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Epworth
Matters
...and You Matter to Epworth
Epworth
United Methodist Church
Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
February 2010
Table of contents
From the Pastor
Camp Joy
New Member Class
February Lectionary and Worship Schedule
Lines from the Library
Worship Committee
Finance Committee
Trustees
Endowment Committee
Christian Outreach Committee
Staff Parish Relations Committee
Rosemont and Washington Grove Elementary Schools
Newsletter Deadline
2010 Lent and Holy Week Activities
"Souper" Bowl Sunday Collection for Gaithersburg HELP
Christian Education Program News
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Greetings to each of you in this New Year!
I recently made an announcement to the congregation sharing my
request to our Conference to begin my retirement July 1, 2010. My
decision has been made with prayer and a process of discernment. It's
really clear to me that this is the right time in my faith journey to
open myself to new opportunities of discipleship. I look forward to
having more time to give to the justice and peace ministries that are
close to my heart. |
I feel that Epworth is in a good place to welcome a
new pastor and begin your joint ministry together. Be assured that
during these next few months, I will commit my time and energy to
preparing with you for a healthy transition. After retiring I will be
moving to Columbia, Maryland to share a residence with my son and his
wife and where I have many close friends. I will keep you in my prayers
during this transition, as I hope you will keep me in your prayers, as
well.
This season often leaves us in awe of winter. We
wait for ice to melt, for snow to stop, and for the welcome warmth of
the sun. We may cancel some events and postpone others. We enjoy some
quiet, unexpected times at home and observe the beauty of nature all
around us. We are reminded of our relationship with all of creation.
During the month of February, we will move from the
season of Epiphany to the season of Lent. Lent is a season of forty
days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on
Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word "Iecten", which
means "spring."
The season is a preparation for celebrating Easter.
It is a time of penance for all Christians, as we walk with our Lord
toward Jerusalem where we will experience the pain of Calvary and joy
of Easter morning. Let us open ourselves to the power of God's presence
during this most sacred of seasons.
Lent is a time to allow a fresh new taste of God!
Won't you each join me in prayerful preparation during this Lenten
season. Look for opportunities of fellowship and Bible Study, and
discussion within our church community, as we share our Lenten journey.
In God's Amazing Love,
Pastor McCurdy
Camp JOY
We are hoping to send a hard working and spirited
group of youth and adults to Camp JOY this summer. The week is a
wonderful opportunity to build your faith through fellowship and
serving others. Camp JOY is open to youth who will be high school
freshmen or older in the fall of 2010. No construction skills are
required, though youth are expect to bring energy and enthusiasm to
learn and contribute at the work site.
What do you do at Camp JOY? Youth groups help
refurbish homes for people who are unable to afford to do the work
themselves. Participants sleep in their own tents at Camp Harmison. The
group will also enjoy an afternoon of recreation at Cacapon State Park
as well as fun worship, games and fellowship at Camp Harmison.
We hope to attend the second session, which is July 18-24, 2010. Applications and fees are due in February.
ANYONE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING should contact Mike Skinker or Becky Beeler, no later than February 7:
New Member Class
If you are interested in becoming a member of
Epworth, a new member class will be held on Saturday, February 20, at
9:30 a.m. in Room 201. Please call the Church Office at 301-926-0424 to
register. New members will be received on February 28.
February Lectionary Readings and
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Let us prepare weekly for our worship together by studying God's Word in advance of the service.
February
7
5th Sunday after the Epiphany Communion
Old
Testament
Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13)
Book of
Psalms
Psalm 138
Epistle
Lesson
I Corinthians 15: 1-11
Gospel
Lesson
Luke 5:1-11
Color
White
Music
Chancel Choir
February
14 Last
Sunday after the Epiphany
Transfiguration of the Lord
Old
Testament
Exodus 34:29-35
Book of
Psalms
Psalm 99
Epistle
Lesson
II Corinthians 3:12-4:2
Gospel
Lesson
Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)
Color
White
Music
Children's Choirs
February
17
Ash Wednesday
Old
Testament
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
Book of
Psalms
Psalm 51:1-17
Epistle
Lesson
II Corinthians 5:20b-6:1 0
Gospel
Lesson
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Color
Purple
Music
Chancel
Choir
February
21
1st Sunday in Lent
Old
Testament
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Book of
Psalms
Psalm 91 :1-2, 9-16
Epistle
Lesson
Romans 10:8b-13
Gospel
Lesson
Luke 4:1-13
Color
Purple
Music
Chancel Choir
February
28
2nd Sunday in Lent
Old
Testament
Genesis 15:1-12,17-18
Book of
Psalms
Psalm 27
Epistle
Lesson
Philippians 3:17-4:1
Gospel
Lesson
Luke 13:31-35
Color
Purple
Music
Chancel Choir
"Lines from the Library"
by Karen Brooks and Joyce McCowin
We still have some weeks of winter ahead. On
February 2, Groundhog Day, some believe a groundhog will determine how
much longer we will have cold winter days. Each member of the family
may want a book to read while they curl up on a cold afternoon or
evening. You will find ideas for crafts and other family activities to
do by yourself or as a family. February is Black History Month. We have
a book about Dionne Warwick telling how she was inspired by her
grandfather to sing. There are books by African American writers such
as Jerry Pinkney. Stop by and find one to enjoy.
The UMW is reading the Mitford series by Jan Karon.
Ms. Karon has started the Father Tim Novels which is a series about
Father Tim. We have the first of this series, Home to Holly Springs.
In this book, 38 years after leaving his Mississippi hometown, Father
Tim receives an unsigned note saying "Come home". It leads him to a
truth that will change his life forever. I really enjoyed finding out
what happened to the characters that I met in the Mitford series.
Another series that I can recommend is the "Coming Home to Brewster"
series by Roxanne Henke. These five books are written about the
friendships of women dealing with breast cancer, teen drug use, teen
pregnancy, depression, etc. They are written in a different way because
the writer has each of the women telling events and happenings from
their viewpoint which allows you to understand things from another
viewpoint.
Pastor Sheila has donated Don't Sing Songs to a Heavy Heart: How to Relate to Those Who Are Suffering.
Many of us don't know what to say or do to help someone who is in pain
or hurting. This book gives practical examples and suggestions about
what to say or do and what NOT to say or do. She, also, has added Martin Luther King Jr. for Armchair Theologians.
This books gives a portrait of a great civil rights leader. Martin
Luther King, Jr. appears as a serious theologian, an inspirational
activist, and yet a man who did not escape the prejudices of his time.
Worship Committee
by Don Weaver, Chair
As we prepare for the Lenten Season, we reflected
on two messages from very different sources. During the Christmas
season, the Hallmark Channel had many Christmas movies. One of them
featured an angel who reminded a person who felt wronged by another
that there was an easy answer to his dilemma; three words that can save
the world: "I forgive you." She went on to say these words have saved
the world. In a January edition of Federal Executive,
one of the articles took its title from an Elton John song: "Sorry
seems to be the hardest word." We encourage you seek opportunities for
reconciliation and use "I forgive you" and/or "I'm sorry," as a
starting point.
Worship is
defined as honoring and praising God. Given that definition, you have
charged the Worship Committee with the responsibility of helping guide
our church in a variety of interlocking activities. Our
responsibilities go far beyond the Sunday and other special worship
services. We are charged to help everyone who is part of the Epworth
United Methodist Church family to grow in the knowledge of God. We need
your input and assistance.
UPCOMING LENTEN SEASON EVENTS:
We have scheduled a number of events for the Lenten Season. There will
be a full schedule of events posted in the near future. but we wanted
you to get these dates on your calendar. Please see the Lenten Calendar in the newsletter.
HAVE YOU SENT A BULLETIN WITH A NOTE TO SOMEONE YOU HAVE MISSED AT CHURCH? CARING FOR MEMBERS:
As announced on Commitment Sunday, your Worship Committee is launching
a campaign to reach those we have not seen in church. We ask those who
attend the service to take notice of a member of our Epworth family
that is not in attendance. jot a note on the bulletin, and send it to
them. This can be someone who missed a Sunday or someone whom we have
not seen for some time. The message is simple: God loves you and so do
we. It is our hope this will strengthen our connection and help us find
ways to enhance everyone's worship experience.
THE HONOR OF USHERING:
Ushering is an honor, and we cannot thank our ushering team enough for
the service they provide to Epworth United Methodist Church. We need
additional volunteers to staff our usher teams. We have had requests to
have our youth usher at times other than youth-sponsored services. We
have prayerfully considered this request and invite youth who have been
confirmed and completed usher training to become members of our usher
teams.
TIME AND TALENTS NEEDED - FELLOWSHIP HOUR:
Our goal is to have a host person/family/group for every Sunday of the
year. The sign up sheet is posted in the lounge. You can also volunteer
by contacting Kelda Simpson.
We have some additional TEAM blessings to count:
· The team that decorated the church for the Advent and Christmas season.
· The team that arranged the poinsettias in the sanctuary and narthex.
· The team that makes sure the parking lot is ready to receive those who are coming to worship.
· The team that provided the wonderful family worship service on Christmas Eve.
· Our usher teams.
We look forward to working with each member of the
congregation to make worship an integral part of our discipleship
adventure. We welcome your input and dialogue. We have received a
number of very helpful suggestions. We invite your continued
suggestions along with what you would be willing to commit to do to
assist in the worship experience at Epworth United Methodist Church. To
provide us with your suggestions, commitments, and feedback, please:
1. Speak with a member of the Worship Committee (names listed in the room where we have Fellowship Hour),.
2. Leave a note in the Worship Committee mailbox next to the elevator,
3. E-mail your thoughts to the Church Office.
4. Attend one of our meetings. Look for the date
posted in the weekly bulletin, get a cup of coffee and a cookie,
and join us.
God Bless You!!
Finance Committee
by Jane Blessley, Chair
Our Mission Statement:
To efficiently and effectively oversee and manage the financial
resources of the church to support its important ministries. The
Finance Committee processes income; processes expenditures through
accounting and disbursements; manages the budget; manages assets and
debts; manages the financial campaign; and coordinates the annual
financial audit.
Current Activities
Many blessings to you and your family for the New Year!
2010 Budget:
The Administrative Council approved the 2010 church budget at their
November 9, 2009 meeting. Projected income for this year is
approximately $336,000. Projected expenses for this year are
approximately $379,000. Therefore, the church budget is projected to
have a deficit of approximately $43,000 by the end of this year. In
these tough economic times, please prayerfully consider contributing to
the many important ministries of our church.
Counters:
Have you ever wondered how your contributions to the church are
processed and credited to you? The Financial Secretary of the church
oversees the processing of contributions by: a) coordinating
alternating teams of two counters per Sunday who record contributions
to member records and appropriate income accounts, prepare and
distribute appropriate reports, and deposit checks and cash in the
bank; b) providing training on Sundays after church for new counters;
and c) preparing and distributing contribution statements to church
members. If you would like to become a counter, please contact the
Financial Secretary, Nancy Laing or Jane Blessley, Finance Committee
Chair.
Trustees
by Brenda Falk
It's almost February and time to show that we love
our fellow members of Epworth. What better way of showing that you love
others than being ready to save their lives in a cardiac emergency? The
Epworth Trustees are once again seeking individuals interested in
receiving CPR/AED training at church. The training can be completed in
one evening and is painless. Please contact Brenda Falk if you would be
interested in receiving CPR/AED training at Epworth this spring. We
would like to encourage as many members of the congregation to get the
training as possible. You never know, you may be able to save a loved
one's life some day!
Thanks again to all of the people who use Epworth
after hours for keeping the doors closed and for making sure the doors
close after you as you come in or leave. Some of the doors are slow to
close so you want to make sure you shut the door completely in order to
ensure everyone's safety. Thank you for your cooperation.
Endowment Committee
by Fawn Rooke
This is the second in a series of articles
answering frequently asked questions about Epworth's Endowment Fund.
This article will focus on the difference between an endowment fund and
a memorial fund.
Please don't hesitate to contact me, other members
of the Endowment Committee, or Pastor McCurdy with any questions.
Q: Do I have to be rich to fund an Endowment?
A:
Richness of spirit and a dollar bill might be all you need, depending
on your goal and who else shares that goal.
Are you interested in providing scholarships for
college students, expanding Epworth's mission work, supporting the work
of the Parish Nurse program, or creating a flexible and responsive
source of funding for currently unforeseen needs? If so, then we would
welcome your contribution in any amount (even that dollar bill) to one
of the funds listed at the bottom of this article. The donors who
established these funds hoped that others would share their vision and
be inspired to work towards the same goals, whether through monetary
donations, active participation in the funded programs, or prayers of
support.
If you have a different vision and would like to
establish a new endowment fund at Epworth, you will need more cash (or
stocks, bonds, saleable property, etc.). In general, an endowment
fund's usable income each year is 2-4% of the principal, so we've set
our minimum size for new endowments at $10,000. The $200-$400 produced
each year would be a wonderful blessing to many programs at Epworth. If
your goal is grander, then your initial contribution might also need to
increase.
Endowments don't always have to be fully funded
immediately. If you can provide seed money and you or other members of
the congregations expect to provide the remainder of the funding within
a reasonable time frame, the Endowment Committee would be willing to
accept the fund on a provisional basis.
The Endowment Committee is always willing to answer
questions and consider alternatives. If you would like to discuss our
endowment funds or opportunities to contribute to them, feel free to
contact me or any other member of the committee.
Endowments currently accepting contributions of any size
· The Delbert and Bernice Foster Scholarship Fund
· The Reverend Gerard and Rita Green Family Endowment for Global Missions
· The Mary Owens Parish Nurse Endowment
· The General Endowment Fund
Please contact the Endowment Committee if you would like details about the specific purpose of each.
Christian Outreach Committee
by Cheryl White
The Outreach Committee recently made the following
donations to support local, national and international missions:
· UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) Haiti Emergency (http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor),
· UMAN (Upper
Montgomery Assistant Network) http://www.uman-mc.org/ the mission of
this faith-based organization is to provide emergency financial
assistance, education, and referral services
to people in our community who are at risk of homelessness or are
disconnected from vital utility services, and
· Human Relations Sunday,
this special collection on Jan 17 is the source of funding for programs
such as the Community Development Grant that we
received for our Hispanic Computer Training
Program.
Giant Gift Cards
Special thanks to Denise Smith who has
graciously volunteered to help sell the Giant Gift Cards after service
in the Narthex on Sundays. The Christian Outreach Committee receives 5%
from each card sold. These funds are utilized to support local,
national, and international missions.
Staff Parish Relations Committee
by Sarah Bazen
"0 people of
Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious
he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer
you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water
of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes
you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your
ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it." Isaiah 30:19-21
By now you have heard that our Reverend McCurdy
will be retiring as of June 30,2010, which is the end of the church's
year for purposes of pastoral assignments. Please join with us on SPRC
in thanking her for all the energy and time she has devoted to helping
us pursue the Discipleship Adventure here at Epworth. We recognize and
appreciate the many gifts she has shared with us during her time here,
including her passion for social justice and her deep personal faith.
God has wonderful things in store for her and will surely continue to
use those gifts in her retirement. SPRC will be planning ways to
celebrate Rev.'McCurdy, so please talk to anyone on the committee to
share your ideas and suggestions.
SPRC wants you to understand the pastoral
appointment process. Our goal over the next few months is to
communicate with you through e-mail, bulletin inserts, announcements in
the worship service, this newsletter, and direct mailings. Please do
not hesitate to approach anyone on the SPRC with your questions or
comments.
The first thing you need to know is that the
appointment process comes from the Book of Discipline. We are not a
congregationalist church; there is no mechanism for allowing the SPRC
or the congregation to interview and select pastors. The Bishop's
Cabinet will make a recommendation for up to three candidates of those
pastors who are available. The Bishop will then make the final
determination and offer the appointment to one of those candidates.
Our Discipler Guide, Rev. Dr. Evan Young, attended the
SPRC meetings in December of 2009 and on January 4, 2010. He helped us
to understand how the appointment process works. As a member of the
Bishop's Cabinet, he told us he will make every effort to help the
Bishop select the best candidate for Epworth. At our January 4 meeting,
SPRC voted to recommend that the pastor's base salary be reduced as of
July 1, 2010, given that our pledges and income have steadily declined
over the last few years. SPRC requested a special Charge Conference to
vote on this issue. As outlined in the Book of Discipline, members of
the Administrative Council are to vote on certain specified items, the
pastor's salary being one of those. While all are invited to attend the
Charge Conference and may speak, only the Administrative Council
members vote.
How the Appointment Process Works:
Between February and April, the Bishop's Cabinet identifies and sets appointments.
·
The Cabinet begins the process by identifying open churches and
grouping them by ministry context or missional need or salary. The
Cabinet works with one grouping at a
time by identifying potential pastors for each appointment. In addition
to reviewing the written profiles, considerable prayer and
discussion is given to each church and pastor being considered.
· The Cabinet prioritizes the top three candidates and the bishop selects the final candidate.
·
The Superintendent notifies the pastor of the opportunity to serve in a
new setting and the pastor is given up to 48 hours to request
reconsideration. If
reconsideration is not requested, a meeting is arranged through
the superintendent with the staff parish relations committee to meet
the bishop's new
appointment and have the opportunity to become
better acquainted with the pastor and understand the bishop's rational
for the appointment.
· If
there is no request for reconsideration, the district superintendent
meets with the church the pastor will be leaving to share that the
pastor will be moving. The Sunday following
this meeting, the appointment is announced in both congregations. The
appointment is also announced through the
Baltimore-Washington Conference Web site and
e-mailed to the conference e-mail list by the Tuesday following the
announcement in the congregations.
If a parsonage is involved, within a week of
the announced appointment change, representatives from
property/trustees and staff parish relations are to tour the
parsonage and identify all necessary work, upgrading and decorating to
be done by the arrival of the new pastor and to prepare a plan and time
line. The planned repairs and remodeling is to be submitted to the
district superintendent within two weeks of the appointment's
announcement to the congregation.
The Staff Parish Relations Committee and
other appropriate church members are to plan an appropriate farewell
for the out-going pastor that celebrates and gives thanks to God for
his/her ministry, and a reception for the in-coming pastor that
celebrates and gives thanks to God for her/his ministry.
Summary of Church Profile
One of SPRC's annual responsibilities is to update
the church profile that is stored on the conference website.
The church profile is used by the Bishop's Cabinet
to help identify suitable candidates from the pool of available
pastors. The Church Profile had to be completed last fall, prior to the
announcement of Rev. McCurdy's retirement. The profile cannot be
changed at this point, but you should feel free to make comments to
anyone on SPRC and we will share those comments with Rev. Dr. Evan
Young.
The profile contains data such as worship
attendance and the names of program ministries. Below is a summary of
the strengths, needs and expectations of Epworth:
Current Strengths
Diversity:
our congregation encompasses people of many different nationalities.
Our Multi-Cultural Task Force works to ensure we celebrate and honor
our differences, incorporating them into the worship experience.
Spiritual focus:
each of our committee, task force, and small group meetings starts with
prayer and some kind of devotion. Our Pastor and Administrative Council
Chair have encouraged all others in leadership positions to be mindful
of making spiritual development a priority. Our Stewardship Committee
is revising the way we think about stewardship, and is attempting to
create a year-round initiative based on identifying and nurturing the
spiritual gifts of those in the congregation.
Mission:
we take good care of one another in terms of expressions of love and
concern as well as practical assistance when needed. We are trying to
reach out to the community and the world to fill what needs we can. Our
Hispanic tutoring ministry has been recently enhanced due to a grant
from GBGM.
Music: Our music program is wonderful and bears much fruit.
Three Critical Needs
Financial needs:
the economic downturn has pinched everyone. Fewer members are pledging.
We want to have more financial resources in order to expand our
missions.
Youth leaders: we cannot afford professional youth leadership, but that is a vacuum in our congregation.
Develop more leaders from within the congregation.
Currently we have many in the congregation who seem to forget that we
no longer have a large paid staff, and volunteers from the congregation
must take ownership of the various missions.
Expectations for the Senior Pastor
Spiritual focus
- an understanding of how to help others grow spiritually and guide us
on our individual faith journeys through the sharing of personal
experiences. We need guidance to continue to develop our programs for
Christian Education and for visitation of shut-ins.
Social justice - many in our congregation have a passion for social justice. We need support and guidance navigating those waters.
Appreciation for diversity
- we have an incredibly diverse congregation and would like to be sure
we continue to be a place where all seem to feel comfortable.
Dynamic preaching style.
More information regarding the pastoral
appointment process can be found on the Conference website:
http://www.bwcumc.org/content/appointment-evaluations-landing.
We look forward to working together to make
this transition a smooth and healthy one for our congregation. Please
join us in praying for the Bishop and his Cabinet, that they will be
given the gift of discernment and will successfully seek God's guidance
as they make the appointment decisions for Epworth and for other
churches in the conference. Pray for us, that we might have faith that
God will take care of us and provide the right leader for this stage in
our spiritual development. Change can be unsettling, but God turns all
things for good and will continue to heap blessings upon us as long as
we hear his voice saying, "This is the way, walk in it." Let us rejoice
together in our wonderful Father, and in his loving care for us.
Remember that the SPRC's mission is to
manage, support, counsel and advise the Pastor and Staff in their
ministries.
We are here to support all of you in our
collective ministry. Please pray for us as we do our committee's work.
Know that we are praying for you. Let us know what we can do for you.
Sarah
Bazen
Renuka Singh
Jane
Clark
Darrell Kelley
Curtis Gainer
Carolyn Skinker
Johnna
Horton
Laurel Martin
Ellen McAdams
Rosemont and Washington Grove Elementary Schools
by Joyce McCowin
There is a need for warm coats, hats, and mittens or gloves
for the at-risk families at Washington Grove and Rosemont Elementary
Schools. The clothes can be any size since the teens and adults have
needs for warm clothing as well. They should be new or very gently
worn. Please put them in the box in the Narthex.
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Deadline for the March 2010 Issue of Epworth Matters is February 15.
Articles may be submitted to the Church Office by e-mail to
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 February 15 will appear in the next issue.
The March issue of Epworth Matters will be assembled on Thursday, February 25. Volunteers, please mark your calendars.
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2010 Lent and Holy Week Activities
February
16
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner & Entertainment -- 6:30 to 8:00 pm in
Fellowship Hall
February
17
Ash Wednesday Worship -- 7:00 pm
February
21
Heifer Project Children's Sermon
March
3
Wednesday -- Lenten Dinner and Bible Study
Hosted by Davis and Smith Families
6:00 pm -- 8:00 pm
Fellowship Hall
March
17
Wednesday -- Lenten Dinner and Bible
Study
Host Family/Group needed
6:00 pm -- 8:00 pm
Fellowship Hall
March
21
Sunday Worship -- Children and Youth Sunday School Lenten Program
March
28
Sunday -- Passion/Palm Sunday Worship at 10:00 am
April
1
Holy Thursday -- Love Feast at 6:30 pm
April
2
Good Friday Service -- 12:00 Noon
Combined Service at Epworth United Methodist
April
4
Easter Sunday -- Worship at 10:00 am
Solemn Mass by Louis Vierne sung by Chancel Choir
11:30 am Easter Egg Hunt
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Last modified January 31, 2009