St. Paul's Youth (also known as SPYs) meet weekly during the school year and engage in numerous other fellowship and service activities year round, including retreats, work camps, hiking trips, Bible study, Thanksgiving food drives, and much more. Our full-time Youth Pastor Mr. Micah Smartt (msmartt [at] stpaulsk.org) is in charge of SPY programming. See the YOUTH page to learn more!

St. Paul's friends in the (roughly) 20s-to-40s age range gather for monthly meals, service, and fellowship with others. A mostly monthly lunch bunch meets on site at the church, in homes, and at local restaurants. 2x4s also provide meals when new babies arrive, serve dinners at local shelters, join forces with Justice & Compassion for a back-to-school backpack drive, and volunteer to sort furniture at A Wider Circle. For more information, contact Rev. Kate Mackereth Fulton (kfulton [at] stpaulsk.org, 301-933-7933 ext. 103).

St. Paul's has three active women's circles that gather regularly for faith-filled fellowship. During normal operations: 

Martha Circle gathers the first Wednesday morning of the month (September-May) in the church's Octagon room.

Lydia Circle meets the first Wednesday evening of the month (September-May), in the church's Octagon room.

Jochebed Circle meets with a different time and location each month, sometimes in the homes of members.

The UMW Book Club, open to all women, meets about every other month in the church library to discuss literary works.

The United Methodist Men (UMM) of St. Paul's serve the church and community through a wide range of activities. 

The UMM conducts regular meetings. Prior to covid, UMM relied upon a number of volunteers to staff their popular events: Pancake Breakfasts (September-June), the Fall Apple Sale, Christmas Tree Sale, and Bi-annual Yard Sales. These UMM-sponsored efforts build community and raise funds to support a host of local, national, and international ministries. 

Unfortunately we are not currently able to plan any events until our volunteers are able to return and help out. We need volunteers of all ages, men and women welcome to volunteer! Please contact Rich Higgins, UMM president, or the church office at stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org if you would like to be involved.

The UMM also sponsors Boy Scout Troop #439, Cub Scout Pack #478, and co-ed Venture Crew scouts.

Remember, "We include all male members and friends of St. Paul's as members of The United Methodist Men. There are no dues or fees to join - so come and be with us!"  Information about current projects can be found each month in the Epistle newsletter. Minutes from meetings and reports from the UMM are available by contacting the church office.

Click here for more information on the UMM's denomination-wide history and activities. 

The Food With Friends monthly dinner series is a fellowship opportunity to visit participants’ homes, meet new people, and dine with friends in an informal setting. New sign-ups are welcome any time and the large-group dinners are open to all. Large group dinners are held in September (to kickoff the new season), in December for Advent Celebration, and in May (when data is gathered for the fall rotation).  For all other months, groups gather for dinner at the home of a group participant host. The host provides the main course while all who attend provide other parts of the meal (appetizers, salad, side dishes, beverage, breads, dessert, etc.) – all coordinated by the host. Typical group sizes vary from 6 to 12 based on the host’s capacity and desire. For more information, contact Jim Hitchcock or the church office.

The dedicated singers in the Sanctuary Choir raise their voices in worship under the director of Director of Music Tom Pedersen and our accomplished organist Marvin Mills. Adults of all ages and older teens are invited to join.

Our Joyful Ringers! bells ensemble rehearses weekly and plays in worship about once a month, ringing handbell music under the direction of interim director Jim Heins. Adults and older teens are welcome to join.

Visit our MUSIC page to learn more.

We don't stop learning just because we reach adulthood. Under normal conditions, in collaboration with the leadership of our pastors, staff, and adult education committee, we regularly offer the following opportunities for adults to engage in continued faith formation:

Lectionary Bible Study meets every Tuesday (September-June) to discuss the Scripture focus for the coming Sunday's worship. Drop-ins and visitors are welcome any time. The hour-long study begins at 10:45 a.m. in the Church Library. 

Supper & Study classes are sponsored by the Adult Education Committee. These short-term study courses usually run 6 weeks and are offered in the fall and in the spring; three or four classes are offered each season on a range of thought-provoking topics. Registration is required.

Disciple classes are long-term, year-long studies designed to delve deeply and develop adults' understanding of the Bible and their own discipleship journeys. Disciple I is offered annually and usually led by the senior pastor. Disciple II "Into the Word, Into the World" has been offered when there is sufficient interest, recently led by Vern Schinski.

Short Term Sunday Sessions are available seasonally either before or after the 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship hour. Mid-week Bible Study is also available. Please click to go to the Adult Education page for information about current and past offerings.

For information about current or upcoming opportunities, contact Meg Baker, Director of Christian Education.

On Tuesdays, the Prayer Lift group gathers in the Chapel for this time of prayer especially dedicated to lifting up the joys and concerns shared by members of the St. Paul's community. All are welcome. During COVID-19 closures, this group meets by telephone for prayer over the airwaves or Prayerwaves. Click here for more information.

Individuals particularly interested in the intersection of faith and social justice are encouraged to contact the Justice & Compassion team. J&C sponsors missionaries and mission trips worldwide, and helped launch our own ambitious Hunger Ministry program for the 20895 ZIP code. The Beloved Community group is involved particularly with issues of race, equality, and our culture's complicated history of racial injustice, and members have participated in Conference-wide activities, including workshops, rallies, and a trip to Memphis on the anniversary of the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Drop-in the Church Library on the second and fourth Mondays of the month to join fellow busy fingers and prayerful hearts at work knitting and crocheting. The Yarn Ministry supplies St. Paul's with baptismal blankets and prayer shawls for those who are homebound. Participants are invited to contribute these items to the care ministry of the church, or bring along their own projects. Beginners welcome!

Members of the Yarn Ministry are also instrumental in putting on the Fall Craft Fair, usually held the first weekend of November. All sale items are donated by crafters from our community, and all proceeds are dedicated to worldwide charities.

Trained volunteers serve as Stephen Ministers, walking alongside and listening to those who experience life's challenges: death, illness, job loss, relationship challenges, and other experiences that cause stress in our lives. Whether you feel called to become a Stephen Minister, or would benefit from receiving one-on-one care, we can help. To learn more, visit our Stephen Ministers page or contact Rev. Kate Mackereth Fulton directly.

Join us for Taste & Sing, on the third Tuesday of the month (September-June). Led by our Director of Christian Education, this group begins the lunch-time gathering by suggesting hymns to sing, then moves into a time when we focus on one specific composer or author, learning a little more about the people behind some of our best-loved and best-known songs of worship. Stay after the music for a tasty luncheon and time of fellowship. No singing experience is required, and there is no charge (donations toward lunch are appreciated). The featured composer/author will be publicized in the weekly news each month. Previous Taste & Sing sessions have delved into the life and works of blind 19th-century poet Fanny Crosby, African-American Methodist pastor Charles Albert Tindley, modern lyricist Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, and others. 

By long tradition, the community-wide Friendship Club meets in St. Paul's Fellowship Hall. They kickoff their meetings at 11:30 a.m. on the second Tuesday of the month (October-May). This is an ecumenical community of seniors representing over a dozen local congregations. Bring your favorite dish for a potluck meal, and stay to enjoy entertainment from local singers, musicians, and actors. Special outings are often arranged for June; in the past this has included a popular day trip to the Chesapeake Bay.