Saturday, June 10, 2023

2:30 PM gathering

Join us for the Pride Parade in DC on Saturday, June 10. Look for us on T Street between 14th & 16th NW. 

We will have communion at 2:30 pm and the parade steps off at 3:00 pm. We are in the early part so don't be late! 

Contact Pastor Joey with questions. joeyhm@stpaulsk.org

Saturday, June 17, 2023

5:00-6:00 PM

BabyCat Brewery (10241 Kensington Parkway, Kensington MD 20895)

Come for engaging conversation about the Bible and related topics from different faith contexts, and to build relationships with our Temple Emanuel neighbors down the street in a casual setting. All are welcome!

BabyCat Brewery sells craft beer, non-alcoholic drink options, and snacks. They also allow patrons to bring in their own food, encourage ordering from neighboring restaurants, and regularly host a food truck on site. Visit www.babycatbrewery.com for more information.

Contact Pastor Joey for more info: joeyhm@stpaulsk.org.

June 21

7:00-8:30 PM on Zoom

Church leaders serving in the 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 Zoom link or if you have questions. If you need Rachel's contact information, please check in the Weekly News message, email the church office at stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org

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. Contact Erin in the church office at stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org if you'd like to select a Sunday and facilitate this time of fellowship.

7:00- 8:00 PM

Twice a month during the programming year

Bring your knitting, crochet, or other work to our in-person gatherings in the Library at St. Paul's. Please contact Karen Codner directly or email the church office (stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org) for details. 

Meeting Schedule for 2023:

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

June 12 and 26

Taking a summer break in July & August!

Sept 11 and 25

Oct 9 and 23

Nov 13 and 27

Dec 11

The Yarn Ministry's 2022 Craft Fair was a great success! All proceeds from the Craft Fair are donated to charity. 

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. 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.

The flowers that grace our Sanctuary each Sunday are sponsored by members and friends of St. Paul’s. The flower chart is now back up in the office! 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.

At the visioning retreat, we heard many people express a desire for more fellowship opportunities in small groups. One way we responded during this Lenten season was holding three small dinners, hosted by three St. Paul’s families. Our hope is that we’ll be able to have more in the future!

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).

Wednesdays

9:00 AM

These live 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.

Third Tuesday of each month Sept.-May

11:00 AM

The group formerly known as the Martha Circle has a new name, date, meeting time, and mission. All women and men are welcome to join us for Tuesday Together with Friends. We will meet once a month, on the third Tuesday of each month, at 11:00 AM at the church. We will continue to study interesting topics. Those who wish to stay may enjoy Taste & Sing and lunch afterward. For more information about Tuesday Together, contact Ginny Hagberg at 301-770-7624.

The Lydia Circle sisters will begin meeting the first Wednesday of each month at 2:30 PM for Spring 2023. 

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.

The Card Ministry will assess whether in-person card distribution can continue during the renovation or if we need to take a temporary pause.

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? When someone experiences illness, grief, or a joyous life change and wants to share that news, we include them on the Congregational Care list. You can find a fresh copy of the full Congregational Care list at the Welcome Desk each week. 

Christian Education programming for children in Grade 5 and younger is an important part of the life of St. Paul's. We are adapting to serve the needs and interests of our parents and teachers for 2023, to offer service-based projects, and to keep everyone as safe as possible. Please see our Children's Page for current information. If you have additional questions, please contact Meg Baker, mbaker@stpaulsk.org or 301-933-7933 ext 104. 

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.

The next edition of the directory of members and friends will be printed in Summer of 2023.

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

We can’t get “back to normal” without our volunteers! Many of our groups are welcoming new and returning volunteers. These are all great ways to reconnect with St. Paul's and give of your time and talents. Schedules are flexible. Here's a short list sharing some of the types of tasks involved:

• Welcome Ministry: Greet those arriving at the main door of the church on Sunday morning, remind them to sign in, and direct guests to the Sanctuary.
• Sunday Office Volunteers: Sit in the main church office during 10:30 worship and direct worshipers to the Sanctuary or restrooms, and leave notes for the weekday staff. 
• Hunger Ministry: Inventory food supplies, pack bags, assist with distribution, drive and drop off groceries in the 20895 ZIP code. SSL hours are available!

Other opportunities are available! Contact Erin Steele in the office for more info: stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org.

If you would like to regularly receive copies of The Upper Room devotionals booklets through the mail, we can add you to the mailing list. Contact Erin Steele in the church office. Then, as  our shipment of books arrives every two  months, we'll send the latest issue to you. 

Please email Erin at stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org with your name, current mailing address, and whether you prefer the pocket-size booklet or large print.

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).

Still Wednesday is gathering in-person at St. Paul's through the winter and will continue to meet using ZOOM. Click here for more information. We take breaks during the summer but have weekly meeting the rest of the year

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.

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. Our policies about sharing photos and contact information is also available here.

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.

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

To help re-stock the pantry, pick up a shopping list from the Narthex or visit https://stpaulsk.org/service/hunger-ministry. Monetary donations to support the Hunger Ministry are always welcome and may be mailed to the church office or can be made securely online.

Please read more at our Hunger Ministry page!

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. 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. 

If our Heritage Sunday celebration in April sparked your interest, you can purchase a copy of The Spirit of Methodism in Kensington, 1885-2007 for $10.00. 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.