The
Epistle
Monthly
Newsletter of St. Paul’s
FEBRUARY, 2010
~ The Season of Lent ~
God designed the seasons because he loves diversity!
He created each season to offer us a unique set of challenges and opportunities.
God created seasons in the earth’s climate, in human physical development, and
in the life and development of the human soul. As we walk with Christ there are
periods of growth and new life (spring) as well as rest or dormancy (winter).
On Ash Wednesday (February 17)
Where are we going to find the time for all this!
We’re already too busy - something’s got to give! The ancient Christian
tradition tells us how to find some time. It’s the practice of giving up something for Lent. Some
people give up snacks or smoking as a way to deepen their faith. If we gave up
TV, computer and video games, just until Easter, we might find enough time to
take our relationship with Christ to a new level. One hour less of American Idol
or Facebook each day could be invested in Bible reading, praying, going to
church or serving at the Food Bank.
Very few of my neighbors go out in t-shirts and shorts
right now; they change their clothes to fit the season. How will we change our
habits to fit the season of Lent, of spiritual growth? How will you?! I’m ready for a growth spurt! Are you? Join me as we stride forward to follow
the Savior. ~Pastor Bill
~ Worship in February ~
February 7 - Communion Sunday - We begin the month as a community of faith gathered
around the Lord’s table. Worship with us as Pastor John brings the
message. On this day we will also
Consecrate Joint Board members newly elected by Church Council.
February 14 – Moravian Women’s Sunday -
The women of the church will lead the
entire service. Sister Alexis Howard,
Hope Austin Cummings’ sister, will share God’s word with us.
February 21 – First Sunday in Lent -
Join us as Pastor Bill helps us focus
on a deeper faith in Christ during this special season.
February 28 – Second Sunday in Lent
- It is a joy to welcome Sister Pat Jones to the
pulpit this Sunday. Pat serves the Lord
in many ways: singing, VBS Director, Board of Governors, Northern Province
Ordination Review Committee, etc. On
this day she will share her faith with us as she brings us a message from God’s
Word.
*LET US PRAY:*
*HEAVENLY FATHER,*
*HELP US BELIEVE AND UNDERSTAND, THAT THIS WOULD BE AN UNBEARABLE
WORLD, WERE GOD TO HAVE ONLY A SINGLE LIGHT. *
*BUT WE MAY BE CONSOLED, THAT YOU HAVE TWO LIGHTS.*
*A LIGHT TO GUIDE US IN THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE DAY WHEN HOPES ARE
FULFILLED, AND CIRCUMSTANCES ARE FAVORABLE, *
*AND A LIGHT THAT GUIDES US IN THE DARKNESS OF THE MIDNIGHT, *
*WHEN WE ARE BURIED IN THE SLUMBERING GIANTS OF GLOOM, *
*AND HOPELESSNESS BEGIN TO RISE IN OUR SOUL. *
*AND SO NOW DEAR LORD, WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO GIVE US THE
INTERIOR RESOURCES TO FACE THE DARKNESS AS WELL AS THE LIGHT.*
*LET THIS AFFIRMATION BE OUR SINGING CRY, SO THAT IT WILL GIVE
*LET US REMEMBER THAT THERE IS A GREAT BENIGN POWER IN THE
UNIVERSE WHOSE NAME IS GOD, *
*AND WHO IS ABLE TO MAKE A WAY OUT OF NO WAY, AND TRANSFORM DARK
YESTERDAYS INTO BRIGHT TOMORROWS. *
*THIS IS OUR HOPE FOR BECOMING BETTER PEOPLE.*
*THIS IS OUR MANDATE FOR SEEKING TO MAKE A BETTER WORLD. AMEN!*
In
January
In
Loving Memory . . .
On Saturday, February 20, at 11:00 AM, we
will gather at
A luncheon will immediately follow the memorial
service. If you would like to help with
the meal, please contact luncheon coordinator, Tanya Scott, Tanya_v_scott@yahoo.com, or
301-627-6513.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to
Come, remember, and celebrate the
life of this beautiful young woman!
On Sunday, January 31, we will celebrate our 39th Anniversary as a church
in Marlton, with a special service of worship, including an Anniversary Lovefeast. As is a custom at
we have been a congregation. This offering helps provide for the special music,
speaker, food, etc., needed for our celebration. An anniversary offering envelope will be
enclosed in the bulletin on Sunday, or you may send in a gift to the church
office at any time. Thank you and Praise
God for the long life of
Prayer and Healing
Service
The Prayer and Healing Service in February,
will be held at the church on the FIRST Friday,
Febuary 5th, 7:30 PM. We will meet in March on Friday,
March 5th at 7:30 PM.
All
are welcome!
Sunday School News
It has come to my attention that the
Sunday School staff, as wonderful as it is, still needs a little
tweeking. In my absence the dear sisters came together and covered for me
in the classroom. I am so very grateful for them and the support they are
to me but it revealed a need to have additional teachers who can serve as
assistants now, so they can get to know the children and the
classroom and enable them to step up when needed and do this as
seamlessly as possible.
I am asking for volunteers to be available
in any of the following ways:
TEAM TEACH by attending
Ø monthly,
Ø quarterly (Sept - Nov; Dec - Feb; Mar -
May; Jun - Aug [Summer schedule in effect here]),
Ø a year-at-a-time, or
Ø by study or topic.
Easy curriculum with reproducible pages
are available for grades 3/4, 5/6, Jr. High, & High School. Or we can
discuss any other option you may have.
Please consider making our youth a
priority in your life and schedule. Contact me or pastor Bill as soon as
you can.
In Christ's service,
Kay Jung
Education Team
The Education Team will meet on Thursday, February 18, at 7:30 PM.
Youth Fellowship Calling all young people in grades 7 through 12 – the Youth Group will meet on Sunday, February 21, from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM. We look forward to seeing you then! Church
Council Notice
All communicant members of
What’s
Happening at the
Children’s
Center . . .
We
all enjoyed our long and much needed Christmas break. We came back to work with the children to
very cold weather---so the challenge (if we can’t go outdoors) is to give them
a lot of exercise. We have very creative
teachers and they keep them busy all the time.
We
had our annual Stone Soup night with the children and their parents on January
27th. The soup is made by the
children (and yes there is a real stone in the soup) and the fable is read to
the parents and then everyone receives a cup of nice hot soup.
We
are at almost full capacity---we do have a few openings in the part-time
program and we are still looking for a person for the Group Leader position.
~ Ruthann Stone and Virginia Anthony
~ Job Opening ~
Ministry to Men
All Men! We’re taking our breakfast on the road this
month due to another event being held in fellowship hall on the same day. Join us for a great breakfast on Saturday, February 20 , at 8 am at the Marlboro
Grill, on
Men’s Group -- If you’re ready to step up and go deeper
in your faith, we’ve got a great opportunity for you. On Tuesday, February
23, at 7:30 pm men will gather to study the Word, hear each other’s stories
and pray together. It doesn’t matter how
religious you are, you are welcome. Save the date and bring your Bible! Contact
Pastor Bill if you want to know more.
Marlboro Churches Food Bank
Once a month, on the Thursday evening before the second Saturday of
each month, volunteers (usually averaging about 10 people) gather to sort the
food that has been donated and the food that has been purchased. We have to group the food so the volunteers
can easily pack the bags the next morning. This is a good volunteer activity,
especially for young people; it is in the evening and doesn’t take a lot of
time if enough people help.
Here is the Food Bank
schedule for February 2010:
Bring food donations
to church with you on Sunday, February 7, 2010
Volunteers sort food
on Thursday, 7 p.m., February 11, 2010 @ Trinity Episcopal
Volunteers bag food on
Friday, 8 a.m., February 12, 2010 @ Trinity Episcopal
Volunteers carry bags
on Saturday, 7 a.m., February 13, 2010 @ Trinity Episcopal
Sister Johnnie Riley coordinates the preparation and serving of the
breakfast and welcomes all who would like to come and help – cooks, servers,
dishwashers – all are welcome! Please
contact Johnnie to let her know you will be there, and to find out what time
she needs you – 301-780-3710. To help
with packing and distribution, call Sister
Trudy Smith, 301-627-8039.
Thank you . .
.
Dear Pastor Andrews,
This is just a quick note, but it comes from
our hearts to yours as we begin a new year.
I would like to take the time to say thank you to your church staff and
members who donated toys for Christmas to our needy families. Your generosity and offer to adopt
With
your help and support we have been able to respond to the many needs of our
students. You have made a remarkable
difference in the lives of our students, staff and community.
Again,
thank you and we appreciate all that you do.
Sincerely,
Donna
Jackson, Parent Liaison
Dear
Thanks
to your help and kindness, Ron [Brian Dixon’s father] was able to make it home for
Christmas! I got him from the hospital
yesterday, the 22nd, and into the house safely. He is so thrilled to be home with us again
after so long. Thank you!
~Jaylene and Ron
Dixon
To the
Thank you for your generous contribution of $687.00 to
Moravian open Door. Your gift, along
with others, enables MOD to continue its service to the older homeless
community by providing transitional housing, counseling, and other direct
services to restore dignity and rebuild lives.
Your generosity keeps the mission and vision of MOD
alive. On behalf of our clients, staff
and Board of Directors, again, thanks for your contribution, prayers, and
support.
~Darryl Williams Executive Director
~Rev. Andy Meckstroth President, Board of Directors
Dear Rev. Andrews and
On behalf
of the Board of Directors and Staff of Community Ministry of Prince George’s
County, thank you for your generous donation . . . to help us accomplish our
mission of helping those in need. Your
consistent giving is dearly appreciated.
With your
help we continue to serve over 468 P.G. residents free hot lunches each week
and distribute over 24,000 lbs of free fresh produce to over 300 families each
month, including a special distribution just for seniors over 55 years of
age. We also blessed families with
Thanksgiving Food Baskets, took children to Skins Santa Shoppe, and on December
22, 09 blessed families with a brunch, food baskets and toys.
Your prayers and financial support enable Community Ministry
in collaboration with Faith Community members, government agencies, businesses,
individuals and others to continue our now 36 year record of helping those in
need across Prince George’s County.
Again thank
you; your support is deeply appreciated.
Happy New year!
In Faith,
Jimmie L. Slade, Executive Director
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN NEWS
As of January 24, we have contributed $19,766.90 towards the extensive
repairs that were made to the Parsonage for the Andrews' arrival. With twelve
months remaining in the Campaign, we need to receive $5,234 if we are to reach
our goal. If you have been one of those who have so faithfully brought us so
far, keep it up! The goal line is in sight. If you have not yet done your part
for this important project, you can give a gift today. We will need your help
if we are to reach our goal in these difficult financial times. Let's pull
together - we are a winning team!
Women’s Bible Study
The Women’s Bible Study will be meeting on Wednesday, February
10, at 7:00 PM. They will take a brief
hiatus during Lent, and resume meetings in April. All
women of the church are invited to participate – come and bring your Bible!
Moravian Women’s Fellowship
Women of the church are invited to the next meeting of
Moravian Women’s Fellowship on Sunday, February 7, immediately following
worship. Come and help finalize
preparations for the February 13
Valentine’s Dinner Dance and Moravian Women’s Sunday, which will be held
on February 14th.

You
are invited to participate in the Spring
Retreat on March 27. This self-directed event allows you to decide
how and where to focus your attention. It is your opportunity to take a step
back from the stress and hurry of life and find peace as you encounter the presence
of the Living God. Come for as long as you can between 9 am and noon. You can
pray, take a nature walk, be inspired by art, enjoy a bonfire and taste some
wonderful snacks! You will proceed at your own pace. The Retreat will be held
at
Romance, Part 2
It was not until after
reading my own “Romance” article in last month’s “Epistle” that I realized one
cannot write just on the physical attraction aspect of romance in a church
newsletter, no matter how true the statements may be. So this month—ironically, the romance month
of all months with Valentine’s Day—I am writing the second (and I assure
everyone, LAST!) note on Christian romance.
The second “twin tower” of Christian romance is
sacrificial love, or “agapè” (pronounced “ah-gah’-pay”) in Greek. The book of Ephesians commands husbands to
love their wives as Christ loved the church and sacrificed Himself for it. This is the agapè concept.
We are familiar with this
concept generally, but how many young people—or their parents—ever think of
this concept when considering their SPOOS (special person of
the opposite sex)? Yet I
believe that if parents would train their teens to act from agapè motives with their first “serious” SPOOS, we would see
an amazing decrease in relational and marital problems down the road.
I Corinthians 12 contains
an amazingly concise 2-sentence section that defines what our pre-marital
physical love behavior limits are. For
anyone who has lived to adulthood and married, it is clear that any
relationship built on just “attraction” (i.e., physical love) will reach this
limit fairly shortly—say a year or two.
What then?
Strange though it may
seem to young people with a SPOOS, I think we should encourage them to think of
ways to agapè their SPOOS, even in their
early/middle teens. True agapè is not
just doing something to please another; it is doing something that is truly in
the other person’s interest without benefit to you. Some
ideas: 1. mucking your SPOOS’s horse
stall (there’s nothing in that for
you, rest assurred!); 2. Offering to
babysit your SPOOS’s bratty sibling so he/she can go to a concert.
Asking teens to try agapè changes the focus of their thoughts from their feelings
to the feelings of their SPOOS. It is
difficult, but this change fundamentally raises trust and respect in the
relationship and makes it possible to deepen their connectedness with minimal
danger to crossing the I Corinthians 12 line.
I am convinced that the
proper combination of physical love and agapè is the “great mystery”
that the apostle Paul refers to about marriage. This same great mystery is what we should
strive for in pre-marital relationships.
Who knows—some day a SPOOS might become a spouse!
Happy Valentines Day!
~Fred Mayes
Moravian
Women’s Fellowship
Invites
To a
Valentine’s Dinner Dance
On
Saturday,
February 13, 2010
6:30 PM –
9:30 PM
At

Dinner
Music
Entertainment
Menu:
Chicken, rice, green
beans, cake and ice cream, beverages
Purchase
Tickets by February 7th:
$10.00 per person – See
Kendra Miller after church
or contact her at MSMiller613@gmail.com
or 240-354-1545.
Due to the limited
space, we must restrict this event to
come and enjoy a fun
night out with friends!
EPISTLE
Printed on: January 29, 2010
Mailed
from Upper Marlboro
Post
Office on: January 29, 2010
Church Office Hours
The Church
Office is generally open:
Mondays 9:30 AM – 12:00 noon, Tuesday
through Friday, 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM and 2:30-4:30 PM
Connecting . . .
St. Paul’s
Moravian Church
Upper
301-627-4200 FAX: 301-627-4204
Church
e-mail: spmoravian@aol.com
Church
website: www.spmoravian.org
Rev. Bill
Andrews’ e-mail: stpaulspastor@gmail.com
Christian
Children’s Center: 301-627-4202
CCC email:
stpaulsccc@gmail.com