A Message from Pastor Pat


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Raise the dough:

A Campaign by our Partners at National UMC

February 15-22, the Campus Kitchen DC, a food ministry of National United Methodist Church, competed against Campus Kitchens at other institutions across the country in the annual Raise the Dough Challenge.


Thanks to all who donated directly to the Campus Kitchen Washington DC campaign!


Your critical support helps Campus Kitchen DC continue to recover food from Mom's Markets in DC and Virginia, from Palantir Technologies in Georgetown, and Sidwell Friends School and Horace Mann Elementary in DC. In the past year we have welcomed volunteers from the congregation, community, and from universities such as American University, Georgetown University, and as a "spring break alternative" program from Georgia State University!

Stephen Ministry Events:

Understanding Advance Directives and MOLST

On November 18, 2019, Stephen Ministry will sponsor a continuing education program on Advance Directives and MOLST (Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment). 


Since this topic is important for everyone, we decided to open it all members and friends of St. Paul's. The speaker will be Beth Kleimeyer from Montgomery Hospice who will discuss the difference between these documents and their importance, and why it is best to discuss these documents before there is a crisis and they are needed.  

The program will be in the Octagon room, 7:00-8:00 pm on Monday, November 18. Please join us for this informative discussion.

UMC Judicial Council rules "Traditional Plan" may proceed

In brief: At the close of their meeting April 23-26, the UMC Judicial Council has ruled that about 60% of the total legislation passed in February is constitutional. The parts of the Traditional Plan legislation that are valid will go into effect in January 2020. This includes new minimum penalties for clergy conducting same-sex weddings and a specific ban on ordaining self-avowed homosexuals to the clergy or as bishops. The streamlined "church exit plan" for those congregations wishing to explore disaffiliation has also been ruled constitutional.


https://www.umnews.org/en/news/court-oks-part-of-traditional-plan-exit-plan


Photo: Members of the 2016-2020 Judicial Council. (From left) Front row: Deanell Reece Tacha, N. Oswald Tweh Sr., the Rev. Luan-Vu Tran. Back row: Lydia Romão Gulele, Ruben T. Reyes, the Rev. Øyvind Helliesen, the Rev. Dennis Blackwell, and the Rev. J. Kabamba Kiboko. (Not pictured, Beth Capen) Photo by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications.

What was The Commission

on a Way Forward?

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 was charged with discerning a path forward for our denomination concerning human sexuality, same-gender unions, and inclusion of our LGBTQIA+ brother and sisters. The Commission was tasked with making a complete examination of every paragraph of the United Methodist Book of Discipline concerning human sexuality and to develop possible revisions. The Commission's goal was to explore options that could help to maintain and strengthen the unity of the church.


The Commission on a Way Forward presented their final report and possible plans to the Council of Bishops at their meeting in Chicago, the first week of May 2018. The Bishops voted to recommend the "One Church Plan" for deliberation at the global UMC Special General Conference in February 2019.


  • The One Church Plan (recommended by the Council of Bishops) removed restrictive language from the Book of Discipline while protecting any annual conference, bishop, congregation, or pastor so they would not be asked to act contrary to their convictions.
  • The Connectional Conference Plan (not recommended by the Council) proposed three values-based conferences in place of the current geographic conferences, with working titles of Progressive, Contextual, and Traditional Conferences based on theology and perspective on LGBTQ+ ministry. 
  • The Traditional Church Plan (also not recommended by the Council) strengthened the language in the current Book of Discipline concerning human sexuality and streamlined the process for handling violations of the Book of Discipline.

 

According to the United Methodist News Service, the recommended One-Church proposal aimed to "align with centrist models which would see the removal of restrictive language from the Book of Discipline, letting conferences decide how inclusive to be while protecting clergy who could not, as a matter of conscience, perform a same-sex union or support ordination of openly gay clergy.”


For the full statement on the Way Forward from the Bishop of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, please read more here: http://www.bwcumc.org/news-and-views/bishop-easterlings-statement-on-a-way-forward/

Year End Giving 2019

As 2019 draws to a close, we are happy to work with you to achieve your giving goals for the year. To ensure that your contributions are received by December 31:

  • Place donations in the offering plate during worship on Dec. 29.
  • Use our online giving portal (scroll down!) to donate by credit or debit card, checking, or saving account before Dec. 31.
  • Mail your check to St. Paul’s UMC at 10401 Armory Ave., Kensington MD 20895 in time for us to receive it by Dec. 31.
  • Bring your gift to the office during office hours (9:00 am - 3:00 pm, Monday-Friday) so that we receive it no later than 3:00 pm on Dec. 31.
  • Use your bank’s bill pay system within their time-frame for a Dec. 31 delivery.
  • Transfer appreciated stock directly to St. Paul’s to avoid paying capital gains. Please contact Michelle Gregonis, treasurer, for St. Paul’s brokerage account.

If you have questions about your 2019 giving statement to date, please contact Erin Steele in the church office.

Sunday SChool: Fall 2019

From September through May, we offer Sunday School classes for children and youth from age 2 through grade 12. Classes are generally divided by age group. There is no advanced registration required for Sunday School, and visitors and friends are always welcome! 


New for 2019: Starting September 8, youth in grades 6-12 will be in worship in the Sanctuary during the 10:30 worship service. Youth Sunday School will be held after worship, at 11:45 a.m., allowing for a focused discussion about themes from the sermon, Scripture, and other topics. (Younger students will continue to have class during the 10:30 worship hour. Our nursery is available year-round for children under age 2.)


On most Sundays:

  • Sunday School for children age 2 through Grade 5 will begin at 10:30 a.m. A list of class locations will be posted in the Narthex. You can also pick up a detailed plan with classroom locations, teachers, and other information in the church office.
  • About once a month, on Children’s Sunday, these younger age groups will first come to the Sanctuary to participate in the Young People’s Message in worship before transitioning to their Sunday School classrooms. Please see below for special dates to know!
  • Children's Choir, for students in Kindergarten through grade 5, will meet Sundays, 11:45-12:30, to prepare music for worship on Children's Sunday and to prepare the Christmas Pageant.
  • All Youth (grades 6-12) will be in the Sanctuary each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. to engage in the full worship service. Beginning Fall 2019, we will offer a new Sunday School / Bible Study class at 11:45 a.m., after worship, where youth will dive deeper into the themes of the day's sermon, the Bible passages read during worship, and other devotional material.
  • Information about St. Paul's Youth fellowship and Youth Choir can be found on the Youth page: http://stpaulsk.org/community/youth


Special Dates to Know for Fall 2019:

  • September 15: All students and teachers begin in worship at 10:30. We will consecrate the work of our teachers and Third Graders will receive Bibles, then students and teachers will transition to their classrooms together.
  • October 13: Children's Sunday. All students grade 5 and younger will begin in the Sanctuary with their families at 10:30 a.m. The Children's Choir will sing during worship. Following the Young People's Message, students will transition to their classrooms with their teachers. 
  • November 24: Children's Sunday. All students grade 5 and younger will begin in the Sanctuary with their families at 10:30 a.m. The Children's Choir will sing during worship. Following the Young People's Message, students will transition to their classrooms with their teachers. 
  • December 22: Pageant Sunday. The Children's Christmas Pageant is the core of the 10:30 worship service. There will be no Sunday School so all may enjoy this time together.
  • December 24: Our Family Friendly Christmas Eve worship service begins at 5:00 pm in the Sanctuary and features seasonal music, the voices of the Youth Choir, and child-safe glo-sticks for use in the pews (instead of candles).

2020 schedule coming soon!


Contact Mrs. Meg Baker, Director of Christian Education, for more information! 


Thanksgiving

Our "regular" hunger ministry volunteers and donors join forces with our St. Paul's Youth to provide those in need in the 20895 ZIP code with a hearty Thanksgiving meal. This program is only possible through your generosity. 


There are three ways you can help:


1) Donate individual Thanksgiving food such as corn, green beans, sweet potatoes/yams, other vegetables, stuffing, potatoes, rice, cranberry sauce, gravy, fruit, dessert item, juice (no refrigerated items, please!). If you are providing baked goods or pantry-stable produce, please be sure it has a "use by" date of November 30 or later.


2) Make a monetary contribution which we will use for supplies and/or provide $25 Safeway and Giant gift cards, which will allow families to purchase things like turkeys, dairy, and frozen foods. Donations may be placed in the large envelope in the church office. 


3) “Adopt” a family, providing "all the fixings" for a savory Thanksgiving feast. There is an adopt-a-family sign-up sheet in the church office - contact the church office by 3:00 pm on Friday, Nov. 22 to be added to the adopt-a-family list.


Please bring all donations to St. Paul's no later than Sunday morning, November 24; we will be distributing Thanksgiving food baskets to our Kensington neighbors that evening. 


Distribution will take place 7:30-8:30 pm in Heavener Hall. 


Middle High and Senior High Youth will help with sorting, set-up, and preparation during their normal youth fellowship times. For more information about volunteering, please contact or Jean Langbein.  

Cookies & Carols Party

St. Paul’s will be hosting our Eighth Annual Cookies and Carols party for Hunger Ministry families on Sunday, December 15, 2:00- 4:00 p.m. in Heavener Hall. 


Please join us in celebrating the season with our neighbors that day! There are many volunteer opportunities such as baking cookies or cupcakes, moving Giving Tree gifts to parents' cars, serving snacks, and helping with children’s crafts. Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090c48afac29a6fd0-cookies1


For more information, please contact Kim Longsworth or the church office. 

GIving Tree

As in years past, we will again be providing gifts for our neighbors in need this Christmas. We will serve our regular Hunger Ministry families in the 20895 ZIP code area, plus local referrals from Montgomery County's DHHS.


The Giving Tree is in the Narthex. We hope you will stop by to select a tag showing the age and gender of a child, and then provide an appropriate Christmas gift. There is also a log to make a note of your selection (so we can check things off in the end, which helps us in case tags fall off or the numbers don't quite add up). 


All gifts must be delivered to St. Paul’s no later than Sunday morning, December 8, and should be placed on the tables near the tree. Please wrap the gift and securely attach the tag to the outside of the present.


We will also be giving a $25 gift card to our adult-only families. If you prefer not to shop for a child's gift but would like to contribute, $25 department-store gift cards (such as Target, JCPenney, or Kohl's) are welcome. Gift cards or financial donations may be placed in the large envelope in the church office.


If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Jean Langbein or Kim Longsworth, or the church office.

Children's Advent Craft Workshop

This annual workshop for children will be held Saturday, December 7, 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room. 


Children (and their adult and youth friends) will have the opportunity to make a variety of Advent and Christmas-related crafts.  This is free of charge, but donations are welcome. 


For more information or to volunteer, please contact Meg Baker (mbaker@stpaulsk.org, 301 933-7933 ext. 104).


(If you want, make plans to also enjoy pancakes and other dishes at the monthly Pancake Breakfast upstairs! Serving hours 8:00-10:30am.)

Hidden Pages


Make a donation

https://app.clovergive.com/f/f2.asp?formid=64e4391b-be56-4caa-a53e-bf6cf1bceb61


Use this link above to reach the Clover Give page that allows us to process one-time donations meant for Special Funds. Example: someone wants to use a credit card to pay the room use fee for a funeral service, but the card reader is unavailable...


THIS page is hidden from the navigation menu, so you can't click to it through our published website. But you CAN access it by entering stpaulsk.org/community/hidden-pages into the navigation bar on your browser.