We are always looking for people who are willing to teach Sunday School or lead small group studies at Centenary. If you have an idea for a special study or class for adults, or if you are willing to lead a group or class for adults, please contact the pastor. Likewise, we are always open to hearing from people who feel led to work with children youth as teachers or assistants to teachers.

Open Sanctuary 500In an effort to let the community know about our church, The Reaching Team implemented a program called Open Sanctuary. Many people walk by Centenary United Methodist Church every day and do not know that they have just passed a piece of Richmond history and the first Reconciling Church in the state of Virginia. The church doors are opened each Tuesday from 11:30-1:30 for prayer and meditation or just to visit the beautiful sanctuary.

There is a sign on the sidewalk each Tuesday welcoming people to visit the church. Two church members are available to greet people passing by with an invitation to visit the sanctuary or just to talk. Our volunteers provide visitors with information about church services, activities, and ministries and invite visitors to come worship at Centenary. This is an opportunity for Centenary members to meet folks walking by our church and to share information about our beautiful historic downtown church. Our message is that God’s Doors Are Open To All.

All Centenary members are invited to seek more information about Open Sanctuary and to sign up as a volunteer greeter. If you are interested, please contact the church office.

Serving Serving at Centenary Greeters 500Greeters are present at the entrance doors to cheerfully welcome visitors and members as they enter the church for worship on Sunday mornings! Greeters usually serve one Sunday a quarter. If interested in becoming a greeter, please contact the church office.

There are six teams of four ushers led by a captain who serve twice a year for the traditional 11 am Sunday service, as well as a balcony usher and an usher who serves for the early Sunday morning service. Ushers also serve during special worship services.

Ushers are available at the entrance doors to the sanctuary on Sunday mornings to cheerfully greet worshipers as they enter, provide a bulletin and assist with seating, answer any questions, and assist with any special needs, such as accessing large print materials or hearing devices. They also offer ambulatory assistance, directions to rest rooms, and they assist the clergy as directed. Ushers also pass the collection plate and direct worshipers to the altar during communion. If this is a volunteer service of interest, please contact the church office.

Lay readers are responsible for reading the First and Second Lessons during the 11am worship service. This is an important part of worship each week! The church office mails the lay reader the scriptures at the beginning of the week. Lay readers usually serve 3 or 4 times a year. If you are interested in being a lay reader, please contact the church office.

Each Sunday a member serves in the church office observing the computer monitors available to assist any visitor with directions and answer any phone calls. Hall monitors generally serve once a quarter. If interested in serving as a hall monitor, please contact the church office.

Here at Centenary, we are blessed with a group of wonderful office volunteers! Each office volunteer stops by on a specific day of the week and is normally here from about 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. They help with tasks such as:

  • Putting the bulletins together.
  • Writing notes of encouragement to those on the prayer list.
  • Addressing birthday postcards.
  • Meeting and greeting friends when they visit the church.
  • Being the friendly voice on the line when we receive phone calls.
  • And so much more!

We are so thankful for our volunteers and for all they do! If you are interested in being an office volunteer, please contact the church office.