Choir Members: Choir robes will be available for pickup on Wednesday, October 20th, and Thursday, October 21st from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., and Sunday, October 24th following morning worship.
Center Grove Family and Friends, in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness and Domestic Violence Awareness ALL are asked to wear Pink, or Purple on Sunday, October 24th.
Worship Celebration
Oct 24, 2021
Join us for our Worship Celebration on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. via In-Person, or Facebook Live on the Center Grove United Methodist Church Facebook page.
You can also join our live streaming celebration via the following media outlets:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFfMEFeWdt294sXw_EOH7jA
Church Website: http://centergroveumc.org/
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/event/51681
Click the link below to access the 78th Harvest Ad Form. The ad deadline is Friday, November 5th, 2021. 78th Harvest Celebration
The Charge Conference of Center Grove UMC will meet on Sunday, November 14, 2021, 6:00-6:30 p.m. via Zoom. All members are invited to participate. To receive the login credentials in order to attend, please contact the church office no later than Tuesday, November 9th.
Remember The Sick & Home-bound
Mrs. Gladys Jacobs
Mrs. Madgie Jamar
Ms. Marjorie Ewing
Mrs. Cora King
Ms. Theresa Hope
Mrs. Zena Love Hill
Mr. Carl Bradley
Mrs. Barbara Baker
Mr. Bobby Readus
Mrs. Ollie Gilliam
Pastor Ruth J. Smith
Mrs. Carla Larry
Rev. Carolyn Hillard
Community Information
National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2021 Click the image below to read the article America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion published by the US Department of Labor.
Words of Encouragement
A Note From Pastor Cowser
| A Note From Our Pastor |
A Call to 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting They will rebuild ancient ruins on your account; the foundations of generations past you will restore. You will be Mender of Broken Walls, Restorer of Livable Streets. – Isaiah 58:12 (CEB) I write to invite those who are physically able and called by God to participate in our “21 Days of Prayer & Fasting” beginning Monday, October 18th and ending Sunday, November 7th. During our prayer and fasting, we will seek God for opportunities to reach our community. The COVID-19 Pandemic has drastically changed our world and everyone has been affected in some way—physically, emotionally, economically, and/or spiritually. As we make our way through this time, I believe God is calling us to remain faithful in proclaiming His goodness and demonstrating His love in the world. Our communities are yearning for hope and direction and the church must stand like never before as a beacon of light and love. So, what does this mean for Center Grove? It means that as a result of our prayer and fasting, we believe that God will begin to reveal new and renewed ways that we can effectively minister to and with our community. Our hope is that by the time we end our prayer and fasting, we will be prepared to develop concrete steps to engage and serve our community. Above all, we desire to develop a laser-focused ministry plan to reach our community for the glory of God. When people hear the name “Center Grove Church,” we want them to immediately know what we are about and what God has called us to do in this season. Prayer and fasting are two spiritual disciplines that keep our attention on the Spirit of God at work in our lives. In prayer, we seek to directly communicate with God. In fasting, we deny our bodies of certain necessities such as food and liquid, enjoyments or pleasures, for a specified period of time for the purpose of building and strengthening our relationship with God. According to Biblical scholars, fasting as a way of connecting with God is mentioned at least 70 times in the Bible. Reasons for fasting vary, but there are three primary reasons for fasting: repentance (Deuteronomy 9:15-18), interceding for someone (2 Samuel 12:16-23), and preparing for something significant (Esther 4:16). Fasting was also an important discipline in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ (Matthew 4:1-4; 6:16-18) and the apostles in the early church (Acts 13:1-3; 14:21-23). If you are in poor health or if you have concerns about your ability to fast, first consult with a qualified medical professional. The type of fast you choose is up to you. You could go on a full fast in which you only drink liquids, or you may desire to fast like Daniel, who abstained from sweets and meats, and the only liquid he drank was water (Daniel 1). Others may decide to give up something like television, social media, the internet, etc. Remember to replace that time with prayer and Bible study. To help guide us through this time, our Pastoral Staff will present live video devotionals on the Center Grove Facebook page each Wednesday at 12:00 noon. Our scriptural focus will be Isaiah 58:12 (CEB): They will rebuild ancient ruins on your account; the foundations of generations past you will restore. You will be Mender of Broken Walls, Restorer of Livable Streets. Our prayer focus will be different for each week: Week 1 (October 18-24): See the need; Week 2 (October 25-31): Find opportunities; Week 3 (November 1-7): Take action. I am excited about entering into this time of prayer and fasting with you. I pray that God’s spirit will move among us in a powerful way. May you and your family be blessed! May Center Grove be blessed! May our communities be blessed! Above all, may God be glorified and the world be transformed! Grateful to be your pastor, Pastor Cowser |
Worship Celebration
Oct 17, 2021
Join us for our Worship Celebration on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. via In-Person, or Facebook Live on the Center Grove United Methodist Church Facebook page.
You can also join our live streaming celebration via the following media outlets:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFfMEFeWdt294sXw_EOH7jA
Church Website: http://centergroveumc.org/
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/event/51681
Click the link below to access the 78th Harvest Ad Form. The ad deadline is Friday, November 5th, 2021. 78th Harvest Celebration
Remember The Sick & Home-bound
Mrs. Gladys Jacobs
Mrs. Madgie Jamar
Ms. Marjorie Ewing
Mrs. Cora King
Ms. Theresa Hope
Mrs. Zena Love Hill
Mr. Carl Bradley
Mrs. Barbara Baker
Mr. Bobby Readus
Mrs. Ollie Gilliam
Pastor Ruth J. Smith
Mrs. Carla Larry
Mrs. Marion Hall
Rev. Carolyn Hillard
Community Information
Words of Encouragement
A Note From Pastor Cowser
| A Note From Our Pastor |
“Center Grove Love” By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. – John 13:35 (NIV) One of the hallmarks of Center Grove United Methodist Church is the love and compassion among the members that overflows into the ministries of the church and beyond. I’ve heard countless stories of how through the years, the one thing that has drawn new people to this church is the love that they feel when they encounter Center Grove members and ministries. To quote someone I recently talked to: “We are a loving family!” Needless to say, I totally agree. I have also felt this deep abiding love among our members and ministries. Although our pandemic experience has not allowed us to be together as much as we desire, love still permeates through our church. I mention all of this because I truly believe the key ingredient to the future of our church will be love. So many people in our community are experiencing challenging situations in their lives right now and I believe that God’s love is what is needed most. Love will bring a little light in the midst of what seems to be darkness. As we begin the Fall season, I want to challenge each of us to look for ways to continue to spread God’s love beyond the walls of our church. Although we are still somewhat scattered because of the pandemic, that does not prevent us from sharing the love of the Center Grove family with our community and beyond. In light of sharing this love, I share these thoughts on our vision statement that I have been reflecting on for a while. Our current vision statement reads: “We are an irresistible light on a hill winning souls for Jesus Christ.” What if we were to begin to re-imagine our vision statement a bit and tweak it to read: “We are an irresistible light in the community winning souls for Jesus Christ.”? What does it mean for this Center Grove light and love to move beyond “the hill” and begin to directly touch the lives of those in our community? Simply put, I don’t have all the answers, but I do believe God will lead the way. So, I invite you to reflect on the community and where God might be leading us. No matter what faces us in the future I know that when we let love lead the way, God will be glorified and we will begin to experience His glory in new and renewed ways. Grateful to be your pastor, Pastor Cowser |
| Thank You! Thank! Thank You! Our Dear Center Grove Family and Friends, We’re sending a heartfelt Thank You. Your prayers, texts, calls, food, funds, etc. have truly blessed us. It’s wonderful to be part of such a loving, spirit-filled family. May God continue to bless each of you. With love, The Larry’s (Larue, Carla, Matthew, Mykal) |
To register for the Walking With Nehemiah weekly Bible Study, please email the Center Grove Church office at church.office@centergroveumc.org, scan the QR Code on the flyer, or click the Registration Form Link https://bit.ly/walkingwithnehemiah
Worship Celebration
Oct 10, 2021
Join us for our Worship Celebration on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. via In-Person, or Facebook Live on the Center Grove United Methodist Church Facebook page.
You can also join our live streaming celebration via the following media outlets:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFfMEFeWdt294sXw_EOH7jA
Church Website: http://centergroveumc.org/
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/event/51681
Remember The Sick & Home-bound
Mrs. Gladys Jacobs
Mrs. Madgie Jamar
Ms. Marjorie Ewing
Mrs. Cora King
Ms. Theresa Hope
Mrs. Zena Love Hill
Mr. Carl Bradley
Mrs. Barbara Baker
Mr. Bobby Readus
Mrs. Ollie Gilliam
Pastor Ruth J. Smith
Mrs. Carla Larry
Mrs. Marion Hall
Rev. Carolyn Hillard
Words of Encouragement
