July 2009   

What do you get when you have Vacation Bible School, Youth Sunday and Father’s Day all on the same day?  You get liturgical dancing, you get songs dedicated to grandpas, you get readings telling us about great dads and you get a sermon reminding us of how fortunate we are to be “fathers” of this church.  How blessed we are with our children and where our church can go under their leadership.  You get a fantastic time at church.

Youth Sunday always follows Vacation Bible School and incorporates the music and lessons learned from VBS and is always a highlight of the church calendar year.

When we started “jamin’” with the VBS videos the church came alive for the Lord.  We heard how we are to be known by our love, we put a little hip hop/rap twist to “To God Be the Glory” and saw many of our children and youth step out in faith to an area of leadership.  From bulletin designers to greeters, to ushers, to acolytes, to soloists to scripture readers, we used our children and youth’s talents.

With this Youth Sunday our youth director, Philip Reid stepped down from his position.  He said “it is just time”.  We will have another youth director as the PPR committee looks for the “right fit” and we will carry on.  But know Philip, what a great job you did and how proud we are of you and what you have done.  Best of Luck in all you do.

 

The first Saturday in August is always our Sunday School Picnic and this year the first Saturday is August 1^st.

The picnic will be held from 11:00 until 3:00 in the afternoon.  This is the social event of the year.  People look forward to a cool day in the picnic woods where there is always good food and great fellowship.

The picnic woods area is on the corner of Garfield and Brandenburg Hollow Roads and is open to the public.  Mark your calendars, tell your friends, and pray for good weather and a successful day.

 

We are looking at trying Bible Study different this fall. It has been proposed and approved by council to try to have a weeknight study for children, youth, their parents, and all adults one night a week. We would provide dinner at 6:30 and begin the study at 7pm. If you are interested in helping or participating in this endeavor, please let Pastor Katie know.

 

This summer, Pastor Katie will serve as the pastor at Camp Manidoken ’s Adventure Camp for 5^th and 6^th graders, July 5-10^th. We are sending a group of kids to camp with her (and Pastor Chris). Please keep us in your prayers as we study God’s Word together in the midst of God’s creation!

While she is gone, you can leave messages for her on her home machine (301-846-4098) which will be checking it daily.

 

Are you interested in taking your head knowledge of God to heart knowledge Do you want to be born again everyday?  Join the Great John Wesley Experiment. Commit to reading scripture and devotion everyday, lifting up the church and congregation in your prayers, spending time doing an act of kindness or service each week, and attending weekly prayer meetings after worship. Please see Pastor Katie for a book and details.

 

June 28^th began our Summer Worship Schedule. Please come as you are (ready for family reunions, wearing ball uniforms, even with your fishing poles) to our 10:15 worship service. Pastor Katie will leave her robe at home, so come as you are!

We will start each service with a hymn sing chosen by the congregation Please bring your friends.

 

David

A Man After God’s Own Heart

 

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him

in the presence of his brothers, and from that day

on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power.

1 Samuel 16:13

This July, we are going to spend some time in worship talking about David. David is one of my favorite Biblical characters because he can be wonderfully heroic and shamefully deceptive (I think that can be said for all of us at some point in our lives). He is the author of most of the Psalms in our Bibles that detail both the best and worst moments in his life. But in the end, scripture affirms that David is a man after God’s own heart, anointed with the Spirit of the Lord that gives him power.

This July we are also going to be experiencing the Great John Wesley Experiment, where we will be covenanting to pray and read scripture daily. Also we will commit to doing some sort of act of kindness every week. Sundays after worship, we will gather for a twenty minute prayer meeting. It will be a wonderful way to become people after God’s own heart!

As we celebrate God’s power this summer, we will search to grow into people after God’s own heart. May you and your family be blessed!

Grace and Peace, Katie Bishop

 

Safe Sanctuaries

Child Abuse Prevention Policy

Garfield United Methodist Church

 

Note from Pastor Katie: We approved this policy last year to protect children and youth in our congregation. We are required by the Baltimore-Washington Conference Polices and Procedures to publish it yearly.

Introduction

The General Conference of the United Methodist Church , in April 1996, adopted a resolution aimed at reducing the risk of child sexual abuse in the church. In covenant with all United Methodist congregations, Garfield United Methodist Church adopts this policy for the prevention of child abuse in our church.

Purpose

Our congregation’s purpose for establishing this Child Abuse Prevention Policy and accompanying procedures is to demonstrate our absolute and unwavering commitment to the physical safety and spiritual growth of all our children and youth.

Statement and Covenant

Therefore, as a Christian community of faith and a United Methodist congregation, we pledge to conduct the ministry of the gospel in ways that assure the safety and spiritual growth of all of our children and youth as well as all of the workers with children and youth. We will follow reasonable safety measures in the selection and recruitment of workers; we will implement prudent operational procedures in all programs and events; we will educate all of our workers with children and youth regarding the use of all appropriate policies and methods at least every two years (including first aid and methods of discipline); we will follow the Two-Adult Rule, requiring at least two adults to be present during any activities with children and youth; we will provide advance notice to parents and guardians when leaving the church building and require permission slips from all participants; we will have a clearly defined procedure for reporting a suspected incident of abuse that conforms to the requirements of state law; and we will be prepared to respond to media inquires if an incident occurs. 

Conclusion

In all of our ministries with children and youth, this congregation is committed to demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ so that each child will be “surrounded by steadfast love,…established in the faith, and confirmed and strengthened in a way that leads to life eternal.” (Baptismal Covenant).

 

 

Income	2008	2009
Month	8006	10027
YTD	42559	54941
Expenses	2008	2009
Month	9462	17322
YTD	47185	58196
Sunday School/Missions	2008	2009
Sunday school	190	210
YTD	1113	975
Missions	635	200
YTD	2814	2601
Attendance	2008	2009
Worship	429	455
YTD	1945	1883
Sunday School	105	99
YTD	512	461

 

The 225^th Annual Session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference was held at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel between Thursday June 4^th and Saturday June 6^th. More then 1320 registered lay and clergy members were in attendance to worship, celebrate and conduct the business of the BW Conference. The Music Director Mark Miller and his band opened the session with song and were joined by the members representing the 679 churches of the conference. In his 2009 State of the Church Episcopal address, Bishop Schol pointed out that 300 churches have already achieved Acts 2 status bringing us halfway to the conference goal of 600 in 2012. The goal: One profession of faith for every 25 worshipers. Additionally, together we:

•Gave more than $100,000 to purchase bed net to prevent death due to malaria in Africa

•Discipled 6500 youth and their leader at ROCK

•Discipled 12995 persons through our camping and retreat ministry    

•Reduced the local church apportionments by 11% in 2009 and by 21% over the last three years

•Paid 100% of our General Church apportionment for the 12^th year in a row

The Friday sessions brought adoption of the recommendations from the Task Force on Appointment Policies, Compensation Expectations and Practices that outline policies and requirements for pastoral appointments. One recommendation, which will help decide whether a church receives a full-time or part-time pastor is that tithes and offerings must comprise at least 75% of the church’s income. The Discipleship report included a video featuring a number of churches and the way they are making disciples for world. Three recommendations were approved.

• The first recommendation, states that the proceeds from the sale of the Annapolis District parsonage be designated for the development of a new faith community and to support Hispanic ministries in the district. The sale would net about $250000.

•A second recommendation changed the language from “district” to “region” and was added in accordance with the Book of Discipline.

•The third recommendation approved 13 Baltimore-Washington Conference Advance specials for churches and individuals to support “second-mile giving.”

The stewardship report presented by the Council on Finance and Administration stated: Beginning Jan. 1 2010, the medical premium paid by the local church will be identical. This is regardless of the tier level, with single coverage costing the same as subscriber and spouse or family coverage. The conference members also approved the proposed 2010 budget of $17,733,032, which represents a 3 % increase over 2009. As part of the stewardship report, members adopted a benevolence factor of 19.5 %. Charlie Moore, the president of CFA, cautioned that to meet the budgeted expenses in 2010. The conference must collect 90.25 percent of the money it requests. Rev. Debbie Scott reported progress on the $6.9 million Conference Center in Maple Lawn in Howard County. Turner Construction was hired to be the builder and Design Collective is the architect of the new center. The plan is to begin the construction phase in September with a targeted opening of May 1. 2010. Rev. Scott also reported that the new dining hall at West River Camp will be completed by the start of the camping season.

Members of the Annual Conference voted on 32 amendments to the United Methodist Constitution, 31 of 32 passed by a 2/3 margin. Amendment 1 did not pass. It stated that “all persons” are eligible to attend worship, participate in programs and receive sacraments and, upon baptism, be admitted as members of any UMC. Twenty-three of the amendments deal with the global nature of the church, changing the words “central Conferences” to “Regional Conferences.”  Amendment 2 states that boards and agencies shall adopt ethics and conflict-of-interest policies. Amendment 8 adds the word “gender” in specific places of the constitution. Amendment 22 recognizes the United Methodist churches in Bermuda as part of the Baltimore-Washington Conference. The remaining amendments, 6, 9, 15, 17, and 19 deal with the definition and representation to Annual Conference, Jurisdictional Conferences and the Committee on Investigation.

The conference recognized 26 retirees, representing 638 years of service.  On Saturday, conference members honored the lives of 32 clergy and their spouses and 11 lay members during a Service of Remembrance. And Bishop Schol ordained 12 women and men as Elders and one woman as a Deacon at the Ordination Service. Seven others were commissioned as provisional members.                              

 

 

Our church is to be sold! Yes, our church is to be sold! No, we are not about to lose our building through foreclosure or repudiated debt. However, our church must be sold to the city and county. It has been planted to wield an influence beyond its membership and walls. Thus, we are presented with an enormous challenge.

Our church must be sold to the unchurched! There are scores of people in our community who would attend our church and join us in the Lord’s service if we would bother to sell our church to them.

How much is our church worth to you? How much do you value its ministry? How much do you value the Christ it proclaims? As a member of this church, you are selling your church to others every day. Are you selling it short? Has it helped you to the extent that you’re willing to sell it to others?

 Will you be enthusiastic in talking about your church? Will you share your church with others who have no idea what they’re missing?

Take our church seriously and talk to people about what our church has to offer them.