THE MESSENGER
For the congregation of the Metropolitan Memorial Cooperative Parish
February 11, 2011 Volume XXI, No. 2 www.nationalchurch.org
Metropolitan Memorial, St. Luke’s, and Wesley United Methodist Churches
Prayer. Just say the word and a host of emotions pour forth to start the series by lookfrom most people: the excitement of being in conversation with the Creator and Ruler of the cosmos; the possibility of tapping into the source of healing and wholeness; the chance to quiet our mind and be open to discerning where God is calling us. But at the same time, there is the fear that we don’t know how to engage in that conversation, the sneaking feeling that we’re just “not doing it quite right.” And sometimes we don’t get quite the answer that we were expecting, or hoping for; or there is just silence. All of us, at one point of another, echo the fierce desire of Jesus’ disciples when they ask him, “Lord, teach us to pray!” As Christians, prayer is our most foundational, central spiritual discipline. We know that every one of our great spiritual mothers and fathers have both engaged in it and encouraged us to engage in it. And yet, the dirty little secret of church life is that virtually no one feels good about their prayer life. We all carry around with us a sense that we could/should be doing it better and that the other people around us have figured out this thing that none of us has.
ing at the question of why we pray at all and will follow that up with some concrete teaching on how we go about praying. The third week will look at the question of “Does God Answer Prayer?” as we explore the discipline of intercessory prayer. We’ll close the series by looking at the question of why God sometimes seems to be silent when we pray, and explore the wisdom of John of the Cross in Dark Night of the Soul. While the sermon series is taking place, in the Great Hall, we will look at some of the practical expressions of prayer. Examining the traditions of Taizé, the use of the labyrinth, and Psalms of Lament, we will have the chance to make our engagement with prayer not merely intellectual, but practical.
I am excited about the chance to dig into this rich topic over the course of February. I encourage you to bring your curiosity, your questions, and an open heart and mind. You may also feel led to bring a friend who has questions or curiosity regarding what prayer is about. Please extend the invitation to someone you know who may need to see what a wonderful place of spiritual exploration a church can be! This February, as we prepare ourselves for another Lent, it Blessings, seemed to me that it would be worthwhile for us to dig into some of these questions through a sermon series. We’re going Over much of the fall last year, I had many, many people approach me with questions about prayer. When we pray, are we trying to change God’s mind? If not, should we be asking God for things? Why does God not heal some of the people for whom we pray, while others seem to experience seemingly miraculous recoveries? How do I go about starting to pray?
GREAT HALL PRAYER SERIES TAIZÉ - February 13, 10:10 a.m., Great Hall Come experience contemplative prayer in the style of the community of Taizé. In 1940, Brother Roger left his birth country of Switzerland and settled in the small village of Taizé near Lyons, France. Taizé style is unique. It is a time of meditative worship including song, scripture readings, prayers and silence. It is a time to slow down and be still in the face of the frantic pace of life; a way to be present to God. The prayers and songs of Taizé are very simple. The simplicity and repetition creates a meditative state that allows the mind to open to the Holy Spirit and the message of God’s love. Henri Nouwen, in his book “The Way of the Heart,” literal translation “pray always,” states: “Periods of silence allow us to calm and quiet our souls, and this, too, is prayer.” Come experience God’s love through word, prayer, song and silence. Walking the Labyrinth - Sunday, February 20, 10:10 a.m., Great Hall The Labyrinth is an archetype, a divine imprint, found in all religious traditions in various forms around the world. By walking a replica of the Chartres labyrinth, laid in the floor of Chartres Cathedral in France around 1220, we are rediscovering a long-forgotten mystical tradition that is insisting to be reborn. The Labyrinth has only one path so there are no tricks to it and no dead ends. The path winds throughout and becomes a mirror for where we are in our lives. It touches our sorrows and releases our joys. Join us in the Great Hall and walk the Labyrinth with an open mind and an open heart. Psalms of Lament, Sunday, February 27, 10:10 a.m., Great Hall What do we do when our prayers are not answered, when we lift our pain to God and all we hear is the silence of God? Join Rev. Drema McAllister-Wilson in the Great Hall for shared poetry and readings from Ann Weems’ book, “Psalms of Lament.” This will be a time of readings, music, writing, and sharing.
Life at Metropolitan Memorial Cooperative Parish IRV BISCOMB: DOUBLE DATING WITH JIMMY CARTER AND 80 YEARS OF METHODISM By Barry D. Wood Seated in Irv Biscomb’s comfortable home on Burlington Street NW in American University Park, a couple things stand out. One is how many people can say they were shipmates of Jimmy Carter? The other I’ll return to at the end. On the first matter, Irv recounts that in 1947 he was an electronics officer aboard the USS Mississippi, the last of the pre-World War II battleships still in active service. While the ship was in Norfolk, Irv was joined by a newly minted Naval Academy grad named Jimmy Carter. Ensigns Carter and Biscomb, then 21, became friends and stood watch together after the old ship went to sea. Later, back in homeport, the two junior officers double-dated, taking their prospective wives to Norfolk’s officers club. Observes Irv, “I remember that Rosalynn Carter looked then as beautiful as she was as first lady. Even now she hasn’t changed very much.” Irv and his North Carolina sweetheart Gladys were married in 1949 at Norfolk’s Ghent Methodist Church, the place where they had met two years earlier. Gladys died in 2007. Irv Biscomb can’t remember how many years he’s been ushering at the 11 o’clock service but he’s sure it goes back over 30 years. World War II was still raging when Irv graduated from Kalamazoo, Michigan Central High School in 1944. He figures that up to half of the 400 male graduates went immediately into the service, either as draftees or volunteers. Eighteen-year-old Irv joined the Navy, hoping to become a pilot. That didn’t work out but he was sent for officer training to Notre Dame and later to Monterey, California for specialized study. While he missed the war, he did serve two years in Yokohama, Japan.
Gladys Biscomb
Discharged from the Navy in 1959, Irv and Gladys came to Washington where Irv began a ten-year long career at the Naval Security Station on Nebraska Avenue. He lived close enough so that he could walk to work and also to Metropolitan. It was during the long tenure of Ed Latch as senior minister that Irv and Gladys began their association with Metropolitan. The Biscombs’ two children, a son and a daughter, grew up at Metropolitan and attended neighborhood public schools, Janney, Deal and Wilson. Those quality schools, says Irv, were part of the reason they chose to live in AU Park. How has Metropolitan changed over the decades? “Not very much,” says Irv, “the church has always been about half full during the 11 o’clock service.” He does recall that Metropolitan’s men’s club was very active in the 60s and 70s and then fell back when it was decided that gender specific activities would not be encouraged. “A lot of men simply stopped coming after it was no longer a men’s group,” says Irv. Impressed by the rich church history displayed on the panels outside the church offices, Irv suggests that that information should be compiled into a pocket-sized brochure that he believes would be useful in recruiting new members. So, that other matter that is noteworthy about Irv Biscomb’s AU Park home? It cost the Biscombs’ $26,000 in 1959. The mortgage, such as it was, was paid off in 1971, meaning that their property has been owned free and clear for 40 years. Reflecting his prudent, enlightened approach to finance, Irv ends our conversation recalling the words of John Wesley, “earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can.”
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN GREAT DAY OF SERVICE Saturday, March 5, 9 a.m. – Early Afternoon Mark your calendars for The Great Day of Service, a wonderful tradition of service to the MMUMC community in DC and around the world. We will gather in the Great Hall, but there will activity throughout the church, including the kitchen, nursery and Sunday School rooms. Projects will include:
Making sandwiches for Martha’s Kitchen Creating cards and writing letters to homebound church members Assembling snack bags for Friendship Place Assembling health kits for United Methodist Committee on Relief Cleaning the nursery and other odd jobs in the church Crafts for children for delivery to Visitor Corp members Cooking meals for Metropolitan House Bring the whole family. Adults, youth and children are welcome; activities will engage all ages. Youth can receive Student Service Learning hours. A nursery will be provided for the littlest ones. Please bring a non-perishable food item as your “price of admission”—for donation to Bread for the City. Coffee, drinks and light snacks will be served. The event is hosted by Metropolitan’s United Methodist Women. If you have questions, or would like to suggest a service project, please contact Eliza Hamner-Koenig, 202.558.8194.
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Life at Metropolitan Memorial Cooperative Parish GIVE THE GIFT OF LOVE Saturday, February 19, 9 a.m. The United Methodist Women will have a special worship gathering on Saturday, February 19. This year’s theme is “Give the Gift of Love,” and is also known as the “Call to Prayer and Self-Denial.” But don’t let the title throw you off. We’ll gather in love, to build love, and give love. An offering be collected to support the Retirement Benefits Fund, which provides pensions and health care for retired UMW deaconesses and missionaries.
RECYCLING OPPORTUNITY UMW Service Day - March 5 We need large juice cans! If you drink tomato juice, pineapple juice, or grapefruit juice by the can, please save your empties for us! UMW Service Day, March 5, there will be activities for the children and the cans are needed for this project. The large cans are approximately 46 ounces and can be left in the office for Anita Seline, Director of Children’s Ministries.
UMW BOOK CLUB Sunday, February 27, 12:30 p.m., Library Join us for the United Methodist Women’s inaugural Book Club Meeting (we intend to offer four this year!) for a discussion of “A Love Affair with India: The Story of the Wife and Daughter of E. Stanley Jones” by Martha Gunsalus Chamberlain. The “daughter” in this story is our own Eunice Jones Mathews, an esteemed member of our congregation for many years. This book shares the story of the life-changing mission of Mabel Lossing Jones and her daughter, Eunice Jones Mathews. The influence of this powerful mother-daughter duo transcends any stereotypes about “woman’s work” and “preacher’s wife.” Eunice Mathews will be discussing the book and will share more stories about her quite incredible mother (and father who was E. Stanley Jones). This book was a part of the 2010 UMW reading program and is available for $12 through the church office from Helen Simon. We have about 20 copies available for purchase and a part of the proceeds supports UMW’s History project. Refreshments provided. No need to RSVP – just come! Questions? Please contact Anne Mathews Younes at amathews1@verizon.net.
2011 WELLNESS FAIR Exploring the Wholeness of Body-Mind-Spirit Saturday, March 19, 9 a.m., Great Hall Don’t miss this opportunity! Join us for samplers of relaxation, reflection, and renewal. The goal of this wellness fair is to acquaint attendees with spiritual disciplines for stressful times.
THE METRO PLAYERS PRESENT
Excursions
March 11, 8 p.m./March 12, 6 p.m./March 13, 2 p.m. Join us for the latest Metro Players production! Turn to page 6 for more information!
We’ll explore the wholeness of body-mind-spirit through discussion, meditative/contemplative prayer, labyrinth walk, seated massage by certified therapist, feldenkrais, and journaling. Handouts containing more information will be available. All are welcome. Comfortable dress is advised. Pre- registration is encouraged. Contact Susan Roach, 202.686.1926 or susanroach@verizon.net. Requests for child care must be made by March 12, 2011. This event is sponsored by the Wellness Committee.
MONDAY EVENING BOOK CLUB! BEGINS APRIL 18, 7:30 P.M., LIBRARY Suzanne Clewell and Joan Topalian invite all readers to a new book club that will meet in the Library every third Monday of the month. Our first selection is Abraham Veghese’s, “Cutting for Stone.” There are a few “rules of the road” for those who participate: All are welcome; All will be given a chance to talk; All will be on time; All will have read the book prior to the meeting; All will take turns in leading a discussion; All will arrive at the first meeting with one book they would like the club to read this year and tell us why. For more information, contact Suzanne Clewell, 301.530.8818 or Joan Topalian, 202.363.8797.
BE A PART OF THE CHORIC CHOIR! What is a choric choir, you might ask? In short, a group of people presenting a dramatic reading of scripture in parts (not sung). We are blessed to have Bob Benn who is willing to write, rehearse and conduct our scriptures in this fashion. We are planning to utilize this method during the weeks of Lent including Holy Week. If you are interested please let us know. Lent begins on Wednesday, March 9 and Easter Sunday is April 24. You can be a part of this every time or only 1 time – whatever works with your schedules. Our first meeting will be Sunday, February 13 at 1 p.m. More dates and rehearsals to follow. For more information, contact Pat House at phouse@mmumc-dc.org. TRANSFORMING THE LEGACY: PEOPLE OF SPIRIT IN THE 21ST CENTURY: Volume II: The Response and Emerging Directions Dr. Maynard Moore has completed work editing Volume II in the series, “Transforming the Legacy: People of Spirit in the 21st Century” – which focuses on the life and work of Bishop James K. Mathews and his brother Joseph Wesley Mathews. A number of people purchased Volume I last Fall during the book signing at the Ministry Fair, and may want the new Vol. II. Vol. I, “The Legacy and the Challenges” is a compilation of the December 2009 Mathews Symposium at Wesley Theological Seminary and contains chapters by Dr. William A. Holmes, Bishop John Schol, Bishop Felton May, Bishop Susan Morrison, Dr. Moore, and Dr. Bruce C. Birch (among others). Volume II, “The Response and Emerging Directions for Urban Ministry” includes all of the papers presented during the workshop sessions at the Symposium. Each volume is available at a discount of 40% for the Metropolitan Memorial community. Together, both volumes cost $30.00, and are available from the church office. Contact Helen Simon at hsimon@mmumcdc.org or Dr. Maynard Moore directly at emaynard8@yahoo.com.
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Service and Advocacy MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY OF SERVICE AT ST. LUKE’S Almost one-hundred volunteers gathered at St. Luke’s on January 17 for a day of service commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Crossroads worship team kicked off the activity with a King Day commemoration service. Students from American University and Wesley Theological Seminary joined church and community members in efforts to serve homeless and elderly residents of the District. The volunteer day was part of a renewed focus on mission outreach planned at St. Luke’s since its merger with Metropolitan Memorial in 2008. A new non-profit organization, the St. Luke’s Mission Center, has been created to support enhanced efforts to serve the community. One goal is to reinforce and strengthen the existing onsite homeless ministries. Since 1991, St. Luke’s has operated a year-round shelter for men. More recently, it has hosted the cityrun hypothermia shelter for men in Northwest. And now the St. Luke’s Mission Center houses the executive staff of the Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place. This well-respected homeless service organization has been a long-standing partner in St. Luke’s and Metropolitan’s work with the homeless. The Center also houses the Shalom Place hospitality ministry, a 24-bed hostel space that welcomes student and volunteer groups visiting Washington. Additionally, church leaders have been working in partnership with American University representatives to launch a Campus Kitchens project that will put student volunteers to work in St. Luke’s commercial kitchen. Campus Kitchens is a nation-wide initiative that recovers food from cafeterias and engages students in preparing and delivering meals to the community. Students who took part in the January 17 work day served sixty meals to senior citizens at Regency House on Connecticut Ave. For more information about the St. Luke’s Mission Center contact Rev. Kate Murphey, kmurphy@mmumc-dc.org or 202.363.4900.
BE A SHELTER VOLUNTEER! Below are testimonies from some of our shelter volunteers. If you feel called to volunteer in our homeless shelter, contact Pat House at phouse@mmumc-dc.org. I purposely stayed in the shelter on New Year’s Eve. I wanted to deny myself, so that I could find fulfillment in helping others. It is a feeling of love and grace to share a meal. To have a conversation about anothers’ future, their interest, their joys, their success,their families and many other topics. The four men I stayed with , gave me hope,gave me a sense of value.They thanked me for coming and encouraged me to come back. Everytime I walk pass the door to the shelter it encourages me to find another night to help the Shelter family. - Annie Presbury My son and I have been volunteering at Metropolitan House since 2006, when he was in the 7th grade and needed service hours. I had wanted to volunteer but didn’t have a partner- my son’s reaction to the first overnight was interesting. He learned a lot by interacting with homeless people. He also preferred the men to the women and children. A few weeks ago we had our last overnight together. The evening was one of the most interesting and fun that I had spent with anyone in a long time. While my son was talking computers with one of the residents, I was learning why the other resident was in the shelter. He was starting over at 64, after having taken early retirement and then watched his savings get wiped out in the market. Where he had been heading a computer department in a government department, now he felt lucky to be doing contract work through an agency! Somehow, we started talking about art and the other resident and I traded stories about modern artists. He was quite well-informed! This resident was taking a course to become a hairdresser – not because that was his goal in life but because the instruction was free; he thought he could make a living while deciding how best to really spend his time. My son and I were struck by the “can-do,” “never-give-up” spirit of both men. We were all reluctant to have “lights out at 10 p.m.” and as we left, we hugged. “We’ll try to come back,” we said. “Consider this your second home,” they said. - Marilu Wood
As I recall the first time I stayed overnight at Metropolitan House, a number of words come to mind: apprehension, curiosity, surprise, gratitude, joy, sadness, and hope. I offered to spend the night because the scheduled volunteer was ill, but thinking about spending the evening with four homeless men filled me with apprehension. “What are they like?” “How will I be able to spend an entire evening with them?” “What can we possibly talk about?” Thoughts like these ran through my head. But I went, and after meeting the men curiosity overcame me. The thoughts turned to “How do they spend the day?” “How did they end up here?” “What are their ‘stories’?” And as we talked – about their days, events in the nation, events in Washington – I became surprised. I was surprised that these were educated, informed, regular men - not so different from me. Surprise turned to gratitude. I was grateful that Metropolitan existed, to offer shelter to these men, and I was grateful that my life had not turned out like theirs. I couldn’t help but think of the appropriate, but often overused phrase, “There but for the grace of God go I.” As the evening wore on, and we spoke over dinner, I realized that I was really enjoying myself. We talked about movies, books, politics, and were enjoying each other’s company. The next morning I began to feel sad, like the sadness that you feel when you’ve been visiting friends and it’s time to go home; and sad that these guys that I had talked and laughed with the night before now had to go back out on the streets for the day. But then I had hope, hope that they would get through this time in their lives, that God would guide them and care for them, and hope there would always be places like Metropolitan House and people like the people who volunteer to try to help the homeless. I never expected that I would have enjoyed this experience, and I encourage everyone who hasn’t gotten involved to volunteer and discover what I did. - Marty Janowiecki
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Service and Advocacy We would like to thank everyone who contributed to our Christmas Eve Offerings that benefitted DC Central Kitchen. Through your generous contributions we raised a total amount of $11, 603.25, all of which went to help DC Central Kitchen serve our community. DCCK provides healthy meals and snacks to approximately 40 agencies serving low-income children and at-risk youth throughout the Washington DC area. The program gives priority to agencies that focus on empowering life-skills including mentoring, apprenticeship, continuing education, counseling, nutrition and health education as well as job readiness skills.
SHALOM PLACE NEWS - “ANTHEM IN D.C.” Community MusicWorks, a group of students from Providence, R.I., recently stayed at Shalom Place during their visit to D.C., where they played an original composition for First Lady Michelle Obama! Check out their video with a Shalom Place cameo at www.youtu.be/G5rtDWk9M0A Thanks for staying with us! For more information and news check out www.shalomplacedc.org. RECONCILING MINISTRIES UPDATE A Letter From Bishop John R. Schol Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul and mind, and your neighbor as yourself. –Jesus quoting the Hebrew Scriptures In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity. –John Wesley, founder of Methodism Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Thirty–three Bishops of the United Methodist Church, who are retired, have issued a “Statement of Counsel” to the Church requesting that the United Methodist Church remove the following statement from the Book of Discipline: “…The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.” ¶304.3 The Council of Bishop’s recognizes that the Church and the Council itself are divided on this paragraph of the Book of Discipline. While bishops must teach on all areas of Christian discipleship, including controversial topics, we are obligated to order the Church’s life based on the Book of Discipline. The Book of Discipline, the teachings and polity of the Church, is amended by our denomination’s General Conference, the only body with authority to make the change that this group of retired Bishops requests. I am committed to both of these roles defined for episcopal leaders – to teach and to order our life together – and I will faithfully uphold our Discipline. It is a serious matter when a group of bishops communicates to the church disagreement with the established polity of the Church. The Council of Bishops needs to teach and lead; and when the Church is divided on essential doctrine, teaching and leading becomes even more important. In the coming months, I will invite bishops of the Church with varying views to share the teachings of the Church on controversial matters. We know that during the course of history, Christian teaching has been essential for the Church’s understanding and polity and that there are different theological perspectives about homosexuality. As leaders of the Church, we are open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and ready to assess all concerns in the light of the Spirit’s teaching through scripture, experience, reason and tradition. On this matter, I commit to pray for the Church and I invite you to do the same. I know my colleagues on the Council of Bishops, including those who have signed the statement, are committed to serving the whole Church regardless of theology, race, gender, economic status, nationality or sexual orientation. And I know that regardless of our views on challenging issues, we believe in listening to and hearing with compassion all groups within the Church— especially those who have felt, regardless of theological persuasion, marginalized or disenfranchised by our polity. As bishops of the whole Church we are committed to be in relationship with all groups within the Church, to lead with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and to faithfully administer the Discipline of the Church. One of the great joys for me is serving a diverse conference like Baltimore-Washington. As I have traveled throughout the conference, I have experienced welcoming congregations with diversity of thought within them. You have modeled Jesus’ teaching to love God and to love your neighbor. I encourage you to continue in your zeal to be like Christ Jesus. As we move toward the 2012 General Conference, we recognize that there will be a number of difficult issues that may divide us. Let each of us teach and lead, guided by the Holy Spirit. Let us also remain committed to Jesus Christ and work toward the mission and unity of the Church as we make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Keep the faith! John R. Schol, Bishop, The United Methodist Church, The Washington Area Baltimore-Washington Conference
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The Arts at Metropolitan Memorial Cooperative Parish The Metro Players Present
EX CURSIONS EXCURSIONS
Friday, March 11 - 8 p.m./Saturday, March 12 - 6 p.m./ Sunday, March 13 - 2 p.m. (Lunch following the 11:15 a.m. service. Childcare Available) Ticket Prices: $10/$5 students Buy your tickets and save a seat on the S.S. Happiness! Join Metro Players as they take an “Excursion” cruise from Manhattan’s 125th Street to Coney Island and points south. By the time the S.S. Happiness returns to her pier at the end of the play you will have experienced one of the stage’s rarer offerings, a tender and wise, and compassionate comedy. The cast of characters includes the fatherly Obadiah Rich on his last cruise (John Long) and his elder and slightly pixilated brother Jonathan (Sam Rawlings) commandeering this little ship on an unplanned adventure. The passengers are a diverse mix from the girls who work at Gimbels (Pam Settlage, Sharon Smith, Kathy Rawlings) to the exhausted Jewish couple off to enjoy a day of peace and quiet (Carol Bartlett and Pat Nicolette) and their neighbors the Geaslings (Patrisha House and Austin Patterson) to the ship owner’s children (Jimmy Sherrod and Sarah Barden*) the young and reckless Irish (Matthew Gill, Emily Bagwell* and Elena Remez*) and an unlikely group of passengers including our photo girls and candy boy (Marissa Mizroch, Marisa Remez and Nathaniel Rees). Other passengers (and Metro Player regulars and newbies) are: Bob Benn*, Beverly Fleming, Bruce McWilliams*, Randy Oberdick, Sadie Patterson,* Charlie Parker, Phil Potter, Jonathon Rees*, Bill Roach, Carol and Dick Schleicher, Kerm Towler*). *New Members to Metro Players! The play is directed by our beloved Frances Bartley Cleaver with Assistant Director, Trish Long and Stage Manager, Helen Simon, Sound by Mike House and Greg Miller and Lights by Eric Mattsson, Set design and Construction by Carol and Dick Schleicher. Join us for the cruise!
Youth Ministries Youth-In-Mission Auction! Sunday, March 6 Every year Metropolitan supports the mission projects of the Youth program through the Youth-InMission Auction and it is that time of year again. On March 6 the Silent Auction will begin at 10 a.m. and the Live Auction will begin at 12:30 p.m. The youth will also be serving lunch. This a great time for the entire congregation to show support for the service activities of the youth. Appalachian Service Project (ASP) is a long-standing tradition of this church and we are excited to take 3 work teams this year. We will also take a team to Overlook Farm in Massachusetts this summer to work, learn, and serve at the facility and experience different areas around the world where poverty is a daily struggle. Seeking to be transformers of change and action through our service projects, we find our own lives transformed as we work together through these mission opportunities. Please help support our youth’s mission efforts by contributing to the Youth-InMission Auction. How can you be involved? Donate items for the Auction, buy a “Donuts for Donations” donut in the upcoming Sundays, and come bid on March 6! Donor forms are available online at http://www.nationalchurch.org/youth/ aspdonorform2011.pdf, at the “Donuts for Donations” table and in the church office. Please return these donor forms by February 20. Auction booklets will be available on February 27 and online as well. 2010 ASP Team Members Youth Connection!! This spring we are trying a new schedule for Youth Connection that will connect with our Sunday morning time. The largest number of youth and the greatest amount of energy occurs during the Sunday School hour, so we hope to capture this energy for a longer period of time on Sunday mornings as we adjust youth time to 10:10am-1pm. This change will allow us to expand what we are able to do on Sundays with youth. We hope this time supports the youth as they participate in a variety of activities at school and in the community. We will continue to build a community of faith for youth as they participate in activities with us at Metropolitan. Thanks!! Youth Ministry Team of Metropolitan Jimmy Sherrod and Emily Bagwell
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Children’s Ministry SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE DINNER Tuesday, March 8, 5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m., Vestry Before we all head into the denial of Lent, stuff yourself with sweet food including pancakes with butter and syrup, bacon, sausage, fruit, juice, milk, coffee and tea. It’s a lovely time to share with families and friends. Bring a neighbor! Wear your Mardi Gras beads! Our children’s choirs will provide entertainment for the evening. Cost is $5 per adult and $3 for children. And as part of our ongoing effort to support food bank ministries in the city, we’ll be collecting canned food to support local food banks. CHILDREN’S ARTS SHOWCASE The Children of Metropolitan will host an arts showcase on Sunday, March 27 during the study hour in the Great Hall. Artwork of the children will be displayed from their “work” time during their Godly Play Sunday School class. Featured will be a mural of the Bible alphabet from the Joyful Spirits class. The Bible Explorers class has created an illustration of the life and ministry of Jesus. The Cherub Choir will sing some Bible School favorites and children will tell parables that they have created following the Godly Play format. It will be a lovely morning that you won’t want to miss!
FREE PARENT WORKSHOP SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS AND RIVALRY Tuesday, March 1st 7:30 - 9 p.m. Join Rene Hackney, noted parenting and child development specialist and the founder and creator of Parenting Playgroups, for a night on Sibling Relationships and Rivalry. We will discuss the importance of siblings, the impact of birth order, spacing and gender. This will include guidelines for parents to dampen rivalry including disciplining and praising children individually rather than relative to each other, avoiding roles and labels. We will also cover ways to manage bickering, fighting and aggression. Questions? Contact Elizabeth Wrege, ewrege@comcast.net or Linda Smith, lsmith@mmumc-dc.org or 202.362.8746. RECYCLING OPPORTUNITY UMW Service Day - March 5 Parents! Don’t forget we need large juice cans! If you drink tomato juice, pineapple juice, or grapefruit juice by the can, please save your empties for us! At the UMW Service Day on March 5 we will have activities for the children and the cans are needed for this project. The large cans are approximately 46 ounces and can be left in the office for Anita Seline, Director of Children’s Ministries.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL HITS METROPOLITAN Mark your calendars for June 27 to July 1 to visit the Shake It Up Café! Here’s a description of this year’s Vacation Bible School from the Cokesbury website. “At Shake It Up Café Vacation Bible School 2011 your kids will explore the Bible as a cookbook filled with recipes for living out God’s word. Through interactive lessons, they will celebrate biblical festivals that reveal the secret ingredient for being a follower of God. Kids will enjoy heaping helpings of God’s word, create a lasting relationship with God through Jesus Christ, celebrate the life-changing love of Jesus, and take God’s recipe into the world.” After each VBS 2011 Bible adventure, your chefs-in-training will learn a Bible Bite memory verse that reinforces each Bible story. A Bible Bite activity ensures your chefs can understand and apply the verse. They will also receive a daily Scripture Treasure featuring the day’s secret ingredient and Bible Bite. Lessons covered will include Israelites Celebrate Passover, Festival Celebrations for the Israelites, Jesus Celebrates the Festival of Booths, Jesus Celebrates Passover, and Celebrating the Festival of Weeks and Pentecost. Activities range from science, music, outdoor fun, and crafts. Meet Scraps the Racoon, eat great snacks, wear fun chef hats and enjoy a week together with our VBS campers. VBS will run 9 a.m. to 12 noon each day. Please register by May 31, 2011. Cost is $40 for the week. For questions or concerns, contact: Anita Seline, Director of Children’s Ministries at aseline@mmumc-dc.org.
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Our Mission Building an inclusive, caring Christian community that invites others into a deepening relationship with God and challenges them to grow as disciples 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. 11, cparker@mmumc-dc.org Rev. Drema McAllister-Wilson — Minister of Congregational Care, ext. 19, dwilson@mmumc-dc.org Rev. Jimmy Sherrod — Associate Pastor, ext. 24, jsherrod@mmumc-dc.org Rev. Kate Murphey — Associate Pastor, ext. 21, kmurphey@mmumc-dc.org Anita Seline — Director of Children’s Ministries, ext. 22, aseline@mmumc-dc.org Patrisha House — Director of Worship, Music and Arts, ext. 28, phouse@mmumc-dc.org Jeff Clouser — Director of Communications and Outreach, ext. 23, jclouser@mmumc-dc.org Rev. J. Cody Nielsen –– Associate for Campus Ministry, ext. 25, cnielsen@mmumc-dc.org Emily Bagwell -- Associate Director of Youth Ministries, emilybagwell@gmail.com Bruce Caviness — 11a.m. Organist-Choirmaster, ext. 15, bcaviness@mmumc-dc.org Casey Elliott — Dayspring Choir Director and 9 a.m. Worship Leader, ext. 12, celliott@mmumc-dc.org Dona Collary — Director of Church Administration, ext. 17, dcollary@mmumc-dc.org Helen Simon - Office Manager, ext. 10, hsimon@mmumc-dc.org Bob Weintraub -- Bookkeeper, ext. 18, bweintraub@mmumc-dc.org Rafael Reyes -- Director of Building and Grounds, ext. 20, rreyes@mmumc-dc.org Linda Smith -- Director of Nursery School, 202.362.8746, lsmith@mmumc-dc.org
THE MESSENGER is published by: The Metropolitan Memorial Cooperative Parish Metropolitan Memorial, St. Luke’s, and Wesley United Methodist Churches Metropolitan Memorial - 3401 Nebraska Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20016 Tel: 202.363.4900 Fax: 202.686.2056 E-Mail: jclouser@mmumc-dc.org website: http://www.nationalchurch.org St. Luke’s Campus - 3655 Calvert Street N.W., Washington, DC 20007 Wesley United Methodist Church - 5312 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20015 NEXT ISSUE: March 4, 2011
NEXT DEADLINE: Noon on March 1, 2011