EASTER. April 2018 Vol. 67, No. 4. Old Presbyterian Meeting House

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1 April 2018 Vol. 67, No. 4 Old Presbyterian Meeting House news Old Presbyterian Meeting House One Great Hour of Sharing Offering on Easter Throughout Lent, our children, families and other giving souls, have been filling fish banks named Gracie to collect One Great Hour of Sharing contributions. On Easter, everyone is invited to bring Gracie back to be received during the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. Your generous gifts assist those affected by natural disasters, provide food to the hungry, and assist in helping the powerless. In this Issue Rise Against Hunger Event p. 2 Advocacy Weekend p. 3 Adult Education in April p. 4 Friends of Guest House p. 5 Chili Cook-Off Winners p. 6 March for Our Lives p South Fairfax Street Alexandria, Virginia phone Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday The Old Presbyterian Meeting House is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the National Capital Presbytery, and a Covenant Network congregation. #RefugeeMinistryMatters April 8 will be an important day for the Refugee Ministry. There will be a Moment for Mission at both services to update the congregation on our family and their progress in adjusting to life in America. That same day, come to the adult education class to hear more about the ecumenical partnership of three local Alexandria churches in welcoming and supporting a Syrian refugee family. OPMH will welcome Dr. Mehmet (Salih) Sayilgan to discuss the historical importance of welcoming refugees and immigrants in the Muslim tradition. Meet members of the Syrian family. Learn about ways to continue to support this ministry and mission including a special fundraising effort that will continue through the end of May. Come to gain a deeper understanding of why #RefugeeMinistryMatters! EASTER WORSHIP AT 8:30 & 11 AM ON APRIL 1 Old Presbyterian Meeting House n news 1

2 MEETING HOUSE STAFF The Rev. Dr. Robert R. Laha, Jr. Senior Pastor The Rev. Katherine A. Stanford Associate Pastor The Rev. Ann E. Herlin Associate Pastor Mrs. Noelle Castin Director of Christian Education Mr. Samuel Baker Director of Music/Organist Mrs. Mary Pratt Perry Youth Director Mr. Aaron Siirila Church Business Administrator Mrs. Heather Starek Communications Manager Mrs. Ellen Haas Computer Specialist Mrs. Leslie Mounts Administrative Coordinator Mrs. Tania Ryan MHCP Director Mr. David Heiby Superintendent, Presbyterian Cemetery & Columbarium Please submit materials for the newsletter through your ministry leadership for inclusion in the newsletter. The deadline for the May issue is April 20. Monday, April 2 is the deadline to purchase tickets for the Off to the Races for Family to Family gala and silent auction. See the flyer on the back page for more information or go to opmh.org. Easter Egg Hunt April 8 Join us for the OPMH egg hunt on Sunday, April 8. This event will begin during the coffee hour after church, and the hunt will start shortly thereafter. Please bring a dozen stuffed eggs per child (no peanut products please). Volunteers needed to help hide eggs. RSVP to Melissa Carl (melissa.carl76@gmail.com) if your child/ren are planning to attend, so we can get an approximate count. Rise Against Hunger on April 15 Come pack 10,000 nutritious meals in less than two hours for Rise Against Hunger (formerly Stop Hunger Now) on Sunday, April 15, at 12:30 p.m. Lunch will be served between the end of the 11 a.m. worship service and the mealpacking event. Rise Against Hunger is an international hunger relief agency that distributes food and other lifesaving aid to children and families in countries all over the world. The meals are distributed through school feeding programs, vocational training centers, child development programs, orphanages, or medical clinics. The meals we packaged last November were shipped to Haiti to be distributed by Salesian Missions. photo by Mary Hill 2 news n Old Presbyterian Meeting House

3 Women s Breakfast Recap Nearly 50 women gathered in Fellowship Hall on Saturday morning, March 3, for the annual OPMH Women s Breakfast. Delicious food and bright spring flowers set the stage for an inspiring and touching presentation by OPMH member, Laura Campbell. A former moderator of the Stewardship and Finance ministry, Laura is principal of Laura Campbell Architecture in Alexandria. Sharing the ups and downs on her life s journey to faith and entrepreneurship - with much laughter and a few tears Laura left attendees with an uplifting message about saying Yes to opportunity and challenges along the way. photo by Olivia Michener 2018 Advocacy Weekend: A World Uprooted: Responding to Migrants, Refugees and Displaced People Friday, April 20, will be Compassion Peace and Justice Training Day at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. ( presbyterianmission.org/ministries/compassion-peace-justice/washington/ advocacy-training-weekend/). Gather with fellow Presbyterians as we look at how our church and our partners are confronting white supremacy and nativism while supporting refugee and migrant populations in our country and abroad. In plenaries and workshops we will analyze our current context and offer concrete tools for members and their congregations to address these urgent issues. We will learn how we build a unified public witness of subversive love amidst the abuse and hatred running rampant in our country. After Compassion Peace and Justice Training Day, join the ecumenical community for Ecumenical Advocacy Days, April ( advocacydays.org/2018-a-world-uprooted/). Almost one thousand Christian advocates join every year for a weekend of workshops, lectures and concrete actions addressing the ills of our nation. The weekend culminates in Lobby Day on Monday, April 23, when we raise our voices in the halls of power (Congress) for a more just, all-inclusive, and equal society. Ecumenical Advocacy Days 2018 will continue the focus on the uprootedness of our world. We will analyze current policy and envision ways to more fully and justly respond to the global and local needs of displaced communities. Through prayer, worship, advocacy training, and networking, we will seek policy changes that advance hope and overcome the devastating impacts of conflict, climate change and corruption on God s people. For questions, contact Gail Freunsch (gfre5@verizon.net) or Service Sunday, June 3 Save the date to serve our church and community after 10:00 a.m. worship. More information and sign ups coming soon! photo by Carol Stalun All are welcome attend Circle 5 s April Meeting. Guest speaker Anne Bolen will discuss how to write your personal history. Wednesday, April 25 at 7 p.m. in Heritage Hall. Old Presbyterian Meeting House n news 3

4 Adult Education in April Refugee Ministry Matters April 8 Heritage Hall Come learn about our Refugee Ministry in partnership with Good Shepherd Lutheran and First Christian Church of Alexandria. We ll discuss the work that has been done to welcome and support the Olabi family who immigrated here from Syria last summer. We look forward to introducing our church family to the Olabis and talking about ways to continue to support this ministry. 500 Years and Counting: Protestantism s Next Chapter April 15, 22, & 29 Heritage Hall In the aftermath of the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation, it is appropriate to consider these questions: Why do Protestant churches still exist? Are we Protestants still protesting something? If not, what is the point of being a Protestant today? Should we assume the present division of the Christian religion into institutionally separate (and even competing) expressions will persist indefinitely? Or are we instead entering a post Protestant and perhaps even post denominational era? R. Bruce Douglass, Director of the Reformed Institute and a member of RI s Company of Teachers and Associate Professor, Department of Government, Georgetown University, will facilitate this three-week class. April 15: The Origins of Protestantism April 22: Protestantism and Modernity April 29: A Post Protestant Era? Inquirer s Class for Meeting House Membership April 15, 22, & 29 Fellowship Hall This three-week class explores what it means to be a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in general and the Meeting House in particular. It is intended for those interested in joining the Old Presbyterian Meeting House. All adult education classes meet at 9:40 a.m. Refreshments are served. Spring Book Study Join Rev. Katherine Stanford on Mondays, April 23, 30, & May 7, from 5:30-6:45 a.m. in Heritage Hall. We ll discuss the national bestseller book, Abide with Me, by Elizabeth Strout. All are welcome to attend and please bring a copy of the book with you. Registration for Vacation Bible School Now Open July 9-13, 9 a.m. - noon $50 per child - $125 maximum per family Rolling River Rampage invites children ages 3 (diaper free) through Grade 5 on a white-water rafting adventure to experience the ride of a lifetime with God! Along the river, children discover that life with God is an adventure full of wonder and surprise, and that they can trust God to be with them through anything. Relevant music, exciting science, creative crafts, fun recreation, and memorable Bible stories will help kids know that God is always with them as they ride the rapids of amazing grace! Noelle Castin (ncastin@opmh.org) to register. Registration opens to nonmembers April 15. Scholarships available upon request. 4 news n Old Presbyterian Meeting House

5 Guest House Continues to Expand Our long-time mission partner Friends of Guest House, which helps women successfully reenter the community after incarceration, has some good news to share! Guest House has been able to expand its programs to six months from three, due to a decision last summer by the Virginia Department of Corrections. Executive Director Kari Galloway says this change is huge, because it allows women to really become engaged in Guest House s new Workforce & Life Development program. Workforce & Life Development classes are held weekdays from 9:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Luray Avenue. These classes include pycho-social-skill building, communications, and current events, among others. This structure ensures residents get the training they need while allowing them to go to jobs on weekends. This program is looking for volunteer instructors from the community. For example, it has recently entered into a partnership with Knit-well, a non-profit that teaches program participants how to knit. Other opportunities to help include being part of Guest House s Just Hire One Campaign. This involves providing jobs for women who have completed the workforce development program. The high school youth visited Guest House on March 18. The These jobs can be at various levels: Guest House is not just middle school youth and confirmation class will visit Guest looking for entry-level job placement, as many of these House on Sunday, April 22. If you can help with dinner, women had job skills before they were incarcerated. please contact Mary Pratt Perry (mpratt@opmh.org). Guest House also wants to connect with individuals or companies who might want to step up and become Founding Partners for the Just Hire One Campaign. These partners would provide additional support for workforce development and job placement, from presenting guest speakers, to providing facilitators to teach aspects of their company s training program, to offering job shadowing and internships. All of these important building blocks add up to successful reentry for the residents of Guest House. If you re interested in helping in any way, contact Kari Galloway (director@friendsofguesthouse.org) or Congregational Picnic May 6 at Ft. Hunt Park All are invited to the Congregational Picnic on Sunday, May 6 at Fort Hunt Park from 4-7 p.m. Come to this year s potluck feast, featuring games, hymn sing, and wonderful fellowship! Please bring a dish that serves 6-8 people to share, if your last name begins with A-F: main dish; G-L: side dish veggie; M-T: side dish pasta, rice or potato; U-Z: side dish fruit. If you would like to enter the dessert contest, please do so in addition to your potluck assignment. Sign ups coming soon! To help out, contact Jeff Mulvihill (monijeff@ cox.net). Montreat Summer High School Youth Conference, July Calling all rising 10th graders through graduated seniors: sign up now for this awesome high school summer experience July For information and forms, contact Mary Pratt Perry (mpratt@opmh.org). Middle School Youth Conference, June Sign up now for the Middle School Youth Conference at Massanetta, June Contact Mary Pratt Perry (mpratt@opmh.org) if you are interested in attending. Old Presbyterian Meeting House n news 5

6 Another Successful Chili Cook-Off! On Sunday, March 4, the annual Youth Chili Cook-Off took place and was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who entered the chili cook-off and donated money. Special thanks to Hannah Williams and Ellen Wayer for being our co-directors again! We raised $2, (and counting!) for our youth scholarship and special event fund. In case you missed it, the youth envelope wall of support is still up in Fellowship Hall. Fill the envelope with the designated dollar amount and return it to the church office. The People s Choice First Place winner was Brent Perry. Grace Williams and Calum Wayer won People s Choice Second Place. The judges First Place Chili Award went to Paul Mengel, followed by Brent Perry in second place. Finally, a special thanks to our judges: Gerry Cooper, Dana Chipman, Martha Gibson, Martha Johnston and her grandson, and Beth Simmons. photos by Anne Williams and Hannah Williams On May 6, Meeting House Youth will lead both worship services in the annual Youth Sunday. Now is the time to sign up for specific roles: readers, singers, ushers, greeters, musicians, etc. Dress rehearsal is Sunday evening, April 29. Let Mary Pratt Perry (mpratt@opmh. org) know if you d like to be involved. Youth Sunday is May 6! 6 news n Old Presbyterian Meeting House

7 2018 March for Our Lives photos by Tim Elmore and Beth Elmore Senior Sidebar Come join the Successful Aging Committee for a fun walk around beautiful Ben Brenman Park on Tuesday, April 24 beginning at 10 a.m. We ll be joined by representatives of the Alexandria Fire and Sheriff s Departments, and will enjoy learning how to gain balance, strength and flexibility at one of Alexandria s most beautiful parks! Suggested donation of $10 will benefit three annual events: Dance for All Ages, Senior Health & Fitness Fair, and the Winter Holiday Celebration. No need to register, just come to the park at 4800 Brenman Park Drive, just off Duke Street near Beatley Library. Call Senior Services of Alexandria at , ext. 110 for more information. Old Presbyterian Meeting House n news 7

8 Old Presbyterian Meeting House 323 South Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA To see a calendar of upcoming events, visit and click on Calendar.