THE

EPISTLE

&

 

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church  

10401 Armory Ave.

Kensington, Maryland   20895

http://www.stpaulsk.org  
301-933-7933

 

 

                                     


 

 

SEPTEMBER 2006               VOLUME 49 NUMBER 9                       

                                    

New Worship Schedule Starting September 10

9 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.

.

Our 9a.m. service (starting September 10) will include communion each week and a variety of organ, piano, and guest musicians will make this service a blend of styles of music.  Marvin Mills will be the musician for the service.

 

Our 10:15 service (starting September 10) will often include our various choirs including children, youth, handbells, and our Sanctuary Choir.

 

A full Sunday School program (starting September 10) is provided at 10:15 for all ages.  During the

9 a.m. service, there will be a junior church opportunity.  After the Young People’s message, second graders and younger are welcome to attend this program.  Adult Bible study is in the planning, also for this hour.

 

Make church and Sunday School part of your fall routine.  Join us for Christian education and worship.  Our new schedule allows everyone to have both opportunities.

 

 

Focus Groups

St. Paul’s is in a discernment process, as we consider moving forward with a capital campaign.  Please get to one of the scheduled focus group meetings so that we have your input.  The dates for those in September are:

 Sun.        September 3rd             9:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

 Thurs.     September 7th             7:00 p.m.

 Sun.        September 10th           10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

CONTACTS

       

Pastor                                                  Deacon Youth/Education                    Epistle Editor

Rev. Karin Walker                                Rev. Rick Buckingham                          Del Moyer

revkarin@comcast.net                           ricklby@yahoo.com                               del@moyer.us

 

 

Minister of Visitation                         Office Manager                                   Copy Editor

Rev. John C. Walker                             Carol Lewis                                          Jan Aamodt

friartuck4@verizon.net                          stpaulsunited@verizon.net                      jan.aamodt@verizon.net
 


PAGE 1

 

 

Karin’s Comments

“And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this that even the wind and the sea obey him.’”  Mark 4: 41

 

During this year’s confirmation retreat, one confirmand, after my devotion on the sacraments, asked, “but how do we know there is a God?”  I think what he really was asking, “how does it change my life?”  Or, how can I get God from my head into my heart?

 

I responded by asking if he believed in miracles because evidence of God at work is all around us.  There are signs and wonders that are experienced daily by us individually and us corporately, but we must be prepared to see them.  He couldn’t recall seeing any. 

 

Our recent experience at West River Camp with a powerful storm was a concrete reminder of the wonders of God’s grace.   Then there was the way the parking lot repaving was accomplished.

 

There are times when all of us need to have a reminder of signs and wonders occurring—times when we seem distant from God’s care and attention.  It is during those times that we can help one another.

 

Would you please help me create a devotional booklet of “signs and wonders” which have occurred in our midst in recent days?  Please write these down and give to me so that we can share with one another this powerful testimony of God at work. 

 

Please email if possible your story or poem or insight to stpaulsunited@verizon.net marked to my attention, or “signs and wonders.”  You could also just hand it to me handwritten or bring it to the office.  Please have them to the office by October 10.  We will distribute them to the congregation as a devotional for November as a time of thanksgiving.

 

Your help is greatly appreciated. There is a young person in our congregation who needs the faith community’s witness.  And if there is one person needing to know that signs and wonders do happen, there are probably a hundred.

Grace and Peace,            Karin

 

John’s Jottings

 

We have an interesting little treat awaiting you in the weeks ahead.  We are arranging to have a little gold ornament of St. Paul's Church available to the congregation soon.  The ornament is being designed and prepared by Marjorie Vogel of Rhode Island Designs, and it will be beautiful!  Marge has done these ornaments for such places as the U. S. Capitol, the Smithsonian Institution, the Washington Cathedral, and many others throughout the country.  She is extremely talented, needless to say.  We think you will find this ornament of the church perfect as a boxed gift, particularly at Christmastime - and the cost especially appealing!  We’ll have more information later, but we wanted you to know about it a little in advance.  Just one more treat for the St. Paul's family.

 

Happy September, everyone-- and welcome back.      

            God bless!                  John

 

 

Joys and Concerns

This is an important element in our worship service; however, our finishing each service on time is critical because of our Sunday School schedule.  Although it’s hard to contain the Holy Spirit and there are times when we need a little more time, the worship leaders attempt each week to keep the 10:15 service to one hour and the 9 a.m. service to 50 minutes.  You can help.  The time of joys and concerns is meant as an opportunity to offer to God those folks in need of God’s care, or as an expression of thanksgiving for healing or new life, or other important life passages.  

 

Please help us by refraining from making announcements during this time.  Those can be given to Pastor Karin prior to the service.  If you send it to the office, it can even be included in the bulletin. 

 

**On communion Sundays this Fall, joys and concerns will not be included; however, there will be a sheet in the back of the church as you enter the Sanctuary so that you may write down prayer concerns to be included in our pastoral prayer for the day.

PAGE 2

 

 

As the new president of the United Methodist Men, it is my pleasure to report on some of our recent accomplishments.

Several men have been very busy doing construction at West River.

We have completed the purchase of a small 2000 Ford bus.  It has now been detailed with our name and website on it. This replaces the 1985 Ford van, which was very difficult to enter.  We just sold it for the asking price!  Our new bus has a wheel chair lift and room for 11.  It is scheduled to be driven in the Kensington Labor Day parade, and is now available for the use of St. Paul’s groups.

 

 

Because the Safeway is closed (and part of our lot will be used for some construction parking), our apple and Christmas tree sales may be relocated and smaller this year. 

 

 

 We have rented a small storage locker to hold some donations, received from people who are moving, for the upcoming yard sale scheduled for Nov. 17 and 18.  Please volunteer to help staff the sale.  The more staffers, the easier it is for all.  Training will be provided.

 

We need one more person on the Executive Committee, the steering committee for the UMM.  If you or someone you know is interested call me at 301-564-0714. 

 

Our general dinner meetings are the first Wednesday of every other month starting October 4.  The Executive Committee meets on the off months starting November 1.

 

Our monthly Pancake breakfasts, which are the first Saturday of each month, start Sept. 2nd.  Invite your friends and neighbors to come enjoy good food and fun in our church.

 

We invite all of the newer members of the congregation to come to our meetings! We look forward to seeing you. 
                        Eric Eaton, President

 

 

 

Something Different for Mission

 

The United Methodist Women is an organization for mission to women, children, and youth in our community and around the world. To that end, the UMW will hold a fundraiser this fall to raise money for mission. We’ll be selling beautiful birdhouses from Southern Living, a lovely decorative accent for your home or a wonderful gift for a friend for $14.95. Special thanks to Kim Longsworth for making this project possible!

 

Don’t forget children in our own county who live near or below the poverty line. We’ll collect health kits for Title 1 schoolchildren in September and appreciate all contributions.

 

Instructions for Church Women United Health Kits

1.      Cut out two 13” x 15” rectangles of fabric

2.      Sew hem along two 15” sides and one 13” side

3.      Turn over 1” and hem the top, leaving an opening

4.      Insert a drawstring: a shoelace, piece of nylon rope, or a heavy ribbon

 

To fill the kit, these items are needed:

1.      Comb and hairbrush

2.      Toothbrush and toothpaste

3.      Washcloth and hand towel

4.    Soap and a package of emery boards

PAGE 3

 

 

National Spiritual Ensemble to perform on Sept. 30

 

National Spiritual Ensemble performs at St. Paul’s on Saturday, September 30 at 7 p.m., This concert will benefit our volunteers in mission efforts.  Please join us for this powerful testimony in song.  It is a group of professional singers devoted to preserving the art and tradition of Negro spirituals, led by Vincent Dion Stringer and Marvin Mills.  They play all over the country. Stringer says that they sing "songs that soothe the soul.”  The concert will feature a “New Orleans” set of spirituals.

**Prior to the concert at 6 p.m., a “New Orleans style dinner in Heavener Hall.”  What a great night out!

 

Tickets cost $20 per person for the dinner and concert; concert only is $15.  Advance sales start September 3 in the office. 

 

The NSE is one of the most requested groups and always a sellout, according to Matthew Geerlings, director of music and liturgy for the National Cathedral.  “Those in attendance . . . will be educated because the American Negro spiritual is more than just a genre of music.  The text sometimes has a double meaning. On one side it might talk about religious aspects, but in other ways it would give slaves who wanted to escape from the plantation directions on where to go.  I think when people come here they'll go away with a greater sense of the struggles of the slaves that were here but also the hope that they had in Jesus as their personal savior and how they were able to overcome some of the obstacles that they had in life." http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral/music/summerfestival2005.shtml    http://ctl.du.edu/spirituals/Present/interview.cfm?ID=6

New Orleans VIM Trip

Please pray for our team!  We leave for New Orleans on September 23 and return September 29.  We will be involved in making homes livable again.  If you would be an intentional pray-er for the team, please email Carol in the church office.

 

 

 

Tired of hearing about the new pictorial directory?  Never fear, the end is near!

 

Now we are filling and finalizing the OCTOBER 6, 7, 9, and 10 photo dates.  Many of you did not know your October schedules, but now you do.  So...PLEASE make your appointment.  FINAL TWO NARTHEX SIGN-UP DAYS: Sundays, SEPT. 10 AND 17--or you may call Margie Clark at (301) 942-5523.

 

Our last directory pictured 264 families.  St. Paul’s is growing, so surely we can reach our goal of 275 families this time, though it isn’t going to happen without you.  We have 220 appointments (including August), 80% of our goal.  You DO NOT need to be a “member.”  By attending St. Paul’s or otherwise associating yourself with this church, you’ve become part of the St. Paul’s family.  You DO NOT have to purchase any photos, yet you’ll still receive your complimentary 8x10 color portrait and a directory.  What we need is an hour of your time to make this a good directory.

 

1 for Sat.  Oct. 7th

9:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.

2 for Sat.  Oct. 7th

1.- 5 p.m.

1 for Mon. Oct. 9th

6 - 9:30 p.m.

2 for Tue. Oct. 10th

6 - 9:30 p.m.

 

 

 

PAGE 4

 

 

BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES

with Deacon Buckingham

 

Have you ever wondered where to find something in the Bible, or really wanted to have a conversation about a point from the scripture you were reading?  Bible study is the best way to do that.  Come and be a part of a class which discusses various aspects of our faith and scripture.  It’s an exciting way to read the scriptures - in conversation and dialogue.

 

Sunday mornings

9 a.m. TBA

10:15 Sermon Discussion (attend 9a.m.worship)

 

MONDAYS

Journey Through the Psalms - Emily Robinson

Sept. 25  $10

 

TUESDAYS

10:45  Weekly discussion of scriptures to be used in worship the following week.  What a great way to prepare for worship.   We meet in the library every Tuesday - No sign up needed. 

 

Jesus in the Gospels – Rick Buckingham

Tuesdays starting Sept. 5;

1 - 3 p.m.

Room 117; $35

 

Jesus in the Gospels – Rick Buckingham

Tuesdays starting Sept. 5;

7:15 – 9:15 p.m.

Room 117; $35

 

THURSDAYS

 

Invitation to the Old Testament – Rick Buckingham

October 19

8 Thursdays - 1:30 p.m.   $9

Room 119

 

Invitation to the Old Testament – Rick Buckingham

October 19

8 Thursdays - 7:15 p.m.    $9

Room 119

 

 

YOUTH MINISTRY PROGRAMMING BEGINS Sunday, September 10th

 

All youth entering 6th through 12th grades are invited to participate in our Middle High or Senior High Youth Fellowships (UMYF).  The schedule for all of our meetings and activities is mailed monthly in the newsletter,

"Just For YOUth." 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Sunday, September 10 all youth and their families are invited to bring a picnic supper to the lawn at the corner of Fawcett and Mitchell Streets at 6 p.m.  Ice Cream and intergenerational games will be provided by our Council on Youth Ministries.  Rick Buckingham and youth officers will provide information about our upcoming year of the UMYF, Youth Choir, and other youth ministry opportunities.

 

UMYFs will normally meet on Sunday evenings, beginning at 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 17th, including a program, recreation and refreshments, ending at 8:30 p.m.  Parents are asked to drop off and pick up youth from the Multipurpose Room or the Armory Avenue parking lot.  One Sunday a month, each group normally has an afternoon activity instead of an evening program. 

All Middle High Parents are asked to sign up to chaperone, and provide refreshments, for at least two meetings/activities during the year.  The sign-up sheet will be available at the September 10th picnic and in the church office thereafter 

 

 

College Pastoral Visits:

Rick Buckingham will be making calls on our college students attending schools in western Pennsylvania, western Maryland and West Virginia later this month, and in Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia in early October.  Please send him current contact info for students in these areas by Sept. 15.

 

 

 

PAGE 5

 

2006-2007 CHURCH SCHOOL POLICIES:

As the new school year begins, we would like to remind parents of our policies and the ways we do things.

 

FAMILY CHURCH:

 

Beginning September 10, Sunday School meets on Sunday mornings, 10:15 a.m.-11:15 a.m., concurrently with our traditional service of worship.   However, on Family Church Sundays, children above the age of three years, and all youth, will attend the 10:15 a.m. worship service with their families.  When the Sunday School is dismissed on these Sundays, usually following the Young People’s Message, the fifth grade and younger will go to their classes.  Older classes will remain for the worship hour.  The dates for Family Church this school year will be Sept. 17, Oct. 15, Nov. 19, Dec. 10, Jan. 14, Feb. 11, Mar. 11, Apr. 1, and May 13.

 

CHILD PICK‑UP:

 

Parents of children up through third grade are asked to personally pick up their children after class, and to establish verbal or eye contact with the designated teacher at that time.  If a child is to be picked up by an unknown person, the parents are requested to notify the teacher ahead of time.

 

SPECIAL NEEDS:

 

If your child has any special needs, including learning disabili­ties, please convey this information to his or her Church School teacher.  We want to be sure that all learners are receiving a most beneficial and comfortable learning experience.

 

SEPTEMBER IS CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MONTH

With the new school year begins a new year as well of Christian Education at St. Paul's UMC.  10:15 a.m. classes begin for all ages on PROMOTION SUNDAY, September 10th, with nursery through Pre‑School on the second floor and Elementary (1st‑5th grades) on the third floor of our educational wing.  All youth classes meet off of the lower hallway to the Multipurpose Room.  Adult Classes meet as announced in the Adult Education Brochure found in the pews.  Please note: the Jesus in the Gospels Classes will begin meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 5th.

 

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION SUNDAY will be celebrated at the Family Church service on September 17th.  The service will include a dedication of all of our administrators, teachers, youth counselors and support staff.  The presentation of Bibles to our third graders will take place in October.

 

New Acolyte / Crucifer Training

 

A training session for new Acolytes will be held in St. Paul’s Sanctuary from 11:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 22nd.  Acolytes must be entering 6th grade or above.

 

Acolytes serve during the normal Sunday morning service of worship on a rotating basis, and may be called on occasionally for special services such as Ash Wednesday or Christmas Eve. Additional duties may include receiving the morning offering plates and assisting during communion.

 

Crucifer training will be held in the Sanctuary from 11:30-12:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 29th.  Crucifers must be entering 8th grade or older and possess good upper body strength.

 

YOUTH CHOIR BEGINS

7th – 12th Graders

 

Our Youth Choir rehearses on Wednesdays,

7-8 p.m., beginning on September 13th.  Youth Choir consists of 7th-12th graders.

 

PAGE 6

 

 

St Paul’s West River Family Weekend 2006

Oct 7 and 8

 

Whether you’ve enjoyed this weekend for years or have never been before …

Whether your family includes just you or fills a bus …

Whether you and your family are young or not-as-young …

You’ll find fun and fellowship at St. Paul’s West River Family Weekend!

 

Come as early as 10 am on Saturday morning and stay through lunch on Sunday.  The West River Center is only about 50 minutes away from Kensington, in Deale, MD (and easy to get to – see the directions below).  The waterfront is an incredible setting providing both tranquility and fun - and the perfect backdrop for a weekend of fellowship.  We even have a good time in the rain!  Favorite activities include boating, wall climbing, giant swing, basketball, football, volleyball, nature Center, Saturday night campfire with s’mores and songs, informal outdoor worship on Sunday morning, long walks, quiet conversations, and overall relaxation.  A 2-hour ride on a captained sailboat will also be available for $15 per person this year.  Accommodations are in 8-room cabins with hot water and showers - each room has 2 bunk beds.  Meals are served in the dining hall.

 

What to bring:

Pillows, sleeping bags (or twin-size bedding), towels, play clothes (cool evenings!), boots, flashlight, and whatever you need for an overnight stay.  Bring snacks to share in your cabin and a coffee mug for the communal hot drink station!  Optional items include crab nets, craft items, books, sports equipment, cards, and games.  Do not bring valuables or alcohol (prohibited). 

 

How to get there:

Take the Beltway to Rt. 4 (Pennsylvania Ave.) toward Upper Marlboro.

Take Rt. 4 to Rt. 258 and follow signs toward Deale.  Stay on Rt. 258, crossing Rt. 2.

Rt. 258 ends at Rt. 256, turn left onto Rt. 256.

Stay on Rt. 256 until it ends at Rt. 468 (Muddy Creek Rd.).  Turn left.

Drive 100 yards and turn right onto Chalk Point Rd. (at Amoco station and Oakland UMC).

West River Center is 1 mile down on the left.

 

 

Questions?

Call Marge Higgins 301-946-5196 or Donna Hewitt 301-570-5980.

 

PAGE 7

 

 

Sign-Up Form

St Paul’s West River Family Weekend – Oct 7 and 8, 2006

Sign-up and Payment required by September 24th. 

(Earlier sign-up is better as this event can sell out)

 

Please enter the number attending in each age category, attach check payable to St. Paul UMC, and return to the West River Box in the Narthex.

 

Name:__________________________        Phone:_____________________

 

Overnight Prices:

Includes activities (except sailing), lodging, and meals (Sat lunch & dinner, Sun breakfast & lunch

 

First Adult/Teen (age 13 and up)          $65      x          1           =          $65.00

(note the $10 additional for “first adult” spreads costs of activities among all families participating)

 

Additional Adults/Teens (13+)              $55      x          _____  =          $_________

Kids Age 4-12                                      $45      x          _____  =          $_________                           

Wee ones age 3 & under                       $ 5       x          _____  =          $_________

 

Saturday Daytime Only Prices (only for those not staying overnight):

Includes activities (except sailing) and meals (Sat lunch & dinner)

           

First Adult/Teen (age 13 and up)          $37      x          1           =          $37.00

Additional Adults/Teens (13+)              $27      x          _____  =          $_________

Kids Age 4-12                                       $17      x          _____  =          $_________

Wee ones age 3 and under                    $ 2       x          _____  =          $_________

 

Sailing

An option for those who want to enjoy a 2 hour ride on a captained sailboat on Saturday afternoon.

Price is per person (all ages).  Must sign up in advance for this activity:

 

$15      x          _____  =          $_________

 

Donations and Scholarships – Would you like to -

- Make a donation to help other families attend this weekend?   $_________

- Sponsor total or partial cost of a particular activity?              $_________

(giant swing $125; climbing wall $125)             

 

Total Amount (Please attach check with sign-up form)              $_________

 

Special Request (cabin assignment, etc.)?  Let us know!

 

If you need financial assistance (provided on a family-by-family basis) to attend, please contact Pastor Karin Walker in the church office.  Our goal is to include everyone!!

 

PAGE 8

 

 

 

TRUSTEES

Tracey Furman

President

 

Things will be much busier around the building beginning after Labor Day particularly during the week, as The Brookewood School begins their first year with students and staff at St Paul’s. Having a school in the building will be an adjustment, but we hope everyone will be patient while we work through the transition of housing a full-time school.

 

 

I hope everyone has noticed our new parking lot! The Trustees negotiated with Safeway’s construction company, Manekin Construction, to redo our lot in exchange for parking during the construction period. The gift to the church is valued just over $50,000. During the workweek parking may be tight, but the Trustees feel the benefit to the church is worth the short-term inconvenience.

 

Over the summer our building superintendent, Marco Palma, refurbished four of our rooms. I hope everyone will take the opportunity to visit rooms 211, 109, the Mountain Way Shop and our music director and organist office.

 

All these projects were made possible by your generous support to the Improvement Fund. THANK-YOU!

 

Just a reminder: Please make sure windows and doors are closed when you leave a classroom and the exterior doors completely shut when exiting the building. Our utilities are paid for by your gifts and pledges.

 

 

The WHITE HOUSE Ornament Fund Raiser will begin Oct. 15 - ­Nov 5. Ornaments will be available to pick-up Sunday, Nov 12. The cost of each ornament is $17 and proceeds from this year’s sale will benefit the Improvement and Pastor Discretionary Funds. If you have questions or would like to get your order in early, call Tracey Furman (301) 933-6282. Orders must be prepaid.

The new parking lot

Hobbs House                                                                                                                                                                         Church            Hobbs House

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

                                               

                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                               

 

 

           

           

 

 

Notice – no grass between the parsonage and the parking lot!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HISTORY TIDBITS

Emily Robinson – History, Chair

 

 

The cornerstone of our second sanctuary, built in 1897 which stood on the corner of Fawcett and Mitchell Streets (where there is grass today), now resides as a planter in the columbarium.  Please visit and see the new plaque identifying it.