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Epworth
Matters
...and You Matter to Epworth
Epworth
United Methodist Church
Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
May 2008
Table of contents
Fromn the Pastor
Deadline for June 2008 Epworth Matters, May 15
In the Woods
May Lectionary Readings and Worship Schedule
Church Women United
Outreach Committees
Lines from the Library
Staff Parish Relations Committee
Trustees
Epworth Scholarships Available
Church Yard Sale
Calling All Graduates
Softball Season Begins
UMYF May Events
Christian Education
Peace with Justice Sunday -- May 25
A Prayer in Spring
A Poem for Mothers
Epworth Preschool & Kindergarten
Vacation Bible School
FROM THE
PASTOR
Greetings to each of you,
We have celebrated the joy of Easter as a
congregation and now move forward into the beauty of Spring. May is a
month that brings us hope and renewal.
While new life fills the air both in the church and in
the community, we can be excited about the transition from the victory
of Easter Sunday to the birth of our church on Pentecost Sunday. It is
an exciting time as we celebrate the Pentecost as the Holy Spirit
descended upon the children of God as God's gift to the church. As we
enter this time, let us all be thankful and remember our baptism and
confession of faith to our raised Savior. It is through our Baptism
that we are initiated into Christ's Holy Church and our confession of
faith that unites us together in Christ.
With the coming of Pentecost Sunday we can begin to
prepare by being prayerful as we remember our own baptism and its
importance in our relationship to Christ Jesus. I will always remember
the day of my baptism as a special time for my spiritual foundation and
the continued rebirth in the growth of the church. The song writer
wrote, "I am the church, you are the church, we are the church
together." It is through the blessed gift of baptism and the powerful
movement of God's spirit that we are united into Christ's Holy Family.
So, let us all remember our Baptism and be glad! Let us celebrate the
birthday of the Christian Church, by actualizing our possibility as
Epworth United Methodist Church.
On May 18, we will celebrate the confirmation of our youth during a
special youth-led worship service. As we welcome our confirmands into
full membership of our church, let us join them in joyfully responding
to God's call to discipleship.
Happy Birthday, Church! Happy Rebirth in our Mission and Ministry!
Pastor McCurdy
Deadline for the June 2008 Issue of Epworth Matters-May 15
Articles may be submitted to the Church Office by e-mail
at Admin.Secretary@eumc-md.org, or leave a hard copy in the Epworth Matters mailbox
outside the church office. Please be sure to include your name and
phone number on the article you are submitting. Articles received after
May 15 will appear in the next issue.
The May Issue of Epworth Matters will be assembled on Thursday, May 29. Volunteers, please mark your calendars.
In the Woods
by Anna Coffman
One lonely Sunday afternoon,
While I wandered aimlessly along a wooded path,
Suddenly I found beside my feet,
A tiny bunch of violets.
There really weren't so many there,
But, somehow my spirits seemed to lift.
Strangely, then, I said goodbye,
To care and started musing.
How apropos that I should come,
Upon them when my soul longed so for beauty,
When life seemed so mundane,
So full of useless things.
But, there they were,
And I got back to fundamental things,
To God, and all because,
A little bunch of violets were growing in the sod.
May Lectionary Readings and
Worship Schedule
Let us prepare weekly for our worship together by studying God's Word in advance of the service.
May
1
(Thursday) Ascension of the Lord / National Day of Prayer
First
Lesson
Acts 1:1-11
Book of
Psalms
Psalm 47
Second
Lesson
Ephesians 1:15-23
Gospel
Luke 24:44-53
Seasonal
Color
White
May
4
7th Sunday of Easter / Communion
First
Lesson
Acts 1:6-14
Book of
Psalms
Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35
Second
Lesson
I Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11
Gospel
John 17:1-11
Seasonal
Color
White
Communion
Color
White
Music
Epworth Ringers/Chancel Choir
May
11
Day of Pentecost / Mother's Day
First
Lesson
Acts 2:1-21
Book of
Psalms
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
Second
Lesson I
Corinthians 12:3b-13
Gospel
John 7:37-39
Color
Red
Music
Men's Chorus
May 18 1st Sunday after Pentecost/Trinity Sunday/Confirmation Sunday/Youth Sunday
Old
Testament
Genesis 1:1-2:4a
Book of
Psalms
Psalm 8
Epistle
II Corinthians 13:11-13
Gospel
Matthew 28:16-20
Color
White
Music
Children's Choirs
May
25
2nd Sunday after Pentecost/Peace with Justice Sunday
Old
Testament
Isaiah 49:8-16a
Book of
Psalms
Psalm 131 or Psalm 62:5-12
Epistle
I Corinthians 4:1-5
Gospel
Matthew 6:24-34
Color
Green
Music
Chancel Choir
Church Women United
Church Women United will meet at Epworth on Friday, May 2, at 9:30 a.m. in the Chapel to celebrate May Friendship Day. Plan now to attend. This year's theme is "God's Wisdom Inspires Hospitality."
Outreach Committee
by Cheryl White
Gaithersburg HELP
Last year, Gaithersburg HELP experienced a 13% increase
in the number of persons served by their Food program and a 40%
increase in the number of families provided diapers/formula through
their Infant Needs program. Unfortunately, they did not have a
corresponding increase in food and monetary donations.
Gaithersburg HELP Volunteer Needs:
• Food Coordinators
are needed to schedule food clients. Requires working from home one
weekday a month, returning client phone calls and entering client
records on our laptop computer. Spanish-speakers helpful, but not
required.
• Transportation Volunteers
are needed to drive clients to weekday medical appointments in the
local area. Flexible position: assignments can be accepted or rejected
based on the volunteer's availability. Approximate time commitment is 2
hours per month.
• Transportation Coordinators
are needed to arrange rides for clients. Requires working from home one
week every other month returning client phone calls and contacting
volunteer drivers. Generally takes 1-3 hours each weekday spread
throughout the day.
• Pantry Workers are
needed to prepare and distribute food packages to clients at the
pantry. Requires a time commitment of 3 hours one weekday a month in
the late afternoon or evening. Volunteers must apply in pairs or
groups. This is a great family activity!
• Leaders are needed to serve on the Executive committee monitoring the overall operation of GHELP and developing long-range plans.
• Volunteers with experience in facilitating strategic planning sessions are needed on a temporary basis.
• Hold a food drive.
GHELP would be thrilled if you could organize a Food Drive at a school,
business, or community organization. GHELP will provide full details on
how to conduct a food drive.
• Food Drive Pickups.
If you would be able to assist with food pickups, when others hold a
food drive, GHELP needs you!! Most pickups are during the day but
occasionally evenings or weekends. Although it helps to have a large
vehicle, sometimes a car works fine (or we send 2 cars).
Non-perishable Food Donations
Current needs include: canned spaghetti sauce with meat
(26.5oz); cereal; canned chicken; instant potatoes; canned fruits;
boxed rice mixes; pastas; diapers; and large paper grocery bags. No
glass or super size containers please. No expired foods please.
Thank you for your continuing commitment to serving the
needy in our community and fulfilling the Gaithersburg HELP tradition:
Neighbor Helping Neighbor!
To volunteer or make a donation, please contact Gaithersburg HELP at:
Phone: 301-216-2510
e-Mail: gaithersburghelp@yahoo.com
Web site: http://www.gaithersburghelp.org
Lines From the Library
by Karen Brooks and Joyce McCowin
There are some new titles ready for our little Methodists
to enjoy. Several books published by Habitat for Humanity International
have been donated. Children will enjoy the stories about people working
together and enriching their lives. A couple of titles from the Mess
Detective series which is similar to the Veggie Tales series are ready
to be enjoyed. Two books of short stories about Christopher Churchmouse
can be read one story a night or any time you spend reading with your
child. Reverend McCurdy has donated GOD. CAN YOU HEAR ME? about how God
is an inspiration and guide that all children can depend on when they
need help. Bring your child / children into the library and choose a
book to enjoy.
The library is open before and after church. When you get
your cup of coffee, stroll into the library and take time to browse the
shelves. (You may notice that the shelves are not necessarily labeled
properly! Volunteer time to do that just hasn't happened yet. Getting
new materials ready has been a priority.) We've been putting the new
books on the table where we have coffee and on the cart right inside
the library door.
Instructions about check-out procedures are on the desk
inside the library. All you have to do is sign the book card with your
name and phone number, put the card in the pocket on the library desk,
and put a blue card that shows that the book is due in three weeks.
This makes it possible for you to be able to check out materials even
if one of us is not available. You can make a stop in the library part
of your Sunday routine.
Staff Parish Relations Committee
by Sarah Bazen, Chair
"Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord
appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I am God Almighty; Walk before Me,
and be blameless. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you,
and I will multiply you exceedingly.'" Genesis 17:1-2
Praise God for loving human beings so much that He
persevered over the years in trying to get close to us, forgiving us
again and again as we strayed away from the covenants. "Walk before me
and be blameless," God says. The only way we can even begin to do that
is through Jesus, who took all the blame for our sin on himself for our
sake. The Adult Sunday School class has been studying Genesis, and
we've had some wonderful discussions. SPRC is supportive of developing
small groups for study and worship. We're talking about sponsoring a
dinner for everyone on the third Sunday of each month. We'll eat and
have fellowship together, and then do some studying and worshipping
together to get to know one another and our wonderful God a little
better. Stay tuned.
Rev. McCurdy and I went to Wesley to interview a student
who may be interested in serving as an intern at our church over the
next school year. It was a joy to meet such a dedicated young man. We
said we'd be pleased to have him if he thinks he could learn what he
needs to learn with us, so we'll see what happens. Please keep all the
Wesley students in your prayers. These are tough times in which to
start a career as a clergy-person, but this is just when God needs
these new clergy, as well as all of us, to advance the agenda of the
Kingdom of Heaven.
Our daily lives can seem so far removed from Heaven.
"Walk before me", says God. Every day, all the time, not just on Sunday
mornings at the official worship service. Do the folks you see during
the week know you're a Christian? Do they see the fruits of the Spirit
in your words and actions?
During the Spring quarter, the SPRC is charged with the following:
• Begin assessment / evaluation of "ministry areas" and staff; and
• Review legal responsibilities with employed and appointed staff.
We will continue to:
• Work on an Employee Handbook for Epworth;
• Support the Safe Sanctuary Task Force; and
• Support the Administrative Council in guiding the congregation.
We'll be meeting on May 19, Let us know if we can do anything for you. As you know from past newsletters, the SPRC's mission is:
To manage, support,
counsel and advise the Pastor and Staff in their ministries.
Let's support and challenge one another to walk before God every day,
all the time. Let's pray for one another, and seek together to know our
God better.
Sarah
Bazen
Maggie Patterson
Jane
Clark
Donna Ray
Ben Teah
Elliott
Caroline Skinker
Johnna
Horton
Jane Weaver
Moorosi
Mokuena
Alexander Keely
Trustees
by Bonnie Johnson
The Church Workday on Saturday, April 19, was a success!
There was great fellowship.
There was painting.
There was planting.
There was washing of windows.
There was eating.
There was learning to use tools.
There was getting to know others.
There was more eating.
There was joking.
There was joy in the sharing of work for our church.
It was a very good day.
Thank you to all who participated in the Spring Work Day!
Epworth Scholarships Available
by Susan Scholl, Scholarship Coordinator
Epworth will be awarding scholarships to members of
the church who are high school seniors entering college or vocational
school in 2008. There is also a need based scholarship available to a
student who has successfully completed at least one year of college.
These awards come from the following scholarship funds: The Bernice and
Delbert Foster Endowment Fund -for confirmands; the Bohrer-Germon
Scholarship Fund - for church and community service; and the Paul
Utterback Memorial Fund, created by Hearts and Hands - for community
service.
Applications are due June 1 and forms are available in
the church office or on the Epworth website at
http://www.epworthsteeple.org/scholarship.htm. If you have any
questions about the scholarship program or want to know more about
contributing to or creating a scholarship fund, please contact Rev.
Sheila McCurdy or Susan Scholl.
Church Yard Sale: May 3
United Methodist Women Women's, Division
The United Methodist Women's Annual Yard Sale will
be held on Saturday, May 3, from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. in
Fellowship Hall. Please donate your unwanted items. Please donate your
unwanted items which are in good condition.
Volunteers are needed to assist in many ways. We
will set up on May 1 and May 2 at 4:00 p.m. Thank you for your
assistance and donations.
Calling All Graduates!
High School, College Graduates, and Graduate / Medical School Students and their Parents
You have reached a significant milestone in your journey!
If you are graduating from high school or college or are attending
graduate, medical, school, etc., please submit the following
information to Evi Melberg CPS/CAP, Administrative Secretary, by June 8
for inclusion in the worship bulletin on Graduate Recognition Sunday,
June 22, and in the July/August issue of Epworth Matters(Click below for a printable form):
Name of Graduate:______________________________________________________________________________
High School Name:______________________________________________________________________________
College Name:__________________________________________________________________________________
College Degree:__________________________________________________________________________________
Name and address of College High School Graduate will be attending:__________________________________________
__________________________________________
___________________________________________
If currently attending college, please let us know the name of the college and your year:_______________________________
________________________________
If going into the armed forces:___________________________________________________________________________
If attending trade, technical, school, etc., please list name of school:_______________________________________________
Click here for a printable formThere is also a form available for your use in the Narthex. Thank you for your help in updating our church records!
Softball Season Begins!
2008 GAITHERSBURG CHURCH SOFTBALL LEAGUE
SCHEDULED GAMES FOR EPWORTH
APRIL
15
Fairhaven United Methodist; Darnestown (Home)
22
Rock Creek Church; Johnsons (Visitor)
29
Church of Christ/Manor Woods; Johnsons (Home)
MAY
6 Seneca
Creek Community Church; Johnsons (Visitor)
13
Ascension Episcopal Church; Stewartown (Visitor)
20
Fairhaven United Methodist; Darnestown (Visitor)
JUNE
3
Rock Creek Church; Stewartown (Home)
10
Church of Christ/Manor Woods; Johnsons (Visitor)
17
Seneca Creek Community Church; Darnestown (Visitor)
24
Ascension Episcopal Church; Johnsons (Home)
JULY
1 Church of
Christ/Manor Woods; Stewartown (Home)
15
Ascension Episcopal Church; Johnsons (Home)
22 Epworth
United Methodist / Gaithersburg Presbyterian Crab Feast
Epworth's status as the home or visiting team is indicated in
parentheses. Games start promptly at 6:45 p.m.. Basic directions to the
fields are given below. Contact Jerry McCowin if you need further
information.
Directions to Fields
Johnsons Park (formerly Emory
Grove) is off old Route 124 right after the Upcounty recreation center
and before you get to former Longview Elementary School and on the same
side of the road. Just past Emory Grove Road and Mid-County Highway.
Darnestown Park is located to the right side of Route 28 on the north side of Darnestown.
Stewartown Park is located on
the left side of Goshen Road going out of Gaithersburg, about a mile
after the intersection of Goshen Road with Centerway Road and just
after its intersection with Stewartown Road.
UMYF May Events
MAY 4: PARENT APPRECIATION DINNER
Parents of youth in the both the Jr. High and Sr. High
UMYF and their youth are invited to join us for our Third Annual Parent
Appreciation Dinner on May 4 at 6:00 in the Fellowship Hall. Come enjoy
a dinner and let us appreciate you for all that you do from driving
your youth to youth group, driving for an event, and just being you.
We will not meet on May 11 because of Mother's Day. This
enables the youth leaders to spend time with their mothers.
May 18 is Youth Sunday. Our theme for this year has been
"Why we tell the stories". We look forward to sharing worship with you
and reflect on this theme. We are also excited to have Confirmation
included in the service as well.
The Sr. High will have lunch at Lauren's house after the
service to celebrate the year and celebrate our seniors. Watch for
emails with more details about this event. This will end Sr. High youth
group formal meetings until the fall. We will be meeting in June to
plan next year - so again watch for emails about this planning meeting.
MAY 18: CONFIRMATION
The Confirmation class has been meeting for four months
and they will be making their Confirmation on May 18. The class members
have worked hard to research famous United Methodists and write brief
reports about them. They will be hung on the bulletin board at the top
of the stairs so that you may also enjoy them and learn about some
famous people in United Methodist History.
Christian Education
by Becky Beeler
The Hope Fund... Connecting with Zimbabwe
The Hope Fund is a two-year Methodist Church giving
campaign designed to address crises in Zimbabwe, AIDS ministries, and
the rebuilding of churches damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Later this
spring we will have a special offering for the Hope Fund.
To further our connection with the country of Zimbabwe,
we have contacted the Zimbabwe Embassy about planning a "field trip" to
the Embassy after church one Sunday. We hope to learn more about
Zimbabwe and the mission of the Embassy.
Please keep an eye out for further information .. about
both the Epworth Hope Fund Offering and a potential visit to the
Zimbabwe Embassy.
Peace With Justice Sunday ... May 25
The first Sunday after Pentecost, has been officially
designated as Peace With Justice Sunday. It is one of six Special
Sundays in the United Methodist Church. This day calls the church to
action for peace with justice.
The offering funds annual conference and General Board of
Church and Society peace with justice ministries. The symbol used is
the origami paper crane - a simple yet powerful symbol, and thousands
upon thousands of cranes are sent to the Peace Park in Japan every year.
Across the United Methodist Church, compassionate people
respond to God's call to be peacemakers. They advocate for human
rights, buy fair-trade products, care for the environment, demonstrate
for a cause, eradicate poverty, feed hungry people, mediate conflict,
provide health care, seek affordable housing and model nonviolence.
The purpose of this Sunday: "Pentecost celebrates the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit calling for God's shalom. Peace with
justice witnesses to God's demand for a faithful, just, disarmed, and
secure world." (Par. 264.5, The Book of Discipline 2004)
A Prayer in Spring
by Robert Frost
Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.
Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.
And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid-air stands still.
For this is love and nothing else is love,
The which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.
A Poem for Mothers
From Positive Promotions
With their thoughtful words
and their caring ways,
mothers can brighten
the darkest of days.
Through our mothers
we feel God's love.
They truly are gifts
from Heaven above!
Epworth Preschool & Kindergarten
by Malinda Smith, Director
May is the last month of school for our
Preschool and Kindergarten students so we like to keep it full of fun
activities! Our classes will enjoy having fun outdoors again and will
learn about summer weather and activities. The year will end with
special celebrations in each classroom as we say goodbye to each other
for the summer!
Throughout the course of the year, we have kept
our classrooms busy with challenging and enriching activities on a
daily basis. Our new music enrichment program, Music on the Move, was
lead by Epworth member Lisa Anderson and has been a great success! On
an organizational level, we have taken steps to protect all of our
young children with severe food allergies by revising our policies and
procedures with regard to food management in the classroom and
emergency medical protocols. We have acquired additional audiovisual
resources to enrich our program. The efforts of many people have made
all of this happen, and I continue to be blessed to work with such a
wonderful staff.
Thank you for the many things that you have done to
support the Preschool this year. Many of you signed up through the
Giant A+ Bonus Bucks program, and many more have taken the time to
bring in Campbell's Soup Labels and General Mills Box Tops for us. You
helped to make our Scholastic Book Fair a great success ... and we
thank you!
Finally, our current Preschool Board of Directors have
served the Preschool faithfully this year, and I appreciate all of
their efforts on our behalf. And a special thank you goes to Linda
D'Aloisio for her leadership of the Preschool Board over the last two
years. I look forward to working with a new Board next year... and hope
that you will consider contributing your time to help guide this
wonderful organization!
SAVE THE DATE
June 16-June 20
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Vacation Bible School
More info to come!
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Last modified May 2, 2008