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 staff Youth Pastor Mr. Micah Smartt (msmartt@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 meals, service, and fellowship with others. 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 the church office at stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org or 301-933-7933.

The Lydia Circle Sisters meet the first Wednesday of the month (September-May), in the church's Octagon room, usually in the afternoon. Lydia Sisters help with service projects, including Smart Sacks, and about twice a year, they enjoy dinner at a home or restaurant. 

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. 

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!" 

Visit the UMM page for more info!

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 Tom Pedersen. Adults and older teens are welcome to join.

Visit our MUSIC page to learn more.

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.

On Wednesdays, the Prayerwaves group gathers by telephone 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. Dial-in instructions are available from Meg Baker (mbaker@stpaulsk.org) or in the Weekly News email.

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 leaders, we regularly offer opportunities for adults to engage in continued faith formation, including:

Wednesday Bible Study, held by Zoom, meets most weeks throughout the year at 4:00 pm on Wednesdays and covers a variety of topics.

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.

Short Term Sunday Sessions are available seasonally! 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.

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.

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.

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. 

This group is open to both men and women for a time of fellowship and a short program on a faith topic, usually led by coordinator Ginny Hagberg (formerly the president of the Martha Circle). Meetings are the third Tuesday of each month at 11:00 AM in the Octagon room. Those who wish to stay for Taste & Sing also enjoy a tasty lunch!