METROPOLITAN CHURCH
A MULTI-SITE UNITED METHODIST COMMUNITY
Metropolitan Memorial 9am - Worship (Dayspring Choir and Children’s Sermon) 10am - Coffee/Fellowship 10:10am - Children & Youth Sunday School 10:30am - Worship (Chancel Choir, Organ and Children’s Sermon) 10:30am - Adult Study Wesley (5312 Connecticut Ave., NW) Rockin’ Gospel Choir 11am - Musical Prelude 11:15am - Worship Service For questions about Worship, contact Pat House, phouse@ nationalchurch.org. For questions about the Christian education program, contact Rev. Janet Craswell, Director of Christian Education, jcraswell@nationalchurch.org.
September 12, 2016 Volume XXVI, No. 9 Nationalchurch.org
The Messenger After 47 years, Metropolitan Nursery School’s Miss Donna Waves So Long After 47 years as a teacher at Metropolitan Nursery School, nearly as long as the school has been around, Donna Parzow will retire at the end of this school year, providing generations of children their first experience of school. It's not a decision she made easily but knows this is the right time to start a new chapter in her life. "So many moms have said to me, 'you taught me and I would love it if you stayed to teach all of my children.' I could stay until I'm 100 and everyone would say that," she said. "Miss Donna" as she has been known to hundreds of two and three year olds, has taught a roll call of Washington elites such as the grandchildren of former House Speaker Thomas Phillip "Tip" O'Neill and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. She even counts Fox anchorman Brit Hume as one of her former students as well as the offspring of a number of diplomats, including ones from Oman who presented her with a puppy at the end of the school year many years ago. It has always been Parzow's calming style that made an impression on parents panicked at the thought of dropping their kids off at nursery school for the very first time. "Miss Donna was the perfect entree to school from home," said Helen Simon, a longtime member of Metropolitan, whose son Christopher, like many children of the congregation, was one of Miss Donna's many pupils. Donna started with Metropolitan after working as a substitute teacher at the school, encouraged by fellow congregation member Phyllis Kokus, who at the time also taught at the school. Parzow has always had a gift for nurturing little ones. As an only child, her mom would often ask her daughter: where do you get your love of children? "When I was growing up, I couldn't wait for my aunts to have kids, so I could hold them," Parzow said (Continued on page 2).
Sunday, September 25, 4pm, Metropolitan Memorial’s Sanctuary Join the Metropolitan Church community and hundreds of thousands of people across the US in raising our voices in song on this one day to raise awareness for gun violence prevention. At three national concerts – in NYC, LA and Santa Barbara - and in hundreds of smaller concerts in villages, towns and cities all across the country - victims of gun violence will be remembered and voices for universal background checks will be raised. Learn more at concertacrossamerica.org. If you want to sing out AND do more, please consider joining Metropolitan Church’s Gun Violence Prevention (GVP) group, a new group of members discerning ways to take actionable steps that could move the needle toward common sense gun law legislation. For more information, contact Lois Weaver, lois.weaver@gmail.com.
Life at the Metropolitan Church (Continued from page 1) That nurturing side is evident to anyone who has visited Miss Donna's classroom of 47 years, Room 102, where she currently teaches two sets of twoyear-olds during the school year. "As a whole I can reasonable say, I have never been a person who raises her voice. I can be firm, but I don't have to yell at them." The kids are emotional wrecks when they first start to transition at the start of the school year, reluctant to separate from parents and caregivers. "In a week or two, I have them all calmed down," she said. Linda Smith, the nursery school director for the past eight years, agrees. "Donna has a natural gift for loving and caring for the very young. She genuinely respects who they are, understands them, and she cares for them. She is so patient," Smith said. During the school year, Miss Donna works to instill good manners in the children so that they learn to say "please" and "thank you." In addition, she teaches them discipline methodically, by talking to a misbehaving child three times before a time out is warranted. Her favorite time of her day is the early morning drop off when she gets to sit with a small number of children. "It's a little extra time with the kids. I enjoy sitting with them, listening to their day, and what they're going to do when they get home." In recent years, that has been especially important to Parzow, whose son Brian, died six years ago. The kids, she said, kept her going. And the Metropolitan community surrounded her with love and financial gifts to support Parzow's granddaughter. Retirement has meant new beginnings. She and Howard, her husband of 29 years, recently moved to Frederick and are building a house. She helps with her husband's auction business and will continue with two therapy dog efforts, one that supports senior citizens, and another in which she meets with children who struggle to read. Still, when Metropolitan's doors open up for the first time in the school year Monday, Parzow anticipates a difficult year ahead because it will be the last. "It's going to be a hard year for me, knowing I'm not coming back," Parzow said. The nursery school marked its 50 years this fall, with a picnic on Sunday, September 11. They will also have a gala celebration on October 20. At the picnic, the nursery school held a groundbreaking of planned improvements to the church playground. In addition, current and alumni nursery school families are invited to write a note of thanks and remembrance for Parzow, with the collection being presented to her at a later time. Please drop off or mail your note and remembrance to the church office, attention Nursery School. ---Anita M. Seline Playground Improvements Planned After nearly 20 years of use, the church playground will get a major overhaul, under plans of the Metropolitan Nursery School, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Innovations in playground design present an opportunity to improve the playground for our nursery school students, congregation, and the community. Planners have met with three playground designers over the past several months to field suggestions. One major improvement will be to replace the large playscape at the center of the playground. Parts of the piece are becoming worn and rusty. In addition, planners hope to replace the storage shed, which holds much of the playground equipment but also reduces sight lines on the playground. Some smaller sheds, in which children can help their teachers pack and unpack, will be added. Finally, the sandbox will get some needed improvements including enlarging the sandbox area and installing better borders. Construction will take about three to four weeks, once designs are selected and fundraising completed. The project is expected to cost about $50,000. The nursery school spring fundraiser has already raised about one-third of the funds needed. Groundbreaking for the playground work was celebrated on Sunday, September 11 at the church picnic.
2
Life at the Metropolitan Church Staff-Parish Relations Committee Congregational Feedback Submissions Due by September 26 Each fall, as required by our Conference, the StaffParish Relations Committee (SPRC) evaluates the performance of our clergy and makes a recommendation to the Bishop as to whether each clergy should be reappointed. The Bishop considers this recommendation, along with other factors, in deciding whether to reappoint a clergy member. SPRC encourages members of the congregation to provide feedback directly to our clergy throughout the year, and it also welcomes congregation input as part of this evaluation process. Members of the congregation may write the Chair of SPRC, Julian Blair, in care of The Metropolitan Church (there is a SPRC “box” in the church office mail room), or they may write to or talk with any member of the SPRC with feedback concerning Rev. Dr. Charles Parker, Rev. Drema McAllister-Wilson, and Rev. Janet Craswell. While the SPRC will not consider any unsigned letters, it will respect and agree to requests for confidentiality. Please contact the SPRC to have your feedback concerning any clergy considered as part of this year’s evaluation process. Members of the SPRC are: Julian Blair (Chair), jblair@jebmarketing.com, Suzanne Vieth (Vice Chair), msvieth@verizon.net, Glen Lauber, Helene Lilly, Beth Peters, Joyce Shields and Derek Willis. Exploring a Trip to the Holy Land October 2, 1pm, Great Hall During our sermon series on Islam, in the context of Pilgrimages, Charlie Parker noted that Christians did not undertake pilgrimages in the same way as our Islamic brothers and sisters, and he invited folks to contact him if they were interested in being part of a trip to the Holy Land. Several folks contacted him, and the next step is a meeting on October 2 at Metropolitan Memorial. This meeting will be to explore the possibility of such a trip and what that might look like. We won’t be asking for a commitment at this point, just gauging interest. If you are interested in the trip but can’t make the meeting, please send an e mail to Charlie Parker, cparker@nationalchurch.org. Metropolitan Book Club Monday, September 19, 7:30pm, Parlor Join us as Regula Guess leads our discussion of Tom Gjelten’s, Nation of Nations. This war correspondent tells the stories of immigrants who came to the US from Bolivia, Libya, Korea, and El Salvador. Contacts: Joan Topalian, topajoan62045@gmail.com or Suzanne Clewell, reader1021@aol.com.
Square Dance Friday, September 30,7pm, Vestry The Arts Council is reviving a tradition at Metropolitan Memorial – square dancing! Square dancing came to America from England and France and other parts of Europe and has developed in this country into a regional style of the dance. There have been many changes from the original “hoedown.” For example, each square of four couples had a caller who stood in the middle of the square. However, when the microphone was developed, only one “caller” was necessary. And each caller has his own style. Square Dancing has been a part of American “popular culture” as the country grew, particularly in the West. In rural communities, where farms were far apart and there was not much in the way of organized entertainment, the square dance was popular. If someone needed a new barn, the farmers organized to do the job at hand and then had a square dance to finish off the weekend! However, at the beginning of the twentieth century, square dancing was dying out. New forms of entertainment pushed the old-fashioned square dance to the edges of popular culture. However, Henry Ford wanted to revive square dancing as an antidote to “the evils of jazz.” He brought dancing instructors to Dearborn to learn square dancing and then he sponsored square dance programs in many public schools, colleges, and universities. He even funded a Sunday radio program that was broadcast nationwide. The dances were printed in the paper the previous week and then “called” by Benjamin Lovett who was invited to Dearborn for a season and stayed for 26 years! Thomas Edison, a good friend of Ford’s, produced 78 rpm records under his own Edison label. Then, in the post-World War II era, the modern square dance enjoyed another revival with millions of participants. One reason: many GIs had learned to square dance in the USOs! When they returned to the U.S., they were looking for cheap and fun entertainment. And, after spending time in other cultures, what was more “American” than square dancing! FUN FACTOID - Did you know the square dancing has been our “official national folk dance” since 1982 when President Reagan signed an act of Congress? If you want to brush up on your “swing your partner”, there are several videos on YouTube, such as, but not limited to youtube.com/watch?v=0rIK3fo41P4. You won’t want to miss a chance to swing your partner, so join us on September 30! Cowboy boots and swishy skirts with lots of petticoats are optional, of course, but welcome! For more information, contact Kelly D'Angelo, kellysclothes@aol.com or Pat Simpich, pat. simpich@verizon.net.
3
The Arts at the Metropolitan Church Mighty Music This Month Sunday, September 18 3pm, Sanctuary On Sunday, September 18, the fine pianist Carlos Rodriguez will perform two major sonatas, Beethoven’s “Hammerklavier” and Liszt’s “Grand Sonata.” The Arts Council is co-sponsoring this concert with Levine Music. Tickets: $15 in advance online (levinemusic.org/events), $20 at the door; free to Levine students. A light post-concert reception will be held in the Great Hall. Jazz@wesley Saturday, September 24 6:30pm, Wesley* Jazz@wesley celebrates Latin Heritage Month with guest Origem Band (The Lucini Brothers).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 nonperishable food item to jazz up someone else’s life. *5312 Connecticut Ave., NW.
The Arts Council Metropolitan UMCMonth Presents Crafts andofArt: SignMemorial Up This The Arts Council invites creative congregants from Congregational Craft and Art Metropolitan Memorial and Wesley toShow show their work in the Congregational Crafts and Art Show, to be held On October 23, the Arts Council will celebrate the 30th in the Great Hall October 23.a Congregational We’re interested in anniversary of itson founding by sponsoring Craft and Art We want to showfabrics, off talents both known knitting, displaying work inShow. all mediums: jewelry, and unknown in the Metropolitan and Wesley congregations. crocheting, embroidery, wood carving or fabrication, Among the handmade things we want to display are: fabrics, baskets, photos, paintings, drawings, glass, ceramics, knitting, crocheting, wood carving or fabrication, weaving jewelry, -and this is not a complete list. Items to be photos, paintings, drawings, glass, ceramics, baskets, weaving -hung on and walls can be left in place for fewif weeks, this is not a complete list. Things don't have to bea recent: you made a nice pot or pieces scarf a decade or sobe ago,on showview it. Itemsfor just a but three-dimensional will that can be hung on walls will be left in place for a few weeks, single day. but the three-dimensional things can be shown for only a single
day. That will mean fromis 10am to 6pm on Sunday, October 23, to know The sign-up deadline October 2. We’d like with a concert break from 3pm to 4:30pm. the medium, approximate size, and number of items, If you have any questions,e-mail contact Arts Council members as well as your name, address, and telephone Carol Schleicher (rschlei@verizon.net) or Marilu Wood number. (shedelwood@gmail.com), Please send your info to; Carol Schleicher, or Carol Griffith rschlei@verizon.net; Marilu Wood, shedelwood@ (carolgriffith33@hotmail.com), Arts Council chairman. gmail.com; or Carol Griffith, carolgriffith33@hotmail. com. Don’t have email? Call us at: Carol S. (301-229Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church 2385), Marilu (202-667-3620), 3401 Nebraska Avenue NW / Washington Carol DC 20016 G. (202-9663287). 202-363-4900 / www.nationalchurch.org
Jazz@WESLEY: Celebrating Six Years From all of us at Jazz@Wesley, a HUGE Thank-You for joining us on August 27 to help us celebrate Six Years of bringing jazz to Upper Northwest DC! The Greater U Street Jazz Collective was joined by vocalists Andre Enceneat and long-time friend, Luci Murphy. We had one of our biggest audiences ever, and needed to pull out a few extra tables, and a lot of extra chairs! It was a wonderful feeling to welcome so many longtime friends and new acquaintances into our church house. We were especially happy to see so many of our friends from the Metropolitan Memorial community enjoying the music and a fantastic home-cooked meal. We’ve come so far since we first had the idea of hosting a monthly musical event in our fellowship hall. That idea was formed in response to a challenging question put to the church some years back: “Who in the community would miss Wesley if it were gone?” So we created this way of meeting our neighbors and making new friends. At first, we didn’t have the resources to bring in outside acts. In those early months, we had our own Wesley Combo as the only musical act. But as we started getting regular patrons, we could sometimes invite a local musician to join the Combo as the evening’s special musical guest. Now, Jazz@Wesley hosts well-regarded jazz groups every month. Our venue has developed a reputation as a good place to play. The musicians like its acoustics. And the fact that we’re not a bar or a club means that patrons really want to listen to the music. We wanted to build community around Wesley, and it’s turned out we’ve built two communities. The first are the patrons who come to hear the music and to eat a tasty meal or special dessert. Now there are so many neighborhood friends who would not miss our 4th Saturday events! The second is the community of musicians who enjoy the venue. The word is out in the jazz community, and now we have musicians who call to inquire whether their bands can come to play at Wesley. We are so grateful for all of you who have helped make this such a successful monthly community event all these years.
4
Study at the Metropolitan Church
Food for Thought Wednesdays, 6pm - Dinner I 7pm - Class Feed your body, mind and soul. Community dinner available at 6pm, $8/person. College students pay what you can. Questions? Contact Rev. Janet Craswell, jcraswell@nationalchurch.org. Classes include: • Bible Study: Race in the Bible. Come explore race and ethnicity in the Bible using the writings of prominent African-American theologians. Led by Rev. Dr. Charlie Parker and Bob Olson • Topical Study: Life Transitions in Contemporary Drama. Join us as we read excerpts from dramas that explore life transitions. Plays include: The Cherry Orchard, by Anton Chekov (9/14), The Price, by Arthur Miller (9/21), Wit, by Margaret Edson (9/28), and Racing Demon, by David Hare (10/5). Led by Dr. Fredericka Nolde Berger and Conrad Berger.
Let’s Read the Bible (Hosted by Bob Benn) Sundays, 10:30am, Metropolitan’s Library It’s the best-selling book of all time, yet how many of us have actually read it? The Bible is actually a “library” of 66 books, with over 31,000 verses, and it can be a daunting prospect to consider reading. So, we are here to help you. Beginning with the first verse of Genesis, and taking our time in the coming months, to continue through to the final verse of Revelation, we will gather together to read the Bible, in community, and out loud! You are welcome to attend as your schedule allows, although we urge people to attend as regularly as possible. There are no homework assignments, nor papers to write – just a willingness to join with others to read the book we have all put off reading because we didn’t know how or where to start. Each Sunday’s reading will conclude with a brief Question and Answer session, led by Jon and Lisa White and Bob Olson.
Covenant Begins Thursday, September 22, 7pm, Wesley* COVENANT is an in-depth group Bible study in which participants read and discuss the Bible together, learning how to love God – and each other – better. The 24-week experience covers all the books of the Bible as participants move back and forth from Hebrew Bible to New Testament. Covenant Bible Study shows the interconnectedness of scripture while demonstrating how the covenant relationship between God and people is woven though the entire Bible. The course is divided into three separate 8-week sessions, so you commit to only 8 weeks at a time. Classes meet Thursdays, 7-8:30pm, beginning September 22, at Wesley in the Wesley Room. For more information, contact Rev. Janet Craswell at 202-363-4900, ext. 115 or jcraswell@nationalchurch.org. *5312 Connecticut Avenue NW. Adult Study - Sundays, 10:30am Inspired Parenting. Open to parents with kids of all ages, this class offers a safe space to share parenting challenges and joys. Contact: Caralee Adams, caralee.adams@verizon.net. Let’s Read the Bible. It’s the best-selling book of all time, yet how many of us have actually read it? Beginning this Fall, with the first verse of Genesis, and taking our time in the coming months, to continue through to the final verse of Revelation, we will gather together to read the Bible, in community, and out loud! Each Sunday’s reading will conclude with a brief Question and Answer session, led by Jon and Lisa White and Bob Olson. Hosted by Bob Benn. Contact: Bob Benn, rjb2graphicdesign@yahoo.com. Questions of Faith. Lecture and Discussion: “Jesus and His Jewish Influences.” Join us as we search for a more complete comprehension of Jesus’s legacy. The DVD is close captioned so all can enjoy. Contact: Diane Moody, billanddianemoody@comcast.net. Science & Religion Class. Lecture and Discussion: “Art, Science and Theology.” The class is beginning a focus on “Art, Science and Theology.” We begin by considering a common feature, perhaps even a pre-requisite: language. Our resource is the recent article: “Why Only Us? Language and Evolution.” Dr. Maynard Moore will lead this discussion. Material available for visitors. Contacts: Maynard Moore, emaynard8@yahoo.com or Kent Weaver, kenthweaver@gmail.com. 5
Serving at the Metropolitan Church Meet Our New Staff Serving Pillar Coordinator We welcome Stephanie Quammen as our new Serving Pillar Coordinator. Stephanie is from Oklahoma, where she was an active member of the Oklahoma Annual Conference. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern Oklahoma State University-Alva, and has worked for the university and for the Oklahoma Annual Conference. Stephanie is currently a Global Mission Fellow of the United Methodist Church General Board of Global Ministries. She loves reading, exercising, and coffee. If you are interested in volunteering with the Serving Pillar please contact Stephanie at squammen@nationalchurch.org or telephone: 202-3634200, ext. 111. Campus Kitchen Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 4pm - 7pm Saturday., 10am - 1pm, St. Luke’s Mission Center* Help make meals and recover donated produce and protein we receive from local food operators. Volunteer at nationalchurch.org/volunteerhub! *3655 Calvert St., NW.
Serve Now!
Sign up for our many service activities with our online volunteer scheduling system at nationalchurch.org/servenow.
Grate Patrol - Many Opportunities to Serve! September 25, 10am, Vestry September 26, 6:30pm, St. Luke’s Mission Center* On Sunday at 10am, help make sandwiches and prepare meal bags in the Vestry at Metropolitan Memorial. On Monday at 6:30pm, volunteers are needed at the St. Luke’s Mission Center to load additional meals prepared by Campus Kitchen into the Salvation Army van and distribute them throughout downtown DC. To volunteer to put together meal bags on Sunday, come to the Vestry or, if a group, contact Anita Seline, amseline@aol.com. If you can go out on the van Monday night, contact William Schofield, wmschofield@aol.com. *3655 Calvert St., NW. October 2, 6pm, St. Luke’s Mission Center* Help assemble meals (provided by our Campus Kitchen Program) in to-go containers, load meals into the Salvation Army van and distribute them throughout the city. You can volunteer for one or all opportunities. No experience necessary. Volunteer at nationalchurch. org/volunteerhub! *3655 Calvert St., NW Monthly Financial Summary Report To view our monthly “Finance and Trustees” report go to nationalchurch.org/ financialsummary. In the report, you will be able to see the summary of where we are for the month with regards to the church’s budget as well as a listing and updates of active Board of Trustees projects. If you have any questions, please contact Bill Potts in the church office, wpotts@nationalchurch.org or 202363-4900, ext. 101.
Thanks to the installation of bottle fill stations at two of our water fountains, Metropolitan has now kept more than 15,000 bottles from going to landfills.
Check out our blog! Read up on what’s happening at The Metropolitan Church and discover what’s on the minds of our Ministers and congregation members! Visit nationalchurch.blogspot.com today! 6
Caring Ministries Lunch and More Thursday, September 15, Noon, Great Hall A New Year! A New Season of Friendship! Join the Lunch and More Crowd for lunch, a bridge game, a board game or a movie! This month’s movie is the 2016 Academy Award’s Best Picture, “Spotlight.” Come and enjoy a great movie, friends and good food! If you committed to bringing a game, please don’t forget. Bring a friend! Contacts: Phyllis Kokus, pkokus@aol.com and Mary Jo Marchant, mjmarchant@verizon.net. Prayer Shawl Ministry Sunday, September 18, 11:45am, Parlor Come and enjoy a time of fellowship, ministry and fun! If you are interested in joining, contact Barbara Tate, Bdtate@verizon.net. September AARP Meeting Monday, September 19, 1pm, Vestry Please join us as DC Archaeologist Ruth Trocolli discusses the history and archaeology in the Tenleytown/AU neighborhood as well as the Yarrow Mamout site in Georgetown and other investigations. Social time is at 12:30pm. Refreshments will be served. Weekly Meditation Practice Wednesdays, 9am, Sanctuary New comers welcome! Nurture a sense of inner peace, calm and balance with guided and walking meditation. Contact: Mary Jo Marchant, mjmarchant@verizon.net. Gentle Yoga with Cathryn Ellen Pethick Thursdays 4pm, Great Hall All are welcome to join our yoga practice. We practice standing, seated and reclining yoga poses, breath awareness exercises, and meditative relaxation. To register contact Cathryn, cathryn@yogawell-being. com or 301-946-7045/301-642-3889. Sponsored by the Congregational Care Committee.
Stephen Ministry Training Begins Tuesday, October 4, 7:30pm National Presbyterian Church* Stephen Ministers are congregation members who undergo fifty hours of training to offer care to people going through difficult times. Currently, we have seven Stephen Ministers who are offering caring and loving support. A new class is beginning this October on Tuesday evenings from 7:30pm – 9:30pm through April 11, 2017. If you want to explore more about this ministry, please be in touch with Rev. Drema McAllister-Wilson, Minister of Congregational Care, dwilson@nationalchurch.org or 202-363-4900, ext. 104. *4101 Nebraska Ave, NW. A Conversation About Loss and Hope October 2, 12:45pm – 3pm, Wesley’s Art Room Facilitator: Reverend Drema McAllister-Wilson Birth and death. One we anticipate and celebrate. The other we ignore as long as possible, until death comes into our lives. Despite being a part of the life cycle, death and grief remain shrouded in mystery and often confusion and fear. Woody Allen once said: “I’m not afraid of dying. I just don’t want to be there when it happens!” Can’t we relate? The topics of death and grief are ones many of us want to avoid. And yet, all of us live with the reality and the inevitability of dying and loss. Through presentation on the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of grief, we will enter into a conversation about the journey of loss. You are invited to an afternoon of exploring how we can address loss intentionally, compassionately, and mindfully. What does grief look like? What does grief feel like? How can grief transform us? During our time together, we will explore the depths of an experience that affects and challenges each of us so profoundly. If you would like to attend, please contact Pam Rogers, waterjugpr@ gmail.com or Drema McAllister-Wilson, dwilson@ nationalchurch.org or 202-363-4900, ext. 104.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Joanne and Dayton Coe on the birth of their granddaughter, Clara Catherine Vera Hutchins born on September 5. Our prayers go out to the family and friends of A. Wallace Moore, Jr., who died on August 16.
7
Children & Youth Ministries Children & Youth Sunday School The new Sunday school year means new friends, new classrooms, new chances to learn and grow! Join us Sundays this fall for Sunday School, 10:10am - 11am. Children and youth Sunday school classes are held at Metropolitan Memorial, and are timed so that kids may participate and still worship at either of the Metropolitan Memorial services (9am or 10:30am) or the Wesley service (musical prelude 11am, Worship at 11:15am). Children’s Ministry: Children from age 3 through 4th grade learn through Godly Play, a Montesorri-based technique that emphasizes Bible stories, wonder, questions, and creative play. Older kids and youth learn to express their faith through service and applying Christian principles to daily living. Contact: Rev. Janet Craswell, jcraswell@nationalchurch.org or 202-363-4900, ext. 115. Youth Ministry: All youth are invited to join us on Sunday mornings as our Middle School youth follow the Biblein-Life curriculum, walking them through important Biblical stories. Our High School youth participate in regular discussions shaped by their lives and current events. Contact: Patrick Landau, plandau@nationalchurch.org or 202-363-4900, ext. 112. Youth Choir Sundays, 11am Choir Room All Middle School and High School students are invited to join our Youth Choir. We’ll learn and perform music with a variety of styles and topics, traditional and current alike. All are encouraged Youth Blog to attend, and we welcome instrumentalists as well! Check out our youth blog at Rehearsals are from 11am – 11:45am on Sundays. youthmetropolitan.wordpress.com. Music is provided. For more information, contact Melissa Chavez, mchavez@nationalchurch.org.
Campus Ministries We Welcome AU Associate Chaplain for Community Engagement, Rick Sullivan Campus Ministries is excited to welcome Rick Sullivan, who is a recent graduate of the Master of Divinity program at Duke University Divinity School. Rick works with the American University United Methodist-Protestant Community as the Associate Chaplain for Community Engagement. The United Methodist Church's General Board of Global Ministries offered Rick this opportunity through the Global Mission Fellows US-2 Track of Generation Transformation. Rick grew up in Newark, DE, and went to the University of Delaware where he studied Italian, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, and Latin, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages and Literatures: Three Language Program with a minor in Ancient Greek and Roman Studies. President.
Rick spent his free time with the Wesley Foundation at UD and worked as a student intern, in addition to serving on the Student Officer Board as the Local Missions Chair and Vice
After graduating from UD, Rick went to Duke Divinity School in Durham. At Duke, he earned a Master of Divinity, with a Certificate in Theology, Medicine, and Culture. He completed several internships while studying at Duke and served as the Duke Summer intern at Faith UMC in Rural Hall, NC; Clinical Pastoral Education Intern at Christiana Health Care Systems in Newark, DE; Duke Intern at Raleigh Wesley Foundation in Raleigh, NC; and Duke Student Pastor at Mount Olivet UMC in Manteo, NC. Rick is a Certified Candidate for Ordained Ministry as a Deacon in the Peninsula Delaware Conference of The United Methodist Church. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about campus ministries, please contact Rick at rick@aumethodists.org. 8
The United Methodist Women United Methodist Sunday Sunday, September 25 Metropolitan Memorial will celebrate United Methodist Women on Sunday, September 25 in worship and at our annual Welcome Back Luncheon. T.C Morrow will be our preacher at both Metropolitan Memorial worship services, and Corrine Cannon will be our speaker at the luncheon. All members of the UMW are welcome to the luncheon that follows, as are any women who would like to learn more about the UMW. Prospective members are invited to be our guest! T.C.Morrow inspired many United Methodists this year as she courageously responded to her life-long call to ministry, seeking ordination, even though she is a married lesbian woman. Her candidacy was given serious consideration by the Baltimore Washington Conference Board of Ordained Ministry (BoOM), under the leadership of our own Charlie Parker. The BoOM recommended T.C.’s candidacy, but the Clergy Session of Annual Conference failed to approve the recommendation by a narrow margin (bwcumc.org/ clergy-vote-not-to-commission-deacon). Throughout the challenges of this process, T.C. maintained steadfast grace and gentleness in her response to negative comments made to and about her. T.C. continues her work at the National Religious Campaign Against Torture. She is well prepared to help us think about our congregational commitment to “pursuing justice” Corrine Cannon is the founder and director of the DC Diaper Bank. Our UMW began supporting the Diaper Bank nearly two years ago, as we came to understand that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is better known as Food Stamps, did not permit recipients to use Food Stamps for diapers or feminine hygiene products. In 2014, we held a Diaper Drive prior to our Recognition Luncheon, as part of our recognition of babies born to UMW members during that year. At Great Day of Service in March 2015, a team of UMW helped to bundle diapers at the warehouse, for distribution to families in need. That effort was followed by our “Red Tent” drive for feminine hygiene products that were distributed at one of our Campus Kitchen food distribution sites. Because one of the purposes of the UMW is to support local organizations that serve women and children, we made the Diaper Bank a primary recipient of the 2016 Book Sale, held in March of this year. As the speaker for our Welcome Back Luncheon, Corrine will share with us some of the many exciting developments in the expansion of the DC Diaper Bank.
Red Tent Revival The United Methodist Women revive the Red Tent Project this month to collect pads and tampons to support homeless women. Known euphemistically as "feminine protection products," pads and tampons are a basic necessity, though for women living in poverty, often too expensive to buy. Look for the red tent in the church foyer to drop your donations. The UMW started the Red Tent Project last year when it learned that organizers of a free meal program at Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church in NE DC discovered that the homeless and poor women eating at the twiceweekly program were reusing their feminine protection. The UMW decided to collect tampons and pads for the women and a carload of products were given to the meal program last fall. The title of the 1997 book by Anita Diamant, The Red Tent, refers to Old Testament times in which the women of the tribe of Jacob retreated to a red tent during their menstrual cycle where they found the support of sisters, mothers, and friends. The UMW will collect pads and tampons for the next several weeks, including Sunday, September 25, UMW Sunday. The donations will be shared with Mt. Vernon and the DC Diaper Bank, which distributes feminine protection products to their partner organizations such as Bread for the City, Bright Beginnings, Community of Hope and many others. Recognition Lunch Sunday , December 4, 12:30pm Each year the UMW of Metropolitan Memorial hold a Recognition Luncheon honoring women who have made a significant contribution to the church, the nation, and the world. This year the luncheon will be held on Sunday, December 4. We are currently seeking nominations of outstanding women to honor this year. Please submit nominations to Beverly Fleming at 703978-7654 or Beverly.fleming@gmail.com. UMW Bazaar Donations The United Methodist Women are accepting donations of gently-used items for their annual fall bazaar! You may drop off your contributions beside the UMW closet at any time. On Tuesdays, join us at 10am for our sorting and pricing sessions! The more, the merrier!
9
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. 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 Melissa Chavez — Dayspring Choir Director/9am Worship Leader/Youth Choir Director, ext. 151, mchavez@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 Pam Murdoch –– Finance Coordinator, ext. 103, finance@nationalchurch.org Bill Potts –– Executive Director of Operations, ext. 101, wpotts@nationalchurch.org Stephanie Quammen — Serving Pillar Coordinator, ext. 110, squammen@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 Non-Staff Ministry Partners Rick Sullivan — AU Associate Chaplain for Community Engagement, rick@aumethodists.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: October 17, 2016
NEXT DEADLINE: Noon on October 11, 2016