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 April 17, 2025

Schedule Highlights

Worship Schedule: St. Matthew’s Worship Schedule

Other Meetings and Events: St. Matthew’s 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.

Easter Week Plans (April 17-20):

 

  • Maundy Thursday, 6:00 PM, supper before the 7:00 PM service
  • Good Friday, 7:00 PM, Service with Choir Cantata
  • Saturday Easter Egg Hunt, 10:00 to 11:00 AM
  • Easter 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 traditional 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.

Tuesday Bible Studies

Join our Bible studies every Tuesday:

 

  • 9:45 AM Bible Study with Isaac in the Parlor will not meet on Tuesday, April 22.
  • 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 will continue past Lent. You are welcome to join the study at any time. The Zoom link will be sent out prior to each meeting.

 

New Certified Lay Minister Class Applications Now Being Accepted

Applications for the next class of Certified Lay Ministers, the Baltimore-Washington Conference Class of 2025-2027, are now being accepted. To learn more and obtain the online application, follow the link to this website: Certified Lay Ministers | Baltimore-Washington Conference UMC. The deadline to submit your application is July 1, 2025. The next cohort will start in September and is a two-year commitment. Questions can be directed to Linda Flanagan (waldorfangel@gmail.com), Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministries.

However, the first step in the process would be to meet with our Senior Pastor, JW Park. The requirements to become a Certified Lay Minister include, but are not limited to, meeting with your pastor, completing and submitting the Certified Lay Ministry application, and completing the Basic Lay Servant Ministry course (Basic Lay Servant Ministry Course). Lay servant classes may be taken by anyone: member of a congregation, local church leader, or lay servant. The next available course will occur via Zoom on May 5, 12, 19, and 26 from 6:00 to 8:30 PM. The deadline for registering for the course is April 25, 2025, and the cost is $40.

The Fantasticks Is Almost Here

The St. Matthew’s Musical Theatre Troupe will present The Fantasticks on April 25, 27 and May 2, 3, and 4. Friday and Saturday shows start at 7:30 PM and the Sunday matinees will be at 3:00 PM. Tickets are available after church, in the office, or online at Tickets for The Fantasticks. Base ticket prices are $5.00 for children under 5, $10 for Youth aged 5 to 19, and $20 for adults.

Reports from those who have observed rehearsals indicate that this show is not to be missed! So come on out and enjoy the show!

Get Ready for Church on the Move April 26!

Join us for a morning of outreach and service! Come to Fellowship Hall at 9:30 AM to receive your assignments and gather any tools that are needed. After completing our projects, we will return to the church for a potluck lunch at 12:30 PM. We will also participate in Christmas in April on the same day.

Afghan Family Grateful for St. Matthew’s Assistance

The family feels unable to express fully the profound joy and excitement they enjoyed due to the most generous gifts of kindness and support St. Matthew’s provided to assist their move last week. The SHEEP team contributed $1,500, the congregation donated $1,725, and the Bowie Supportive Housing Corporation (BSHC) provided $3,000 to assist with lease cancellation, transport of their belongings in the church truck, and funds for critical updates in their new home (such as smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, etc.) The generosity of St. Matthew’s has made an incalculable difference at a critical time in their journey. Thank you, St. Matthew’s!!

Save the Date for the Annual St. Matthew’s Car Show!

Mark your calendar for the Annual St. Matthew’s Car Show Fundraiser on Saturday, June 14, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, in the church parking lot.

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 include cereal, healthy snacks (such as Goldfish crackers), and small applesauce cups. Beth Lingg for the Little Free Pantry (bethlingg@comcast.net)

Bowie Food Pantry Update

The Pantry is open normal hours Good Friday April 18. Please continue your faithful support by contributing funds and/or food. The most needed items are canned meat (Spam, chili, chicken, and beef stew) and canned tuna. Please place donations in the shopping cart in the coatroom. 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 or grantees, and 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.

New this week

 

  • Link to job listing for BWC Latinx/Hispanic/Latino and Multicultural Ministry Coordinator (see BWC hiring section below)
  • Link to help wanted ads from area United Methodist Churches (see BWC hiring section below)
  • Federal News Network article with information about the new Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network (see Miscellaneous Resources section below)

 

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.

 

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.

 

 

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.