Monday, March 28, 2011
Weekly Meditation
I think all of us would agree that Providence-Fort Washington is a wonderful church filled with the love of Jesus Christ. But, I am afraid that this church is a well-kept secret in the community – how many people really know about us and the joy that fills our sanctuary every Sunday? I believe we need to share this secret because I know that when people step through our door they will discover a warm and caring fellowship and will want to stay.
So, I would like to challenge you to share our secret with the world. During the month of April, I would like to challenge everyone to invite at least one person to Sunday services. Both Palm Sunday and Easter are in April and those are good days to invite people to come to church. Also, please introduce me to your guest so I can also welcome them into Christ’s church. Let’s make this April the month when we truly share the love of Christ with our community.
Pastor Stephen
This Week in Worship: Sunday, April 3, 2011
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Communion Sunday
Pastor Stephen preaching
Choir Anthem: Behold the Lamb of God
Wednesday Bible Study
The Wednesday Bible Study is moving to 10:00 am for the Lenten Season.
Please bring a bag lunch so we can continue our fellowship with lunch at noon.
The lessons for the Fourth Sunday in Lent are:
1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41
Wednesday Lenten Services at Providence-Fort Washington
Beginning Ash Wednesday, March 9th, we will be offering a worship service every
Wednesday at 1:00 pm during the season of Lent.
The services will include reading the scriptures, music,
a brief message and communion.
Please consider adding this service to your Lenten devotions.
Route 210 Corridor Services
This year, Providence-Fort Washington is again joining with the Route 210 church in marking the Lenten season with a series of Wednesday evening services.
I want to encourage everyone to attend these Lenten services.
The schedule for this year is:
Date Location Preacher
March 30 Indian Head UMC Rev. Alhassan Macaulay
19 Mattingly Avenue Asbury UMC
Indian Head, MD 20640
April 6 Shiloh UMC Rev. Jacques Banks
7305 Indian Head Highway Indian Head UMC
Bryans Road, MD 20616
April 13 Asbury UMC Rev. Johnsie Cogman
4004 Accokeek Road Zion Wesley UMC
Accokeek, MD 20613
April 22 (Good Friday) Metropolitan UMC Rev. Ianther Mills
3385 Metropolitan Church Rd Washington East
Indian Head, MD 20640 District Superintendent
Lenten Study: The Passion Story
This year our Lenten Study will follow Jesus from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday until his crucifixion and burial on Good Friday. The six-week study will be held on Sunday afternoons beginning at 3:00 pm.
The study will be based on the gospel accounts of Jesus Passion Week
and will be led by Pastor Stephen and Andrew Greenwood.
The topics for each week will be:
April 3 The Last Gathering – Sharing the Bread and Cup
April 10 Betrayal and Trial
April 17 Crucifixion and Burial
Early Response Team (ERT) Training Saturday
Pastor Stephen will be leading an ERT training class this Saturday in the Fellowship Hall. The ERT training prepares the participant to serve in disaster areas once the emergency crews have stabilized the area.
The class begins at 8:00 am and should be over by 4:00.
Please call Pastor Stephen to sign up.
Meetings This Week
The Missions Committee is meeting Monday evening at 7:00 pm.
News From the United Methodist Women
WORLD’S CHILDREN
Wonderful news! We have just received information on our two sponsored children from India. Our “little girl” has graduated and must relocate to another facility to start college preparatory classes. Our “little boy” has finished his education (in India, tenth-grade level) and left his hostel facing a better future because of his studies.
We now have two new young people to sponsor, a young lady named Deevana who is eight years old, in the fourth grade, and will be living in a Methodist Rural Boarding Home. She leaves behind a devastatingly poor family for which her mother could not care.
Our other young lady is named Roheni who will be living in one of the newest homes for orphans and children with HIV/AIDS. Roheni is six years old, in the first grade, and is HIV positive; although her health is good. We are her first sponsor. Both of her parents have the AIDS virus and will not live to see her through her schooling.
Mr. David Purviance, director of World’s Children,
sends his thanks to us again for all the years of our faithful support.
REMINDER - SAVE YOUR LABLES!
Don’t forget we are still collecting proof of purchase labels (bar codes) to send to the Board of Child Care Auxiliary. These labels provide extras for the children served by the Board of Child Care. Some can be converted to cash. Please call Donna D., if you’d like a complete listing of what products are acceptable. She will be glad to send you the information.
Do you have something to add?
Do you have an announcement that need to get out to everyone in the church? If so, please e-mail it to me (srricketts@verizon.net) and I will include it in the next
This Week at Providence-Fort Washington.
Help Wanted: VBS Director
For the past several years Andrew Greenwood has directed our
Vacation Bible School.
This year, Andrew is not available and we need a new director.
We have already set the dates: August 6-12, 2011
The qualifications are a love of children and good organizational skills!
Please see Pastor Stephen to volunteer or for more information.
Help Wanted: National Night Out Coordinator
National Night Out is a nationwide program to help people connect with their neighbors. It happens on the first Tuesday in August (August 2nd, 2011) and features locally planned venues designed to get people out of their homes and interacting with their neighbors. We had a very successful event in 2009, but unfortunately the neighborhood group who sponsored it decided not to participate in 2010. So, we would like to step up and fill the void. But, to do so requires a coordinator. The coordinator will decide what we want to offer and get volunteers to make it happen. Please see Pastor Stephen for more information or to volunteer.
“Sleepers, awake! Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you” (Ephesians 5:14)
Blessings,
Pastor Stephen
