Blogs

November 15 9am-3:30pm with lunch provided

November 16 Joint worship with Ebenezer at CHUMC

The Ebenezer Capitol Hill Cooperative Council (ECHCPC) grounds its work and discernment in the Walk to Emmaus passage (Luke 24). As two travelers walked from Jerusalem to Emmaus after the death of Jesus, they talked and discussed all that had happened. Jesus appeared to them along the way and asked them what they were discussing, but they did not recognize him. Their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus when they came together to the table and broke bread.

The Ebenezer Capitol Hill Cooperative Parish came together for the Cooperative Conversations in September to share hopes and concerns about being in shared ministry. Now we move forward on our journey with our Reconciliation Retreat on November 15-16. On Saturday, we will once again meet with diversity trainers from the Kaleidoscope Institute to focus on dialogue and discernment around where the two congregations have been in the past (our individual congregations’ histories), where we are now (our shared reality), and where we want to be (vision for the future). Ebenezer and CHUMC will do this together, meeting 9am to 3:30pm with lunch provided. Then, on November 16, the two congregations will worship together at CHUMC with Rev. Dr. Eric Law, director of the Kaleidoscope Institute and Episcopal priest, preaching. 

Please  plan to attend; your participation in this process is vital. 

Over the past year, our congregation has been engaged in defining what building improvements would best advance ministry.  You've given input this past January during Vision 2010.  You've given input during the House Meetings.  Now, we've taken the first step of synthesizing that input into a document. 

The attached document presents several proposed building projects.  Each project addresses not only a specific building need, but also a ministry enhanced by that project.  A budget cost is included for each project.  The document also proposes what projects may be included in the 2009 capital campaign in order of priority.

Our desire is for CHUMC's building to outwardly reflect who we are as "church."  The vision is for our building to honor our commitment of inclusion for all people, to welcome strangers and members alike, to be open to for use in partnership with community organizations, and to nurture our commitment to social justice by giving us space to minister in new and creative ways. 

This document is just a first step in defining projects for the capital campaign.  All of the projects will be further defined by you.  We would love your feedback.  If you have any questions or comments, please contact Pastor Alisa, or Thomas Rainer at trainer@ovsla.com. 

Download the PDF here.  

This is a reminder that our church’s charge conference will be this Saturday, November 8^th from 1:00 pm to 3:00pm at the United Methodist Church of the Redeemer in Temple Hills, MD.   (Directions are below.)

At this meeting, we will set our pastor's compensation package for 2009, vote on four candidates for ordained ministries, and have an opportunity to share the signs and wonders that are happening at CHUMC.  While all are invited to attend the meeting, only members of the charge conference will be allowed to vote.

The Baltimore-Washington conference are holding charge conference meetings in a "cluster" format.   On Saturday, four churches are holding their charge conference meetings at the Church of the Redeemer in Temple Hills -- CHUMC, Ryland-Epworth UMC, Christ UMC, and Grace UMC.   All four churches will worship together from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.   In addition, we will have time to fellowship together.   Worshipping together will be well-worth the short trip to Temple Hills!

Again, this important annual meeting will be held at the United Methodist Church of the Redeemer in Temple Hills, Maryland this Saturday from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.  Please consider attending.

The directions from CHUMC to the Church of the Redeemer are as follows:

1.       From CHUMC, head south on Pennsylvania Ave SE (2.3 miles)

2.       Turn right at Branch Ave SE (2.2 miles)

3.       Turn right at Iverson St (1.4 miles)

4.       Make a u-turn at 19^th Ave (322 ft)

5.     The church is at 1901 Iverson St, Temple Hills MD. 

 Thank you!

CHUMC Family,

As announced in church on Sunday, you are invited to a CHUMC House Party. We hope you’ll be able to fit one of these events into your busy schedules. As we ontinue to grow as a church, events like these allow
us to connect with our pastor and with one another to discuss our
church’s past, present and future. Please join us!

Who: You! Everyone in the congregation is invited to attend one of the house parties. There's even an opportunity for our CHUMC kids to participate.

What/Why: The house parties have two purposes. We will fellowship with our new pastor, Alisa Lasater, and share with her our church’s identity, strengths, and challenges. We will also discuss how CHUMC is living out the call to be the heart of God in the community and dream together about what the church building should look like in order to better answer that call.

When/Where: We’ve provided a diversity of times, dates and locations. Options listed below.

RSVP to Abbey Levenshus with which event works best for your schedule. Your host will be in touch with more details.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19
Host: Sam and Sue Marullo
Time: 6 – 7:30 p.m.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 20
Hosts: Ray and Sandy Smith,
Roy and Eleanor Jensen
Location: Church Parlor
Time: 2 – 3:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21
Host: Abbey Levenshus
Time: 6:30 – 8 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22
Hosts: Becky and Aaron Tallent
Location: Church Parlor
Time: 7 – 8:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23
Host: Jessica Lundberg and
Brian and Laura Rossbert
Time: 7 – 8:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26 - Special Kids' House Party
Host: Laura Bensman and the Sunday School Teachers
Location: Sunday School rooms at CHUMC
Time: 10 - 10:45 a.m.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26
Host: Judy Boyd  Time: 6:00 – 7:30

RSVP to Abbey Levenshus with which event works best for your schedule. Your host will be in touch with more details.

Dear CHUMC,

It is with joy that I announce that Dottie Yunger has completed her seminary internship as Student Associate here at CHUMC as of September 7. While her official duties and worship requirements were actually completed in May, she graciously agreed to remain as our worship leader this summer to aide Pastor Alisa and the congregation in our pastoral transition. Dottie will continue in her role as staff to the Ebenezer Capitol Hill Cooperative Parish, coordinating Parish activity and leading the Parish congregations through our Diversity training this fall. On behalf of the Staff Parish Relations Committee and Rev. Alisa we offer you thanks for being a part of Dottie's formation and preparation for ministry, just as we thank Dottie for allowing us to walk with her on this journey. Beginning Sunday September 14, worship leadership will be rotated among our declared Seminarians.