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Weekly News for March 28, 2021
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Worship-at-Home Service
Palm Sunday
March 28 at 10:30 a.m.
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Pastors' Weekly Message: From Pastor Pat
Greetings Beloved,
A week from today it will be Holy Thursday and in some ways an eerie replica of Holy Thursday 2020. Again we will not be in the Sanctuary. Again, we will miss the sacredness of solemn community entering the final hours of a season which has required deep soul searching and introspection.
While I might normally encourage us to focus on the moment, today I invite you to fast forward to next Thursday. Fast forward to next Thursday and whether you are re-creating a Passover meal or requesting Door Dash, reflect on these questions:
- How has God spoken to me in this season?
- Have I allowed God the opportunity to be present with me?
- Have I heard what God has said to me?
- What now will I do?
I think it is important that you have time to reflect so that when next Thursday arrives and you have visited the Stations of the Cross or are preparing to view our Holy Thursday worship service, your responses will resonate within you.
Holy Thursday is an experience of decision making.
Judas decided to betray Christ. Peter decided to deny Christ. Pilate and Herod decided to be popular rather than humane. And the crowds decided that the status quo was more important than change.
As we prepare to enter the final days of this season, may our decisions be made not out of haste, or as perfunctory tasks to be completed, but as the desire to walk with Christ in a way like never before.
May it be so.
-- Pastor Pat
pallen@stpaulsk.org
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Monday Mar 29-Friday Apr 2
11:00 am-1:00 pm & 5:00-7:00 pm
Octagon at St. Paul's
This Holy Week, please plan to visit St. Paul's new self-guided Stations of the Cross event.
This program honors the ancient story of Jesus’ death while recognizing the ways this narrative repeats itself again & again throughout the past and present. It provides multisensory ways to engage, confess, and lament. Each station is sponsored by St. Paul's groups and members.
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Holy Week worship services for Maundy Thursday (April 1 at 7:30pm) and Good Friday (April 2 at 7:30pm) will be available online in a Worship-at-Home format. stpaulsk.org/worship/worship-at-home
Easter Sunday (April 4) will feature in-person worship:
- 6:30 am in Clum-Kennedy Park (parking in the lot between Johnson's flowers and Old Town Market on Kensington Parkway)
- 9:00 & 10:30 a.m., Reinhardt Park (across from St. Paul's front doors)
Those attending should bring chairs, wear masks, and maintain physical distancing, or participate from their vehicles drive-in style.
The 10:30 service will also be livestreamed for viewing at home.
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Sunday, March 28
10:00-10:30 am
Following the success of our February virtual coffee hour, we've scheduled one for March.
This Sunday, grab your coffee (or tea or cocoa or water) and head over to the virtual Octagon for virtual coffee hour before worship. Come in your pajamas or your Sunday best. Bring the kiddos or cats or come alone! Everyone is welcome.
Topic: Virtual Coffee in the Octagon
Time: Mar 28, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Meeting ID: 975 6645 7215
Passcode: 000075
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Mrs. Elaine Neidecker passed away unexpectedly on the morning of March 25, 2021. She was a treasured member of St. Paul's and leaves behind her husband Bob Neidecker and beloved children and grandchildren. Information about funeral arrangements will be shared on our Memorials page as it becomes available: stpaulsk.org/worship/memorials
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Mr. Ed R. Ayre passed away on March 19, 2021 with his loving partner Mary Ellen Shepherd at his side. He was 80 years old. A link to the full obituary and information about funeral arrangements can be found here: stpaulsk.org/worship/memorials
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9:00 & 10:30 a.m.
Every Sunday beginning April 11
The Re-Entering Well Team has approved a plan for how we will return to in-person worship in our beautiful Sanctuary at St. Paul's beginning April 11. Since Covid-19 is still present in our community, services will not look or feel exactly the same as before. St. Paul's clergy, staff, and volunteers thank you for your patience and your prayers as we move through ever-changing circumstances.
Details for what to expect should be reviewed at stpaulsk.org/worship. For a quick overview, those attending will sign in at the door and provide contact info, will sit only in marked pews to help maintain distance, and must wear masks the entire time. Special music will be provided but there will be no congregational singing. Nursery and childcare will be available but advanced registration is required.
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Our staff and volunteers are working now to establish regular hours when the church offices will be open, starting April 12. While our "open hours" may be different than before, at least to start, we are looking forward to greeting people again in-person for drop-offs, appointments, and limited building access. Watch for more updates!
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Drop off April 11 - May 2
Narthex
This Spring, we will be collecting Hygiene Kits for UMCOR. These provide necessities to people who have been forced to leave their homes because of natural disaster or human conflict. Many of you will remember having made hygiene kits to support UMCOR in the past. The steps involved may have changed just a little, so please use the supplies list and instructions available at stpaulsk.org/service/justice-and-compassion. Details will also be available in the April issue of the Epistle.
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In response to the recent shooting deaths in metro Atlanta, GA on March 16 and violence targeting those of Asian heritage, our Bishop has issued a call to witness against hate. Excerpts from her letter, including words from the Korean Caucus of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, can be found on our website here.
Bishop Easterling writes: "We remain in the season of Lent, a season that includes soul-stirring reflection, examination, and lamentation... As I am confronted with the horrific shooting rampage in Atlanta and the deaths of eight people, I must also confront the long history of violence against Asian Americans. When I reflect on this tragic history, I lament. Often the best demonstration of solidarity is to listen to those most deeply affected. May we receive their sharing as a sacred gift and respond in ways that demonstrate our love, understanding, and solidarity. May we be as Christ to them and to the world."
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Sundays
Middle High 4:30pm
Senior High 7pm
St. Paul's Youth (open to all St. Paul's friends in grades 6-12) will meet online for the next few weeks using Zoom or another fun platform like Backyard. Links are sent out in the SPY emails!
We have tentative plans to start in-person meetings after Easter and should get final approval soon! Currently the idea is to meet outdoors, one group per week alternating between Middle High and Senior High. So for instance, Middle High would begin in-person April 11, Senior High would come April 18, Middle High would meet April 25, and so on. Details will be shared in the SPY emails, so check it out!
To join the email list, enter your address in the form found HERE, or contact Micah Smartt (msmartt@stpaulsk.org).
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now until March 28
We plan to have printed copies of a new Church Directory for Spring 2021 ready for pick-up at in-person Easter worship services and available in the weeks that follow. Our directory can only be as good as the information our members and friends provide for our records! Please go to stpaulsk.org/community/calendar-and-events and find the link to our secure form. Even if your home address hasn't changed, please share the best phone number and email where St. Paul's clergy and friends can reach you. We also invite you to upload a current photo of people in your household. (The best grouping will have everyone close to the center of the photo, but we'll work with whatever you send!)
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On March 14, we celebrated UMCOR's designated Special Sunday with United Methodists worldwide. If you wish to contribute to UMCOR's special offering, you may contribute through the online giving portal until March 28, or mail checks to the church. Our church’s special offerings join with those of other UMC congregations around the globe to keep the United Methodist Committee On Relief strong and able to provide aid whenever or wherever war, conflict, or natural disaster disrupts life to such an extent that communities cannot recover on their own. For more information: stpaulsk.org/giving
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Class meets Wednesdays, now - March 31
4:00-5:00 pm
Living Well Through Lent 2021: Listening with All Your Heart, Soul, Strength, and Mind, led by Dr. Meg Baker, is a new study series that includes the voices and deep reflections of ten writers of diverse backgrounds. All are welcome to participate either on an ongoing or a drop-in basis. Please visit https://forms.gle/dwp8kS98Uoe8rZvbA or contact mbaker@stpaulsk.org to receive the Zoom link and the downloadable study materials.
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available 24/7 until Easter
Again & again, God hears our prayers. Visit the "&" screen set up at the front steps of St. Paul's as often as you wish. Take a strip of black plastic then use the silver Sharpie marker provided to write your prayer. Weave the black strip into the screen inside the ampersand shape, adding it to the prayers of the community.
The & symbol in our prayer wall invites us to let go of either/or thinking this Lent and instead embrace God's holy "and" - we are broken and beautiful, joy and grief coexist, the world is full of injustice and God is leading us to wholeness. Read more at stpaulsk.org/worship/lent-and-easter
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Sundays now through March 28
For the past decade, organist Marvin Mills has shared selected Fugues by Bach as worship postludes during Lent. Now, on the 10th anniversary of our magnificent organ's renovation, we're taking advantage of the worship-from-home format to showcase more of Marvin's organ music. Throughout Lent, Marvin will offer a complete Prelude and Fugue, preceded by a contrasting short chorale prelude.These will be available at stpaulsk.org/worship/worship-at-home in tandem with (but separate from) the streaming worship service.
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Ongoing Activities - Click on each heading to learn more.
Still Wednesday: Wednesdays, 7pm. - All are welcome for this time of prayer, connection, and quiet contemplation in a busy world. We are meeting each week by Zoom. Email kenzier@rcn.com or call Kenzie Raulin at 301-237-1520.
Prayerwaves: Wednesdays, 10am - During this time of Prayer over the Air Waves, we pray together over the phone. Call 425-436-6326 at 9:55 each Wednesday morning. When prompted for the “access code," type in 774042 followed by #.
Prayer Request Form: Our prayer form is available right on the stpaulsk.org website. If you have a joy or concern, you can share it confidentially with St. Paul's ministers or share with the entire Prayer Team.
Card Ministry: Congregational Care Log - Anyone who wishes to send cards to friends experiencing times of grief, change, or celebration can access the Congregational Care (aka "Sick List") online. Please contact Dr. Meg Baker at mbaker@stpaulsk.org
Sunday School: Sundays, 9:30 am - Virtual classes for children in grade 5 and younger can be found at stpaulsk.org/community/sunday-school. Contact Meg Baker (mbaker@stpaulsk.org or 301-933-7933 ext 104) to join the Sunday School email list and receive activity pages and materials.
Upper Room Mailing List - To receive paper copies of The Upper Room daily devotionals, please contact Erin Steele in the church office (stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org) with your mailing address and whether you prefer the pocket-sized or large print version.
Lydia Circle Meeting: Every other Friday, 1:30 pm - Lydia Circle women are gathering via Zoom. We invite any woman interested in joining us to contact leader Susan Schwarz at susan10748@aol.com or call 301-339-8242.
Wilderness Trail Sign-Ups: Wilderness Trail allows youth to contemplate faith and God's creation while backpacking the Appalachian Trail. This year's trip will be July 25-30 and is open to all youth grades 6-12 plus last year's seniors who didn't get to go due to covid closures. Contact Micah Smartt (msmartt@stpaulsk.org) for more info.
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Scripture for March 28, 2021
John 12:1-19
1Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5“Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” 6(He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
9When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, 11since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.
12The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—
the King of Israel!”
14Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written:
15“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion.
Look, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
16His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. 17So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. 18It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. 19The Pharisees then said to one another, “You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!”
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Contact us! ● 301-933-7933 ● stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org ● stpaulsk.org
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