THE MINISTER S MESSAGE

Transcription

1 P e o p l e s C o n g r e g a ti o n a l U n i t e d C h u r c h o f C h r i s t 4704 Thirtee nth Stree t, NW Washington, D C Peoples Prodder WORSHIP SERVICES 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. Sundays 9:30 a.m. Adult Church Study 11:00 a.m. Church School Deacons Prayer Service Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. Prayer Service Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. Bible Study on Thursday 6:30-8:00 p.m. HOLY COMMUNION First Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Worship Second Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Worship Nursery available during 11:00 a.m. service Leslie Dowdell-Cannon, Acting Senior Minister Clyde T. Parker, Minister of Music THE MINISTER S MESSAGE May 2016 SPRING IS ABOUT RENEWAL, REFRESHING AND AWAKENING FROM THE LULL OF THE DREARY DAYS OF WINTER. IT APPEARS THAT SPRING HAS SPRUNG!. THE EVIDENCE SURROUNDS US, THE WEATHER IS GRADUALLY BECOMING WARMER, BUSHES AND BLOSSOMS HAVE BLOOMED, THERE S A RUMOR THAT THE CICA- DA S ARE MAKING A RETURN APPEARANCE AND THE FOLKS WITH ALLERGIES HAVE BEGUN WHEEZING AND SNEEZING AND SUFFERING SINUS HEADACHES AND, MY CAR NEEDS WASHING EVERY OTHER DAY TO GET RID OF THAT YELLOW POLLEN FUZZ. THE SEASON OF SPRING ALSO SIGNALS THAT TIME HONORED TRADITION OF SPRING CLEANING. A TIME WHEN WE INTENTIONALLY REORDER OUR LIVING SPACES, DOWN SIZE, PRIORITIZE, REEVALUATE, REPLACE AND CON- SIDER WHAT WE REALLY NEED AND WHAT WE CAN LET GO OF. I THINK THE SAME TRAIN OF THOUGHT CAN APPLY TO OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES. I ONCE REFERRED TO THE SEASON OF LENT AS SPRING CLEANING FOR THE SOUL BUT, NOW I AM CONVINCED THAT THIS MAY BE A PERPETUAL CYCLE THAT HELPS US ENGAGE MORE WITH CHRIST. FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AND INSIDE AND OUT MUCH LIKE CLEANING YOUR OWN HOME, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURGE, CLEAN OUT, DUST OFF, MOVE THINGS AROUND, GET DEEP INTO THE CORNERS AND, TACKLE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HIDDEN BECAUSE OF THE ACCUMULA- TION. DURING THIS TIME THINGS ARE POLISHED, REPAIRED AND ORGANIZED. SPRING CLEANING IS ABOUT GETTING OUR HOUSE IN ORDER ON SEVERAL LEV- ELS. THINK OF IT AS HAVING A BROOM IN ONE HAND AND THE WORD OF GOD IN THE OTHER. BESIDES THAT, REMOVING THE CLUTTER ALLOWS US TO REFLECT WITH A CLEAR HEAD AND AN OPEN MIND. THERE HAS BEEN MUCH TO REFLECT ON DURING THESE PAST FEW MONTHS. WE HAD A WONDERFUL FOUNDERS DAY CELEBRATION FOR THE 125 TH ANNIVERSARY AT THE LUNCHEON AND AT WORSHIP. WE HAD A GREAT HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SUNDAY. WE HAVE BEEN IMMERSED IN THE MUSICAL TALENTS OF THE HOWARD UNIVERSITY JAZZ ENSEMBLE, THE WONDERFUL AFRO BLUE CONCERT AND THE SACRED TRIBUTE TO CLYDE T. PARKER. WE WERE PRESENT FOR AN INFORMA- TIVE AND WELL PRESENTED TOWN HALL MEETING AND WE ARE DOING NEW THINGS WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE HOME COMERS MINISTRY. THERE IS LIFE, AND MUCH IS GOING ON AT PEOPLES CHURCH. I THINK THAT THE PHRASE GOING ON IS SIGNIFICANT AS WE WELCOME THE NEWNESS OF SPRING! THE APOSTLE PAUL SPOKE TO THIS IN PHILIPPIANS 3:12 NOT THAT I HAVE ALREADY ATTAINED THIS OR HAVE ALREADY REACHED THE GOAL, BUT I PRESS ON TO MAKE IT MY OWN, BECAUSE CHRIST JESUS HAS MADE ME HIS OWN. BUT THIS ONE THING I DO: FORGETTING WHAT LIES BEHIND AND STRAINING FORWARD TO WHAT LIES AHEAD, I PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HEAVENLY CALL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS. WHAT ARE YOU HOARDING IN THE ATTIC OF YOUR MIND AND HEART? I PROMISE YOU THAT IT WILL FEEL SO MUCH BETTER TO FREE THAT SPACE UP TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE NEW AND EXCITING WAYS THAT GOD IS GOING TO WORK IN OUR LIVES AS INDIVIDUALS AND IN OUR LIVES AS A CONGREGATION. LET THE SPRING CLEANING BEGIN!

2 MISSION AND VISION OF THE CHURCH MISSION OF THE CHURCH The Mission of Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ is: To worship God and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to labor for peace and justice so that the world may become the kingdom of God on earth; To foster within its membership, by its teaching and its ministry, the spirit which was in Christ; To be to its membership and the community a source of spiritual refreshment, guidance, transformation, comfort and support; To impress upon its membership the need for mutual loyalty and charity; To teach its young people the noble traditions of its past; to point them to the possibilities of its future, and to give guidance in the building of Christian character; and To educate and develop its members for consecrated and sacrificial service. VISION OF THE CHURCH so we, who are many, are one body in Christ and individually we are members of one another. (Romans 12:5 NRSV) Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ is a progressive Christian community called by faith, led by hope, and united by love to build strong and committed disciples for Jesus Christ and to be a spiritual presence locally and globally in service to humanity. This vision is lived out through our focus on relationship with the Lord, which produces perspective; scholarship in study of the Scriptures, which produces focus; stewardship awareness in our giving and sharing which produces trust; and fellowship with our sisters and brothers in Christ, which produces unity. Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it, for there is a vision for the appointed time (Habakkuk 2:2-3 NRSV) 2

3 2016 MONTHLY MEMORY VERSES (FROM THE NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION) January: And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory of a father s only son. (John 1:14) February: I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? (Isaiah 43:19) March: I hereby command you: be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1: 9) April: The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord s doing ; it is marvelous in our eyes. (Psalm 118: 22-23) May: If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (John 15: 7) June: So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9) July: So I say to you, ask and it will be given you; search and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. (Luke 11:9) August: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) September: fight the good fight of faith, take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and for which you were made. (1 Timothy 12) October: Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing to the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise. (Psalm 66:1) November: Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying burdens, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28) December: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness-on them the light has shined. (Isaiah 9:2a) MAY 2016 LECTIONARY READINGS May 1 Sixth Sunday of Easter "Disciples Together Old Testament: Psalm 67 New Testament: John 14:23-29 Epistle: Acts 16:915 May 8 Seventh Sunday of Easter Breaking Chains" Old Testament: Psalm 97 New Testament: John 17:20-26 Epistle: Acts 16:16-34 May 15 Pentecost Sunday "Gathered and Scattered" Old Testament: Psalm 104:24-34 New Testament: John 14:8-17 Epistle: Acts 2:1-21 May 22 Trinity Sunday "Wisdom Calls" Old Testament: Psalm 8 New Testament: Romans 5:1-5 Epistle: John 16:12-15 May 29 Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Faith of an Outsider Old Testament: Psalm 96 New Testament: Galatians 1:1-12 Epistle: Luke 7:1-10 3

4 CELEBRATING 125 YEARS PEOPLES CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHUCH OF CHRIST SALUTES OUR SENIORS* On Our 125 th Anniversary Families, Friends and Neighbors are Welcome to this Celebration Sunday, May 22, 2016 Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C :30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Worship Services Rev. Dr. Rubin Tendai, Preaching TEA & TALK: Peoples Church Fellowship Hall immediately following 11:00 a.m. service. Come and enjoy lively questions and answers between young members of Peoples Church (our future) and the elders of Peoples Church (our history). To be recorded. *Members 80 years young and more in 2016, please confirm your attendance to Carol Moseley Gardner at or Marie Whitaker at beginning Tuesday, May 5, but no later than Sunday, May 15, Please indicate transportation needs to Ms. Gardner. More details to follow. We look forward to you joining us! 4

5 MAY UPDATE AND CELEBRATIONS BONE MARROW DONATION Saving lives is easier than ever. By donating bone marrow, you can save the lives of adults and children with cancer and blood diseases such as Leukemia, lymphoma and Sickle Cell Anemia. Bone marrow is the soft tissue that is found inside major bones. The bone marrow produces blood cells. Stem cells are the immature cells in the bone marrow that gives rise to all the different blood cells which are released into the blood stream. There is a great need for bone marrow donors in the US. The need is greatest in the African American or black community, South Asian or Pacific Islanders, American Indian and Hispanic communities. One disease that can be cured by bone marrow transplant is Sickle Cell Anemia. Sickle Cell Anemia is an inherited disorder due to a hemoglobin abnormality. The abnormal hemoglobin is sickle shape and rigid which results in red cell clumping. This results in frequent hospitalizations with pain crises, infections, strokes and sometime organ failure strokes. In addition to the poor quality of life, the average life span of individuals with sickle cell anemia is 50 years. Sickle Cell Anemia is found in sub-saharan Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, India and among people of African origin living in other parts of the world. In the US, 1 in 500 African- American children have Sickle Cell Anemia. Bone marrow transplant is the only cure for Sickle Cell Anemia. If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, you can be a donor. Register with the Bone marrow Registry. You will be tested and your name will be placed on the list. Celebrating Our May 2016 People There are two types of procedures used for donation. One method involves removal of bone marrow from the pelvic bone under general anesthesia. The other method that is most frequently used is using peripheral blood. The risks are minimal. Consider joining the registry. Children's Hospital and the NIH are two institutions in the area that are in need of donors. Contact the National Marrow Donor Program at Submitted by Wellness Ministry Dr. Esther Pinder (Co-Chair) Dr. Walter Faggett (Co-Chair). 5

6 PALM SUNDAY AND EASTER CELEBRATION 6

7 GENERAL INFORMATION WEBSITE, FACEBOOK FAN PAGE, AND TWITTER NEWS: Our website address is l eschur chucc.org. webmaster4704@gmail.com if you have any questions. Follow us on The website is constantly updated, so click the refresh button when you visit. Our Twitter handle Follow us on Twitter! The Prodder, Website, Facebook Fan Page and Twitter exist to further the social connect with the membership of Peoples United Church of Christ and with the community to promote outreach and notice of important Church events. The social networking tools are designed for easy mass communication and media sharing. Through the Website, members and users can access the Online Giving page to donate to the General Fund and purchase tickets for Church events and fundraisers. Members/users can view the Events Calendar to participate in the life of the Church. Members can advertise Church events through the Website, Facebook Fan Page and Twitter. To advertise Church events and/or submit flyers for Church events, members can submit information to peopleswebsiteevents@gmail.com. The website is the New Front Door of the Church, and allows members/users to interact, communicate and connect to foster connectivity and community. Prodder Guidelines: All announcements and flyers must be submitted by the third Tuesday of the month by 12:00Noon. Announcements and flyers can be e- mailed to Ms. Valerie McCray, Administrative Assistant, at vmccray@peopleschurchucc.org or to the church account, info@peopleschurchucc.org, or faxed to Do not mail information. Announcements should be no more than 90 words and should be informational about Peoples Church events or members and their families. Announcements may be edited. If you would like to have a flyer inserted in the Prodder, please contact Ms. Hunter for more information. NO PHOTOGRAPHS, VIDEO, OR AUDIO RE- CORDING: This policy has been adopted to protect the musicians and speakers who are a part of the worship services and special events at the Church. The cooperation of the congregation is essential to the observance of this policy by visitors and guests. Photographs and CD recordings of worship services and other events are available as produced by the designated Church photographers and the Sound Engineer. Please contact the Church office to request specific photographs and/or recordings. Thank you. MINISTER S ADDRESS: Rev. Leslie Dowdell Cannon, Acting Senior Minister: ldcannon@peopleschurchucc.org CHURCH MODERATOR S ADDRESS: Robert Veiga, Church Moderator, onyxbob@verizon.net Facility Reservations: If you wish to reserve space for an event and/or activity, please contact Ms. Yvette Hunter, Operations Specialist, at the church office on (202) or yhunter@peopleschurchucc.org to complete a reservation contract. Facility reservations can also be made online through the church s website: Reservations are made on a first come, first served basis; however, religious events and funerals take precedence. Peoples Church is a multiuse venue so reservations are necessary to ensure competing needs are met efficiently and to specification. Member and non-member reservation fees apply. Floral Arrangements for the Altar: To order a designer floral arrangement to remember your loved one or recognize a special day, contact Vernandi Richardson (301) or Diane Miller (202) for additional information. Facilities Committee Two (2) First Aid Kits have been placed in the Main Office and the Fellowship Hall/Kitchen area. Incident Reporting Forms are also available in the Main Office for completion. All incidents must be reported on the forms, regardless of how small the incident is. The completed forms should be given to Yvette Hunter, Operations Manager, any member of the office/volunteer staff, or the Facilities Chair, Esther Williams Yarborough. ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF (202) (202) Fax info@peopleschurchucc.org (National Setting) Ms. Yvette Hunter, Operations Specialist, yhunter@peopleschurchucc.org Ms. Valerie McCray, Administrative Assistant vmccray@peapleschurchucc.org Mr. George Porter, Maintenance HOURS OF OPERATION CHURCH BUILDING HOURS: Monday: Closed Tuesday -Thursday: 12:00 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. Friday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Sunday: 7:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. 7

8 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Church School Pre-K Adult Bible Class Men s Bible Study Youth Ministry GROW Ministry* Prayer Meeting Prayer Meeting Prayer Service Bible Study Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday 2nd and 4th Sunday 4th Sunday Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday 11:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m. 10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. 9:30 a.m. 10:45 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 10:45 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 6:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 12:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m 7:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Elmes Center Nursery Corbin Lounge Small Lounge Youth Lounge Room 203 A & B Small Lounge Corbin Lounge Corbin Lounge Corbin Lounge *Inactive at this time Voices of Peoples Fellowship Choir Rhythmic Choir Chancel Choir Men s Chorus CHOIR REHEARSAL Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Saturday 6:45 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 10:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m. CHURCH BOARDS MONTHLY MEETING SCHEDULES Board of Christian Education Board of Trustees Christian Social Action Church Council Board of Deacons 1st Wednesday 2nd `Wednesday 2nd Wednesday 3rd Wednesday Saturday Before the 1st Sunday 7:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 12:00 noon PEOPLES NEIGHBORHOOD FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Hours of Operation: Sunday: 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Tuesday: By Appointment Call Saturday: 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 8

9 HISTORY BEE HOWARD JAZZ CONCERT 9