March 13, 2017 Volume XXVII, No. 3 Nationalchurch.org
The Messenger
METROPOLITAN CHURCH
A MULTI-SITE UNITED METHODIST COMMUNITY
Palm/Passion Sunday
Worship at Metropolitan Memorial* 9am & 11am Procession with Eco-Palms and Children’s Choirs Worship at Wesley* 9:30am Breakfast & 11am Procession & Worship (5312 Conn. Ave., NW) Maundy Thursday Worship at Metropolitan Memorial* 7:30pm Worship with Communion and Chancel Choir Good Friday Services Worship at Metropolitan Memorial* Noon – 3pm “Seven Last Words” Worship at Wesley* 7:30pm Tenebrae Service (5312 Conn. Ave. NW) Easter Vigil Worship at Metropolitan Memorial 7:30pm Easter Sunday– April 16 Worship at Metropolitan Memorial* 9am & 11am - Festival Choirs, Brass, Timpani, and Handbells Brunch after each service Rockin’ Gospel Worship at Wesley* 11am - 5312 Conn. Ave., NW *Free Childcare Available
Where is your Desert? There is a physical desert, inhabited by a few exceptional men and women who are called to live there; but more importantly, there is an inner desert, into which each one of us must one day venture. --Frere Ivan Our journey through Lent this year begins with the sermon series, “Voices from the Desert.” “Lent always begins in the desert, as Jesus steps away to fast, pray, and prepare himself for his ministry. In a world in which we are constantly barraged by information and communication, it is increasingly important to find time and space (physical and psychological) to listen better for God’s ‘still small voice,’ as well as know our own hearts.” — Rev. Dr. Charles Parker The interconnected world we all live in is a constant reminder that we all inhabit a desert. There are the obvious geographical ones, there are newly constructed ones, i.e., food deserts, and, of course, our own personal ______ deserts (fill in the blank with what is missing in your life). Each Sunday in Lent, our sermons will focus on the teachings of the desert mothers and fathers, the Ammas and Abbas, men and women of the early church, who left their normal lives to form communities in the desert. In addition to Sunday morning sermons, we again offer the Sunday Evening Contemplative Communion worship, a service that “takes its time” and allows us to sit in the silence, reflecting on the words and wisdom of these ancient teachers. Our Lenten devotions this year are a selection of quotes from the desert mothers and fathers, offered as a starting point of prayer and reflection, helping to create our own mini-deserts, time away, be it a few minutes or hours. These quotes can be found on the church’s facebook page, blogposts, and bulletins. Michael Adler, in his book, “In Search of the Forty Days’ Road, states: “The desert affords no hiding place, no refuge. It is a place of desolation and liberation. One modern traveller speaks of the desert as an environment which humbles and exalts. Its immensity reduces ‘our tiny, struggling world to insignificance’; and yet it sets a person free ‘to think more profoundly … to examine … motivations, aims and objects in a new and surprisingly fresh light.’” The desert is not merely a place. It is a type of Christian experience. I invite you to join in this journey of self-discovery, a fasting from words and conversations, from an onslaught of media in all forms, and make room to hear that “still small voice.” - Patrisha S. House
Contemplative Worship During Lent Sundays Now - April 2, 7pm, Sanctuary Join us during Lent in the Sanctuary on Sunday evenings at 7pm for a Contemplative Communion service. The worship unfolds slowly, combining readings, prayer, music and silence and closing with Communion. Come and find the quiet center and sounds of silence and listen to the ancient voices of the desert mothers and fathers. Our Lenten Devotional can be found at nationalchurch.blogspot.com or daily on facebook at facebook.com/nationalmethodistchurch.