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.

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, September 25, 2011

8:30 a.m. Worship Sanctuary

9:30 a.m. Missions Central Donations for Dollars Fellowship Hall

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

9:45 a.m. “Exploring Covenant” class Room 102

11:00 a.m. Worship Sanctuary
11:00 a.m. Children’s Choir Room 124
11:30 a.m. Children’s Church Room 126
2:00 p.m. Middle School UMYF meet at Nighthawk Golf in Crofton
6:30 p.m. High School UMYF Sanctuary

This Week:  September 26 – October 01

Monday 6:30 p.m. Gloria Ringers Room 124

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

7:00 p.m. Board of Trustees Room 127

7:00 p.m. Enough Facilitators meeting Room 126

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

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

7:00 p.m. History Committee at the home of Kay League

7:00 p.m. Nominating Committee at the home of Jane Thessin

7:30 p.m. Liberian/VIM Trip Meeting at the home of Pete Saderholm

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

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

7:00 p.m. Unified Budget Q & A Room 102

Friday 7:00 p.m. Musical Troupe Rehearsal Fellowship Hall

Saturday 9:00 a.m. Altar Guild workday Sanctuary

9:00 a.m. BWC UMVIM Training Conference Wesley Wing

9:30 a.m. Musical Troupe Rehearsal Fellowship Hall

Mark Your Calendars!

Sunday, Oct. 02 12:30 p.m. CROP Walk at St. Matthew’s

Inclusive… Vibrant… LIFE AT ST. MATTHEW’S

Sunday, September 25, 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)

Today’s Altar Flowers are given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of husband Chuck and grandson Brice Kelley by Jody Kelley Rudd.

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 Gray Ross, 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, Chris Burkes, Lew Dodd, Denny Hulen, AU, Steven Marshall, Robert Lindsey, Tom Keith, Chloe, Mary Mondonado, Betty Roberts, Sybil Saddler, HB, Tommy Antonis, Ruth Clark, Joseph Krivak, Sam Rainer, Kathleen & Bonnie Jean, Linda Sutton,  Jean, Thomas Einof & family, Jeffrey & Alexander Robinson, Sadie Harmon, Michael E., Pete & Sue Mekkelson, Darlene & Sam Jones, Anita Reichman, Mike & Vilma Bolanos, Carol Miller, Kevin McCann, Karen Hollinger, Lee Ann Flinter, Pat & Jessica Tyron, Anthony Johnson family, Duncan Scott, ST, Pete Fauconnet, Artie Roach, Sadie Conner, Heidi Shultz, Shirley Egerton, Margery Furgason, Ronnie Dicken, Melissa Arnold, Frank, Steve Smith, Georgina Price, Barbara Morris, Jeanne Frey & family, Janet Alessandro & family, Mike League, Christian Schott, George Linde, Laurie Clark, Ashley, Mary Goyen, Mike B., Paul Schuliger, Jena Cochrane & family.

* denotes deployed Military personnel

Congratulations to Steven and Ally Groff on the birth of their son, Owen Wallace Groff, on September 17.  The proud grandparents are Rick and Sue Groff.

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

Christian Formation and Spiritual Growth

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.

Children in Worship – October 9, 12:10 – 1:00 p.m., room 126 – All children in grades Kindergarten – Fifth grade and their parent/s, guardian/family are invited to attend.  Rev. Kathy Wadsley will give children an orientation for participating in worship services and parents ways to guide and assist them.  To get the most out of this event a parent/other adult needs to be with the child.  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.

Mission and Service

Donations for Dollars for Missions/Silent Auction is TODAY in Fellowship Hall between services and after the 11:00 service.  Come see all the holiday decorations, paper products, toys, football and baseball themed items and other miscellaneous candles, decorations and ornaments.  Truckloads of these items were donated to Mission Central in Mechanicsburg, PA, by Giant Food, so as a HUB, we can now offer them to you for a small donation.  A real bargain!  As a Silent Auction, we also have the following higher priced items donated by other people:  Six collections of certified limited edition Porcelain Collector Plates issued by Bradford Exchange, several fine porcelain Carousel Horses (8-1/2” x 8-1/2” to 11” x 11” in size), a Cut Glass Crystal Decanter with Cordial Glasses, and a Marco Ceroni Gold-Plated Woman’s watch.  Money raised from the Silent Auction will be used for Mission Projects.

Bowie CROP Hunger Walk – NEXT Sunday, October 2, 12:30 p.m. – here at St. Matthew’s.  Register to walk in front of Fellowship Hall following Sunday services.  There are many opportunities to use your time and talents so visit the registration table if you would like to participate in the event as a volunteer.  Note:  25% of the money raised will go to the Bowie Inter-Faith Food Pantry.  We will also be collecting donations of canned goods and other non-perishable food to be delivered to the Food Pantry on the day of the walk.

Read to Feed – Did you know that this fall some children at St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church will become “Everyday Heroes?”  The reason is that they are reading books to help raise money for Heifer International to send a cow, pig, goat, or other animal to a needy family in an effort to end hunger.  Readers may choose a book from their school library, the public library or from the table in the narthex.  They will then enlist sponsors who will pay an amount for each book that they read.  They are also asked to read one of the following books written by Heifer International authors:  The Chicken and the Worm, Winter in Songming, Faith the Cow and Beatrice’s Goat.

Don’t Forget the UMVIM training event  being held here this Saturday, October 1, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00.  The training is being offered for team supporters (everyone in the church who is NOT on the trip), team members or team leaders.  Lunch will be provided and a love offering will be collected.  To register go to the following website www.bwcumc.org/events/vimtraining or contact Jody Rudd at jodyek20@yahoo.com or 301-262-5127.

Congregational Life

Youth News – Middle school UMYF will meet at Nighthawk Golf Center in Crofton at 2:00 p.m.  Please bring $10 for games and plan to be picked up around 4:00 p.m.  High school UMYF will meet at the church at 6:30 p.m. and will have a night of Shenanigans.

TODAY, the St. Matthew’s Musical Theatre Troupe begins selling tickets after each service for their next presentation – “Nunsensations”.  Come and have a sin-city-fully good time!  You won’t want to miss this spectaculaire!  Show dates are Friday, October 14 & 21 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, October 15, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday October 16 & 23 at 3:00 p.m.  Ticket prices are $5 a person ahead of time and $7 at the door.

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 on Thursday, September 29, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., in the parlor to explain the unified budget program and answer any questions you may have.

Family Matters is a weekly devotional written by Rev. Jim, a United Methodist Elder (pastor) who is serving as an Army National Guard Chaplin.  He lives with his wife and two children in Ohio and started writing Family Matters when he was deployed as a way to keep connected to his church and help families everywhere.  The devotionals focus on family and connect faith and scripture with real life.  If you would like to receive this devotional, please send an e-mail to kathy.stmatthews-bowie@verizon.net with Family Matters in the subject line and your name and e-mail address in the body.

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 8:30, 9:45 and 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.

Parents of college students – Please call the church office at 301-262-1408 or e-mail Jen McClurg (jenmcclurg@gmail.com), your child’s mailing address.  We would like to stay in touch with them during the year and let them know that their church family is thinking about them and praying for them!

We wish to thank the congregation for their kind words, prayers, thoughts, and cards.  They were a comfort and greatly appreciated.  It is truly a blessing to be a part of St. Matthew’s, a loving and caring congregation.  Lew and Jane Dodd