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Perhaps it is my sister's battle with cancer,or my brother's emergency open heart surgery,or the reality of living into another new decade,turning 60, or just celebrating 34 years of marriagetogether with Candy, or going to Uganda againand seerng such overwhelming poverry, or allof them happening within months of each other.Whatever the reason, I am living with a new senseof appreciation for life.

These experiences have taught me agaln,how fragile this life is and how quickly it canchange, how quickly its surprises rush in upon usand turn life upside down It has reminded me howprecious each day is, how precious each abilityand each provision we enjoy, truly is.

I am living each day a little differently,trying daily to be more conscious of the gifts Idaily experience in life and relationship andtaking time to thank God for it all. Each day whenI walk out of my house and close the door behindme, I say, "Thank you God for this new day. Goodmoming creation, how beautiful you are. Goodmoming sky and clouds and sun. Good momingGod. Thank for the possibilities this day holds!"

I thank God that I am able to get out ofthe house, that I can walk down those front steps,that I can see and smell and touch the beauty thatsurrounds me. I thank God for the precious peopleI am surrounded with in my life.

I am so thankful for a faithful and lovingwrfe I have had the privilege of sharing 34 years

of marriage with and 35 years of memories. WhenI look at her and her beautiful smile, I thank Godfor the time we have shared and the privilege ofsharing deep and cherished memories. What wehave been through together, somehow makes thepresent much more precious

I sometimes share with couPles I amcounseling in preparation for marriage, that aswonderful as new found love is and its beginningadventure, there is something even richer awartingthem, to live a lifetime with a cherished person

and to have shared the joumey, is a prectous joy

one cannot truly describe.Perhaps the most profound of all the lessons

I am continuing to leam and celebrate is whereGod is in the midst of it all. I am so thankful forthis Friend, Companion on the Joumey, who nomatterrwhat life surprises us with, is always there.And, God is not only holding on to us through allthe surprises and challenges and disappointmentslife brrrngs, He somehow keeps working, even inthe midst of the bad, to somehow bring good.

One of the patriarchs of our faith, Joseph,after being sold as a slave to the slave traders toEgypt,'enduring the awful realities of being falselyimprisbngd for years and years, when confrontedwith his'own brothers who had done this all tohim. said. "You meant it for evil, but God meantit for good!"

Time and time again,Ihave seen this realityring true, in my own life and the life of my family,and in so many others'lives. Life meant to harmus and even destroy us, but somehow God wasable to tum it into good. It is simply amazing.

When Candy was laid-off from her job, Iimmediately stressed about the future and present

financial realities. and il'hat that would mean for

us. But then, I quickly remembered, God has

always been with us through every disappointmentand challenge. God has always, always provided

for our needs. God has always brought blessingand good out of all the valleys of the shadows wehave walked through.

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One of the treasures we have discoveredin these months is the time we have had with eachother we would not have had, cherished time ofjust sharing life and its events, even the simplepleasures, like an unannounced lunch outtogetheror a walk in the aftemoon on the boardwalk.

God is Good, all the time. And, all thetime, God is Good! May these summer monthsbring you a deeper appreciation of life and thosewho are precious!

. /'2

Pastor 4 on

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UI\4W would like to thank all of

rh lGo ings-onat Central bv chuckwolfram

those who prepared health kitsfor TIMCOR We have collected almost 160 kits

$1,520.00 Was raised by Abigail Too Circle fromthe sale of their homemade easter eggs.

They also made and served a sunday momingbreakfast after church to raise money for themissron endeavors of tlMW.

We wrll be having our bake sale at the AnnualChicken BBQ in July.

We are sponsoring one of the women from UgandaWatoto Living Hope project, which is helping torestore dignity, value and purpose to vulnerablewomen.

The UMW will be having alewelry Salel CHRIST-MAS in JULY -.ltuly 17th Don't miss this one. Wehave alot of different items.

And in AUGUST we will be having a FURNITURE\AL- E at the garage on Marvin Ave. There will bea lot of interesting items at this sale, too. Tell yourfriends about both of these. All proceeds r.vill goto UMW projects,

THANKS FOR ALL YOAR SAPPORT.

The Annual Conference met in ValleyForge from Thursday, June 3'd to Saturday, Jtme5'h. Among the 1375 members attending were thepastors of the church and your lay members DebbieTai, Don Brorryn and Chuck Wolfram. Among thoseordained as elders on Friday night were our formerassociate pastor Scott Bostwick and the pastor ofSomers Point IIMC Eric Helms. The bishop re-appointed our pastors for anotheryear. Ifyou wantto read a more complete report of what happened,e-mail me at charleswolfram@,gmall.com or atchuckwolfram@,verizon.net. I'll also let you rn ona well known secret. There are vacancies amongthe lay membership of the Arurual Conference andif you want to be a member of the conference, thatcan be easily arranged. The only requirements arethat you be at least two years a professing memberof the United Methodist Church and at least fouryears an pctive participant.

I've mentioned before the Common EnglishBible, a new translation that wrll be published in2011. If ypu want a free copy of the CEB NewTestament, which wrll be published this Fall, goto their yebsi te http: //www. commonenglishbible.c o mlB i b I e dFlF re e Ne wTest ament / tabi dl 20 4/Defa ul t.aspx and fill in the fblm. You can aiso download apdf containing the book of Genesis.

The l50n Anniversary of our church willbe celebrated the weekend of October 23-24. TheAnniversary Committee met and organized itself,and if you want to help us make the plans pleasetalk to Pastor Dave or Pastor Joanne. We have fourteams working on the weekend, and you can belongto any one or more of them: worship/celebration,publicity, history, and dinner.

There's an article about Central Church inth e current (June) issue of The Re I ay, the newspaperof our conference. The article is about our ChurchBeyond the Walls, with our mission to the RescueMission, to Sister Jean's Kitchen and the plansbeing made in regard to Haiti.

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Dear Friend,

We would like to take this op-portunity to thank you person-ally for donating your resourcesto help us send shoes to needypeople around the World. It istruly heart warmlng and hum-bling to have people entrust their money to us, andwe take the gift very seriously. We could not effec-tively reach out to millions of people without caringindividuals like you.

On average, we are able to ship one pair of shoesanywhere in the world for each dollar we receive.Thank you again for the donation of $106.00 .

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

WORLD GOSPEL MISSION'Dear Central tlMC.I commend you for your generous gift. It isn't easyto continue r,rath financial support during econorn-ic times such as this, but your commitment to Godand His mission shows!

Hubert Harriman- President

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Dear Rev. Watts:

Please accept our sincere thanks for allowing us theuse ofy6ur church and parish hall free ofcharge, forour Spring concerts of 2009 and 2010. lt s always apleasure to sing in such a beautiful facility.As a r.'olunteer organization. our financial expendi-tures are always of paramount concem Your gener-osity is gr0atly appreciated.

, Sincerely,'' Dennis M. Huev.I " Pres Mainland Choral Societv

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Dear Rev. Watts-

Thank you for your gift to the Fellowship Fund re-ceived on 6/2/2010 through the Greater New JerseyAnnual Conference in the amount of $138.33. Yourcontribution enables The Homes to provide excel-lent services to over 2,300 residents this year.

We continue to be grateful and encouraged by themany pastors and laity who support our ministry.Your stewardship and dedication enables us to caresuccessfully for and minister to the needs of thosewe serve.

Respectfully Yours,James C. Batten PresidentThe United MethodistHomes of New Jersey

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T h e T r i b u t eo f C r i t i c i s m D e a r F r i e n d s :

Senator J. William Ful-bright (1905-1995) wasnever upset with Ameri-can citizens who criti-cized their government.

He believed the fact that they could criticize theirleaders was an implied tribute. Plus, Fulbright rea-soned, constructive criticism is often a sign of adesire to make needed changes in a community ornation.

Citizens in many other countries pay theprice of torture, imprisonment or even death ifthey speak ill oftheir leaders'oppressive policies. InAmerica, our freedom should obligate us to speakout against injustices and wrongs.

American writer and civil-rights activist

James Baldwin said, "I love America more than anyother country in the world, and, exactly for this rea-son, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetu-

St. Paul wrote that in Christ "all things hold togeth-er" (Colossians l:17, NRSV). As we worship, letus remember that only Christ can hold a person, achurch or a nation together.

On behalf of the Board of Trusteesof Ronald McDonald House of SNJand RMH Family Rooms, we wouldlike to extend our most heartfeltthank you for your commitment tocollect printer cartridges. We really appreclate yourongoing support in this valuable fundraiser.

Ronald McDonald House of Southem New Jerseyrelies heavily upon the support of the community tocontinue its mission to provide a home-away-from-home to the families of critically ill and traumati-cally injured children.The money collected fromthe recycling of beverage can tabs and printer car-tridges is used to maintain our Ronald House andFamily Rooms as inviting and comfortable placesfor the families of seriously ill and traumatically in-jured children.

Please visit our web site at www.ronaldhouse-sn1.org for updated activities and information.

Thank you for helping us help the kids.

, Sincerely,Ann D.Thomas, Susan O'DonnellExecutive Directors

Dear Rev. Watts:

Thank you for vour gift to the Neighborhood Center. We are gratefilt for your support that helps us keep our doorsopen and operate our programs.

On Ma1' I lth, rve held our 97th Anniversary' Dinner. It was an evening of fellowship and thanksgiving for God'sgoodness to us here at the Center. The After School Program children played hand bells, sang praise songs andrecited scripture; volunteers were recognized and thanked for their gifts of time and energy. A parent shared hertestimony' of ho*' Christ's love, demonstrated through our teachers, helped her son and daughter adapt quickly toour child care program and that "it feels like famill"'r,vhen they are here at the Center.

Thank you for.vour part in this ministry. Our ability to serve the people of Camden is greatly impacted by yourcontributions and prayers.

Sincerely, B Tirnothy Humeniuk Executive DirectorNEIGHBORHOOD CENTE& INC., S 278 Kaighns Avenue, Carnden, NJ 08103

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RememberWhether at the ball game or on the beach, it's important to protect youself and your family from theharmful effects of the sun. One blistering sunbum can double a child's lifetime risk It's a fact. Overex-posure to the sun can result in skin cancer later in life. What are your family's risks from the exposure topowerful tIV rays? So here are the facts about getting too much sun:

Th e .D*an se rs o f_.UY E ru.o..sure' You can sunburn even on acloudy day,' On average, children get 3 times more exposure than adults' The vast majorig,, perhaps as much as 80% of a persons lifetime sun exposure is estimated to occur brfore age l8' Concrcte. sand, w'ater, and snorry reflect 85 ,q/o tu 90on of tIV lavs. Depletion of Earth's ozone continues to in-

crease your risks from exposure to powerful UV rays.Skin Cancer. In some parts of the world, melanoma is increasing at rates faster than any other cancer.' More than 1.2 million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the US.' Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, kills one person every hour

Try these tips year-round to help prevent serious skin damage.For people with thin or thinning hair, apply sunscreen to the scalpCover your skin wth sun block (including face and lips.) Sunscreens need to be applied liberally andevenly.Re-apply sunscreen after swimming or perspiring, and toweling off.Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. ,And remember to stay in the shade whenever possible!

South Jersey Praise Fest

July 24,201A3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

United Central Methodist Church

Central Ave & Shore Rd. Linwood NJ

Join us for an afternoon of great music, food,and fellowship at the First Annual South JerseyPraise Fest! Bring the family, a couple of friends, orjust a lawn chair....hang out and enjoy some of thebest Christian Praise Music South Jersey has to offer.Entrance is free; Central's Missions Team's popularruLY BBQ will be selling chicken & shrimp - kabobsor full dinners; the UMW will be selling baked goods,and Central's youth will be selling sodas and snacksto raise money to send piano keyboards to the WatotoChildren's Ministrv in Uganda.

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Independence Day, July 4, 2010South Jersey Praise Fest, July 24,2010Annual Chicken Barbeque. Iulv 24 & 31South Jersey Praise Fest'

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"Americathe Beautiful"

Katharine Lee Bates(1859-1929) wrots ed-ited and taught English inher native Massachusetts.Occasionallv. she wrotehymns, too.

On this Fourth of July, we .loyfully celebrateour nation's birth. Let's praise God, who richlyblesses our beloved country.

40th Anniversary of the Apollo I I Lunar Land-ing -July 16-24

J"ly - 1-31 - National Recreation and ParksMonth

On a trip to Colorado, Bates was greatly impressed byamber waves of grain, fruited plains and purple moun-tarn ma.;esties. She believed that God had de{initelyshed his grace all across this land. Avisit to dre sumnutof Pikes Peak inspired Bates to write her most famouspoem-hymn, "America the Beautlful. "

Bates also realized that patnotrsm was an important partofAmerica. She was grateful for heroes "who more thanself their country loved and mercy more than life." Shewanted all Amencans to realize how God had shedhis grace on them and had crowned what was good"wrth brotherhood from sea to shinins sea."

Bates embodied the spirit of tfi'ankfulness toGod for all she had experienced and been given.

Have a sreat summer!

LibertyA Julv Fourth Poem' by Judith A Lindberg

Here in the harbor, made famous by her very existence,

Stands a lady, polished by a newAmerican pride...

And her name is Liberty

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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 themselves and our coun-ul*

, Send these, the embittered, to me.

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

When they beliere, w-hen they commit, when thev Jornhearts.

I lift my torch beside the door that remains ope:r,,

A golden opportunity for all who enter,

When the hope is peace

And the reason is freedom for all."

I's CourierA publication of: Central United Methodist Church, 5 W. Marvin Ave., Linwood, NJ 08221, ffi9-92'7-4882: Editor: Barbara E. 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; Assistaut F'astor: L)ave Dclaney, 609-f.'rl,-2081, ptrstordavecumcGDvenzon.net: office e-mail: centralumcnjG:veri-zon.net. Visit our web site, www.centralumcnj.org.The Courier is published monthly to keep members and friends infbrmed of programs of the church and to rcport news about Central's people.'llo

submilthe inlbrmation to the Editor. The Cowier articles must be submitted by the lOth of the month prior to the issue.

"We believe in God and ineach other."The people of TheUnited Methodist Church."

United Cgntral Methodist Church

Central's Coffee Hour Schedule - 2010Coffee hours are on each Sunday between the 9:30 & 11:Q0 AM services. The congregationis asked to help designated groups supply refreshments by following the alphabetical list.

Month CongregationCommittee Month CongregationGommittee

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

February C Youth r Augusta

I t t a t a a l

All

a a a t t t t t

Music aa

a a I t a a i a

March D & E Finance September O ' B Q ' R Hospitality

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

May H v,wx,Y,& Z

November XYZ'S UMW

June I , J , & K Lav Ministrv December AI ChurchCouncil