Explore the Bible, Rainforest at VBS

Come, join us as we venture into five Bible stories plus the rainforests!  We aim to connect you with Jesus as well as the people and critters who live in the rainforests.  Learning can be fun at Vacation Bible School!

VBS will take place Monday—Friday, July 14 - 18, from  6:30 - 8:30 p.m.  Children ages three through seventh grade by June 30, 2008.  Three-year-olds must be potty-trained.

Don’t wait.  Register today!  Registration forms are on the table in the narthex.

Kendrick Weaver Will Throw Out First Sermon for Summer Garden Services

Rev. Kendrick Weaver will return as guest preacher to open the garden service “season” on Sunday, July 6.  As in the past, St. Matthew’s adds a third worship service during the nine Sundays of July and August.  We hold this service in the beautiful memory garden that is dedicated to its primary caregiver, Jessie Smith.  Our additional service will begin at 7:30 a.m. on July 6 and continue through August 31.   The 8:30 and 11:00 services in the Sanctuary will continue as normal.

The routine is simple.  Please walk up the winding sidewalk from the parking lot as though you were going to the kitchen.  As you approach the kitchen area, take a folding chair from one of the racks; get yourself a cup of coffee, a bagel and head for the garden area to secure a spot.  If it rains, the service will be held in Fellowship Hall. 

There is no dress code.  Many people attend in shorts.  The service ends promptly at 8:15 a.m., giving our pastor time to prepare for the 8:30 service. 

Pastor’s Corner—“What A Time To Be Alive!”

by Dick Stetler

Today, no one can say that life is boring.  Just think where we are seated to witness the greatest show on earth.  The United States has successfully landed the Phoenix Mars Lander.  The Democrats have settled on an African American for a presidential candidate.  Gasoline is climbing beyond $4.00 a gallon.  The Saudis are frustrated about where to invest their wealth.  The weather patterns have changed dramatically, giving our country draughts, wild fires, tornadoes and floods.  Everyone is feeling the financial pinch each time a purchase is made.  The fleeting thought comes to most of us, “What will our future look like?”  This is the adventure!

What we are about to witness is the manifestation of how God has wired us.  Slowly, the playing field is being leveled as former third world countries are beginning to produce products, goods and services the world’s growing population needs.  Cultures are colliding in a way never before seen in human history.  What will happen as the race accelerates toward a replacement for the oil that every culture appears to treasure? Truly necessity is about to become once again the mother of invention.  A replacement for oil is very near.

We are witnessing the greatest transformation of civilization that has ever taken place.  We are becoming a world economy, a world community where a person’s ethnicity will not matter, where individual religious practices will not matter and where governments will be unable to control market forces that are driving diverse cultures together.  Humanity is not in control of its own destiny.  For the first time in history, super powers are irrelevant.  Forces are at work that we can neither pinpoint nor control.  What a time to be alive!

Change is occurring at such an accelerated pace, that even our most sophisticated methods of tracking such data cannot remain current.  We will learn that wealth does not count for much until we share it.  We will learn that when our brother and sisters suffer, we all do.  We will learn that our planet is getting smaller and that if we abuse our space ship earth, she will respond violently as if attempting to abort the life forms that are out of harmony with nature.

God has wired each of us perfectly and even though we are living in different cultures, we will respond creatively in order to survive and thrive in the process.  An insightful teaching of Jesus summed up our destiny when he said,  “I am telling you the truth:  those who believe what I have taught will do what I do – yes, they will do even greater things.” (John 14:12)  Jesus’ teachings are remarkable in their universal understanding of what we need to do to get where we are going.

Even non-believers will witness this process of cultural transformation.  What a number of people neglect remembering is that nothing can prevent the will of God from being done.  What a wonderful time to be alive!  Take heart, the best is yet to come.  You will see.  Roll up your sleeves, keep busy expressing love in its many forms, rid yourselves of fear and watch God’s will become increasingly visible. Stop staring at the trees.  Stand back so you can see the forest.  Everything is perspective.  Enjoy the ride.

UMW Meetings and Upcoming Events

The United Methodist Women have begun their summer hiatus.  While most circles will resume meeting in September, the Koinonia Circle will meet in July and August  on the third Monday of each month.  Information on the Fall studies planned by each circle will appear in the September Circuit Rider.

If you are interested in learning more about the UMW and the circles, plan to attend our annual Fall Fellowship Tea to learn more about the program and to meet women who can answer your questions.  The Tea will be on Sunday, September 14, from 9:45 to 11:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.   Also, please note that the UMW’s 17th Annual Craft Show, our main fundraiser, will take place on Saturday, November 8, from 10:00 to 3:00.

We are excited to announce that St. Matthew’s will host the Washington East District UMW Annual Meeting on Saturday, October 18, at 9:00 a.m.  Please plan to attend the program in the Sanctuary—a wonderful speaker is scheduled.  (And your attendance at the meeting helps count toward a Mission Today requirement!)

EXECUTIVE BOARD:  Sunday, August 24, at 7:00 p.m. in the church parlor.

KOINONIA Circle:  Monday, July 21 and August 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the parlor of the church.  Babysitting will be provided.

Youth News                                                                                          
                                                         —Clare Carhart, Youth Director

We ask that you please pray for our Appalachia Service Project (ASP) team as they travel and work July 13-19.  On July 27, the team will make their report to the congregation.

All youth programs will resume on Sunday, September 7.  Watch the bulletin and the September Circuit Rider for details.

 

Church School Resumes Sept. 7

Church school for children, youth and adults will resume Sunday, September 7, at 9:45 a.m. 

Watch the bulletins and the September issue of the Circuit Rider for registration information and descriptions of the classes that will be offered.

Congratulations to our Graduates!

Kenny Halleran         Bowie High School

Jordan Hill                Bowie High School

Matthew Hillsinger     Archbishop Spalding HS

Christina Rodriguez    Bowie High School

Richard Starkey        St. Vincent Pallotti High School

Jennifer Webb          Georgetown Day School

 

Kenneth Hyland        Univ. of Maryland

Kevin Hyland            Univ. of Maryland

Anna Jennings          Towson University

Stephanie Martin      Anne Arundel
                             Comm. College

Brian Patterson         Univ. of Maryland
                             Baltimore County

Laura Romanosky      Univ. of Maryland      College Park

Jason Webb             Virginia Military
                             Institute

"Liberia: a Country Returning from Exile” Needs Our Help

Rev. Anthony Dioh, the director of St. Matthew’s United Methodist School in Logan Town, Monrovia, Liberia, spoke to our congregation on Sunday, May 18. He expressed appreciation to our congregation for the assistance this church has given the school.  Rev. Dioh reminded the congregation that our support is meeting a three-fold mission objective: 
(1) we are helping to educate a new generation of Christian leaders for the Church and the nation of Liberia, (2) our congregation is helping to reclaim a lost generation, and (3) our congregation is making new disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

It is very hard for us to relate to the lives of our brothers and sisters in Monrovia as we continue ours here in Maryland.  Image if everything you knew as daily happenings in your life were suddenly taken away and you had to begin all over again.

We are blessed with so much and as Christ taught us “of those who have much, much will be expected.”  The Missions Committee has asked you to help educate the children of Liberia by providing scholarship funds and school kits.  This is a tremendous help in their steps to re-claim lost generations; but they need more.  When Florie Liser visited the school in Logan Town, the teaching staff simply asked for a World Atlas; an Algebra II book; and one current World History Book—not 10 or 12, but just one to teach 1,200 students.

We will soon hear more about the collected efforts from five or six UM churches in the US aimed at joint support for the improvement of the Christian schools in Liberia. One of the many things on their agenda is the purchase of a truck to deliver the books and supplies that are now flowing into Monrovia for the Methodist schools. We are asking for your support to begin a “Purchase the Truck Fund”. We estimate we would need $25,000 to provide this vehicle. Any and all contributions are building blocks to strengthen the Liberian people returning from exile.

Peter Saderholm’s interview with Rev. Anthony Dioh concerning the needs of St. Matthew’s School in Logan Town can be read on the church website at www.stmatthews-bowie.org/Missions/International/Operation_Classroom/ then select “Interview with Liberian Coordinator of Operation Classroom”.

With gratitude for your consideration,
Bill Greaves & Bill Schneider,
Operation Classroom, Project Leaders

 

UMW Reading Program EXPANDS!!!

Many women learned more about the UMW Reading Program thanks to the display set up by the Evening Circle in early June.  Our collection of books is about to grow much larger thanks to an offer from the Resource Center—an assortment of 25 books for only the cost of shipping (about $40)!  The books are from the 2006 Reading List and can be read for  the Reading Program through 2010. 

The books will be located on the UMW shelves by the window in the Church Library (Room 123).  Sign-out sheets are in the gray ring binder and Reading Program log sheets are also on the shelf. 

A Mission Today requirement can be met if at least two members complete Plan I (or higher) and report to their circle on one of the books that was read (please file a copy of your report in the gray binder).  Plan I requires that four books are read by an individual in one year (September to August), one from each category (Education for Mission, Nurturing Community, Social Action, and Spiritual Growth). 

Women who complete a reading plan should notify Jody Kelley by September 10 in order to qualify for 2008.  Stop by and sign out one of our new titles!

 

Tips for Earthquake Safety

While earthquakes in Maryland are quite rare, you may exposed to a higher risk of an earthquake during your travels.  The Disaster Response Team (DRT) has posted on the church website some tips for remaining safe during an earthquake.  The discovery of the “triangle of life” and how to use it to survive a building collapse is on the website at www.stmatthewsbowie.org/DRT/cr_articles.asp;  then select “Earthquake Safety Tips.”

 

Disciples’ Summer Plans, Fall Kick-off

"A Course in Miracles" will continue through out the summer months on Thursdays evenings at 7:00 p.m. in Room 126. If you've thought about this course and wish to join the group, please come. This class can be joined at any time. "A Course in Miracles" introduction booklets are available in the narthex literature rack.

Mark your calendars for the "Annual Disciples Feast" to be held this year on Sunday, September 7, from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. This is a time when we gather for a meal and welcome each other back to church after the summer months. Ricky J will once again cater our main course and the Disciples will supply the sides and desserts. Watch the church bulletin for ticket sale dates.

Disciples class offerings for the coming year will be available for review and consideration.  Rev. McGunigale and Irene Schneider continue to lead "A Course in Miracles" on Thursday evenings, Ray Denmark will lead "Disciples II" on Sunday afternoons, Bill Schneider will lead the short course "An Invitation to Psalms" on Wednesday evenings, we will welcome Linda Cooper our group of course leaders.

Disciples Will Honor Cliff Jardine

One of our Disciples members has retired and will be leaving us very soon, moving to Williamsburg, VA. This person was instrumental in assuring the Disciples Program stayed alive at St Matthew's when Rev. Patti Fenske retired; now it is his time.

Cliff Jardine's to and personal passion for program has resulted in many coming closer to Christ and being moved to do God’s work in our church through and mission efforts. Last year, Cliff passed the Disciples Program over to Bill and Irene Schneider took a seat on the Staff Parish Relations Committee, yet remained with the program as a class leader and lead of our recent Lenten Series Study.

We want to honor Cliff in a special that is traditional when ending a yearly session of Disciples I class, "The Last Supper". It is a session where we pray, feast and celebrate God’s grace. This special session will take place on Thursday, August 7, at 7:00 p.m. in Room 126.

If you wish to join this event, please include your name, e-mail address, and phone number on the Disciples clip board in the narthex. The number of attendees is needed for preparation. Please come and celebrate Cliff with us.

—Peace be with you,
Bill and Irene Schneider,
Disciples Program Leaders

Life Changes

Deaths

Helen Redmond, mother-in-law of Millie Redmond

George Owens, father of Sandy Cohoon

Juliette Domingo, sister-in-law of Olive Domingo

Mary Miller, mother of Liz Smith

Let There Be More Light (and Soon)!

After a two-year study, the Trustees have recommended (and the Ad Board has approved) a new lighting system for the Sanctuary.  The current system was installed in 1963, is not energy efficient, has a high maintenance cost, and does not provide adequate, uniform lighting over the seating areas.  The new system utilizes quartz/halogen technology in a pendant downlight in combination with a new state of the art dimmer control panel.  This new system will provide an even and smooth spread of light in a more cost-effective manner, and enhance other presentations in the Sanctuary.

The installation of the new sanctuary lighting and dimming system is scheduled to begin the week of August 17, with completion expected by August 26. Since scaffolding will be installed during this time, the sanctuary will only be available for the August 24th Sunday services. Upon the completion of the first phase of the lighting project, an evaluation will be made to determine what changes may be required to improve the lighting in the choir loft area.

The total cost (labor and materials) of this project is $52,500, and installation is scheduled to take place in mid-August.  The Administrative Board has approved funding this project from the church family’s invested funds.  The Finance Committee would like to defray the cost of this project by urging the congregation to help underwrite the cost through goodwill donations or donations in honor of or in memory of a loved one(s).  All donors will be recognized at the All Saints’ Day service the first Sunday in November.  Names of donors of one light ($2,500) or more will be placed on a plaque in an appropriate location in the Sanctuary.

Please consider making a donation in a timely fashion.  Donation forms are available in the literature rack in the Narthex.  Please note your check with “New lighting system” on the memo line.

Thanks to the members of the lighting committee for their dedication, contributions and time spent in many meetings to insure the success of the project. They are Barry Schuliger, Joe Anzallo, Isaac Borocz, Clyde Draughn, Lorri Meadows and Howard Waterworth.

 

DRT Needs Office Assistance

The Disaster Response Team is looking for someone with Microsoft or publishing skills who complete the draft of our program operating procedures.  Call or email Dan Blades at drt@stmatthews-bowie.org.

 

...and a Grand Time was Had by All

Several dozen St. Matthewites experienced a carefree, outdoor weekend at Camp Harmison over the Memorial Day weekend.  Don’t let the words camp or camping scare you.  There were all levels of participation that weekend.  Some were in travel trailers, tents, vans, pop-ups, even the Inn at Berkley Springs. 

Activities were centered under a large pavilion with a wonderful central fireplace.  Attached to the pavilion is a huge kitchen with several stoves, a freezer, refrigerators, sinks, and, of course, a long table.  Showers and bathrooms adjoin the pavilion.

The common thread was fellowship.  It was an unstructured weekend, except for worship on Sunday morning.  There were hikers, readers, bird-watchers, fishermen, nappers, chatterers, all doing their “thing”.  Pets, on a leash, were also there.  Each group brought food and we had a potluck supper Saturday night. 

There was a 76 year age range, so there is definitely a place for you and your family on our next trip, Columbus Day Weekend, October 10-13.  It coincides with the Apple Butter Festival in Berkley Springs—so mark your calendars now!

Thank You

Your prayers, concerns and cards have really been a comfort to me and my family during the illness and death of my nephew, Domingo, and my sister-in-law, Juliette Domingo.  It is truly a blessing to be a part of the St. Matthew's family.

Thanks so much,
Olive Domingo & Family

St. Matthew’s Administrative Board
will meet in Room 126 at 7:30 p.m. on
Wednesday, July 9