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Highlights This Week
 
Music This Sunday

Hymns :
#304
Easter People, Raise Your Voices
#541 See How Great a Flame Aspires 
#312 Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise
 

Joyful Ringers! 

Beach Spring
Kevin McChesney

Children's Chapel Singers 

God Is Here with Me
Christopher Hogan

Sanctuary Choir
 

If Ye Love Me
David Schelat

Organ:
 
Pipe Dance 
Tylman Susato

Trumpet Tune on LLANFAIR
Richard Proulx


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May 13, 2018

Rev. Adam B. Snell, preaching
Luke 24:44-53

44 Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you - that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." 45Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
50Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
Questions to Ponder
This week's text depicts Jesus' final earthly interaction with his disciples, and then his ascension into heaven

Ponder these questions:
 
Jesus opens their minds so that his disciples can understand the scriptures. Who first told you about the Bible and about Jesus Christ?

The role of the disciple is to be a witness to what God has done through Christ (v. 48). When was the last time you told someone else about your faith?

The disciples were told to wait until they had been "clothed with power." If you were told to wait until you received power, what would you do during the waiting time?

 

Dear friends:
 
We are missing something in this building.
 
No money has been withdrawn from the church accounts, and all the spoons are accounted for in the church kitchen. But, we nonetheless are persistently missing a certain necessary item in the building. Someone seems to be taking our toilet paper.
 
For the past several months the staff has noticed that one of the bathrooms in the church is regularly out of toilet paper. The extra rolls that are stored in this location disappear in a fairly predictable pattern during certain large community events. This provokes compassionate concern rather than anger at the theft, for this paper product is not exorbitantly expensive. We tell ourselves that someone must really be down on her luck (it's a ladies' restroom) to need to take this inexpensive item from a church.
 
Despite this little inconvenience in one small room in our building, what this church is not missing is a heart for this community. Generations of faithful disciples have built up this church over the past 130+ years. These generous servants led us from worshiping in Mr. Wheatley's barn in 1885 through four different sanctuaries and numerous building renovations to the present day. Through all these changes, St. Paul's has remained a compassionate place within the heart of this community where the doors are open to all who need to gather with friends. Thank you for being part of that great legacy of care. Thank you for welcoming the community to share this space we call home, even when something is occasionally found wanting.
 
I'll see you Sunday at St. Paul's friends, when we will praise God for the blessings of caring mothers on that Mother's Day. May nothing necessary for disciples of Christ ever be missing from this place.

Peace,
 
A.B. Snell
Upcoming Events


Sunday
5/13/2018 - Mother's Day
9:00 am
Worship with Communion - Sanctuary
9:00 am

Nursery - 202
9:00 am
Joyful Ringers! - 109
10:30 am

Worship - Sanctuary
Children's Sunday: Students age 2 - grade 5 will begin in worship in the Sanctuary and will transition to their classrooms with their teachers following the Children's Moment.
10:30 am
Nursery - 202
10:30 am
Youth Sunday School (grades 6-12) - youth wing
10:45 am
Children's Sunday School (age 2 - grade 5) - classrooms
11:30 am
Confirmation Class Make-up Activities - MPR, Youth Lounge
11:45 am
FaithFlix - Parlor
Monday

5/14/2018
1:00 pm
Staff meeting - Parlor
7:00 pm
Yarn Ministry - Library
Tuesday

5/15/2018
10:00 am
Prayer Lift - Chapel
10:45 am
Lectionary Bible Study - Library
12:00 pm
Taste & Sing - Octagon
7:00 pm
Journey Group - Library
7:00 pm
Disciple I - Library
Wednesday

5/16/2018
6:45 pm
Joyful Ringers! - 109
7:00 pm
Still Wednesday - Sanctuary
Thursday

5/17/2018
9:00 am
Piano Tuning - Sanctuary, Music Office, 211, Octagon
7:30 pm
Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal - 211
Friday

5/18/2018
7:00 pm
Middle High SPY - Youth Lounge, MPR
Saturday

5/19/2018
9:00 am
Confirmation Class Rehearsal - Sanctuary
10:00 am
Davis Marriage Blessing - Chapel
12:00 pm
Way Forward Workshop - Heavener Hall
6:00 pm
Food with Friends Dinner - off site
Sunday

5/20/2018 - Pentecost & Confirmation
9:00 am
Worship with Communion - Sanctuary
9:00 am
Nursery - 202
9:30 am
Confirmation Class Photos - Library
10:30 am
Worship - Sanctuary
Confirmation Sunday: Youth grades 6-12 will be in worship in the Sanctuary
10:30 am
Nursery - 202
10:30 am
Opening Chapel & Children's Sunday School - DuVall Chapel, classrooms
Last day of the regular Sunday School year! Grades K-5 begin in the DuVall Chapel for a moment of worship and will transition to their classes with their teachers. Preschool children begin in their classrooms; teachers will bring them to the Chapel at about 10:45.
11:30 am
Confirmation Class Luncheon - Heavener Hall
11:45 am
FaithFlix - Parlor
6:30 pm
Senior High SPY - Youth Lounge, MPR

2x4s: Second Saturday Pizza Dinner & Shelter Meal

As St. Paul's covers its annual week of meals at the Interfaith Works Women's Shelter, the 2x4s crew (for folks in their 20s-40s) will provide dinner Saturday, May 12. Rachel Stalcup is organizing this effort. There are still a few spots for cooks who can prepare food ahead - recipes are provided! Then, while 3-4 volunteers serve at the shelter at 6:00 p.m., other parents and children are welcome for pizza dinner and playtime at the Stalcup home. If you are able to assist with meal prep or want to rsvp for family pizza night, please contact Rachel at rachelstalcup@gmail.com. (This Saturday activity takes the place of the usual 2x4s Second Sunday lunch.)
Car Show on Saturday!

car2.jpg
The Kensington Car Show originally planned for Sunday, May 6, was rescheduled due to rain and will now take place on Saturday, May 12. This should not have an effect on our Sunday worship, but if you travel through Kensington on Saturday, plan to be patient and allow some extra time to adjust to temporary changes in traffic and parking.
Sunday School Details

Sunday, May 13 is Children's Sunday! All children grade 5 and under will begin in the Sanctuary at 10:30 a.m. with their families. Children will be invited forward for the Children's Moment, after which they will transition to their Sunday School classrooms with their teachers. Youth in grades 6-12 will attend Sunday School in the youth wing starting at 10:30 a.m. Please note the upcoming schedule: 
  • May 20: Pentecost & Confirmation Sunday - This is the last day of the 2017-2018 Sunday School Year. Children in grades K-5 will begin in the Chapel for a moment of worship and will transition to their classrooms with their teachers. Preschool children will begin in their classrooms and teachers will bring them to the Chapel for their own worship experience at 10:45. Youth in grades 6-12 will be in worship for Pentecost Sunday, when we will be extending the right hand of Christian fellowship to members of the 2018 Confirmation Class.
  • May 27-July 8: Children's Moments & Summer Sunday School - Each Sunday, children will begin in the Sanctuary with their families at 10:30 a.m. Following the Children's Moment, children ages 2-10 will transition to Summer Sunday School classes in Rooms 200 & 203. (We still need some Summer Sunday School teachers! Sign up here: http://stpaulsk.org/community/children)
  • July 15: Musical Theatre Camp - No Summer Sunday School; all children will be in worship to enjoy the Musical Theatre Camp's presentation of "It's Cool in the Furnace," a musical about Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
  • July 22-September 2:  Summer Sunday School - All children ages 2-10 are invited to join the Summer Sunday School classes in Rooms 200 & 203 starting at 10:30 a.m.
FaithFlix

Adults of all ages are invited for food, film, and fellowship in the Parlor on Sunday, May 13 , 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. We'll enjoy a light lunch while watching and discussing a short faith-provoking film clip. Our FaithFlix sessions in May will focus on prayer, featuring selections from the series Before Amen: The Power of a Simple Prayer by Max Lucado. Each FaithFlix gathering is an independent event with no prep, no stress, no registration - just come as you are able!
  • May 13: I Need Help - God invites us to bring our problems to him.
  • May 20: They Need Help - What might happen if we prayed for those we love and those we find difficult?
  • May 27: Thank You - Thanksgiving is the gateway to life!
Taste & Sing

Join us this Tuesday, May 15, at 12:00 noon for a hymn-sing, fellowship, and lunch in the Octagon. Those attending are invited to suggest a favorite hymn to sing at the start of the gathering, then we move into a time when we celebrate the life and work of a particular writer or composer before sharing lunch together. This month will feature the work of 21st-century hymnist Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, whose 300+ hymns have been sung by thousands of congregations around the world. There is no registration and no cost (although donations toward lunch are welcome), and no musical expertise is needed!
St. Paul's Educational Award

The deadline to apply for the Educational Award is coming up on Friday, May 18, so don't delay! St. Paul's, through the Council on Youth Ministries, will provide a monetary award to one or more graduating High School Seniors with plans for college or another type of higher education. Only those who apply can be considered!  Go to http://stpaulsk.org/community/youth to download the paperwork.  Award recipients will be announced on Youth Recognition Sunday, June 3. Questions? Contact Mrs. Meg Baker, Director of Christian Education, mbaker@stpaulsk.org or 301-933-7933 ext. 104.
VBS Now Registering!

Sign up today for St. Paul's VBS "Once Upon a Mountaintop." Our popular Vacation Bible School program runs June 19-22. We welcome all VBS Campers, age 3 through those entering grade 5, for Bible stories, games, music, crafts, playtime, playdoh, water balloons, and (of course) snacks, so bring your friends and make memories with us! Paper forms are available in the church office, or visit http://stpaulsk.org/community/vbs for more details and download Camper applications. All applications are due by May 31. For Camper questions, contact Robin Mayhew at robin_mayhew@comcast.net. Please note, due to a flood of youth interest, we are now processing Youth Helper applications and have started a wait list! Youth who will be rising 6th grade or higher should contact Meg Baker (mbaker@stpaulsk.org, 301-933-7933 ext. 104) if you haven't already applied and would like to be added to the Youth Helper wait list.
A Way Forward at St. Paul's

All adults and youth are encouraged to attend A Way Forward workshop on Saturday, May 19, 12:00-4:00 p.m. in Heavener Hall. Go to http://stpaulsk.org/community/the-way-forward or use the sign-up sheet now available in the church office to rsvp. We'll have lunch together and talk, learn, and pray as we explore how our congregation might address The United Methodist Church's forthcoming decisions (not yet known) regarding policies on sexual orientation and homosexuality. We will briefly review what the United Methodist Church is doing, then in small groups we will explore questions that are close to home. We may look at what issues members of our church might agree or disagree about, how decisions are made at St. Paul's, and what St. Paul's individuals and groups hold as bedrock beliefs about God, the church, grace, and inclusivity. Although some individuals may want to express personal opinions about these questions, our emphasis will be on thinking and talking about the life of our congregation. End goals for this session include clear-eyed views of what beliefs unite all of us at St. Paul's, what might separate our members on matters of sexuality, and how we might consider the forthcoming results of the greater UMC's 2019 Special Session called to address sexuality and church policy. For more information, please contact Bill Butz, william.butz@icloud.com, 240-205-0964If you would like more general information about work of The Commission on the Way Forward and The United Methodist Church policies, excerpts and links from The United Methodist News Service and Bishop LaTrelle Easterling are available at  http://stpaulsk.org/community/the-way-forward .
Food with Friends

The Large Group Dinner for Food with Friends will have a Luau theme! Dinner will be held on May 19 at 6:00 p.m. at the home of Gary Rubino & Karen Thomas. RSVP by the May 13 to Karen Thomas (301-928-5814, krthomas23@aol.com) and say which side dish you will bring. The main course of roasted pig will be provided. All are invited! Come find out what Food with Friends is all about. In addition to the Large Group Dinner, we break up into smaller 8-10 person dinner groups at members' homes throughout the year. Contact Beth Hitchcock (240-793-4555, jhitch7@verizon.net) for more information. Looking forward to seeing all the old and new and shining faces.
Hunger Ministry Partners: Keep the Van Rolling

For over two years, we've served a hot dinner to our Hunger Ministry families and volunteers at each monthly food distribution. The meal is made possible by InspireDC's FEEDS program, which rescues good food, has it transformed by Campus Kitchens, and then delivers it to programs serving those in need. St. Paul's has been asked to serve as a partner in helping keep their pick-up & delivery van on the road at a cost of $80 a month. This could easily be done if eight people choose to donate $10 a month toward this ministry. To contribute to broader Hunger Ministry efforts in this manner, visit https://commitchange.com/dc/washington/inspiredc/campaigns/ 
- the fundraising deadline has been extended to May 15 thanks to a surge in interest! Please go to http://stpaulsk.org/service/hunger-ministry to learn more about this effort. To let us know of your gift, contact Kim Longsworth: kimberlylongsworth@gmail.com, 301-580-8832. Thank you!
Still Wednesday

Feeling called to stillness and community in a world that is all too loud? Still Wednesday is held in either the Sanctuary or Octagon at St. Paul's each week. Join us 7:00-8:00 p.m. for an hour of prayer and quiet: May 16, 23, 30. Still Wednesday facilitators lead the evening in a variety of formats that could include walking meditation, lectio divina, poetry, journaling, art, or music. Most evenings will include about 20 minutes of silent prayer. Simply come as you're able. 
Just Like Carter, Colbert, Lamott, and Grisham...

What do Jimmy Carter, Stephen Colbert, Anne Lamott, and John Grisham have in common? The answer may surprise you: they are all Sunday School teachers! Please consider joining their ranks by taking one hour to teach Summer Sunday School, which begins on May 27 and continues through September 2. We need at least two adult volunteers to lead classes each week during the 10:30 a.m. worship hour: one for children ages 2-5, and one for ages 6-10. All materials - curriculum, suggested activities, and snacks - will be provided. Youth helpers are also welcome and encouraged to participate! Please consider serving our church community in this way. Sign-up online at http://stpaulsk.org/community/children or in the church office! Contact Meg Baker (mbaker@stpaulsk.org, 301-933-7933 ext. 104) if you have questions.
New Baby Meals

Help the Derr family welcome new baby daughter Francine Carson Derr by providing a meal for Jonathan, Ashley, big brother Sebastian, and big sister Louisa. Go to https://takethemameal.com/OUKU8639 to sign up. Instructions about arranging drop-off and other details are included on the sign-up page. There are still slots available on May 14, May 28, and June 1. At St. Paul's, we really are all about feeding people.
Friendship Club Trip to the Bay

The Friendship Club for all older adults will take a day trip to the Chesapeake Bay on June 12. The cost is $50 per person and includes transportation to and from St. Paul's on an air-conditioned bus and lunch at The Fish Whistle restaurant in Chestertown, MD. All reservations must be finalized by May 30. Forms are available in the church office. This will be the last Friendship Club gathering of the 2017-2018 season. For additional information about Friendship Club, contact president Erma McWilliams, 301-774-2742 or emcwill436@aol.com.
Communion Collect

The next Communion Collect will be on June 3, but we welcome donations any time! You can place non-perishable grocery items in the bins in the Narthex, pre-pack full bags using a shopping list provided, or donate Safeway or Giant grocery store gift cards ($10 value each, please) in the office. Volunteers will be needed after each worship service on June 3 to help sort and bag contributions. We also invite volunteers for distribution night on Monday, June 4 starting at about 6:45 p.m. in Heavener Hall, when we get ready for the families to arrive later that night. We are also in need of drivers! Please contact coordinators Kim Longsworth (kimberlylongsworth@gmail.com, 301-580-8832) or Jean Langbein (jeanlangbein@gmail.com, 301-622-0737) if you can volunteer as a driver, even occasionally, to help deliver groceries to those who are shut-in, disabled, or otherwise unable to make it to the church. Read more about the Hunger Minsitry at  http://stpaulsk.org/service/hunger-ministry. Thanks!
Church Picnic

Mark your calendars now for the annual St. Paul's Church Picnic. We will gather in Reinhardt Park, directly across the street from St. Paul's main doors, on Sunday, June 17 following the 10:30 a.m. worship service to share lunch and bid farewell to Rev. Claire Matheny.
9:00 Worship Participation

Communion
Would you like to read Scripture or help serve Communion at the 9:00 a.m. Worship Service? We are looking for Liturgists and Communion Stewards to assist in the first worship service on Sunday mornings. May 20June 10, and Sundays in July are open. To sign up online, simply add your name and email address to the sign-up sheet found at this site: goo.gl/Xz5T79. Contact Rev. Claire Matheny (cmatheny@stpaulsk.org, 301-933-7933 ext. 103) if you have questions.
Associate Pastor Update

Associate Pastor Rev. Claire Matheny has accepted a new call to serve as Enabling Minister at Kittamaqundi Church in Columbia, MD. You can read more about her new position in the "Claire's Corner" feature in the April Epistle, available here: http://stpaulsk.org/community/epistle-weekly-news. Rev. Claire's last day at St. Paul's will be Sunday, June 17, 2018. Our district superintendent, the St. Paul's Staff-Parish Relations Committee, and Rev. Adam Snell have announced that the next associate pastor will be Rev. Kate Mackereth Fulton, currently serving as Chaplain Resident at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, D.C. She will begin at St. Paul's on July 1, 2018.
Nicaragua VIM

St. Paul's will be sending a Volunteers In Mission team to Nicaragua in early August to continue our work with community preschools in Ciudad Sandino. Scholarships are available for people of all ages! If you were unable to attend the interest meeting but would like more information, please contact Athena Gaalswyk, athena_gaalswyk@yahoo.com
Great History

If our Heritage Sunday celebration in April sparked your interest, you can find the book T he Spirit of Methodism in Kensington on sale in the church office during the week. The St. Paul's history book is an award-winning trove of information about St. Paul's and is full of interesting stories, recounting everything from musical performances at the White House to cream pies being thrown at a former pastor. The cost is only $10. Get your copy today!
Online Prayer Requests

Upcoming surgery? Have a joy or concern? In need of prayer support? Submit a prayer request online, day or night. You have the option to share your request with the Prayer Lift team or only share directly with the pastors. Visit our online prayer request form linked on our website at:  http://stpaulsk.org/community/prayer-requests.
Announcements & Epistle Articles

The Epistle
If you have an upcoming St. Paul's-related event and want to let church members and friends know about it with an announcement in the Sunday bulletin, please email Erin Steele in the church office at stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org. All bulletin announcements must be received by 12:00 noon on Wednesday. The suggested length is 75 words and should include date, time, and contact information. If you have an article to go in the monthly Epistle Newsletter, please help us by submitting Epistle items to Erin Steele at stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org no later than the 15th of the month. Please send Epistle content as a Word doc attachment with "Epistle Item" in the subject line. Each article should be about 250 words or less. Paper submissions may be placed in the yellow "Epistle" folder on the desk in the main office. Thanks for staying connected to all that St. Paul's has to offer!
 

Thank you for staying connected to St. Paul's UMC through this weekly publication.  The email addresses used in this mailing were provided by the addressees for church use.

 

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