st. matthew's united methodist church

14900 Annapolis Rd, Bowie Maryland 20715 Call Us 301-262-1408

Logo of St. Matthews United Methodist Church. It features a stylized cross with a mosaic design above the text St. Matthews United Methodist Church in blue and green.
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Midweek Messenger

Midweek Messenger for March 27, 2025

Schedule Highlights

Worship Schedule: St. Matthew’s Worship Schedule

Other Meetings and Events: St. Matthew’s Calendar

Children’s Church: Room 119 after the Children’s Message. Children from birth to 10 years old are welcome to join us! Our lessons follow the lectionary in a kid-friendly manner.

Simple Prayer will follow a slightly longer format during Lent. The theme this year is Jesus’ Last Words from the Cross. Please join us at 7:00 PM through April 16 (Wednesday of Holy Week).

Easter Week Plans (April 16-20):

  • Wednesday, 6:00-6:45 PM, supper before Simple Prayer at 7:00 PM
  • Maundy Thursday, 6:00 PM, supper before the 7:00 PM service
  • Good Friday, 7:00 PM, Choir Cantata
  • Saturday Easter Egg Hunt, 10:00 to 11:00 AM
  • Easter Sunrise Garden service, 8:00-8:30 AM (sanctuary in the event of inclement weather)
  • Easter Breakfast in Fellowship Hall, 8:30-9:30 AM
  • Easter Morning service, 10:00 AM in the sanctuary

 

Sunday School Classes

Children’s Sunday School is held each week in Room 222 following worship service. Children ages 3 to 18 are welcome to join us. Our class has been learning all the ways God loves us, and that we are called to love others. We will spend March and April on Lent and Easter.

Sundays at 11:00 AM in the Parlor, we are exploring the book, Jesus for Everyone: Not Just Christians by Amy-Jill Levine. The book delves into the historic and cultural impact of Jesus of Nazareth, examining his teachings and their relevance for everyone: Christians, agnostics, and nonbelievers alike.

The 8:45 AM class remains on hiatus for the time being.

Church on the Move is Coming – Sign Up This Sunday!

St. Matthew’s is reviving its Church on the Move tradition. On Saturday, April 26 at 9:30 AM, we will gather in Fellowship Hall for a brief worship service then go out in the community to serve our neighbors. When we finish, we will return to Fellowship Hall by 12:30 PM for a potluck lunch! Although plans are still being finalized, previous efforts included activities like packing bagged lunches for homeless shelters, singing in assisted living or nursing facilities, handing out water, picking up litter, etc. Church on the Move also includes Christmas in April (see next article). No matter what your abilities, we will have a volunteer opportunity suitable for you!

Stop by the Welcome Desk or come to Coffee Hour on March 30 to sign up for your choice of what you want to do.

Mark Your Calendars and Sign Up for Christmas in April

On April 26, 2025, as part of Church on the Move, St. Matthew’s will again join with Christmas in April, a non-profit organization in Prince Geroge’s County that repairs homes of low-income elderly persons or residents with disabilities at no cost to them. Work can involve painting, spackling, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, cleaning up yards, trimming and cutting down trees and bushes, or cleaning out cluttered homes. Smoke detectors, grab bars and stair railings get installed and windows and doors are repaired. Your volunteering means so much for the warmth, safety, and independence of these homeowners. To sign up, contact Dan Blades at dblades406@gmail.com or call him at 301-262-5148 (home) or 240-463-8662 (cell).

Movie Matinee and Lunch at St. Matthew’s This Sunday!

Come and join SHEEP for a Movie/Discussion on Sunday, March 30 at 12:00 PM after coffee hour and Sunday School in the SHEEP Barn (Rooms 223 & 225), Movie Matinee Flyer. The movie is the 1961 film called The Children’s Hour with Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine. A short discussion will follow. Lunch will be served. Please RSVP to SHEEP@stmatthewsbowie.org.

Please note that a few earlier announcements of this event inadvertently contained a typographical error indicating it would take place in May. However, March 30 is the correct date. Hope to see you there – you don’t want to miss the popcorn!

Helping Hands in April

Join us in Room 223 on April 2 at 10:30 AM to help stuff Easter eggs for the Egg Hunt in April. Bring a snack/lunch and we will provide water, deserts, and coffee.

ICB Kicks Off Yearlong Multicultural Celebration

The Interfaith Coalition of Bowie (ICB) is excited to host Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman as the keynote speaker for its kick-off event highlighting a yearlong celebration of the community’s diversity, made possible by a grant from the Bowie Supportive Housing Corporation. The event will occur on Sunday, April 6, 2025, from 3:00 to 4:00 PM at the Bowie Community Center on Stonybrook Drive in Bowie, MD. To register for this free event, select “Reserve a Spot” at this address: Celebrating our Multicultural Community Tickets, Sun, Apr 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM | Eventbrite.

Lenten Brunch is Open for ALL to Attend

The United Women in Faith invites everyone to attend a Lenten Brunch on Saturday, April 12, at 10 AM in Fellowship Hall. Our guest speaker is Rev. Marguerite Matthews. Join us for a morning of faith, food, and fellowship! RSVP is not needed; a freewill offering will be taken. Babysitting is available, but please contact us at uwf@stmatthews-bowie.org so we can ensure we have enough helpers.

Flute Recital Coming to St. Matthew’s

On Tuesday, April 15 at 7:00 PM, there will be a flute recital in the sanctuary featuring the students of Christina Bayes. Students will perform short solo works with piano accompaniment provided by Ms. Susan Kennedy, as well as flute duets, trios, and a quartet. Pianist Roy Hakes will also be performing a piece with Christina. All are welcome to attend.

Christian Book Club

On Tuesday, April 15, at 7:00 PM, we will discuss Bonnie B. Thurston’s book The Stones of the Last Week: Impediments to Easter. Again, the ZOOM link will be sent on the preceding day.

Please join us for this discussion.

Congregants Invited to Attend and Vote at Annual Conference!

At the Baltimore-Washington Conference (BWC) Annual Conference, the number of clergy in attendance typically outweighs the laity attendees. To improve the ratio of clergy to laity, some congregants may attend the 2025 conference (May 13-15, Hilton Hotel at 401 West Pratt St., Baltimore) with prior District Superintendent approval, as follows:

 

  1. They must be a member of a BWC United Methodist Church for at least one year
  2. They must request advance approval to attend by sending an email to Dr. Johnsie Cogman at jcogman@bwcumc.org
  3. They must pay for all registration ($149 early bird, $159 regular, $199 late), transportation, and accommodation costs (like others)
  4. They will have voting rights.

 

If this interests you, please email Dr. Cogman at jcogman@bwcumc.org to request approval. For further information, you may contact St. Matthew’s Lay Leader, Gemina Archer-Davies at gemina@archer-davies.com.

Little Free Pantry Update

Please place your donations for the LFP in the bin in the coatroom or in the box outside by the narthex door. Thank you very much for your generous donations to the LFP! Our current needs are proteins (canned meats, fish, or shellfish; dried meats; meat-based soups). Beth Lingg for the Little Free Pantry (bethlingg@comcast.net)

Bowie Food Pantry Update

A steady influx of new clients means lots of food is leaving the Pantry each week! At this time, canned tuna, condiments, and low-sugar cereal are most needed. Please place donations in the shopping cart in the coatroom. Thank you — your donations help the Pantry keep up with the considerable and ever-increasing need for food. Monetary donations help, too! You can give through St. Matthew’s; please note “Bowie Food Pantry” on your check. Thank you!

To ensure that your item is included in the Midweek Messenger, please send it to enews@stmatthews-bowie.org by noon on Wednesday. Anything received after that may be held for the next week’s edition.

Pat Layfield, Editor

Special Appendix for Federal Employees and Others Affected by US Government Actions

St. Matthew’s continues to lift up in prayer those who are laid off from the Federal government, those who work for or have lost their jobs as Federal contractors, and those who fear losing their jobs due to the uncertainties surrounding Federal government actions.

The links provided below are for informational purposes only, for the convenience of those who are experiencing challenges due to the changes within the Federal government. Please understand that St. Matthew’s does not intend for any of the information included here to be interpreted as providing any legal or financial advice. For such advice, please consult a qualified professional.

State and Local Assistance Websites

 

 

Upcoming Job Fairs

 

 

Important OPM Information

 

  • OPM policy regarding Reinstatement: Reinstatement – OPM.gov
  • OPM policy regarding Severance Pay Severance Pay
  • OPM policy regarding Insurance Benefits (Health, Dental/Vision, Life, Flexible Spending, and Long-term Care) when separating for reasons other than retirement: Life Events: I’m leaving Federal Service (not retiring)
  • OPM policy regarding Termination, Conversion and Temporary Continuation of Coverage (part of Federal Employees Health Benefits Program Handbook, which starts at the top of the same page: FEHB Handbook)
  • Instructions for downloading your E-OPF (Official Personnel File), which YOU WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO DO VIA YOUR GOVERNMENT NETWORK COMPUTER BEFORE LEAVING YOUR AGENCY! (Sample instructions from the Department of Commerce, which should generally work in any agency are available here: HRConnect Day Manager Self-Services (MSS) QRG), If you have your eOPF log-in information that you received when you were hired, log in to the eOPF system using that information and follow the prompts and links. Otherwise, or if you have any other questions, contact your servicing Human Resources (HR) office or personnel department within the Federal agency or organization you work (or worked) for to obtain information on how to access and use eOPF.   Be sure to obtain and keep copies (preferably hardcopies) of your SF-50s, years of service, last timesheet, your last leave and earnings statement, and your most recent signed performance plan, including any performance evaluations.

 

Miscellaneous Resources

 

 

Federal Retirement Information

 

 

Congressional Support

 

  • Congressman Steny Hoyer has a webpage designed for affected Federal employees (Federal Employees | Congressman Steny Hoyer).
  • Both of the US Senators from Maryland have informational webpages for Federal employees: Chris Van Hollen (Resources for Marylanders Affected by Trump Admin Policies | U.S….) and Angela Alsobrooks (Resources for Federal Workers – Senator Angela Alsobrooks).
  • Newsletters from both US Senators contained the following suggestions for Federal employees: (1)  Keep a record of everything, including hard copies of performance reviews, SF-50s, and years of service; (2) Consult with your supervisors for guidance when you receive an order or request from outside your agency, such as a directive from OPM; (3) Pursue legal advice from an attorney specializing in federal employee law or from your union (4) File a complaint if you are targeted. If you are a current or former federal employee or applicant, you may have a right to file a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) or an appeal with the Merit Systems Protection Board. If you are in a bargaining unit, you should communicate with your union first, as it is possible that they have a different, negotiated set of grievance procedures.