2021 Annual Report of Patuxent Presbyterian Church

ANNUAL REPORT

WWW.PAXPRES.COM

Highlights!

VISION & MISSION Pax Pres is called by God to build bridges for the Gospel in Southern Maryland and the world.

We seek to make and grow disciples of Jesus Christ by building bridges for His Gospel between God and people, between one another in community, and between our church and the world.

New pastor New office space New branding, vision, mission New technologies and communication tools New protocols in dealing with COVID-19 New faces, new connections New goals

Greetings, Pax Pres! In partnership with

A NOTE FROM OUR PASTOR

our Elders, I want to share reflections on ministry at Pax Pres in 2021, an annual report or “year in review.”

January 3rd, 2021 was my first Sunday in worship with you. If I had to sum up my first year’s ministry with you in one theme, it would be “establishing relationships.” That included things like regular conversations with staff, Elders, Trustees, and Deacons; pastoral calls and visits with many of you; initiating contact with local pastors and mission partners; doing Chapel lessons and just chatting in the halls and classrooms with the preschoolers and teachers of Honey

which I hope God will use to deliver His

MacCallum Preschool; and coordinating

Gospel into our hearts and into our

and attending small-group sized

community in 2022 and beyond.

gatherings with residents at AsburySolomons, Families in the Park, and more.

Many times last year, I found myself telling people that we are “building the

Toward the end of 2021, our Session

plane while we fly it.” In the world

adopted a new vision statement to “build

around us, COVID-19 and other world

bridges for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in

events presented challenges for us to

Southern Maryland and the world.” The

navigate together. Internally at Pax Pres,

first step to build a bridge strong enough

we had office construction to complete,

to carry God’s Gospel message is to build

many leadership transitions among

trust. Speaking personally, I see a lot of

church officers who rotate off and come

my first year’s ministry with you as

onto leadership, staff changes, and

building relationships and building trust,

more. It’s not like when you get a new

pastor, everything stops until we’re

First, the kinds of things our Elders will

ready to go again – the plane doesn’t

share with you highlight ministry that

land temporarily. The plane keeps flying

you can measure and see – great

while we keep building!

participation at Vacation Bible School, strong enrollment at Honey MacCallum,

One of my favorite letters of the Bible,

hundreds of shipping boxes packed for

Colossians, has a great phrase for this.

Operation Christmas Child, dozens of

Paul says in Colossians 2: “Therefore, as

students participating at youth group

you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so

and on youth retreats, an Advent

walk in him, rooted and built up in him

Christmas Stroll, choir and praise team

and established in the faith, just as you

navigating COVID-19 concerns to keep

were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

leading us in worship, a Lenten churchwide “Walk to the Tomb,” new members

When Paul says “walk in him,” in the

joining our church, confirmation

original Greek, that word “walk” might

students publicly professing their faith in

be translated “continue walking.” On

Jesus Christ, a steady stream of visitors

one hand, many of us have received

greeted and followed up with through

Jesus as Lord, we’ve been established in

the year, baptisms, and more. Our

faith — these things are finished and

‘plane’ most definitely kept flying strong

done by God on our behalf through

for the Gospel in 2021!

repentance and faith in Christ. But we are called to “continue walking.” To keep

But alongside all those visible ministry

going. To keep building the plane while it

moments – while the “plane kept flying”

is flying.

– 2021 also included a lot of “infrastructure” work on the plane,

In the corresponding annual reports of

“under the hood” so to speak. We

our Elders, you’ll see the variety of

established a Personnel Committee to

meaningful Gospel ministry that was

strengthen and champion strong

only possible in 2021 through your

staffing. Session and others met

participation and giving.

constantly to navigate Covid concerns

while ministry work as usual continued.

Savior and Lord. Together, we are building

We worked toward a new vision,

bridges for the Gospel of Jesus between

mission, and logo to inspire a new

God and people, between one another in

season of ministry in the new year and

community, and between our church and

beyond. Constant improvement has

the world. We cannot keep building those

been made to our livestream, Internet,

bridges unless every one of us does our

and Zoom capabilities to keep us as

part, even if that takes creative thinking

connected as possible through the

while limited by surges and unforeseen

pandemic. You might not “see” or hear

future developments with COVID-19. Be

about this kind of work “under the

encouraged that God was faithful in you

hood.” But again, if the vision is to build

and through you in so many ways in 2021.

bridges for the Gospel, a lot of work is

How is God specifically calling you to

being done “under the bridge” to

continue walking in Him and to build

evaluate and improve infrastructure so

bridges for the Gospel in 2022 and

that the nuts and bolts of the bridge can

beyond, with your ideas and energy, your

support strong, creative ministry in a

time and finances, your spiritual gifts and

vaccine era world for the long haul.

more? Let’s do the work God has for us together. May God continue to

This is us – this is Pax Pres: continuing to

strengthen you in faith in Christ and

walk together in Christ, rooted and built

witness for Christ through the power of

up in Him and established in faith in our

His Holy Spirit.

CLERK OF SESSION In 2021, there were many changes at Patuxent Presbyterian Church.

We expressed our heartfelt thanks to our Interim Pastor/Moderator Robert Bayley for his guidance and wisdom in preparing us for a new pastor and we welcomed our new Pastor/Moderator Rev. Matt Pooley.

Matt was officially installed at Pax Pres on February 21st via Zoom.

Changes in Session membership included outgoing Elders Robert Miller (Admin), Kim Hagan (Christian Education), Rich Tygrett (Congregational Life), and Mark Strayer (Worship); Stephanie Thomson (Outreach) stepped down after serving 2 years of her term and Becky Goodrich serves to fill the remaining year with Patty Smith (Outreach).

The incoming Class of 2024 Elders included Kathryn Rivers joining Jon Friedmeyer (Admin), Steve Correll joining Cherie Crescini (Congregational Life), Robert Wicker joining Beth Miller (Christian Education), and Paul Wolter joining Carolyn Graessle (Worship).

Due to family relocation, Jon Friedmeyer stepped down from Session in September and Sarah Sutherland was ordained in November and serves with Kathryn Rivers (Admin). Lastly, the Clerk of Session position was filled in July by Melody VanMeter when Mike Paul stepped down.

However, she needed to resign due to family circumstances.

As of October 2021, Diane Kleinschmidt agreed to serve as Clerk for a 2-year term.

The year brought a lot of personnel changes with the resignation of the AV/IT Coordinator (Scott Patz), Director of Youth Ministry (Stephen Thomson), and Administrative Assistants (CiCi Donnelly and Laura Landreth). CiCi Donnelly continues her role as Assistant Treasurer. A new Personnel Committee was launched in early 2021 with members John Martin, Kaiti Wicker, Kathryn Rivers, Sarah Sutherland, Diana Harritt, Matt Pooley, and Grace Debbink.

The committee was developed for resolution of any staff issues – to consider staff leave policies and miscellaneous HR ‘best practices,’ and to update and streamline personnel files. They proposed a revised Pax Pres Organizational Chart that was approved by Session. The new Organizational Chart brings primary paid staff under review by the Pastor rather than Ministry Elders. Session is also taking time to think strategically about the role of a future Associate Pastor.

Session meetings were held both virtually and in a hybrid format mixing both virtual and in-person meetings. COVID-19 was still a factor in 2021 and while many of the committees handled the myriad of restrictions and operating procedures, it was still part of the discussion at a number of meetings. Beyond the 12 Stated Meetings (held monthly), Session held Special Session Meetings for receipt of New Members, discussion and approval of the livestreaming contract with Whiteford Systems, and a discussion on the 2022 Budget.

There were four Congregational Meetings including the Meeting of the Corporation/Annual Report, the approval of the Slate of Officers (Elders, Deacons, Trustees, Auditors) from the Nominating Committee, the installation of Sarah Sutherland to fill the Administration Elder vacancy, and receipt of the 2022 Budget and approval of Pastor Matt Pooley’s Terms of Call.

Even with the many challenges in 2021 – COVID-19 guidance updates, personnel changes, transition to in-person meetings and Sunday School classes, moving into new building spaces – we continued to drive creativity in building bridges within and outside our congregation. Session has worked tirelessly to share the love of Christ in as many ways as it takes to communicate the Good News. Continue to pray for them – for energy that surpasses all understanding, for God’s peace and compassion to be poured into their hearts, and for wisdom and guidance as they lead us into 2022!

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

- Proverbs 24:3-4

FINANCE MINISTRY Our church's budgeted income for 2021 was $703,000.

We received $685,751, a difference of $17,249.

Our budgeted expenses were $815,900, indicating a budgeted deficit of $112,900.

Our actual expenses were $713,876, resulting in an actual deficit of $28,125.

Note: the church did receive a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for $105,372 in FY21 which covered some salary expenses for both the church ($62K) and HMC ($43K), but that loan was also forgiven in FY21. This was a one-time event, so this amount is not being reflected in the General Income Totals, but rather in Other Income, in our Statement of Activities Report resulting in a positive overall balance of $34,338 for FY21 execution.

Mission: To honor the gifts made by God through people, to adhere to the financial plan approved by the Session in response to God's call, to fund ministry in the present as well as in the future, to manage the financial activity of the church, and to communicate and aid other ministries' management of financial resources.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MINISTRY Mission: Christian Education Ministry strives to help God’s children of all ages experience and receive the love of Christ, grow in Christian faith, and discover their gifts and God’s calling upon their lives.

provides opportunities through the following areas: Youth Sunday School, Adult Sunday School, Communicants Class, Youth Group, Vacation Bible School, Honey MacCallum Christian Preschool, Children’s Church and Nursery service during worship.

Sunday School        

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Youth Sunday School coordination was led by LuAnn Smouse and Adult Sunday School coordination was led by Deborah Rounds.

Due to COVID-19, we started 2021 in a virtual environment with classes held via Zoom for Adults, upper elementary, middle and high school students. Take-home packets were offered for the Pre-K through lower elementary classes.

In early spring we transitioned to in-person classes for the Pre-K through lower elementary and hybrid options for the middle school and high school, with 23 different teachers leading classes for 60 youth students.

The middle school classroom got a face lift to include sofas and chairs for a more friendly and inviting atmosphere for the kids. A special thanks to the Wickers for doing all the hard work – it looks great and the kids love it!

August 29th – Blessing of the Backpacks for all students.

September 12th - Sunday School Kick-off with family activities, “meet & greet” with teachers, and a discussion on adult class options.

In October we distributed Bibles to the 3rd grade students.

October 31st - we had the first of our “Fifth Sunday” celebrations. This event is a mixed age group event where middle school and high school students lead various Bible study and event activities for all the youth Sunday School classes. These special celebrations will be planned on every month that has a 5th Sunday (January 30th and May 29th).

Adult Sunday School held a variety of Zoom and in-person classes throughout 2021, with participation of 60 adults.

Communicants Class  

The Communicants Class started in the Spring of 2021 with a new program that paired communicants with mentors. This program was well-received and we welcomed 11 new members into the Pax Pres family in January.

Planning is underway for the next class in the beginning of 2022

Youth Group    

Stephen Thompson departed this summer to pursue other adventures as his job took him out of SOMD. He will be missed.

We continue to have 20-30 middle school and high school students come out for Saturday night Youth Group meetings and special events.

While a search committee is working to find a Director of Youth Ministry, the Youth Group continues to be led by Tom Schumacher with help from Youth Leaders Robbie Romano, Amanda McKinley, and Victoria Godfrey.

Some events this past year: high school summer retreat, middle school summer retreat, Valentine’s Day and Halloween parties, bonfires, movie nights, hiking at Calvert Cliffs State Park, “Friendsgiving,” and a Christmas Scavenger Hunt.

VBS

Kids in worship bags:

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Jena Eschenbrenner and Sarah Lorek did an outstanding job of leading VBS activities.

The theme was Rocky Railway “Jesus’ Power Pulls Us Through.”

We had approximately 65 kids aged 3 years-5th grade participate with over 35 volunteers helping with all aspects of teaching, activities, crafts, snacks, and registration.

Children’s Church & Nursery: 

Due to our awesome youth volunteers, Children’s Church and Nursery Care started up again in the summer providing Bible lessons, songs, and activities for kids 3 years-1st grade and Nursery Care for those under 3 during the worship service.

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Kids in Worship Bags were initially developed to provide young kids activities when the Children’s Church was closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Positive response to the bags indicated that maintaining the bags year-round was desired.

Amy Collins has graciously volunteered to be the Worship Bag Coordinator.

Honey MacCallum Christian PreSchool (HMC)  

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HMC Board members Bitsy Unangst and Becky Goodrich rotated off the board in June. Current Board members: Kim Stafford, David Sutherland, Bonnie Farmer, and Kristen Lawrence.

HMC continues to provide area families with a safe, loving, Christian preschool options.

Diane Byers and her staff have done an outstanding job of navigating changing requirements due to COVID-19 to ensure a safe, healthy school year for all staff and students.

WORSHIP MINISTRY

Mission: Worship will ensure that God is exalted through our corporate worship, usher the people of God into an encounter with Christ and encourage and teach the worship of God as part of the Christian life.

The congregation of Pax Pres worships each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. through music, singing, praying, Scripture reading, and listening to God's Word in order to unite members in the pursuit of meaningful, personal praise and worship of our Lord. We also livestream our worship services via YouTube. A recorded video of the livestream service remains available online for church attendees and visitors to view at their convenience. Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of every month.

Our music ministry blesses us with many talented musicians, vocalists, and instrumentalists who share their God-given talents throughout the year. There are many opportunities to participate in church music through the Adult Choir, Handbell Choir, Praise Team, piano, organ, and other instruments. Our Adult Choir presents anthems utilizing piano and with the addition of a bassoon, flute, violin, pennywhistle, or saxophone. The Pax Pres Youth Group has been participating in Sunday services by hosting Youth Sunday on October 31st and by supplying a monthly musical offering from the Youth Band.

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With appropriate measures, Pax Pres held in-person church services throughout 2021, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

The advent of livestreaming church services increased the need for Audio/Visual volunteers to operate the PowerPoint presentations, livestream cameras, and sound system. Volunteer teams have been assembled to handle these duties every Sunday.

New volunteer coordinators for the following responsibilities: o Worship Leader – Jim Osterhouse o Time for Young Disciples – Ed and Sarah Lorek o Pastor Matt has been coordinating slide builders, slide turners, and livestream operators Geoffrey Engle and Tom Schumacher continue to handle sound board duties, as well as training new volunteers.

Worship continues to enable many people each Sunday to serve others as Worship Leader, Time for Young Disciples Leader, Ushers, and the behind-the-scenes tasks of Communion set-up and clean-up, Chancel preparations, flowers, and the neatening and straightening of the Sanctuary.

Adult Choir was able to resume practices and service participation in 2021, despite the mold issues associated with the choir room.

The Handbell Choir expects to resume practices in 2022.

ADMINISTRATION MINISTRY Church Administrative Staff

Mission Statement: The Administration Ministry provides management and oversight to church administrative and personnel functions, ensuring their effectiveness in supporting other ministries through the stewardship of staff, volunteers, the wider congregation and other administrative resources; provides oversight and direction to the Nominating Committee, Pastoral Relations Committee, Personnel Committee, Building Committee, and Safe Church Committee.

Administrative Assistant: Sarah Eureka is the new administrative assistant, hired in October. She is often the first point of contact to provide a warm welcome to visitors to Pax Pres. She provides administrative support to the Pastor, manages the church calendar including facility use requests, enters data into the church database, prepares and coordinates mass mailings, order supplies, produces the weekly bulletins and monthly newsletters, and more.

Office Administrator: The Office Administrator position is competently filled by Grace Debbink, who is also the Pax Pres Treasurer. Even though she relocated to the State of Washington, she is effective working remotely. Grace has continued in her role of coordinating the management of the business affairs of our church. She works with church officers, members, and staff to achieve the church’s mission objectives. Her responsibilities include financial management, personnel management, properties management, office management, and other general duties.

Communications Director: Eileen Miller is our very creative and capable Communications Director, who is responsible for managing and directing the church’s internal and external communications. As such, she creates, organizes, plans, and implements effective communications to reach the appropriate audiences and supports church and ministry leaders in conveying their vision and communications priorities. She updates and maintains the church website; creates graphics and posts on social media; redesigned and edits the church newsletter; and creates, writes, and distributes the Weekly e-News through Constant Contact about happenings at Pax Pres.

Nominating Committee: The Nominating Committee proposed the slate of candidates for all open positions for Elders, Deacons, Trustees, Auditors, the Honey MacCallum Christian Preschool Board, and Nominating Committee. Members of the Nominating Committee in January 2021 were Patsy Davidson, Jim Donnelly, Barbara Engle, Jon Friedmeyer (Admin Elder), Robert Miller (Admin Elder), Rev. Matt Pooley (non-voting), Jamie Rhodes (Trustee Rep), Patsy Schumacher, LuAnn Smouse (Deacon Rep), and Tina Watts. After the new slate of officers for various positions were filled, Mary Anderson replaced Patsy Schumacher and Courtney Cuthbertson became the Deacon Rep. Robert Miller and Jon Friedmeyer have been replaced by Kathryn Rivers and Sarah Sunderland.

Personnel Committee: This year a Personnel Committee (PC) was formed and has been charged to provide for an orderly, focused, and considerate means for the Session to build a healthy work environment and to assist the Senior Pastor/Head of Staff and the Session in the administration of the church. Both Administration Ministry Elders serve as members of the committee and act as liaison between the PC and Session. In addition to the two Administration Elders, members of the PC are Grace Debbink, Matt Pooley, Katie Wicker, John Martin, and Diana Harritt.

In 2021, the PC developed a Paid Time Off (PTO) policy for Session’s approval. They also began to work through new issues as the church continued to grow and take on additional staff and they have a number of plans in the works for the coming year.

Administration Elders: In addition to meeting with the above committees, the Administration Elders also were involved in proofreading the weekly bulletins, announcements, bulletin inserts, newsletters, and other publications. The charter for the Pastor Relations Committee was modified to protect the confidential nature of their discussions, and the new charter was submitted to and approved by Session. Admin provided input on the IT and telephone needs, office spaces, and furnishings for the new office addition.

The Pastor contract and Terms of Call are reviewed with the Pastor prior to Session approval. The Pastor’s performance evaluation was completed. The Facility Use Policy was reviewed with the Trustees with updated information due to the necessary pandemic precautions.

CONGREGATIONAL LIFE MINISTRY This includes oversight of and partnership with our Deacons and our Congregational Care Ministry (CCM), which includes Five Loaves meal preparation, James Gang handiwork help, Heavenly Hosts funeral reception hospitality, transportation assistance, Communion to those at home, e-prayer, pastoral visitation, the Garden Club, Men's Prayer, Mary Martha Circle, and the Prayer Shawl/Lap Robe Ministry.

Mission: We are all called by God to foster an intimate fellowship with our Heavenly Father. As we worship Him and celebrate the good news of Jesus Christ, we are also called to nurture each other through Christian love, caring and fellowship empowered by the Holy Spirit and to minister in the world in Christ’s name.

Congregational Life Ministry accomplishments:  Men’s Prayer Breakfast  Neighborhood Picnics  Neighborhood Ice Cream Social  Deacons’ Drive-Thru Coffee Hour  Deacons’ Drive-Thru Donuts and Coffee Shrove Tuesday  Walk to the Tomb  Deacons’ Outdoor Movie Night  Christmas Ornament Exchange & Cookie Exchange  Men’s Retreat  Christmas Stroll with a Live Nativity  Christmas Potluck  Joy (Just Older Youth) Group  Support of HOPE AND SMILE  Operation Christmas Child - record year!  Young Professionals Group  Small Groups - Total Groups: 25 varying from 1 semester to 3 semesters in length. Participants: 170 unique participants for at least one semester.

Participants include Pax Pres attendees, members of other churches and those who do not currently attend church.

OUTREACH MINISTRY Our church family supports ministries locally, nationally, and internationally – in many powerful and loving ways – for the glory of God.

Things of note: 

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Patty Smith is finishing her second year of a three-year term as an Outreach Elder.

She oversees missionaries. Becky Goodrich is serving her one-year term. She oversees the local partners.

We have a committee to serve, communicate, and help our local partners and missionaries in the U.S. and overseas. Our committee consists of the following people: Leon Anderson, Tim Barnes, Patsy Davidson, Geoffrey Engle, Cindy Johnson, Kathy Mazur, Susan McKinley, Rachel Portillo, Beth Roth, Stephanie Thomson, and Beth Wright.

Patty Smith communicates from time to time via Zoom with the missionaries.

A board is now in the hall by the Fellowship Hall which displays our missionaries. o God is at work! Praise Him for His redeeming work here and thoughout the world in the Church of the Living God! The InterVarsity group led by Esrael Seyum, witnessed a senior on a campus receive Christ as his Lord and Savior at the beginning of the school year. o Marlen and Aselia have had converts from among the Muslim refugees that they help in Wales. They are now facing the challenge of where and how to disciple these new followers of Christ. o Joey and Yisel, serving in Japan, had a young man confess Christ and was baptized a few months ago. o Through the work of the Gho family and the church members in Japan, a man decided to follow Jesus. o Our current missionaries:  Kevin and Kelley Burgess – Young Life – Clubs Beyond – Anchorage, Alaska  Jeong and Misook Gho - Resonate Global Mission – Tokyo, Japan  Murat and Lyazzat Ibr - CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ) – Istanbul, Turkey  Dr. Dennis and Cynde Morgan – Serge – Vienna, Austria  Joshua and Margaret Naidu– YWAM (Youth with a Mission) – Ubon Ratchthani Thailand

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 Ashley Ramming – International Christian Schools – Lima, Peru  Esrael and Jill Seyum – Intervarsity Christian Fellowship – Lexington Park, Maryland  Marlen and Aselia Zhr – Pioneers – Wales  Joey and Yisel Zorina – JPA (Japan Presbyterian Mission) – Tokyo, Japan Local events our church supported this year include: o WARM donations o SMCR Dragon Boat Race o Ministry Expo o Food Drives benefitting HOPE, SMILE, and St. Mary’s Caring o CareNet Baby Bottle Blitz, Clergy Cycle, and Giving Tree o Providing dinner for Intervarsity at St Mary’s College o Providing 50 individual breakfasts for The Mission o Packing and collecting shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. There were 1,504 shoeboxes from Pax Pres; additionally, our church collected 848 boxes at our location. There were 29 volunteers who gave over 145 hours of service.

Through your gifts, our church gave over $63,000 to 36 different organizations and missionaries spreading the love of Christ throughout our community, nation, and the world.

Mission: Extend the outreach of the Church through a program of evangelism and church growth, keeping in mind the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…

TRUSTEES The primary responsibility of the Trustees is to maintain our 29,000 square foot church building, the Joshua House, and the grounds, and to support events and activities held by our church family, as well as our community.

Some accomplishments in 2021 were: Mission: To be stewards of our facilities, providing a place for current and future ministry.

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Events Held in 2021:

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Replaced security keypads by both the front entrance and Fellowship Hall entrance.

Installed “Ring” doorbell system at front entrance.

Replaced cracked tile along back wall of the kitchen.

Hosted a successful Fall Work Day. Numerous annual and quarterly inspections including the Fire Suppression System and septic tank maintenance.

Choir Room mold remediation.

Member Activities: Secret Sister event Men’s Prayer Breakfasts Youth Group activities Youth Band practices Operation Christmas Child packing parties Ministry Expo Church Yard Sale Creative Christian Cooks Mary/Martha Circle Deacons’ Outdoor Movie Night Christmas Ornament & Cookie Exchange Sunday School classes Bible Study small groups

Other Activities: Weddings Funeral and memorial services Encore Creativity Christmas Concert Wright Family Christmas Party Alcoholics Anonymous meetings CODA Anonymous meetings Narcotics Anonymous meeting Boy Scout leadership meetings and training Boy Scout Troop meetings

This is us.

This is Pax Pres.

VISION & MISSION Pax Pres is called by God to build bridges for the Gospel in Southern Maryland and the world.

We seek to make and grow disciples of Jesus Christ by building bridges for His Gospel between God and people, between one another in community, and between our church and the world.