Midweek Messenger for October 8, 2026
Schedule Highlights
- Worship Schedule: St. Matthew’s Worship Schedule
- Other Meetings and Events: St. Matthew’s October 2026 Calendar
- Youth Group will meet on Sundays from 4:00 to 6:00 PM.
- Nursery Care Update: Due to Ms. Prisca’s absence in our Nursery during worship services, Mr. Mark will be available in the Nursery for children between the ages of 1 and 6 years old. We are asking all other children to remain in the Sanctuary during worship until after the Children’s Message, after which all children may go to Children’s Church.
Sunday School Classes
- Children’s Sunday School meets at 11:10 AM.
- Adult Sunday School meets at 11:10 AM in the Parlor, with Jim Wiedman and Marguerite Matthews co-teaching the class using Michael Adam Beck’s book, Painting with Ashes: When your Weakness Becomes Your Superpower.
Tuesday Bible Studies
Join our Bible studies every Tuesday:
- Join Isaac Borocz in the Parlor at 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday mornings for our weekly Bible study. The group will begin to look at the parables of Jesus.
- Rev. JW Park leads the Tuesday evening Bible Study via Zoom at 7:00 PM, with no Bible Study on the third Tuesday of the month.
Charge Conference This Saturday!
We will be gathering together for our upcoming Church Conference on Saturday, October 10, promptly at 9:00 AM. The conference will be held at Mayo United Methodist Church, at 1005 Old Turkey Point Rd, Edgewater, MD 21037 (click this link for a map to the church).
Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early, as worship will begin right at 9:00 AM. The entire congregation is invited to attend, but only St. Matthew’s members may vote. The agenda includes votes on Clergy Compensation, Nominations, the Care of Members Portion of the Pastor’s Report (Question 5), and Candidates for Ministry. The information subject to voting is included in the Church Conference Agenda, which was distributed as an attachment to a St. Matthew’s Alert distributed on October 7.
Christian Book Club
The book for October will be the best-selling novel by Allen Levi, Theo of Golden. That discussion will take place on October 13 (note the change in date from the usual third Tuesday) at 7:00 PM via ZOOM. The book is available from various online booksellers (e.g., Amazon, Walmart, Thriftbooks) and is currently in stock at the Barnes & Noble (B&N) stores in Bowie, Annapolis, and other locations (per the B&N website), as well as available via B&N online. Large Print and e-book editions are also available online.
Annual Youth Fall Outing
The St. Matthew’s Youth Group will be having their annual fall outing on Sunday, October 18. We will meet at St. Matthew’s at 2:00 PM. Participants should eat lunch before arriving and dress in appropriate clothing. Come join the adventure!
You’re Invited to a Very Special Organ Recital!
Join lovers of organ music at a free Organ Recital at the US Naval Academy to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday on Sunday, October 18 at 3:00 PM. Five organists from the Annapolis Chapter of the American Guild of Organists will perform, including Isaac Borocz. Please come out and support your local musicians!
Chesapeake Chorale Coming to St. Matthew’s
The Chesapeake Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Iain Sturrock, presents Crossing, a concert of choral music, on Sunday, October 18, 3:00 PM, at St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church, 14900 Annapolis Road, Bowie, MD (Chesapeake Chorale Flyer: Crossing).
Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and members of the military, and $5 for students. For online ticket sales, including season tickets, visit Concerts – Chesapeake Chorale (click “Get Tickets” below the Crossing banner if you only want a ticket to that concert) or call 443-292-2176.
Trunk or Treat
St. Matthew’s will hold our annual Trunk or Treat with the Early Education Center (EEC) on Friday, October 23 in our front parking lot. We would love for the congregation to decorate their trunks and join us for a fun time! We begin with dinner and end with Trunk or Treat! Candy Donations Needed: We are also taking donations of candy or small items to hand out during the event. Volunteers Needed: If you are interested in volunteering, please get in touch with Becky Roper. The event will take place from 6:00 to 7:15 PM. If you are volunteering, please plan to arrive at 5:00 PM.
Are You Set Up to Receive Church Notifications?
As cold weather approaches, our thoughts turn to “what happens if the weather is bad?” You can get email notifications about any modifications or cancellations of St. Matthew’s activities, regardless of the reason. To do this, the Church Office needs to have your current email address. If you are getting the Midweek Messenger and the Order of Worship each week by email, then you are in good shape. To make changes or additions, please call or email the Office Administrator at 301-262-1408 or admin@stmatthews-bowie.org and copy the Membership Secretary at memsec@stmatthews-bowie.org.
In Case You Haven’t Heard…
- Helping Hands will have meetings in Room 126 at 10:30 AM on the first Wednesday of the month until further notice. Bring your lunch and enjoy food, fun, and fellowship for good causes! Our next meeting is November 4.
Little Free Pantry Update
Thank you for your donations to the LFP. The current needs are canned fruit, canned and dried beans, rice, and cereal. Thank you for your generous donations. (bethlingg,@comcast.net)
Bowie Food Pantry Update
At this time, the Bowie Food Pantry is most in need of soups (all kinds), canned tomatoes (all kinds), and low-sugar cereal. Please place donations in the shopping cart in the coat room.
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
Midweek Messenger PostScript:
Do Something Special for Either One or Both of the Food Pantries!
Add a little extra joy to the life of someone who is having a hard time. Donate a Cake Kit to the LFP or BFP! Grocery stores, big box stores, and most dollar stores carry the basics needed for the kit:
1 9”x13” disposable aluminum cake pan with lid
1 cake mix
1 can of soda
1 can/jar of frosting
A copy of the recipe for making the cake (printable recipes are available at this link: Budget Girl Shelf Stable Meals in a Bag recipe cards printable(1) — be sure to pick the document with that name!).
Optional: since the pan needs to be greased, a small can of baking spray (e.g., PAM) would be a great addition, if there’s room for it in the pan.
Optional: to make it a Birthday Cake kit, include a box of birthday candles, a birthday card, balloons, sprinkles, etc. (use your imagination)!
As always, please check the sell- or use-by dates and don’t put any expired food in any kits.
Put all of the ingredients in the pan, put in the recipe so it can be seen through the lid, and put the lid on top. Pair up any cake mix and frosting flavor combination that sounds good to you. To pair up the soda with the cake mix, remember that chocolate cake mixes pair best with dark sodas (cola, Dr. Pepper, Mr. Pibb, etc.), while vanilla cake mixes pair better with light sodas (Sprite, 7 Up, ginger ale, etc.) For more flavor combination suggestions, visit the source of information about this kit idea and recipe, the Budget Girl website: DIY Shelf Stable Cake Dessert Kits: Budget Girl.
Basic Cake Recipe (Serves 6-10)
Preheat oven per cake mix directions (usually 350F); butter or grease a 9” x 13” cake pan or spray it with baking spray.
Ingredients
One boxed cake mix
One can soda
One can or jar of frosting
Directions
- Blend cake mix and soda together until smooth and combined. Don’t over mix as the carbonation is necessary.
- Spread evenly in the greased or buttered baking pan. Bake according to the directions on the cake mix box (usually 25-30 minutes).
- Cool the cake completely, then frost.