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Weekly News for Feb. 14, 2021
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Worship-at-Home Service
February 14 at 10:30 a.m.
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Pastors' Weekly Message: From Pastor Pat
The late theologian James Cone described the spiritual as “the community in rhythm, swinging to the movement of life.” (1)
The spiritual as music was the means of messaging used to communicate information undetected; the balm of hope soothing the distraught and discouraged soul. The soulful sound of how people have moved through life. And while not all music is spiritual, in this cultural context the various genres of music have indeed captured the syncopated movement of God’s hued people through life.
Webster defines music as “the art and science of combining vocal and instrumental tones in harmony and rhythm... to form a complete and expressive composition.” (2)
From the soulful lament of Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit,” the melodious imploring of The Temptations' “Ball of Confusion,” the painful lament of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Goin On,” Tupac’s “I Wonder If Heaven’s Got a Ghetto,” to John Legend and Common’s “Glory,” music has been the voice of the undervalued and the victory of the undeterred. Music is the sound of the soul’s expression that words without music cannot communicate.
Psalm 40 verse three reminds us that music is the sound of hope, set to life’s rhythm appropriate for all time. Reaping the liberation of deliverance, the manifestation of answered prayer, the psalmist introduces a new verse to his life’s song.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
As we continue our journey through life, may we listen for and to the sounds of the soul of man expressed through the melodious messages of every genre and generation, each singing the song of God’s people in the strange land of their habitation in that time.
-- Pastor Pat
pallen@stpaulsk.org
(1) Guenther, Eileen. In Their Own Words. Morning Star Music Publishers, Inc., 2016. p39.
(2) Webster’s’ New World College Dictionary. Wiley Publishing, Inc, 2004. p950.
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now-Feb. 14
passcode: 7630534073
At St. Paul's we are currently looking into fresh ways to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. As part of that, and at the urging of leadership of the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church, we are asking everyone to take this "Readiness 360" survey.
This will help us identify opportunities and challenges by assessing our congregation's spiritual intensity, dynamic relationships, mission alignment, and cultural openness.
Readiness 360 would normally only be available as part of an expensive package, and the BWC is providing it to us at no cost. The more people take the survey, the better our understanding of our community's goals will be! Please set aside 15-20 minutes for this survey and share your point of view.
The last day to submit answers is Feb. 14. This survey will close at midnight on Sunday!
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Saturday, Feb. 13
6:30-7:30pm
Looking for some interactive virtual activity, that isn’t school- or work-related? Join us online or by phone for our fun Winter "Blah Buster" Game Night. All are welcome to participate in this intergenerational game night via Zoom.
To volunteer or to learn more, please contact Meg Baker at mbaker@stpaulsk.org or 301-933-7933 ext. 104.
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Again & Again:
Sign up deadline: Feb. 17
Class meets Tuesdays
Feb. 23 - March 30
7:30-8:30 pm
In this season of Lent, we’re reminded that, again and again, we are people who doubt, lament, or mess up. And yet, again and again, God offers us a new way forward. Rev. Kate Mackereth Fulton leads this study exploring Scripture, art, reflections, and poetry. To sign up, go to https://forms.gle/5br3JoY8wcTaqD7H9 or contact Meg Baker at mbaker@stpaulsk.org.
Short Term Lenten Study: Living Well Through Lent
Sign up now open
Class meets Wednesdays, Feb. 24 - 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. 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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Wednesday, Feb. 17
7:30 pm
Join us at stpaulsk.org/worship/worship-at-home for a special Ash Wednesday service at 7:30 as we prepare for the church season of Lent and the journey that will ultimately bring us to the cross, and then to Easter. Scripture selections for Ash Wednesday are Matthew 6:1-21 and Isaiah 58:1-12.
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Since we are doing so much from home this season, the pastors at St. Paul's have designed Lenten packets for our members and friends. Look for yours to arrive in the mail. The journey begins with an ash cross on burlap, a reminder of repentance and sackcloth. There are materials for prayer, worship, and reflection, including a program for customizing your own Ash Wednesday experience, a booklet with devotionals for Lent, and a postcard with information about Easter. Please contact Erin Steele at the church office if you have questions: stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org.
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starting Sunday, Feb. 21
On the 10th anniversary year of the renovation of St. Paul's magnificent pipe organ, Marvin Mills will present a special musical offering each Sunday of Lent. Expanding on the decade's long tradition of Fugues by J. S. Bach as postludes, a complete Prelude and Fugue will be offered this year, 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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Sunday, Feb. 21
10:00-10:30 am
Looking for an informal way to connect before church? Set a reminder now so that on February 21 you can grab your coffee (or tea or cocoa or water) and head over to the virtual Octagon. Come in your PJs or your Sunday best. Bring the kiddos or cats or come alone! Everyone is welcome.
February Coffee Hour
Hosted by Travis & Rachel Stalcup
Zoom: https://edtrust.zoom.us/j/7089450144
Meeting ID: 708 945 0144
Passcode: not required
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Saturdays in February
11:00am-12:00 noon
Each week’s session includes a brief audio talk, a short video about a biblical book or theme, and a time of interactive Bible study and discussion guided by the BibleProject’s Church at Home: Small Group Bible Study. All are welcome to participate in this one-hour, no-prep study weekly opportunity on a drop-in or regular basis.
Our topics for this month are:
- February 6 - Why God Gave Choice
- February 13 - Wrestling God
- February 20 - When We Cry Out
- February 27 - Rescued for a Purpose
Questions? Contact Meg Baker at mbaker@stpaulsk.org or 301-933-7933 ext. 104.
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Part One: Feb. 25, 6:30pm
Part Two: March 25, 6:30pm
Start reading now and get ready for the next two discussions of the Better Humans Book Club, with the UMW Book Club joining the conversation! Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help, And How to Reverse It asks us to wrestle with questions about the best way to help those in need and how to increase dignity while reducing dependency. The first half of Toxic Charity will be discussed on Feb. 25, with the remainder discussed on March 25. Please join one or both sessions! Contact Travis Stalcup directly or email Erin Steele in the church office (stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org) for the Zoom link to participate.
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now open
The Baltimore-Washington Conference of the UMC awards scholarships for qualified high school seniors who plan to attend college in the fall of 2021. The application process is now open and closes March 24. A variety of scholarships are offered. To be considered for a scholarship, students must complete the full online application, which includes uploading their current transcripts and providing references from their pastor and another person in their church. For more information or to apply:
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March 10
It has been a long tradition at St. Paul’s UMC to prepare and provide meals for the shelters in Montgomery County operated by our partners at Interfaith Works. This year, in addition to our usual week of providing meals for the Rockville shelter in April, we also will serve the new Interfaith Works women’s shelter in Silver Spring, housing women newly experiencing homelessness plus about half the women formerly at the Rockville - Taft Court shelter who were relocated to mitigate risks of COVID.
We have committed to six meals for about 50 women at the IW Silver Spring shelter, one meal a month for six months. Our next assignment is March 10.
Anyone who would like to join the St. Paul’s men and women already committed to this shelter meal initiative should contact coordinator Lyn Walker directly (lwalker60@hotmail.com). You can shop for supplies, make deliveries to the shelters, or prepare salads, entrees, pastas, boil eggs, cut up oranges, etc. Please let Lyn know if you wish to serve.
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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.
Daily Breath: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays at 9am - Use your social media time for good! Take a deep breath and deepen your spiritual well as staff take turns offering a short meditation, music, a reading, or reflection. www.facebook.com/stpaulskensington/ - no Facebook account required!
SPY Zoom: Sundays, Middle High 4:30pm, Senior High 7pm - St. Paul's Youth (open to all St. Paul's friends in grades 6-12) will be sticking with our weekly Zoom meetings for the immediate future. Add yourself to the SPY email list to get the Zoom link; enter your email in the form found HERE or contact Micah Smartt (msmartt@stpaulsk.org).
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 new 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.
Yarn Ministry: Mondays, twice a month at 7pm - Find the 2021 schedule at stpaulsk.org/community/calendar-events. For the Zoom invite, contact Karen Codner directly or email stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org and join a time of fellowship (and looking forward to future Craft Fairs).
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.
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Scripture for February 14, 2021
2 Kings 2:1-12
1Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent.”
4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5 The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.”
6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. 7 Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” 10 He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” 11 As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. 12 Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
Mark 9:2-9
2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
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Contact us! ● 301-933-7933 ● stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org ● stpaulsk.org
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