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Perhapsit is my sister'sbattlewith cancer,
or my brother's emergencyopen heart surgery,
or the reality of living into anothernew decade,
turning60, or just celebrating34yearsof marriage
togetherwith Candy,or going to Ugandaagain
and seerngsuch overwhelmingpoverry, or all
of them happeningwithin monthsof eachother.
Whateverthe reason,I amliving with a new sense
of appreciationfor life.
Theseexperiences have taughtme agaln,
how fragile this life is and how quickly it can
change,how quicklyits surprises rushin uponus
andturn life upsidedown It hasreminded mehow
preciouseachday is, how preciouseachability
andeachprovisionwe enjoy,truly is.
I am living each day a little differently,
trying daily to be more consciousof the gifts I
daily experiencein life and relationshipand
takingtime to thankGodfor it all. Eachday when
I walk out of my houseand closethe door behind
"Thankyou God for this new day.Good
me,I say,
moming creation,how beautifulyou are. Good
moming sky and cloudsand sun.Good moming
God.Thank for the possibilitiesthis day holds!"
I thank God that I am able to get out of
the house,that I can walk down thosefront steps,
that I can seeand smell andtouchthe beautythat
surroundsme.I thankGodfor thepreciouspeople
I am surroundedwith in my life.
I am so thankful for a faithful and loving
wrfe I havehad the privilegeof sharing34 years
of marriagewith and35 yearsof memories.When
I look at her and her beautifulsmile,I thank God
for the time we have sharedand the privilegeof
sharingdeepand cherishedmemories.What we
havebeenthroughtogether,somehowmakesthe
presentmuchmoreprecious
-2-
{ire
I sometimesshare with couPles I am
counselingin preparationfor marriage,that as
wonderfulas new found love is and its beginning
adventure, thereis somethingevenricherawarting
them, to live a lifetime with a cherishedperson
and to havesharedthejoumey, is a prectousjoy
one cannottruly describe.
Perhaps themostprofoundof all thelessons
I am continuingto leam and celebrateis where
God is in the midst of it all. I am so thankful for
this Friend,Companionon the Joumey,who no
matterrwhat life surprisesus with, is alwaysthere.
And, God is not only holdingon to us throughall
the surprisesandchallengesand disappointments
life brrrngs,He somehowkeepsworking, evenin
the midstof the bad,to somehowbring good.
Oneof the patriarchsof our faith, Joseph,
after being sold as a slaveto the slavetradersto
Egypt,'enduring theawful realitiesof beingfalsely
imprisbngdfor yearsandyears,when confronted
with his'own brotherswho had done this all to
"You meantit for evil, but God meant
him. said.
it for good!"
Timeandtimeagain,Ihaveseenthis reality
ring true,in my own life andthe life of my family,
and in so manyothers'lives.Life meantto harm
us and even destroyus, but somehowGod was
able to tum it into good.It is simply amazing.
When Candywas laid-off from her job, I
immediatelystressed aboutthe future andpresent
financialrealities.and il'hat that would meanfor
us. But then, I quickly remembered,God has
alwaysbeenwith usthrougheverydisappointment
and challenge.God has always,alwaysprovided
for our needs.God has always brought blessing
andgoodout of all the valleysof the shadowswe
havewalkedthrough.
 One of the treasureswe have discovered
in thesemonthsis the time we havehadwith each
other we would not have had, cherishedtime of
just sharinglife and its events,even the simple
rhlGoings-on
pleasures, like an unannounced lunchouttogether at Central bvchuckwolfram
or a walk in the aftemoonon the boardwalk.
God is Good, all the time. And, all the The Annual Conferencemet in Valley
time, God is Good! May thesesummermonths Forge from Thursday,June 3'd to Saturday,Jtme
bring you a deeperappreciationof life and those 5'h. Among the 1375membersattendingwere the
who areprecious! pastorsof the churchandyour lay membersDebbie
. /'2 Tai,Don BrorrynandChuckWolfram.Amongthose
Pastor 4 on ordainedas elderson Friday night wereour former
associatepastorScott Bostwick and the pastorof
SomersPoint IIMC Eric Helms. The bishopre-
appointed ourpastorsfor anotheryear.Ifyou want
to reada more completereportof what happened,
1
i'iii'ri U"tt,,* MrrthodirrWnrnrn
:::,: e-mail me at charleswolfram@,gmall.com or at
chuckwolfram@,verizon.net. I'll alsolet you rn on
UI\4Wwould like to thankall of a well known secret. There are vacanciesamong
those who preparedhealthkits the lay membership of theArurualConference and
for TIMCOR Wehavecollectedalmost160kits if you wantto be a memberof theconference, that
canbe easilyarranged.The only requirements are
$1,520.00 Wasraisedby Abigail Too Circlefrom thatyou be at leasttwo yearsa professing member
the saleof theirhomemade eastereggs. of the United MethodistChurchand at leastfour
yearsan pctiveparticipant.
They also made and served a sunday moming I've mentionedbeforetheCommonEnglish
breakfast after church to raise money for the Bible,a new translation that wrll be publishedin
missronendeavors of tlMW. 2011. If ypu want a free copy of the CEB New
Testament, which wrll be publishedthis Fall, go
We wrll be having our bake sale at the Annual to their yebsite http://www.commonenglishbible.
ChickenBBQ in July. comlBi bIedFlFreeNewTestament/ tabidl204/Default.
aspxandfill in the fblm. You canaisodownloada
We aresponsoringoneof the womenfrom Uganda pdf containingthe bookof Genesis.
WatotoLiving Hope project,which is helpingto The l50n Anniversaryof our churchwill
restore dignity, value and purposeto vulnerable be celebrated the weekendof October23-24. The
women. AnniversaryCommitteemet and organizeditself,
and if you want to help us makethe plansplease
The UMW will be havingalewelry SalelCHRIST- talk to PastorDaveor PastorJoanne.Wehavefour
MASin JULY-.ltuly 17th Don't missthisone.We teamsworkingon theweekend,andyou canbelong
havealotof differentitems. to any one or more of them: worship/celebration,
publicity,history,anddinner.
And in AUGUST we will behavinga FURNITURE There'san article about CentralChurch in
\AL-E at the garageon Marvin Ave. Therewill be the current(June)issueof TheReIay,thenewspaper
a lot of interestingitemsat this sale,too. Tell your of our conference.The articleis aboutour Church
friends about both of these.All proceedsr.vill go Beyondthe Walls,with our missionto the Rescue
to UMW projects, Mission, to Sister Jean'sKitchen and the plans
beingmadein regardto Haiti.
THANKSFOR ALL YOAR SAPPORT.

--t-
DearFriend,

We would like to take this op-

portunity to thank you person-
ally for donatingyour resources
to help us send shoesto needy
people around the World. It is
truly heart warmlng and hum-
bling to have peopleentrusttheir moneyto us, and
we takethe gift very seriously.We could not effec-
tively reachout to millionsof peoplewithoutcaring
individualslike you.

On average,we are able to ship one pair of shoes

anywherein the world for eachdollar we receive. ''
1.'.,'i.; :, .ijtl l.' | :i ; ir;ii i:i i,'il rl,j,...iil,r.
i:lt
Thankyou againfor thedonationof $106.00. -
,:::,',:t1":..,t:rl.i!ti.:1iir:i i:i.;:ll.:.,ir:ii::;l
i':'

i 9 o a o a a c o c o a a a a a a a O a a a a a a a a a a a . a o o a o a O a a a a a a a a o a o a a a r t o t a r a t t t f a

V\C/14'#' W O R L D G O S P E IM i S S I O N . .
DearRev.Watts:

Pleaseacceptour sincerethanksfor allowingus the

WORLD GOSPELMISSION'
Dear CentraltlMC. useofy6ur churchandparishhall freeofcharge,for
I commendyou for yourgenerous gift. It isn'teasy our Springconcertsof 2009 and2010.lt s alwaysa
to continuer,rath
financialsupportduringeconorn- pleasureto singin sucha beautifulfacility.
ic timessuchasthis,butyourcommitment to God As a r.'olunteerorganization.our financialexpendi-
andHis missionshows! turesare alwaysof paramountconcemYour gener-
osity is gr0atlyappreciated.
HubertHarriman-President
Sincerely,
'', DennisM. Huev.
I " Pres MainlandChoralSocietv
o c a c a o a o a a a a a a a o o a t a l a * a l a 0 a a a s a

Dear Rev.Watts-

Thankyou for your gift to the FellowshipFund re-

ceivedon 6/2/2010through the GreaterNew Jersey
AnnualConference in the amountof $138.33. Your
contributionenablesThe Homesto provide excel-
lent servicesto over 2,300residentsthis year.

We continueto be grateful and encouragedby the

many pastorsand laity who supportour ministry.
Your stewardshipand dedicationenablesus to care
successfullyfor and ministerto the needsof those
we serve.
RespectfullyYours,
JamesC. BattenPresident
The UnitedMethodist
Homesof New Jersey

-4-
 TheTribute
Il\ of Criticism
F
SenatorJ. William Ful-
bright (1905-1995)was
neverupsetwith Ameri-
can citizens who criti-
cized their government.
He believed the fact that they could criticize their
leaders was an implied tribute. Plus, Fulbright rea-
soned, constructive criticism is often a sign of a
desire to make needed changesin a community or
nation.
Citizens in many other countries pay the
price of torture, imprisonment or even death if
they speakill oftheir leaders'oppressivepolicies.In
America, our freedom should obligate us to speak
out against injustices and wrongs.
American writer and civil-rights activist
"I
James Baldwin said, love America more than any
other country in the world, and, exactlyfor this rea-
son, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetu-
"all
St. Paul wrote that in Christ thingshold togeth-
er" (Colossians l:17, NRSV). As we worship, let
us rememberthat only Christ can hold a person,a
church or a nation together.
DearFriends:
On behalfof the Board of Trustees
of RonaldMcDonaldHouseof SNJ
andRMH FamilyRooms,we would
like to extend our most heartfelt
thankyou for your commitmentto
your
collectprintercartridges.We reallyappreclate
ongoingsupportin this valuablefundraiser.
RonaldMcDonaldHouseof SouthemNew Jersey
reliesheavilyuponthe supportof the communityto
continueits missionto providea home-away-from-
hometo the families of critically ill and traumati-
cally injured children.Themoney collectedfrom
the recyclingof beveragecan tabsand printer car-
tridgesis usedto maintainour RonaldHouse and
Family Roomsas inviting and comfortableplaces
for thefamiliesof seriouslyill andtraumaticallyin-
juredchildren.
Pleasevisit our web site at www.ronaldhouse-sn1.
org for updatedactivitiesand information.
Thankyou for helpingus helpthekids.
, Sincerely,
Ann D.Thomas,SusanO'Donnell
ExecutiveDirectors

DearRev.Watts:
Thankyou for vourgift to theNeighborhoodCenter.Wearegratefiltfor your supportthathelpsus keepour doors
openandoperateour programs.

On Ma1'I lth, rveheld our 97thAnniversary' Dinner.It wasan eveningof fellowshipandthanksgivingfor God's
goodnessto us hereat the Center.The After SchoolProgramchildrenplayedhandbells,sangpraisesongsand
recited scripture;volunteerswere recognizedandthankedfor their gifts of time and energy.A parentsharedher
testimony'of ho*' Christ's love, demonstratedthroughour teachers,helpedher son anddaughteradaptquickly to
"it
our child careprogramandthat feels like famill"'r,vhen they are hereat the Center.

Thankyou for.vourpart in this ministry.Our ability to servethe peopleof Camdenis greatlyimpactedby your
contributionsandprayers.

Sincerely,B TirnothyHumeniukExecutiveDirector
NJ 08103
NEIGHBORHOODCENTE& INC., S 278 KaighnsAvenue,Carnden,

-5-
 Remember
Whetherat the ball gameor on the beach,it's importantto protectyouself and your family from the
harmful effectsof the sun.One blisteringsunbumcandoublea child'slifetime risk It's a fact.Overex-
posureto the suncanresultin skin cancerlaterin life. Whatareyour family's risksfrom the exposureto
powerful tIV rays?So hereare the facts aboutgetting too much sun:

sers of_.UY
The.D*an Eru.o..sure
' Youcansunburn evenon acloudyday,
' On average, childrenget3 timesmoreexposure thanadults
' Thevastmajorig,,perhapsasmuchas80%of a persons lifetimesunexposure
is estimatedto occurbrforeagel8
' Concrcte.sand,w'ater,andsnorryreflect85,q/o
tu 90onof tIV lavs.Depletionof Earth'sozonecontinues to in-
creaseyour risksfromexposureto powerfulUV rays.
Skin Cancer
. In somepartsof the world, melanomais increasingat ratesfaster thanany othercancer.
' More than 1.2million new casesof skin cancerarediagnosedeachyear in the US.
' Melanoma,the deadliestform of skin cancer,kills onepersonevery hour

Try thesetips year-roundto help preventseriousskin damage.

For peoplewith thin or thinninghair, apply sunscreen
to the scalp
Coveryour skin wth sun block (includingface and lips.) Sunscreens
needto be appliedliberally and
evenly.
Re-applysunscreen afterswimmingor perspiring,andtowelingoff.
Weara wide-brimmedhat andsunglasses. ,
And rememberto stayin the shadewheneverpossible!

SouthJerseyPraiseFest
July24,201A
3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
United Central Methodist Church
Central Ave & Shore Rd. Linwood NJ

Join us for an afternoonof greatmusic,food,

and fellowship at the First Annual South Jersey
PraiseFest! Bring the family, a coupleof friends,or
just a lawn chair....hang out and enjoy someof the
bestChristianPraiseMusic SouthJerseyhasto offer.
Entranceis free; Central'sMissionsTeam'spopular
ruLY BBQ will be sellingchicken& shrimp- kabobs
or full dinners;theUMW will be sellingbakedgoods,
and Central'syouth will be selling sodasand snacks
to raisemoneyto sendpianokeyboardsto the Watoto
Children'sMinistrv in Uganda. IndependenceDay,July 4, 2010
a
SouthJerseyPraiseFest,July 24,2010
t
Annual Chicken Barbeque.-Iulv 24 & 31
South JerseyPraiseFest'
 "America
On this Fourth of July, we .loyfully celebrate
theBeautiful" our nation'sbirth.Let's praiseGod,who richly
Katharine Lee Bates blessesour belovedcountry.
(1859-1929)wrots ed-
ited andtaughtEnglishin 40thAnniversaryof theApollo I I Lunar Land-
her native Massachusetts. ing -July16-24
Occasionallv.she wrote
hymns,too. J"ly - 1-31 - National Recreationand Parks
Month
On a trip to Colorado,Bateswasgreatlyimpressedby
amberwavesof grain,fruitedplainsandpurplemoun-
tarn ma.;esties.
She believedthat God had de{initely
shedhis graceall acrossthisland.Avisit to dresumnut
of PikesPeakinspiredBatesto write her mostfamous Liberty
poem-hymn,"AmericatheBeautlful. " A Julv
' FourthPoem
by JudithA Lindberg
Batesalsorealizedthatpatnotrsmwasanimportantpart Herein theharbor,madefamousby her very existence,
ofAmerica. Shewasgratefulfor heroes"who morethan
selftheircountrylovedandmercymorethanlife." She Standsa lady,polishedby a newAmericanpride...
wantedall Amencans to realizehow God had shed
his graceon themandhad crownedwhat wasgood And her nameis Liberty
"wrth
brotherhood from seato shininssea."
Batesembodiedthe spirit of tfi'ankfulness
to :llrc hrrl,,lra i..rtuhignilr,:dl',' tn': fllai., ni li,r r:,
God for all shehadexperienced andbeengiven.
And lrom her raised hand and her gentle e1,es

She otlbrs a blessing oflreassuranc€u,ith silent hps:

"Give
me your weary, your dreamless,yow hopeless,

Those u,ho have lost falth in themselvesand our coun-

ul*

Send these,the embittered, to me.

,
t ani li.r,ingproof of uhat a nation of people can do,

When they beliere, w-hen they commit, when thev Jorn

hearts.

I lift my torch besidethedoor that remainsope:r,,

A goldenopportunityfor all who enter,

Whenthe hopeis peace

And thereasonis freedomfor all."

Havea sreat summer!

I's Courier
A publicationof: CentralUnited Methodist Church,5 W. Marvin Ave., Linwood, NJ 08221, ffi9-92'7-4882: Editor: BarbaraE. Van Sant,
ffi9-289-6242,bevansant@earthlink.net: Copy Editor: Lynne Quicksall,ffi9 &l-741-5; Senior Pastor: Ronald Watts,609-927-3555,rev-
vr'aitscurrrcs'verizon.net;
AssistautF'astor:L)aveDclaney,609-f.'rl,-2081,ptrstordavecumcGDvenzon.net: office e-mail: centralumcnjG:veri-
zon.net.Visit our website,www.centralumcnj.org.
The Courier is publishedmonthly to keepmembersandfriendsinfbrmedof programsof thechurchand to rcport newsaboutCentral'speople.
'llo
submil
the inlbrmation to the Editor. The Cowier articlesmustbe submittedby the lOth of the month prior to the issue.
 "We
believe in God and in
eachother."Thepeopleof The
United MethodistChurch."

United CgntralMethodistChurch

Central'sCoffee Hour Schedule - 2010

Coffeehoursareon eachSundaybetweenthe 9:30& 11:Q0AM services.Thecongregation
is askedto helpdesignated
groupssupplyrefreshments
by followingthealphabetical
list.

Month CongregationCommittee Month CongregationGommittee

January A &B Staff Parish July L,M,N fhustees .

a
I

February C Youth r August All Music a

a a
I t t a t a a l a a a t t t t t a a I t a a i a

March D&E Finance September O'BQ'R Hospitality

April F&G Outreach October s,T,u Worship

May H v,wx,Y, November XYZ'S UMW

&Z
June I,J,&K Lav Ministrv December AI Church
Council