now-February 14

https://app.readiness360.org/survey/login

passcode: 7630534073

At St. Paul's we are looking into fresh ways to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. As part of that, and at the urging of leadership of the Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church, we are asking everyone to take this "Readiness 360" survey. We are currently engaged in church revitalization and community development initiatives, but we desire additional guidance regarding innovative and relevant strategies in our increasingly demographically diverse community.

This will help us identify opportunities and challenges by assessing our congregation's spiritual intensity, dynamic relationships, mission alignment, and cultural openness.

Readiness 360 would normally only be available as part of an expensive package, and the BWC is providing it to us at no cost. The more people take the survey, the better our understanding of our community's goals will be! 

Please set aside 15-20 minutes for this survey and share your point of view.

The last day to submit answers is Feb. 14. This survey will close at midnight on Sunday!

All members, friends, and those connected with St. Paul's (whatever their formal membership status may be) are encouraged to take this survey. 

After a critical mass within our congregation takes the online survey, we will report back our findings and discover next steps together.

Please click here to go to https://app.readiness360.org/survey/login to log in and type in our congregation’s unique passcode: 7630534073

Despite the changes 2020 has brought us, we continue the long-held tradition of receiving a special Christmas Offering and, as in years past, 100% of the special offering collected at Christmas will be sent beyond the walls of St. Paul's to bring help and hope to those in need. This year's offering will be divided between the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), which aids those facing disasters or crises worldwide, and the Hunger Ministry that feeds all hungry people right in the 20895 ZIP code.

In a normal year, envelopes would be provided in the Christmas Eve worship bulletins. Since we are not gathering in person due to Covid-19, please use our secure online donation system. 

Please click HERE for our secure donation form.

We also gratefully receive checks in the mail - please make your check out to St. Paul's UMC and note "Christmas Offering" on the memo line, and mail to St. Paul's UMC, 10401 Armory Avenue, Kensington MD 20895.

The annual Christmas Offering Letter is available to read by clicking HERE.

As 2020 draws to a close, we want to thank those who have been able to give faithfully and whose contributions have sustained St. Paul's work and ministry during difficult times. To ensure that your contributions intended for 2020 are received and processed by December 31, consider the following options:

• Use our online giving portal at the top of this page to donate by credit or debit card, checking, or saving account before December 31.
• Mail your check to St. Paul’s UMC at 10401 Armory Ave., Kensington MD 20895 in time for the post office to deliver it by December 30.
• Drop off your gift at the office using the mail slot in the office door on Mitchell Street, so that we may receive it no later than 12:00 noon on December 31.
• Use your bank’s bill pay system within their time-frame for a December 31 delivery.
• Transfer appreciated stock directly to St. Paul’s to avoid paying capital gains. Please contact Michelle Gregonis for St. Paul’s brokerage account.

If you have questions about your contributions, contact Michelle Gregonis, Treasurer, at mgregonis@stpaulsk.org.

Pastor Kate will be out of the office July 30 - August 8 for a planned visit with family.

Pastor Kate has her final surgical procedure to repair a chronic condition in her left leg scheduled for August 12. As with the surgery on the right leg back in February, she will likely be out of the office for about two weeks afterward for recovery. During Pastor Kate's absence, Pastor Pat and other members of the staff will be caring for the needs of our community. For contact information for all of St. Paul's staff, visit http://stpaulsk.org/community/meet-the-staff. 

Pastor Kate and the Staff Parish Relations Committee are thankful for all those members and friends who donated to the Associate Pastor's Discretionary Fund to support Kate by helping cover the cost of transportation from her home in Virginia to work at St. Paul's, while she was unable to drive.

Questions may be directed to Pastor Kate (kfulton [at] stpaulsk.org) or SPRC Chair Rachel Stalcup (rachelstalcup [at] gmail.com).

Join us on Sunday, August 23 for our In-Person Outdoor Worship, 9:30 a.m. in Reinhardt Park (across from St. Paul's front doors). 

• Coming to join us? Click HERE for event details. 
• Watching from home? Barring technical difficulties, the service will be shared using Facebook Live: www.facebook.com/stpaulskensington/
• Following along? A worship bulletin is available at stpaulsk.org/worship for use on your smartphone, tablet, or to print at home.

Sunday, July 19

8:45 a.m. - last names A-L

10:00 a.m. - last names M-Z

Reinhardt Park, Kensington (directly across Armory Ave. from St. Paul's front doors)

Things to know:

• Parking along Armory Ave and the Baker's Union driveway is available for attending "drive-in" style from the safety of your car. Tune your radio to 101.7 FM. (Please reserve this option for those with health concerns that could make other outdoor options unsafe. Other parking is available in the church lot, at Town Hall, and at the Baker's Union garage.) 
• Bring your own chairs or blankets and socially-distance your family's seating in the park. 
• Bring your masks. All those attending outdoors MUST wear masks the whole time.
• Do not bring snacks, meals, drinks, or anything that might cause you to remove your mask in the park.
• Bring your own bread and juice! Pastors will lead a service of Great Thanksgiving & Communion and will consecrate the elements. However, we ask everyone NOT to consume the elements immediately but to SAVE the consecrated bread and juice, consuming them safely and prayerfully once you return to your car or home and can wash or sanitize your hands. This way, you will not remove your mask or touch your face in a way that could risk exposing yourself - or your neighbors - to illness.
• Music will be provided by members of the Sanctuary choir. There will be no congregational singing. 
• A virtual worship bulletin will be available for viewing on your smartphone or as a downloadable *pdf. You will be able to find the link at stpaulsk.org. It will include the order of worship, scripture, and text for prayers and songs for those who wish to follow along. We will not provide paper handouts.
• Offering "buckets" will be in place at the front of the church for those who wish to drop off financial gifts.
• Ushers will be present to help direct traffic and answer questions.
• In the event of inclement weather, a decision will be made by 7:00 a.m. and cancelations notices will be posted on stpaulsk.org, Facebook, and sent by email to the weekly news group. (Click here to sign up for the Weekly News emails.)
• Barring any technical difficulties, the service at 8:45 a.m. will be shared over Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/stpaulskensington (No Facebook account is required for viewing.) We will also be recording the worship services, and will make a higher-quality video available for viewing later in the week.
• Our goal is to minimize the risk of exposing anyone to illness. Please participate with best practices in mind to care for our whole community.

All other Sundays in July: worship-at-home recording available at stpaulsk.org/worship/worship-at-home, 11:00 a.m.

A letter from Pastor Kate:

Dear St. Paul’s family –

We cannot wait to see you! 

We will be gathering for our first in-person(ish) worship since March this month! Save the date for July 19 at 8:45 a.m. (last names A-L) and 10:00 a.m. (last names M-Z). This will be a “beta test” for us, and if all goes well we hope to hold at least some of our worship services this way until it is safe to resume indoor worship together.

We want to be sure that EVERYONE who participates in this service can do so safely. Our Re-Entering Well Team and I have been collaborating on how best to do that, so these services will look and feel a bit different than normal in several ways:

First, we’ll be holding worship outside in Reinhardt Park (across the street from the front doors of St. Paul's) so there will be plenty of room to social distance – bring camping chairs or a picnic blanket so you can sit down and spread out! We’ll also be reserving parking on Armory Ave. from Mitchell St. to Knowles Ave. so high-risk members and families can park and participate “drive-in style” via their car radios. (Dismissal will be done by section in order to keep everyone safe and properly distanced!) Regular parking will still be available in the church lot, at the baker’s union and at Town Hall.

Second, we’ll ALL be wearing masks, since we want to keep the most vulnerable among us safe. If you’re not comfortable wearing a mask, feel free to stay in your car and participate “drive-in style” with the windows closed – but please be aware that we will not permit anyone to participate outside their vehicle without one. If you arrive and realize you forgot yours, let us know and we’ll be happy to provide one!

Third, we may not be able to sing our hymns together, but we will still have music! Members of our choir will be providing music throughout the service (and again, if you want to sing along, stay in your car with the windows up and belt it out to your heart’s content!)

Lastly, we WILL be celebrating Communion together – but since we cannot safely pass out bread and juice, we’re asking everyone to bring their own elements to be blessed at the close of the service, which you can then share in your car together or at home.

None of us could have imagined all that we have been through this year, but I am so grateful to be in community with you and four months apart, I am so looking forward to seeing (part of) your faces!

Peace,

Pastor Kate

We will once again enjoy lilies in the Sanctuary on Easter Sunday. Plants have been sponsored by members and friends of St. Paul's and are dedicated in honor or memory of loved ones. Please see the full list of dedications in the bulletin for the 9:00 or 10:30 worship services.

Sponsors may take home their plants following the 10:30 a.m. worship service on Easter, April 21. Plants can also be picked up in the Narthex during office hours April 23-26, or on Sunday April 28. Plants left after that time may be delivered to those who are ill, home-bound, or otherwise wishing for a little extra cheer.

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.

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.