Text Box: Five Oaks Retreat Centre Guided Silent Retreat Text Box: Food for Thought Text Box: Bishop John Shelby Spong, the Authoritative Voice for Believers in Exile, will be at Centenary Church on Friday, October 6 from 7:00—9:00 pm. Dr. Spong was the 8th bishop of Newark Diocese of the Episcopal Church for more than 20 years, before his retirement in 2000. He is a leading spokesperson for an open, scholarly, and progressive Christianity and as such has lectured at universities, conference centres, and churches in North America, Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific. The Bishop taught at both Harvard and the Graduate Theological Union in Berkley, California. He is the author of 15 books including The Sins of Scripture, A New Christianity for a New World, Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism, Resurrection: Myth or Text Box: Reality?, Why Christianity Must Change or Die, and his autobiography, Here I Stand. Bishop Spong has been a leader in the fight for a more inclusive church, challenging the attitudes of hatred and exclusivism, particularly against gays and lesbians. For example, his most recent book, The Sins of Scripture, surveys the bible and reveals how it has been continuously misused throughout history. He concludes the book by pointing to a dramatically different way to engage the ’sacred story of the Judeo-Christian Tradition.’ History will recognize him as one of the major change agents in modern Christianity. You can pick up tickets to this event at the church office; the cost is $20 per person. Text Box: John Shelby Spong to Visit Centenary Text Box: The Five Oakes Retreat Centre is hosting a Guided Silent Retreat of Friday, September 29th to Sunday October 1st. Situated on 116 acres of Carolinian forest at the confluence of the Grand River and Whiteman's Creek near Paris, Ontario, Five Oaks provides a beautiful natural setting in which to strengthen our relationships with each other, God, the Christian community and Creation. You are invited to come and experience the Text Box: Spirit in this is a sacred place! The cost of the event is $275. Also on the first Wednesday of each month the Centre will feature “Days Apart” from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The day can be spent with or without a guide in conversation with the Holy Spirit. The charge for the day is $30 and includes a lunch. Five Oaks is an Educational Centre of The United Church of Canada. Text Box: Centenary Church “Food for the body and soul” Text Box: Special points of interest: Did you know that … October is Stewardship Month? We need volunteers in many different areas. Please contact Terri to lend a helping hand in the programs of the church. The Fourth Quarter Special Appeal is the Thursday Outreach Program

So What is Taizé

Anyway?

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Report from the 39th Council

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Music @ Centenary

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The Comfortable Pew

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Beginnings: an

introduction to the Christian Faith

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Upcoming Events

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The Back Page

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Text Box: September 2006 Text Box: Volume 1, Issue 1 Text Box: Bishop John Shelby Spong, The Authoritative Voice for Believers in Exile, Friday October 6th.