GreetingsFellowSaintsatPaxPres,
Wehaveexcitingnews!WithimmensehelpfromourWorship ScheduleTeam,SessionapprovedanewSundaymorning scheduleforfall2024:
Changeisexciting,butchangeisalso…well…change!Inthisnew rhythmcomingSeptember8th,wehopeyoucatchtheexcitement weshareforthisschedule,aboutthingslikethese:
-10:45a.m.willbelivestreamed(likeourcurrent9:30a.m. service)
-Samesermonateachservicereinforceschurchunityacross multipleservices
-Eachservice’sdistinctstylehelpsusbuildGospelbridgesto differentpeopleinourcommunity
-10:45a.m.musicledbyMusicDirectorMaureenWysham; 9:00a.m.musicledbyanewcontemporaryworship leader
-“9:00a.m.attendees”canstaylateand“10:45a.m.attendees” cancomeslightlyearly:coffeebreakprovides opportunitytobuildbridgeswithpeoplefromthe otherservice
-Avolunteer(you!)can“worshipatonehour,serveduringthe other.”Options!
-Weallloveoptions!Thisistrueofallages,butespeciallyas wereachfamilies:
•Afamilywhowantstoworshipalltogethercanworshipat 9:00a.m.Thisfamily-friendlyworshipservicewillkeep2nd gradersandolderengagedinworship“withthegrown-ups,” whilebirth-4yr.arewithchildcareproviders,andPreK-1st gradershavetheoptiontopulloutfortheirowntime.That familycanstayforSundaySchoolorheadhomeafterworship andfellowship.
•Parentswhoprefertoworshipwhiletheirkidsarediscipledin anage-appropriatesettingcanattend10:45a.m.worship: theirchildrenreceivesomeexposureto“worshipwithgrownups”andthenpulloutforSundaySchool.
-Highschoolerscanworshipat9:00or10:45a.m.,andserveas SundaySchoolleadersforyoungerages,while PastorRobbieisexcitedtodevelopHSsmallgroups.
-Whenwillyouattend?Howwillyouserve?Whatunchurched friendswillyouprayerfullyinvitetoworshipthis fall?
Weareexcitedforthisschedulethroughthe2024-2025school year.Wewillevaluateaswego:we’llseewhat’sgoingwell,what needsrefining,andgrowandadapt!Wewillsharemoreoverthe summer,suchaskeyobservationsfromthesurveyyou participatedin;what“contemporary”willlooklike;andmore.For now,wewanttoprovideyouwiththisoverviewintroductionto theupcomingschedule.
InChrist, YourPastors&Session
TheThreeC’sofFamilyDiscipleship
PaxPresFamily,
WehavejustrecentlyformedaFamilyMinistryTeamtomeet theneedsandequipfamiliesatPaxPres.Thepurposeand functionofthisTeamcanbesummarizedinwhatwewouldcall, TheThreeC’sofFamilyDiscipleship:
Calling Community Counter-Culture
Webelieveitisessentialtoencourageandequipparentstobe disciplesthemselves,andtobetheprimarydisciplemakersof theirchildren.ThatisGod’scallingforallparentsandasa Team,wewanttohelpparentsembracethatcalling.
Wealsodesiretocreateopportunitiesforfamiliestobe connectedincommunitywithoneanother,todo“life together”withinourchurch.Weneedoneanotherto encourage,support,andworktogethertoraiseupthenext generation.
Lastly,welongtoseeourfamiliesatPaxPrescreatingacounter cultureintheirhouseholdsbuiltonChristandHisKingdom.For ifwearenotdeliberateabouttheformationhappeninginour households,wewillbeformedbythedefaultvaluesofthis world.AsaTeam,wewanttohelpfamiliesbeintentionalinthe formationprocessoftheirchildren.Hereisaquotefromauthor JustinEarleythatillustrateswhatweareattemptingtoswim againstinourcurrentculturalmoment:
“Bynotchoosingourhabitscarefully, wearefallingbackonrhythmsthatareformingus inalltheusualpatternsofunceasingscreentime, unendingbusyness,unrivaledconsumerism,unrelenting loneliness,unmitigatedaddictions, andunparalleleddistractions.”
JustinEarley–HabitsoftheHousehold
Asweareintheearlystagesofdiscerningwhat’snext, pleasebeinprayerforTheTeam’sdiscernmentand planningprocess.HereisalookatthecurrentTeam:
FAMILYMINISTRYTEAM: KaitiWicker,RobertWicker,CourtneyCuthbertson, MichelleGrant,DianaPooley,StaceyFisher, AngelaSmalley,EmeseRaschka,KarinStewart, Rev.RobbieD’Orazio
AndaswecontinuetofollowJesusasachurch,mayhis characterofloveandgracebeembodiedinallourhomes andmaywefollowhisexampleofcultivatingdiscipleship opportunitiesineverydayrhythmsoflifethroughour weeklyschedules,deliberaterelationships,andannual calendars.
Grace&Peacetoallofyou.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MINISTRY
KimHagan, SundaySchoolforKids (SS4K)Coordinator
THANKYOUSS4KTEACHERS!
Justlikethatwehavewrappedupour2023-2024Sunday Schoolyear.Wecelebratedallourteacherswhohavemade suchanimpactthisyearonourstudents.Ittakesalotof volunteerstohelprunthisministryandIamincredibly gratefulforeachoneofthem.
PreK/Kindergarten:PatsySchumacher,Courtney Cuthbertson,LauraGuido,KarinStewart,RachelPortillo, LuAnnSmouse,MichelleGrant
1st/2ndGrade:ChristySchumacher,ShawnThompson, ChrystalGodfrey,BillQuinn
3rd-5thGrade:CindyRomano,JamieCooley,DianaPooley, AmyCollins,JulieWilkening
6th-8thGrade:RobbieRomano,DianaHarritt,KaitiWicker, RobertWicker
9th-12thGrade:DonBlottenberger,MelanieLedig,Jeannette Wolter,SusanMcKinley,TomSchumacher SubstituteTeachers:JenaEschenbrenner,SarahLorek, CarolynGraessle
VolunteersNeeded:Wearealwayslookingtoaddtoour SS4Kministryteam!Ifyoufeelcalledtobeonateamof teachers,pleasereachoutandIcansharealittlebitabout whatthatlookslike!Sundayschool@paxpres.org.
HowtostayconnectedtoTheWordthissummerwithyourkids:
1.BibleBuddy:RememberPastorMattpreachedonhavinganaccountability partner?UsetheBibleApporanotherBiblereadingplan,toworkthrough eachdaywithyourfamily.
2.MemorizeScripture:ChooseadifferentBibleverseeachweektomemorize togetherasafamily.Postthemonyourfridge,inyourcar,inyourkid’ssports bags,etc.!
3.UseRightNowMedia:Picka4-to-6-weekstudythatisageappropriatefor yourfamilyandworkonittogether,onceaweek,afterdinner. YouthStudies:FindingTruthbyFrancisChan Fire&FaithfulnessbySadieRobertsonHuff JesusChangesEverythingbyNickHall ElementaryAgeStudies:WorshipintheWordbyShane&Shane Pre-SchoolAge:TheEmilyElephantShow,TheMr.PhilShow,Owlegories
YoungAdultsPracticingTheWay (YAPTW)forhighschoolgradstoage31 meetseveryotherWednesdayintheJoshua Houseat7:00p.m.Joinusonthe2ndand4th Wednesdaysofthemonththroughoutthe summer!ContactRev.RobbieD'Orazioat: rdorazio@paxpres.org.
TableTalk:AGroupforWomen!
Ladies,you’reinvitedtojoinusforour versionofIf:Tablescalled:TableTalk. Comeandbringafriendortwo–aswe buildcommunity.
Upcomingschedule:
July25th–Saladnight! August22nd–Dessertnight! September26th–Soupnight! October24th–Appetizernight! November21st–Saladnight! Walk-inswelcome,butRSVPspreferredto LauraRhodes,SmallGroupsDirectorat: paxpressg@paxpres.org.
WORSHIP
PleasejoinBELONG(BridgingEveryone LinkingOlderandNewerGenerations)for TrunkorTreatonSaturday,October26th from3:00–5:00p.m.Moredetailscoming soon! VOLUNTEERSNEEDED forTimeforYoungDisciples! Allarewelcome,noexperienceis required!Let'sbuildbridgesbetweenthe generationstohelpguideouryoungest churchmemberstogrowintheirfaith, service,andlove.SignupforJuly,August &September:www.paxpres.com/tfyd.
CONGREGATIONALLIFEMINISTRY
Ifyouhavenoticedabitmorecoloraroundthe churchyardthanisnormalforthistimeofthe year,thankLauraGuido!Shehasbeenadding marigolds,caladium,begonias,andotherflowers aroundtheedgesofthemedianstobrightenup somebarespots.Whatablessing!KevinSmith continuestokeepthebushestrimmed,theleaves cleared,thetreesprunedandtheweedsatbay, withsomehelpfromPatsySchumacher.
TheHawthorntreegoingupthestepstowardHoneyMacCallum/smallkitchenislookingalittle worseforwear,andwehadourtrustyarborist,ChuckLowe,comeandlookatit.Itseemsto havesomesortofrustblight,sowewillbesprayingitandhopingitwillrecover.Meanwhile,the daylilieshaveneverbeensotall!Whatadelight!
Andfinally,asI’mwritingthis,I’veseenJapaneseBeetles!So,getyourtrapbagsandputthem outbeforethosepestsdecimateyourcannalilies,crepemyrtles,andwhateverelsetheydecide theyhaveanappetitefor!
Lookingahead
We’recontinuingourbattleoftheweedsandwiregrasseveryTuesday-feelfreetojoinusfrom 8:30-11:00a.m.Asalways,questionsabouttheGardenClubcanbedirectedtoPatsy Schumacher(helopatsy@yahoo.com).
“Andwhateveryoudo,whetherinwordordeed,doitallinthenameoftheLordJesus,giving thankstoGodtheFatherthroughHim.”-Colossians3:17
OUTREACH
ANotefromSusanMcKinley OCCRecognitionat SessionMeeting
AtarecentSessionmeeting, representativesfromSamaritan’s Purserecognizedthe congregationandpastorsof PatuxentPresbyterianChurch withaplaquecommemorating fiveyearsofserviceasaDropOff
LocationforOperationChristmasChild(OCC).ThemissionofOCCistodemonstrateGod’slove inatangiblewaytoneedychildrenaroundtheworld,allthroughasimpleshoebox.Infiveyears ofserviceasaDropOffLocation,throughthetirelesseffortsofalargeteamofvolunteersand withthesupportofourElders,Trustees,andthecongregation,ourchurchhascollected10,320 shoeboxesfromthecommunityandstartedthemontheirglobaljourneyfromSouthern Marylandtotheendsoftheearth.THANKYOUforyoursupportofthisministry!
FrankMazur,OutreachElderalongwithLeonAnderson[notpictured]; CliffHartsfield,OCCAreaCoordinator;KenTuring,OCCAreaLogistics Coordinator;RachelPortillo,ChurchProjectLeader;SusanMcKinley, AreaTeamDropOffTeamLeaderandChurchRelationsRepresentative, andPastorMattPooley.
YOUTHMINISTRY
VisionforYouthGroup: YouthGroupisaplaceforteenstogrow thefoundationoftheirrelationshipwith Christandtodevelopacommunity ofChristianFellowship. Ifyouaren’treceivingtheYouthGroup emailsorhavequestions/concerns, pleasefeelfreetocontactus. WelookforwardtoseeingyouatYouth eventsandgettingtoknowyouryouth! youthdirector@paxpres.org
OnMay4th,TheYouthGroupheld“ANightwithPPC Youth”fundraiserthatincludedskits,testimonies, desserts,andworship.Twoofourveryown-Leah CuthbertsonandCollinWicker-gaveinspiring testimoniesthatcenteredaroundtheirgrowthinChrist. Weraisedover$3,000forfutureretreat/missiontrip opportunitiesthankstoallwhoattendedandor supportedtheevent.
OurfirstbonfiretookplaceonMay11thandwe celebratedourSeniorSend-offsforSamanthaGraessle (May25th)andToriMcCreary(June8th).Wediscussed varioustopicsincludingSpiritualGifts,andthetypesof loveandhowGod’slovediffers.OneofourYouth,Collin Wicker,ledalessononhowJesusisthebridgethat helpsusconnecttoGod.
WehadabittersweetfinalYouthGroupoftheschool year,aswesaidourgoodbyesto“Mr.Tom” SchumacherasourYouthDirector,whoshoweda profounddedicationandcommitmenttotheYouth Groupovertheyears.Hisleadershipimpactedsomany studentsandleadersovertheyears.Hiscalmpresence, hisabilitytoconnectwithallstudentsandleadersin conversation,andhisconstantstateofabidinginJesus arejustafewofthequalitiesthatmadeMr.Toma greatYouthDirector.WealsosaidourgoodbyestoNick Grooms,whosharedhistimeandtalentsasoneofour YouthLeaders.TogetherweprayedforbothTomand Nick,andwe’reexcitedtoseewhat’snextforthemas theycontinuetoloveandserveGodintheirlives.
Aswelookahead,thesummerretreatsarecomingup toNorthBayAdventureCampformiddleschoolers (earlyJuly)andhighschoolers(lateJuly)!
ExcitingAnnouncement:SummerYouthGroup!!! Sundays:July14th,July21st,August18thfrom5:007:00p.m.Games,groupdiscussions,lessons,and fellowshiparoundthetable!
FINANCE
PerCapitaisanamountofmoneythateachchurchpaystothePresbytery,SynodandGeneral Assemblyforeachactivememberofitschurch.The2023PerCapitadonationforPresbyterian(USA) is$47.13permemberapportionedasfollows:GeneralAssembly$9.85+Synod$1.15+National CapitalPresbytery$36.13.GivingEnvelopesincludeaspecialenvelopeforPerCapitadonation.For thosegivingbyACHorCreditCard,youcansendacheckmarked“PerCapita”totheChurchOfficeor placeitintheofferingplate.YoucanalsomakeyourPerCapitadonationonlinethroughourwebsite at:www.paxpres.com/online-givingoryoucanemailMarieHankinsonat:Treasurer@paxpres.org toincreaseyourACHallotmenttoincludePerCapita.
Reminder:Ifyouincreasedyourpledgefor2023andaresignedupforACH,pleasefilloutandturn inanewACHformreflectingyournewpledgeamount.Thankyouforyourcontinuedsupportto PaxPresaswecontinuetomeettheneedsfortheChurchandcommunity.
IfyouwouldliketousemonthlyautomatedgivingthroughACHorCreditCardwithdrawal,youmay fillouttheautomatedgivingformtoinitiatethesetypesofcontributions.Theformsareavailablein theNarthexorat:www.paxpres.com/online-giving.Ifyouhaveanyquestionspleasecontactthe ChurchTreasurer,MarieHankinsonat:301-863-2033orTreasurer@paxpres.org.
LetuswalkandworktogetherasweseektospreadtheGospelofJesusChrist athome,abroad,andtotheendsoftheearth!
BUILDINGBRIDGESfortheGOSPEL
PaxPresiscalledbyGodtomakeandgrowdisciples ofJesusChrist bybuildingbridgesfortheGospel inSouthernMarylandandtheworld.
WeseektobuildbridgesfortheGospelofJesus betweenGodandpeople, betweenoneanotherincommunity, andbetweenourchurchandtheworld.
23421KingstonCreekRoad|California,MD20619 paxpres.com|301-863-2033|churchoffice@paxpres.org
Rev.MattPooley,Pastor AssociatePastor,RobbieD’Orazio
