Metropolitan Players Present: The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail
By Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee
Directed by Frances Bartley Cleaver
Friday, March 19, 8 pm - Saturday, March 20, 4 pm
Sunday, March 21, 2 pm
Following Easter, Dr. Parker’s sermon series will focus on the environment. On April 11, Beth Norcross will preach at Metropolitan and will be leading the Great Hall sessions throughout the month. She is adjunct faculty at Wesley Theological Seminary where she teaches and guest-lectures in eco-theology. Come immerse yourself in the life and thoughts of Henry David Thoreau in preparation for the sermon series.

Rebuilding Together is HEXAGON Beneficiary
Hexagon 2010: Dancing With The Czars
March 19 - April 10
Many people from MMUMC have enjoyed the annual Hexagon show each Spring. We have even had MMUMC members performing and dancing. For more than 50 years Hexagon has put on Washington's only all-original     revue of its kind with more than $3.5 million donated to charities. Tickets are now on sale! Note the new location:  in the fabulous, NEW 500 Seat theatre - Takoma Park/Silver Spring Performing Arts Center at Montgomery College, Takoma Park, 7995 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910. This year's show runs from March 19th through April 10^th -- there is no show on Sunday, April 4th (Easter Sunday). This year’s beneficiary is Rebuilding Together, which urgently needs support, and which enjoys a long-time relationship with our congregation. So call your friends, call your neighbors and get a group together. With President Obama in office for a year now, and all the latest stories in the news, we have lots of material to work with! For more information contact Maynard Moore at emaynard8@yahoo.com, or call directly for tickets 202-333-SHOW, or buy tickets online.

Service Day
Saturday, March 20, 9 a.m. - Noon
Sponsored by the United Methodist Women
Join us for a Great Day of Service this Saturday, March 20 from 9 am to noon. A wide array of activities and projects are planned from cooking meals for our homeless shelter, creating UMCOR health kits, writing letters for Amnesty International, spring cleaning of our Sunday School rooms, and a food drive to benefit Bread for the City (see below). It’s a great day for all ages. Families invited! Please join us as we bring God’s grace to our community.

Service Day to Include a Food Drive for Bread for the City
Let’s Collect  2010 items in 2010!
The United Methodist Women of Metropolitan are organizing a congregation-wide food drive in conjunction with Saturday's Great Day of Service. They are asking church members to bring donated food items to the church by March 20. There will be collection boxes in the Great Hall foyer, near the side entrance to the Sanctuary, and in the Narthex.  On Service Day, volunteers will sort and pack the donations and deliver them to Bread for the City.

Seeking to provide healthy food to their clients, Bread for the City suggests donations of the following items: Canned Tuna, Chicken, or Salmon, Canned Fruit, preferably in its own juice, 1 lb packages of Dried Beans, 1 lb packages of Brown Rice, Whole Grain Pasta, Canned Vegetables, low-sodium preferred, Canned Tomato Sauce or Spaghetti Sauce, low sodium,   Boxed Cereal, Oatmeal. Other non-perishable food items will be accepted as well. We’ve set an ambitious goal of collecting 2010 items.  So please contribute generously! Volunteers are welcome to help with the sorting and delivery on Saturday, March 20 from 9 – noon in the Great Hall.

Great Hall Lecture: Reaching Out to Women in Africa
Led by Ambassador Shirley Barnes
Sunday, March 21, 10:10 a.m., Great Hall
On Sunday, March 21, the UMW of Metropolitan will host Shirley Barnes as the featured speaker in the Great Hall during the Study Hour from 10-11 a.m. Dr. Barnes is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service and served as Ambassador of the United States to Madagascar from 1998-2001.  She has held positions in private industry and non-profit organizations. Dr. Barnes is a member of Wesley UMC.

Dr. Barnes established the Barnes Findley Foundation to increase educational, job and economic development opportunities for African girls and women. The foundation also seeks to combat human trafficking of African women and children, especially girls, while supporting and protecting its victims. Programs include mentoring, leadership training, preventive health education and scholarships.

Come learn more about Dr. Barnes’ important work and what the church can do in response. This event is sponsored by the Social Action program of Metropolitan’s UMW.

Adult Study at Metropolitan Memorial
Click here for a list of our Sunday morning study opportunities!

Prayer Shawl Ministry
Sunday, March 21, 12:30 p.m.
Join us for a time of knitting, crocheting, fellowship, ministry and fun! Questions? Contact Annette Fletchall at 202.363.9231.

Take Part in the March for America
Sunday, March 21, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
On Sunday, March 21, thousands of people of faith will gather on the National Mall from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. for a powerful witness for just, humane, immigration reform. An interfaith service will be held at 1 p.m. The United Methodist delegation will begin assembling at the Washington Monument at noon. Please join members of Metropolitan’s Advocacy Team and our United Methodist Women in supporting this event. Our group will assemble in the Great Hall Foyer at 11 a.m. and then go to the Mall as a group by Metro. For more information on this event, go to: www. reformimmigrationforamerica.org. Or contact Ann Michel.

Enjoy an Evening Out and Support Metropolitan Nursery School
Monday, March 22, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m., 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Have you driven by Surfside restaurant, a new eatery in Glover Park (2444 Wisconsin Ave. NW), and wanted to try it? Here’s your perfect opportunity. If you visit the restaurant Monday, March 22 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and mention Metropolitan, 25 percent of the evening’s proceeds will benefit the nursery school. Support our nursery school and enjoy a great meal too.

United Methodist Clergy for Marriage Equality - Palm Sunday Service
Sunday, March 28, 4 p.m. Mt. Vernon Place United Methodist Church
As a witness of our support, the United Methodist Clergy for Marriage Equality will be holding a service of worship on Sunday, March 28 at Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, 900 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington DC at 4 PM, and invite all people to be part of that celebration. The church is easily accessible by metro at Metro Center, Mt. Vernon, and Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro stations, and underground parking is available.

Celebrating Peeps Sunday
Sunday, March 28
Children’s Choirs will be singing at both services and the children’s sermon will be offered by our fantastic fifth and sixth-grade classes. In addition, join us in the Vestry to make Peeps Easter Wreathes and decorate bonnets and bowlers for Easter Sunday. Peeps are lined up and read to go in their green, yellow, purple, peach, turquoise, and pink. Be ready for Easter, Peeple. Join us at 11 a.m. in the Vestry!

“Healthy Backs”
Monday and Thursdays Beginning April 8, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. in the Great Hall
Join us in the Great Hall for “Healthy Backs.” These movement lessons sponsored by the Wellness Committee will run from April 8 to Monday, May 3. This eight-lesson series of gentle lessons can help you reduce back pain and increase flexibility.

The class is open to everyone from the Metropolitan Memorial Cooperative Parish. Pat Simpich, a member of Metropolitan and of the Wellness Committee, will lead the class. Pat is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner and a certified Anat Baniel Method Practitioner with advanced certifications in the Anat Baniel Method for Children and for Anti-Aging. She will guide students through slow and gentle movements during the lessons. Students wearing comfortable clothing sit on chairs or lie on mats and follow the guided movements. Pat says the lessons often also evoke a renewed sense of well-being. Low tables are available for those with difficulty lying on the floor.

Classes are free, but registration is required. The Wellness Committee suggests that individuals with chronic conditions such as heart disease, recent illnesses, or injuries or who are recovering from surgery speak with their health care provider before beginning the program. To register, contact Pat Simpich at 202.966.1566. For more information about these methods go to www.feldenkraismethod.com and www.anatbanielmethod.com.

Upcoming Sermon Series: “The Environment”
April 11 - May 9
Following Easter, the sermon series (April 11 through May 9) will focus on the environment. Beth Norcross will preach the opening sermon as well as present several of our Great Hall lectures. Beth is adjunct faculty at Wesley Theological Seminary where she teaches and guest-lectures in eco-theology. She also spearheaded the creation care and renewal program at Wesley and chairs the Wesley Creation Committee.  She helped launch the national Green Seminary Initiative, of which she currently serves as the Coordinator.  Beth also serves on the steering committee for the Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light. Beth speaks and preaches on the Scriptural and ecological imperatives to protect the earth and has led several workshops and retreats on nature and spirituality. Along with other resources, she has developed two for the National Council of Churches – “Sacred Waters,” an adult education curriculum, and “Building a Firm Foundation,” an eco-friendly building guide for churches. 

The Alpha Course is Coming to Metropolitan!
Beginning Tuesday, April 13, 6:30 p.m.
The Alpha Course is coming to Metropolitan beginning Tuesday, April 13 and running for 10 weeks. We hope that you will join us along with friends and family!

Alpha is intended to help Christians and non-Christians to explore the meaning of life. Each evening, participants enjoy food, laughter and learning in a fun and friendly atmosphere where no question about life or God is seen as too simple or too hostile…questions like: Is there a God? Why am I here? Where did I come from? Where am I going? Today, more than 33,500 Alpha Courses run in 163 countries. Our hope is that Alpha will be a source of inspiration and fellowship for our congregation and help to engage people that have never been to Church before. If you would like to attend please contact Helen Simon to register your name. We look forward to welcoming you on April 13. We are also looking for volunteers to help support the course, so please also let us know if you would like to join the team.

UMW Book Sale
Saturday, April 17, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
It’s time to clean out your bookshelves and do some spring cleaning for the UMW Book Sale. The event will be Saturday, April 17 from 9 a.m. –  2 p.m. Book donations can be placed in the UMW closet.  Barbara Gaskill is coordinating the event and is also looking for volunteers, if you want a sneak peek at the book selection this year. For more information, contact Barbara at 202-244-3512 or Barbara@bgaskill.com.

Great Hall Lecture: Appalachia Service Project - ASP is not just for youth!
Sunday, April 18, 10:10 a.m., Great Hall
Our Youth are preparing for this year’s ASP trip, but did you know that ASP provides weekend and week-long mission opportunities as well. On April 18, Ned Bachman will explore the ASP program in general and the adult mission program in particular. Ned will also include slides from last summer’s Metropolitan youth mission trip to Raleigh County, West Virginia. Ned Bachman is a MMUMC member, minister and attorney, and has worked for over 30 years with church youth groups. It was through his work with youth that he began his participation with the ASP and has participated on ASP mission trips for 15 years. For the last two years he has gone on mission trips twice each summer as well as participated on several weekend ASP adult mission trips. Come hear about upcoming ASP trips from an experienced and committed participant/leader

Sunday, April 18
Film Screening and Discussion - 12:30 p.m., Great Hall
All are welcome to attend a screening and discussion of the film, Incompatible with Christian Teaching, which was produced by Anne Brown. The screening, which will be hosted by the Advocacy Ministry team, will provide participants the opportunity for thoughtful discernment and discussion on the issue of United Methodist doctrine pertaining to homosexuality including marriage equality. Throughout 2010, the film will be screened at 17 United Methodist churches and theological seminaries nationwide. Refreshments will be provided.

Spring Auction
Thursday, April 22, 7 p.m. - 10 p.m., Embassy of Finland
Metropolitan Nursery School will hold a spring auction on Thursday, April 22 from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. at the Embassy of Finland (3301 Nebraska Ave. NW). Tickets are $75 and will be on sale after church Sunday, March 21.   

Let’s Rebuild Together!
Saturday, April 24
This year’s Rebuilding Together (formally known as “Christmas in April”) day will be Saturday, April 24. We have not yet been assigned a house, but we typically need people who have the following skills: light painting, plaster repairs, electrical repair, light plumbing, etc. If you think you have no skills, think again! We can always use people to help us move furniture in the morning and/or help us move everything back in the afternoon. We could also use volunteer(s) to provide lunch (sandwiches, chips, drinks, etc.). You may volunteer for one or both of the two main shifts: the morning shift (8 a.m. - 1 p.m., or the afternoon shift (1 p.m. - 6 p.m.) We also request volunteers to come at 5 p.m. to put furniture back in place. This is a great opportunity to help someone in need, meet other members of our church community (MMUMC, Wesley, and St. Luke’s), and hone your light home repair skills. If you would like to volunteer or provide lunch, please contact Geoff Jacobi, or Lee Crockett.

Adult Study at Metropolitan

Bible Study
Thursdays, 1 p.m., Youth Room (206)
Please join us for a Bible study class led by Phil O’Hara and Charlie Parker on Thursdays at 1 p.m. in the Youth Room (Room 206).  Questions? Contact Helen Simon at HelenMSimon@gmail.com.

The Alpha Course is Coming to Metropolitan!
The Alpha Course is coming to Metropolitan beginning Tuesday, April 13 and running for 10 weeks. We hope that you will join us along with friends and family!

Alpha is intended to help Christians and non-Christians to explore the meaning of life. Each evening, participants enjoy food, laughter and learning in a fun and friendly atmosphere where no question about life or God is seen as too simple or too hostile…questions like: Is there a God? Why am I here? Where did I come from? Where am I going? Today, more than 33,500 Alpha Courses run in 163 countries. Our hope is that Alpha will be a source of inspiration and fellowship for our congregation and help to engage people that have never been to Church before. If you would like to attend please contact Helen Simon to register your name. We look forward to welcoming you on April 13. We are also looking for volunteers to help support the course, so please also let us know if you would like to join the team.

Bible Plus Class, Sundays, 10:10 a.m., Christie Room
The Bible Plus class continues its study of “Lost Christianities — Christian Scriptures and the Battles over Authentication.”

Questions of Faith, Sundays, 10:10 a.m., Conference Room
Join the Questions of Faith class for a series of lectures on "What is Religion?" by given religious scholar Karen Armstrong, who describes the transition when ancient societies recoiled from an ethic of violence and instead developed an ethic based on compassion and the Golden Rule. Each lecture is followed by a spirited discussion. 

Science & Religion Class, Sundays, 10:10 a.m., Parlor
Our class in March embarks on an extended study of some of history’s great scientific minds in the Western world. On March 21, Kent Weaver will help us consider the work of Joseph Priestly, the discoverer of oxygen and a founder of the denomination we today know as Unitarians. On March 28^th, Ned Bachman will highlight the work of Blaise Pascal, the French Jansenist who authored the classic Les Pensees. On Easter Sunday we take a break to join others for the annual all-church brunch, and resume our series in April. We always have copies of the reading material available in the Parlor for our discussions at 10:10, and visitors are always welcome. Questions? Contact Maynard Moore or Kent Weaver.

College Small Group Study, Sundays at 10:10 a.m., Room G-1
Join us for our college age small group study to enjoy fellowship and and scripture. The meetings are casual and fun. We meet in Cody Nielsen’s office across from the music room. If you have any questions or want to get more involved, please contact Cody Nielsen.

Sermon Ideas
One of the great ideas that I heard on our trip to the Church of the Resurrection was that Adam Hamilton periodically asks the congregation for their thoughts on what subjects he should preach. He takes those thoughts on retreat, prays about them, and starts to develop sermon outlines for the coming two years. I loved this idea, and hoped that you could share with me your thoughts on the following questions:

1. What life situations would you like to see addressed in the sermons? 2. Are there parts of the Bible or theological questions you would like to explore? 3. Are there places in your life where you’re hurting and need guidance? 4. What do you feel are your spiritual deficiencies? 5. Are there subjects that your non-churchgoing friends would come to listen to?

Please send your thoughts to me at sermons@mmumc-dc.org, or drop them in the box in the Narthex marked “Sermon Ideas.” I’m looking forward to hearing from you! Blessings,
Rev. Dr. Charles Parker

-Click Here For This Month's Calendar-

Our Clergy Staff:

Dr. Charles Parker / Rev. Sandy Rector / Rev. Jimmy Sherrod/ Rev. Kate Murphey

For more information, go to our main website http://www.nationalchurch.org.

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