This annual benefit concert organized by The Augmented Eight, a men's a cappella singing group, will also feature performance by Yale University's Redhot & Blue; the Tone Rangers, an award winning Washington area group, and Five O'Clock Shadow of Georgetown Day School. The concert benefits Metropolitan House, Friendship Place, and Christ House. Tickets ($50 preferred seating, $25 general seating, $10 students/seniors) are available at the door.

Serve Now!

It is easier than ever for you to get connected and sign up for our many ongoing parish service activities. Get connected and serve with our new online volunteer scheduling system lotsahelpinghands. Click here and serve now!

Bokamoso Youth Visit

Sunday, February 5, 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
The Bokamoso Youth Choir will be at Metropolitan Memorial on Sunday, February 5. They will be at both services and be with our youth in between the services.

Lunch with the Bokamoso Youth Choir
Sunday, February 5, 12:30 p.m., Vestry
Metropolitan Youth invite you to join the Bokamoso Youth in the Vestry for lunch following the second service. Suggested donation $5/person.

Bokamoso Leaders Discussion
Sunday, February 5, 10:10 a.m., Great Hall

Join the Bokamoso Leaders in the Great Hall for a time of conversation and fellowship. CD's, mugs, bags and beads available for purchase.

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

Have You Completed your 13th Month Pledge Increase
While our recent stewardship campaign is proving to be a success, we still find ourselves with a projected shortfall of $203,000. We are working as a team to revisit our proposed budget and make some necessary cuts, but also see a need to increase the amount pledged for 2012. To make your 2012 pledge or to respond to the 13th month campaign, please feel free to complete a card this Sunday, go online to our pledge site, or simply send an e-mail to Bill Potts, our new Executive Director of Operations.

The Dining Room: A Play Reading by the Metroplayers
Tuesday, February 7, 7:30 p.m.

The Dining Room was first presented by The Metro Players in 1992.  Written by A.R. Gurney in 1985, the play casts six actors who portray a total of 57 characters across 18 scenes. The script includes this description of The Dining Room:

“The play is set in the dining room of a typical well-to-do household, the place where the family assembled daily for breakfast and dinner, and for any and all special occasions.  The action is comprised of a mosaic of interrelated scenes – some funny, some touching, some rueful – which, taken together, create an in-depth portrait of a vanishing species: the upper-middle class WASP. . . Dovetailing swiftly and smoothly, the varied scenes coalesce, ultimately, into a theatrical experience of exceptionally compassionate humor and abundant humanity.”

We are inviting present-day members of The Metro Players, friends of The Players, and any other folk you may know who have expressed interest in working on a play, to an informal reading of The Dining Room. 

If you have any questions before the reading, please contact Bob Benn.

New Metropolitan Men's Group
Thursday, February 9, 7 p.m., Bourbon
(2348 Wisconsin Ave., NW)
All men of the church are invited to join us at Bourbon at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 9. We will order dinner (and split the check afterwards), hang out, catch up and chill out. Feel free to bring friends who are not Metropolitan members. Questions? Contact Andy Hershey.

Soup and Study
Wednesday, February 8, 6 p.m.
Join us for a light dinner at 6 p.m. in the Vestry, followed by the fellowship and learning opportunities listed below at 7 p.m.

Bible Study with Rev. Dr. Charles Parker: Each Sunday Dr. Parker bases his sermons on particular Biblical texts. Come and explore the Scriptures for each week in more depth. (Room 203)

Caregiver's Support Group: Caring for a family member or friend? Join us as we support one another and share our experiences together. Need someone to stay with your family member during this time? Contact Rev. Barbara Green, or Rev. Drema McAllister-Wilson. (Great Hall)

Faith and Film: Come and view a film on Faith. Our title on February 8 will be "To Kill a Mockingbird" in honor of Black History month (Vestry)

Childcare is available for children. Questions? Contact Rev. Barbara Green, or Rev. Drema McAllister-Wilson.

Darwin Weekend: Featured Presentation
Sunday, February 12, 7 p.m., Great Hall
February 10th-12th is Darwin weekend across the country. To celebrate several churches in the Baltimore-Washington Conference, as well as other Christian and Jewish congregations, regionally and nationally, are participating with special worship services and discussion events. On Sunday, February 12, Metropolitan Memorial will host a presentation by Robert E. Heggestad, an attorney with Troutman Sanders LLP. Mr. Heggestad will share the results of his three decades of work on the astounding collection of specimens from the personal collection of Alfred Russel Wallace, British naturalist and explorer, "the Man Who Wasn't Darwin," but whose paper outlining the theory of evolution was presented simultaneously with Darwin's to the Royal Society in 1858. Join us for this fascinating story. You will be amazed by the visual presentation of the collection. This event is co-sponsored by the Science & Religion class and the Board of WesleyNexus, Inc, who promotes an informed dialogue between those interested in science & religion matters. This is a "don't miss" event so invite your family and friends.

Donation Deadline - February 19!
The Youth in Mission Auction is approaching! This auction is one of the ways we as a congregation support our youth. The proceeds of the auction go to all the wonderful youth mission opportunities, such as the Appalachia Service Project. To donate, download our donation form (We encourage you to share our donation sheet with people outside of our congregation) and return to the church office no later than February 19. Youth are also available after both worship services through the 19th to collect your pledge of donations for our silent and live auctions.

Please consider donating gift certificates to restaurants, tickets to sporting or cultural events, or share your talents such as offering a home-cooked meal, a party in your home, scrapbooking, or more! You are only limited by your imagination. Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 4 for the Youth in Mission Auction!

Prayer Shawl Ministry
Sunday, February 19, 12:30 p.m., Conference Room
Tuesday, February 21, 1:30 p.m., Conference Room
Join us for a time of knitting, crocheting, fellowship, ministry and fun!

Join us in the library for our next book club meeting on February 20. Sharon Smith will be discussing Barbara Kingsolver's, Lacuna. All are welcome to attend. For more information contact Suzanne Clewell or Joan Topalian.

Join us for six contemplative communion services as Metropolitan Memorial and the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation unite this Lenten season. Rev. Drema McAllister-Wilson and Rev. Carole Crumley will lead this reflective worship with scriptural reflection, silent contemplation, music, and the Sacrament of bread and wine on each of the six Sunday nights in Lent.

The liturgy will encourage prayer and reflection within a supportive spiritual community. Scriptural texts will illuminate the theme of forgiveness as a gift of God. Sacred music under the guidance of Alex Helsabeck will enhance an awareness of the living Spirit among and within us. Contemplative silence in its fullness allows participation in God's being from the depth of our own. John Wesley marveled after preaching on "calling upon the Lord while He is near" at the silence when "not a cough was to be heard" and "although squeezed together, everyone stood silent and still."

Shalem Institute has long nurtured the practice of contemplative Eucharist. This series is inspired by Shalem's discovery of The Mass That Takes Its Time, an acclaimed contemplative communion worship offered by the Jesuit Spiritual Community in Paris, France. This service is for all who seek a deeper encounter with Divine Presence and a Lenten experience of renewal and healing. Please join us for one or all of these evening celebrations.

Adult Study at Metropolitan

2030s Study Group
Sundays, 10:10 a.m., Music Room
Come, join our young adult group for study, friendship, and growing in faith as we study Brian McLaren's and Tony Campolo's book, Adventures in Missing the Point. In this book, the authors take turns addressing how we've missed the point on crucial topics such as: Salvation, The Bible, Being Post-modern, Worship, Homosexuality, Truth, and many more. Contact: Rev. Kate Murphey.

Join us for our series of lectures on "The History of Christian Theology" by Professor Phillip Cary of Eastern University followed by group discussion. Contact: Contact Diana Eskin.

Sundays, 10:10 a.m., Parlor

Our discussions continue with a focus on some of the principal scientists and theologians in our day, based on interviews by Rev. Michael Dowd on the website Evolving Christianity. To access the interviews click LISTEN NOW, and remember the password is “emerge.”

The interview for February 5 is Dr. Phillip Clayton, the new Dean of Claremont Lincoln University. The morning discussion will be led by Dr. Maynard Moore. Material will be available in the Parlor for those who want to drop in. Visitors are always welcome. Contacts: Maynard Moore or Kent Weaver.

Bible Plus Class

Sundays, 10:10 a.m., Christie Room

Join us for our continuing fascinating look at The Dead Sea Scrolls.  Contacts: Debbie Gustowski or Pat Simpich.

Community Events

Art in Our Sanctuary
"The Reredos"
When new members inquire about the origin of our 10' X 30' chancel tapestry (the Reredos behind the altar), long-time members respond with a compelling story. Whether conceptualizing its possibility, needle pointing its vast surface design, advising tolerable weight limits for its structural components, disseminating enthusiastic comments about its symbolic content, participating in its finishing procedures, or orchestrating its installation, scores and scores of our long-time members participated in its making. This tapestry, along with our chancel pew cushions and furniture seats and backs, are the work of members of our church family. All were designed by Catherine Kapikian, founder and Director Emeritus of the Henry Luce III Center for the Arts and Religion at Wesley Theological Seminary. Enjoy other works of participatory aesthetics by this artist here.

Operation Beautify!

Saturday, February 11 and Sunday, February 12
Friendship Place Welcome Center (4713 Wisconsin Ave. NW)
We're giving the "Little Blue House" a make-over, and we need you to join the effort! Volunteers with painting and organizing skills are especially needed.

If you can help out, or would like to donate materials for this weekend of service, please contact Michael.

Faith-based Advocacy - A free workshop open to the community
Wednesday, February 15, 7 p.m., Friendship Place
(3655 Calvert St. NW)

• What is faith-based advocacy?
• How are area congregations making a difference at the DC level in the lives of people experiencing homelessness?
• How can I and/or my faith community join these efforts?

Learn from members of WIN - Washington Interfaith Network - and Good Faith Communities. Opportunity for Q&A. RSVP to Michael.

Central Farmers' Market
Fridays, 3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Metropolitan Memorial Parking Lot

Come and get your farm fresh vegetables, fruits and other goods at the Central Farmers' market at Metropolitan Memorial every Friday afternoon! The Central Farmers' Market is managed by Bethesda Central Farm Market.

Table Talk Lunch Series: "The Arab Spring: One Year Later

Wednesday, February 15, 12 p.m., Kay Spiritual Life Center Lounge

Come to the Table Talk Lunch Series at the Kay Spiritual Life Center Lounge to discuss matters of moral, social, and ethical concern. A buffet lunch is provided free to students. A donation of $5 each is requested from faculty and staff to help offset the cost of the program. Reservations required. Please RSVP 24 hours before the scheduled event at kslc@american.edu. Sponsored by the Office of the University Chaplain
Kay Spiritual Life Center, American University.

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 would 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 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:

Rev. Dr. Charles Parker / Rev. Drema McAllister-Wilson /
Rev. Jimmy Sherrod/ Rev. Kate Murphey

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

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