May
6 - Saturday
UMM
Community Pancake Breakfast
Jim
Hobbs Plaque on Display
UMYF
2005 - 2006 Recognized
May
7 - Sunday
Beginning
today, there are two services: 8:30 and 10:15 a.m.
High
School Seniors Receive Bibles
Educational
Awards Given
Seniors
Honoring Seniors Reception
Summer
Camp Preparation Lunch
May
14 - Sunday
Mother’s
Day and Family Church
May
21 - Sunday
Last
day of Sunday School
Strawberry
Social to Thank Our Sunday School Teachers!
May
28 - Sunday
Summer
Schedule Begins
8:30
Communion Service
10:00
Sanctuary Service
Summer
Sunday School Begins
PAGE 1
Karin’s Comments
“For God so loved the world
that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but
will have eternal life.” John 3: 16
John’s words reflect for us
the Easter message of Christian hope.
I’m reminded of the book called “Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch
Albom. Morrie has Lou Gehrig’s disease
and Mitch is recording some of the wisdom from his beloved teacher.
In one visit, Morrie tells
him about one of his theories about life, something called the tension of
opposites.
Morrie says, “Life is a
series of pulls back and forth. You want
to do something; you are bound to do something else. Something hurts you, yet you know it
shouldn’t. You take certain things for
granted, even when you know you should never take anything for granted. Mitch responds that this sounds like a
wrestling match, and Morrie agrees.
So I propose a challenge to
you. Join Mike and me on a Volunteer in Mission trip to Louisiana, September
23-30. We always talk about how to help those in
need; we talk about the work that still needs to be done in Hurricane recovery;
we talk about desiring to do something to grow our own faith and move us along
the spiritual path. This is it. Come and be transformed! We’ll have time together each evening to play
games, laugh, and enjoy being in community with one another. We’ll have time to
work together during the day, painting, repairing siding, etc. Find a sitter now for the week and
come along to a different kind of vacation.
So which side wins, Mitch
asks, and Morrie responds, “Love wins.
Love always wins.”
Grace and Peace,
Karin
John’s Jottings
Here's a good text for the merry month of May, from
Proverbs 17:22. "A cheerful heart
is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones." I'm not sure anyone ever laughed himself
to death, but I seem to recall in the movie "Mary Poppins" that
the crusty old banker (once he had learned how to laugh) laughed himself to
death. That doesn't happen in real life,
but people do run the risk of landing themselves in an early grave when they
never laugh in life, when their lives are one big swelter of tears, either real
or imagined. A downcast spirit dries up
the bones, because life on those terms isn't much worth living anyway.
The Bible is filled with references to the importance of
laughter in life, e. g., Sarah’s laughing when told she was going to have a
baby in her 90's, then denying it before the Lord, and his reply, "O yes,
you did laugh!" A little bit of
Creator-creature repartee there.
There's
always the temptation to think of Jesus as being rather laughterless. We usually think of him as a "man of
sorrows" and "acquainted with grief". And yet, part of his perfection lay in the
fact that he could love so perfectly-- even those hell-bent on doing him
in. I think he was very much a man of
joy, deep joy, and wanting to share that joy with us, with all the fullness
that can mean. He must have laughed many
times with his disciples and followers.
One who has the joy of the risen Lord has to have a
cheerful heart, a radiant spirit, and a smiling face, the attitude of laughter.
Have the joy of the Lord even through all
the thorns of life. No one denies
that life has its sorrows, but life also has its joys. And joy has a way of spreading like a mighty,
Godly, epidemic. When we're joyful in
the Lord, and love, and laugh, we have a pearl of great price, and nothing can
take its place. Blessings on you!
Pastor John
PAGE 2
Since 1948, the men of St. Paul’s have been
serving their church, community and nation. Each man serves as his
abilities, time and spirit directs. No matter what the activity, it’s
always been a pleasure to associate and share fellowship with men filled with
quiet dedication and purpose. YOU make the UMM an active force
helping to meet society’s changing need in 2006. We go on because of you. Upcoming
Activities
Wed., May 3 -
Executive Committee meets
Sat., May
6 - Pancake Breakfast (Proceeds - SPUMC’s van fund)
IT'S YARD SALE TIME
The Spring UMM yard sale is
just around the corner. The dates for
the YARD sale are Friday, May
12th and Saturday, May 13th.
The hours for the sale are as follows:
|
DATES AND
TIMES
|
YARD SALE-
Heavener Hall
|
|
Thursday, May
11th:
|
RECEIVING DAY
8 a.m.-7 p.m.
|
|
Friday, May
12th:
|
8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
|
|
Saturday, May
13th:
|
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
|
We need donations of good SELL-ABLE
merchandise.
SUGGESTION OF ITEMS TO
DONATE: house wares, furniture,
antiques, collectibles, jewelry, appliances, toys, books, records, CD's, DVD's,
videos, sporting goods, tools and clothing.
Please note that we will NOT accept
Bed Mattresses, Child Car seats, computer
or exercise equipment. We also ask that you not donate items that
would be better thrown away as such things do not sell.
We would prefer that you hold
your donations until Receiving day. If
that isn't possible, please call: Jerry
Watkins 301-942-7405
Harold Moyer 301-946-1865
Morris Rice 301-946-1758
Looking for
Teacups
Bring your prettiest teacup to our
Mother-Daughter Spring Tea on
Saturday, June 10! We will meet in
Heavener Hall from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. for some fun entertainment, fellowship
with friends, and delicious refreshments. Be sure to save this date on your
calendar and plan to attend with a mom, a daughter, an aunt, a niece,
a grandmother, or a friend. We will be selling tickets in several weeks,
$6.00 for adults and $3.00 for children under age 12. Our vice president,
Virginia Bickford, is busy planning the entertainment. We will collect
teapots to use that afternoon, so if you have a nice one let us know!
Each of our circles has an assignment for the event,
so this is an opportunity for everyone to contribute to the occasion and make
light work for all. If you are new to St.
Paul’s and interested in making friends among the
women here, please join us, we would love to welcome you to our organization!
We need a LOT of volunteers to help with this sale. If you can help, please sign-up in the
church office
Becky
Schierer
UMW
President
PAGE 3
MAY
FRIENDSHIP DAY RECOGNIZES TWO ST.
PAUL’s WOMEN
Church Women United of Western
Montgomery County will celebrate “May Friendship Day,” on Friday, May 5 at the Bethesda
United Methodist
Church from 10:30 a.m. to
1 p.m. The program will be hosted by the
Bethesda Hispanic Methodist
Church (at the same
location). Two of our St. Paul’s members, Helen Lidie, and Donna
Griffin, will receive special recognition as examples of mothers/daughters
who make truly spiritual contributions to the life of their church. The program will include a panel discussion
composed of young women who are active in church life.
The catered luncheon is
$8. We hope many of you plan to
attend. Call Sue Roberts at
301-881-3670 for luncheon reservations.
The program will be held in the Fellowship Hall at Bethesda UMC at 8300 Old Georgetown Road
at the corner of Huntington
Boulevard.
Biking for the American Lung Assoc.
of Maryland
More commonly referred to as the Asthma Ride for Kids
By
Jim Heins
Once again, I plan to participate in a bike ride to
support the American Lung Association effort to help the more than 150,000 kids
in Maryland
who suffer from some form of lung disease, most notably asthma. There are
600,000 Marylanders who suffer from some form of lung disease. Tragically, lung
disease is the #1 killer of children under age 1 and the #3 killer in the U.S. (Of the several distances one can ride, I
hope, as usual, to ride the 100 mile route). Last year I was able to turn in
more than $900 on behalf of St.
Paul’s UMC and other friends due to the wonderful
support I received.
If you
would like to contribute this year, please leave your check in the church
office before May 27, made out to the American
Lung Assoc. of Maryland, give to me or call me, Jim
Heins at 301-949-3518 to pick it up. I and all
those kids suffering from asthma in Maryland
will be very appreciative.
ST. PAUL'S BLOOD DRIVE IS SAT. JUNE 3 - IN THE
MULTIPURPOSE RM
Mark your calendars now!! Saturday, JUNE 3 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. - is St.
Paul's Blood
Drive in the Multipurpose Room.
Come are needed every day - to
help patients in our community. enjoy breakfast at the UMM Pancake Breakfast
and then head downstairs to give blood.
Please help us meet the Red Cross' requirement of 50 units. Over 1300 units of blood
More information coming soon! Sign-up sheets are available in the
Church Office. If you are not able to
give blood but would like to volunteer (we need help with registration, snacks,
etc.), please contact Donna Griffin - (301) 258-0182 or via e-mail @ dagriffin@starpower.net.
If you are 16 years (with parental permission) or older, weigh at least
110 pounds, and are in good health, you can help save lives by giving
blood.
PAGE 4
Several Youth Milestones
Recognized on May 7
HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS RECOGNIZED
At St.
Paul's we recognize several milestones in the growth of our young people. One of these is their graduation from high school and commencement of a new life, whether
that be to a job, the military, or college.
On Sunday, May 7th,
each member of the Class of 2006 is asked to attend our 10:15 a.m. worship
service so that he or she may receive
a New Revised Standard version of The
Holy Bible. Whatever direction a life may take, the Word
of God will help in choosing the best path.
CONGRATULATIONS
and BEST WISHES from your church to:
Marvin Zachary
Ryan Charlotte
Christopher Katharine
Angela Michael
Jessica Nadia
Kathleen Jesse
Anthony Patrick
Christopher John
EDUCATIONAL AWARDS PRESENTED
Also on May 7, one or more of
our college‑bound graduates will also receive Educational Awards to assist with their college expenses. The Council on Youth Ministries wishes to
thank all of those who have contributed to this fund.
UMYF Officers FOR 2005-2006
RECOGNIZED
Senior High UMYF:
President
........................ Chris
Vice-President
.................Angela
Secretary
..........................Kristin
Treasurer...........................David
C.Y.M.
Representative.....Kristina
Middle High UMYF:
President
......................Alli
Vice-President
.............Rebecca
Secretary
......................Emma
Treasurer
.....................Tim
C.Y.M. Representatives ..
Kap
Eddie
Youth Choir
C.Y.M. Representative ..
Vinny
Please mark your
calendars:
UMYF ‘FREE’ CAR WASH - SAT., JUNE 3rd
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Please support our youth with
a donation for our summer Work Camp when we wash your car in St. Paul’s parking lot!!
SUMMER WORK CAMP PREPARATIONS
All adults and youth
participating in this summer’s work camp, July 16-22 in Exeter, New Hampshire, will be gathering in
the Multipurpose Room on Sunday after church, May 7th for lunch, orientation and a training
workshop, ending by 2 p.m.
Then on Sunday, July 9th, we will be
commissioned during the morning worship service, and afterwards, meet for a
“Full Service” Party to create an artistic “Full Service Tire,” to take with us to the work camp. At the camp, the artworks will be used to
decorate the worship area. At the end of
camp, each participating group will bring home the art of one of the other
groups as a reminder of the fellowship experienced at 
camp.
Please note: An additional
adult male chaperone, 21 or older, is needed for the work camp. The
expenses of the chaperones are covered.
One does not have to
have great carpentry skills, only a love for God and for teenagers. Please call Rick Buckingham at 301-933-7933
to inquire.
PAGE 5
Our last pot-luck
luncheon for Friendship Club until the second Tuesday of October will be on May 9, in Heavener Hall at St. Paul's.
Jamey Turner, a glass
harpist, will entertain us.
Those who have signed up will enjoy a trip to the Baltimore Harbor on June l3. There will be a buffet luncheon, and a boat
ride.
See you next Fall. Have a fun summer.
Ann Brall,
President 301-588-4608
Seniors honoring seniors
… And Other “Senior Moments” with an Intergenerational
Appeal
St. Paul’s older adult community will once again be honoring
soon-to-graduate high school seniors with a reception immediately following the
10:15 worship service on May 7th. This reception, held in
the Narthex, is sure to delight people of all ages. Please come join the festivity and encourage
these young folks as they step out into their tomorrows.
Tuesday Together
This month’s Tuesday Together
will be held on May 16th. This midday gathering begins
with worship and communion in the sanctuary at noon and concludes with lunch
($4) and fellowship in the Octagon.
OAM Goes to Lancaster,
PA
Last, but not least, please
consider joining us for a day trip to Lancaster,
Pennsylvania for the dramatic
production, “The Psalms of David,” at Sight & Sound Theatre in early
June.
Details are forthcoming!
Meg
Baker Older Adult Ministry, Chair
FINANCE AND ENDOWMENT COMMITTEES
The Finance and Endowment
committees will jointly sponsor a Planned Giving Seminar on Saturday, May 20th in the Octagon.
A continental breakfast will be served at 9:30 a.m., the seminar
will begin at 10 and conclude by noon. The seminar will be led by St Paul member Keith Mayhew a Certified Financial Planner
and the managing director at RSM McGladrey Wealth Management in Bethesda.
The seminar is open to everyone,
but particularly to those who need to update or begin thinking about they¹re
estate planning and the tax benefits
of making a financial gift
bequest to charitable organizations. So that we can plan accordingly, a sign up
sheet will be in the church office beginning
May
7th.
If you have any questions about the seminar, please
contact Endowment Chair,
Paul Beck: paulbeck01@comcast.net or at (301) 949-9619
PAGE 6
TRUSTEES IMPROVEMENTS
At the April Church Council
meeting, I reported on the success of the church’s “Improvement Fund” envelopes. Below are the project, repairs and
improvement listing that your donations have funded since its inception in 2003.
1.
Heavener Hall
exterior doors
2.
Parking Lot
exterior door
3.
MPR alley
exterior door
4.
Room 115-alley
exterior door
5.
Bell Tower Roof
replacement
6.
Sanctuary Sound
Upgrades
7.
Wireless
microphone
8.
Chapel
refurbishment
9.
Chapel vestibule
refurbishment
10. Install gutter over HH entrance
11. Office network upgrades
12. Church School improvements – carpets, folding tables, storage
supply cabinets
13. Conference room refurbishment
14. Rooms 115, 117, 119 and adjoining hallway
refurbishment
15. Supplement MPR refurbishment
16. History room refurbishment
17. Security Safe
18. Security Alarm System upgrade
19. 5 new bathroom sinks and faucets
20. Thermostat replacement throughout bldg
21. Exterior door intercom
22. Heavener Hall painting
23. Kitchen Refrigerator repair
24. Heat pump replacement
25. Supplement Parsonage fence
26. Re-Key building after Levine departure
27. Dehumidifier for organ chamber
28. Window air conditioner unit for parsonage
29. Supplement Office folding machine
30. Termite treatment
Income 2003 $6,632
2004 $17,820
2005 $26,211
2006 $5,307
TOTAL $55,970 (2003 - 2006) Many
of you have donated to this fund over the last 3 years and on behalf on the
Trustees THANK-YOU! THANK-YOU!
The Trustees have some very ambitious
projects planned for over the summer, the largest being the resurfacing of our
parking lot. We’re hopeful that most of the expected $25,000 funding for
this project will come from the improvement fund envelopes, but we need your
help and continued support to make that happen.
Tracey Furman, Trustee President
A member of St. Paul’s for more than 35 years, Jerry Watkins uses his
spiritual gifts for planning, organizing and accomplishing things in many
ways. As our Lay Leader, he
represents the congregation when we welcome new members and at baptisms. He is also a member of the Church History
Committee, a liturgist, and an usher. As
Secretary of the United Methodist Men (UMM), Jerry says, “The current
challenge of the UMM is to attract more and younger men to participate in the
activities and events we sponsor.”
Jerry’s previous St.
Paul’s service includes the Board of Trustees, UMM
President, Stephen Minister, 1998 Capital Campaign, the church Purpose
Committee, Christmas in April, and Volunteer-in-Mission trips. He also volunteers with Bethesda Help and
ushers at the Music
Center at Strathmore.
A Washington area native, Jerry grew up in the Chevy Chase
section of D.C., graduated from the American
University in business
administration, and retired from the Department of the Interior as a
senior management analyst. Jerry
