23 min

Are you new to CHUMC
or simply led to learn more about this congregation?

Join us:

• April 21, 28, and May 5, 2013
• 9:30am
• In the Pastor's Study
  (upper level above the Sanctuary)

for the Exploring Covenant Class. 

This combination crash course of "CHUMC and Methodism 101" puts a new twist on the traditional "new members" class. You'll get to meet other new (and not-so-new) folks to CHUMC and learn what it means to pursue discipleship as a professing "member" of a local United Methodist Church.

25 min

21 min

The Tree of Life Sermon Series:
 1 - Jesus is Coming - Plant a Tree

Inspired by Revelation 21-22 (selected verses)

21:  1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." 5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." 6 Then he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

22:  1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; 4 they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever. 6 And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true, for the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place."
7 "See, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." (NRSV)

Click HERE to download and print a PDF that you can hang up or share with others.

Click HERE for information about other CHUMC Eco-Friendly events and sermon series for April 2013!

19 min

Christ is risen, indeed!

Consider this affirmation and how it empowers us to make heaven's choices in all aspects of our lives in this sermon inspired by the following texts:

Isaiah 65:17-25

17 For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress. 20 No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity; for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord— and their descendants as well. 24 Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent—its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the Lord.

Luke 24:1-12

1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body.  4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5 The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again." 8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

Join us April 7 for our next sermon series: The Tree of Life.  Beginning with the "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil" that God planted in the garden of Eden and ending with the "Tree of Life" highlighted in Revelation, this series will look deeply at the scriptural teachings about our relationship with God's creation. Together we will explore hard questions about God's plan for our planet and listen for God's answers - more profound than anything offered in our secular world.  Don't forget to invite a friend! 

For more info on this sermon series,
contact Pastor Alisa (202-546-1000 or pastor@chumc.net).

In conjunction with this series, here are several related opportunities:

• Trees and Plants of DC Nature Walk
  Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 3:00pm
  See and learn about native plants growing on the Hill. This will be a kid-friendly event that will end in the Parlor with an opportunity to paint small clay pots and an opportunity to take seeds home (whether you have a garden, a windowsill or a kitchen table).

• Earth Mass on Earth Day
  Monday, April 22, 2013 at 8:00pm
  Free concert featuring the combined choirs of CHUMC and St. Mark's Episcopal leading us in a contemporary, ecumenical, and ecological celebration of the Earth.  The event will combine humans, humpback whale, tundra wolf, and harp seal voices with pipe organ and other instruments to bring together dynamic rhythms from African, Brazilian, and American Gospel tradition - while incorporating traditional Mass and biblical texts.

• Rain Barrel Revival
  Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 10:30am
  We'll have a representative from a local rain barrel company on hand to explain to us what rain barrels are, how they work, and how to decide if one might be right for you (if you have a house/yard). We'll walk over to nearby Washington City Church of the Brethren to see their rain barrel, cistern, and rain garden, and there will also be some TBD gardening action courtesy of CHUMC's master gardener, Carol Anderson. Plus, food will be available thanks to Teri DeVoe.

For more information on these related events, contact the EcoGreen Team leader,
Liz Schmitt: lizschmitt07@gmail.com or 607-738-9707.

24 min

"Break the Yoke of Being Tough"

 Sermon from Palm Sunday

This sermon is inspired by the following Scripture passages:

Isaiah 58:5-6

5 Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? 6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? (NRSV)

Luke 19:28-40

28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, "Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, "Why are you untying it?' just say this, "The Lord needs it.' " 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" 34 They said, "The Lord needs it." 35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!" 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, order your disciples to stop." 40 He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out."

Holy Week.  It's one of the most potent and important times of the Christian year. Lent is coming to an end, and we journey with Jesus from his entry into Jerusalem on a lowly donkey to an upper room where he shares one last supper with his closest friends.  After a time of prayer on the Mount of Olives, we, like the earliest disciples, distance ourselves from his sacrificial acts and watch from afar as Jesus is arrested, tried, and sentenced to death on a cross after which he is laid in a tomb that is sealed.  After a time of silence, we come to the holiest day of the Christian year - Easter, when Christ is raised.

Our prayer is that we can journey together, allowing Christ to be raised in our hearts, bringing us to trust and follow the resurrected Christ alive and at work in our world.

	What Wondrous Love is This? Maundy Thursday March 28, 2013 7:00pm At Ebenezer United Methodist Church 358 4th St SE (corner of 4th & D St SE) How do you respond to Jesus' wondrous love? At this circuit-wide, experiential worship event, we'll consider how three biblical characters responded as we offer anointing, foot washing (optional), and the Lord's Supper.
He Never Said a Mumbalin' Word. . .  Good Friday March 29, 2013 12:00-1:00pm At CHUMC Spend your lunch hour with CHUMC in a time of somber contemplation of Christ's sacrifice and its significance in our lives. We will share in scripture, song, silence, and some time to nail our sins, sorrows, and struggles to the cross.
	Ecumenical Capitol Hill Easter Vigil Saturday, March 30, 2013 8:00pm At Lutheran Church of the Reformation 212 East Capitol St Weather permitting, we gather outside to light a great fire, praising the risen Christ as our light. We then sing songs and hear beloved stories, inspiring poems, delightful tales, and the Easter gospel from John, all of which proclaim that God is always giving new life.
Easter Sunday Festivities March 31, 2013 10:00am - Easter Egg Hunt for Kids 10:45am - Worship 12:15pm - Easter Lunch in Fellowship Hall featuring ham, sides, and salads.  Can you provide a dessert to make this Easter Lunch more special?  If so, let Ali DeLeo know! Also, can you bring travel-sized toiletries that we could give to our unhoused neighbors as Easter gifts?   For more info, contact Ali DeLeo:  alideleo@gmail.com or 202-744-6440 or Melanie Lang:  melanie361@hotmail.com or 410-913-8697.	Each Easter we decorate this cross with the help of folks like you! Please bring a beautiful flower (or several) on Easter to decorate the cross.  Please contact Piper Hall at phall@omm.com  if you have any questions.

For more information about any of the above,
contact Pastor Alisa: pastor@chumc.net or 202-546-1000.