The Messenger
May 12, 2014 Volume XXIV, No. 5 Nationalchurch.org
Metropolitan Volunteer Team Serves in South Africa
Some of the team members are pictured here following their April 26th commissioning service. This year’s VIM trip participants are: Carol Bartlett Princess Bethea Keith Boucher
Good Shepherd UMC, Haverhill, MA
Arlester Brown Rebecca Evans Beverly Fleming Patricia House Karen Howard Karen and Allan Kostreba Wesley UMC, Vienna, VA
Ruffin Maddox Ann Michel Justin Settlage Kevin Walter Dottie Yunger Phillip Yunger
On May 9, a sixteen-member VIM team departed for two weeks of mission work and cross-cultural engagement in South Africa. The main focus of the team’s work will be at the Bokamoso Centre in Winterveldt, a township outside of Pretoria. The Centre works with at-risk youth providing life-skill training, career mentoring, and scholarships for college or vocational school. We have been blessed at Metropolitan Church to be in relationship with the Bokamoso Centre over many years. Youth from Bokamoso Bokamoso Youth perform have visited Metropolitan annually sharing their sto- at Metropolitan Memorial ries and struggles through amazing music and performances. This trip will strengthen this ongoing relationship. In addition to participating in the Centre’s work with youth, the team will bring a Vacation Bible School to thirty five preschoolers at Bokamoso’s daycare center, paint the exterior of the Centre’s main building, work in the community garden, and volunteer at a nearby hospice and AIDS clinic. Later, in Johannesburg, the group will take part in an outreach and feeding ministry called “Paballo Ya Batho” (Caring for the People) that serves that city’s large population of refugees, mostly from Zimbabwe. The team has raised funds to support this work and an additional $10,000 to help purchase a much-needed van for the Bokamoso Centre. Thanks go to all who have supported this mission through their generosity and gifts! The team is a diverse, inter generational group representing Metropolitan, Wesley, and Crossroads/St. Luke’s and also includes three individuals who have joined the effort from other United Methodist Churches. The team asks for your prayers during their travels and looks forward to sharing with you upon their return. Follow their adventures at nationalchurch.blogspot.com! Blessings,
AND THE
Spirituality and the Arts - June Sermon Series with Guest Pastor Rev. Chris Holmes
Join us in June as Rev. Chris Holmes (son of former Senior Pastor at Metropolitan Memorial, Rev. Dr. William Holmes) leads a preaching series on Spirituality and the Arts from June 15 to July 6. On the Sundays of June 15, June 22, June 29, and July 6, Chris will explore with us the intersection of Spirituality and the Arts, Art and Sacred Design, the Art of Movement, and the Art of Pottery. On the Wednesday nights following these Sunday sermons, Chris has planned some wonderful, hands-on programs that will reflect the theme of spirituality and the arts. These are intended to be inter generational and interactive, and will include the creation of a mural of creation on moveable panels. No artistic skills are required and all are welcome!