First United Methodist Church Laurel

April 27, 2012

Dorothy — Thu, 03 May 2012 00:25:13 +0000

First UMC | eRevelations
April 27, 2012
First United Methodist Church—Our Purpose: As believers in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and the Bible as the inspired word of God, we 1) glorify God through worship, 2) build strong relationships in the church family, 3) grow in the knowledge of the truth as revealed through Jesus Christ, 4) serve people as a reflection of the love of Jesus Christ, and 5) spread the Good News of the Gospel so that others may come to salvation through grace.
In This Issue:
? Thoughts From Your Pastor
? Worship News
? Fellowship News
? Discipleship News
? Ministry News
? Outreach Ministry News
? Church Meetings
Thoughts from Your Pastor
“My New Vision for First UMC: Ministry Investments, Part 2”
In last week’s article, I began to lay out for you my vision for First UMC, something I’m calling Ministry Investments. My efforts here are to explain the different parts of the vision and why they are important. It’s been said that nobody likes change, but everyone likes for things to get better. The “changes” that people often dread and shun are either things they don’t understand or things that they do understand but clash with their core values.
This vision I have discerned from months of prayer, thinking, and conversation attempts to honor the best of First UMC while laying out a path that will help you grow and be here for another generation. It’s also my hope that when you encounter parts of this vision that strike you as an unwanted, unnecessary, or even an impossible “change”, we can all take a moment to listen and learn from one another. We’re all in this together, and as I said last week—I love you, believe in you, and am on your side. The things I advocate for are for your effectiveness, health, growth, and prosperity.
Last week, I explained the multimedia and technology investments part of the vision. This week, let’s take a look at the staff investments I believe we need.
I think all of us would agree that we have an incredibly devoted, talented, hard-working, excellent church staff. In addition to myself, our staff is Becky Boeckman, our Director of Pastoral Care; Shari Kornak, our Office Administrator; Marlene Carr, our Financial Secretary; Judy Law, our Director of Music; Dr. Mack Statham, our Organist and Accompanist; Blairlee Owens, our Director of Youth and Coordinator of Special Needs Ministry; Diana Sansosti, Jennifer Lokouta and Laura Ryan, our Nursery Staff; and Joe Sansosti, our Custodian. Looking at that list, it’s easy to see how richly God has blessed First UMC.
There are some facts here to consider as well. I am the only full-time staff person with First UMC. Every other position is part time. Most all are half-time or much less. Even then, no one punches a clock around here. Every one of our staff works as long as it takes to accomplish their ministry tasks, often beyond their designated hours.
There are also some other harder facts to face. Because these harsh economic times have impacted tithes and offerings, driving down our giving, First UMC has had to hold and cut a lot of spending. So, since 2008, none of our staff has received any merit or cost of living increases. Several positions, including the Senior Pastor, Director of Pastoral Care, Organist, Director of Youth, and Special Needs Coordinator have had cuts to their salaries, some more significant than others. These have been very difficult, highly emotional decisions for our Finance Committee, Staff Parish Relations Committee, and Administrative Board to make. At the same time, our staff has worked with no less dedication and commitment.
However, I think we can do a much, much better job of compensating and caring for our staff. No, we can’t afford to pay them what their worth. That is an often made point often that I agree with. But we can tangibly express our thanks and gratitude for our staff by better compensating them while making their salaries more competitive.
So, for our current staff, I am proposing an immediate cost of living increase for each staff person. In the last four years, salaries have been frozen while everyone’s cost have living has gone up. We can do better than that for our staff. For staff persons whose salaries have been cut in recent years, I propose that our SPRC evaluate each case and then work with our Committee on Finance and our Administrative Board to give merit increases where appropriate.
Bottom line: a well-compensated, fully appreciated staff keeps up their morale, lets them know in more than words that they are appreciated, and of course keeps our ministry going strong.
The second aspect of staff investments is the addition of two new part-time staff positions: a Coordinator of Communications Ministries and a Sound Engineer. Let’s start with the Sound Engineer…
We have had a solid core of dedicated volunteers to run our sound system on Sunday mornings and for special services. We would continue to turn to them for help. However, our sound system needs have only gotten more involved and complicated in recent years, especially with the reformatting of our 11 AM service to Contemporary/Modern worship. A sound system our size that handles multiple demands requires a professional who can set up our sound, maintain the system, and train our volunteers. You may have met and seen Nate Nelson, a newer guy who has been coming to our church. He’s a sound engineer who has dedicated hours of volunteer time to improve our sound and to tweak what we have to make it better. It would make for a much higher quality worship service and other events to compensate someone like him on a permanent basis. Whatever we invest into our worship ministry yields the fruit of new people who keep coming back.
I also propose that we hire a part-time Coordinator of Communications Ministries to do several things. This person could assist Dorothy Tiffany, our webmaster, in up-keeping and fully maximizing our church’s website. The Coordinator would also design and reproduce church brochures, advertisements, and any other media that spreads the word about First UMC. And, if we install multimedia in the sanctuary, this Coordinator would design what we would see on the screens or monitors. Since information, information technology, and visuals are so important to connecting with people, a Coordinator of Communications Ministries would be a very smart, strategic investment for First UMC to make.
More next week… In the meantime, keep on praying, hoping, and going forward with an open heart and mind for God’s will!
Yours in Christ’s Love and Service,
Pastor Chris

Worship News
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Our message this Sunday will be “Holy Anticipation of Christ’s Coming: Seventh Day Adventism” and the scripture is from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
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Music Ministry
Regular Practice Schedule
Chancel Choir – Wednesday Rehearsals 7:30 pm
Praise Team – Wednesday Rehearsals 6:15 pm
Worship Players – 2nd & 4th Saturday 9:00 am
The King’s Kids – Wednesday Rehearsals 6:30 pm next practice May 2nd

Fellowship News

Discipleship News
NOTICE!!! PRAYER MEETINGS
Our church holds prayer meetings every Wednesday evening at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary. We need supporters for this valuable mission so if at all possible, please join us.
Prayer concerns this week: Jesse Easton, Linda & Family (friends of Germaine Acampora), Germaine Acampora, Duke Clements & Family (friend of Dave Self), Mr. Teri Johnson, Russ Geis, Greg Sweitzer, June Shortall, John Wagner & Family (Cousin of Kathy Hersey), Kenny, Leslie & Jordan Bice, Norma Rowe

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UMW
Kathryn Eye Circle Meeting – Monday, May 7th at 1:00 pm
Martha Circle Meeting – Monday, May 14th at 7:00 pm
Edith Miles Circle Meeting – Monday, May 14th at 7:00 pm
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Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8)
Favorite Recipes Cookbook
First United Methodist Church
Members & Friends
$10.00/per copy
(make checks payable to United Methodist Women)
If you would like to purchase a cookbook please contact one of the following people:
Wilma Foster, 301-725-0897
Ingrid Loukota, iloukota@verizon.net
Lois Hamilton, 301-498-9736
Barb Miller, bamiller4@verizon.net or
Shari Kornak, Office Administrator, 301-725-3093 or office@fumcl.org
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Ladies…………
Mark your calendars!!
Friday, May 11, 2012
6:00 pm
For planning purposes – Please sign up in the Narthex…….Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at the door or you can contact Ann Messina, Mary Hoffman or by calling Shari in the church office any time at 301-725-3093.

Deadline for ticket sales is May 3rd
Make checks payable to UMW
(United Methodist Women)
Each table sits 8 people so if you know that you will have that many please be sure to let us know ahead of time so we can reserve an entire table.
The cost will be: Ages 5 & under – Free
Ages 6-12 – $6.00
Ages 13 & over – $12.00
All ladies are invited!!

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UMYF
Meeting Schedule
Sunday, 4/27/12-4/28/12 – World Vision 30 Hour Famine Lock-In

Sunday, 4/29/12 – Youth Sunday – Both Services – 8:15 am & 11 am; No Evening Meeting
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Youth Group Spaghetti Dinner
Talent/No Talent Show

Saturday, May 5th

5:00 pm Dinner

6:30 pm Talent/No Talent Show

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Calling All First UMC Youth Grades 6-12

Do you have a talent?

We need you!!!

May 5th is the Youth Group Talent/No Talent Show & Spaghetti Dinner
Come and share your talent with the rest of our church.

Diagnosis: Dementia, What Now?
With Toni Benton

Tuesday, May 8th from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm at

Arden Courts of Silver Spring
2505 Musgrove Road
Silver Spring, MD 20904

Seating is limited, call 301-847-3051 or email
silverspring@arden-courts.com for reservations

Diagnosis: Dementia, What Now?
Guest Speaker Ayim Djamson, MD

Wednesday, May 23rd from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at

The People’s Baptist Church
31 Norwood Road
Silver Spring, MD 20904

RSVP for the event by calling 301-847-3051 or emailing silverspring@arden-courts.com

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Outreach Ministry News

Matthew 25:36 “. . . I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
Kairos Prison Ministry
Kairos means God’s special time; and, in the lives of the men we touch, we know it will be God’s special time with them.
From May 17th- 20th, forty-two Christian men, including myself (Dale Boeckman), will go into the Maryland Correctional Institute in Hagerstown, Maryland. During that time, we will share God’s love and grace with approximately forty incarcerated men.
I need your help. First, I am asking for your prayers as we go inside. Second, I am asking you to financially share in this weekend of God’s love. You can help encourage men in prison who are isolated and alone as we present Christ to them in tangible and real ways. Through our Lord, we will challenge their hearts and minds, and they will discover that Christ is counting on them to serve others. Your prayers and gift will allow them to experience the transforming power of the Good News.
Prayer is key to the success of transforming souls as Spirit of God battles the spirits of darkness in the souls of these men. Every minute of the weekend retreat is covered with prayer. Your prayers are needed to participate in this umbrella of support. You can register your 30 minute time slot by entering your support at the following website: http://www.3dayol.org/Vigil/GetComm.phtml Just sign in at the entry indicated below:
Maryland Correctional Institution – Hagerstown Men’s Kairos Inside #16 17-20 May 2012 (EDT:GMT-4)
144/143

Finally, please take a few minutes TODAY to remember these men, who “but by the Grace of God, go I”, and prayerfully consider a contribution. Donations of any amount are appreciated! Each team member pays $200.00 to be a part of this ministry. The money is used to purchase such things as: new Bibles and crosses for each prisoner so they can openly display their changed lives, cookies (over 300 dozen) for the men during the weekend, food which is prepared by volunteer ladies for the team members, hotel rooms, and materials that are brought into the prison for use by the inside brothers during the weekend. So, as you can see, any size donation is a blessing.
Thank you for your help and prayers as we share the goodness and love of God with these men.
God’s peace and blessings,
Checks should be made payable to Kairos in Maryland and mailed to:
Kairos (MCIH 16)
P.O. Box 401
Burtonsville, MD 20866

(or you can give me your donation and I can send it into Kairos)

April 20, 2012

Dorothy — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:03:56 +0000

First UMC | eRevelations
April 20, 2012
First United Methodist Church—Our Purpose: As believers in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and the Bible as the inspired word of God, we 1) glorify God through worship, 2) build strong relationships in the church family, 3) grow in the knowledge of the truth as revealed through Jesus Christ, 4) serve people as a reflection of the love of Jesus Christ, and 5) spread the Good News of the Gospel so that others may come to salvation through grace.
In This Issue:
? Thoughts From Your Pastor
? Worship News
? Fellowship News
? Discipleship News
? Ministry News
? Outreach Ministry News
? Church Meetings
Thoughts from Your Pastor
“My New Vision for First UMC: Ministry Investments, Part 1”
This past Wednesday night at our Administrative Board, I presented a new vision for expanding First UMC’s ministry. I’m calling it ministry investments. These are big, bold ideas that have been the fruit of months of personal thinking, prayer, observation, and learning.
At this point, before I go any further, it is extremely important that you read and understand some important groundwork to what I’m presenting.
First, none of these items are yet approved or acted upon. Any decisions regarding whether or not to proceed with these ideas, the timeframe for implementation and how they will be paid for and resourced is solely up to you. This is not my church. This is Christ’s church, and his church is you. The Administrative Board, which is the governing body of First UMC, will decide whether or not to act on this vision. They represent the whole body and act on their behalf. But there may be times, as there have been in the past, for taking a proposal to the entire congregation for approval.
Second, I love you and I am on your side. The things I propose are ministry investments which I know will add fruitfulness and vitality to our church, help our church grow, reach new and emerging generations of people, and keep us going into the future. These are not pet projects of mine for my sake. This isn’t about me, and I’m well aware that these projects may very well outlast me. I advocate for this vision because I believe in you, and I want the very best for you for a long time to come. I want you to grow and thrive for generations to come. You have worked so hard, some of you over a lifetime, to make First UMC what it is by the leading and power of the Holy Spirit. I’m working hard to build on that work, assuring First UMC’s life and fruitfulness well into the future. The things I advocate for are things I trust God will use to get us there.
Third, some of the things in this vision may seem strange and unnecessary to some of us, but they are based on the best practices of churches who are fruitful and growing. I remember the first time someone suggested putting “anti-virus software” on my computer. That seemed pointless and costly. “I’m smart enough to keep away from suspicious things that would harm my computer,” I reasoned. But people kept insisting, so I reluctantly I did. Let me tell you, looking back, I’m glad I went along with their advice! That software has spared by computer a lot of grief and ended up saving me a lot of time and money, too.
I’m going to do my best to explain the benefits and necessity for the things in this vision. Again, these are ministry investments based on practical experience and data, not just theory. I’ll do my very best to answer your questions and address your concerns. I’ll strive to be gracious and I’ll keep loving you and encouraging you when we disagree. No matter what, I’ll work hard to make sure we get to where we’re going together.
This ministry investment vision has four main components: multimedia and technology investments, staff investments, ministry program investments, and facility investments. For this week’s article, I’ll lay out multimedia and technology investments.
In 2012, so much of our lives rides on technology, and technology is always expanding into the ways we communicate, learn, work, and play. We can rightfully bemoan the ways technology has taken away from the quality of our health and relationships. Yet, some areas of technology cannot be avoided, and there are areas of technology at our church that we really need to invest in if we expect to be fully viable and effectively growing.
First, our sanctuary sound system has not seen any significant upgrades in twelve years. That is a long time for equipment that wears out and becomes outdated well before twelve years. Also, the way we use our sound system has changed quite a bit in the last two years with our reformatted 11 AM service. So at minimum, we need to look at replacing microphones, cables, and some connections. We have some funds on hand that will take care of a chunk of this expense, but we’ll need more. The Technology Committee is currently investigating this area and coming up with recommendations for our Administrative Board to consider.
Second, we need to upgrade our church’s internet access to include something called WiFi. WiFi is a wireless connection that will allow many computers and mobile devices (cell phones, iPads, tablets, etc.) to access the internet without having to have a hard-wired connection. Several Sunday School teachers and our office staff have been advocating for this because it will greatly add to their ability to teach, access teaching tools through the internet, and make work much easier and effective, too. The Technology Committee is also investigating this, pricing it out, and making sure that whatever we put into place is also secure to protect valuable and confidential church information stored in our office network.
Thirdly, we need to seriously address placing permanent multimedia in our sanctuary. This would be a series of screens or projections that we could use to show announcements, visual sermon aids, words to songs and hymns (especially at our 11 AM service), video clips, VBS songs, and even more. More and more people, especially younger people, are visual learners. They connect with and retain what they can see. Think of how much time we spend in front of a television or computer screen, and other visually based tools. Right now, you’re looking at one! Clearly, we have to do more to engage people visually in worship, using the technology they know and use.
A number of people have expressed strong interest in this, and there are an equal number of people who fear how a multimedia set-up like this will affect the aesthetics and historical nature of our sanctuary. The latter is a very valid concern. Technology is highly flexible and can be very unobtrusive, too. It all depends on what will work best in the sanctuary balanced with cost considerations. I’ve also been impressed by how flexible people have been with this concern in the past. I’m sure that when the current sound system was installed, there were concerns about how the speakers would look and whether or not they would detract from the beauty of the sanctuary. Still, the church found a way to place and color speakers that would be minimally obtrusive. Now, most everyone forgets they’re there! I think over time, the same will happen with the very necessary tool of multimedia.
Next week, I’ll share about staff investments. Until then, keep praying, be at peace, and trust that God will work through our church’s leadership, Administrative Board, and all of you to discern exactly what must be done and to provide for what must be done. God is so much bigger than any challenge we face. Be excited and encouraged! The best is still ahead of us because Jesus Christ is there.

Yours in Christ’s Love and Service,
Pastor Chris

Worship News
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Our message this Sunday will be “Roman Catholicism: One Holy God and Church” and the scripture is from Matthew 16:13-20
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Music Ministry
Regular Practice Schedule
Chancel Choir – Wednesday Rehearsals 7:30 pm
Praise Team – Wednesday Rehearsals 6:15 pm
Worship Players – 2nd & 4th Saturday 9:00 am
The King’s Kids – Wednesday Rehearsals 6:30 pm next practice May 2nd

Fellowship News

Discipleship News
NOTICE!!! PRAYER MEETINGS
Our church holds prayer meetings every Wednesday evening at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary. We need supporters for this valuable mission so if at all possible, please join us.
Prayer concerns this week: Don Kemmel, Tyler Bogner, Phil Wright, Linda Webster Wright, Helen Shephern, Duke Clements & Family (friend of Dave Self), Terri Elmore (neighbor of Tom & Essie Jarrell), Harriet & Jim Holmes

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UMW

Deadline for ticket sales is Sunday, May 3rd
Make checks payable to UMW
(United Methodist Women)
Each table sits 8 people so if you know that you will have that many please be sure to let us know ahead of time so we can reserve an entire table.
The cost will be: Ages 5 & under – Free
Ages 6-12 – $6.00
Ages 13 & over – $12.00
All ladies are invited!!

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UMYF
Meeting Schedule

Sunday, 4/22/12 – Regular Meeting – 6:30pm-8pm – Discussing 30 Hour Famine Lock-In Details

Sunday, 4/27/12-4/28/12 – World Vision 30 Hour Famine Lock-In

Sunday, 4/29/12 – Youth Sunday – Both Services – 8:15 am & 11 am; No Evening Meeting
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Calling All First UMC Youth Grades 6-12

Do you have a talent?

We need you!!!

May 5th is the Youth Group Talent/No Talent Show & Spaghetti Dinner
Come and share your talent with the rest of our church.

We will meet on May 5 beginning at 10am to spend the day rehearsing, setting up and hanging out. Lunch will be provided. Dinner is at 5pm and the show is at 6:30pm. After the show we will go to the Double Dipper in Laurel for ice cream. Please let Blairlee Owens know if you plan on participating and what talent you will be sharing. She can be reached at home at (301) 725-6722, on her cell phone at (410) 693-9744 or by e-mail at blairleeowens@comcast.net. Let’s make this year’s talent show the best one ever!
Ministry News
Anyone wishing to join us today, Sunday, April 22nd for our Nursing Home Visits can meet us at Patuxent River Rehab on Van Dusen Road (across from Laurel Hospital) at 2:00 pm and then we will go over to Morningside for a 3:00 pm service. We would love to have you!!!

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Outreach Ministry News

The BARRACUDA’s are the church’s team for RELAY FOR LIFE for the American Cancer Society. Our church created a team in order to have an active role in the fight against cancer. The RELAY FOR LIFE of Laurel is a group of teams that raise money and awareness about the fight against cancer on June 9, 2012 at McCullough Field.

TO RAISE MONEY FOR OUR TEAM
We are selling mulch
$7 a bag
with the profit benefiting the
Relay for Life
Please see Bev, Cherilyn or Mary Hoffman to get your bag of Mulch this Sunday……..or…….
you can buy a bag and donate it to the church property!!!
WE APPRECIATE YOUR HELP IN OUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS !!!

If you are interested in joining the BARRACUDAS team – please contact Bev Raynor at (301)604-0909 or email at: bevanray@juno.com.

Please visit the RELAY FOR LIFE of Laurel’s website for more information. www.relayforlifelaurel.org If you would like to make a donation, please click on the BARRACUDAs team name or see Bev Raynor for more details.
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2nd Annual……”No Mom Alone”
Community Baby Shower &
Health and Wellness Fair
(completely free & lunch is provided for all in attendance)
Saturday, April 28, 2012
8:30 am – 1:30 pm
First Baptist Church of Laurel
15000 First Baptist Lane, Laurel, MD 20707
Sponsored by the First Baptist Laurel Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) Group and many other major healthcare providers in the Greater Baltimore-Washington Region

We are inviting moms in need in the Laurel area to a baby shower. At the shower, we hope to give away diapers and wipes to all families of children who attend. You will also be able to pick up gently-used baby/toddler items. Free childcare will be provided for children newborn through kindergarten, and limited transportation is available to those in need.

If you would like to help
(donations should be taken directly to First Baptist Church):
? Your prayers for the event and those who will be in attendance
? Donations of diapers/wipes in all sizes
? Donations of gently used baby/toddler items
? Monetary donations which will be used toward the purchase of diapers/wipes (please make checks payable to “First Baptist Church of Laurel” with “DES544” in the memo line)

If you know of a mom in need or have any questions, please contact: Melissa Jones, FBCL MOPS Service/Outreach Team Leader at 301-725-1688 to register for the event.
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Free Seminar:
Diagnosis: Dementia
What Now?
With Toni Benton

Tuesday, May 8th from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm at

Arden Courts of Silver Spring
2505 Musgrove Road
Silver Spring, MD 20904

Seating is limited, call 301-847-3051 or email
silverspring@arden-courts.com for reservations

Church Meetings
Monday, April 23rd – 6:00 pm Tech Committee Meeting

Thursday, April 26th – 7:00 pm Lay Leadership Development
Meeting

Thursday, May 3rd – 7:00 pm Worship Committee Meeting

Thursday, May 3rd – 7:30 pm Staff Parish Committee Meeting
(please note the change of date)

About eRevelations
eRevelations, an informal e-mail communication of First United Methodist Church of Laurel, is published most Fridays. If you have announcements or other information you wish to include, contact the church office (301-725-3093 or office@fumcl.org).

Use of Facility Application Form

Dorothy — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:13:10 +0000

First United Methodist Church of Laurel, Maryland
Event and Ministry Scheduling Procedure

We are blessed to have an active church ministry and we enjoy sharing our facilities with our community. To assure that our facilities are used properly and to avoid scheduling conflicts, our office staff and Board of Trustees have devised the following procedure. We have attached the form with the fee schedules for both member & non-member.

Basic Guidelines
1) The church calendar is kept, maintained, and edited solely by Shari Kornak, our Office Administrator. (The paper church calendar will no longer be left out for individuals to peruse and edit.)

2) Our online calendar found at http://fumcl2.org/webcal/month.php or on our website’s calendar section is always current.

3) In the event of an unavoidable scheduling conflict, every effort will be made to accommodate everyone involved. However, FUMC ministry events (those organized and sponsored by FUMC ministry teams and committees) take priority over other events. Other events will be granted next available time and appropriate space pending the completion of the procedural steps listed below.

4) There are no fees for FUMC ministry requests, however, there are fees for any other use (member and non-member). Fees are listed on a worksheet attached to the “Use of Facility Application Form” and can be modified at any time by the Board of Trustees.

5) The Use of Facility Application Form is kept in the message rack shelf on Shari’s desk, or a form can be e-mailed to you.

Scheduling Procedure
Any Church Committee, team, group, or individual seeking to use the church building for any reason will use the following steps to schedule events:
1. Contact Shari Kornak by phone at 301-725-3093 or by email at office@fumcl.org during regular office hours to confirm the availability of the building for the proposed date and time.

2. If the requested date and time are available, the event will be tentatively scheduled and then finalized only after the next steps are completed.

3. Shari Kornak will schedule FUMC committee and ministry events at their request via phone or e-mail.

4. For member private events, non-member individual or group events, or ministry events not sponsored or initiated by a FUMC ministry team or committee, a Use of Facility Application Form must be completed in order for the event to be approved and finalized on the calendar.

5. The Board of Trustees will review and approve any events requiring the completion of a “Use of Facility Application Form” request. The event will be finalized on the calendar pending Board of Trustees approval.

If you have any questions, please call or e-mail the church office. Thank you for your participation and cooperation!

Use of Facility Application Form
(this is not a contract and can be modified by the Trustees at any time)
First United Methodist Church Building(s) and/or Grounds
424 Main Street
Laurel, MD 20707

Name of Applicant:_________________________________________________________

Mailing Address:___________________________________________________________

Phone Number(s) Home:____________________ Cell:_____________________

Required Facility:__________________________________________________________

Will you require use of the Kitchen? _____ Yes _____No
(Whether catered or not there is a $75 fee for the Kitchen)

Date(s) of Usage:__________________________________________________________

Set-up Time:________ Starting Time:__________ Ending Time:___________

Nature & Purpose of Program:________________________________________________

Equipment Required:_______________________________________________________

By signing this application, I hereby release First United Methodist Church and any of its employees or agents for any and all liability for injuries and/or accidents in connection with this event. I also agree to abide by all the rules and regulations of First United Methodist Church of Laurel, MD.

Printed Name:_____________________________________________

Signature:_________________________________________________ Date:______________________

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TO BE COMPLETED BY OFFICE:

Date Application Received:_____________________

Received by:_________________________________

Requested date available? _______Yes _______No

Trustees Approved? ________Yes ________No

Comments:___________________________________________________________________________
NON-MEMBER FEE SCHEDULE
Please make checks payable to First United Methodist Church Laurel.
On the Memo line make sure to reference “Use of Building”

Security Deposit $200 (due with application)
-Refundable if no damage and/or fees are due
$________________
Use of Sanctuary $200.00 – due minimum 30 days before event date
$________________
Use of Fellowship Hall $150.00 (for approx. 3 hours usage) add $50.00 for each additional hour
$________________

Use of Classroom(s) $50.00 each – due minimum 30 days before event date
$________________
Use of Kitchen MUST be approved & attended by a Certified Food Handler/Member. Contact Ann Marie Miller 301-498-3397 and one will be assigned for your event
$________________ (There will be a $75 fee if there is any food involved whether catered or not catered)
Moving of Tables, Chairs and other equipment MUST be submitted to the Trustees prior to the Event – contact Dave Hostetler home 301-725-1277, cell 703-929-8933
If you require sound, microphones, contact the Trustees (norm $50)
Piano or Organ (use must be approved by Dr. Mack or Judy Law, norm $150)

$_________________
Custodian – $60.00 for weddings/$50.0 for all other events
$_________________
Pastoral Services – contact Pastor Chris Owens 240-925-9148
$_________________
Member Sponsor – All church activities MUST have an Active Member of the church (with key) be responsible for the Facility while in use. (Fee can be negotiated.)
$_________________

Adjustments, if needed
$_________________

GRAND TOTAL, INCLUDING DEPOSIT
Name/Address to mail check once event is cleared:

$_________________
By signing below you agree to the above fee schedule and assume full responsibility of any and all payments due to First United Methodist Church, its Trustees and/or Staff.

____________________________________________ _________________________
Signature Date

____________________________________________
Print Name

FUMC-MEMBER FEE SCHEDULE
Please make checks payable to First United Methodist Church Laurel.
On the Memo line make sure to reference “Use of Building”

Security Deposit $.00 (due with application)
-Refundable if no damage and/or fees are due
$________________
Use of Sanctuary $50.00 – due minimum 30 days before event date
$________________
Use of Fellowship Hall $50.00 (for approx. 3 hours usage) add $10.00 for each additional hour
$________________

Use of Classroom(s) $35.00 each – due minimum 30 days before event date
$________________
Use of Kitchen MUST be approved & attended by a Certified Food Handler/Member. Contact Ann Marie Miller 301-498-3397 and one will be assigned for your event
$________________ (There will be a $75 fee if there is any food involved whether catered or not catered)
Moving of Tables, Chairs and other equipment MUST be submitted to the Trustees prior to the Event – contact Dave Hostetler home 301-725-1277, cell 703-929-8933
If you require sound, microphones contact the Trustees prior to event
Piano or Organ (use must be pre-approved by Dr. Mack or Judy Law)

$_________________
Custodian – $60.00 for weddings/$50.0 for all other events
$_________________
Pastoral Services – contact Pastor Chris Owens 240-925-9148
$_________________
Member Sponsor – All church activities MUST have a Trustees sponsor (with key) who will be responsible for the Facility while in use.
$_________________

Adjustments, if needed
$_________________

GRAND TOTAL, INCLUDING DEPOSIT
Name/Address to mail check once event is cleared:

$_________________

April 13, 2012

Dorothy — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:03:47 +0000

First UMC | eRevelations
April 13, 2012
First United Methodist Church—Our Purpose: As believers in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and the Bible as the inspired word of God, we 1) glorify God through worship, 2) build strong relationships in the church family, 3) grow in the knowledge of the truth as revealed through Jesus Christ, 4) serve people as a reflection of the love of Jesus Christ, and 5) spread the Good News of the Gospel so that others may come to salvation through grace.
In This Issue:
? Thoughts From Your Pastor
? Worship News
? Fellowship News
? Discipleship News
? Ministry News
? Outreach Ministry News
? Church Meetings
Thoughts from Your Pastor
Pastor Chris is on vacation with his family this week…..see you on Sunday!

Yours in Christ’s Love and Service,
Pastor Chris

Worship News
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Our message this Sunday will be “Eastern Orthodoxy: Worship within the Mysteries of Christ” and the scripture is from Ephesians 3:1-20
——————————————————————————-
Music Ministry
Regular Practice Schedule
Chancel Choir – Wednesday Rehearsals 7:30 pm
Please note….there will be no practice on Wednesday, April 18th
Praise Team – Wednesday Rehearsals 6:15 pm
Please note….there will be no practice on Wednesday, April 18th
Worship Players – 2nd & 4th Saturday 9:00 am
The King’s Kids – Wednesday Rehearsals 6:30 pm next practice May 2nd
———————————————————————————————————-
Friday rehearsals have begun for the Chancel Choir’s Easter Cantata. The choir will practice TONIGHT, April 13th at 7:00 pm.

——————————————————————————————————————
TOMORROW EVENING!!!! Following the cantata, in Fellowship Hall, there will be a dessert potluck. Please bring your favorite dessert to share, drinks will be provided.

Join the Chancel Choir
on Saturday, April 14, 2012
6:30pm in the Sanctuary
as they present:

Who Do You Say I Am

Fellowship News
Calling all FUMC Crafters/ Hobby-ists-

Do YOU…. paint, knit, scrapbook,
quilt, cross stitch, make jewelry,
woodwork, tie flies, make Christmas ornaments, latch hook, make candy,scarves, pottery,
make hair adornments,flower arrangements, something else??

Want to carve out some time to play with your craft or project, get creative, have a little fellowship and lunch, perhaps?
We have the perfect morning for you-

Please come Saturday, April 21st ,
9-11:30am
Catered lunch to follow (optional) 11:30-12:45pm
Bring your craft-hobby-project to work on. Don’t forget to invite a friend.
-Sponsored by the FUMC Fellowship Team-
Please sign up in the narthex

Discipleship News
NOTICE!!! PRAYER MEETINGS
Our church holds prayer meetings every Wednesday evening at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary. We need supporters for this valuable mission so if at all possible, please join us.
Prayer concerns this week: William Shrader (Dawn King’s Uncle), Giorgia (friend of Nancy Welsh), Germaine Acampora, Matt, Debbie Goodwin, Wilma Shober (Judy Law’s Mother), Matthew Kidwiler, Lena Spulka, Lise (Jesse Easton’s mother), Nancy Martin (Jan Watts sister)
————————————————————————-
UMW

——————————————————————————————-
UMYF
Meeting Schedule

Sunday, 4/15/12 – Regular Meeting – 6:30pm-8pm – Game Night/Bring A Friend Night

Sunday, 4/22/12 – Regular Meeting – 6:30pm-8pm – Discussing 30 Hour Famine Lock-In Details

Sunday, 4/27/12-4/28/12 – World Vision 30 Hour Famine Lock-In

Sunday, 4/29/12 – Youth Sunday – Both Services – 8:15 am & 11 am; No Evening Meeting

Ministry News

Caregivers’ Support Group

We will have our first
Caregivers’ Support Group meeting
Monday, April 16, 2012

7:00 pm

In the Parlor
————————————————————————————————-

Join the LPC!
5K Race or Walk for Life
Dear FUMC,
Please join us this year as we raise money and celebrate 25 years of ministry at the Janet Lynn Dick 5K Race/Walk for Life!
Join the celebration at
Centennial Park in Ellicott City on
Saturday, May 5th. The 5k Race kicks off at 8:30am followed by the walk. The event ends at 11:30 am.

Create your webpage!
• promote yourself or your team on your own web page.
• post photos, a video or your own personal message.
• spread the word through facebook and twitter! You can register and even log onto your web page with your Facebook!
• watch a tutorial that will guide you through this simple process…really, it is….we promise!

Here’s How to
Get Started!
1. Click on the LPC leaf logo on the right to register now!
2. Complete the registration form to either Run in the 5K Race or join the ‘fun’ walk.
3. Now follow the prompts to set up your own fund raising web page for this event just hit the button “Set Up Your Web Page”.
4. Customize your page and send emails to family and friends to inviting them to sponsor you.
5. If you can’t make it out that day, click the “Sponsor” button to make a donation to help the LPC today.

Get Involved!
• Build your team and win our “Team Spirit” award! Click Here To View Teams Video!
• 5K entrance fee is $35. Fee is $40 after May 2nd when registration closes.
• Collect sponsors and help the LPC exceed our $60,000 goal!
• Contact Teri for materials or for help. Click here!

LPC Partners Website

—————————————————————————————-
2nd Annual……”No Mom Alone”
Community Baby Shower &
Health and Wellness Fair
(completely free & lunch is provided for all in attendance)
Saturday, April 28, 2012
8:30 am – 1:30 pm
First Baptist Church of Laurel
15000 First Baptist Lane, Laurel, MD 20707
Sponsored by the First Baptist Laurel Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) Group and many other major healthcare providers in the Greater Baltimore-Washington Region

Tuesday, May 8th from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm at

Arden Courts of Silver Spring
2505 Musgrove Road
Silver Spring, MD 20904

Seating is limited, call 301-847-3051 or email
silverspring@arden-courts.com for reservations

Church Meetings
Monday, April 16th – 6:30 pm Bazaar Committee Meeting (Narthex)

Wednesday, April 18th – 7:00 pm Administrative Board Meeting (Sanctuary)

Thursday, April 19th – Finance Committee Meeting 7:00 pm (Parlor)

Thursday, April 19th – 7:00 pm Council on Ministries Meeting (Christian Fellowship Classroom)

Monday, April 23rd – 6:00 pm Tech Committee Meeting

2012 Vacation Bible School Registration Form

Dorothy — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 13:19:19 +0000

Click on this link:
VBS 2012
for a PDF file of the Vacation Bible School Registration Form for 2012. Follow instructions on the form.

April 6, 2012

Dorothy — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:16:36 +0000

First UMC | eRevelations
April 6, 2012
First United Methodist Church—Our Purpose: As believers in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and the Bible as the inspired word of God, we 1) glorify God through worship, 2) build strong relationships in the church family, 3) grow in the knowledge of the truth as revealed through Jesus Christ, 4) serve people as a reflection of the love of Jesus Christ, and 5) spread the Good News of the Gospel so that others may come to salvation through grace.
In This Issue:
? Thoughts From Your Pastor
? Worship News
? Fellowship News
? Discipleship News
? Ministry News
? Outreach Ministry News
? Church Meetings
Thoughts from Your Pastor
“I Am So Proud of First UMC”
I want to take a short break from Holy Week reflections to share some very good news we received this past Sunday. Sunday was April Fools’ Day—a day for jokes and pranks, including a bad one from your pastor! But it was also a day for a wonderful surprise.
Towards the end of our 11 AM service, Rev. Chris Holmes, our District Superintendant, came in carrying a huge platter of fruit. He said that the fruit is a token gift and recognition that First UMC has been bearing lots of fruit for God, and that we have now become an “Acts 2” congregation within our Baltimore-Washington Conference. This is a huge deal for us, and puts us in an elite tier within our Conference. Let me explain a bit more of what this means…
In the book of Acts, chapter 2, we read that the very first church, led and filled by the Holy Spirit, grew in their numbers of worshippers (v. 41), grew in the numbers of people who believed and were baptized (v. 47), performed signs and wonders that amazed all the people (v. 43) and were fully committed to serving and giving to anyone who had need (vs. 44-45). These things mark a church centered on Jesus Christ and filled by the Holy Spirit. These are marks we should expect of any church. Our Conference identifies a church like this as an Acts 2 congregation.
Specifically, our Conference says this:
Acts 2 congregations are Spirit filled, Spirit led congregations that welcome all, engage believers in the Discipleship Adventure and bear Acts 2 fruit, which include:
one profession of faith per 25 worshipers, 2 percent worship growth, engaging in mission as evidenced by 90 percent of worshipers involved in ministry and 100 percent payment of apportionments, and evidence of God’s power through signs and wonders.
Well, brothers and sisters, all the hard work, sacrifices, difficult decisions, and challenging changes we’ve worked through over the last five years has paid off and has borne fruit. Many of us have known all along that God has been doing awesome things among us. Now our Bishop and Conference fully recognizes and affirms it, too, in a very significant way.
I can’t say this enough. I am so very proud of you! You are truly a genuine, authentic people of God and Body of Christ—growing, on fire, on the move, and making a huge impact on one another and on our community. I am deeply humbled and honored to be your pastor.
The journey continues, my friends. There is always further to go with more and new ways to build and expand the kingdom of God. Up ahead on this journey, there will be hard work to do, sacrifices, tough decisions to make, and challenging changes to work through. It’s an exciting, incredible journey that can be perilous and exhausting, too. No matter what, it’s always joy.
But I believe we can now go on together with some extra confidence and spring in our step. We’re definitely on the right track. We’re headed in the right direction. We’re growing and expanding. And what else should we expect, knowing that Jesus, our Good Shepherd leads and guides us every step of the way?
Once again: well, well done, good and faithful servants. Let’s keep at it together!

Yours in Christ’s Love and Service,
Pastor Chris

Worship News
Sunday, April 8, 2012 – Happy Easter!!!!!
Our message this Sunday will be “Give Us Some Good News, Mary!” and the scripture is from John 20:1-18.
————————————————————————————————-
TONIGHT – April 6th – Good Friday Service 7:30 pm
Good Friday with a Meditation on the Cross
Together, we will center on Jesus’ death on the cross for us and for the world, rediscovering God’s forgiveness, grace, and sacrifice.
April 8th – Easter Sunrise Service 6:30 am with Holy Communion
Pancake Breakfast 7:30 am
Normal Sunday Services at 8:15 & 11 am
——————————————————————————-
Music Ministry
Regular Practice Schedule
Chancel Choir – Wednesday Rehearsals 7:30 pm
Praise Team – Wednesday Rehearsals 6:15 pm
Worship Players – 2nd & 4th Saturday 9:00 am
The King’s Kids – Wednesday Rehearsals 6:30 pm next practice April 11th
———————————————————————————————————-
Friday rehearsals have begun for the Chancel Choir’s Easter Cantata. The choir will be practicing again on April 13, 2012 at 7:00 pm in addition to their regular Wednesday night rehearsals.

——————————————————————————————————————

Join the Chancel Choir
on Saturday, April 14, 2012
6:30pm in the Sanctuary
as they present:

Who Do You Say I Am

Following the cantata, in Fellowship Hall, there will be a dessert potluck. Please bring your favorite dessert to share, drinks will be provided.

Fellowship News
Calling all FUMC Crafters/ Hobby-ists-

Want to carve out some time to play with your craft or project, get creative, have a little fellowship and lunch, perhaps?
We have the perfect morning for you-

Discipleship News
NOTICE!!! PRAYER MEETINGS
Our church holds prayer meetings every Wednesday evening at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary. We need supporters for this valuable mission so if at all possible, please join us.
Prayer concerns this week: Larry Weyer (Lois Hamilton’s brother), Mary Cohen, Linda, Terry Hawkins (Spring Easton’s Uncle), Germaine Acampora, Mr. & Mrs. Ford, The Miranda Family, Kristin Culver, Priscilla McAdory & family, Debbie Ryan (friend of Dave Jackson), Linda Simmel & Family, Danny Boeckman (Dale’s brother), Peyton (Jessica Ahlquist’s son), Bo Oliver, Cary Krenk (Laura Offenbacher’s step-father), Wilma Shober (Judy Law’s Mother)
————————————————————————-
UMW
April 9th – 7:00 pm Martha Circle Meeting
April 9th – 7:00 pm Edith Miles Circle Meeting
——————————————————————————————-
UMYF
Meeting Schedule

Sunday, 4/8/12 – No Meeting – Easter Sunday

Sunday, 4/15/12 – Regular Meeting – 6:30pm-8pm – Game Night/Bring A Friend Night

Sunday, 4/22/12 – Regular Meeting – 6:30pm-8pm – Discussing 30 Hour Famine Lock-In Details

Sunday, 4/27/12-4/28/12 – World Vision 30 Hour Famine Lock-In

Sunday, 4/29/12 – Youth Sunday – Both Services – 8:15 am & 11 am; No Evening Meeting

Ministry News

Caregivers’ Support Group

We will have our first
Caregivers’ Support Group meeting
Monday, April 16, 2012

7:00 pm

In the Parlor
————————————————————————————————-
Saturday, April 14, 2012

9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.

First United Methodist Church of Laurel
424 Main Street – Laurel, MD 20707

LPC Partners Website

—————————————————————————————-

Empty Bowls
Benefits FISH of Laurel
April 20, 2012
5pm – 7pm
Cost of Dinner $10.00
All proceeds donated to FISH of Laurel
to help fight hunger.
Each attendee will receive a ceramic bowl made by
Laurel High School Ceramic’s classes
Laurel High School Cafeteria
8000 Cherry Lane
Laurel, MD 20707
301-497-2050

——————————————————————————-
2nd Annual……”No Mom Alone”
Community Baby Shower &
Health and Wellness Fair
(completely free & lunch is provided for all in attendance)
Saturday, April 28, 2012
8:30 am – 1:30 pm
First Baptist Church of Laurel
15000 First Baptist Lane, Laurel, MD 20707
Sponsored by the First Baptist Laurel Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) Group and many other major healthcare providers in the Greater Baltimore-Washington Region

It’s BARRADUCA time! The BARRACUDA’s are those people who would like to join the church’s team for RELAY FOR LIFE for the American Cancer Society. Our church created a team in order to have an active role in the fight against cancer. The RELAY FOR LIFE of Laurel is a group of teams that raise money and awareness about the fight against cancer. The monies raised go to the American Cancer Society for research and support services for cancer survivors. The final event occurs in June at McCullough Field with an all night relay (we walk around in circles!) with fun events, fundraising, and a ceremony that helps honor and remember cancer survivors.

If you are interested in joining the BARRACUDAS team – please contact Bev Raynor at (301)604-0909 or email at : bevanray@juno.com.

WE NEED YOU TO HELP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER!
June 9, 2012 at
McCullough Field

Church Meetings
Thursday, April 12th – 7:00 pm Trustees Meeting

Wednesday, April 18th – 7:00 pm Administrative Board Meeting

Thursday, April 19th – 7:00 pm Council on Ministries Meeting

March 30, 2012

Dorothy — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 11:23:57 +0000

First UMC | eRevelations
March 30, 2012
First United Methodist Church—Our Purpose: As believers in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and the Bible as the inspired word of God, we 1) glorify God through worship, 2) build strong relationships in the church family, 3) grow in the knowledge of the truth as revealed through Jesus Christ, 4) serve people as a reflection of the love of Jesus Christ, and 5) spread the Good News of the Gospel so that others may come to salvation through grace.
In This Issue:
? Thoughts From Your Pastor
? Worship News
? Fellowship News
? Discipleship News
? Ministry News
? Outreach Ministry News
? Church Meetings
Thoughts from Your Pastor
“It’s Going to Be an Awesome Holy Week”
On Sunday, we begin what’s called Holy Week. Sometimes it’s also called Passion Week. On this week, we remember Jesus’ last week before his resurrection. It’s a highly volatile, emotional week because there in the balance of that week was life and death, love and hate, faithfulness and betrayal, and a crowd of people who went from praising Jesus on Sunday to demanding his death on Friday.
The week begins on Sunday, which we call Palm Sunday. That was Jesus’ grand entry into Jerusalem, riding on the colt of a donkey. That image alone awakened old prophetic visions of the Messiah for all those who saw him. They knew that Messiah would come into Jerusalem, and hundreds of years before, the prophet Zechariah predicted it would happen in this exact way (Zechariah 9:9).
From there, the gospels lay out a busy week for Jesus. Between Holy Sunday and Holy Tuesday, Jesus stormed and cleared the Temple, overturning the tables of the money changers and the sellers. He taught in the Temple courts and was challenged multiple times by the Pharisees and other Jewish religious authorities. Holy Wednesday is often called the day of rest because there is no teaching or activity for this day recorded anywhere in the gospels.
But then, the drama of Holy Week rises to new heights on Holy Thursday and Holy Friday. On Thursday, Jesus asks his disciples to prepare their annual Passover Seder meal. Anyone who has ever participated in a Seder meal knows just how much preparation that would have taken. It truly was an all-day undertaking!
For us on Holy Thursday, or what we often call Maundy Thursday, we’re going to have a truly special evening of learning and worship. At our 7:30 PM Maundy Thursday service, we’re going to be blessed to have Rabbi Doug Heifetz of the Oseh Shalom Synagogue here in Laurel with us. Rabbi Heifetz and I have been spending time lately getting to know one another and becoming friends, and I’ve asked Rabbi to come and share with us the Jewish meaning, significance, and importance of the Seder meal, especially as it relates to Passover and the Exodus. (You can read about the Passover Seder in Exodus 12:1-30, 43-51.) Then he and I will have some dialogue on the Seder, and I will bridge the Seder the ways that Jesus expanded and transformed it to become our sacrament of Holy Communion. Just as importantly, I want us to experience what it can be like for two people of different faiths to cordially dialogue, learn from one another and respect one another in our differences. I believe things like this bring us a step closer into the kingdom of God.
Then on Holy Friday, or often what we call Good Friday, it is our time to solemnly remember the suffering, crucifixion and death of Jesus. Personally, I like to keep this day as personally quiet and reflective as possible. This is the day that God, the Son of God, died for me, for you—indeed for the whole world. On Friday night at 7:30 PM, we will gather again for worship. With singing, prayer, and the recalling of the story of Jesus’ death, we can take an opportunity to put ourselves in the story. We can find ourselves in the crowd that demanded Jesus’ death and taunted him as he died. We can find ourselves in Mary, John, and the women who gathered around Jesus to mourn his death. We can find ourselves in the disciples who ran away in fear. Or we can even find ourselves in Judas who betrayed Jesus but then refused himself a chance at redemption.
Brothers and sisters, all of this fully prepares us for the Easter celebration. We can’t truly appreciate Jesus’ resurrection without having gone with him through his times of suffering and sacrifice. We must hear the story, and we must also allow God to show us where we must die in order to be raised with Christ.
So, I encourage you to fully participate in Holy Week. Bring someone with you. Come prepared with an open heart and mind. Come prepared for God to touch and change your heart. Of course, I’ll be there, and I would love to have you there with me and the rest of our church family.

Yours in Christ’s Love and Service,
Pastor Chris

Worship News
Sunday, April 1, 2012 – Palm Sunday
Our message this Sunday will be “Crucified Under Pontius Pilate” and the scripture is from Luke 23:1-25.
————————————————————————————————-
April 5th – Maundy Thursday Service 7:30 pm with Holy Communion
Rabbi Doug Heifetz of the Oseh Shalom Synagogue in Laurel will be our special guest to teach about the Jewish roots and significance of the Seder. The Seder was the Last Supper Passover meal shared by Jesus and his disciples and is at the heart of our sacrament of Holy Communion.
April 6th – Good Friday Service 7:30 pm
Good Friday with a Meditation on the Cross
Together, we will center on Jesus’ death on the cross for us and for the world, rediscovering God’s forgiveness, grace, and sacrifice.
April 8th – Easter Sunrise Service 6:30 am with Holy Communion
Pancake Breakfast 7:30 am
Normal Sunday Services at 8:15 & 11 am

——————————————————————————-
Music Ministry
Regular Practice Schedule
Chancel Choir – Wednesday Rehearsals 7:30 pm
Praise Team – Wednesday Rehearsals 6:15 pm
Worship Players – 2nd & 4th Saturday 9:00 am
The King’s Kids – Wednesday Rehearsals 6:30 pm next practice April 11th
———————————————————————————————————-
Friday rehearsals have begun for the Chancel Choir’s Easter Cantata. The choir will be practicing again on April 13, 2012 at 7:00 pm in addition to their regular Wednesday night rehearsals.

——————————————————————————————————————

Join the Chancel Choir
on Saturday, April 14, 2012
6:30pm in the Sanctuary
as they present:

Who Do You Say I Am

Following the cantata, in Fellowship Hall, there will be a dessert potluck. Please bring your favorite dessert to share, drinks will be provided.

Fellowship News
Calling all FUMC Crafters/Hobby-ists-
Do you…..paint, knit, scrapbook, quilt, cross stitch, make jewelry, woodwork, tie flies, make Christmas ornaments, latch hook, make candy, scarves, pottery, make hair adornments, flower arrangements, something else??
Want to carve out some time to play with your craft or project, get creative, have a little fellowship and lunch, perhaps? We have the perfect morning for you…..

Please come Saturday, April 21st, 9-11:30 am
Catered lunch to follow (optional) 11:30-12:45 pm

Bring your craft-hobby-project to work on. Don’t forget to invite a friend.
-Sponsored by the FUMC Fellowship Team – Please sign up in the narthex!!
Discipleship News
NOTICE!!! PRAYER MEETINGS
Our church holds prayer meetings every Wednesday evening at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary. We need supporters for this valuable mission so if at all possible, please join us.
Prayer concerns this week: Wilma Shober (Judy Law’s Mother), Florence Akinrosotu & Family, Becky Maticic & children, Lila & Tim Brennan, Linda & family, Germaine Acampora, Linda Wright, Mary Lennon, Family of Brad Neisser (friend of Jeremy Newkirk’s), Katie Turner & son, Ron Turner (Linda Turner’s brother)

—————————————————————————————————————————-
TOMORROW….CHILDREN’S EASTER SYMBOLS PARTY

SATURDAY, MARCH 31ST
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

We will begin our celebration with lunch
So don’t be late – lunch will be served
promptly at 1:00 PM

We have an awesome celebration planned
including our annual Symbols Egg Hunt
and of course the Candy Egg Hunt
so bring your baskets

Pastor Mike and his Puppet Company
will be here too!

SO JOIN US FOR A TON OF FUN!

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UMW
April 2nd – 1:00 pm Kathryn Eye Circle Meeting
April 9th – 7:00 pm Martha Circle Meeting
April 9th – 7:00 pm Edith Miles Circle Meeting
——————————————————————————————-
UMYF
Meeting Schedule

Sunday, 4/1/12 – Regular Meeting – 6:30pm-8pm – Discussing Talent/No Talent Show

Sunday, 4/8/12 – No Meeting – Easter Sunday

Sunday, 4/15/12 – Regular Meeting – 6:30pm-8pm – Game Night/Bring A Friend Night

Sunday, 4/22/12 – Regular Meeting – 6:30pm-8pm – Discussing 30 Hour Famine Lock-In Details

Sunday, 4/27/12-4/28/12 – World Vision 30 Hour Famine Lock-In

Sunday, 4/29/12 – Youth Sunday – Both Services – 8:15 am & 11 am; No Evening Meeting

Ministry News
Saturday, April 14, 2012

9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.

First United Methodist Church of Laurel
424 Main Street – Laurel, MD 20707

LPC Partners Website

_________________________________________________________________
Vacation Bible School Opportunities to Serve!!!
It’s already April and this means preparations are underway for Vacation Bible School 2012. VBS is July 8-12, Sunday through Thursday. We will be learning through Bugs and Butterflies how we can be “Transformed by our BIG God!”
We will look at five characters from the Bible whose stories illustrate this transformation. We are looking for members of the congregation who are interested in the opportunity to share these stories with the children by getting into character! Mrs. Debbi Schneider will help facilitate this station and you will have many opportunities to meet with us and discuss your role!
Characters:
? Day 1: Moses- Moses, Burning Bush/God
? Day 2: Gideon- Gideon
? Day 3: Naomi & Ruth- Naomi, Ruth
? Day 4: Doubting Thomas- Thomas, Jesus
? Day 5: Saul of Tarsus- Saul
Please email me directly at starringjenna@aol.com if you are feeling called to be a Leader or Co-Leader for one of the stations at VBS. These leaders help the children understand the connection between the activity and the theme for the night.
? Crafty Critters Team Leader
? The Very Hungry Caterpillars Snacks Team Leader
? Science Lab Discovery/Memory Verse Team Leader
It takes a team of about 60 people to pull off the whole week! Registration, Guide, and Activity Area Assistant sign-ups will start May 12th. First United Methodist Church VBS will have a table at the Main Street Festival. We will have a free craft project for children under the age of 12. If you would like to volunteer an hour of your time that Saturday, sign-up sheets for that day will be out at the end of April. Please prayerfully consider where the Lord may have you serve this summer!
Contact Jenna Ryan by e-mail: starringjenna@aol.com.
——————————————————————————–
Eat Right
Food, Nutrition and Health Tips from the American Dietetic Association
25 Healthy Snacks for Kids
When a snack attack strikes, refuel with these nutrition-packed snacks.
Easy, Tasty (and Healthy) Snacks
You may need an adult to help with some of these snacks.
1. Peel a banana and dip it in yogurt. Roll in crushed cereal and freeze.
2. Spread celery sticks with peanut butter or low-fat cream cheese. Top with raisins. Enjoy your “ants on a log.”
3. Stuff a whole-grain pita pocket with ricotta cheese and Granny Smith apple slices. Add a dash of cinnamon.
4. Mix together ready-to-eat cereal, dried fruit and nuts in a sandwich bag for an on-the-go snack.
5. Smear a scoop of frozen yogurt on two graham crackers and add sliced banana to make a yummy sandwich.
6. Top low-fat vanilla yogurt with crunchy granola and sprinkle with blueberries.
7. Microwave a small baked potato. Top with reduced-fat cheddar cheese and salsa.
8. Make snack kabobs. Put cubes of low-fat cheese and grapes on pretzel sticks.
9. Toast a whole grain waffle and top with low-fat yogurt and sliced peaches.
10. Spread peanut butter on apple slices.
11. Blend low-fat milk, frozen strawberries and a banana for thirty seconds for a delicious smoothie.
12. Make a mini-sandwich with tuna or egg salad on a dinner roll.
13. Sprinkle grated Monterey Jack cheese over a corn tortilla; fold in half and microwave for twenty seconds. Top with salsa.
14. Toss dried cranberries and chopped walnuts in instant oatmeal.
15. Mix together peanut butter and cornflakes in a bowl. Shape into balls and roll in crushed graham crackers.
16. Microwave a cup of tomato or vegetable soup and enjoy with whole grain crackers.
17. Fill a waffle cone with cut-up fruit and top with low-fat vanilla yogurt.
18. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on hot popcorn.
19. Banana Split: Top a banana with low-fat vanilla and strawberry frozen yogurt. Sprinkle with your favorite whole-grain cereal.
20. Sandwich Cut-Outs: Make a sandwich on whole grain bread. Cut out your favorite shape using a big cookie cutter. Eat the fun shape and the edges, too!
21. Spread mustard on a flour tortilla. Top with a slice of turkey or ham, low-fat cheese and lettuce. Then roll it up.
22. Mini Pizza: Toast an English muffin, drizzle with pizza sauce and sprinkle with low-fat mozzarella cheese.
23. Rocky Road: Break a graham cracker into bite-size pieces. Add to low-fat chocolate pudding along with a few miniature marshmallows.
24. Inside-Out Sandwich: Spread mustard on a slice of deli turkey. Wrap around a sesame breadstick.
25. Parfait: Layer vanilla yogurt and mandarin oranges or blueberries in a tall glass. Top with a sprinkle of granola.

_______________________________________________________
Outreach Ministry News

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If you are interested in joining the BARRACUDAS team – please contact Bev Raynor at (301)604-0909 or email at : bevanray@juno.com.

WE NEED YOU TO HELP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER!
June 9, 2012 at
McCullough Field

Church Meetings
Thursday, April 12th – 7:00 pm Trustees Meeting

Wednesday, April 18th – 7:00 pm Administrative Board Meeting

Thursday, April 19th – 7:00 pm Council on Ministries Meeting

March 23, 2012

Dorothy — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 12:20:08 +0000

First UMC | eRevelations
March 23, 2012
First United Methodist Church—Our Purpose: As believers in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and the Bible as the inspired word of God, we 1) glorify God through worship, 2) build strong relationships in the church family, 3) grow in the knowledge of the truth as revealed through Jesus Christ, 4) serve people as a reflection of the love of Jesus Christ, and 5) spread the Good News of the Gospel so that others may come to salvation through grace.
In This Issue:
? Thoughts From Your Pastor
? Worship News
? Fellowship News
? Discipleship News
? Ministry News
? Outreach Ministry News
? Church Meetings
Thoughts from Your Pastor
“Jesus Is in Jail”
We’ve had some great Lenten Supper fellowships and devotions. We have one more next week, and I really do hope more of you can make it. Hey, it’s a free meal for you and your family, and you get to enjoy a devotion that will deepen your faith.
This week, we heard from Dale Boeckman sharing about a place of mission and ministry largely untouched by most all of us: the jail. Many of us have probably seen movies and TV shows that take place in a prison. I just can’t imagine living in a place like that. Much of it I’m sure is overdramatized, but nevertheless, whenever we house a large group of criminals in one building and place massive restrictions on their movement and activity, you can count on it being a dark, dangerous place.
People go to prison, and they’re forgotten. Worse still, when a prisoner is released, he or she is labeled an “ex-con” making it very difficult to land good employment and housing opportunities. Socially, former convicts are treated with suspicion and fear even though they have already served their time. These realities create the phenomenon known as repeat offenders who get into a rut of getting into trouble and re-incarceration over and over again.
I found some recent statistics about the U.S. justice system and our incarceration rate:
• In 2009, the U.S. had an incarceration rate of 743 per 100,000 people, making for the highest incarceration rate in the world
• In 2008, the U.S. kept 2.3 million people behind bars. That makes up a quarter of the world’s total prisoners. We exceeded China’s 1.6 million, and China is the most populous country in the world.
• In 2010, the U.S. housed more prisoners than the top 35 European countries combined.
• In 2010, those who spent time in prison earned 40% less than the average American annual income. That indicates that those from lower economic brackets have fewer options open to them, making them more susceptible to engaging in crime.
• In 2010, 1 out of every 28 children had an incarcerated parent. That is striking since statistics also show that children whose parents are incarcerated have a much higher chance of growing up into crime and incarceration themselves.
• In 2010, more than 1 in every three African American males without a high school diploma became incarcerated. Worse yet, African American men who have been jailed earn 44% less after they have been incarcerated, 4% less than other ex-convicts of other races and ethnicities. (from http://www.criminaljusticeusa.com/blog/2011/10-stats-you-should-know-about-our-prison-system/)
Do you get the picture? I think we must continually push our justice system to think more in terms of restorative justice. In other words, yes, hold people accountable for their crimes, but also invest in their personal restoration so that they will break patterns of crime and live healthy, productive, crime-free lives. But also, there is so much work to be done within prisons themselves to offer inmates a path to redemption through repentance, forgiveness, and a path to new life through Jesus Christ.
I am so happy that Dale Boeckman is once again serving on a Kairos team. That’s an Emmaus-style (Fourth Day) retreat held in a prison for prisoners. Many of us have gone on a Walk to Emmaus and know what a rich, powerful experience of God’s grace, love, and truth it is. It’s been a personally transformative experience for many of us. So, imagine 35 prisoners experiencing the same thing. Just imagine how those 3 days could powerfully impact and change their hearts, letting them know that they are loved by God and by his Church. There will be opportunities to help Dale, and I strongly encourage you to do it so that you and I can be a part of a ministry to inmates.
I mentioned in the title of my article that Jesus is in jail. That’s right. He is. At the end of time, the Lord Jesus will gather the sheep who are his faithful people and thank them for visiting him when he was locked up. They will say, “Lord, when did we see you in prison?” And he will say, “Whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:31-46) Of course, remember what happened to the goats in that same story. Let’s not be one of them. Instead, let’s take every opportunity we have to love, visit, and offer grace to our neighbors in jail. In their faces, we’ll encounter the face of Jesus himself.
Yours in Christ’s Love and Service,
Pastor Chris

Worship News
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Our message this Sunday will be “Faith at the Feet of Jesus” and the scripture is from John 11:1-44; 12:1-8.
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April 5th – Maundy Thursday Service 7:30 pm
April 6th – Good Friday Service 7:30 pm
April 8th – Easter Sunrise Service 6:30 am
Pancake Breakfast 7:30 am
Normal Sunday Services at 8:15 & 11 am
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New Members’ Class Coming Up
Have you been attending First UMC for a while and would like to make a deeper commitment to Christ and to his church? Would you like to explore what it means to be a member of our church family? Then this class is for you! On March 18, 25, and April 1, our new members’ class will meet during Sunday School in the Parlor. Pastor Chris will lead our time together. We’ll learn about each other, our church, and how to be a vital part of First UMC. Attendance at all three sessions is strongly encouraged. You will then have the opportunity to be received into membership during our Easter Day services on April 8. If you are interested in attending, please contact the church office by phone or e-mail.

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Music Ministry
Regular Practice Schedule
Chancel Choir – Wednesday Rehearsals 7:30 pm
Praise Team – Wednesday Rehearsals 6:15 pm
Worship Players – 2nd & 4th Saturday 9:00 am
The King’s Kids – Wednesday Rehearsals 6:30 pm next practice April 11th

The Chancel Choir will be starting Friday rehearsals for the Cantata tonight at 7:00 pm. We will also be practicing on March 30 and April 13, also at 7:00 pm.

Join the Chancel Choir on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 6:30pm in the Sanctuary as they present the Easter Cantata, Who Do You Say I Am. Following in the Fellowship Hall, will be a dessert potluck. Drinks will be provided.
Fellowship News

Discipleship News
NOTICE!!! PRAYER MEETINGS
Our church holds prayer meetings every Wednesday evening at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary. We need supporters for this valuable mission so if at all possible, please join us.
Prayer concerns this week: Jeanette Feeser and Family; Robert Barnes and Family; 11 Afghans who lost their lives; Joseph Todard; Dee and family; Richard Collins; Brandon Timmons; Dawn King; William Shrader; Susan King; Mary Cohen; Donald Keatley; Tom Kuckuda

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CHILDREN’S EASTER SYMBOLS PARTY
COMING SOON

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

SATURDAY, MARCH 31ST
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

We will begin our celebration with lunch
So don’t be late – lunch will be served
promptly at 1:00 PM

We have an awesome celebration planned
including our annual Symbols Egg Hunt
and of course the Candy Egg Hunt
so bring your baskets

Pastor Mike and his Puppet Company
will be here too!

SO JOIN US FOR A TON OF FUN!

Sunday, 3/25/12 – Regular Meeting – 6:30pm-8pm – Discussing Talent/No Talent Show

Sunday, 4/1/12 – Regular Meeting – 6:30pm-8pm – Discussing Talent/No Talent Show

Sunday, 4/8/12 – No Meeting – Easter Sunday

Sunday, 4/15/12 – Regular Meeting – 6:30pm-8pm – Game Night/Bring A Friend Night

Sunday, 4/22/12 – Regular Meeting – 6:30pm-8pm – Discussing 30 Hour Famine Lock-In Details

Sunday, 4/27/12-4/28/12 – World Vision 30 Hour Famine Lock-In

Sunday, 4/29/12 – Youth Sunday – Both Services – 8:15 am & 11 am; No Evening Meeting

Ministry News
Saturday, April 14, 2012

9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.

First United Methodist Church of Laurel
424 Main Street – Laurel, MD 20707

LPC Partners Website

_________________________________________________________________
Save the Date!!!

The American Heart Association recommends eating eight or more fruit and vegetable servings every day. An average adult consuming 2,000 calories daily should aim for 4.5 cups of fruits and vegetables a day

Tips to boost fruits and vegetables to your diet
• Keep it colorful. Challenge yourself to try fruits and vegetables of different colors. Make it a red/green/orange day (apple, lettuce, carrot), or see if you can consume a rainbow of fruits and vegetables during the week.

• Add it on. Add fruit and vegetables to foods you love. Try adding frozen peas to mac’n’cheese, veggies on top of pizza and slices of fruit on top of breakfast cereals or low-fat ice cream.

• Mix them up. Add fruits and vegetables to food that’s cooked or baked, or mix vegetables in with pasta sauces, lasagnas, casseroles, soups and omelets. Mixing fresh or frozen berries into pancakes, waffles or muffins is another great way to make fruits and veggies a part of every meal.

• Roast away. Try roasting vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, onions, carrots, tomatoes or eggplant. Long exposure to high heat will cause these foods to caramelize, which enhances their natural sweetness and reduces bitterness.

• Use healthier cooking methods. Steaming, grilling, sautéing, roasting, baking and microwaving vegetables are ideal preparation methods
.
• Use fats and oils low in saturated fats sparingly; don’t use trans fats.

o Enjoy vegetable dippers. Chop raw vegetables into bite-sized pieces. Try bell peppers, carrots, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower and celery, and dip your favorites into low-fat or fat-free dressings. Dip tip: Read the food label of sauces and dressings to make sure they are not overloaded with saturated fat and salt.

o Sip smoothies. Smoothies are a great way to increase the amount of fruit you eat and they’re really easy to make. A basic smoothie is just frozen fruit, some low-fat or non-fat milk and/or yogurt, and 100% fruit juice all processed together in a blender until smooth. Experiment with different fruits to find out what you really like. Note that some cholesterol-lowering medications may interact with grapefruit, grapefruit juice, pomegranate and pomegranate juice. Please talk to your health care provider about any potential risks.

o Try fruit pops. Put 100% fruit juice in an ice tray and freeze it overnight. You can eat the fruit cubes as mini-popsicles or put them in other juices. Frozen seedless grapes make natural mini-popsicles and are a great summer treat.

o Enjoy fruit desserts. Fresh or canned fruit in light syrup or natural fruit juice, gelatin containing fruit and dried fruit are good choices for a dessert.

o Check out recipes featuring fruits and vegetables at: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/Recipes/Recipes_UCM_001184_SubHomePage.jsp .
Helpful websites: For
“Healthy cooking methods” – http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyCooking/Healthier-Preparation-Methods-for-Cooking_UCM_301484_Article.jsp#.T2IYlBFDuO4
“Fats and oils” – http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/FatsAndOils/Fats-Oils_UCM_001084_SubHomePage.jsp
American Heart Association

_______________________________________________________
Outreach Ministry News

If you are interested in joining the BARRACUDAS team – please contact Bev Raynor at (301)604-0909 or email at : bevanray@juno.com.

WE NEED YOU TO HELP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER!
June 9, 2012 at
McCullough Field

Church Meetings

March 16, 2012

Dorothy — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 23:42:29 +0000

First UMC | eRevelations
March 16, 2012
First United Methodist Church—Our Purpose: As believers in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and the Bible as the inspired word of God, we 1) glorify God through worship, 2) build strong relationships in the church family, 3) grow in the knowledge of the truth as revealed through Jesus Christ, 4) serve people as a reflection of the love of Jesus Christ, and 5) spread the Good News of the Gospel so that others may come to salvation through grace.
In This Issue:
? Thoughts From Your Pastor
? Worship News
? Fellowship News
? Discipleship News
? Ministry News
? Outreach Ministry News
? Church Meetings
? Other Important Items
Thoughts from Your Pastor
“Remembering Saint Patrick”
Over the last couple of years on or around Saint Patrick’s Day, I’ve written about Saint Patrick, who is one of my favorite ancient Christians. Saint Patrick’s Day has become a day to celebrate “all things Irish”—cabbage and corned beef, green beverages of all sorts, shamrocks, leprechauns, green clothes… you name it! Whether you’re Irish or not, you’re in on the celebration.
Well, Saint Patrick’s Day means a lot more than that, and I want to dig deeper into the day in a way that I hope gives you some encouragement and inspiration to be the saint of God whom the Lord Jesus has died for, called, and raised you up to be. Read on…
Besides a day to celebrate the luck of the Irish, St. Patrick’s Day (just like St. Valentine’s Day) is a feast day of the Church to commemorate and remember the legacy of Church’s most celebrated saints, keeping in mind that all people who claim Christ as their Lord and Savior are saints of God. The Roman Catholic, Anglican, Episcopal, and Lutheran churches have calendars in which every day of the year is set aside to remember a particular saint. These saints are lifted up for being typical men and women like you and me who lived exemplary lives as disciples of Jesus. They’re upheld as role models, showing us what our lives can look like when we give ourselves completely to Christ and allow his grace to fill us to serve and glorify God.
Saint Patrick was one of those legendary people, and ironically enough, he was not Irish. Patrick was British. That’s right! Here is Patrick’s story.
Patrick was born around 387 AD in what is now Wales. At the age of 16, he was captured and sold into slavery by Irish raiders. The Irish lived in various clans and townships and practiced Celtic forms of paganism. They were not at all like their British neighbors who lived in constant conflict. He lived in Ireland as a slave for six years and then managed to escape. After returning home, grateful to God that he survived and came home free again, he studied for the priesthood.
After several years, legend says that in a dream, Patrick received a vision from an Irish man pleading him to come to Ireland and preach the gospel. Other Christians had tried to convert the Irish in the past and had failed miserably. This was not going to be an easy task, but Patrick knew the Irish well. They were his captors, but he learned their ways, their behavior, and their spiritual beliefs and practices. Unlike others before him, Patrick was no stranger to the Irish.
So, Patrick got permission from Rome, and obediently went on his risky mission to the Irish. After several generations of following in Patrick’s methods and practices, Ireland was converted to Christianity. That’s why, in the 8th Century, Patrick was named Ireland’s patron saint, and still is to this day.
As a tribute to Patrick and as a way of inspiring us towards faithfulness to Jesus, I’d like to share with you a rendition of a prayer attributed to Patrick called “Saint Patrick’s Breastplate”. There are many renditions, but this one is my favorite. I hope it blesses you:
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Swiftness of wind,

Depth of the sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me;
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s hand to guard me.

Afar and anear,
Alone or in a multitude.

Christ shield me today
Against wounding:

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,

Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,

Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ in me.

I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of Creation.

Yours in Christ’s Love and Service,
Pastor Chris

Worship News
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Our message this Sunday will be “Even the Blind Can See the Truth” and the scripture is from Mark 10:46-52
——————————————————————————————-
April 5th – Maundy Thursday Service 7:30 pm
April 6th – Good Friday Service 7:30 pm
April 8th – Easter Sunrise Service 6:30 am
Pancake Breakfast 7:30 am
Normal Sunday Services at 8:15 & 11 am
————————————————————————-
New Members’ Class Coming Up
Have you been attending First UMC for a while and would like to make a deeper commitment to Christ and to his church? Would you like to explore what it means to be a member of our church family? Then this class is for you! On March 18, 25, and April 1, our new members’ class will meet during Sunday School in the Parlor. Pastor Chris will lead our time together. We’ll learn about each other, our church, and how to be a vital part of First UMC. Attendance at all three sessions is strongly encouraged. You will then have the opportunity to be received into membership during our Easter Day services on April 8. If you are interested in attending, please contact the church office by phone or e-mail.

Saturday, March 17, 2012
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
FUMC Fellowship Hall

The First United Methodist Church Fellowship Team would like to invite you to the 9th annual Pizza Night.

Bring your family & friends and join us for a fun filled evening of food and fellowship.

Enjoy the “Buffet Style”
Pizza & Salad Bar

Please sign up in the Narthex, to give us an idea of how much food we need to purchase and an idea of the time you plan to arrive so that we may better serve you.

We look forward to seeing you!!
Discipleship News
NOTICE!!! PRAYER MEETINGS
Our church holds prayer meetings every Wednesday evening at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary. We need supporters for this valuable mission so if at all possible, please join us.
Prayer concerns this week: Nancy Warren (friend of Lois Hamilton), Bell/Mohl Family, John Fountain, Walter Dixon, Bobbie Lutz, Denise Levitine’s Mother, Tim Brennan & Family, Kimberly Evans, Germaine Acampora

—————————————————————————————————————————-
CHILDREN’S EASTER SYMBOLS PARTY
COMING SOON

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

SATURDAY, MARCH 31ST
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

We will begin our celebration with lunch
So don’t be late – lunch will be served
promptly at 1:00 PM

We have an awesome celebration planned
including our annual Symbols Egg Hunt
and of course the Candy Egg Hunt
so bring your baskets

Pastor Mike and his Puppet Company
will be here too!

SO JOIN US FOR A TON OF FUN!

IT STARTS TONIGHT!
March 16 & 17, 2012
A two day (Friday evening and Saturday morning)
Women’s Spiritual Enrichment Weekend

“Beautification of body” Friday 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Come pamper yourself & enjoy!
“Beautification of soul” Saturday, 8:30 – noon
(Breakfast at 8:30 am)
Then a Challenging seminar speaker at 9:00 am
Mrs. Flossie Dryden
Graduate of Lancaster Bible College
Former missionary to Barbados

“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

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UMYF
Meeting Schedule

Friday, 3/16/12 – Helping with UMW Women’s Retreat – 6pm-9pm

Saturday, 3/17/12 – Helping with UMW Women’s Retreat – 8:30am-12pm

Sunday, 3/18/12 – No Regular Meeting

Sunday, 3/25/12 – Regular Meeting – 6:30pm-8pm – Discussing Talent/No Talent Show

Ministry News
Saturday, April 14, 2012

9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.

First United Methodist Church of Laurel
424 Main Street – Laurel, MD 20707

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Save the Date!!!

• Add it on. Add fruit and vegetables to foods you love. Try adding frozen peas to mac’n’cheese, veggies on top of pizza and slices of fruit on top of breakfast cereals or low-fat ice cream.

• Use healthier cooking methods. Steaming, grilling, sautéing, roasting, baking and microwaving vegetables are ideal preparation methods.

• Use fats and oils low in saturated fats sparingly; don’t use trans fats.

o Enjoy fruit desserts. Fresh or canned fruit in light syrup or natural fruit juice, gelatin containing fruit and dried fruit are good choices for a dessert.

_______________________________________________________
Outreach Ministry News

If you are interested in joining the BARRACUDAS team – please contact Bev Raynor at (301)604-0909 or email at : bevanray@juno.com.

WE NEED YOU TO HELP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER!
June 9, 2012 at
McCullough Field

Church Meetings
Lay Leadership Development – Thursday, March 22nd at 7:30 pm
Other Important Items

March 9, 2012

Dorothy — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 22:41:57 +0000

First UMC | eRevelations
March 9, 2012
First United Methodist Church—Our Purpose: As believers in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and the Bible as the inspired word of God, we 1) glorify God through worship, 2) build strong relationships in the church family, 3) grow in the knowledge of the truth as revealed through Jesus Christ, 4) serve people as a reflection of the love of Jesus Christ, and 5) spread the Good News of the Gospel so that others may come to salvation through grace.
In This Issue:
Thoughts From Your Pastor
Worship News
Fellowship News
Discipleship News
Ministry News
Outreach Ministry News
Church Meetings
Other Important Items

Don’t forget to
“spring forward” this weekend
Thoughts from Your Pastor
“Rethinking Sabbath”
We’ve got a great Tuesday morning Bible study going on now, and one of things that makes our study so great are the questions folks ask. Often those questions will get us thinking about things in new ways or giving some attention to things we might ordinarily neglect. We don’t always walk away with a firm answer, but that’s okay. Some questions aren’t meant to be answered right away in black and white terms. In fact, the best questions never are.
We’re studying through the book of Mark and got to Mark 2:23-3:6. These are two stories in which Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees about the ways he and disciples observe the Sabbath. Read along with us:
One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”
Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.
He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
Once we read that passage, someone asked, “What is the Sabbath for? What are we supposed to do on the Sabbath? We hear about rules and traditions, but where does it say in the Bible what we’re supposed to do and not do?” Excellent question!
The Sabbath goes all the way back to Creation itself. God created the heavens and earth within six days, and on the seventh day after God’s work of creation was complete, God rested from the work of creation. God’s rest became a holy rest and began to set the seventh day as a holy day of rest from our labors of the preceding six days (Genesis 2:2-3).
Then as the Lord established the covenant with Israel, observing the Sabbath by keeping it holy became the fourth of the ten commandments (Exodus 20:8-11). On that day, God commands his people to do no work and then lays that great detail so that the Sabbath would apply over the whole household from owner to servant, even to livestock. It is a holy day, which means that it is a called out, distinct day that does not resemble the other six days.
From then on, God’s people have had the discussion of interpreting how to keep the Sabbath day holy. What do we refrain from doing? What is considered work to be avoided on the Sabbath? What do we do that on the Sabbath that is different and distinct from Sunday through Friday?
Christians complicated things even more by declaring Sunday as the Sabbath, in keeping with the early church who gathered on the first day of the week, Sunday, the Lord’s Day, the day which Jesus rose from the dead. That makes every Sunday our Sabbath day, a mini-Easter celebration.
So when responding to the question, “How do we keep the Sabbath holy?” there are two immediate challenges we run into:
• There is more to do on Sundays than there used to be. Many of us remember blue laws which kept businesses and stores closed on Sundays. You couldn’t shop, go to the movies, go to the mall, or even buy groceries. It was also generally understood that community events, games, and the like were not to be scheduled on Sundays. Sundays were to be set aside for worship and family time. Now, of course, all of those laws and standards are gone, leaving more options for individuals and families on Sundays. That also makes it more confusing to discern how to keep the Sabbath.
• Biblically, Sabbath was meant to be a community-wide observance, and the community interpreted how to best keep the Sabbath. We, however, do not center so much on community thinking, but rather on individual thinking. Unlike Israel and the ancient Church, we are oriented towards the individual and to our nuclear family unit, not the community. So, we figure out what to do on the Sabbath by doing whatever is best for ourselves and our families. That’s why whenever we discuss questions like these we hear ourselves saying, “I like to keep my Sabbath by doing _________ because doing __________ is rest and relaxation for me and my family.” That kind of thinking would have been utterly confusing to Israel and the early church. For them, the Sabbath day was a community observance established and maintained by the community, not the individual. The people of God is one body and one people, not a collection of individuals making individual determinations about things like the Sabbath. I believe they had it right.

But, the bottom line is this: we all need Sabbath. We all need a time to step away from the rigors of life as usual, celebrate another week of life and work, worship God, and connect with each other in community. Without this kind of rest and connection, we can easily lose touch with the place and value of our work. We can lose the perspective and the ability to put our regular work aside. And we can find ourselves distanced from God and one another. Sabbath is holy for a very important reason!
I would love for some of you to get a conversation going and ask one another, “What would it look like for our church to keep the Sabbath holy together as a community? What would we do? When would we do it? What challenges would there be? In what ways would we need to be counter-cultural in order to keep the Sabbath day together in a holy way?”
Sabbath is God’s gift for us, made for us, but it is also a direct commandment from God. In other words, keeping the Sabbath is not negotiable! Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to lead us as a church to discern how we could keep the Sabbath holy together as one church family.
That will require creativity and a willingness to think outside of the box. That means we would have to avoid the temptation to start the conversation by saying, “We used to do this or that. We need to go back to that.” Old methods are increasingly ineffective in today’s world. We can’t pour new wine into old wineskins. But we can take the principle and command to keep the Sabbath day holy and live into that command in our time.
Let’s do it. Sabbath is God’s gift and our holy obligation to keep in a holy way!

Yours in Christ’s Love and Service,
Pastor Chris

Worship News
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Our message this Sunday will be “Just How Good is the Good Teacher” and the scripture is from Mark 10:17-31
——————————————————————————————-
New Members’ Class Coming Up
Have you been attending First UMC for a while and would like to make a deeper commitment to Christ and to his church? Would you like to explore what it means to be a member of our church family? Then this class is for you! On March 18, 25, and April 1, our new members’ class will meet during Sunday School in the Parlor. Pastor Chris will lead our time together. We’ll learn about each other, our church, and how to be a vital part of First UMC. Attendance at all three sessions is strongly encouraged. You will then have the opportunity to be received into membership during our Easter Day services on April 8. If you are interested in attending, please contact the church office by phone or e-mail.

Saturday, March 17, 2012
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
FUMC Fellowship Hall

The First United Methodist Church Fellowship Team would like to invite you to the 9th annual Pizza Night.

Bring your family & friends and join us for a fun filled evening of food and fellowship.

Enjoy the “Buffet Style”
Pizza & Salad Bar

Please sign up in the Narthex, to give us an idea of how much food we need to purchase and an idea of the time you plan to arrive so that we may better serve you.

We look forward to seeing you!!
Discipleship News
NOTICE!!! PRAYER MEETINGS
Our church holds prayer meetings every Wednesday evening at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary. We need supporters for this valuable mission so if at all possible, please join us.
Prayer concerns this week: Germaine Acampora & friend, Mike Peters & Family, Kay Mitchell, Terry Curington, Melissa Walker, Martha
—————————————————————————————————————————-
CHILDREN’S EASTER SYMBOLS PARTY
COMING SOON

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

SATURDAY, MARCH 31ST
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

We will begin our celebration with lunch
So don’t be late – lunch will be served
promptly at 1:00 PM

We have an awesome celebration planned
including our annual Symbols Egg Hunt
and of course the Candy Egg Hunt
so bring your baskets

Pastor Mike and his Puppet Company
will be here too!

SO JOIN US FOR A TON OF FUN!

————————————————————————-
UMW
Help needed
The UMW would like to borrow your white or clear string Christmas lights. Please contact Lois Hamilton at 301-498-9736 if you have any that we could use. We will need them for March 16 & 17 for the women’s retreat here at the church. We will label them and return them to you after the event. Thanks!
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March 12th – 7:00 pm Martha Circle Meeting
March 12th – 7:00 pm Edith Miles Circle Meeting
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Ladies!…..Have you made your reservations yet for……

March 16 & 17, 2012
A two day (Friday evening and Saturday morning)
Women’s Spiritual Enrichment Weekend

Please respond/RSVP by doing one of the following by March 11th:
1. Call Ann Marie Miller at 301-498-3397, (leave a message on the answering machine if no one is home)
2. Call the Church Office at 301-725-3093
3. Email the Church at office@fumcl.org; or
4. Sign up in the church narthex on the clipboard

“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

No cost Babysitting provided

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UMYF
Meeting Schedule

Sunday, 3/11/12 – Regular Meeting – 6:30pm-8pm – Game Night

Friday, 3/16/12 – Helping with UMW Women’s Retreat – 6pm-9pm

Saturday, 3/17/12 – Helping with UMW Women’s Retreat – 8:30am-12pm

Sunday, 3/18/12 – No Regular Meeting

Sunday, 3/25/12 – Regular Meeting – 6:30pm-8pm – Discussing Talent/No Talent Show

Ministry News

Save the Date!!!

Vacation Bible School 2012
Sunday, July 8 – Thursday, July 12
6:30 pm
Celebration Sunday, July 15
Registration and Volunteer Sign-Ups Starts May 12th!!!
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CAREGIVER WORKSHOP SERIES
Workshop #1: Christmas in July??
Loved ones with dementia are trapped in the moment; there is no before or after. If these momets are boring, confusing, or frightening they can result in challenging behaviors. In this workshop caregivers will learn how to identify and engage loved ones in meaningful activities to create joyful moments not only for loved ones but for themselves too.

Workshop #2: Stop! I want to get off..
The caregiving experience is a roller coaster of emotions and one wonders if the ride will ever end. In this workshop caregivers will learn about normal and not-so-normal emotions. They will learn how to effectively manage stress, understand the meaning of the “Ah Ha!” moment, and learn essential coping skills to be able to enjoy the “ride”.

Workshop #3: Health is More than Physical…
Physical, emotional, and spiritual health are a package deal with one being dependent on the others. In this workshop caregivers will learn how to strengthen and maintain their “package deal” through good nutrition, setting and maintaining boundaries, and nurturing their spirits.

To register for any of these workshops call 410-222-4464 x-3043 or register on line at http//www.aacounty.org/Aging
Workshops located at:
Annapolis Senior Center – Mondays, May 7,14,21 2:30-4:30 pm
Brooklyn Park Senior Center- Thursdays, May 3,10,17 1:00-3:00 pm
Pasadena Senior Center – Thursdays, June 14,21,28 1:00-3:00 pm
Arnold Senior Center – Thursdays, April 5,12,19 6:30-8:30 pm
O’Mally Senior Center – Mondays, March 12,19,26 5:30-7:30 pm
Pascal Senior Center – Tuesdays, May 15,22,29 6:30-8:30 pm
South County Senior Center – Thursdays, March 1,8,15 6:30-8:30 pm
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CANCER: IT DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE
Date: Saturday, March 17, 2012
Time: 8:30 am – 1:30 pm
Location: Holy Cross Hospital
Professional & Community Education Center
1500 Forest Glen Road
Silver Spring, MD
Fee: FREE!
Breakfast & lunch provided
Cultural Performances
Free Parking: Dameron Drive Garage

Conference Agenda:
Registration and Breakfast
Welcome – Wendy Friar, RN, MS, Vice President, Holy Cross Hospital Community Health
ABC’s of Breast Cancer – Eric A Oristian, MD, Medical Director, The Breast Center at Holy Cross Hospital
Community Testimonies to Public Officials
Free to Me and You: A Panel Discussion on Local and Free Community Resources. All Shades of Pin, Reverend Karen Beasley; Holy Cross Hospital’s Cancer Institute, pat Malik, LCSW-C, CCM; American Cancer Society, Dr. Sonia Nieves, and MORE!
International Lunch
Cultural Performances

To Register please call 301-754-8800 or visit www.holycrosshealth.org
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Tuesday, March 20th, 2012
2:00pm – 3:30pm

Presented by
Toni Benton, ADC, CMIS
Executive Director

Join us for an informative seminar that addresses many common concerns regarding dementia.
Common forms of dementia
What to look for
When to get help
Resources and tools provided

2505 Musgrove Road
Silver Spring, MD 20904

RSVP by Tuesday, March 13th, 2012
by phone 301-847-3051
or e-mail silverspring@arden-courts.com.

Adult Day Care provided upon advanced request.

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TO YOUR HEALTH
Date: Saturday, April 28, 2012
Time: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
(Early Registration begins at 8:00 am)
Location: Holy Cross Hospital Professional
Community Education Center
1500 Forest Glen Road
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(Metro Accessible)
Free parking in the Dameron Employee Garage
Come & learn about health topics for the entire family – infants to seniors! There will be health education exhibits, as well as FREE screenings. Early disease detection screenings include diabetes glucose (A1C) and lipid panel (cholesterol) tests; prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, digital rectal and prostate examination for men; and clinical breast examinations and Pap tests for women.
HEALTH SCREENINGS FOR EARLY DISEASE DETECTION: (NO APPOINTMENT IS NEEDED: FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE)

FOR WOMEN:
Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) to detect breast disease or breast cancer
Pap Test to detect cervical cancer – age 21 and over

FOR MEN:
Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) to detect rectal and prostate cancers
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) to detect prostate cancer – age 45 and over

FOR ALL (age 18 years and older)
Glucose and Cholesterol Screenings (must be fasting 9-12 hours prior)

Our interactive health fair will also be taking place! Come visit our health education booths to learn about a variety of health topics.

To register call 301-754-8800 or visit www.holycrosshealth.org
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Outreach Ministry News

If you are interested in joining the BARRACUDAS team – please contact Bev Raynor at (301)604-0909 or email at : bevanray@juno.com.

WE NEED YOU TO HELP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER!
June 9, 2012 at
McCullough Field

Church Meetings
Staff Parish Relations Committee Meeting – Thursday, March 8th at 7:30 pm
Lay Leadership Development – Thursday, March 22nd at 7:30 pm
Other Important Items
Stained Glass Window Honoring Veterans
We are currently collecting donations for this window with installation in late fall of this year. We prefer individual donations not exceed $50.00 so more members may participate. Make a check out to First United Methodist Church and indicate Veteran’s Stained Glass Window in the memo line. We are asking each donor to choose one person to be honored on a plaque to be located on the wall near the window. We plan to offer three or four designs to the congregation so they may indicate their preference. If you are interested, contact Russ Geis or Richard Reynnells, Co-Chairs.