Upcoming Events and Opportunities at St. Matthew’s (see printable version)

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:  April 29, 2012

8:30 a.m. Worship Sanctuary
9:30 a.m. Mission Displays and Mission Central Sale Fellowship Hall
9:45 a.m. Sunday School All ages Various
11:00 a.m. Worship Sanctuary
11:00 a.m. Children’s Choir Room 124
11:00 a.m. Youth Choir Fellowship Hall
5:30 p.m. High School UMYF Fellowship Hall
1:00 p.m. Disciples Class Room 127
6:30 p.m. Middle School UMYF Sanctuary
7:00 p.m. UMW Executive Board Room 102

 

This Week: April 30 – May 5

Monday 10:00 a.m. New Security Access System Presentation Sanctuary

6:30 p.m. Gloria Ringers Room 124

7:30 p.m. Planning Meeting Room 126
Tuesday 9:45 a.m. Pastor’s Bible Study & 11:00 a.m. Angel Gang Room 126
7:00 p.m. Exploring Covenant New Member’s Class Room 102
7:30 p.m. Membership Committee Room  126
7:30 p.m. New Security Access System Presentation Sanctuary
Wednesday 9:00 a.m. UMM Breakfast at Rips in Bowie

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

7:00 p.m. Missions Committee Room 126

7:00 p.m. SPRC Room 222

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

Saturday 8:00 a.m. BSA Troop 1249 Yard Sale Various

Mark Your Calendars!

Sunday, May 6 5:00 p.m. Youth Dinner Theater Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, May 8 10:00 a.m. Security Access System Presentation Sanctuary
Tuesday, May 8 7:30 p.m. Security Access System Presentation Sanctuary
Saturday, May 19 Spring Into Service Various
Wednesday, June 6 6:30 p.m. COM Leader’s Meeting Room 102
Sunday, June 10 12:30 p.m. Church Wide picnic at Allen Pond in Bowie

 

 

Inclusive… Vibrant… LIFE AT ST. MATTHEW’S

Sunday, April 29, 2012

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 by the family of Courtney Birckhead in Celebration of his 90th Birthday

Our Prayers*
When adding names to our prayer list, please specify whether you want them for one or two weeks:   John Still, Millie Hobbs, Emily Long, Sandy & Richard Hill, Nancy Perry, Vung and Lurene Chen, Megan Riley Keppler, Christina Schuliger, Rose & Ugo Gervasio, Bibi Haynes, John Skotz, Wendy Hein, Betty High, Mark Tipton & family, George Pullicino & family, Stanley Goldstein, Jonathan Smock, Brett, Michael E., Ronnie Dicken, Melissa & Reginald Arnold, Frank Lane, Tristen Dawson, David & Jody Rudd, Lesley Cogan, Steve & Sally Dale, Verlinda Heffler, Duncan Scott,  Mary Novicke, Beverly Westcott, Christy Streetman, Dorothy & Jack Whalen, Dwaine & Lori Kronser, Mary Hearn, Jason Webb, Laurie Clark, Bob King,  James Goddard, Ava DelRicco, Chad Esh, Zeki & Dee Dee, Tracy Bowman, RJ Sexton, Lew & Jane Dodd, Ursula & David Unnewehr, Priscilla Foote, Randy, Lizel Salmon, Kathy Tracy, M.B., Ron & Shirley Dumas, Mark Lineberry, Conner Hedge, MM, Michael Kraus, Mark Bartalozie, A Carol Miller, Ann Cooper, Paulette Wood, Debi Shanahan, Mom Bellis, Larry & Sandy Rinck, Jerry Connolly, Christian Schott, Ingrid VanBlerk, Carol Vogel, Anderson family, Carter Bucciero, J.S., Karen Dyer, Cathy Stewart, Gail Grierson, Marianne Skarr, Jack & Kay Calloway, Dave Cute, Luda Unkenholz, Martha Rhoades-Spivey, Trevor Lazarus, Brooksann Epiceno, Ronnie & Cathy Tayman, Don Gaines, Glen Gaines, Jennings family, Ann Fauconnet, Ruth Eicher, Mickey, Ainsworth family, Diane & George Mitchell, Vince & Cathy Degenero, Michelle Mitchell, Chris Shephard, Dwight Purcell, Verna Rupert, Alicia Carroll, M. Connolly,  Mary Dell Wickham, Michelle Roncone, Aunt Laurie Clark, Florence Conley, Guy Levee, Hogle family, Dennis Conner, Keith Chadwick, Banchero family, Gayle Bivens, Edie Vasco, Barnhill family, Don Gerland, Joe Livermore & family, Mary Margaret King, Charles Bowles, Chris Burkes, Wendy Waller, Paul Clarke, Trimeloni family, Matthew Wilson, Trisha Rzepka, Sutton family.                           Denotes Military

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

Christian Formation and Spiritual Growth

NO CHILDREN’S CHURCH TODAY – In March the children’s Church School classes made cards for the St. Matthew’s school in Liberia.  Lori Robertson from the VIM Team took class pictures to show the children in Liberia.  Today the Church School elementary children are invited to stay for the video and report of the VIM Team and learn more about the children that we hope to become class pen pals with in Liberia.

The Sunday morning Adult Bible Study Class led by Jeanne McWilliamson in room 227 will be exploring the Book of Psalms for the rest of the year.  She will be using multi-media and multiple stories to divine the meaning, authors, and meaning of the Psalms as they relate to the New Testament.  Join us!

 

Mission

Meet with the Liberia Mission Team:  Today, between the services, the team that went to Liberia will be available in Fellowship Hall to answer questions and share experiences.  Stop by and talk with them; they have much more information than could be shared during the Worship Service and personal stories to tell.

Donations for Dollars for Missions: Today, between services and after 11:00 service, you can Donate Dollars to Mission Central by purchasing gifts and decorations for holidays and the upcoming Summer season.  These are new items donated by Giant Food and are offered for a small donation which will go to Mission Central in Mechanicsburg, PA.  There will also be a Silent Auction for donated higher value items.  Call Bob Fuller at 202-498-0567 or email at Cfuller432@aol.com  for more information.

 

Stewardship

On May 19 we will celebrate SPRING INTO SERVICE.  Start thinking how YOU can assist St. Matthew’s in its effort to clean up the grounds and building, entertain the children, explain many of our missions and pack items to go to Mission Central.  Talk within your committees, guilds, work groups, etc., and come up with some ideas.  Contact Pat Clunies (301) 262-6447 or Clunies@verizon.net with your ideas.

 

Communications

CIRCUIT RIDER CHANGES AHEAD – If you are currently receiving the e-alerts, Midweek Messenger and Circuit Rider by e-mail and also receive a mailed copy of the Circuit Rider, we will no longer be mailing you a printed copy.  If you would like to be added to the e-alert list, please forward your email address to the church office at sharon.stmatthews-bowie@verizon.net.   Printed copies of the Circuit Rider will continue to be available in the Tower of Opportunity in the narthex.  Thank you for your understanding.

 

Congregational Life

Youth News – High school UMYF will meet at 5:30 tonight for play practice.  Middle school will meet at 6:30 p.m. as usual.

Dinner Theater Tickets on Sale after each service by Fellowship Hall! – Join us NEXT Sunday, May 6 for “Just Another High School Play” put on by our ASP Team!  Dinner is at 5:00 p.m., with the show to follow and dessert at intermission.  Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children 13 and under.  All proceeds help support our summer mission trip.  Hope to see you there!

New Security Access System Presentation – Jackie Gerard, Chair of the Board of Trustees, will do an overview of the new Security Access System.  She will explain how the system will work and how each of you will be affected.  There will be plenty of time for questions and concerns.  The sessions should last no more than one hour.  All sessions will be held in the Sanctuary.  They will be held on Monday, April 30 at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 8 at 10:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.  Please plan to attend.  Contact Jackie Gerard with any questions and for more information.

Help Us Build a Meals Ministry! – The Meals Ministry of St. Matthew’s is a new program to provide meals to those in our church family who need help in providing food for themselves and/or their families during a time of crisis/medical issues or welcoming a new baby.  Everyone is asked to refer folks who might need meals—additional details are in the May Circuit Rider.  Many volunteers are needed to provide occasional meals—volunteers will be assigned to a team and teams will be rotated as requests come in.  To volunteer or for additional information, please contact Lorri Meadows at lkmeadows@aol.com or 301-262-2592.

Coffee Hour Committee – Looking for something to do between services?  Have an hour to spare on Sunday morning once every couple of months?  The Coffee Hour Committee needs you!  We are looking for some willing volunteers to help set up and break down the coffee and snacks for the fellowship hour in between services on Sunday morning in Fellowship Hall.  It’s not difficult and training will be provided.  Volunteers will rotate so that the same person is not responsible every week.  Contact Marty Bridgewater (301) 262-5493 for more information.

Annual Boy Scout Garage Sale on Saturday May 5 – Don’t miss this opportunity to relieve your home storage area of valuable but useless items that could possibly be treasures to someone else.  Beginning Tuesday, May 1, you can bring all your items to the church and leave them in the back of Fellowship Hall.  Then join the fun of looking at everybody else’s junk to find the treasure that you have wanted all your life as you observe others analyzing the treasures you contributed.  Have a hot dog or burger while you go through this annual ritual.  Contact Pete Saderholm (443-994-3295) if you have bulky items that need to be picked up.

Vacation Bible School – Dive into a new adventure at Vacation Bible School to be held at St. Matthew’s, July 23 – 27, 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.  Children who were three years old on September 1, 2011, through those in Grade Seven in the fall of 2011 will discover God’s underwater universe at Operation Overboard:  Dare to Go Deeper With God.  Through Bible stories, age-appropriate crafts, songs, recreation, missions and ocean life kids will be challenged to dive deeper into God’s Word and discover what it means to have faith.  This year a new class “Mommy or Daddy and Me” invites young children who were age two by September 1, 2011 (but are too young for VBS classes) and a parent, guardian or grandparent, to attend VBS together from 6:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.  Check out the VBS bulletin board in the narthex for registration forms.  Completed forms may be placed in the scuba diver back pack on the bulletin board.