Upcoming Events and Opportunities at St. Matthew’s

Ongoing:  Feed the hungry!  Contribute non-perishable food items to the Bowie Food Pantry;

End malaria!  make a donation through “Nothing But Nets;”

Care for the earth!—and support our EEC program—by bringing your recyclable paper to the yellow/green bin in the parking lot;

Support the EEC – by bringing in Box Tops for Education, Campbell’s Soup Labels for Education, used ink cartridges, and Capri Sun empty foil packs.

Today:  Sunday, October 09, 2011

8:30 a.m. Worship Sanctuary

9:45 a.m. Church School (all ages) Various

9:45 a.m. “Enough” Stewardship class Fellowship Hall

11:00 a.m. Worship Sanctuary
11:00 a.m. Children’s Choir Room 124
11:30 a.m. Children’s Church Room 126
12:15 p.m. Children in Worship Room 126
4:00 p.m. “Blessing of the Pets” Memory Garden
6:30 p.m. Middle & Senior High School UMYF Sanctuary
Ticket Sales for “Nunsensations” after each service by Fellowship Hall

This Week:  October 10 – October 15

Monday CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED FOR COLUMBUS DAY HOLIDAY

5:00 p.m. “Nunsensations” Dress Rehearsal Fellowship Hall

6:30 p.m. Gloria Ringers Room 124

7:00 p.m. “Enough” make-up session Room 126

7:00 p.m. Evening Circle Room 102

7:30 p.m. Communications Committee Room 127

Tuesday 9:45 a.m. Pastor’s Bible Study & 11:00 a.m. Angel Gang Room 126

5:00 p.m. “Nunsensations” Dress Rehearsal Fellowship Hall

7:00 p.m. SPPRC Room 126

Wednesday 9:00 a.m. UMM Breakfast meeting at Rips in Bowie

10:15 a.m. Bible Study for Health Room 126

5:00 p.m. “Nunsensations” Dress Rehearsal Fellowship Hall

7:00 p.m. Finance Committee Room 127

Thursday 5:00 p.m. “Nunsensations” Dress Rehearsal

7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir & 8:30 p.m. SpiritMove Room 124

7:00 p.m. Unified Budget Question & Answer Session Room 102

7:00 p.m. Disciples – A Course in Miracles Room 126

Friday 7:30 p.m. “Nunsensations” Performance Fellowship Hall

Saturday 7:30 p.m. “Nunsensations” Performance Fellowship Hall

Mark Your Calendars!

Sunday, Oct. 16 3:00 p.m. “Nunsensations” Performance Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, Oct. 19 7:00 p.m. Administrative Board Fellowship Hall

Inclusive… Vibrant… LIFE AT ST. MATTHEW’S

Sunday, October 09, 2011

Welcome to all who have gathered for worship today!
We extend a special welcome to all visitors.  Please let us know of your presence by filling out the attendance register that will be passed down the aisle during worship.

We offer the following assistance:  a hearing loop (“T” position); large print hymnals (available in back of sanctuary); Infant Nursery (Room 116) and Nursery (Room 109); Children’s Bulletins and crayons (available at center doors to sanctuary)

Join the St. Matthew’s Family

If you are living in this area and do not have a local church home, we invite you to join us.  Our pastor will be happy to talk with you; or you may indicate your interest in joining the next Exploring Covenant (membership) class either by marking the attendance register (“wish to join”) or calling the church office, 301-262-1408.

Today’s Altar Flowers are given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Richard and Myrtle Porter.

Our Prayers*

When adding names to our prayer list, please specify whether you want them for one or two weeks:   John Still, Millie, Christine Furgason, Emily Long, Justine Ameral, Sandy & Richard Hill, Liz Hanna, Pat Cone, Nancy Perry, Martha Sallet, Lurene Chen, Megan Riley Keppler, Christina Schuliger, Rose & Ugo Gervasio, Bibi Haynes, Suzanne Davis, Monica Chaney, John Skotz,   Pat & Ron Young, Wendy Hein, Betty High, David Becker & family, Raina Mooberry, Mark Tipton & family, Pat Christman, Mark Lineberry,  George Pullicino & family, Stanley Goldstein, Jason Webb, Jim & Kay Smith, Jonathan Smock, Don Walton, Jo Kim, Steve Golembiewski, Denny Hulen, AU, Tom Keith, Chloe, Betty Roberts, Sybil Saddler, HB, Ruth Clark, Joseph Krivak, Sam Rainer, Kathleen & Bonnie Jean,   Jean, Sadie Harmon, Michael E., Darlene & Sam Jones, Anita Reichman, Mike & Vilma Bolanos, Carol Miller, Kevin McCann, Pat & Jessica Tyron, ST, Pete Fauconnet, Artie Roach, Sadie Conner, Heidi Shultz, Ronnie Dicken, Melissa Arnold, Frank, Steve Smith, Georgina Price, Barbara Morris, Mike League, Christian Schott, George Linde, Laurie Clark, Ashley, Mary Goyen, Mike B., Paul Schuliger,  Dee Dee, Zeki, Sharon Blevins, Carol Ohlson, Stanley Bice, Tommy Baldwin, Isobel McEwan, Maysen Duran, Mary Telis, Christine Willis, Will Fisher, Tommy Hyland, Betty Williams Samuels, Gloria Danley.

* denotes deployed Military personnel

Sunday Servant Leaders (Sign-up to serve at the “Tower of Opportunity” in the narthex)

Christian Formation and Spiritual Growth

The “Enough:  Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” study and worship sessions begin TODAY in Fellowship between services.  The first session will be “Faith in the Midst of Crisis.” Next week session entitled “When Dreams Become Nightmares” will be held on Monday, October 10 at 7:00 p.m. in room 126 and Sunday, October 10 at 9:45 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.

Don’t Forget –TODAY, Children in Worship class at 12:15 p.m. in room 126.  Rev. Kathy Wadsley will give children an orientation for participation in worship services and parents ways to guide and assist them.  Come learn the “why” behind what we do in worship, good times to wiggle and snuggle and age appropriate ways to be involved.  Everyone is welcome to attend this event.  The brochure The ABC’s of Children in Worship is available in the narthex with ideas for parents to use in guiding their young children in worship.

Children’s Church is offered during the 11:00 worship service (except on communion Sunday) after the scripture reading for children in Grades 1-5.  A volunteer is needed each week to assist with this ministry.  To volunteer for one, two or more Sundays please contact Rev. Kathy Wadsley at 301-262-1408 or kathy.stmatthews-bowie@verizon.net.

Third Graders will receive Bibles NEXT Sunday, October 16, during the 11:00 a.m. service.  Please return the form asking how you would like your child’s name to appear in the Bible to the office TODAY so that they can be prepared for next week.  On Sunday, November 13, Rev. Kathy will lead the third graders in a Bible orientation during the 9:45 Church School hour.  Parents are invited to attend.

Mission and Service

Our Read to Feed mission is helping children learn to give to others.  And there is much delight in choosing what animal or animals to give to needy families through Heifer International.  The student book says it all, “Real Kids, Real Animals.”  While some of our youth and adults walked last Sunday to end world hunger, our children are reading to end world hunger.

St. Matthew’s designated collection day for the BOWIE FOOD PANTRY is NEXT Sunday, however, drop-offs can be made at any time to the shopping cart which is located in our coat room.  Items needed this month are all kinds of soups especially vegetable, beef and bean soups. Your faithful support of the Food Pantry is greatly appreciated.  As always, monetary donations are welcome – write your check to St. Matthew’s UMC and put “Food Pantry” on the memo line.

Bowie CROP Walk – Thank you to all of the popsicles (I mean walkers!), sponsors and volunteers who participated in this year’s CROP Walk.  We had a terrific group of people from eight local churches gathered together to spend a few hours working towards a world-wide issue – hunger.   We had a tremendous response to our request for donations to the Food Pantry and we delivered well over 100 bags of groceries to them.  Please turn in your donation envelopes to Kathy Krause or the church office by Sunday, October 16 so that we can put those donations to work as soon as possible.  Watch the Parish Notes and Circuit Rider for the final results.  We even had a surprise visit from Ted Farrar, District Regional Director from Church World Service.  Mark your calendars for Bowie Crop Walk 2012 – Sunday, October 7.

Congregational Life

Youth News – Both UMYF groups will meet at 6:30 p.m.  Middle school will have Pizza and Pictionary night and high school will take a Step in the Right Direction.  All middle school and high school youth are invited to join us.

REMINDER:  Deadline for the November Circuit Rider is October 15.  Email your items to Lorri Meadows at circuitrider@stmatthews-bowie.org.

“Nunsensations” – the Musical Theatre Troupe’s next production opens this coming Friday!  Don’t miss this show!  Get your tickets after each service by Fellowship Hall.  Show dates are Friday, October 14 and 21 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, October 15 at 7:30 p.m.  and Sunday October 16 and 23 at 3:00 p.m.  Ticket prices are $5 a person ahead of time and $7 at the door.  Tickets may also be purchased from the church office during the week.

Unified Budget – The Finance Committee has initiated a program to include a significant portion of our benevolence programs into our annual budget.  A Question and Answer session will be held THIS Thursday, October 13, from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Parlor (room 102) to explain the unified budget program and answer any questions you may have.

Volunteers still needed for the church nursery – The Nursery I (infant-toddler nursery) and Nursery II (preschool – Grade 1) need to have two adults in each room on Sunday mornings.  We are asking volunteers to give an hour at either 8:30, 9:45 or 11:00 in each of these two rooms.  Consider working the same hour and Sunday of the month.  The adult in charge will be there weekly throughout the morning.  This is a great way to support our families with younger children.  To sign up for this vital ministry, please give your name and contact information to Rev. Kathy Wadsley at 301-262-1408 or kathy.stmatthews-bowie@verizon.net.

Communications has many faces – it’s how we relate to the world and how the world relates to us – how we connect with each other inside and outside the church – how we tell our stories – our personal story, our spiritual story and our church story – to each other and to the rest of the world – it’s how we honor the vision and goals to which the church is committed.

TELL and share your St. Matthew’s experience with everyone you meet and know – be a walking, talking, texting, blogging, facebooking, tweeting, social networking example of how wonderful it is to be part of the St. Matthew’s family.  To help you do this we now have Flip video cameras to use for recording church events and activities and social networking and web site training classes are held monthly.  We need YOUR help.  Send us your photographers, photos, stories and information to help us tell our story the best way we can.  We’ll make it pretty.  For more information contact George Wood 301-262-5835 or georgewood@stmatthews-bowie.org.

Bob and Sandy Paulen  have organized a comprehensive 15 day tour to Spain and Portugal departing October 7, 2012, from Reagan National Airport.  You can see the complete itinerary at www.gct.com/spe2012.  For more information or to register, please contact Bob at 240-723-5660 or bobpaulen@comcast.net.