HENSON VALLEY CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Disciples of Christ ) 1900 Tucker Road Fort Washington, MD

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1 HENSON VALLEY CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Disciples of Christ ) 1900 Tucker Road Fort Washington, MD OCTOBER 2017 UPDATE DEVOTIONAL Growth is not Painless It is the nature of what God is doing in us that we grow. But this naturalness does not mean that growth is painless. Growth calls into action new parts of our minds, our emotions, our bodies. What we experience at these times often feels like pain. We are not used to stretching ourselves in these new ways. But the pain should not surprise us our muscles ache when we take up any new activity. Athletes expect to get sore muscles when they begin training. A commitment to Christ and obedience to his commands stretch us beyond ourselves, and that hurts. But this is a very different pain from that inflected by torture or punishment. Growth pain is the kind we don t regret; it leads to health and not disease or neurosis. I have a lot more to say about this, but it is hard to get it across to you since you ve picked up this bad habit of not listening. By this time you ought to be teachers yourselves, yet here I find you need someone to sit down with and go over the basics on God again, starting from square one baby s milk, when you should have been on solid food long ago! Hebrews 5: Living the Message: Daily Reflections with Eugene Peterson HarperCollins 1996 FOR YOUR INFORMATION, PRAYERFUL REFLECTION, FAITHFUL ACTION Maryland International Day School The annual Back-to-School Picnic was held on Saturday, 9 September at Henson Valley Christian Church and was an opportunity for the families, faculty, staff, and congregation to meet, greet, and fellowship. Chef Ian prepared a sumptuous meal of chicken, ribs, hot dogs, and hamburgers on the grill, pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, green salad, and saffron rice. Drinks, cotton candy, popcorn, and ice cream filled out the menu. The children played in a Bounce House and on the newly renovated swings (thank you, MIDS) in the play area. Expressions of gratitude are extended to Mrs. Esther Donawa, Head of School, for the invitation to Henson Valley to be part of this special event. 1

2 The first day of school for the MIDS students was Monday, 11 September. The teachers had done a great job in preparing for the opening of school and Mrs. Donawa was a very hands-on administrator, helping to make for a successful first day for MIDS in its new setting. A Back-to-School meeting was well-attended by parents on Tuesday evening, 12 September, and the dialog between parents and staff was very informative. As the week continued, students adjusted to the routine of classes at Henson Valley and by the end of the week, the inevitable bumps in the road had been smoothed and the educational process was well underway. The Annual Choir Festival is scheduled for Sunday, 15 October, at 5:00 pm at Henson Valley Christian Church. Choirs from local churches are invited to be part of an evening of music, singing their favorite songs representing a variety of musical genres. Following the program, everyone is invited to stay for a time of fellowship that will include cookies and punch provided by the Henson Valley congregation. Update on the Pastoral Transition Process The Search Committee has posted a Progress Chart to indicate where it is in the process of calling the next person who will serve as the pastoral leader of Henson Valley Christian Church. Please continue to keep the committee in your prayers as it does the work of discerning who God has selected to serve this congregation. Alexis Holland serves as the Chair of the Search Committee. Other members are Bessie Bradford, Terri Lee, and Marilyn Miles. Ministry to the Differently-abled and Their Families Mrs. April Green, Wing Coordinator at James Ryder Randall Elementary School, extends thanks to Henson Valley for the gift of school supplies that have been delivered for the beginning of the new school year. Contributions of wipes (for flesh and furniture), facial tissue, diapers/pull-ups, hand sanitizer, notebook paper, composition books, construction paper, crayons, latex gloves, pencils, and backpacks will be used by students whose families need support in providing these supplies. Thanks to all who contributed to this effort and remember, there will be opportunities throughout the school year to be supportive of the teachers in the special education department, their students and their families. We had no guests for the September Birthday Party and look forward to the first Sunday in October when we hope to have members from the communities of the differently-abled join us in celebrating their birthdays. Kate Van Dyck of the Public Schools Infants and Toddlers Program is welcomed back to another year of teaching and learning, evaluating, and consulting. Children with whom she works are 2

3 from birth to three (3) years of age and are developmentally delayed in specific areas. Kate and the resources she provides, through play for the children and information for their parents, are supportive of efforts to provide appropriate interventions in support of the children and their families. Students who are part of Surrattsville High School s Special Education Program be will returning for another year of work-related learning opportunities. Their start date will be delayed until late October or November when it is expected that the MIDS students whose classes are in the Fellowship Hall will have moved to modular classrooms outside the main building. New structures are in place so that when the Arc of meets at Henson Valley on Tuesdays for their program, there is minimal disruption for both them and the instructional program for the Maryland International Day School. Appreciation is extended to both the staff of the Arc and the Maryland International Day School for making the necessary adjustments to accommodate the needs of the other. The next congregation meeting is scheduled for Sunday, 22 October, after worship. The agenda will include the creation of a governance structure and the assignment of tasks for which Pastor Martha has had primary responsibility. Members of the Henson Valley Christian Church Leadership Team are: Carolyn Holland, Bessie Bradford, Marilyn Miles, Rev. Mel Larson, Ellen Azu, and Pastor Martha. The next Leadership meeting will be held on a date to be determined after the next congregation meeting. OUT-AND-ABOUT IN THE REGION (The Christian Church Capital Area ) October 1 (Sunday) Installation of Rev. Rusty Hesse, Bethany Beach Christian Church, Delaware October 4, 11, 18, 25, & Nov. 1 (5 Wednesdays) 7-8:30 p.m. Disciples History & Polity Course, location, North Chevy Chase Christian, Maryland October 14 (Saturday) Salt & Light Leadership Training Event, National City Christian Church October (Friday - Sunday) Closing Weekend (Volunteers Needed!) Christian Church Conference Center at Bethany Beach, DE 3

4 October 22 (Sunday) Camp & Conference Celebration Sunday! Tell your church and friends how you met God in new ways at camp this summer! October (Friday - Sunday) Young Adult Fall Retreat, Christian Church Conference Center at Bethany Beach, DE November 2 (Thursday) Commission for Ministry Meeting, 10:00 a.m., North Chevy Chase Christian Church November 4 (Saturday) Regional Board Meeting, Bethel Christian Church, Washington, DC November 4 (Saturday) 7:00 p.m. Kirkpatrick Lecture the Rev. Dr. Delores Carpenter speaking, reception following. National City Christian Church, Washington, DC November 5 (Sunday) Dedication of the Oscar Haynes Disciples Historical Society Exhibit at National City Christian Church November 11 (Saturday) 10:00 a.m. Commission for Congregational Life Committee, CCCA Offices November 12 & 19 (Sundays) Receive the Disciples Thanksgiving Special Day Offering in our congregations November 23 (Thursday) Thanksgiving Day Holiday REMINDERS FROM THE GENERAL CHURCH (The Christian Church Disciples of Christ in the United States and Canada) Calendar Dates of Note 2 October: World Communion Sunday 1-31 October: Ministerial Appreciation Month 8-15 October: Week of the Ministry 10 October: World Mental Health Day October: Children s Sabbath October: Youth Week 4

5 Reminders Join the Disciples Care for Children Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/ for resources and conversation on family and children s ministry. It s not too early to begin making spring or summer mission trip plans. Contact Disciples Volunteering (discipleshomemissions.org/disciples-volunteering) for upcoming project dates. Prepare for the Advent Season. DHM has resources for all ages. Visit discipleshomemissions.org/christian-education-resources or docfamiliesandchildren.org. Break the Silence this October and join with brothers and sisters in the Democratic Republic of Congo by participating in Congo Week. Globalministries.org/congo_week. Pre-order your extra Just Women study issues by 1 December to save shipping costs and renew your subscriptions to ensure delivery of the Bible study. Discipleswomen.org/disciples-women-store. The first week of October is Mental Illness Awareness Week in the United States, and 10 October is World Mental Health Day. Find resources and other materials to share through the Mental Health and Congregational Care Affinity Group: nbacares.org/mental-health. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month in the United States. Visit Disciples Care Exchange online directory to find Disciples ministries working with people with disabilities across the country: nbacares.org/directory. October was recently designated as National Youth Justice Awareness Month. The NBA Prison and Jail Ministries Affinity Group offers a variety of webinars, blogs, and other resources on topics including juvenile justice, the school-to-prison pipeline, mass incarceration, and other issues. Learn more at: nbacares.org/prison-and-jail. Next month s Thanksgiving special offering helps support higher education among the 14 related institutions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Find out more at helmdisciples.org. Order Partners in Prayer to use during Advent. See ChalicePress.com. 5

6 IN THE LIFE OF THE CONGREGATION Upcoming Events and Programs October 1 Seventeenth Sunday World Communion Sunday Reconciliation Special Offering Journey Through Ephesians Chapter 1 ( Ms. Bessie Bradford ) 1:15 p.m. Monthly Birthday Party October 3 October 3 10:00 a.m. at OHL October 4 7:00 p.m. October 8 Eighteenth Sunday Journey Through Ephesians Chapter 2 ( Ms. Ellen Azu ) October 10 October :00 a.m. 2:30 p.m. at HVCC

7 October 11 7:00 p.m. October 15 Nineteenth Sunday Journey Through Ephesians Chapter 3 ( Ms. Carolyn Holland ) 5:00 p.m. Choir Festival October 17 October 17 10:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m. at HVCC October 18 7:00 p.m. October 22 Twentieth Sunday Journey Through Ephesians Chapter 4 ( Ms. Bessie Bradford ) 12:30 p.m. Congregational Meeting October 24 October 24 10:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m. at HVCC October :00 p.m.

8 October 29 Twenty-first Sunday Journey Through Ephesians Chapter 5 ( Ms. Bessie Bradford ) October 31 October 31 10:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m. at HVCC November 1 7:00 p.m. November 5 Twenty-Second Sunday All Saints Sunday Journey Through Ephesians Chapter 6 ( Mr. Dexter Morse ) 1:15 p.m. Monthly Birthday Party 8