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Music This Sunday
Hymns:
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For the Beauty of the Earth |
"Are We There Yet?: The Story of Moses and the Exodus"
Sanctuary
Thompson & Scruggs
arr. Tornquist
In the Garden
Thompson & Scruggs
arr. Tornquist
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Quick Links
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Our Website & Calendar
9:00 AM & 10:30 AM
Contact Us:
Office Manager
Dr. Erin Steele
301-933-7933
Senior Pastor
Rev. Adam B. Snell
Associate Pastor
Rev. Claire Matheny
Minister of Education & Youth
Rev. Rick Buckingham
Youth Ministry Assistant
Mr. Micah Smartt
Director of Music
Mr. Tom Pedersen
Organist
Mr. Marvin Mills
Treasurer
Mrs. Sharon Zeigler
Facilities Manager
Ms. Tracey Furman
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Musical Theatre Camp Presentation
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Exodus 5:1-4
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1
Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "Thus says the
Lord
, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go, so that they may celebrate a festival to me in the wilderness.' "
2
But Pharaoh said, "Who is the
Lord
, that I should heed him and let Israel go? I do not know the
Lord
, and I will not let Israel go."
3
Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has revealed himself to us; let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the
Lord
our God, or he will fall upon us with pestilence or sword."
4
But the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Get to your labors!"
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"Let my people go" is the command the Lord conveys to the Egyptian king who has enslaved the people of Israel.
Ponder these questions:
Consider the messengers who carry this divine message. What worries might Moses and Aaron have about making a demand of the most powerful ruler in the land?
Think of your own situation. In what ways might you be reluctant to give an unwelcome message to someone who held your physical or emotional wellbeing in his or her hand
?
What is Pharoah's reaction to the request of Moses and Aaron?
Name a time when you have felt called to do the right thing and have had it backfire on you.
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Dear friends:
There are songs in the air around here this week.
It's
Musical Theatre Camp time here at St. Paul's, and each day this week
Mrs. Mayhew and
Mrs. Baker have been working with 34 children from 8 local congregations to learn the musical drama, "Are We There Yet?" This is a delightful depiction of the story of Moses and the Exodus from Egypt. From my observations the kids are having a great time learning their lines and singing the songs which make this ancient story come alive in modern times.
They're also having a great time at lunch. Mrs. Mayhew early on identified a special role for me at camp this week:
lunchroom monitor. My mission, she said, was to simply be a calming presence in the Multipurpose Room while the children ate their lunch. If a pastor was present she suspected this would curtail any youthful predilection toward rowdiness.
Alas, I am not as calming as she imagined. Once the children found out that I had the key to the neighboring youth lounge in my pocket, they begged me every lunch period to let them into that space. They call it the "
pool room" because that's the room where the youth group's billiard table is located. The children love to sit on the comfortable couches in that space. And, they love to play pool.
They're comical to watch, too. Imagine a 9 year-old eyeing each shot carefully while chalking up the pool cue, standing on one foot, and taking steady aim. 6 times out of 10 someone will hit a ball, about once a lunch period they actually hit the ball at which they are aiming. It's all I can do to refrain from giving them all a
lesson in how to play billiards (I wasn't always a pastor, you know. I do have some memories from my pool hall days). My only reluctance is the fear that one of them might actually get good at this game and, years down the road, when asked where he or she learned to play pool so well, would respond, "A Methodist pastor at St. Paul's taught me."
As limited as their pool skills may be, this Sunday the children of Musical Theatre Camp will give us a lesson in how to praise God. There is a dress rehearsal at
2:00 p.m.
this Friday if you want to get an advance look, but
this Sunday at both the
9:00 and 10:30 services the children will lead us in worship as they present their drama of Moses and a people on a journey. They have big smiles, beautiful voices, and funny lines. Your presence will be a great encouragement to them on their own journey of faith, so I hope to see you at one or both services
this Sunday. Follow the sound of the songs in the air.
Peace,
A.B. Snell
p.s. - Speaking of people on a journey, I forgot to heavily plug the upcoming mission trip to
Nicaragua
in just a couple of weeks. As always, our mission team takes as many
supplies
to our Nicaragua friends as the airlines will allow. We need your help filling those suitcases, and filling them soon. See the announcement below for the list of needed items, including the suitcases themselves. There are only two Sundays left between now and the time the team needs to pack their bags (7/16 and 7/23), so please donate soon. Monetary donations gratefully received, too!
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Upcoming Events
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Sunday
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7/16/17 - Musical Theatre Presentation
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| 1:00 am |
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Work Camp Returns from South Dakota - parking lot |
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9 &10:30am
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Nursery - 202
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9:00 am
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Worship & Musical Theatre Camp Presentation - Sanctuary
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9:30 am
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Adult Sunday School - Parlor
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| 9:55 am |
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Covenant Discipleship Group - Library |
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10:30 am
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Worship & Musical Theatre Camp Presentation - Sanctuary
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11:45 am
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SPRC - Library
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Monday
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7/17/17
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| 7:00 pm |
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Nicaragua VIM Meeting - Library |
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Tuesday
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7/18/17
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| 9:00 am |
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Youth Community Service Day - off site, Kensington Park |
| 4:00 pm |
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"Just for Youth" Rick's Farewell Party - MPR & Youth Lounge |
| 7:00 pm |
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Journey Group - 211 |
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Wednesday
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7/19/17
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No church activities scheduled |
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Thursday
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7/20/17
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No church activities scheduled |
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Friday
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7/21/17
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No church activities scheduled |
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Saturday
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7/22/17
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No church activities scheduled |
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Sunday
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7/23/17
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9 & 10:30 am
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Nursery - 202 |
| 9:00 am |
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Worship with Communion - Sanctuary |
| 9:30 am |
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Adult Sunday School - Parlor |
| 9:55 am |
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Covenant Discipleship Group - Library |
| 10:30 am |
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Worship - Sanctuary
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| 10:30 am |
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Summer Sunday School - classrooms 200, 201, 203 |
| 11:45 am |
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Rick's Silent Auction - Heavener Hall |
| 11:45 am |
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Wilderness Trail Orientation - MPR |
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Summer Sunday School Takes a Break
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There will be no Summer Sunday School on
July 16 so all children can enjoy the Musical Theatre Camp's presentation of "Are We There Yet?: The Story of Moses and the Exodus." We will meet again next week! We offer one class for children ages 2-5 and another for children ages 6-10 during the 10:30am worship time. We still need some adult volunteers, plus teen helpers, to sign up to guide classes until September 3. Each Sunday has a theme, coloring pages, and snacks provided. Teachers are asked to plan a craft or activity.
S
ign up in the church office or contact coordinator Amy Frontz at
[email protected]
to get started and help make Summer Sunday School a success!
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Youth Service Day and Farewell Party
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On Tuesday,
July 18
the combined Middle and Senior High Youth Group will meet at the church at 9:30am
and take the church van to Kensington Park to assist residents by running errands, playing games, sharing a meal, and leading worship. Sign up outside the church office to reserve a spot and bring signed permission slips. Lunch is provided. SSL hours are available. Following the service event, there will be a special "Just for Youth" Farewell Party for Rev. Rick Buckingham in the Multi-Purpose Room starting around 4:00pm
. All youth and their families are welcome! Contact Rev. Rick Buckingham with questions: [email protected]. This is the last scheduled Youth event of the summer season. Middle High UMYF will resume weekly meetings on Friday,
August 25
and Senior High will start
September 10
. Other dates for 2017-2018 events are in the July Youth Newsletter, now available at
http://stpaulsk.org/community/youth
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During our trip to Nicaragua in August, the Volunteers In Mission team will be rehabilitating daycare centers for children up to the age of six. Can you help donate items to create a warm, inviting environment? We are in need of the following new or like-new items: suitcases or duffel bags (medium-to-large size), Spanish children's books or CDs, simple coloring books, crayons, tape, glue, construction paper, colored pencils, soccer balls (various sizes for all ages), and Spanish Bibles. Items can be placed in bins in the Narthex from now until
July 23. Financial contributions are also welcome! We will use them to purchase other items that we will buy in Nicaragua, like tables and chairs. Please contact Athena Gaalswyk with any questions (301-592-8798,
[email protected]). Thank you for prayers and support!
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Rev. Rick Buckingham is downsizing his home and moving into a one-bedroom apartment, and needs to divest himself of some personal treasures. He will hold a "Silent Auction" for this purpose in Heavener Hall on Sunday,
July 23, between 11:45am
and 12:30pm. At 12:30pm, the highest bidder for each item will be announced and payment collected. Each item will be purchased "as is." Proceeds will be used to help cover moving costs.
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In response to discussions at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference, the Council of Bishops created the Commission on a Way Forward. This body of clergy and laity from across the denomination and across the world is charged with a complete examination and possible revision of every paragraph of the
United Methodist Book of Discipline
concerning human sexuality. The commission aims to explore options that could help to maintain and strengthen the unity of the church, especially exploring the denomination's stance on homosexuality.
(To view the current language, visit:
http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/what-is-the-denominations-position-on-homosexuality
.) Since January 2017, United Methodist conferences worldwide have been engaged in Praying our Way Forward, a vigil of prayer for the commission's important work. For more information on the Commission, you may view two short videos: an introductory video on "Praying Our Way Forward" (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t1cwBJxS2c
) and the video shared at the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference in May 2017 (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw_Yhy6aa4U
). Churches of the Baltimore-Washington Conference are called to participate in the prayer vigil during the week of
July 23-29
. You may wish to begin a bit early: the Commission next meets July 19-21. For prayer resources from our conference and others, please visit:
http://umcprays.org/meditations/
.
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Men from the 2x4s Ministry (for folks in the 20s-40s age range) will gather at the home of Travis & Rachel Stalcup to prepare a meal on Friday,
July 28. We'll serve dinner at the Carroll House Men's Shelter on Sunday,
July 30. Look for an email with more information, or contact Travis Stalcup at
[email protected] to get involved.
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The annual St. Paul's UMC church picnic will be on Sunday,
July 30
immediately following the 10:30am worship service. Join us across the street in Reinhardt Park for food, fellowship, and special moments recognizing Rev. Rick Buckingham's years of service as he transitions into retirement. Beginning this Sunday there will be a box in the Narthex under a sign that says, "
We Love Rick!
"
We are collecting your messages of gratitude and well wishes to send with him after 32 years of dedicated service and countless lives touched here at St. Paul's!
Please place your notes of gratitude and well-wishes to Rev. Buckingham in this box over the course of the next several weeks, or
visit our website
to customize a thank you note.
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A special pick-up choir will sing on Sunday,
June 30 when we celebrate Rick Buckingham's final Sunday as a St. Paul's pastor. If you would like to raise your voice, please meet in the Choir Room (Room 211) at 9:30 am to rehearse "The First Song of Isaiah" prior to singing at the 10:30 am worship service.
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Once again Justice & Compassion is partnering with Interfaith Works to get backpacks and supplies to needy children in time for the start of school. Collection will begin Sunday,
July 30 and ends Wednesday,
August 16. We will build the backpacks after the 10:30am service on Sunday,
August 20. The top items needed are: 3-ring binder (2 inch size), two-pocket folders, dividers, pencil boxes or pouches, rulers, scissors, markers, highlighters, colored pencils, and the backpacks themselves! Financial contributions are also welcome - make checks out to St. Paul's UMC and write "Backpack Build" on the memo line. If you have questions, please contact Angela Harvey (
[email protected]) or Leigha Gordillo (
[email protected]).
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The 2x4s Third Thursday Book Club (for readers in the 20s-40s age range) will skip discussion in July and will next meet 7:30-9:00pm on
August 17 at Jim & Rachel King's home for our July/August selection,
Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson. Brilliant and engagingly written,
Why Nations Fail answers the question that has stumped the experts for centuries: Why are some nations rich and others poor, divided by wealth and poverty, health and sickness, food and famine? Get reading now - it's a hearty book that promises to spark lively discussion.
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In a busy church with a full parking lot, accidental bumps and scrapes happen from time to time. If this happens to you or if you have inadvertently caused damage to another vehicle, simply let us know in the church office and we'll do our best to help find the owner. Be careful out there, and watch for children. Thank you!
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Thank you for your generous contributions to the Interfaith Works Women's Center in Rockville. St. Paul's has collected almost $4,000 to help these neighbors recover following extensive damage to the facility and to the personal possessions of many of the women because of broken sewer lines. If you would like to contribute, the need remains. Make checks payable to St. Paul's UMC with "IWWC" in the memo line.
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