OCTOBER 2013 On Sunday, September 22, 2013, it was with a heavy heart that I informed the church of the passing of Rev. Dr. A. Knighton Stanley. The service was dedicated to his ministry at Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ. The service included reflections from numerous members. Dr. Stanley Served as the eighth Senior Minister of Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ for 38 years. A memorial service in celebration of his life and ministry will be held at Peoples Church on Thursday, October 10, 2013 beginning at noon. I share with you a personal note, one of many, that he sent to me. I know that he wrote personal notes of expression to many in the Peoples Church family. Here is an excerpt from a note dated July 24, 2013. Dear Michael, You are on my mind and in my heart. I m about three-fourths finished another book. It will be a book of my fifteen sermons. I believe the title of it will be Grace at the End of the Day. I m at that stage in my life where I recognize that we go through much. But if we have trusted God and are faithful to the task, God s abundant grace is heaped on us and we are blessed. These sermons are a mixture of hope and assurance for one s personal life or will or how we should move as Christians in society. I ve had nice visits and an abundant outflow of cards and telephone calls from Peoples members. I appreciate that more than I can tell you Let us celebrate and honor his ministry and legacy on Thursday, October 10, 2013. Please remember to keep his family in your prayers. Here is one of Dr. Stanley s favorite scriptures: Finally, bretheren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8)
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 individu-ally 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 fo-cus 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 run-ner may read it, for there is a vision for the appointed time (Habakkuk 2:2-3 NRSV)
2013 MONTHLY MEMORY VERSES (FROM THE NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION) January: But Jesus looked at them and said, For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26) February: For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7) March: For nothing will be impossible with God. (Luke 1:37) April: But those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31) May: Jesus said to him, If you are able! All things can be done for the one who believes. (Mark 9:23) June: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13) July: Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6) August: He replied, What is impossible for mortals is possible for God. (Luke 18:27) September: So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! (2 Corinthians 5:17) October: Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. (James 5:16) November: For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11) December: Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, God is with us. (Matthew 1:23) OCTOBER LECTIONARY READINGS October 6th Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost Theme: Free to Greive Old Testament: Psalm 137 New Testament: Luke 17:5-10 Epistle: II Timothy 1:1-14 October 13th Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost Theme: Planting Life Old Testament: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 New Testament: Luke 17:11-19 Epistle: II Timothy 2:8-15 October 20th Twenty-Second Sunday After Pentecost Theme: Ask Boldly, Live Justly Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:27-34 New Testament: Luke 18:1-8 Epistle: II Timothy 3:14-4:5 October 27th Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost Theme: Just Worship Old Testament: Joel 2:23-32 New Testament: Luke 18:9-14 Epistle: II Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Peoples Congregational UCC Selected Biblical Themes 2013 Fall Bible Study Thursday, October 10 th Thursday, October 17 th Thursday, October 24 th Thursday, October 31 st No Class Rev. Dr. A. Knighton Stanley s Memorial Service Rev. Dr. Michael C. Murphy Living Between Lord Have Mercy and Thank You Jesus Dr. Robert Baird The Parables of Jesus Rev. Dr. Michael C. Murphy Liberating Discipleship Thursday, November 7 th Thursday, November 14 th Thursday, November 21 st Thursday, November 28 th Thursday, December 5 th Thursday, December 12 th Thursday, December 19 th Thursday, December 26 th Rev. Dr. Michael C. Murphy The Call to Discipleship REVIVAL NO CLASS Rev. Dr. Michael C. Murphy Christian Worship Thanksgiving No Class Dr. Robert Baird Advent Study Rev. Dr. Michael C. Murphy Advent Study Rev. Dr. Michael C. Murphy Advent Study CHRISTMAS NO CLASS EVERY THURSDAY 6:30-8:00 P.M IN THE CORBIN LOUNGE!
OCTOBER ANNOUNCEMENTS The Oct., Nov., Dec. Birth Month Club invites all of you to celebrate with all us that were born in those 3 months on Friday, October 11, 2013, in the Fellowship Hall. Come dance and dine and have fun with us from 6:00-10:00 p.m. There is no charge! Fill out a form next to the birthday box and give us the count of guests that will be in your group. Put the form in the birthday box so we know how many guest we can expect. Thank you and see you on the wood for line dancing! Peoples Wellness Ministry is partnering with the Community Service Foundation to provide a day of screening and resource sharing with Senior Citizens. In addition to vital screening, there will also be hearing and glaucoma screening. Physicians from Providence Hospital will be discussing osteoporosis, arthritis and physical fitness for seniors. There will also be cooking demonstrations. Please join us on Saturday, October 26th from 12:00-5:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Peoples Wellness Ministry has planned monthly Wellness Workshops after the 11:00 a.m. service on Sunday, October 27th. Diane Kern will discuss stress reduction strategies. If you're feeling rushed and stressed and could use a boost to help you reenergize, join us in the Fellowship Hall after the 11:00 a.m. service. The United Church of Christ invites young adults with a talent for creating inspiring videos to enter the My Faith, My World, My Voice video contest. Individuals ages 18-35 will create a short video (60 seconds or less) expressing how their faith transforms, connects, or touches the world. The contest is a great opportunity for young adults to share their faith and inspire others. The creator of the video that earns the most votes on YouTube will be awarded $5,000 and national recognition on ucc.org. Please visit www.ucc.org/videocontest. Submission deadline is October 31st. The Men s Fellowship will host their annual Men are Cooking dinner on Friday, November 8th from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. A donation of $15 for adults and $5 for teens is suggested. If you would like to participate, please contact James Nickson or Wilson Hull. The Diaconate Board of the Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ is pleased to announce that a Friends and Family Worship Service will be held on Sunday, November 17, 2013, at the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. services. The speaker for both services will be Rev. Dr. Yvonne Delk. We are extending an invitation for all to join us on this special day. A coffee hour will follow after both services. More details will be forthcoming in the near future. The Board of Trustees thanks the members of Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ for their individual, group & club financial contributions towards the upgrade of our security and surveillance system. Based on the initial contributions we will be able to complete Phase I of our upgrade by the end of September 2013. Phase I consists of connecting existing surveillance cameras along with the purchase of two additional cameras. Although Phase I will be finished, additional financial contributions will be needed to complete Phase II of the total project. This will include the purchase and installation of additional security cameras for inside and outside, including the parking lot. This upgraded security system along with surveillance and monitoring will serve to better secure our property and protect the safety of our members and visitors. Your continued generosity in support of this project will be greatly appreciated. Your contribution can be made payable to Peoples Congregational UCC with Security Upgrade designated in Memo. The Strategic Planning Implementation Committee s Retention and Growth of Membership Team introduces the key initiative, Membership Matters to help strengthen church efforts to attract and retain church members. Key goals of this initiative are to improve our orientation and assimilation process for new members, strengthen visitor interactions and follow up, improve communication and participation from existing members, bridge our generation gaps and stimulate members toward greater spiritual growth and evangelism. Look out for future announcements and monthly Membership Challenges pertaining to this initiative!
Hey Girl Scouts! IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN - EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION! Daisy Troop 4574 has begun a new Scouting year on Friday nights (6:30 pm - 7:30 pm)! All 5 or 6 year old (Kindergarten-First Grade) girls are invited to participate. The Daisy Girl Scout Program offers many exciting opportunities. Girls learn and participate in activities, help their community, make new friends and learn more about themselves all while having the time of their lives! Call Maureen Sullivan at (301) 351-5075 for more details. The Credit Union Board of Directors previously announced that, during the summer months, the Credit Union would be opened on Sundays from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Due to staffing shortages, we will continue this schedule for the foreseeable future. We will continue serving our members on Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m to 12:00 noon and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. We look forward to seeing and serving you during these times. The Hospitality Circle is selling calendars for 2014! Selections include: Annie Lee, Girlfriends, Black Entrepreneurs, Color My Soul, Rhythm and Hues, and the Obama Years. See any member of the Hospitality Circle, or contact Sharon Moss (301-625-2442) or Marie Whitaker (240-353-9544) to purchase your calendar. My People, My People! Goulda A. Downer, Assistant Professor, Howard University College of Medicine was Honored for her accomplishments in the field of HIV/AIDS care, nutrition, and food security here in the US and globally by the Washington Metropolitan Area Chapter, National Association of Health Services Executives on September 19, 2013. The event was conducted in commemoration of the US Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference. Congratulations to Peoples Church member Sonia Swayzee (Cora Mack) who has penned a riveting murder mystery, Shaw, set in the District of Columbia (circa 1950s). I could not put Sonia s debut novel aside until I reached the last page. It is absolutely a must-read. Is a second novel in the making? Bring it on Sonia! ~Evon Ervin Congratulations to Lauren Minor and Kaseem Fitzpatrick on their nuptials! Their beautiful wedding ceremony was held on September 14, 2013 in Peoples Church Sanctuary and officiated by Dr. Murphy. Lauren grew up in Peoples Church, and she and Kaseem plan to be fruitful members of Peoples Church. Congratulations to Hilary O. Shelton on delivering the 2013 UCC Office of Communications, Inc. Parker Lecture, held recently at First Congregational UCC. Congratulations to Davey Yarborough on receiving the 2013 Excellence in Teaching Award. He was one of 10 recipients. The Wellness Corner Too busy to eat breakfast or lunch? Skipping meals just sets you up for trouble in the form of overeating or poor choices. Too busy to plan ahead? Is it easier just to grab something? Planning provides for meals that are healthier and more likely to provide the foods that are high in nutrients and lower in sodium, sugar, fat, saturated fat and cholesterol. Everybody knows the importance of fruits and vegetables. Planning ahead allows you to have those items on hand so when it s time to eat, you will be ready with healthy choices. Think carbohydrates (aka carbs) are bad? There are 2 kinds: Simple carbohydrates are sugars; complex carbohydrates are starch and fiber- and we need them! Carbohydrates are important nutrients ; and with simple carbohydrates, moderation is the key. Imagine never having any desserts! Feeling deprived is often what makes people spin out of control. Remember plan ahead, eat regular meals and avoid hunger. Hunger sends you looking for empty calorie snacks and/or overeating: the enemies of good health. Make regular meals, planning and increasing fruits and vegetables your goals. Christenings Sunday, September 22nd, was a high moment at the 11:00 a.m. worship service. Three infants were christened. Surrounded by their families, Ava Lillian Morris, Jaden Hosea Taylor, and Pearl Onra Kerns were all christened in Peoples Church!
SICK AND SHUT-IN LIST Please keep the following church members in your daily prayers and thoughts. Remember that we are one body in Christ; individually, we are members of one another. (Romans 12:5 NRSV) Simply put, we are called to care and pray for each other during our time of need. Mr. John Burrell 601 Jefferson Street, NE Washington, DC 20011 Mrs. Alice Cox Mr. James Cox Independence Court of Hyattsville 5821 Queens Chapel Road Hyattsville, MD 20782 Mrs. Inez Dougherty 1722 Allison Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 Mrs. Constance Yvonne Hobson 2611 Olney Sandy Spring Road Olney, MD 20832 Mrs. Prettlophine Jackson 215 Hillsboro Drive Silver Spring, MD 20902 (301)593-8461 Mrs. Lillie B. Kearns 6258 Woodcrest Dr. Ellicott City, MD 21043 Mrs. Judith Banks Johnson 823 Fairoak Avenue Hyattsville, MD 20783 (301) 559-8378 Mrs. Virginia Spencer 1624 Upshur Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 Mrs. Irene Spriggs Mr. Alvin Spriggs 1229 Delafield Place, NE Washington, DC 20017 (202) 635-9126 Mrs. Marsha Stephens Riderwood Village 3160 Gracefield Road Silver Spring, MD 20904 (301) 495-5700 Ms. Willie Mae Ware 2409 Wagner Street, SE Washington, DC 20020 (202) 889-9139 Ms. Mildred Williams 3415 Greencastle Road #113 Burtonsville, MD 20866 (301) 388-1527 Ms. Joan Woods 1207 Addison Road South Apt. 158 Capitol Heights, MD 20734 (301) 499-0868 Please contact the church if you would like to be placed on the Sick and Shut-In List or see one of the Deacons. Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. (James 5:13-16 NRSV) (202) 829-5511
MODERATOR S ADDRESS TO PEOPLES CHURCH 9/15/13 Good morning, Peoples Church, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours, Grace to you and peace from our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. peace which has been extended to us from God the Father. This is how Paul greets the church at Corinth in his letter 1 Corinthians 1. I think it is a beautiful greeting symbolizing the unity of all people who call on the name of the Lord. Further, it symbolizes how we as brothers and sisters in Christ ought to greet each other with the grace and It is with humility that I accept the call to be moderator of Peoples Church. I appreciate your prayers and well wishes and ask for your continued support. I also want to thank the immediate past Moderator Bradley Thomas and all church members who have served in that role. I hope to continue their legacy of dedicated service to the congregation. At this point I would like to introduce the chairpersons of the four boards, Cheryl Randall Thomas, Board of Christian Education, Steven Bullock, Board of Trustees, Dr. James Jones, Diaconate and Lynda Mack and Paula Shelton, Board of Christian Social Action. Dr. Jones also serves as the Moderator Elect. My promise to you is that I will do my best to encourage and support the unity of Peoples Church. To do this we need to first acknowledge Jesus Christ as the head of this church. We then need to acknowledge each member as our brother or sister in Christ. Doing so will inform how we treat each other. We talked yesterday at the Leadership Awareness Institute about the priesthood of believers and our calling to serve the congregations. Even though we may have been elected or appointed, if we believe that our lives happen according to God s perfect will, we realize that we have been called to do this work, here and now. The Church Council s scriptural focus is about our Father s business. As I met with each of the Boards, I encouraged them to adopt a scriptural focus which will inform their work. The Boards and the Church Council represent you and your interests. We need to hear from you and will be looking to enhance the communication between the Boards, the Council and the congregation. We commit to greater accessibility. We have agreed to work on reconciliation and conflict resolution skills. We promise to work to maintain healthy working relationships with the Ministers. Peoples Church, we are the beneficiaries of God s grace and a huge legacy of those who went before. We cannot let our fears and differences separate us from each other and from the love of God. A degree of conflict is inevitable as we grow and evolve. We were never promised a trouble free life but we have been promised faith enough for our journey. When confusion and chaos lurks, be still and know that I am God. God is with us and has promised never to leave us. Let us move forward, therefore, trusting God to lead us in all things. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
YOUR GIVING TO THE GENERAL FUND IS GREATLY APPRECIATED! Sunday Worship Attendance September 1st: 10:00 a.m.: 240 September 8th: 8:30 a.m.: 128 11:00 a.m.: 177 September 15th: 8:30 a.m.: 134 11:00 a.m.: 189 September 22nd: 8:30 a.m.:124 11:00 a.m.: 242 September 29th: 8:30 a.m.: 142 11:00 a.m.: 149 We encourage our members and friends to be generous in giving to the Church General Fund. Our doors are open seven days a week. We operate with a ministerial team, staff, and volunteers. Our facility doors are open to members, church groups, and the community as a part of our mission and vision for service. Pray and consider becoming a tither. Your generous giving keeps our church empowered to help so many in our community. Online Giving is also available on the website! Go to www.peopleschurchucc.org and click Online Giving Is Peoples Church in your will? To let us know of your planned gift or if you are considering making one, contact our Senior Minister at michaelcmurphy@ymail.com or (202) 829-5511. REGULAR MONTHLY SPECIAL OFFERINGS FIRST SUNDAY: Deacons (11:00 a.m. Communion) SECOND SUNDAY: Deacons (8:30 a.m. Communion) THIRD SUNDAY: Food Pantry FOURTH SUNDAY: Scholarship Committee FIFTH SUNDAY: Mortgage Elimination Fund UPCOMING SPECIAL OFFERINGS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Neighbors in Need Sunday, October 6, 2013 8:30 a.m. Service Sunday, October 13, 2013 11:00 a.m. Service
General Information WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK NEWS: our website address is www.peopleschurchucc.org. Email webmaster@peopleschurchucc.org if you have any questions. The website is constantly updated, so click the refresh button when you visit. The Prodder, Website and Facebook Fan Page exist to further the social connect with Peoples United Church of Christ s membership and 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; members/ users can view the Events Calendar to participate in the life of the church; members can also advertise church events on the Facebook Fan Page. The website is the new front door of the church, and allows members/ users to interact, communicate, and connect to foster connectivity and community. The Website address is www.peopleschurchucc.org. Prodder Guidelines: All announcements and flyers must be submitted by the third Tuesday of the month by 12:00 noon. Announcements and flyers can be e-mailed to Ms. Karen Lawrence, Executive Assistant, at klawrence@peopleschurchucc.org, to the church account, info@peopleschurchucc.org, or faxed to (202) 726-9301. 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. Lawrence for more information. The Church will be closed on Monday, October 14th in observance of Indigenous Peoples Day. Normal operations will resume Tuesday, October 15th. MINISTERS EMAIL ADDRESSES: Rev. Dr. Michael C Murphy, Senior Minister: michaelcmurphy@ymail.com Rev. Leslie Dowdell Cannon, Senior Associate Minister: ldcannon@peopleschurchucc.org 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) 829-5511 or email yhunter@peopleschurchucc.org to complete a reservation contract. Facility reservations can also be made online through the church s website: www.peopleschurchucc.org. 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 are available. Has your contact information changed? Let us know! Call (202) 829-5511 or email us ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF (202) 829-5511 (202) 726-9301 Fax info@peopleschurchucc.org www.peopleschurchucc.org www.ucc.org (National Setting) Ms. Yvette Hunter, Operations Specialist, yhunter@peopleschurchucc.org Ms. Karen Lawrence, Executive Assistant, klawrence@peopleschurchucc.org Mr. Frank Blakeney, Maintenance Supervisor Mr. Gerald Ford, Maintenance HOURS OF OPERATION CHURCH BUILDING HOURS: Monday- Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday: 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CHURCH ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE HOURS: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Church School Pre-K Adult Bible Class Men s Bible Study Youth Ministry GROW Ministry Prayer Meeting Prayer Meeting Bible Study Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday 2nd and 4th Sunday 4th Sunday Tuesday 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. 12:00 p.m. 2:00 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 Chancel Choir Fellowship Choir Rhythmic Choir Men s Chorus Voices of Peoples Choir Children s Choir Thursday Wednesday Wednesday Saturday Monday Sunday CHOIR REHEARSALS 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. 6:45 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 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. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 12:00 noon PEOPLES NEIGHBORHOOD FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Hours of Operation: Sunday: 9:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. 1:15 p.m. Tuesday: By Appointment Call (202) 726-3198 Saturday: 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 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) 552-1762 or Diane Miller (202) 291-2064 for additional information. Celebrating Our October People