TJ-{T 'EplSTLTof

St. Paul's Episcopal ChurchPiney Parish

W~ldorf, M~la,nd

~Waldorf', Marl/land

February2011

_ Fw~~

QectorDear Friends in Christ,

As we head into February, a month weassociate with love, the last vestiges ofwinter, and the corning of spring, we beginto look ahead... to plan, to think, to hope,to dream of possibilities. I've noticed, inbetween our recent snowstorms, that mygrass which I never thought would survivethis first year is beginning to turn a shadeof green it has not had all winter and soI'm thinking about contacting a lawnservice in the not too distant future andgetting it fertilized, and then arranging formowing, and wondering where I'll plantsome crape myrtles and flowers which Iwould love to have in my yard. It's goingto be hard work. ..but the rewards will beworth it. It's hard to start over again. Ihad a garden, I had an establishedlawn... the hard work had been done. But

moving to a new place means change.What was... is no longer. So even thoughI know it is still winter by the calendar ­my heart and my mind, leap forward to thewanner spring days perfect for newplanting and new gro\vth.

I think the people of God must havefelt like this with each new beginning.Even as they looked fonvard to changethey were also uncomfortable aboutchange. Nevertheless, they put themselvesentirely into the hands of God. Theywould leave a place that represented a

certain kind of safety and move into theunknown... would move into the future.They understood that everything is underthe seal of God's promise. They realizedthat the ability to live in hope may verywell be the single most distinctive

. characteristic of a person of real faith.

We too, at St. Paul's are called tomove forward into the future putting asidefear and doubt. Our real concern shouldbe to discern that we are walking the pathchosen by God. It is not an easy path; itputs aside personal preference for the goodof the whole and calls out of the past tomove joyfully and trustingly into God'sfuture.

What does God have in mind for thischurch? Can God's people, like theIsraelites of old, having experienced God'slove for them, endure a period ofemptiness and unfulfillment as we wait forour new growth? Can God's people resistthe temptation to go back to a familiar butno longer viable past? Can God's peoplemaintain hope of a happy ending in spiteof those who would say there areinsurmountable obstacles ahead?

We are called to remember God's loveand mercy to us in the past and hold on tothe firm conviction of his faithfulness andgoodness as we await spring, our nextseason of new planting and growth.

Blessings,

~ ~II ~~COFFEEU ~ .& CONVERSATION

Thank you to those who hosted CoffeeHour in January:

Linda Lockhart and Dennis DurityVicky MumfordPaula TruitteSkip and Virginia RolandChip and Leann KeechAmy GardinerDarlene and Joe GuyPete and Laura ShanklinDuke BurroughsJudy and Phil HamiltonCatherine SokolDeanna Gerhart

**********************************

DISCOVERINIG THE BENEFITSOF BIBLE STUDY

Every Tuesday evening, from 7-8pm,we offer you the opportunity to take some"time out" from your very busy scheduleand join us in adult Bible study. Ratherthan being limited to highly theologicaldiscussions that require lots of backgroundknowledge and formal training, Biblestudy at St. Paul's is an opportunity tostart from where you are and discover theexcitement and fellowship of exploringtopics like prayer, or the inability to pray,spirituality, social action and engagement,family issues, discernment, as well asdiscouragement, anger at God, and "lackoffaith."

A group of people, very much likeyou, have discovered that there really is"nothing new under the sun" and theissues faced by individuals we meet inscripture resonate with and are relevant toissues we face today. Bible study builds afaith community as we laugh,commiserate, agree or disagree in a verylively exchange of stories and ideas and aswe share with others who often findthemselves in similar situations. It gives usan opportunity to explore and to question,without offering final answers. Rather it isan opportunity to seek a deeperengagement with the Bible through openhonest searching and questioning.

This month, in addition to continuingwith the Gospel of Matthew, we are usingthe work of Malcolm Goldsmith, a pastorand qualified Myers-Briggs practitioner, tounderstand the quality of our spiritual life.Coming to understand ourselves and ourpreferences in worship helps us to realizethat there is no right way of doing religion.Goldsmith asks us to consider, "Do youfind the idea of spending time alone inprayer attractive or scary?" "Do youthink oj faith as something that isconcerned with transforming the world ortransforming your soul? " "Does thepossibility of a silent retreat appeal to you,or would you be reluctant to go?" "Is itOK to be angry with God?" While thereare no wrong answers - considering ourresponses to questions like these andconsidering why we respond the way wedo - helps us to explore our ovmspirituality and better understand thespiritual preferences of others.

If you're not busy on a Tuesday. b 11 .. Ievemng... ya means ...Jom us.

LADIES' NIGHT OUT •••.••

.... .in February will be at 6 pm onWednesday, February 16 at The RoyalTea Room in La Plata. Cost will be $15

and it is necessary to sign-up on thebulletin board near the offices. We hopeyou can join us as we celebrateValentine's Day.

**********************************

ST. PAUL'S, PINEY BOOK CLUB

The PBC has chosen for our next book,Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. KathyFomadley has graciously offered her homefor the next scheduled meeting at 7 pm onFebruary 21, 2011. If interested injoining us for this book, we would love foryou to mark your calendar and come!

For more details, contact Jan Miller atianmill@comcast.net or 240-607-9100.

Janice :Jv1.i{{er

**********************************

To All My Piney Family and Friends,A heartftlt thank you for all your

cards, calls and offers of help during myrecent illness and surgery.

A very special thank you to Mother Joyfor her visits, calls and all her concernsduring this very long and difficult time.

I feel so very blessed.

:EtSieRichardS ana .:Tamitj;**********************************

The follbwing is taken from The ParishPaper Ideas and Insights for ActiveCongregations

Financial Stewardship:Myths & Principles (Part 2)

Seven Financial Stewardship Myths

Church leaders in low-per-capita-givingcongregations frequently share with oneanother the following inaccuratestatements that they believe to be true:

4. "Telling people 'Our churchneeds the money!' producesgenerous giving."

Wrong! Centering a stewardshipappeal on "Let's be loyal to ourchurch and balance the budget!"produces much lower giving levelsthan asking people to give out ofthankfulness for God's blessings,love for God, obedience toScripture, or to help hurting people.For example, most people in oneprominent mainline denominationgive out of a sense of loyalty andresponsibility; and they contributean average of 2.2 percent of theirincome to their congregation. Bycontrast, Assembly of God membersgive an average of 5.4 percent oftheir income; the majority of thembase' their decisions primarily onthankfulness to God and obedience

to Scripture, not on paying theircongregation's bills or oninstitutional loyalty.

5. "People will increase their giving. to support our increased budgetneeds without us annually askingthem to consider doing so."Wrong.! People tend to continue thesame pattern o~ giving unlesssomeone asks them to consider

.changing the pattern. Without anannual stewardship campaign, mostpeople tend to remain at the samegiving level as last year, even whentheir incomes increase. As inflationincreases church operatingexpenses, without an effectiveannual stewardship campaign,congregations find insufficientfinancing slowly strangling theirministries.

This series will continue over the next few.months. Watch for Part 3 in the MarchEpistle.

**********************************

LOOKING FORWARDTO ASH WEDNESDAY

Although this seems like an unlikelyjuxtaposition of words to use as the title ofa newsletter article - since - who looks

forward to being reminded that "dust thouart and to dust thou shalt return"?Nonetheless, Lent, with its focus on thesomber and more serious aspects of lifeand death, is a true reflection of the cycleof life. We often find in our own lives thatperiods of great joy and peace arefollowed by periods of great sorrow andunrest only to be followed again byrenewed periods of joy and peace.

We are trying to reflect this cycle of .life in our preparation for the six somberSundays of Lent by holding a "Mardi-GrasSunday Celebration" on Sunday, March6th, before ..Shrove Tuesday and AshWedriesday. The services will be quitedifferent from what we usually experience.Stephen Hunt, our choir director andorganist, is planning on something totallypraise and gospel music. It will begin witha procession led by Chip Keech and histrumpet playing "When the Saints GoMarching In," and it will include childrenand others handing out the gaily coloredbeads of Mardi-Gras to members of thecongregation.

This promises to be an especiallylively and enthusiastic worship time. Inthe best tradition of "fishing for disciples"we encourage you to invite friends, co­workers, and neighbors to join us for theseservices. We are giving you notice extraearly so you will be able to "talk it up" tothose you know who might be interested inseeing St. Paul's or in learning more aboutour worship services and having theopportunity to meet the people who makeup this parish.

Special Mardi-Gras cake and dessertswill be available at coffee hour. Hope tosee you there!

**********************************

NEW CARE NOTES BROCHURES •••

... are available in the rack in the foyer.Please take any that may be helpful to you.

**********************************

MINISTRIES FOR FEBRUARY ..;

February 6February 13February 20February 27,

,ALTAR GUILD

Margaret LemanLaura ShanklinPeggy GoldsmithBecky Hackley·Lois Keech

Jane FruhLinda Hurd JPam Smith

COUNTERS

Peggy GoldsmithVal CarterJoe GuySewell TruitteDonnie Garner

Paula TruitteFred CavanaughMike Fritz

8 O'CLOCK

!

LEM(S) and LECTORS

Fern BrownFred RitterMelinda BroJnDon Wilson

2nd LESSON READERSRon CrittendenStephanie BerryGregory Reeyes

Joan Crittenden

ACOLYTES

Diane RichardsJoan CrittendenSkip RolandDana Crittenden

USHER(S)

Gregory ReevesKen and Val CarterFern BrownGuy SmithVicky Mumford

-GREETER(S)Dora BuntingPhil & Judy HamiltonLois Keech

COFFEE HOUR

."......1 10:15 A.M.

LECTORS

Laurie JaffeRuth GaumondClarence St. JohnFred Cavanaugh2nd LESSON READERS

Joseph FlynnDoug WhiteSean HeylJane Fruh

LEMS

Laurie JaffeRuth GaumondClarence St. JohnFred CavanaughSusan Parody

Charles GaumondLaurie JaffeDeborah Brown

ACOLYTES

Paula TruitteJohn Sackman, Jr.Wesley HamiltonMadison CarrollBen Kettner

John Sackman, Sr.Eric HamiltonSam Truitt

Wesley Hamilton

Eric HamiltonDan KettnerJustin Truitt

USHER(S)

Greg & Donna FergusonLorraine BerryLynn & Sallie LyonsDavid & Shelley CulhaneWeslev Hamilton

GREETER(S)

Fred & Linda CavanaughGreg & Donna FergusonLorraine BerryJoyce Scofield

NURSE:RY

Amy LemanLinda EppNicole BurroughsRachel Gardiner

Nicole Burroughs

Rachel GardinerAmy LemanNicole Burroughs

COFFEE HOUR:

Cheryl WilliamsKay LaughtonLynn & Sallie LyonsSewell & Paula Truitte

Susan Parody

Ed & Laurie JaffeJoyce & G.O. LyonCarol Lord

FebruaryI

SundayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday

-

1 2345,Each Sunday ~. 9:30 am,Sam H.E. Prayer Shawl Ministry

9 am Adult Choir Rector attends Region9:30 am 5.5.

VI Clergy Meeting10:15 am H.E.

7pmBible Study6pm

Handchimes7pm

Adult Choir6

7891011128:30 am

Provide dinner for Piney Men's GroupAngel's Watch 9:30 am - 3:30 pm

ShelterVestry Retreat6pm

Handchimes''"f''I;.

7pmBible Study 7 pmAdult Choir

13141516171819

9:30 amRector attends12:15 pm

10 amEucharistEPISTLE Prayer Shawl MinistryDiocesan CouncilVestry Meeting at Charles CountyDEADLINE!9:30 am

RetreatNursing Home 6pm

Staff MeetingLadies' Night Out atThe Royal Tea Room

6pmHandchimes7 pm

Bible Study La Plata7 pmAdult Choir

20212223242526

7 pm

6pmHandchimesPiney Book Club

at Kathv Fornadley's7pmBible Study 7 pmAdult Choir

2728

Rector:

The Right Rev. John Bryson Chane

The Bishop of Washington

The Rev. Dr. Joy Rose, TSSFPhone: 301-934-8001

Email: reviovroseCa:!aol.com

Parish Office:FAX:

Email:

Web Page:

Office Hours:

301-645-5000

301-638-5894

PinevParish@aol.com'NWW. PinevParish. ora

Tuesday ~ Friday,

9:30 am - 2:30 pm

Senior Warden: Kristin Sackman,

Junior Warden: Don Garner,

Cemetery Director: Phil Hamilton,Facilities Coordinator:

Donna Ferguson,

301-392-9367

301-934-5275

301-645-5327

301-934-3127