June 2018 Volume 29, No. 2 nationalchurch.org
the
messenger
THE GRATITUDE ISSUE NUMC Welcomes Rev. Frances Stewart ____________________________
June 24, 2018 Retirement Recognition for Rev. Drema McAllister-Wilson “Letting Go: A Matter of New Beginnings” Single Service at 10:00 AM Rev. Drema McAllister-Wilson Metropolitan Memorial campus With Coffee Hour at 10:00 AM Service at 11:00 AM Rev. Dr. Mary Ellen Huzzard Wesley campus Followed by “More Than Coffee Hour” afterwards
Favorite Stories of the Bible*
July 1 – September 2, 2018 Sunday, July 1
Dry Bones
Rev. Janet Craswell Sunday, July 8
A Wedding at Cana
Rev. Michael Chamberlain Sunday, July 15
Dinner with Friends Rev. Michael Chamberlain Sunday, July 22
Christmas in July
Rev. Michael Chamberlain Sunday, July 29
Desperate Housewife Patrick Landau
Continued on the next page
On Sunday, May 6, it was announced that Reverend Frances Waldren Stewart would be NUMC’s incoming Director of Congregational Care. Rev. Stewart will begin her service at NUMC in July. Rev. Stewart is a native of Covington, Virginia, who grew up in the Baptist Church, but became a United Methodist when she joined Goshen UMC in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in 1983. She received the call to ministry while serving in leadership at Goshen. Rev. Stewart is a 2008 graduate of the Local Pastor Course of Study School at Wesley Theological Seminary. She was elected as an Associate Member of the Baltimore-Washington Conference in 2010. Rev. Stewart was first appointed to serve as a part-time local pastor at Elijah UMC in Poolesville, Maryland. She served as pastor of Friendship United Methodist Church in the Damascus-Friendship Charge in Damascus, Maryland, for 14 years. From 2000 to 2006, she was the fulltime Youth and Family Ministries Pastor at Damascus UMC, while maintaining her lead pastoral responsibilities to Friendship Church. Rev. Stewart was appointed to serve as full-time pastor to Metropolitan UMC in Severn, Maryland, in July, 2011. She led the congregation in developing a new vision and mission focus, and has done training on spiritual gifts, caring for inactive members, and new member classes. Rev. Stewart has organized and directed many retreats for youth and for women. Reverend Stewart has served on several Volunteers in Mission (VIM) teams to support communities in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, New Orleans (after Hurricane Katrina), and South Africa. She is a Stephen Ministry Leader and serves on the Commission on the Status and Role of Women (COSROW) for the Baltimore-Washington Conference. She has also received training in bereavement support through Montgomery Hospice. Rev. Stewart is single, and the mother of four children and seven grandchildren. She enjoys traveling, going to the beach, taking nature walks, and playing Scrabble® and Words with Friends®. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please note the summer hours for NUMC's offices, now through Labor Day: Monday-Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – Noon Saturday: Closed Sunday: 9:00 AM – Noon
Favorite Stories of the Bible* continued
Christmas in July As you can see from the listing that begins on the front page, we decided to have a summer worship series on favorite Bible stories and solicited recommendations from our church members, and those recommendations form the basis for our worship services in July and August at our Metropolitan Memorial campus.
Sunday, August 5
Shipwrecked
Rev. Michael Chamberlain Sunday, August 12
But virtually everybody’s favorite story in the Bible is the story of Jesus’ birth. When we celebrate in December, we are typically frazzled from Christmas shopping and worried about the possibility of snow and ice. Well, what if we celebrated Christmas in July?! So, on July 22, we will have a full-blown celebration of Christmas in July – with a pageant and a Christmas tree and singing Christmas carols and eating Christmas cookies after worship!
The Good Samaritan
How can you get involved? Mark the date on your calendars and invite your friends and family and neighbors – it is likely the only Christmas party to which they will be invited this summer!
Sunday, August 19
Then dig out your Christmas hats and jewelry, bake some Christmas cookies, sign up to help decorate our sanctuary, and come prepared to experience the telling of the Christmas story in a whole new way.
Rev. Michael Chamberlain
The Prodigal Son Rev. Frances Stewart Sunday, August 26
Mary & Martha
Rev. Joey Heath-Mason
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Sunday, September 2 Labor Day Weekend
Adult Sunday School Class Schedule for Summer 2018
It’s a Beginning
Inspired Parenting: on hiatus until Labor Day.
Rev. Michael Chamberlain
* Summer Worship topics at Wesley to be announced. Regularly scheduled service at 11:00 AM, at the Wesley campus Followed by “More Than Coffee Hour” afterwards
Questions of Faith Meets Sundays, at 10:05 AM in Metropolitan Memorial’s Conference Room Lecture and discussion group. Join us as we search for a more complete comprehension of Jesus’ legacy. Contact: Diane Moody, billanddianemoody@comcast.net Science & Religion Meets Sundays at 10:05 AM in Metropolitan Memorial’s Parlor Discussion of various topics considering the consonance between Christian faith and the latest advances in science. Contact: Maynard Moore, emaynard8@yahoo.com or Kent Weaver, kenthweaver@gmail.com In the Biblical Sense: on hiatus until Labor Day.
Farewell to Stephanie Quammen
Jazz at Wesley Saturday, June 23, 6:30-8:30 PM the Wesley campus Please join us for Jazz at Wesley! Featuring local, national, and international jazz musicians and vocalists, these engaging concerts provide entertainment for the whole family. All events run from 6:30-8:30 PM. Each program will feature a dance demonstration or instruction starting at 6:30 PM.
Next on the schedule is:
Craig Gildner & Outra Vez Craig Gildner and Outra Vez perform selections from the songbook of A.C. Jobim and other well-known composers in the Bossa Nova style. Featuring Scott Silbert on reeds, Paul Bangser on nylon string guitar, James Herron on drums, and Craig on piano, the group looks at the sophisticated and quiet side of jazz, with some occasional spice thrown in. $10 entry fee; $7 for seniors; $5 for students; and Free admission for 12 and under. Sweet and savory items available for purchase. Support women and youth in Kenya by purchasing products from Pauline Muchina - African Women and Youth Initiative.
In August of 2016, we branched into new territory for our church and welcomed a Global Mission Fellow, Stephanie Quammen, to our church family and our staff. Global Mission Fellows are coordinated by the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries that operates both nationally and internationally for young adults age 20-30, for a two-year position to do mission work. Since Stephanie did her work nationally, she was part of the US-2 program. We could never have envisioned all that Stephanie would come to mean to our church and all the ways we were blessed by her ministry. Her two-year appointment is ending this summer and it is with profound gratitude that we wish her farewell. Stephanie was hired as the Serving Pillar Coordinator with a focus on our Campus Kitchen program early in her tenure. As Stephanie quickly got up to speed on all of the many facets of the Serving Pillar programs, she became invaluable across the Serving ministries. What we will miss most of all is Stephanie’s wonderful team spirit. She was always the first to pitch in when a project needed help, and she brought an incredibly cheerful spirit to everything that she did. We wish Stephanie all the best in her next position and hope that she knows that she will always be part of our church family no matter where God calls her in the future.
Grate Patrol
Last Sunday of each month, at 10:10 AM Prepare meal bags in Metropolitan Memorial’s Vestry
and on the following Mondays, the service van leaves St. Luke’s Mission Center at 6:30 PM
Summer dates are listed below: June 24 and 25 July 29 and 30 August 26 and 27 September 23 and 24
United Methodist Women Midsummer Mini-Retreat Saturday, July 14 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM in the Great Hall on the Metropolitan Memorial campus Join the UMW for a time of fellowship and spiritual renewal. Morning options include yoga, art activities, Bible study. Lunch will be provided, followed by a time of reflection and discovery and a chance to walk the labyrinth. All women are welcome at this FREE event. Childcare can be arranged in advance, at MetroUMW@gmail.com.
Youth 4 DC June 17-22, 2018
Appalachia Service Project July 14 – 21, 2018
Youth In Mission Auction Our annual youth auction to support ASP and Youth 4 DC was held in March, with a silent auction and lunch. More than $12,500 have been raised. We are grateful for the support of the NUMC community.
ASP Fundraiser: Parent’s Night Out Saturday, June 23, 2018 5:00 – 10:00 PM Metropolitan Memorial’s campus Do you need a night off? Do you like time to relax or to go to dinner and a movie? Our youth are raising funds for ASP and would like to give parents a night off. Bring your child by the church starting as early as 5:00 PM and our Youth will watch and entertain your child for a donation to our summer mission trip. All children must be picked up no later than 10:00 PM. For more information, please contact our Youth Director, Patrick Landau, at plandau@nationalchurch.org.
Vacation Bible School for Children Monday – Friday, July 9–13, 2018 9:00 AM - Noon Metropolitan Memorial campus
The hunt to find the treasures in God’s Word starts here!
NUMC’s Drama Camp for Children & Youth August 6-10, 2018 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM daily the Metropolitan Memorial campus NUMC is holding a Drama Camp for children and youth – ages 8-16 – this summer. Trained acting coaches will provide a fun and innovative environment to learn what happens behind and onstage. The week will end with a live performance! For more information, contact: Kris Oberdick at ktoberdick@gmail.com.
2018 Lego Summer Sunday School: TEACHERS NEEDED Sundays, July 1 – September 2, in Room 202 at Metropolitan Memorial’s campus By popular demand, we are bringing back Lego Summer Sunday School! We'll be using "Building Faith Brick by Brick," a fun and easy Sunday school curriculum. Each week there is a Bible story, a snack, and a chance to recreate the story through building with Lego bricks. Sign up for one Sunday or many! In July and August, our Metropolitan Memorial campus will have one worship service at 10 AM. Lego Sunday school will take place during the worship service. We will all start out in the sanctuary. The children will be dismissed to Sunday school following the children's message, and Sunday school will continue until worship ends. Teachers must follow our Safe Sanctuaries policy, which includes a current background check. To sign up, please contact Rev. Janet Craswell at (202) 363-4900, ext. 115, or by email at jcraswell@nationalchurch.org.
Stretch with Carolyn in Metropolitan Memorial’s Vestry 11:00 AM – Noon Carolyn Gichner’s class is continuing for three sessions during this summer: Thursday, June 27 Thursday, July 18 Thursday, July 25 If you want to join the class, please contact Carolyn at cgichener@aol.com, or at (202) 362-4393.
Recent New Members Metropolitan Memorial Campus: Sharon Anderson Taylor Lamb (Affiliate Member) Carissa Miller Laura and Brian O’Neill Kaitlyn Peel Adam and Vivian Ranson Karen Sams Bob and Jeri Weaver (re-activated their membership)
Wesley Campus: Anne Drakeford Annie Martin Note: Our next new member and prospective member brunch will be on Sunday, September 23, at 12:00 PM, in the Great Hall at the Metropolitan Memorial Campus. If you would like more information about becoming a new member, please contact Helen Simon, NUMC’s Director of Community Life, at hsimon@nationalchurch.org or 202-363-4900 Extension 109.
Gentle Yoga continues in the Summer
Confirmation Class
The Gentle Yoga Class, sponsored by the Caring Pillar, continues to meet through the summer on Thursdays, 4:00-5:15 PM, in the Great Hall. This small and committed group class is open to all, on a drop-in or 8-week session basis. Join us any time! No prior experience required.
Willard Reppard Burks, IV Brian Mark Crimy, Jr. Caleb James Grim Emma Grace Klick Sydney Faith Miller Andrew James O’Daniel Eleanor Hamilton Gurnee Pugh John Arthur Peters Courtney Rose Rommel Robert Brooks Rudski Grace Evans Taylor Danae Grace Williams
Please contact Cathryn Pethick, C-IAYT, at Cathryn@yogawellbeing.com or 301-946-7045.
Confirmands who joined at the Metropolitan Memorial Campus:
Confirmands who joined at the Wesley Campus: Eliora Elinam Brown-Egue Emma Yeboah If you would like more information about NUMC’s Confirmation Classes, please contact Patrick Landau, our Youth Director, at plandau@nationalchurch.org.
National UMC Partners with Project Transformation to Improve Literacy in DC By Cynthia Pugh We have had a wonderful outpouring of support for our partnership with Project Transformation DC, the Methodist organization that is bringing literacy-based summer camps to churches in DC's underserved neighborhoods. Donations of camp supplies have been pouring in to both of our campuses, and many volunteers have already signed up to spend a morning reading with children at the camp. Thank you! There is still time to get involved, and we need even more help to ensure that this project succeeds. •
We have a few spots available for morning reading volunteers in June (June 25-28) and more available in July (July 23- 26). Follow the link on National's Service Calendar to check availability and sign up: https://nationalchurch.org/service-calendar
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Project Transformation is seeking some last-minute camp supplies, including bottle caps, empty oatmeal canisters, and electric candles. To see the full wish list, check National's Service Calendar or go to: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0c4fa9ac2ba7ff2-supplies.
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Help out at a camp Family Fun Night on Thursday, June 28 or Thursday, August 2. We will set up and serve dinner and join in fun activities with the campers, their families, and the Project Transformation staff.
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Get to know the Project Transformation interns by providing a dinner to share with them on a Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday evening. These impressive young adults have come from around the country to work at Project Transformation DC this summer. They are passionate about social justice and keen to learn more about Washington. Dinners should serve 18 plus the number of volunteers in the group providing the meal. For meal ideas and other information, check National's Service Calendar or go to: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080844a9af2aaaf85-dinner.
Questions? Email service@nationalchurch.org.
Campus Kitchen DC By Anita Seline National UMC’s Service Team has renewed its Hunger Ministry work, delivering food to churches in DC and recovering food at various Mom’s Markets in the area as part of NUMC’s Campus Kitchen DC Program. In recent weeks, volunteers delivered nearly 2,000 meals prepared by Campus Kitchen DC at the St. Luke’s Mission Center to United Methodist churches throughout Northeast DC. The churches: Community, Hughes Memorial, and Mt. Vernon UMCs, open their doors weekly to people who need food. In addition, NUMC provides dinner for a monthly community meal program at St. Paul’s UMC in Kensington, Maryland. NUMC volunteers are always met with welcoming arms by church workers and volunteers. These community meal programs are supplemented by staging a clothes pantry for clients to select clothing they may need; or providing free groceries to clients. It is heartening to see these Campus Kitchen meals leveraged to help to those who are poor and hungry throughout the city. As we continue to look for a paid driver to help with some of the food recoveries and food deliveries, volunteers have an opportunity to be a part of this vibrant ministry. Volunteer to deliver meals. You would be helping your neighbor, curtailing food waste, and doing some good! Sign up today at: https://www.signupgenius.com/i ndex.cfm?go=w.create7&listid= 15730230&owner=61253052&s uccesspage=w.create7
St. Luke’s House and Metropolitan House Welcome New Residents By Ann Michel
Five men have moved into St. Luke’s House over the past several weeks, bringing the occupancy to near capacity; and the Transitional Housing Board is in the process of interviewing several women as potential residents for Metropolitan House. St. Luke’s House is in mint condition following a period of closure that allowed for some necessary renovation, as well as a comprehensive program review that involved discernment around the needs of the homeless in our community, possible ministry partners, and our ministry model. That process led us to reaffirm our commitment to housing men at St. Luke’s and women at Metro House and our long-standing partnership with Friendship Place. Both shelters will continue to provide residents an independent living environment with round-the-clock access and Friendship Place will continue to provide referrals, ongoing case management, and outplacement assistance to residents. However, instead of working exclusively with the AimHire division of Friendship Place, we are now receiving residents from across their different program divisions. And to provide better day-to-day oversight of shelter operations, NUMC has hired two part-time House Managers with considerable experience in the homeless service sector. Our committed meal volunteers are swinging back into action! Congregational volunteers are needed to prepare and deliver meals on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Sign up at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0c4fa9ac2ba7ff2-meals1. St. Luke’s House was the first homeless shelter to open in upper Northwest DC in 1991 and Metropolitan House opened just months later in early 1992. We feel blessed to be continuing our congregation’s long tradition of welcoming and serving our homeless neighbors.
NUMC’s Zero Waste Initiative By Mary Rollefson NUMC is undertaking a Zero Waste Initiative to encourage waste reduction, recycling, and reuse. Zero Waste is a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient, and visionary. Zero Waste projects guide people in changing their lifestyles and practices based on the United Methodist Church values of justice and sustainability. An excerpt from the United Methodist Book Of Resolutions: Energy Policy Statement states: “Humankind enjoys a unique place in God’s universe. We are created in the very image of God, with the divine Spirit breathed into us, and entrusted to “take charge of” God’s creation (GENESIS 2:7; 1:26, 28; PSALM 8:6).” On June 10th, Mary Rollefson presented the Children’s Sermon on the topic of recycling and caring for God’s creation. Pastor Mike led us in a “Blessing of the Bins” and the children and youth distributed the new recycling bins (see picture below) to the classrooms. We recognize that Zero Waste will take patience, persistence, and practice for us to achieve this important goal. Once we have improved our recycling efforts, we will start a composting program. The encouragement and support of our adults is especially critical – our children are already experts at recycling! Let’s embrace this project together! If you are interested in learning more or you would like to join our team, we’d like to hear from you. Please contact Mary Rollefson at maryrollefson@starpower.net or Nancy Cherney at Nancy@nutritionmattersnow.com. We are always interested in having your input!
GVP Team . . . on the move! By Lois Weaver
meeting of MOMs Demand Action Against Gun Violence, a group opposing concealed carry reciprocity. March: Patrick Landau, Rita Guenther, and Cynthia Pugh worked tirelessly to promote National UMC’s participation in the March for Our Lives event. Lots of GVP team members were called to action for this one! April: Cynthia Pugh, Cordell Pugh, Ellie Pugh, and Holly Adams were among those making orange ribbons and “No Gun Violence” buttons at the UMW’s Great Day of Service while Robin Smith was protesting in front of NRA headquarters in remembrance of all gun violence victims.
NUMC’s Gun Violence Prevention Group educates and advocates for gun safety legislation, drawing on guidance from: The Brady Center, Giffords Law Center, and Everytown for Gun Safety. You are invited to join the group by adding your name to their email list. Contact Lois Weaver at lois.weaver@gmail.com. January: Chris Brown represented us at an event by Do Not Stand Idly By (DNSIB), a group that lobbies municipal leaders and our federal government to make smart gun purchases and put pressure on gun manufacturers to incorporate smart technology into their products. February: ABC Nightline reached out to Debbie Hines for her input on gun violence and mass shootings and later Courtney Leatherman, Mary Rollefson, and Chris Brown represented us at a
May: We fanned out to distribute ribbons and buttons to all congregations to raise awareness for National Gun Violence Awareness Day (June 2). 96 buttons and lots of ribbons were made and they’re all gone! June: Connie Sommers, Ellen Bachman, and Courtney Leatherman were added to all the other volunteers working on the 3rd Annual Silence the Violence Concert in September to raise money for The TraRon Center in Ward 8 , a program to help gun violence victims deal with their trauma. ….and we’ve got 9 new members and it’s only June ! Big, BIG thanks to everybody!
Silence the Violence Concert Coming in the Fall Make a note now for the annual Silence the Violence Concert to be held in late September, 2018!
National UMC Connects with Asylum Seekers By Caralee Adams Members of NUMC have extended their generosity to help recently resettled families in the Washington area. In February, the church hosted a "Love Thy Neighbor" Valentine's Party at the Wesley campus’ Fellowship Hall for clients of the Asylum Seeker Assistance Project (ASAP). More than 75 people gathered for a potluck, crafts, games, and fellowship with new arrivals from all parts of the world who have come to the area fleeing persecution and seeking a fresh start. Many church members also supported ASAP at a May fundraising breakfast held at the Human Rights Campaign in Washington. The United Methodist Women have also supported ASAP with proceeds from the 2017 annual bazaar. Want to get involved? ASAP welcomes volunteers to help with its job readiness training workshops. The next one will take place July 23-27th at the University of the District of Columbia off Van Ness Street, NW. Volunteers are most needed over the noon hour to visit with clients and in the afternoons to help with resumes and mock interviews. You can sign up at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5LodrpKAN4dOqCKNfUH sItGBpwkOmge_kKtreZN6cqMG4FA/viewform. ASAP is also recruiting professionals willing to conduct 45-minute informational interviews with asylum seekers who share similar employment backgrounds. The link to join is: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdTIyhj4JWxS93_a4385cQ oeggRV8jxlibHSU8TRvrPnwfSqw/viewform For more information, go to www.asylumprojectdc.org
NUMC Youth and Others participate in March for Our Lives By Patrick Landau As students around the country were converging on DC for the March for Our Lives, NUMC opened its doors to provide lodging and food for youth groups who came to march. Having never done this before myself and not knowing if the church had ever done this either, I had no idea what to expect. Would people come? Would our church folk be excited about helping these young people? Would the staff be on board to let dozens of youth stay over? To my great delight, I was overwhelmed by the energy and excitement and support of the congregation. I am so grateful for everyone who helped and want to let the congregation know the impact they had. On Friday, March 23, we welcomed four groups from around the country, totaling 60 people, that were given food and lodging so they could participate in the March for Our Lives. We had two United Methodist youth groups from South Carolina and Rochester, one Disciples of Christ youth group from Cleveland, and one United Methodist college group from the University of Florida.
To kick off the weekend, NUMC’s youth along with other youth from around the area, and our guests from out of town participated in a town hall and sign-making event. We invited David Finnegan-Hosey, author of Christ in the Psych Ward, to talk about the myths and connections between mental health and gun violence. He led a powerful discussion on how we view mental illness and violence in our country. Following his presentation, youth were given the opportunity to share their thoughts, feelings, questions, and opinions. For 30 minutes, the adults listened while high school and college students shared their pain, their concerns, their hopes, and their questions. It was a transformative experience for those who attended. The rest of the program was spent making catchy slogans and unique posters that the youth would take with them to the march on Saturday. Pizza was eaten. Signs were made and fun was had by all. In the morning, members of the United Methodist Men and United Methodist Women partnered to make breakfast for our guests and all those who stopped by the church to go to the march. People were coming in and out all morning as they were heading to the march. On their way out, people picked up sack lunches that were prepared by us as well as metro maps and other local information. At the march, we joined with hundreds of thousands of people in what was both a memorial for those people who have died because of gun violence and a rally to urge people to register to vote to prioritize gun reform in the upcoming elections. It was inspiring and powerful as well as mournful and hopeful. To see teenager after teenager and even preteens and young kids speaking on how gun violence has affected them was moving and empowering. I am confident that this experience was life changing for many of our youth and the young people we hosted – and it would not have been possible without the incredible support of our congregation. I would like to extend special thanks to Pastor Mike and Cindy Kent for allowing us to try this untested idea of inviting groups from around the country to our church. Lois Weaver and her work over the past few years to build our Gun Violence Prevention team created a network of people that were instrumental in getting this event off the ground and promoted beyond the walls of the church. Cynthia Pugh and Rita Guenther did most of the heavy lifting in the organizing and planning for the event. In addition to these leaders, I want to extend thanks to the over 50 church folks that helped to make this event possible - your work was greatly appreciated!
Don't Forget About NUMC . . . During the summer, many of our members travel more often. However, you don't have to be present to support the ministry of our church! Please continue to be in prayer for our community and our ministries. Please also do what you can to continue to embody regular, intentional, generous giving so that the church can stay current with its numerous financial obligations. Every contribution makes a difference! As always, you may send your contributions to the church via the U.S. mail, or you may choose to make your payments electronically. To confirm your electronic giving, or to create a new account with the church, please feel free to contact Pam Murdoch, NUMC's Finance Coordinator, who will be delighted to hear from you.
National United Methodist Church 3401 Nebraska Avenue, NW | Washington, DC 20016 202.363.4900
NUMC consists of three campuses: Metropolitan Memorial Campus 3401 Nebraska Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016 Location of Metro House Shelter
St. Luke’s Mission Center
3655 Calvert Street, NW Washington, DC 20007 Location of St. Luke’s House Shelter, Campus Kitchen of DC, and Shalom Place Retreat Center
Wesley Campus
5312 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20015 For a complete listing of our ministerial and administrative staff, please visit our web site:
www.nationalchurch.org