Office Updates

Starting this Sunday we’ll offer jewelry to our Café Capitol Hill patrons for them to have or to give as Mother’s Day gifts. Besides jewelry, we’ll also have women’s and men’s underwear and some toiletries. We’re including men’s underwear so that everyone gets something and because they always need it. If you have anything you’d like to add to the mix, please do. The greater the bounty, the greater the hospitality.

We’re intentionally offering these gifts the Sundays before, during and after Mother’s Day so the most people benefit. Thanks for whatever you can do.

• Palm Sunday Processional and Worship March 28, 11 am
• Reconciling Congregations Worship Celebration at Mt. Vernon Place UMC March 28, 4 pm
• Musical Monday Concert with David Kim March 29, 8 pm
• Capitol Hill Group Ministries Easter Party March 30, 7 pm
• Maundy Thursday: Reflection with The Lord’s Supper April 1, 7 pm
• Good Friday Noon Day Service: Stations of the Cross April 2, 12 pm
• Good Friday Evening Service: Seven Last Words at Ebenezer UMC 7 pm
• Easter Vigil: Join other Capitol Hill churches as we rejoice "He is Risen!” April 3, 8 pm
• Easter Morning Worship! April 4, 11 am
• Easter Feaster April 4, 12:30 pm

These past few weeks leading up to Lent, we have explored the meaning of baptism and heard powerful testimonies in worship of how we can share our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness.  As we journey with Christ towards the cross during Lent, we also look for ways to grow as Disciples in these areas.  One way that we as a congregation can share in this journey is by participating in the new home groups that have been established and will begin meeting in March.
 
CHUMC’s home groups will function much like traditional small groups in that they offer space for us to study the Word, pray together, learn how to live out Christ’s calling in our lives, and simply get to know one another in a more intimate setting than we typically have in worship.  But rather than organize these small groups around a certain topic or meeting time, they have been grouped by residential area.  We strive to accomplish a few things in this format: (1) to provide more accessible opportunities for folks to stay connected Monday through Saturday; (2) create small groups that may be more diverse as the only (known) shared trait of the participants is neighborhood; and (3) share our joy beyond the church walls, reminding us that the church is not a building, but people.
 
The home groups will meet weekly in March and Pastor Alisa will provide topics of discussion and materials each week.  After Easter, the groups can then decide how often to meet, structure and so forth.  Details for the first meetings, and contact information for your home group coordinator, are below.  Come as you are able; participation is completely voluntary, but we hope you will consider joining one or two sessions at least.  Also, if you find that a group that is closer to where you work is more convenient for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the coordinator. 
 
Please rsvp directly to your home group coordinator. If you are unable to attend the first meeting, but remain interested, please let your coordinator know.

 
Home groups and coordinators:
 
Maryland suburbs east of DC:   
Maryland suburbs west of DC & NW DC:  
Arlington and Fairfax counties:  
Alexandria:  
SW DC & around CHUMC (S Capitol St SE to 8th St SE, Anacostia River to A St SE):

North of CHUMC (1st NE to 11th St NE, E. Capitol St to H Street):  
East of CHUMC (8th St SE to 19th St SE, Independence Ave to Anacostia):

Car Barn (11th St NE to 19th St NE, Independence Ave to H Street):

 
Dear church family,
 
In First Thessalonians, Paul reminds the early church in the city of Thessalonica, “to always seek to do good to one another and to all.  Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances.”  It is in the spirit of growing our hearts, doing good to one another and deepening our relationship with God and others that we invite you to “grow” your prayer life during the season of Lent.

Lent runs from Ash Wednesday (February 17) to Easter Sunday (April 4).
 
Specifically, we invite you to participate in prayer in the following ways:

Group Prayer: To celebrate the morning and the evening in prayer, you are invited to phone-in to pray each day during Lent – either at 7:00 am or 9:00 pm.  Using the free service – www.freeconferencecall.com – we will have a twice daily prayer time.  Anyone can dial-in from anywhere, listen and prayer along together.  Led by a church member, the time together will start by reading a psalm or bible verse, followed by prayer.  We anticipate the call should not last more than ten minutes.  The first prayer will be on Thursday, February 18 at 7:00 am.  If you would like to volunteer to lead a prayer, please contact Kirsten Gullickson. Instructions to lead the call will be provided to you.

Extended Time in Prayer: As we know, the bible offers us examples of pray that occurred in great lengths of time.  Jesus spent whole nights praying.  Nehemiah prayed ‘certain days’ upon hearing of the plight of Jerusalem. Three times Moses spent 40 days and 40 nights alone with God.  To honor the tradition of extended prayer, we invite you to find an extended time in your schedule during Lent to prayer.  It may be one hour, four hours, or an entire day.  A handout will be available on the usher’s table and in the narthex describing ways to spend extended time in prayer.  If you would like me to email you a handout, just let me know.Directions for participating in group prayer

Starting on Thursday, February 18 and each subsequent day in Lent, please join us in group prayer by following these instructions:
·         At 7:00 am or 9:00 pm, dial:  (712) 432-0800
·         Enter Access Code: 770739#
·         The leader will wait a minute or two before reading a psalm or bible verse, followed by prayer.
·         You may be prompted to announce your name.  If you join the call late, please do not announce your name.  Simply join the prayer.
·         As participants join or leave the call, the sound of a bell can be heard until the call leader turns the bell off.
 
 
If you have any questions, please ask Pastor Alisa or Kirsten Gullickson.

Several Capitol Hill congregations will hold a Second Annual Interfaith Holocaust Remembrance Service on Sunday, April 11, 2010, at 4 PM at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 221 E. Capitol St., NE.  The theme of this year's service is "The Choice of Courage" and will focus on those who rescued victims of the Nazi Holocaust.

A four part Lenten Film Series will precede the interfaith service and will feature four full-length films that depict courage in the face of genocidal violence.  The entire community is invited to attend and participate in the interfaith service as well as each of the Sunday evenings throughout March from 6:30-8:30 PM. The film series includes:

March 7 - "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" (PG-13)
Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, 4th St. and Independence, SE

When his family moves from their home in Berlin to a strange new house in Poland, young Bruno (Asa Butterfield) befriends Shmuel (Jack Scanlon), a boy who lives on the other side of the fence, where everyone seems to be wearing striped pajamas. Unaware of Shmuel's fate as a Jewish prisoner or the role his own Nazi father plays in his imprisonment, Bruno embarks on a dangerous journey inside the camp's walls. 

March 14 - "The Nasty Girl - Das Schreckliche Mädchen" (PG-13)
St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 3rd and A. St. SE

German high-schooler Sonya (Lena Stolze) decides to write an essay about her town's history during the Third Reich and its heroic resistance to Nazi tyranny. To her (and the town's) dismay, she instead uncovers evidence of collaboration with the regime. As she digs deeper, she must struggle against the vocal and violent opposition to her search for the truth. This provocative satire won a BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language.

March 21 - "Last King of Scotland" (R)
Capitol Hill United Methodist Church, 421 Seward Square, SE

During an African medical mission in the 1970s, Scottish doctor Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy) impresses brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker, in an Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning role) by acting swiftly in a crisis and becomes the dictator's personal physician. Garrigan enjoys the perks of his new position, until he begins to become aware of Amin's inhumanity -- and his own complicity.

March 28 - "Weapons of the Spirit"  (NR)
Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 212 East Capitol St. SE

In this historical documentary, a small French village goes against the Vichy government by saving 5,000 Jews from falling into the hands of the Nazis during World War II. Director and narrator Pierre Sauvage's parents were among those who were hidden by the townsfolk. Newsreels show the persecution of Jews in Paris and other locales where over 75,000 were willingly handed over to the Nazis. The villagers interviewed believed it was "the normal thing to do" to risk their lives helping the viciously hunted people.

"The Choice of Courage" will conclude on April 11, 2010, at 4:00 PM and Lutheran Church of the Reformation with a Community Interfaith Yom Ha Shoah (Day of Holocaust Remembrance) Service led by the participating faith communities.

If you would like to help Capitol Hill, when we host the series on March 21, please contact the church office – 202-546-1000 or office@chumc.net.  We look forward to reflecting with you.

From the Washington Post: "D.C. man finds blessings in mission to help homeless"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/03/AR2010010302060.html

Join us at 8 PM on Thursday night for a Christmas Eve service with Carols, Candlelight, and Holy Communion.

Due to the recent snow, we have moved our Blue Christmas Service to Tuesday, December 22 and the TNT Potluck to Sunday, January 3. Christmas Eve Service is still scheduled for 8 PM on Thursday, December 24.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 6:30 PM... CHUMC will hold a special evening Blue Christmas service, recognizing that for many the joy of the season is tempered by great pain. Worship will begin at 6:30 PM with an extended piano prelude and the service will being at 7 PM.

Thursday, December 24, 2009 at 8 PM... Christmas Eve worship with candlelight and Holy Communion.

Sunday, January 3, 2010 at 6:30 PM... The CHUMC Twenty- and Thirty-Somethings ministry will host its 2nd Annual New Years Potluck Fiesta at the Parsonage (401 Seward Sq SE). Pastor Alisa will provide the posole, a traditional Christmas dish, and you can bring a side or a sweet as you are able. We will also have a White Elephant Gift Exchange, so bring a wrapped gift to share. And remember - TnT is a state of mind. All ages are welcome and we never card at the door!

Mark your calendar to share in this wonderful season!

December 5... It's time to Deck the Halls! Help prepare the church for Advent as we beautify our sanctuary space. Stop by CHUMC on Saturday at 9:30 AM and join in the fun.

December 6... Worship service at 11 AM with Angels, Bells and Shepherds - music with a special prelude on our newly restored pipe organ. Also hear an assortment of French and Austrian carols and chamber orchestra beautifully arranged by Stephen Mager of St. Louis.

December 11 and 12... Stocking and Wrapping Party - this year over 140 children will receive a personalized hand-sewn stocking filled. Come to the Fellowship Hall on Friday night or any time on Saturday and help fill these Christmas treats.

December 13... Worship service at 11 AM with the Children's Christmas Pageant.

December 16… Deadline for Our Place Donations – Drop off new, unwrapped toys, clothes and gift cards in the church office or in Room 9 downstairs.

December 18... Our Place DC Children’s Christmas Party with over 100 kids, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, carolers, food and DJ. Come share the joy from 4-8 pm in the Fellowship Hall.

December 20... Sunday worship, 11 AM 

December 22... CHUMC will hold a special evening Blue Christmas service, recognizing that for many the joy of the season is tempered by great pain. Worship will begin at 6:30 PM with an extended piano prelude, and the service begins at 7 PM.  Download our Blue Christmas flyer for the details on this event.

December 24... Christmas Eve worship with candlelight and Holy Communion at 8 PM.

What's Happening at Capitol Hill United Methodist This Week:

                                                                                                                                                                                           Tuesday, June 30:

Summer with the Spirit, 7 pm, Parlor - One of two options to join in a conversation on the scriptures we are studying together as we travel through the book of Acts.  This week we will focus on Acts 8:4-40 and pages 45-51 in Justo Gonzalez' "Three Months with the Spirit". You are welcome whether you are reading along in the book or not. For more info, contact Pastor Alisa @ pastor@chumc.net or 202-546-1000.

Wednesday, July 1: 

"Breakfast" and Bible, 7:30 am, Parlor - The second opportunity to talk about Acts with one another.     Come for coffee, cold muffins and conversation as we discuss Acts 8:4-40 and especially focus on pages     45-51 in Justo Gonzalez' "Three Months with the Spirit". You are welcome whether you are reading along     in the book or not. For more info, contact Pastor Alisa @ pastor@chumc.net or 202-546-1000.

Wednesday Night Faith Study - What about those Rebellious Preachers?, 7 pm Parlor - Join the group as we continue our journey through James Howell's book Servants, Misfits and Martyrs: Saints and Their Stories which chronicles the lives of a “motley array of believers who stretch our imaginations and stand as imperatives, calling and wooing us into a higher, holier life.”   This week we will look at Chapter 5 and focus on fearless preachers over the centuries.  For more information, contact Sue Marullo @ sue.marullo@verizon.com.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   Sunday, July 5:

Sunday School, 10 am, Chapel - Rev up for worship by talking about this Sunday's scripture and sharing in some breaking of bread!  

Worship, 11 am, Sanctuary - This Fourth of July Weekend we will consider the unlikely conversion of Paul from Acts 9:1-25 and ask "Where's HIs Citizenship?"  What's the change of a powerful political leader form the first century have to do with us being the Body of Christ today on the corner of Fifth and Pennsylvania or wherever we find ourselves this week?  We will worship and wonder and then join together at the Lord's Table.

Capitol Cafe, 12:30, Fellowship Hall - As always, you are invited to serve or simply dine at our weekly community meal.  Rogue Saint James informs me we will be having Baked Ham with Canadian Potato Salad.  Dave Kennedy is also in the process of putting together cooking crews, so email him @ dkennedy@cogr.edu and join a team.