The Justice & Compassion Team invites you to a pot-luck dinner in Heavener Hall on Wednesday, April 18 starting at 7:00 p.m. to meet Nan McCurdy & Miguel Mairena, long-time missionaries with the UMC's Global Board of Missionaries. St. Paul's has been supporting Nan and Miguel in their work for many years, and they will be telling us about their new assignment with "Give Ye Them to Eat" in Puebla, Mexico. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Phil Rush (phil_rush@hotmail.com; 240-426-9907). You can also read more at http://stpaulsk.org/service/justice-and-compassion

Feeling called to quiet, stillness and community in a world that is all too loud? Each Still Wednesday is a unique opportunity to deepen your relationship with the divine. From 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., Still Wednesday offers prayer and silence in a variety of formats: walking meditation, lectio divina, poetry, journaling, art or music, all dependent on who is facilitating. Most evenings will include 20 minutes of silent prayer. Still Wednesday is held in either the Sanctuary or Octagon at St. Paul's. No need to RSVP, simply come. Join us: April 18, 25 and May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30.

St. Paul’s is a sponsor of the Biblical Archaeological Forum, a series of scholarly lectures. This month’s lecture “Ancient Venues for Sport and Spectacles” will be presented by Dr. Lindley Vann on Wednesday, April 18, starting at 8:00 p.m. at Bender JCC (6125 Montrose Road, Rockville MD). The Roman period was a time of unparalleled military power and territorial expansion. Some of the most obvious features in the archaeological record are the structures that were built as Roman venues of public entertainment: the Colosseum, the Circus Maximus, the theater of Pompey, the baths of Caracalla and Diocletian, and thousands of smaller versions situated from the borders of Scotland to Arabia. These structures witnessed gladiatorial combats, chariot races, traditional Greek theater, concerts, and Greek-style athletic events. This richly-illustrated lecture will investigate these activities and their architectural settings. Reservations are not required. Fees per lecture are $10; high school students are admitted free of charge. For more information please visit: http://www.benderjccgw.org/event/ancient-sports-spectacles.

Sunday, April 22, children in Kindergarten through grade 5 will begin in the DuVall Chapel at 10:30 a.m. for a moment of worship before transitioning to their classrooms with their teachers. Preschool children (ages 2, 3, 4) should go straight to their Sunday School classrooms at 10:30 and their teachers will bring them to the Chapel for their own worship time around 10:45 a.m. Splitting Opening Chapel into two shifts will allow our leaders to tailor the content and engage our students in the most age-appropriate way possible. Youth in grades 6-12 will have Sunday School classes in the Youth Wing classrooms starting at 10:30 a.m.

Adults of all ages are invited for food, film, and fellowship in the Parlor on Sunday, April 22, 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. We will enjoy a light lunch while watching and discussing some faith-provoking film clips. We will view and discuss Lose It to Find It featuring Parker Palmer on "doing the work before the work." Each FaithFlix gathering is an independent event, so feel free to drop in any week you are able. No prep, no stress, no registration. If you have questions or want to request childcare arrangements, contact leader Meg Baker (mbaker@stpaulsk.org or 301-933-7933 ext. 104). 

Other upcoming FaithFlix opportunities include:

• April 29: Shame and Vulnerability - Author Brené Brown on our inability to create space to hold pain in community.

St. Paul’s will be sending another Volunteers In Mission team to Nicaragua in early August 2018 to continue working with the community preschools in Ciudad Sandino. If you missed the interest meeting on Sunday, April 15, you can still learn about this opportunity by contacting Athena Gaalswyk, at athena_gaalswyk@yahoo.com. Please go to our Justice & Compassion page to read more!

The Joyful Ringers! are seeking a few new people to share in our love of music. Whether you're experienced or just have a strong interest, we'd love to have you try ringing with us. We can teach the novice the basic fundamentals of music, and those with some experience can typically jump right in with a little guidance on bell techniques. If you're 16 or older and available for Wednesday night rehearsals, please contact Linda Ferrara at 703-786-1344 or lj5352@aol.com.

Another Yard Sale is coming up! The Spring Indoor Yard Sale, sponsored and organized by the UMM, will be on Friday, April 27 (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) and Saturday, April 28 (8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.), with our "receiving day" on Thursday, April 26 (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.). This event is a big fund-raising opportunity and helps us support the church's ministry and outreach efforts. The household items you donate also provide a real benefit to others, especially recent immigrants, those getting settled in the community, and those with limited income. We happily accept such things as small household appliances, furniture items, toys, books, clothes, knick-knacks, costume and fine jewelry, china, and other collectibles. (We cannot accept mattresses, sofas, car seats, or computer equipment.) Your volunteer work at the Yard Sale is a great contribution in itself! There is already a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the church office, so if you can volunteer, please simply add your name to the slot you prefer. Thank you!

Share the love of St. Paul's from your kitchen. Jonathan & Ashley Derr welcomed a new baby girl, Francine Carson Derr, born April 11. Go to https://takethemameal.com/OUKU8639 to sign up and provide a meal for Jonathan, Ashley, big brother Sebastian, and big sister Louisa during the coming weeks. Instructions about arranging drop-off and other details are included on the sign-up page. At St. Paul's, we really are all about feeding people!

Our next Community Pancake Breakfast will be Saturday, May 5, 8:00-10:30 a.m. We will feature regular pancakes, eggs, sausage, bacon, ham, fruit, and grits, plus this month's specialty pancake. All are welcome! Instead of charging a fixed price, families are asked to make a generous goodwill donation. (As a guide, the suggested amount is $8 for adults and $2 for children under 12, or $20 for a family of 4.) Proceeds from this breakfast will benefit the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), the UM agency that provides disaster and emergency assistance in communities across the US and around the world. You can read more about our Pancake Breakfasts by clicking HERE.

Thinking about becoming a member or just want to learn more about life at St. Paul’s? Pie with the Pastors is usually offered the first weekend of each month but we will skip April and have our next chance for pie and conversation on Saturday, May 5. Plan to join Rev. Adam Snell and others at 10:00 a.m. in Room 109 for homemade pie and relaxing conversation about the Christian faith and this church we call home. Please RSVP by contacting the church office no later than Thursday, May 3. Childcare is available upon request.

We serve 110+ families in the 20895 ZIP code who face hunger, providing hungry neighbors over 2,450 food items per month, and we can only do it thanks to your efforts! As the number of people we serve continues to grow, so does our need for additional volunteers. Communion Collect generally happens the first Sunday of the month (we shift the date by a week when a holiday falls on the weekend). Please note, due to Easter, our April food collection and distribution will be May 6 & 7. Your donations of non-perishable food and grocery store gift cards are always appreciated. Volunteers are needed after both church services to sort food and bag items! On Monday evenings, we meet at about 6:45 p.m. to bag the remaining food and to be ready for the 7:30 p.m. distribution. We are in great need of volunteers to help make deliveries! If you're able to make a delivery or two each month, or even just occasionally, we'd be grateful. For more information about volunteering, contact Dawn Ely: dawn.c.ely@gmail.com. Read more at our Hunger Ministry page!

We are blessed to gather each Sunday following worship for good conversation and fellowship, and cookies and coffee! We are always in need of a few volunteers who can assist with serving coffee and a few cheerful bakers who can provide baked treats (nut-free, please) for fellowship time after 10:30 a.m. worship. Please sign up to help one Sunday on the sign-up clipboards available during coffee hour or in the Octagon kitchen during the week. Please contact the office if you have any questions.

The next meeting of the Friendship Club is planned for Tuesday, May 8, starting at 11:30 a.m. in Heavener Hall. Our business meeting is followed by a pot luck lunch at 12:00 and entertainment at 1:00 p.m. All senior adults from throughout the community are invited to come enjoy this time of fellowship, food, and fun. We are also looking forward to taking another day trip to Maryland's Eastern Shore in June, with lunch at The Fish Whistle in Chestertown MD. Jerry Watkins is coordinating travel arrangements. Reservation forms are available in the church office and are due by May 30. For additional information about Friendship Club, contact president Erma McWilliams, 301-774-2742 or emcwill436@aol.com.

Join us on May 15 for our next Taste & Sing. We'll gather at 12:00 noon in the Octagon room for a hymn-sing, fellowship, and lunch. Those attending are invited to suggest a favorite hymn to start 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 led by Rev. Claire Matheny and Meg Baker. We sing together and learn a little more about the people behind some of our best-loved songs, then share a delicious lunch prepared by Ginny Hagberg. Previous sessions have included the music of Robert Lowry (whose stirring tunes include "Up from the Grave He Arose" and "Marching to Zion"), blind 19th century author Fanny Crosby ("Blessed Assurance," "I Am Thine, O Lord," and an astonishing 8,000 other songs), and African-American minister Charles Albert Tindley ("We'll Understand it Better By and By" and "Stand By Me"). There is no registration and no cost (although donations toward lunch are welcome). Best of all, there's no singing expertise required! Taste & Sing is held on the third Tuesday of each month.

St. Paul’s, through its Council on Youth Ministries, will once again provide an Educational Award to one or more graduating High School Seniors who plan to attend college, university, or some other type of post-secondary education. The application deadline for St. Paul’s 2018 Educational Award is Friday, May 18, 2018. Please go to the Youth page to find the application, instructions, and other details!

All adults and youth are invited to a workshop on Saturday, May 19, 12:00-4:00 p.m. in Heavener Hall, where 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. Please go to http://stpaulsk.org/community/the-way-forward to read more about this workshop. If you have questions, please contact Bill Butz, william.butz@icloud.com, 240-205-0964.

St. Paul's will hold our popular Vacation Bible School program this year, June 19-22. We welcome VBS Campers, age 3 through those entering grade 5, from throughout the community. Youth who've finished grade 5 or higher are welcome to apply for Staff Helper Volunteer positions. Please see the VBS page for details! All applications are due May 31.

Summer Sunday School is just around the corner! From May 27 through September 3, we will offer two Summer Sunday School classes: one class for children ages 2-5 and the other class for students ages 6-10. We need two adult volunteers each week, plus youth helpers. All materials, including snacks, will be provided. Please visit http://stpaulsk.org/community/children to sign up, or contact Meg Baker, Director of Christian Education, at mbaker@stpaulsk.org or 301-933-7933 ext. 104.

We are welcoming new Liturgists (to read the scripture) and Communion Stewards (to help serve communion) who would like to assist in the first worship service, 9:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings. There are dates available now for April, May, and June. To sign up online, simply add your name and email address to the sign-up sheet found here: goo.gl/Xz5T79. If you have questions, please contact Rev. Claire Matheny.

After over seven years of service at St. Paul’s, 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 on page 2 of the April Epistle, available here. Rev. Claire will continue her whole-hearted service at St. Paul’s until her last day on Sunday, June 17, 2018. Our district superintendent, the St. Paul’s Staff-Parish Relations Committee, and Rev. Adam Snell have been in prayerful consideration regarding the appointment of the next associate pastor, and have announced that it will be Rev. Kate Mackereth, currently serving as Chaplain Resident at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. She will begin at St. Paul’s on July 1.