Click here to view a printable version of the Order of Worship.
Dear Church Family,
We are happy to share the Order of Worship for our service on Sunday, July 12, 2026. We will gather for worship at 10am, and we would love for you to join us.
You are welcome to worship with us in person or virtually by conference call, Zoom, Facebook Live, or through our website—whatever works best for you.
Our hope is that everyone has the opportunity to worship and feel connected, wherever they may be.
Thank you, and as always, welcome to St. Matthew’s UMC!
If you have difficulties with the Facebook link, feel free to join Zoom.
Live-Stream
-
- Meeting ID: 996 0251 9769
- Password: 14900
- St. Matthew’s UMC via Facebook
- St. Matthew’s UMC via Website
Conference Call
- Conference Call Dial-In: +1-301-715-8592
- Enter Access Code: 996 0251 9769 #
- Password: 14900 #
- Then, please wait for the host to begin.
Closed Captioning Available
Worship, classes, and meetings Zoomed now have the capability for closed captioning. The catch is that you must “turn it on”.
To do that, click on the button labeled “More…”. Then in the droplist, click on “Show Subtitles”.
If you need further assistance with this, please contact georgewood@stmatthews-bowie.org
Sunday, July 12, 2026: The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
PRELUDE: Andante nobile in A Flat Major, Op. 55/27
—Flor Peeters (1903-1986)
WELCOME
*CALL TO WORSHIP: —Psalm 119, passim
L: Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes.
A: Your decrees are my delight; they are my counselors.
L: Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes,
and I will observe it to the end.
A: I revere your commandments, which I love,
and I will meditate on your statutes.
L: Let your steadfast love become my comfort
as you have promised your servant.
A: Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
*OPENING HYMN:
Word of God, Come Down on Earth UMH 182
*OPENING PRAYER
—based on a prayer of St. Augustine (354-430)
Fill us with your holy love, O Lord,
and open the treasures of your wisdom to us.
You alone know all that we desire.
Complete what you have begun in us
and answer the prayers you instill in our hearts
through the work of your Holy Spirit.
Even as we seek your face,
turn to us and show us your glory.
Then our longing will be satisfied
and our peace and joy will be complete. Amen.
*ACT OF PRAISE: Gloria Patri UMH 71
JOYS & CONCERNS
PASTORAL PRAYER & THE LORD’S PRAYER
PASSING OF THE PEACE
*HYMN BEFORE SCRIPTURE:
Breathe on Me, Breath of God UMH 420
Today’s Epistle reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Romans (Romans 8:1-11)
8 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed, it cannot, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, then the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.
The Word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD.
*Please stand as you are able for the Gospel Acclamation & remain standing for the reading of the Gospel.
*GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Halle, Hallelujah TWFS 2026
*The Gospel Reading this morning is from the Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23)
13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on a path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 If you have ears, hear!”
18 “Hear, then, the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet such a person has no root but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
The Gospel of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD.
MUSIC FOR MEDITATION: Moderato in C Major, Op. 55/2
—Flor Peeters (1903-1986)
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
MUSIC AT THE GRADUAL:
Moderato assai in F Major, Op. 55/20
—Flor Peeters (1903-1986)
MESSAGE —Rev. JW Park
THANKSGIVING PRAYER BEFORE THE OFFERING
MUSIC DURING THE OFFERING: Lamb of God
—Twila Tharp, arr. Lloyd Larson
*DOXOLOGY UMH 95
ANNOUNCEMENTS
*CLOSING HYMN:
Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing UMH 671
*BENEDICTION
*BENEDICTION RESPONSE: Shalom to You UMH 666
POSTLUDE: Allegro maestoso in E Flat Major, Op. 55/13
—Flor Peeters (1903-1986)
The flowers on the altar today are dedicated to the glory of God, in honor of our Aunt Lu Hilty, who accompanied us, encouraged us, and taught us to sing in harmony.
~Pat Layfield and Jenifer Karwoski
DAILY SCRIPTURES
Mon: Isaiah 1:10-17 Tues: Matthew 10:1-10
Wed: Romans 15:1-13 Thur: 1 Corinthians 9:15-23
Fri: John 17:20-26 Sat: Romans 14
SPECIAL THANKS TO TODAY’S VOLUNTEERS!
| Greeters | St. Matthew’s Members |
| Ushers | Stacy Ann Samuels*, Pat Clark, Pat Clunies, Ray Denmark |
| Acolytes | St. Matthew’s Members |
| Liturgist | Jay Megonigal |
| Musicians | Pat Layfield & Jenifer Karwoski |
| Counters | Allison Pena, Carolyn Fisher, Ed Darnell |
| Broadcasting | The Hulens, George Wood, Steve Smith, Bruce Thoman, Zoom Team |
| Welcome Desk | Jody Rudd |
| Coffee Hour | Debbie Harmon |
WHAT’S HAPPENING…
| Today | 11am | Coffee Hour | Fellowship Hall |
| 12pm | God & Guinness | Molloy’s – Crofton | |
| Mon. | 7pm | Gloria Ringers Rehearsal | Choir Room |
| Tues. | 945am | Bible Study w/Isaac Borocz | Parlor |
| 11am | Angel Gang | ZOOM | |
| Wed. | 8am | Men’s Breakfast | Rip’s Country Inn |
| 7pm | Simple Prayer Service | Sanctuary | |
| 730pm | Ad Council Meets | ZOOM | |
| Thurs. | 7pm | Choir Rehearsal | Choir Room |
| Sat. | 930am | Altar Guild | Sanctuary |
MORNING PRAYER CALL: Monday-Saturday, 630-645am
Dial 267-807-9601 and enter access code: 111-576-270 #
Monday, July 13th – Saturday, July 18th: Diane Waldo
ANNOUNCEMENTS
God and Guinness – TODAY at 12pm – Molloy’s Irish Pub
Everyone is welcome to come out for good food and good fellowship. 1053 MD-3, Gambrills
ASP Trip and ASP Sunday
Our ASP team has returned from Avery County, North Carolina, for the Appalachia Service Project (ASP). Please join us on Sunday, July 26th as they share this year’s experience!
Celebrate St. Matthew’s UMC’s Birthday
Join us next Sunday (July 19th), to celebrate St. Matthew’s 63rd Birthday!
Christian Book Club – Tuesday, July 14th – ZOOM
Join us THIS TUESDAY, rather than July 21st, when Isaac Borocz will be at Princeton University for a conference. The book for July and August (and perhaps September) is Frederica Mathews-Green’s book, Mary as the Early Christians Knew Her. In July, we will read and discuss the Introduction and Part One (through page 81). As always, the Zoom link will be sent before the day of the meeting. Everyone is welcome.
Summer Adult Sunday School
Classes will meet in the Parlor each Sunday, 910-950 am, which is after the Garden Service and before 10 am Worship. Each class is independent, so no need to worry about missing background from a previous class!
July 19th (Jim Wiedman), July 26th (Marni Siegel), August 2nd (Rev. JW Park), August 9th (Ray Denmark), August 16th (Marguerite Matthews), August 23rd (Becky Roper), August 30th (Isaac Borocz).
Bibles for Third Graders
Calling all 3rd Graders! If you are an upcoming 3rd Grader or have not received a Bible from the church, please let Becky Roper know. We will need a count by July 15th to ensure that we get the Bibles in time to be presented in October during a worship service. (beckyroper@stmatthews-bowie.org)
Confirmation Class Starting
Is your child ready for Confirmation? We would like to start a class in September. If your child is 12 or older and would like to be confirmed, please let Becky Roper know by July 31st at beckyroper@stmatthews-bowie.org.
Church Announcements & Happenings
To help us keep the Church Calendar current, please send any updates for your team, group, or committee—including summer breaks and return dates—to the Office as soon as possible. If you haven’t submitted your events for now through the end of the year, please do so by July 19th. Forms are available from the church office, on the church website, or by email request. Send updates/requests to: admin@stmatthews-bowie.org
Little Free Pantry Update
We cannot put canned food in the LFP in extreme heat. Therefore, our needs are mashed potatoes, rice, dried beans, muffin mix, stuffing, and shelf-stable milk. Thank you for always being so generous! (bethlingg@comcast.net)
Bowie Food Pantry Update
The summer issue of the food pantry newsletter recognized Margie Pekala’s twenty years of service as the longest service of any volunteer! Copies of the Newsletter located in the Narthex.
At this time, the Pantry is most in need of canned tomato products (diced, stewed, etc.), condiments (especially salad dressings), and low-sugar cereal. Please place donations in the shopping cart in the coatroom. Thank you for your support!
CONTACT US
| Facebook Page | www.facebook.com/stmbowie | |
| Senior Pastor | Rev. JW Park | jwpark@stmatthews-bowie.org |
| Dir. Music Ministries &
Adult Education |
Isaac Borocz | isaacborocz @stmatthews-bowie.org |
| Dir. Children & Youth Ministry | Becky Roper | childrenandyouth @stmatthews-bowie.org |
| Office Administrator | Melissa Hauer | admin@stmatthews-bowie.org |
| Financial Administrator | Scot Dahl | bookkeeper @stmatthews-bowie.org |
| Financial Secretary | Lisa Wilson | financialsecretary @stmatthews-bowie.org |