January 2017

January 9, 2017 Volume XXVII, No. 1 Nationalchurch.org

The Messenger

METROPOLITAN CHURCH

A MULTI-SITE UNITED METHODIST COMMUNITY

Food for Thought Resumes in February Join us on Wednesday evenings at Metropolitan Memorial as we nourish our bodies, minds and spirits with Food for Thought. Dinner is served from 6-7pm, only $8 per person. Then choose from either a short course on a topical issue or a Bible study. Classes run from 7 to 8:30pm.

Metropolitan Memorial

• 9am - 10am: Dayspring Worship Service (including the times for the Children’s Choirs that are currently in operation) • 9:45am - 11am: Coffee Hour (new time to accommodate adult study) • 10:05am – 10:55am: Sunday School for Children, Youth and Adults • 11am – 12pm: Chancel Worship Service (including an enrichment time for children and Youth Choir rehearsal)

Wesley

(5312 Connecticut Ave., NW) • 11am - Musical Prelude • 11:15am – Worship with a Rockin’ Gospel Choir • 12:30pm - More than Coffee Hour 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.

In February, Metropolitan’s Gun Violence Prevention team will offer a short course on “Gun Violence and our Communities.” This past year has seen strong interest and engagement by Metropolitan Church members in responding to the crisis levels of gun violence in our communities. This 4-session Food for Thought will involve explorations of the prevalence of gun violence and strategies for its prevention. We are inviting speakers with direct experiences with this epidemic.

• February 1 - Awareness: The extent of the problem and public policy responses • February 8 - Our Communities: Who is most impacted and what communities can do • February 15 - Policing: Its important role and what can go wrong • February 22 - Suicide: The fact that 2/3 of U.S. gun deaths are suicides Come to learn. Come to dialogue. Come to act.

In the Bible study, Rev. Charlie Parker and Bible study leader Bob Olson will offer something a little different this February: a study of the apocrypha. Have you ever noticed those strange little books in your study Bible that we never seem to read in church, and wondered why they are there? Ever wondered what happened between the time the last book of the Hebrew Bible was written and the first gospel appeared? The Apocrypha contains writings that are considered scripture by Catholic and some Orthodox Christians, but are not accepted as scripture by Protestants. Jesus would have known the stories of the Apocrypha, which mainly were written in the century or so before his birth. Come for a who, what, when, where, and why of the Apocrypha: • • • •

Who wrote it?

What’s in it?

Where and when was it written?

Why isn’t it in our scriptural canon? Why does it matter?

Whichever class you choose, Food for Thought will give you a mid-week boost of good food and good discussion.

See you there!

Janet Craswell

January Sermon Series: The Good News of Hamilton This January, we are spending the month exploring “Hamilton,” the phenomenally successful musical about the life of one of our nation’s founding fathers. Alexander Hamilton’s life -and the musical -- offer some wonderful opportunities to reflect on important faith issues and how we live out our faith in the world. We will be talking about how stories shape our community, how we say “good-bye” to important parts our life during transitions, how we commit ourselves fully to living out of our gifts, and how we go about the process of forgiveness. Our choirs are preparing some very special music for the month, so be sure to join us for this exciting series. And bring a friend!

Life at the Metropolitan Church When Gun Violence Spawns a Church Partnership

Brighter Day UMC and Metropolitan UMC have forged a connection inspired by the Book of Resolutions

by Rev. Dr. Charles A. Parker and Rev. Ernest D. Lyles, Sr. on December 08, 2016 If you look at a map of our nation’s capital, you will see advocates for Parkway Overlook. After the benediction, we that the distance between one multisite United Methodist walked as one congregation to the site of Parkway Overlook Church in Northwest Washington and another multisite around the corner, joined hands in a circle on the street, United Methodist Church in Southeast Washington is about and prayed for the future of this site. Over the last three 10 miles, and if you drove through the areas around those years, we have worked together and with the Washington churches, you would think that they are in different worlds: Interfaith Network to get the land released by HUD to the one affluent, largely white, and largely free of violence; the city and $16 million in city money pledged to begin Parkway other economically struggling, largely African American, Overlook’s redevelopment. and caught in the cross-hairs of ongoing violence, much of Over the years, the congregations have worked together it gun violence. on a variety of projects, including a Summer Academic As it considered the issue of gun violence, the 2016 Camp in the Brighter Day neighborhood, with a STEM General Conference of the United Methodist Church invited curriculum from a NASA grant and youth and adults from “congregations that have not experienced gun violence both parishes volunteering. We worked together on putting to form ecumenical and interfaith partnerships with faith together Thanksgiving baskets for the community; we did communities that have experienced gun violence in order pulpit exchanges; we held another joint affordable housing to support them and learn from their experiences,” and worship and rally on September 20, 2015; we provided the wisdom of that call can be seen in the transformative backpacks and coats to neighborhood children; Brighter partnership that has been forged between Brighter Day Day’s after-school program and Metropolitan’s Campus UMC in Southeast DC and Metropolitan UMC in Northwest Kitchen ministry have joined to provide tutoring and meals DC. to many at-risk children; and we have had wonderful social and community building events at all of the sites in our The partnership was born on a Sunday in July 2011 when multisite churches. the Metropolitan parish declared itself “Closed for Service,” foregoing its normal Sunday morning schedule to spend the Preventing gun violence as one body day in worship, fellowship, and service with brothers and sisters at Brighter Day UMC. Over the following five years, All of this work has deeply informed our understanding of we have continued to build relationships, worshipped, and gun violence. For Metropolitan members, gun violence was worked together on issues where we share a passion and a primarily an advocacy issue: passing legislation to reduce the number of guns on the streets and address sensible commitment to making a difference. policies for gun ownership. For Brighter Day members Parkway Overlook -- an abandoned public housing -- living in the midst of almost daily gun violence – the development in Southeast DC – is a good example of that issues involve supporting better education, housing, and work. The 266 units had been closed for many years and employment opportunities. We have come to understand its redevelopment had been stalled in endless haggling that meaningfully addressing gun violence prevention between DC and Federal agencies. Brighter Day was issues requires both perspectives, and a willingness to work adjacent to the property and had parishioners who had lived jointly for the wholeness (and holiness) of our communities. there and were committed to its reopening. Metropolitan brought its history and passion on homelessness issues to The partnership that has been formed has created a the battle, and the ability to make the project a cross-city strong bridge across those ten miles in Washington, DC, and has been life-changing for our communities of faith effort, opening up access to key city officials. and transformative for the neighborhoods that we serve.

Congregational partnerships lead to community presence We have come to trust and rely on each other – we have become family. We feel God’s call to us to minister to On June 30, 2013, both congregations gathered for a joint those who are most vulnerable, and we work together to worship service at Brighter Day. We were joined by many be God’s hands and feet in a city in desperate need. The community leaders, as well as then-DC Mayor Vincent Gray. gun violence statistics in DC are indeed daunting, but with The service had powerful music from both church’s choirs God’s help, transformation will happen. and moving testimony from former residents who are now

Contemplative Communion: Healing our Nation Thursday, January 19 at 7pm in the Sanctuary Join us for an evening of reflection and prayer prior to Inauguration Day.

Annual Commitment Campaign Faith as an Anchor Thank you to our many members and friends who have made their pledges. If you have not yet returned your pledge card, please mail it to the church office or put it in the offering plate. Pledge cards are in the attendance pads in the pews. Or, submit your 2017 pledge online at nationalchurch.org/Giving/Annual_Campaign. Your continuing generous support is vital to our church’s mission and ministries!

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Life at the Metropolitan Church Prayer Shawl Ministry Sunday, January 15, 12:15am, Parlor Come and enjoy a time of fellowship, ministry and fun! If you are interested in joining, contact Barbara Tate, Bdtate@ verizon.net.

Metropolitan Book Club Monday, January 16, 7:30pm, Parlor All readers are invited to come and discuss The Past by Tessa Hadley, a novel about a family visiting their relatives’ place in the countryside. Contacts: Joan Topalian, topajoan62045@gmail.com or Suzanne Clewell, reader1021@aol.com.

Covenant Bible Study Beginning, Thursday, January 26 7pm, Wesley Art Room* Join us for an in-depth group Bible Study that centers around our relationships with God, with each other, and with the world. Space is limited, so register today at nationalchurch.org/covenant. Contact: Janet Craswell, Director of Christian Education, jcraswell@nationalchurch. org. *5312 Connecticut Ave. NW. Men’s Breakfast Saturday, February 4 9am, St. Luke’s Mission Center * You are invited to enjoy a delicious breakfast prepared

by Chef Anthony of our Campus Kitchens Ministry. Enjoy fellowship with other Methodist men and discussion of topics relevant to our church and our faith. Please contact Dave Sproul at davesproul@aol.com if you plan to join us for breakfast. *3655 Calvert St.

Join the Hamilton Choir!

If you love to sing the music of Hamilton, come join the Hamilton Choir! Our choir is open to all ages and abilities. We offer a flexible once-a-week rehearsal schedule with options on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. On Sunday mornings in January our choir will sing at both services. If you've been thinking about joining our choirs at Metropolitan Memorial, this is a great opportunity to try us out! For more information, or to be added to the Hamilton mailing list, contact Melissa Chavez, Dayspring Choir Director, mchavez@nationalchurch.org.

Sermon Podcasts Were you unable to attend worship on Sunday? If you miss any of the sermons in our sermon series, you can listen to the audio version of the sermons on our website at nationalchurch.org/Praising/Sermons_ Podcasts.

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

Caring Ministries Lunch and More Thursday, January 19 Noon, Great Hall Join the Lunch and More Crowd for a pre-inauguration lunch, a bridge game, a board game or watch the movie, “Florence Foster Jenkins!” This comedy-drama tells the inspirational true story of a New York heiress, Florence, who obsessively pursued her dream of becoming a great singer. If you committed to bringing a game, please don’t forget. Also, bring a friend! Contacts: Phyllis Kokus, pkokus@aol.com and Mary Jo Marchant, mjmarchant@verizon.net.

Life Transitions: Healthy Coping Mechanisms Sunday, January 22, Noon, Great Hall When we are trying to cope with stress, it is easy to go unhealthy like over eating or over drinking. Join Louise Stewart as she discusses healthy coping mechanisms to incorporate when going through a stressful time. Louise is a Move-in Coordinator at Asbury Methodist Village and the daughter of members Charles and Alma Stewart. Light lunch included.

New Year, New You! 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 Join our yoga practice of standing, seated and reclining yoga poses, breath awareness exercises, and meditative relaxation. Contact: Cathryn, cathryn@yogawell-being. com or 301-946-7045/301-642-3889. Sponsored by the Congregational Care Committee.

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The Arts at the Metropolitan Church Jazz@wesley Saturday, January 28 6:30pm, Wesley* Jazz@Wesley presents “The Rick Alberico Jazz Project.” Saxophonist, Rick Alberico, has electrified audiences throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, North Africa, and the Caribbean. This charming musician and composer is now causing a stir in the D.C. region with his new group, performing straight-ahead jazz featuring a dynamic blend of bebop, blues, ballads, and original compositions. Rick is known for his unique sound and expressing the call of his soul through his horn with a powerful alto saxophone sound. Don’t miss this exciting night of music! 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.

Art Show Exhibition Reception: Art in Kibera Sunday, January 29, 4:30pm, Great Hall The exhibit “Art in Kibera,” impresses for its artistic merit and for the power in the images. The exhibit introduces Kibera, an informal settlement on the edge of Nairobi, Kenya, by means of original art work and photographs that present images of the community, the people who live there, and the art that they made.

The works in the show are by high school students, all “HIV/AIDS-affected,” and are the fruit of a two-week elective summer program begun by Margaret Halpin (pictured above) who is an Arts Council member and glass artist at Glen Echo Park, and her colleague Charles DeSantis of Georgetown University.

About 10 years ago, Margaret was attending a presentation about St. Aloysius Gonzaga High School, for “AIDSaffected” children in Kibera. She expressed an interest to the presenter in helping with the project. Coincidently an opening had just occurred in the annual Georgetownsponsored trip for staff and professors to visit the school and learn more about the socioeconomic challenges in the region. Thus the journey began.

Concert: Navy Band Brass Quartet Sunday, January 29, 3pm, Sanctuary The Navy Brass Is Coming! The Arts Council is happy to announce that one of our favorite ensembles, the Navy Band Brass Quartet, will be performing again at Metropolitan Memorial. No word yet on the program; we just know from experience that whatever they play, we the audience will love. You'll be glad to hear this joyful sound of two trumpets, a euphonium (a large, baritone-voiced brass instrument that derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning 'well-sounding'), and the tuba.

Following the concert, join us in the Great Hall for our Art Show Exhibition Reception: Art in Kibera Metro Players Pot Luck Saturday, February 11, 6:30pm, Vestry Inviting all the present Players, former Players, wantto-be Players and the curious, to a Metro Player’s Pot Luck. Whether your interest lies in acting, directing, costumes, props, staging, carpentry, lights, sound and more, there is a place for you. We’ll spend some time reading a play, everyone gets a part; talk about the next production and how you can help fill in some support needs; and how we will together move the Players forward. Bring a dish to share and your favorite beverage. Hope to see you there. RSVP helpful but not required. Questions? Contact Pat House at phouse@ nationalchurch.org

In the first year of the art summer seminar, the project included drawing, painting, photography, and western art history. Many of the students had little or no experience with the visual arts. Given this opportunity to express themselves, they exploded with creativity. The students and their teacher, Margaret Halpin, worked hard and had great fun despite challenges of the physical environment.

For example, on the day scheduled for watercolor painting there was no running water, but a few students offered to help. A short while later they returned with buckets of water. They were motivated, resourceful, and wanted to paint.

The students recognize that a way out of their situation is through education. While primary school is free in Kenya, high school is not. Rigid tests determine if students are ready for high school and university. The students at St. Al’s not only qualify for high school but also for university, graduating from top schools in the country. There are many success stories, with students succeeding in fields, such as: the arts, social work, nutrition, and education.

At the end of the summer, the principal said the program was a success and invited Margaret and the others involved to return. This year the program celebrates 10 years and is recognized and nurtured by local talented artists.

This extraordinary exhibit, composed of Margaret’s photographs and examples of the students’ art, is proof of the power of art.

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Serving at the Metropolitan Church Learn More About Inspire DC Wednesday, January 11, 7pm, Great Hall You may have heard about Inspire DC, one of our ministry partners in the food recovery work at Campus Kitchen DC, and wondered, “Who are they?” Join us as Christie Latona, co-director of Inspire DC, brings us up to date on this 501 (c) 3 Non-Profit Organization created by the Greater Washington District of the United Methodist Church that is working in three areas: Hunger Ministry, Affordable Housing and Young Adults Faith Communities. Learn more about Inspire DC at inspiredc.org/#we-are-inspire-dc.

WIN Briefing Wednesday, January 18, 7pm, Great Hall On Wednesday, January 18, Jennifer Knox, lead organizer for the Washington Interfaith Network (WIN), will lead a session in the Great Hall describing how WIN approaches community organizing work and how you can get involved.

This year, WIN observed its twentieth anniversary and Metropolitan Memorial can be rightfully proud of the instrumental role it has played over the past two decades in WIN’s work to bring our city’s faith community together to stand for the common good. Washington DC is a stronger and more equitable city than it was twenty years ago due to WIN’s many victories in affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, homeless services, public education, and jobs. Come learn how you can be part of positive change in the next twenty years!

2017 MLK Day of Service Wednesday, January 25 11am, St. Luke’s Mission Center* On January 25, we will be partnering with AU’s Center for Community Engagement and Service for their 2017 MLK Day of Service. AU is sending 10-15 volunteers to our St. Luke’s Mission Center where they will be doing volunteer work with us. The theme of the 2017 MLK Day of Service is “Healthy Futures.” We invite you to come and participate in this Day of Service with us. We look forward to this partnership and the work that we will accomplish together. *3655 Calvert St, NW. Thank you to the Deaf Ministry at Metropolitan Baptist Church!

Once again this year, we have received an abundance of spices for our Campus Kitchen program from Metropolitan Baptist Church.

Huge thanks to Dominique Evans, Deaf Ministry President, and the folks involved in her ministry for making this one of their servant activities for Christmas. Through their generosity, we now have 94 bottles from a wonderful array of 36 different spices! In the last academic year, our Campus Kitchen program served almost 40,000 meals using more than 53,000 pounds of recovered food that would otherwise have gone to waste.

The donated spices will be used to enhance the meals prepared in 2017, and we are blessed by the kindness and caring that this donation represents.

Blessings, Helen Simon

Gun Violence Prevention Group (GVP)

...they shall beat their swords into plowshares - Micah 4: 3

On December 14, the 4th anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Kent and Lois Weaver attended the National Vigil for all Victims of Gun Violence at St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill. Rev. Jeremy Lucas, Rector, Christ Church, Lake Oswego Oregon Rev. Lucas and the presented a powerful, personal story. "plowshare" While on the Internet, Rev. Lucas came across a fund raiser being sponsored by a student sports team to raise money for a trip to a tournament. The prize being raffled off was an AR-15 rifle! Rev. Lucas called the team sponsor and offered to fully fund their trip if they would shut down the raffle. He was told that once a raffle has been initiated it cannot be halted. SO.... Rev. Lucas bought $3,000 worth of tickets and guess what? He won the raffle! He then found a company that would melt down the rifle and convert it into a gardening Tool...which he proudly held high for all of us at the vigil to see. Rev. Lucas then presented the "plowshare" to Ms. Po Murray, the Chairwoman, Newtown Action Alliance & The Newtown Foundation. What a moment!

What a roar of clapping!

The 2016 General Conference of the United Methodist Church Resolution #3428 "Our Call to End Gun Violence" cites Micah 4:1-4. I challenge our congregations to offer ideas for ways to recover swords and beat them into plowshares. If Rev. Lucas can do this, so can Metropolitan Church!

If you are concerned with gun Violence and want to make a Difference, join our Gun Violence Prevention Group as we explore actionable steps to address the complicated problem of gun violence. We need many voices....young and old, gun owners and non-gun owners, victims and survivors. If interested, contact pastorsoffice@nationalchurch.org.

Blessings, Lois Weaver

Christmas Coat Drive Thank You Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Annual Christmas Coat Drive! In just over a month we collected more than 100 new and gently used children's coats for our partner, Brighter Day Ministries UMC. Brighter Day distributed these coats to children in need both in their church and in their broader community. A special thank you to Metropolitan's staff for donating 19 coats in specific sizes for the children in Brighter Day's Wednesday Bible Study Class, and to Martha Mizroch for making many trips to Brighter Day's AP Shaw campus to deliver the coats.

Blessings, Cyhnthia Pugh

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The United Methodist Women

Four Honored at UMW Recognition Lunch On Sunday, December 11, the United Methodist Women honored four outstanding women who made a significant contribution to our community. Pictured above are our 2016 honorees (l-r): Anne Mathews-Younes, Joan Davenport, Connie Sommers and Jeanie Mah. Discussion Series Women and Leadership Starts Sunday, January 29 Noon in the Parlor On January 29, the United Methodist Women Circle Six will kick off a fourpart discussion series on “Women and Leadership.” The first session, led by Ann Michel, will focus on Women in the Bible, considering how culture has misinterpreted what can be learned from some well-known feminine figures in the Bible. The series continues over the next several months (March 12, May 7, and June 11), examining the “Founding Mothers,” early women’s rights leaders, and contemporary issues related to women as leaders. All are welcome to attend. Contacts: Mary Jo Marchant, mjmarchant@verizon. net or Ann Michel, amichel@wesleyseminary.edu.

Woman’s Retreat 2017 - Register Now! The annual Women’s Retreat will be held February 3-5, 2017, at PriestField Pastoral Center in Kearneysville, WV (near Charles Town). Our leader this year will be acclaimed Biblical Storyteller Tracy Radosevic, who will lead us in a program on the Spirituality of Storytelling. If you’ve never attended one of our retreats, we encourage you to give it a try. The weekend offers a time to reflect and unwind and to get to know the other women in our congregations. You need not be a member of the United Methodist Women nor be pious or certain of your beliefs. You need only to be female and curious about God. We are now accepting registrations! For more information and to register go to nationalchurch.org/umwretreat.

United Methodist Women - Who We Are The United Methodist Women at Metropolitan is a community of 200 women of all ages and interests.

Members participate as at-large members or as part of small groups, which we call circles. Our six circles meet for monthly fellowship, mutual support, study, devotion, and mission work. Circles are selfselected based on interests, spiritual needs and stages-of-life. There’s something for everyone. Visit any of our circles any time. To learn more go to nationalchurch.org/Serving/United_Methodist_Women.

UMW Book and Bake Sale - Saturday, February 25, 8am - 3pm, Vestry The UMW Book and Bake Sale is set for Saturday, February 25! Book donations may be dropped off now, but we encourage all donors to hold off bringing their book donations in until the week of set-up, February 19 - 23, so that books can be organized more efficiently.

If you MUST get your books out of your house, you may drop off your donations, in small boxes please, in front of the UMW closet at the end off the hallway off of the Vestry. Please do not donate cassette tapes, VCR tapes, textbooks, encyclopedias, magazines, and travel books published before 2012.

The UMW will hold a special collection drive at Metropolitan Memorial on February 19 and 20. Drive into the church parking lot with your books and volunteers will off load your boxes of books and give you a receipt.

You do not need to be a member of the UMW to assist with this sale. We welcome all who would like to help us set-up and organize the 1000’s of books we receive. A web-based sign-up has been created for volunteers to easily sign up to help the week of the sale. If you do not feel comfortable using this electronic sign up, please contact the book sale organizers who will be happy to tell you what shifts are available and sign you up. The link to sign up is SignUpGenius. com/go/70A0E4DA8A6238-book.

Pass the word to your friends, family, and neighbors. The sale will run from 8am to 3pm with an abbreviated leftovers sale Sunday, February 26, after which clean up begins. Please contact Anita Seline, amseline@aol.com or 202-841-3453 or Martha Mizroch, martha_miz@hotmail.com or 202-421-5150, if you have any ideas, resources, or energy to assist. The UMW Book & Bake Sale: it may not be the Bazaar, but we promise it will be a lot of fun!

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Children & Youth Ministries Children & Youth Sunday School Sundays at 10:05am 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 11am) or the Wesley service (musical prelude 11am, Worship at 11:15am).

Children’s Ministry: Children ages 3 through 4th grade learn through Godly Play, a Montesorri-based technique emphasizing Bible stories, wonder, questions, and creative play. Contact: Rev. Janet Craswell, jcraswell@ nationalchurch.org or 202-363-4900, ext. 115.

Youth Ministry: 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 Blog Read up on what’s happening with our youth and our many activities at youthmetropolitan. wordpress.com.

Nursery School Open House Thursday, January 19, 9:30am, Great Hall

The Metropolitan Nursery School invites you to an Open House, where you can learn about our school’s program, curriculum, and admission procedures. The Director will also be available to answer any questions you may have about the nursery school. You will also have the opportunity to see our lively classrooms in action. Register at nationalchurch. org/Learning/Admissions.

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 to attend, and we welcome instrumentalists as well! Rehearsals are from 11am – 11:45am on Sundays. Music is provided. For more information, contact Melissa Chavez, mchavez@ nationalchurch.org.

Campus Ministries Faithful, Faithless, and Everyone in Between – Faith on Campus “Missing Faith” By Angela Pupino A lot of fuss is made about the “lack” of religion on college campuses.

College campuses are stereotypically thought of as hotbeds for atheism, doubting, and just about every vice imaginable. And while there’s some truth to this, this is definitely not the full picture.

Before I went to college for my freshman year, members of my home church in Ohio begged me not to lose my faith along the way. What they didn’t understand was that I was already struggling with my identity as a Christian.

Angela Pupino Aspiring Alexandra Petri. Wandering Monotheist. American University Class of 2018

I was already reeling from a year of family losses and a particularly nasty pastoral transition at my home church. I was uncomfortable with dry platitudes that my pastor preached every Sunday. I was uncertain of my place in a church that felt old and where members made racist jokes during choir practice. In short, I had already lost a lot of my faith.

But when I least expected it, God and campus ministry pulled me back in.

I feel like many older Christians misunderstand religion’s role on a college campus. Most students, at least those I’ve met, are hungry for greater meaning in their lives. They are looking for a community where they feel safe and loved. But they have been hurt by the faith they grew up with. They have been hurt by their interactions with Christians. And they have been hurt by sermons promising hellfire, hurt by pastors and congregations who turned them away, hurt by parents and relatives who refused to let them ask questions about faith.

My home church has a very small population under the age of 65, so campus ministry was the first time I interacted with a large group of Christians my own age. It was the first time I saw Christianity as a religion of social justice and public service. It was also the first time I was able to see Christianity as a kaleidoscope of different beliefs and practices. I learned that I could pray on a labyrinth and not just in a pew. I learned that there are different translations of the Bible.

Campus ministry offered me healing and reconciliation with my faith. It offered me a place to belong at a time in my life when I desperately needed one. And it offers that space for any student who wants it.

Blessings, Angela Pupino

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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/Sharing Pillar Coordinator, 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. 111, 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: February 13, 2017

NEXT DEADLINE: Noon on February 7, 2017