Unless you plan to be awake when the official time change kicks in at 2:00 a.m., be sure to set your clocks back when you go to bed on Saturday, October 31. 

Sunday October 25, 2020

1:30 pm

The Annual Church Conference is the time every year when pastors and lay leaders from each UMC church in the Baltimore-Washington Conference provide a snapshot of the life of their congregation and the overall state of their church's mission, leadership, goals, and physical structures, for review by the leaders guiding the district and conference. As in previous years, multiple churches will present on the same day. Church Conference sessions are open to any who wish to attend, and will be managed this year as a Zoom meeting hosted by representatives of the district superintendent's office.

To attend you MUST register in advance using the link below provided by our District Administrator, Olivia Gross. Here is the information:

The Southwestern Montgomery County Cluster

Church Conference Zoom Link:

When: Oct 25, 2020 01:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://bwcumc.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMrd-uurzoqHtSRV1loJZN6YTJ97Qlcsj8M

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

Thank you to all who care for our members and friends by sending cards and warm wishes in times of grief, change, and celebration. Anyone who wishes to send cards and access the Congregational Care (aka "Sick List") should contact Erin Steele at stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org and she will provide you with the link to our new online card ministry log. Please note: this is a "Bring Your Own Cards & Postage" ministry opportunity. We are not able to supply cards and stamps at this time.

October is Clergy Appreciation Month across the UMC! Our Staff-Parish Relations Committee encourages all our members and friends to craft personal notes of appreciation for our pastors. You can send cards or notes to the pastors at the church address (10401 Armory Ave., Kensington MD 20895) or email Pastor Pat (pallen@stpaulsk.org) or Pastor Kate (kfulton@stpaulsk.org). The SPRC also has created a Staff-Parish Appreciation Fund which will be used in part for Clergy Appreciation, so if you feel moved to contribute please make checks out to St. Paul's UMC with "Staff Appreciation" in the memo line and mail to the church office, Attn: Michelle Gregonis.

Lydia Circle has been meeting every two weeks via Zoom since May on Fridays at 3:00 pm. We enjoy seeing each other and just discussing what we have all been doing, along with an update on our Smart Sacks activities led by Lyn Walker. Anyone who would like to join us can email Susan Schwarz (contact the office at stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org if you need Susan's personal email address) or call 301-339-8242. She will put you on our email list to get a Zoom invitation.

Sunday School is offered for students age 2 through grade 12, with classes happening virtually for Fall 2020. Teachers may provide a variety of materials, from watch-anytime videos to live Zoom sessions. To sign up your child for Sunday School, please contact Meg Baker, mbaker [at] stpaulsk.org or 301-933-7933 ext 104.

Mondays - Wednesdays - Fridays

9:00 a.m.

Facebook Live

Looking for a way to start your day with a calm breath and fresh spiritual encouragement? Three days a week, Pastor Kate or another leader will offer a short session with scripture, thoughts to ponder, prayer, and a chance to reflect on the eternal power of God's love even in challenging times.

The Re-Entering Well team has created guidelines and procedures showing a path forward so some activities may resume in St. Paul's spaces. 

Before any user or group can re-enter St. Paul's spaces, the Re-Entering Well team requires a written re-entry plan be submitted for review, revision, and approval. Plans for re-entry must follow protocols to minimize risk and preserve the health and well-being of our community. Ministry leaders and groups who regularly use the building at St. Paul's should have received an email inviting your submissions.

If you have questions, please contact Erin Steele at the church office (stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org) or another member of the Re-Entering Well team: Steve Lillie, Laura Tribble, Phil Rush, Nathan Bazawada, Dr. Hal Frazier, Marge Higgins, Tracey Furman, Erin Bone Steele, Rev. Kate Mackereth Fulton, and Rev. Dr. Pat Allen.

Multiple churches throughout the UMC and the Baltimore-Washington region have had recent reports of scammers, posing as churches or church leaders, attempting to scam members of the church community by requesting money or gift cards. Often, scammers will create fake email accounts, copying the name of a pastor or using the name of the church (which is public information). Some scammers will send text messages, social media posts, or phone calls. Please know that all our online and e-giving options can all be found through our website: stpaulsk.org/giving, and we will not ask you to use another donation method or send donations to an individual. Donations by check or grocery store cards for the Hunger Ministry should only be mailed to the church's physical address (10401 Armory Avenue, Kensington MD 20895). If you receive a suspicious request for money or gifts, please disregard it or, if you have questions, contact Erin Steele at the church office to double check (stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org).

Want to stay on top of events at St. Paul's? Please visit our Epistle & Weekly News page to sign up for the email newsletter. The form couldn't be simpler - you'll provide your name, email address, check a box, and click a button, and you're done! If you have trouble, contact the church office at stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org. You can also check out our guidelines for submitting material if you have an event or activity to share. Our policies about sharing photos and contact information is also available here.

Still Wednesday will continue to meet using ZOOM while the church building is closed. Go here for more information.

Once we resume operations, we invite you to visit in person on Wednesday nights, 7:00-8:00 pm to spend time in a sacred space full of quiet, peace, and opportunities for reflection. For more information, visit the Still Wednesday page.

You can join a time of prayer by phone on Tuesday mornings at 9:45. Visit our Prayer Requests page to learn how.

Pancake Breakfast has been canceled until further notice due to covid-19.

During normal operations, serving hours are 8:00-10:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall on the first Saturday of each month September-June. We have a long-standing tradition of offering pancakes, eggs, sausage, ham, fruit, and other dishes. Instead of a fixed price, we request a goodwill donation. All proceeds are donated to charities that work to aid those throughout our region and the world.

Due to COVID-19, we are unsure whether or how we will be able to offer pancakes on our usual schedule in September, so stay tuned for more information! Read more at our Pancake Breakfast page!

Our Hunger Ministry will NOT hold a distribution night until further notice. Existing clients will receive grocery store cards by mail. This allows maximum flexibility for purchasing the items they need the most.

Monetary donations to support the Hunger Ministry are still welcome and may be mailed to the church office or can be made securely online.

Please read more at our Hunger Ministry page!

Under normal operations, the Hunger Ministry's monthly Communion Collect takes place the first Sunday of the month when our generous donors provide nonperishable food and sort and pack supplies. The following day, families facing food insecurity are welcomed to the Fellowship Hall for a hot meal and to receive grocery items. We look forward to resuming distribution as soon as possible. 

Go to our RENOVATION page to read more and submit a question! St. Paul's long-awaited building renovation project is designed to make our church ADA accessible, to connect our spaces for easier navigation and a more welcoming environment, and to shape our interior so we can host our mission and engagement efforts. The Building and Capital Campaign Committees have already worked with architects to draw up plans, bring them into line with our budget, invite donors to give above-and-beyond normal offerings, and to pull county permits for work. Submit your questions for our Building Renovation team as we move into the next phase and get ready to break ground. Committee leaders will use your thoughts to develop a Frequently Asked Questions guide. 

The Friendship Club for older adults has temporarily suspended all activities. This community group would normally meet for a potluck lunch and entertainment at 11:30 in the Fellowship Hall on the second Tuesday of the month, October-May, with a "field trip" in June. 

Sunday School will be held in a virtual zoom-based format for Fall 2020.

During normal operations, all young people from preschool through high school are invited to attend Sunday School at St. Paul's. A list of classroom locations is posted in the Narthex, and information packets are available at the Visitors’ Center desk and in the church office. 

Please visit our CHILDREN's page http://stpaulsk.org/community/children for more details and other useful information!

Spread the love of St. Paul's by delivering flowers to those who are in need of a little extra cheer. A sign-up sheet is available in the church office. Flower Delivery people collect a bunch of flowers from the Sanctuary following the 10:30 a.m. worship service, then use a map and card provided to stop by the home of a church member or friend. It's an easy, family-friendly way to minister to our faith community. Please contact the church office or Ginny Hagberg if you have any questions.

The Biblical Archaeology Forum, usually hosted at the Bender JCC in Rockville MD, offers a monthly presentation that brings together historians, archaeologists, and biblical scholars to look at intriguing questions and broaden our understanding of the biblical world. 

Go to our Adult Education Page to lean more about upcoming lectures, to find the full schedule for 2019-2020, and to access links to other Biblical Archaeology Forum resources.

Once we resume normal operations:

All are welcome to gather in the Octagon for refreshments and conversation after worship. The goodies we enjoy each week are provided by friends who sign up to bake or buy treats (nut-free please). Every Sunday, we need at least two adult volunteers to serve as hosts after the 10:30 a.m. service. The set-up host arrives about an hour before worship to plug in the coffee urn and set out cups, sugar, cream, snacks, etc., and stays after briefly to clean up when coffee hour is finished. Helping to set up and serve coffee is a great way to feel like a part of our church community. If you have questions or would like to learn more, please contact Dupeh Ochieng. We can also help pair novice hosts with experienced hosts to help you learn the ropes. Sign up sheets are available in the Octagon during Sunday fellowship time, and in the Octagon kitchen during the week.

We are welcoming new Lay Readers (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 throughout the summer! 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 the church office or Rev. Kate Mackereth Fulton (kfulton [at] stpaulsk.org).

Special Church Conference was held Sunday, October 13, 2019 at 12:00 noon in the Sanctuary. District Superintendent Rev. Gerry Green presided. Members who were present voted by ballot on whether or not to begin the Reconciling process. 

The vote was 205 to 22 in favor of beginning the process. 

Click here to read the Frequently Asked Questions handout, which provides answers to questions raised during this process.

Please visit our Way Forward page stpaulsk.org/community/the-way-forward for more information. 

We also have downloadable documents and other resources available to help members and friends learn about what happened at the global United Methodist Church's special general conference held February 2019 and new UMC "Traditional Plan" rules restricting LGBTQ+ participation, and St. Paul's efforts to find our Way Forward, including video recordings of the Reconciling Info Session (Sept. 22) and Samoan Circle Panel (Sept. 29).