March 2016

March 14, 2016 Volume XXVI, No. 3 Nationalchurch.org

The Messenger

METROPOLITAN CHURCH

A MULTI-SITE UNITED METHODIST COMMUNITY

Listening for Easter

Our Lenten theme this year has been Holy Listening/Holy Speaking. Our sermons have focused on Listening Behind the Words; Speaking with Authenticity; Listening for Bias; Speaking Words of Repentance; and, Listening with the Spirit. In addition there have been Sunday evening contemplative communion services which have allowed the spirit to work through silence, music and prayer; these are special services which truly allow for Holy Listening/Holy Speaking.

Palm/Passion Sunday Worship at Metropolitan Memorial* 9am & 11:15am Procession with Eco-Palms and Children’s Choirs Worship at Wesley* 9:30am Breakfast & 11am Procession & Worship (5312 Conn. Ave., NW) Maundy Thursday Worship at Metropolitan Memorial* 7:30pm Worship with Communion and Chancel Choir Good Friday Services Worship at Metropolitan Memorial* Noon – 3pm “Seven Last Words” Worship at Wesley* 7:30pm Tenebrae Service (5312 Conn. Ave. NW) Easter Vigil 10:30am - Meet at our St. Luke’s Mission Center Easter Sunday– March 27 Worship at American University Sunrise Service at Kay Spiritual Life 7am - 4400 Mass. Ave., NW Worship at Metropolitan Memorial* 9am & 11:15am - Festival Choirs, Brass, Timpani, and Handbells Brunch after each service Rockin’ Gospel Worship at Wesley* 11am - 5312 Conn. Ave., NW *Free Childcare Available

As we approach Palm Sunday and Easter, we still have more to hear and speak. On Palm Sunday, in addition to the joyous waving of palm branches and the traditional hosannahs and music from our children’s choirs, we will continue our tradition of beginning in joy and excitement and ending with the passion. On Palm Sunday, our sermon will be on Submission — the traditional story of Jesus’ willingness to relinquish his own power and glory to submit to the will of God. We are reminded it is less important to be right than to show love.

The best way to celebrate the joy of Easter is to walk through Holy Week (see side panel for worship times). On Maundy Thursday, we will have a traditional service at Metropolitan Memorial where the altar is stripped as the story is told through scripture, music, and short meditations by Rev. Drema McAllister-Wilson. The celebration also includes a foot washing and Holy Communion and ends in silence in the garden.

Music is provided by the Chancel Choir with Bruce Caviness on organ.

On Good Friday, our worship begins with the service of “The Last Seven Words.”

We are blessed this year with a variety of preachers from around the Washington area. Guests include: Dr. Youtha Hardman-Cromwell, Wesley Theological Seminary; Rev. D. Andrew Olivio, St. John’s Episcopal Church (Lafayette Square); Dr. Paul Cho, Wesley Theological Seminary; Rev. Allyson Robinson, Calvary Baptist Church; Rev. Dyan Abena McCray-Peters, Unity Fellowship Church; Rev. Dr. Amy Peed McCullough, Grace UMC (Baltimore); and our very own Rev. Kate Payton. This has become a wonderful tradition at Metropolitan and each year attendance grows. It certainly follows our theme of Holy Listening/Holy Speaking as we worship through prayer, music, poetry and word. On Good Friday evening, we will worship at Wesley for a traditional service including the nailing of the cross, diminishing of lights and a sermon by Rev. Dr. Charles Parker. Music is provided by Metropolitan’s Dayspring Choir and Wesley’s Gospel Choir.

On Holy Saturday, we navigate the city for an Easter Vigil where we will recount our salvation story and pray for resurrection. You may join us for the whole vigil or meet us at any of the locations to join in for part (See page 2 for a reflection of last year’s vigil and this year’s schedule).

On Easter Sunday, the celebration begins with a Sunrise Service at American University. Metropolitan Memorial offers two identical services with festival choirs, brass, timpani, and handbells, with brunch following each service. The celebration continues at Wesley with a rockin’ gospel choir at 11am. We invite you to come and join us during this very Holy Week and make Easter Sunday’s joy even more special.

Peace and Joy, Patrisha House

Spring Sermon Series: A People called Muslim

A year ago, we did a sermon series exploring different faith traditions, and spent one Sunday on Islam. There is not too much that you can cover about a huge tradition like Islam in a single sermon; and since our relationship with Islam -- both as Christians and Americans – continues to dominate much of our national and political dialogue, I thought that it would be helpful if we dug a little deeper into this topic. I have also had a number of people in our congregation request some further exploration of this subject. So, in the four Sundays after Easter, our sermon series will focus on A People Called Muslim (cont. on page 3).

Life at the Metropolitan Church Easter Vigil Brings the Story of Salvation to a City in Need

The Easter Vigil service is all about remembering and reliving our story of salvation. Usually we do this within the confines of a sanctuary. But last year, we partnered with other churches to conduct an Easter Vigil in multiple locations. We came together to proclaim a story our whole city desperately needs.

The betrayal, abandonment, violence, and death that Christ experienced on Good Friday are present-day realities for too many people in our midst. Given the racial and socio-economic geography of DC, some of our group members found themselves in parts of the city they had never been to before. If we are to pray and work for new life for all of God’s people, we must know first-hand the Good Fridays they experience.

So our Easter Vigil service was designed to lead us through places of need in our city, places we usually avoid or don’t even know about. The service explored the themes of creation, liberation, abundance, hope, and baptism, each in a specific location where death and the hope of resurrection are tangibly present.

Creation. We started at our community food garden — standing barefoot in the dirt — to remember God’s creating work.

Liberation. We went to a church located on a known prostitution track of our city. Standing in a parking lot littered with condoms, we read the Exodus story. One of their pastors spoke of the realities of sex and human trafficking. We prayed for all of these who are enslaved.

Abundance. Reading the prophecy of the consummation of all creation in Isaiah 55, we joined a partner church in their table fellowship open to all housed and unhoused neighbors. The food came from our Campus Kitchen Project that reclaims food from area grocery stores and restaurants that would otherwise be thrown away. We prayed that the word God has given through us, and provided in food we have grown, is not wasted and does not return to God empty.

Hope. Reading Ezekiel’s passage of dry bones, we stood next to the trash trap in a water way in a local park. It was the place where police had searched for the body of an eight-year-old girl abducted the previous year from the city’s shelter for homeless families.

Baptism. We closed our vigil remembering our baptism along the Anacostia River — a riverbed so contaminated that brown bullhead catfish have developed cancer from simply touching the riverbed. We read Romans 6:3–11, remembering African American churches in our community who were once able to baptize new believers in the river. We remembered our baptisms and prayed for a cleansing of our sins and of the river, that it might once again be a sign of life.

This Easter Vigil allowed our church to connect with our city and face our Good Fridays head-on. We prayed with heart, soul, mind, and strength for God to bring a resurrection morning. And when it came, we were reminded of the hope that is ours. We serve a living God who brought forth life from death and continues to make the impossible possible. This is our prayer, and our work, for our city — for all those still in need of a resurrection dawn.

Join us Saturday, March 26 for this year’s Easter Vigil. Our schedule for the day can be found in the side panel.

Blessings,

DC Easter Vigil Holy Saturday, March 26

10:30am - Creation. Beginning at our St. Luke’s Mission Center (3655 Calvert St. NW), we will stand barefoot—weather permitting with shoes-on option offered—in the community garden reading the creation story of Genesis 1:1-2:4a.

18 min Transition in the van 11:40-12:10pm - Liberation. Our first stop will be by Asbury UMC (926 11th St. NW) to read the story of the Exodus, Exodus 14:1031 and 15:20-21. We will pray for those who are enslaved and trafficked today.

20 min Transition in the van 12:30-1:15pm - Prophecy of Abundance.

We will read the prophecy of the consummation of all creation found in Isaiah 55:1-11. We will join Mount Vernon UMC (4147 Minnesota Ave NE, 20019) in their food ministry to be in table fellowship that is open to all. It will be our prayer that the word God has given through us and provided in the food we have grown is not wasted and does not return to God empty.

10 min Transition in the van 1:25-1:40pm - When there are bones instead of abundance. Visiting the site of the trash trap where police went to look for Relisha Rudd’s body, we will read the passage of the valley of dry bones from Ezekiel 37:1-14. The entrance to Kenilworth Park Athletic Fields is located at the westernmost end of Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave., NE intersecting with Kenilworth Ave., NE. Drive past the fields to the end and walk the path down to the river. There will be a fenced off section of construction parts to your right.

5 min Walking to angler spot 1:45pm-2pm Remembering our Baptism. Reading Romans 6:3-11, we will talk about the aspects of death and life present in water in general and in the Anacostia in particular. In honor of all the black churches who were once able to use the river for baptisms, we will remember our baptism and pray for a cleansing of our sins and of the river, that it might once again be a sign of life.

2pm - Expecting the Resurrection. We will end our vigil reflecting on the experience and our prayers for Resurrection as we head home. 30 min Transition in the van: Return to St. Luke’s at 2:30pm.

Rev. Kate Payton

2

Life at the Metropolitan Church Spring Sermon Series: A People called Muslim

(Cont. from page 1) Islam is the world’s second largest religion, with over one billion adherents. While the Islamic world includes Muslim countries stretching from North Africa to Southeast Asia, significant numbers of Muslims may be found throughout the entire world. Islam originated in seventh century Arabia with the prophet Muhammad (570-632) and the divine revelation which he received from God that is recorded in the Qur’an. However, it is important to realize that Muslims do not view Islam as a new religion. Muslims believe that Allah (which literally means "The God" in Arabic) is the same God who revealed himself to Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Therefore, Jews, Christians, and Muslims are all followers of the same living God—cousins in a common family with a common ancestor, Abraham.

Since this is a sermon series, and not a lecture series, I want to make sure that we are not simply learning new information about Islam, but using that as a springboard from which we can reflect more deeply on our own spiritual lives. This will involve looking at the places where Christians and Muslims hold beliefs and values in common, as well as where we have important differences, and what we can learn from one another On April 3, we will kick off the series with A People of the Book, with the Scriptures from Genesis 21:9-20 and 2 Timothy 3: 14-17. I will lay some of the groundwork with a little reflection on the history of Islam, and the complexities of its relationship with Christianity. We will also focus on our common heritage as children of Abraham and “people of the book.” This will give us a chance to look at some of the connections between the Bible and the Qur’an, and the role that Holy Scripture plays in our lives.

On April 10, the sermon will be A People of Prayer, with the Scriptures from Daniel 6: 10-13 and I Thessalonians 5: 1418. The second – and perhaps most visible – of the “pillars of Islam” is the call to prayer five times per day. This powerful tradition, which echoes the Christian tradition of praying the “hours,” resonates deeply with ancient Christian and Jewish practice. We will explore what prayer is about in our different traditions, as well as some of the disciplines that support a healthy prayer practice.

On April 17, the sermon will be A People of Generosity, with the Scriptures from Leviticus 19: 9-10 and I Timothy 6: 1719. Like Christians, Muslims have a sacred call to care for the most vulnerable members of the community – a call which includes donating 2.5% of their income and assets (this call to “almsgiving” is the third of the “pillars of Islam”). This common call is one of the most powerful places where Christians and Muslims can connect and work together for the transformation of the world, at the same time that we build community with one another.

On April 24, the sermon will be A People of Pilgrimage, with the Scriptures from Deuteronomy 16: 16-17 and Luke 2: 5142. Jews, Christians, and Muslims all have a rich tradition of making pilgrimage to places of spiritual significance. We will close our sermon series exploring why this has been an important part of our practice, and ways that can be lived out in our modern world. I will also use this theme to reflect on the call of both Christians and Muslims to go out in pilgrimage to the world to spread their faiths, and how this mutual call has over history brought us into conflict. We will end by envisioning where we can be in pilgrimage together.

I hope that you will join me on this journey as we learn more about a major religion of the world and explore together where God might be calling us to be in dialogue and ministry with our Muslim brothers and sisters.

Blessings, Charlie Parker

Remembering Others at Easter

Remember family and friends this Easter by donating Altar flowers!

I wish to donate: #___Easter Lillies ($25 each) #___Hydrangeas ($25 each) In Memory of:________________________________________ In Honor of:__________________________________________ oI will pick up these flowers following 11am worship oI wish to donate these flowers for distribution to church members by the Visitor Corp All donations will be listed in the Easter Sunday Bulletin. The deadline for gifts is Monday, March 21.

Please drop off or mail your form and payment to the church office. Orders cannot be taken by phone.

My Name: _____________________________

Phone: ______________

Address: ______________________________

Total Enclosed: $___________

Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church, 3401 Nebraska Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20016

3

The Arts at the Metropolitan Church Jazz@wesley Saturday, March 19 6:30pm, Wesley*

Jazz@wesley presents “An Evening with Carmen McRae” with Karen Lovejoy and the Lovejoy Group celebrating Women in jazz.

Tickets available at the door and at instantseats.com. Entry $10 I $7 Seniors I Children 12 and Under Free. For more information, email wesleyinfo@nationalchurch.org or call 202-966-5144, ext. 325. Bring a non-perishable food item to jazz up someone else's life. *5312 Connecticut Ave., NW.

Concert: Cello, Piano, and a Flute From Afar Sunday, April 10 3pm, Sanctuary

Pianist Ralitza Patcheva and cellist Vasily Popov have performed at Metropolitan's Arts Council concerts several times. On April 10, the wife and husband will be joined by a visiting brother (Vasily's) and his flute. Nikolai Popov is associate principal flutist with the Bolshoi Opera Orchestra. Ralitza is on the faculties of the Catholic University of America and Levine Music. Vasily is a Levine faculty member, and he and Ralitza are associate chairs of chamber music there.

Not surprisingly, Vasily and Nikolai grew up in a musical family in St. Petersburg, Russia. The three will perform duets and trios by Beethoven, von Weber, Villa-Lobos, and others. The concert will be followed by a reception and the opening of a photography show in the Great Hall.

Creativity Reminder: Think About It - October 23

On October 23, instead of an art show by outsiders, the Arts Council wants to show the work of insiders in a Congregational Craft and Art Show. Among the handmade things we’re interested in showing are: fabrics, jewelry, knitting, crocheting, wood carving or fabrication, photos, paintings, drawings, glass, ceramics, baskets, weaving -and this is not a complete list. The items that can be hung on walls will be left in place for a few weeks, but the threedimensional things can be shown for only a single day.

If you have any questions about the art show, contact Carol Schleicher, rschlei@verizon.net or Marilu Wood, shedelwood@gmail.com. Our Arts Council Chair is Carol Griffith, carolgriffith33@hotmail.com.

Metropolitan Book Club Monday, March 21, 7:30pm, Parlor

Join us for our discussion of the book, The Girl in the Spider’s Web by David Lagercrantz. We welcome new persons who enjoy reading and talking about the books we read. Contacts: Joan Topalian, topajoan62045@gmail.com or Suzanne Clewell, reader1021@aol.com.

A Magical Vision of Cuba Photographs by Yvonnick Renard Sunday, April 10, 4:30pm, Great Hall

Cuba is being rediscovered as a country of rich, vibrant contrasts as travel restrictions between the island nation and the United States ease. But if one thinks back to the black and white newsreels of the 1950’s and the dramatic voice overs by Walter Cronkite, it has also been the scene of battles for independence. First, it was independence from Spain in 1902 and then it was freedom from a series of despotic dictators. And, finally, Cuba declared its independence from Capitalism and the United States.

Last spring, Yvonnick Renaud visited Cuba and took a series of photographs for his own interest. He picked a most fortuitous time; since everyone knows that changes are coming but all those years of Communist rule need to be documented by an impartial eye.

He has captured the iconic images of brightly-hued and wellmaintained cars of the 50’s, posed in front of dilapidated colonial government buildings. He also has photographs of the dirty back streets, garbage piled up. With an artist’s eye, Yvonnick has arranged his shots to make the most of the extreme contrasts in the cities and in the countryside, between the brightly painted arcades of old buildings and the few “modern” constructions.

Enjoy the exhibit. Walk slowly, taking in the colors and the sights, imagining the smells and the sounds and the textures of the city. And realize that you are probably looking at what will soon be historical documents of the magic of Cuba.

Operation Peter Pan: A Testimonial of an Exodus Sunday, April 10 10:10am, Great Hall

In conjunction with the Cuban photo exhibit, the Arts Council invites Photo from the Miami Herald you to learn about “Operation Peter/Pedro Pan,” the name given to the largest recorded exodus of unaccompanied children in the Western Hemisphere. Between December 1960 and 1962, parents in Cuba sent their children to the United States to escape repression and Communist indoctrination. A total of 14,048 children arrived without their parents. Listen to the stories of our speakers, Susana Gomez and Rene Costales, who were two of the children who arrived in 1961 and 1962.

You will hear about their hardships and how they overcame them.

4

Serving at the Metropolitan Church Campus Kitchen DC - We Raised the Dough!

From February 19-26, Campus Kitchen Washington, DC (CKWDC) competed against 24 other Campus Kitchens across the country in the Raise the Dough Challenge to raise money and awareness for our program. As the Campus Kitchen that raised the most money - over $10,000! - we will also receive a cash prize of $1,000 from The Campus Kitchen Project. That funding means we are able to build long-term solutions to hunger and food waste, so thank you for helping us win!

With your generous support, we will continue and expand our outreach to clients such as Friendship Place, Democracy Prep Charter School, Brighter Day's Enrichment Academy, and the United Methodist Churches in Ward 7 (in the zip code 20019). While we receive around 5,000 pounds of organic produce and protein each month, we purchase supplies such as baking pans, to-go containers, and staples like flour, sugar, and spices in order to make around 1,800 meals a month and deliver them. In addition, by helping our partners acquire kitchen equipment, we will be able to expand our delivery efforts to them, allowing them to serve additional meals in their community. It also means we can provide fresh raw produce and protein to be distributed through a community market or food pantry, increasing access to healthy food in Ward 7.

In the 2014-2015 academic year alone, 856 volunteers dedicated 3,038 volunteer hours to recover 46,028 pounds of food and prepare 13,075 nutritious meals for the DC community. We delivered to 9 community partner organizations, which serves 850 clients, adding $60,489 in economic value from meals and extra food provided. Our meals go to at-risk youth, many of whom are on free or reduced lunch, at-risk seniors, trying to age in place and avoid isolation, and the homeless, who don’t know where their next meal will come from.

Grate Patrol

Serve Now!

Sign up now for our many service activities with our online volunteer scheduling system at nationalchurch.org/servenow.

March 28, 6:30 pm, St. Luke’s Mission Center*

Volunteers are needed to load meals prepared by Campus Kitchen into the Salvation Army van and distribute them throughout downtown DC. To volunteer, sign up at nationalchurch.org/servenow! *3655 Calvert St., NW.

April 3, 6pm, St. Luke’s Mission Center*

Help assemble meals (provided by our Campus Kitchen Program) in to-go containers. Volunteers are also needed to load meals into the Salvation Army van and distribute them throughout the city. You can volunteer to put together meals, serve meals by going out in the van, or both. No experience necessary. Volunteer at nationalchurch.org/ volunteerhub! For more information, contact Rev. Dottie Yunger. *3655 Calvert St., NW.

Front Desk Volunteer Needed

Have fun and meet nice people! Volunteer at the front desk! If you have a couple of hours to give on Wednesdays (9am to 5pm), please contact Princess Bethea, pbethea@nationalchurch.org or 202-363-4900, ext. 102.

The United Methodist Women The February Retreat “Journey Through the Psalms”

We held an extremely successful and well received retreat at PriestField Pastoral Center in WV. Our final count was 33 women; our leader was the dynamic, thought-provoking, and extremely affirming Dr. Denise Dombkowski Hopkins. We were sad that three individuals had to cancel shortly before our weekend: Connie Sommers (to attend a family memorial service); Margaret Patterson (incapacitated due to back injury) and Kelly D’Angelo (broken wrist). We held these women in prayer and in spirit! Thanks to a creative ice breaker activity, there may be a future group trip to the country of Iceland in the offing. ~ Suzanne Vieth, Retreat Coordinator 2016 Women’s Retreat participants

United Methodist Women Spring Great Day of Service Saturday, April 16

The UMW Service Day is tentatively set for Saturday, April 16. Some of the projects contemplated are: Volunteering at the DC Diaper Bank warehouse; Working the Saturday shift at the Campus Kitchen Ministry at St. Luke's, Playing Wii bowling with residents of a local senior citizens residence, and Creating a teddy bear brigade for the Wendt's Center's grief camp for kids. More details to follow, but please plan to be with us on this Great Day of Service, April 16.

5

Caring Ministries Life Transitions: Chronic Illness and Caregiving Wednesday, March 16, 7pm, Fireplace Room

Both those experiencing chronic illness and the people who are caregivers are invited to join our support group.

Contacts: Susan Roach, susanroach2@gmail.com and Nancy Cherney, nancy@nutritionmattersnow.com.

Weekly Meditation Practice Wednesday, March 16, 9am, Sanctuary

Nurture a sense of inner peace, calm and balance with guided and walking meditation. All are welcome. Meets every Wednesday at 9am. Contact: Mary Jo Marchant, mjmarchant@verizon.net.

Lunch and More The Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer Thursday, March 17, Noon, Great Hall

Join special guest, Jane B. Ward, OD, MD, MPH, as she shares her interest in the “Blue Zones.” Dan Buettner’s book, The Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer and the website, bluezones.com are terrific study guides for exploring several long-lived areas around the globe known as Blue Zones (see inset at right for more information). Jane will highlight the lifestyle, diet, outlook, spiritual life, and stress-coping practices that seem to add years to life and life to years of citizens in these communities which have high percentages of active, healthy centenarians. Contacts: Phyllis Kokus, PKokus@ aol.com and Mary Jo Marchant, mjmarchant@verizon.net.

Gentle Yoga with Cathryn Ellen Pethick Thursday, March 17, 4pm, Great Hall

All* are invited to explore basic yoga movements and “poses” (asanas) to help us be more conscious of our body and mental condition, and to stretch, strengthen, and improve balance. Eight classes/ $100; seniors (65+)/ $80; drop-in fee $15/class. To register contact Cathryn, cathryn@yogawell-being.com or 301-946-7045/301-6423889. *The ability to get up and down from the floor is necessary for this class; you may use a chair to do so, if needed. Sponsored by Metropolitan’s Congregational Care Committee.

Prayer Shawl Ministry Sunday, March 20, 12:30pm, Parlor

Come and enjoy a time of needlecraft, fellowship, ministry and fun! If you are interested in joining, contact Barbara Tate, Bdtate@verizon.net.

March AARP Meeting Monday, March 21, 1pm, Vestry

Join us as Ann Michel discusses the history of the Metropolitan Memorial Church and gives a guided tour.

Social time is at 12:30pm. Refreshments will be served.

Life Transitions: Creative Aging Wednesday, March 23, 7pm, Fireplace Room

Learn about aging well and creatively, as we share our own experiences about retirement and the challenges and opportunities in this life season. Meets every second and fourth Wednesday. Contacts: Susan Elliott, overlookzoo@ verizon.net and Ann Cochran, ann@annpcochran.com.

Life Transitions: End of Life/Bereavement Wednesday, April 6, 7pm, Fireplace Room

You are invited to a conversation about last things and how to prepare ourselves as we explore varying topics about end of life through film, articles, poetry, and education.

Join us as we view the DVD “A Family Undertaking” which describes how to care for our dead at home. Meets the first Wednesdays of the month. Contact: Drema McAllisterWilson, dwilson@nationalchurch.org or 202-363-4900, ext.

104.

Sunday Educational Forum Wally and Elizabeth Moore: How They Survived and Thrived After a Life-Changing Accident Sunday, April 17, 12:30pm, Great Hall

Several years ago, Wally Moore had an accident that required months of rehabilitation at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC. He and his wife, Elizabeth, will share their personal experience of loss, coping, and finding a path to new ways of living. Come, ready to be inspired as you hear how personal challenges can be met head-on and life transformed. Light lunch provided.

Study Group Forming Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer Wednesdays, 10:15am, Great Hall

Metropolitan Memorial Wellness Team is forming a Dan Buettner’s “Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer” study group. To RSVP and reserve Blue Zones study guide, contact Janet Burkhart, janetburk@hotmail.com or Emily Best, mybeste17@comcast.net. Meets the first Wednesdays of the month. Drop-ins welcomed. See flyers in Wesley and Metropolitan foyers

Bishop Matthews Love Offering

Bishop Marcus Matthews, Bishop of our Baltimore Washington Conference, is retiring this year. The Bishop asked the Conference to honor his legacy by giving financial gifts in his and Mrs. Matthews' name to be used to construct a Health and Fitness Center at Africa University.

This gift is a Love Offering that will make a significant impact on present and future students at Africa University. Every gift - large or small - is appreciated.

Churches are encouraged to make a special appeal to support this Love Offering. A video resource is available and may be downloaded at bwcumc.org/love. The Conference website has a user-friendly portal that allows givers to give electronically. Visit bwcumc.org/love. Once on the site, you can give a personal gift. Checks may be mailed to: BWC Treasurer, c/o Bishop Matthews Love Offering, 11711 East Market Place, Fulton, MD 20759. If you are in the Mission Center, there is a giving "tree" with envelopes marked with different amounts to contribute.

6

Study at the Metropolitan Church Food for Thought Wednesday Evenings Dinner - 6pm, Vestry Classes - 7pm

Feed your mind, body and soul!

Community dinner: $8/person I Students pay what you can. RSVP at nationalchurch.org/foodforthought! For more information, contact Rev. Janet Craswell, jcraswell@nationalchurch.org or 202-363-4900, ext. 115. Classes include: Session 7: April 8, 13, 20, and 27 •

Bible Study: Romans. A theologically deep, complex book, Romans offers profound messages of God’s grace (Led by Bob Olson and Charlie Parker).

•

Topical Study: The Middle East: What is wrong, is there hope, and how can we help? With the pain of the recent events in Syria, Iraq, and Israel/Palestine, it can be hard to see a way forward in the Middle East.

Join us for a discussion led by area experts on Middle East politics, diplomacy, and the work of the church in the area (Led by Ken Longmyer, a retired Foreign Service officer whose postings included US vice-consul in Jerusalem and Rev. Doris Warrell, the former Field Director for Churches for Middle East Peace).

Racial Justice Task Force Wednesday, March 23, 7pm, Room 204

The Racial Justice Task Force (an informal working group) welcomes those who would like to join our discussions, during Food for Thought on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. Contact: Maynard Moore, emaynard8@yahoo. com.

"Meal from Below" Bible Study Wednesdays, 7pm Wesley Library*

Are you Hungry? Join us for “Meal from Below,” a 40 week shared journey centered on the words of Jesus when he “took the bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said, ‘this is my body given for you, do this in remembrance of me.’” In the same way, we too are taken, blessed, broken, given and spoken in God’s love – that we might become instruments of peace in a hurting world. As we journey together we will also rely on St. Ignatius’s form of prayer called the Examen as an anchor and model for prayer, discernment and action.

Contact: Duncan Wilson, duncanscottwilson@yahoo.com. *5312 Conn. Ave., NW.

Children’s Ministries VBS - Register Now! July 11-15 Join us for a week of music, arts and crafts, games and Bible storytelling.

Metropolitan’s VBS is geared toward kids age 4 to rising 5th graders. Rising 6th graders may enroll and serve as junior counselors. The program runs from 9am till Noon and costs just $75. We’ll offer an extended day option (till 3pm), at an additional cost of $100, if we have a sufficient number of registrations by April 1.VBS kicks off with a family event, including a pot-luck dinner, on Sunday evening July 10.

Vacation Bible School is open to all. This year’s program, Abundance Orchard, focuses on the Hebrew Bible’s stories of food and faith and aligns with Metropolitan’s effort to help end hunger in our city. Register now at nationalchurch.org/ vbs!

Metropolitan Memorial Nursery School Sand Box Summer Camp Four Full-Week Sessions Two Abbreviated Holiday-Week Sessions 9am - 12:30pm daily

Sand box Summer Camp is designed to provide a happy, exciting, and fun camp experience for children ages 3 through 5. Experienced Metropolitan Nursery School staff will provide a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities, with time to explore, play and make friends. Weekly music and movement as well as other special programs are also provided. Children enjoy daily water play on our shaded playground. A morning snack is provided and children bring their own lunch except on special lunch days. Tuition for summer camp is $250 for each full 1-week session and prorated for abbreviated sessions. Learn more at nationalchurch.org/Learning/summer_camp.

Youth Ministries Save the Date!

ASP Auction: April 24, 2016 ASP 2016 Trip: July 2-9

Join us for our annual Youth in Mission Auction! This year we will be celebrating 42 years of service in Appalachia through the Appalachia Service Project (ASP). Funds raised at this event will go towards supporting our high school students on ASP and our middle school students on Youth 4 the DC Cause. Your generous support allows us to offer these experiences for no cost to our tweens and teens. For more information, contact Patrick Landau, Director of Youth Ministries, plandau@nationalchurch.org or 202363-4900, ext. 112.

Our 2015 ASP Team in Tennessee

7

Our Mission: Building an inclusive, caring Christian community that invites all into a deepening relationship with God and challenges all of us to grow as disciples, seeking justice and joy for the transformation of the world.

Our Vision: Extending radical hospitality, transforming lives, and pursuing justice.

Reconciling Statement: Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church affirms that all individuals are of sacred worth without regard to race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, education, marital circumstances, economic status, physical and mental condition, or criminal history. We declare ourselves in support of the reconciling movement and welcome the full participation in the church of gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered persons and their families, as a reflection of God’s unconditional love. At the same time, we recognize differences of opinion on issues of sexuality and seek to journey together in faith toward greater understanding and mutual respect.

Pastoral and Administrative Staff - 3401 Nebraska Avenue, NW, DC - 202.363.4900 www.nationalchurch.org - Pastoral Emergency Number - 202.510.8555 Rev. Dr. Charles Parker –– Senior Pastor, ext. 108, cparker@nationalchurch.org Rev. Kate Payton — Associate Pastor, Sharing, Lead Pastor at Wesley UMC, ext. 110, kpayton@nationalchurch.org Rev. Dottie Yunger –– Associate Pastor, Service/Advocacy, ext. 111, dyunger@nationalchurch.org Rev. Drema McAllister-Wilson — Minister of Congregational Care, ext. 104, dwilson@nationalchurch.org Rev. Janet Craswell—Director of Christian Education, ext. 115, jcraswell@nationalchurch.org Princess Bethea — Office Coordinator, ext. 102, pbethea@nationalchurch.org Bruce Caviness — 11a.m. Organist-Choirmaster, ext. 152, bcaviness@nationalchurch.org Jeff Clouser — Director of IT and Communications, ext. 113, jclouser@nationalchurch.org Dona Collary — Pastoral Care Assistant/Wedding and Funeral Coordinator, ext. 106, dcollary@nationalchurch.org Patrisha House — Director of Worship, Music and Arts, ext. 114, phouse@nationalchurch.org Patrick Landau — Director of Youth Ministries/AU Campus Ministries, ext. 112, plandau@nationalchurch.org Bill Potts –– Executive Director of Operations, ext. 101, wpotts@nationalchurch.org Rafael Reyes — Director of Building and Grounds, ext. 116, rreyes@nationalchurch.org Helen Simon — Executive Assistant to Dr. Parker, ext. 109, hsimon@nationalchurch.org Linda Smith — Director of Nursery School, 202.362.8746, lsmith@nationalchurch.org

The Messenger is published by The Metropolitan Church - A Multi-site United Methodist Community Metropolitan Memorial - 3401 Nebraska Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20016 Tel: 202.363.4900 St. Luke’s Mission Center (3655 Calvert St., NW)/Wesley UMC (5312 Conn. Ave., NW) Fax: 202.686.2056 E-Mail: jclouser@nationalchurch.org website: nationalchurch.org

NEXT ISSUE: April 11, 2016

NEXT DEADLINE: Noon on April 5, 2016