Upcoming Activities & CHURCH NEWS

We are all about building community, enjoying fellowship, and reaching beyond our walls to serve God's wider world.


Please SCROLL DOWN to read about church events and activities, 

generally listed in chronological order.

  • St. PAul's Hours

    Drop-in Office Hours Sept-May: 

    Monday-Thursday, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM


    Please use the Mitchell Street door.  Appointments are encouraged year-round so you can meet the person you most want to see. Staff may be off-site or busy with pastoral care visits, meetings, confidential counseling, BWC conference events, or even work from home hours. Find email and phone contact information on our Meet the Staff page: https://stpaulsk.org/community/meet-the-staff

    For the 2023 Holiday Schedule of planned office closures, please click here.


    Worship most Sundays (Sept.-May) at 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM

    Read more on our Worship page.


    We follow Montgomery County Public Schools for inclement weather delays, early dismissals, or closures. Click here to read more about weather-related schedule changes.


  • Receiving New Members

    Contact the pastors by Dec. 3

    Reception of New Members Dec. 17


    On Sunday December 17, 2023 we will receive new members into membership during our 10:30 AM worship service. If you would like to discuss membership and have not already contacted the pastors, please contact either Pastor Pat (pallen@stpaulsk.org) or Pastor Joey (joeyhm@stpaulsk.org) by Sunday December 3, 2023.

  • Yarn Ministry

    Many thanks to everyone who donated craft items and who "shopped" the annual Craft Fair! All proceeds collected by St. Paul's Yarn Ministry will be donated to charities. 


    For Yarn Ministry questions, please contact Karen Codner directly or email the church office (stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org). 


    Meeting Schedule for 2023:

    Meeting in-person in the Library at St. Paul's

    7:00-8:00 PM

    Nov 13 and 27

    Dec 11


  • Christians in the Holy Land

    Update:

    The presentation scheduled for Sunday December 3, 2023 by the Christians in the Holy Land has been canceled. Those who were to share their story with us as well as the crafts they had hoped to share are unable to leave Israel due to the war. We lift them in prayer and invite you to offer your support by visiting their website at www.holylandcsc.com.



    We had planned for George Ghanem, an indigenous Christian from Bethlehem, to tell us the story of the Christians of the Holy Land and present olive wood carvings after the services. These carvings include olivewood Nativity sets, crosses, Christmas ornaments, candle holders, angles and many other religious crafts that could make a nice wedding, baptism, confirmation, Easter and Christmas gifts. 


    Carved items are available for purchase through the website. The carvings are handmade by Christian families from Bethlehem who rely on it for their daily bread. More than 70% of the Christian Community in the Holy Land depends upon tourism as their only source of income. For decades those Christians have been enduring many hardships as tourism in Bethlehem has plummeted and access to other sources of income has been sharply restricted due to the ongoing conflict, the wars , the 12 yard wall built around Bethlehem, the COVID-19 pandemic, and nowadays the current ongoing war. Many Christians left their homeland. The Christian population of the Holy Land was 30% in the last century, but today it is less than 1%. Please help support our Christian brothers and sisters in the town where Christ was born by purchasing their carvings. All proceeds go to support Christian families from Bethlehem.

  • Lay Readers for 9:00 AM

    We are welcoming new Lay Readers (to read the scripture) who would like to assist in the first worship service, 9:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings. There are dates available throughout the year! To sign up, simply click the button below and add your name and email address to the spreadsheet next to your chosen date. 


    9:00 Lay Readers


    If you have questions, please contact the church office or Dr. Meg Baker (mbaker@stpaulsk.org).

  • Special Announcement!

    Journey to Israel

    Pastor Joey shared the exciting news on Sunday, October 1 that St. Paul's will offer a special interfaith Journey to Israel trip in collaboration with Temple Emanuel, coming in 2025. Click here to go to our Journey to Israel webpage for dates, trip itinerary, cost, and other details!

  • SAM Church Leadership Meetings

    Church leaders serving in the SAM - Simplified Accountability Model - including the Ministry Table and the Strategy, Accountability, and Leadership Table, hold open meetings. All may attend. 


    Contact chairperson Rachel Stalcup for the meeting schedule and the Zoom link, or if you have questions. If you need Rachel's contact information, please check in the Weekly News message, or email the church office at stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org

  • Daily Breath

    Wednesdays

    9:00 AM

    September-May


    These online sessions happen once a week and provide a morning time of sharing, prayer, or music led by St. Paul’s clergy, staff, or volunteer leaders. It's usually between 10 and 20 minutes designed to help keep us calm and connected in a social online space.


    Visit facebook.com/stpaulskensington - no Facebook account required.

  • Lydia Circle Meetings

    The Lydia Circle sisters will begin meeting the first Wednesday of each month at 2:30 PM. In December, Lydia Circle Sisters will enjoy a Christmas luncheon at the home of one of our members.


    Any woman 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 for details. 


    Plans could change month to month, so be sure to get on the Lydia Circle list for updates.

  • Sunday School

    Please see our Children's Page for current information about Sunday School and other children's programming! If you have additional questions, please contact Meg Baker, mbaker@stpaulsk.org or 301-933-7933 ext 104. 

  • Still WEdnesday Still Meeting

    Still Wednesday meets on Wednesday nights, 7:00-8:00 pm to create a sacred space full of quiet, peace, and opportunities for reflection. For more information, visit the Still Wednesday page.

  • Weekly News & other announcements

    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. That's all! 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.

  • PrayerWaves

    You can join a time of prayer by phone on Wednesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. as we lift the prayers of the people over the airwaves. Visit our Prayer Requests page to learn how.

  • Feeding hungry neighbors

    Our Hunger Ministry serves recipients who live in the 20895 ZIP code.


    To help stock the pantry, visit https://stpaulsk.org/service/hunger-ministry for the list of needed items. Monetary donations to support the Hunger Ministry are always welcome and may be mailed to the church office, placed in the offering plate, or can be made securely online. If donating by check, please make it payable to St. Paul's with "Hunger Ministry" in the memo line.


    Please read more at our Hunger Ministry page!


    St. Paul's generous donors provide nonperishable food, sort and pack supplies, and provide drop-off for households with special circumstances. Families facing food insecurity are welcomed to the Fellowship Hall on the second Monday of the month to receive grocery items and a meal to-go provided by our partners at Campus Kitchens. 

Opportunities

These activities and events may not meet regularly, but they are available to enhance the lives of St. Paul's friends and the communities where we live and serve.

  • Sipping Ministry (AKA "Coffee Hour")

    St. Paul's Sipping Ministry (formerly known as “coffee hour”) is offered whenever groups from the church feel able to sponsor and host a fellowship time after worship! Any group - or family or group of friends! - can sponsor and host the Sipping Ministry and serve drinks and snacks of their choice after worship in the Octagon or Narthex. 


    You might serve the ever-popular coffee and cookies... or it might be lemonade and cheese crackers, tea and crumpets, cider and donuts, cocoa and candy canes... you decide! 


    Hosts: Please click here to download the Sipping Ministry Instructions, or pick up a paper copy in the office when you sign up to adopt a Sunday. 


    To reserve your Sunday, add your name or group to the chart on the office bulletin board, or email stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org before 12:00 on Wednesday and Erin can write your name on the chart for you.

  • Flower Sponsors

    The flowers that grace our Sanctuary each Sunday are sponsored by members and friends of St. Paul’s. The flower chart for 2024 is now available in the main office on the bulletin board. You may select open dates and make dedications in memory, honor, or celebration. You may also contact Erin Steele in the office at stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org to inquire about sponsoring flowers. The cost is $45. Following 10:30 AM worship, you may take home your flower arrangement.

  • UMM Driver Service

    The United Methodist Men's group now offers a driver service to take adult St. Paul’s members to medical-related appointments in and around Montgomery County at no charge. A list of volunteer drivers is posted in the church office. You can also request a copy of the list from the office by emailing Erin Steele at stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org. Please keep in mind you may have to make more than one call to find a driver who is available for the specific day and time you need a ride. Contact Rich Higgins at rgh1954@verizon.net if you have UMM questions.

  • Card MinIstry & Congregational Care List

    When someone experiences illness, grief, or a joyous life change and wants to share that news, we include them on the Congregational Care list. On typical Sundays, anyone can stop by the Welcome Desk to pick up a pre-addressed, pre-stamped card! You can write a personal note or simply sign the card and drop it in the mail. We know the card recipients are truly thankful for the notes that come their way.  


    Want to send your own card later, or to spend some time in prayer for our members and friends? The congregational care list if good for that, too. You can find a fresh copy of the full Congregational Care list at the Welcome Desk each week. 


    Please note, the congregational care list is a list of members, but is not necessarily all-inclusive or a full list of all of our members' individual circumstances or needs. We only add names to the list when we are given permission by the person or immediate family. In some situations, the Prayer List may be a more appropriate place to share requests for prayer in a time of need. To add yourself or a loved one to one of these lists, please contact Meg Baker, Minister of Spiritual Care and Formation, at mbaker@stpaulsk.org. 

  • Directory

    Have you moved lately? Please send fresh addresses, new photos, updated telephone numbers or email addresses, or other updates to Erin Steele at stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org.


    If you know someone who would like a copy but cannot come to the church in person, please email the office to request a directory copy be sent by mail. 

  • scam alert!

    Multiple churches throughout the UMC and the Baltimore-Washington region have had 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).

  • Our History Book

    If our Heritage Sunday celebration each April sparks your interest, you can purchase a copy of The Spirit of Methodism in Kensington, 1885-2007 for $5.00. Contact the church office. The St. Paul's history book is an award-winning trove of information about our church from its founding to recent years, and is full of historical photos and interesting stories recounting everything from musical performances at the White House to cream pies being thrown at a former pastor.

Weather  POLicy

St. Paul's building and all St. Paul's activities (except for Worship) follow the Montgomery County Public Schools announcements for weather-related delays, closures, and cancellations. 


When Montgomery County Public Schools are on a "2-hour delay" day, the church office opens at 11:30 a.m. and any activities meant to begin before 11:30 a.m. will be canceled or rescheduled. When Montgomery County Public Schools are closed or weekend activities are canceled due to weather events, St. Paul's is also closed and activities will be canceled or rescheduled. 


The exception to this is Sunday worship: if Montgomery County Schools closes or cancels events on a Sunday, the pastors will assess whether it is safe to travel and make a decision about worship services by 7:00 a.m.


We update this web page with information regularly but you may also refer to http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/ or contact the leader of a specific activity for more information. 


Your safety is the first priority – please use your own best judgment before venturing out in any inclement weather conditions.