Midweek Messenger for May 8, 2025
Schedule Highlights
Worship Schedule: St. Matthew’s Worship Schedule
Other Meetings and Events: St. Matthew’s May 2025 Calendar
Children’s Church: Room 116 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.
God and Guinness on Mother’s Day – Come out to Molloy’s Irish Pub beginning at 12:00 noon on May 11 for a Mother’s Day Brunch filled with good food and good fellowship.
Sunday School Classes
Children’s Sunday School meets each week in Room 222 following worship service. Children ages 3 to 18 are welcome to join us.
Adult Sunday School meets at 11:00 AM in the Parlor. All are welcome!
The 8:45 AM class remains on hiatus for the time being.
Tuesday Bible Studies
Join our Bible studies every Tuesday:
9:45 AM Bible Study with Isaac in the Parlor.
7:00 PM Bible Study with Rev. JW Park on Zoom. Join the Lenten Study, which is using the study book, In the Footsteps of the Savior by Max Lucado. We are discussing a chapter each week, so the study is continuing past Lent. You are welcome to join the study at any time. The Zoom link will be sent out prior to each meeting.
USPS Food Drive Supports the Bowie Food Pantry
On Saturday, May 10, the postal service in Bowie will pick up food donations from your home. These donations will go to the Bowie Food Pantry — it is usually one of the largest food drives for the Pantry each year! Please place your unexpired, non-perishable donations by your mailbox. If your letter carrier does not pick up the donation, you can bring it to church on Sunday and put it in the shopping cart. The Pantry had over 500 client visits in both March and April. Thank you for your support during this time of increased need!
Help Us Get Ready to Celebrate our 2025 Graduates!
Plans are progressing to celebrate the St. Matthew’s Graduates of 2025, but we need your help! If you are graduating or you have a graduate-to-be in your family, please let us know the school from which you or they are graduating and what your or their next step is (where they will continue their education, what career or training they plan to pursue, etc.) If possible, please include a picture we can share with the congregation during worship. We will celebrate graduates from all school levels, including Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, High School, and College/Vocational/Technical Schools!
Please send the information to beckyroper@stmatthews-bowie.org by Monday, May 12 so we can include everyone in the June Circuit Rider.
Annual LGBTQIA+ Sunday Coming on May 18th
Join us on Sunday, May 18 for our 10:00 AM service. Our speaker this year is one of our very own, Vivian Mead. She grew up in this church. She will be sharing her story with us. This service will be a Casual Sunday. Please wear your colorful Love is Love St. Matthew’s T-shirts and jeans or shorts. Make sure you don’t miss coffee hour afterward in Fellowship Hall. We look forward to seeing you then!
Chesapeake Chorale Concert Coming to St. Matthew’s
The Chesapeake Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Iain Sturrock, presents “Singing Our Timeless Stories,” a program of American choral music, Sunday, May 18, 3:00 PM, at St Matthew’s United Methodist Church (Chesapeake Chorale Concert Flyer). A reception will follow. Tickets prices are $18 (adult), $12 (senior/military), and $5 (student). For online ticket sales visit Chesapeake Chorale Concert Tickets or call 443-292-2176.
Please bring an unexpired can of food for the Bowie Interfaith Food Pantry.
Help St. Matthew’s Youth and Get a Clean Car in the Bargain!
Join us on Saturday, May 17 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon for the Annual ASP Car Wash! Your participation will support the St. Matthew’s Youth in raising money for their annual ASP (Appalachian Service Project) Mission Trip!
Christian Book Club for May
On Tuesday, May 20, at 7:00 PM, we will discuss Bonnie B. Thurston’s book, The Stones of the Last Week: Impediments to Easter. As always, the Zoom link will be sent on the preceding day. Come join the club!
The Annapolis Pride Parade and Festival is This Month!
Mark your calendars for the Annapolis PRIDE Parade and Festival on Saturday, May 31. St. Matthew’s will march in the parade and have a booth in the festival. All are invited to participate however you can. If you are unable to walk the parade, we will have a truck to ride in. More information is coming soon. Contact lgbtqadvocacy@stmatthews-bowie.org if you have any questions.
Baltimore-Washington Conference (BWC) Announces New Structure
The BWC now has a new structure composed of hubs, Connecting Churches, and six new districts. The announcement is part of the on-going restructuring effort. The planned changes will begin in July 2025. Within the new structure, St. Matthew’s will be part of the Two Rivers district, with Rev. Johnsie Cogman remaining our District Supervisor. We will be part of the Bowie-Lanham Area Hub, and the Connecting Church in our hub will be Lanham UMC in Lanham, MD. For more information, see BWC’s web page, Creating Vital Change | Baltimore-Washington Conference UMC. Bishop LaTrelle Easterling’s related announcement is also available on-line at this link: Baltimore-Washington Conference UMC.
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! The LFP always needs cereal, canned chicken and other proteins, canned fruit, and side dishes like mashed potatoes or rice. Beth Obear (bobear18@comcast.net) for Beth Lingg and the Little Free Pantry.
Bowie Food Pantry Update
The most needed items are tomato products, canned soup, and low sugar cereal. Please place donations in the shopping cart in the coatroom (or give them to your postal carrier – see article above). 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 Federal 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 or grantees, those who fear losing their jobs, and other people who are suffering negative consequences due to the uncertainties surrounding Federal government actions.
The links and descriptions 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
Maryland MD Federal Public Servants Home
Maryland fact sheet on Unemployment Insurance for Federal Employees FAQs for Federal Employees – Division of Unemployment Insurance
PG County Resources for Federal Workers | Prince George’s County Legislative Branch, MD
Anne Arundel County Federal Employee Assistance | Anne Arundel County Government
Howard County announcement Howard County Announcement on Expanded County Resources to Residents Affected by Federal Job Cuts
DC website DC Resources for Impacted Federal Workers
Virginia website Virginia Has Jobs
Upcoming Job Fairs
Maryland list of upcoming job fairs: Upcoming Job Fairs and Events – Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning.
Federal Job Fairs in Maryland/US by Eventbrite Discover Federal Government Job Fairs Events & Activities in Maryland, United States | Eventbrite
Virtual Job Fairs, Baltimore – April 24, July 24, and October 23, 2025, Baltimore Job Fairs, Virtual Job Fairs & Career Fairs | Best Hire
Virtual Job Fairs, Washington – May 22, August 13, and November 13, 2025, Washington DC Job Fairs, Virtual Job Fairs & Career Fairs
Important OPM Information
OPM Policy Memorandums: Latest and Other Highlighted Memos, listing OPM policy pronouncements, including recent policies concerning an Executive Order on probationary periods, Schedule C terms of employment flexibilities, pay and leave legislative changes, policy memos implementing other Executive Orders, etc.
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.
The Baltimore-Washington Conference (BWC) of United Methodist Church is hiring for several positions, each of which is open until filled (BWC Open Positions). Each job posting contains instructions for applying for the position.
Latinx/Hispanic/Latino and Multicultural Ministry Coordinator (Multicultural Ministry Coordinator).
Area Young People’s Ministry Coordinator (Children, Youth & Young Adults) (Area Young People’s Ministry Coordinator.pdf).
Manager, Learning Management System (LMS) (Manager LMS)
In addition, several United Methodist Churches in the BWC have posted Help Wanted ads on the BWC website: Area UMCs’ Help Wanted Ads
Miscellaneous Resources
Partnership for Public Service, FedSupport, a support page for current and transitioning public servants, FedSupport Hub
Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund, 2025 Resources for Feds is a page under the organization’s “News & Impact” tab, that is being used to compile links to national and regional resources that may be helpful to Federal employees who have been affected by the current government actions.
FedSavvy, a website offering various services for Federal employees concerning benefits and retirement, including a monthly blog, which contains updates on information of interest to current and former Federal employees and retirees: April 2025 – Fed Savvy
Kiplinger article, Federal Employees Buyout Offer: Five Things to Consider, mostly considerations regarding retirement options
Washington Post article, Where federal employees can get free financial help, contains information about retirement considerations for RIFed employes, links to pro bono or reduced-rate financial planning resources for current or former Federal employees, and answers to questions sent to the Washington Post concerning Federal benefits and RIFs.
Partnership for Public Service article, How recent changes to the civil service affect federal employee benefits regarding separation from the Federal government, both voluntary and involuntary (updated 3/28/2025): Federal employee benefits and retirement options • Explainer Series
Serving Those Who Serve (not-for-profit organization whose mission is to assist Feds with financial planning) article: Breaks in Service for Federal Government Employees: Key Considerations
Federal News Network article, Federal employees impacted by Trump administration can turn to new legal support network, provides information about the new Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) fact sheet for participants leaving the Federal government tspfs29.pdf
Code of Federal Regulations regarding post-employment restrictions Post-Employment Conflict of Interest Restrictions
Department of Labor fact sheet on Unemployment Insurance for Federal Employees UCFE_FactSheet.pdf
PG County Mental Health Clinics (for a mental health crisis, dial 988) Community Crisis Services, Inc.; also Mental Health Facilities in Prince Georges County, MD
Federal Retirement Information
Office of Personnel Management (contains links to all relevant Federal retirement topics) Retirement Services – OPM.gov
OPM Retirement CSRS Eligibility; FERS Eligibility (If you are not sure which retirement plan you are under, check your forms SF-50, Notice of Personnel Action, especially the SF-50 for the appointment to your current or most recent position. Your retirement plan will be shown under “EMPLOYEE DATA.” You will find your SF-50s in your eOPF – see instructions for downloading above.)
OPM Retirement CSRS Types of Retirement; FERS Types of Retirement
OPM Retirement CSRS Computation; FERS Computation
Government Executive article (focuses on retirement, not a reduction-in-force or RIF), 10 Things You Need To Do Before Leaving Government – Government Executive
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.