O n t h e H o r iz on "Where life is shared and people are renewed." From Our Pastor Mill Creek Parish United Methodist Church 7101 Horizon Terrace Derwood, MD 20855 301-926-9024 www.mcprainbow.org August Calendar Highlights: 9:30 a.m. - Worship Service 11:00 a.m. - Sandwich Making 1st Sunday of the month only Aug. 1 - Last Day of VBS Aug. 3 - Friendship Day Aug. 7 - New Member Orientation Aug. 13 - Baptism/New Member Reception Aug. 21 - Senior CitizenвЂ™s Day Aug. 27 - Global Forgiveness Day Aug. 30-Sept. 1 - Labor Day Weekend Inside this Issue: Worship Schedule, Birthdays, WOW 2 Derwood Open 3-4 News & VBS 5 Youth/Mission Trips 6-7 News 8 Calendar 9 VBS Mission 10 2014 GETTING TO KNOW YOU, GETTING TO KNOW ALL ABOUT YOU, GETTING TO LIKE YOU, GETTING TO HOPE YOUвЂ™LL LIKE ME. Many of you will recognize these famous lyrics sung by Anna in the The King and I. As I sit to write, my head is swirling with all that has happened in my first month with you as your pastor. I officially started July 1st and on that day for several hours I sat with the staff and asked many questions about Mill Creek Parish and its rich history. I have since met with the Trustees, Finance Committee and Church Council...rumor is those meetings have never gone that late into the night before. All part of the getting to know you phase of our relationship as I ask many more questions trying to understand processes; why we do what we do and how we do what we do. There is a long learning curve for pastors who step into the life of a church as a virtual stranger. I ask for your patience and understanding. You will be noticing some subtle changes and some not so subtle. I am grateful to Susan Andrews for her work, over the years, to get information out regarding our prayer chain. After meeting with her and your Lay Leader and Staff Parish Chair, I shared that I see the prayer chain as a critical part of my role as your pastor. I want to respond to your hurts, concerns and grief as well as your joys. We have worked hard in this last month to update the churchвЂ™s database so we can be much more efficient in our communication with you. Again, I ask your patience as we are integrating three different lists while including your updated info. These things take time; I am relearning lessons in patience...I want to be in a certain place right now but it is going to take a bit of time to get there. Great thanks to the staff who are working so hard to make these changes a reality. Hopefully you are getting to know me as well...worship, sermons, conversations are a great start. The small group meetings that the Staff Parish Committee have set up will be excellent opportunities for 12 of us to have conversations about the church and our dreams and visions. Some of the groups have filled already. Please sign up if you have not done so already...if we need to set up additional times we can easily do that...I look forward to those gatherings and let me thank the hosts in advance. As United Methodists, we are part of an appointed system. The Bishop and cabinet make decisions about what pastor will serve what congregation. Some of you have heard me say that it is like an arranged marriage. It is up to each party to make it work with GodвЂ™s help. I am committed to be in your midst fully. I stepped out on faith and bought a home in the Mill Creek Towne neighborhood. I am excited to own my very first home. The place has been painted, carpet laid, fence installed and the furniture and boxes have been delivered. It will take me quite some time to make it mine but I am on my way. Thanks to all who helped to get me settled. I hope you are as excited as I am about this new relationship that God has called us into. Pray with me that with the guidance of the Spirit, we will journey together to find what God has in store for us as we move into the future. Grace and Peace, Rev. Debbie Scott Page 2 On t h e Ho ri z o n Summer Adventure To Mary Beth Walsh, new grandma to Samson Scott Doyle, Jr. (вЂњSJвЂќ) born to Erin Welsh Doyle and Samson Scott Doyle on July 2, 2014! Still want some fellowship and fun over the summer? WeвЂ™ll be meeting at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays downstairs in room 6 for video discussion and fellowship. Topics for discussion will vary. This will be followed by Tai Chi on video for those who wish to stay. Wellness on Wednesdays Returns Join us for stretching, meditation, prayer, fellowship, etc. starting at 9:30 a.m. and then stick around for special presenters at 10:30. Feel free to come for whatever portions you can get to. Aug. 27 Judy DвЂ™agostino An Introduction to Yoga (bring a towel or yoga mat) Sept. 3 Sept. 10 Sept. 17 Sept. 24 Rev. Ann Staal вЂњAncient Churches of EthiopiaвЂќ Karen White, RN, FACN вЂњPerspectives of DementiaвЂќ Robert Bancroft, MCP Building Mgr. вЂњPerspectives of a Civil Engineer Jacquie Church-Young, Dir. Youth Now , Lancaster Theological Seminary Worship Schedule Rev. Deb Scott preaching, unless otherwise noted. 9:30 am service* Aug. 3 - 8th Sunday after Pentecost Holy Communion - VBS Celebration Aug. 10 - 9th Sunday after Pentecost Texts: Romans 10:5-15, Matthew 14:22-33 Aug. 17 - 10th Sunday after Pentecost Baptism/New Member Reception Texts: Romans 11:1-2a, Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 Aug. 24 - 11th Sunday after Pentecost Texts: Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:13-20 Pastor Kay Barger Preaching Aug. 31 - 12th Sunday after Pentecost Texts: Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 16:21-28 Crystal Rice Preaching *First Sunday sandwich making at 11:00 a.m. for the menвЂ™s homeless shelter. TBD Please wish a Happy Birthday to the following special persons: 8/1: Blaise DeFazio, Christina Kingsley 8/2: William Thomas 8/4: Erin Madruga 8/6: Holly Carroll, Melina Columba, Ken Dahlin 8/8: Claire Christman 8/9: Jessie OвЂ™Connor 8/10: Craig College, Michael Koshy, Laura Mowl, Frank Parker 8/11: Jeanne Reilly 8/12: Julia Goetz 8/13: Adam Hare 8/14: Holly Pothier, Andrea Reilly, Daniel Russell 8/15: Sue Mabry, Matthew Siegelman 8/17: Allison Craft, Deborah Fritts, Carolyn Thurber, Evan Van Snik 8/18: Carolyn Morningstar, Sue Thackston 8/19: Jill Singhaus, James Tisdell 8/20: Bekka Inglefield, Sean Moon, Nancy Sanchez, 8/21: Trevor Gingrich, Denise Unterman 8/22: Mike Higgins, Rev. Deb 8/24: Brooke Jones 8/27: Dick Kirklin, Grace Murrin, Holly Whelan 8/28: Cathy Jones, Elena Reyes 8/29: Chad Jones, Jesse Miller, Mark Unger 8/30: Ryan Zanni 8/31: Ann Dahlin Page 3 " W h er e l if e i s sh ar e d a n d p e op le ar e ren ew e d . " Derwood Open On June 9, 2014, 88 golfers converged on Laytonsville Golf Course for the 9th Annual Derwood Open. Met in the parking lot by MCP youth to carry their clubs, the golfers headed off to registration. The smiling MCP staff checked them in, registered them for door prizes, gave them gifts and sold them Mulligans (every golfer's friend!). At 9:00, all golfers headed off to their starting spot on the course for the tournament which included, in addition to the standard golf, a beat the pro contest, chipping contest and a contest where they attempted to hit an island green built for the tournament and floated in the pond. Afterwards, the golfers regaled each other with stories of the great shots that almost were, while enjoying lunch, awards and door prizes. The tournament is a major fundraiser for the youth mission trip to Appalachia, and this year raised about $14,300 to that end, with another $1200 going to the Montgomery County Agricultural Farm Park and the Derwood Lions Club. The profits are about a third from golfer registrations and two thirds from sponsors. The sponsors are listed in this newsletter - if you do business with one be sure to thank them for supporting the Derwood Open. It's always a risk to list the people to thank because with such a long list it's easy to overlook someone, but I'm going to give it a try. If I left you off, please forgive me (and still come back to help next year!). This year's Derwood Open could not have occurred without the efforts of Susan Andrews, Bob Bancroft, Kevin Burroughs, Dave Ceely, Claire Christman, Amanda Gaut, Chris Gaut, Hal Gaut, Holly Gaut, Adrian Haught, Paul Hobelmann, Bekka Inglefield, Jon Inglefield, Jake Kuserk, Linda Kuserk, Kendall Luhn, Larry Luhn, Christina Martin, Sue Martin, Martha Maxham, Ward Parr, Joe Ralli, and Courtney Romanowski. Thanks to Our Derwood Open Sponsors Once again we had a great Derwood Open in large part due to our sponsors. Please consider any of these services in thanks for supporting us! Platinum Sponsors: American Tire Distributors Halethorpe, MD 800-638-5185 www.atd-us.com Tires, wheels and a whole lot more! ATCO Tire Company 21419 Laytonsville Rd. Laytonsville, MD 20882 301-926-2826 www.AtcoTire.com Tires, Auto & Light Truck Service Barry Murrin RE/Max Pros-Germantown www.BarryMurrin.com ABR, CDPE, CRS, GRI вЂњA Determined SoulвЂќ Continental Tire www.conti-online.com Making tomorrowвЂ™s mobility possible today. Executive Wholesale Tire 750 East Gude Dr. Rockville, MD вЂў Tires, Wheels & Accessories - Foreign or Domestic вЂў Precision Wheel Balancing в—Џ Custom Exhaust & Front End Alignments SPARKS www.SparksHR.com Specializing in the staffing and recruitment of Administrative, Accounting & Finance, and IT professionals throughout the DC/Baltimore Metropolitan region. Superior Communications, Inc. 704 East Gude Dr. Rockville, MD www.scicommo.com Experts in Mission Critical Communications. Page 4 On t h e Ho ri z o n Derwood Open Sponsors cont. from pg. 3 Gold Sponsors: Emergent BioSolutions, Inc. www. Emergent BioSolutions.com A biopharmaceutical company focused on vaccines and therapeutics that assist the bodyвЂ™s immune system to prevent or treat disease. Silver Sponsors: Bogart and Brownell of Maryland www.BogartAndBrownell.com Call today for a free no obligation home, auto or business quote from your local insurance agent at 301-444-4500 BG Products www.bgprod.com Providing the highest quality product and equipment for automotive professionals CHF Deck Co. 301-428-9748 www.CHFDeck.com Specializing in decks, screened porches, patios and hardscapes. Also windows and siding. Serving the area for over 20 yrs. Derwood Lions Club www.DerwoodLions.com 1st & 3rd Tuesdays at 7:00 pm at Outta the Way CafГ© Montgomery Central Derwood Lions have been serving the community since 1968 Goshen Animal Clinic 8357 Snouffer School Rd. Gaithersburg, MD 20879 301-977-5586 вЂњA Happy and Healthy Pet for a LifetimeвЂќ www.GoshenAC.com HanaganвЂ™s Inc. www.hanagans.com Tire & Auto Service A family owned and operated business proudly serving the Montgomery County area for over 30 years Hunter Engineering Company www.Hunter.com Manufacturer of the worldвЂ™s finest wheel service equipment. Wheel alignment systems, tire changers, wheel balancers, brake lathes. Dr. Richard Mattson Orthodontist 3412 N. High St. Olney, MD 301-924-2405 [email protected] Ken & Diane Brace Hal & Marilyn Gaut Mill Creek Parish MenвЂ™s Disciple Group Michelin Tire Lee Skaggs, Aisha Barnes Laytonia Auto Service Martin Retirement Foreign & Domestic, Major & Minor Repairs A full-service retirement & employee Mill Creek Parish Preschool Half-Day Programs for 2, 3 & 4 yr. olds 7979 Muncaster Mill Rd. Gaithersburg, MD 20877 301-975-0024 Extended Day Options Available Afternoon openings for 2012-2013 year Call 301-926-3592 for more info. benefits plan, design & admin. firm Gaithersburg, MD 301-840-6550 The Parts Authority Auto Parts Superstores www.PartsAuthority.com Name brands! Quality parts! Complete coverage! All At Prices that CanвЂ™t Be Beat! Order Parts Online! PetroChoice www.petrochoice.com Total Fluids Management Star Cars Inc. Rockville, MD www.StarCarsInc.com If you are looking for the best deal on a pre-owned vehicle, you have come to the right place. We offer our customers 30 years of automotive experience in the used car business. W.P. Orsini, LLC A Landscape Maintenance Company Rockville, MD 301-460-8197 Other Supporters Adrian Haught Bill Seeman Bretton Woods Golf Course DrinkMore Custom Water Grey Goose Farm The Grille in Flower Hill Katherine Barnett, Merrill Lynch Mamma Lucia Norbeck Country Club The Outta the Way Cafe Red, Hot and Blue Safeway (Olney) Page 5 " W her e li f e is s h ar ed a n d p eo p le ar e r e ne wed ." New Member Orientation: If youвЂ™re interested in joining Mill Creek Parish UMC there will be a new member orientation session at church on Thursday, August 7 at 7:00 p.m. New members will be received on Sunday, August 17. New Carpeting Installed During July, new carpeting was installed in both the office area and the sanctuary. 566 sq. yards of carpet tiles were installed for $20,000. Thanks to everyone who was involved in moving furniture and equipment in and out of the offices and the sanctuary and to everyone who made monetary donations that allowed for this most needed updating to occur. A Peek at Workshop of Wonders VBS 2014 Page 6 On t h e Ho ri z o n Youth Calendar Monday, Aug. 4th & Wed. Aug. 6th: Painting the Youth Room 10a.m.-2 p.m. We will be painting furniture and walls, repairing couches and doing a big clean. Lunch will be provided. This is open to all youth. Wednesday, Aug. 20th: Hershey Park Outing We will meet at church at 7 a.m. and depart for Hershey Park. We will return around 10 p.m. This is open to all youth. Sunday, Aug. 31st: Youth & Parent Info. Meeting 11 a.m. We will meet in the Sanctuary. At this meeting we will discuss the upcoming year, go over calendar items and more. This is for all youth who will be in grades 6-12 this fall and their parents. Outreach Opportunities Sunday, Aug. 3rd: Sandwich Making Hang out after service to make bag lunches for the menвЂ™s homeless shelter. SSL hours available. Appalachia Service Project On June 14-21, 23 youth and 12 adults headed to Chapmanville WV, to serve on the Appalachia Service Project with other youth and adults from north of Pittsburg Pa. Chapmanville is located south of Charleston, WV where the biggest industry is the coal mines. As with all missions, our purpose was to be the hands and feet of Christ to the world. We had the opportunity to build relationships with God, those whom we served, and those that served alongside us. Through that we were able to make some repairs to some of the homes in the Chapmanville area. We were down there on week one out of the seven weeks the Appalachia Service Project will be in Chapmanville. This meant that we were able to start all the projects planned for the residents. Our group built a couple porches, replaced some floors, and sub floors, repaired or replaced band joists around the home, and did some work on piers and foundations. These projects were ones that challenged many of our youth physically, but several of them were gratified to learn a new skill and accomplish a task they may not have been able to do before. How did we encounter and see God through all this? One of the main ways God was present was through the people we served. One gentleman said вЂњIt is great to know there are still good people out there, that would volunteer their time to help those in need.вЂќ Additionally, many of our residents were more than appreciative, going out of their way to serve with us by helping with the project, or by providing food & drinks and opening their homes to us. You could see God through our youth. They just finished school shortly before heading to a place they had never been. They served people they didnвЂ™t know for a week out in the heat, and slept on the floor of a school. They did it without complaining and with a true servantвЂ™s heart, not expecting anything in return. Many of us saw God in a man named Louie. Louie or Lou, as we knew him, was the snow cone man. He served all of the youth and adults at the camp by going to all 11 sites every day with his snow cone trailer. He made snow cones for everyone at the sites including even the residents and especially the 12 kids in one neighborhood. He was a true God sighting. He always showed up at the right time, mainly when we were hot and tired and needed a break. Not only did he share his snow cones, but he always made sure to share God with us and those we were serving. All in all the week was great. God was at work in Chapmanville through the 80+ people from MD and PA who were there that week to serve with the Appalachia Service Project. " W h er e l if e i s sh ar e d a n d p e op le ar e ren ew e d . " Page 7 вЂњStories of TransformationвЂќ- Mid High Mission Trip Review The week July 20, 13 of our Middle High youth and 6 adults had the opportunity to serve in York, PA. We were engaged in various projects in the community. Some groups served in Nursing homes, some in the communityвЂ™s вЂњHopeвЂќ garden, and some served at residentвЂ™s homes. Each project had its own impact on the community. The вЂњHopeвЂќ garden is in the urban community of York and is associated with a school. Their mission is to work with inner city youth to teach them to work the land and learn about living off the land, through growing vegetables, planting plants, and following a curriculum where they use the garden in their math and science lessons. The groups that served there helped clean up the garden by spreading gravel, moving things, doing a major weeding project, and working alongside the youth to help pick and plant. Being active in the nursing homes in the community seems relatively easy, but the groups that served there made a larger impact then they know. Whether they were leading activities, visiting residents, or just playing games with them, it was an experience the youth and residents will never forget. The coordinator of one of the nursing homes told us that it may not seem like they made an impact, but the residents love seeing and hearing well-mannered, Godly youth in the building, as it gives them a hope for the future of our nation. Those youth are going to be leading our country. Working on a residentвЂ™s home is always a challenge, but it is an area in which you can see the results of your labor. The groups that were there, had the opportunity to clean up the residentsвЂ™ homes and yardsвЂ”projects the residents could not do on their own. This opens the door to spend time with the residents, and to hear a little about their stories, and to share the love of Jesus with them through your actions. These people love having people there to talk to and interact with as they donвЂ™t get many visitors. The theme of our week in York was, вЂњStories of Transformation.вЂќ We were challenged by that throughout the week. We were challenged to be a story of transformation to the community of York, doing this through our service and being the hands and feet of Christ. We were also challenged to help their own lives become a story of transformation. Stories of transformation from the Bible like those of Zaccheaus, Saul, and Ananias, were used as examples of how God can use ordinary people, even sinners, and transform their lives into lives of service and devotion to him. All in all it was an amazing week. God was truly at work in York. Through the youth and adults that served on the mission teams, to the residents we served. Not only did they see GodвЂ™s love in us, but they also taught us about the love of Christ. It was truly a week of transformation. More College Graduates Stephanie Haslbeck graduated from Bryant University in May 2014 with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and a minor in communications. Erin Reilly-Sanders, daughter of Scott and Jeanne Reilly, will receive her Ph.D. in Education from The Ohio State University at its August commencement. ErinвЂ™s dissertation is titled вЂњDrawing Outside the Bounds: Tradition and Innovation in Depictions of the House in ChildrenвЂ™s Picturebooks.вЂќ She lives in Hilliard, Ohio with her husband Corey Sanders and their 9 month old daughter, Elora. Jasmine Scott graduated from McDaniel College with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with an Emphasis in Criminal Justice. Jessie Wayne graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies and Human Services with a Minor in Psychology Page 8 On t h e Ho ri z o n Fall Bible StudyвЂ”Christian Faith 101 This bible study explores basic topics of Christian faith and discipleship. It is organized around the MCP confirmation preparation curriculum, which address the following topics: *God *Jesus *The Holy Spirit *Worship *The Bible *Saints and Gifts *Our Spiritual Journey *Ministry *Baptism *Spiritual Living *Death & Resurrection The course will consist of 14 three-hour weekly sessions. We will meet Tuesday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 9, 2014. In addition to discussing each of the above topics, the study will provide an historical and geographical context for the birth and evolution of our faith. The course will begin with a brief overview of human history, focusing on the history of the ancient Middle East. Using a variety of maps, the geography of the region will be described, including a description of the great empires of the Middle East and Europe. With this as background, we will explore the considerable influence of the Roman Empire on early Christianity, the history of Judaism and the Jewish people, how and why early writings were included in the Bible, factors that influenced the growth of Christianity during the first few centuries, and many other subjects. The course will also consider the similarities and differences between Christianity and the worldвЂ™s other great religions. Finally, in addition to an in depth study of JesusвЂ™ teachings and ministry, the lives and ministries of other great figures in Christian history - from Saul of Tarsus to Dietrich Bonhoeffer - will be described. The course is intended to be inspiring, informative, and fun. Although there will be some reading and other assignments, the amount of homework required is relatively light compare to most Bible studies. The course content is appropriate for all Christian disciples, and does not require an extensive knowledge of the Bible or Christian doctrine. The course will be limited to 10-15 participants. Please contact Brian Walden ([email protected], 301-460-4885) if you are interested in participating in the course. Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee: Small Group Meetings with Rev. Deb Throughout the month of August, we will all have the opportunity for gather in a small group with our new Senior Pastor, Rev. Deb. These small groups will be a way for Rev. Scott to get to know us individually and corporately. The gatherings will be an opportunity for us to discuss various issues of importance to us and to Mill Creek Parish with the goal of providing Rev. Deb a better understanding of the life of our church. There will be sign-up sheets available in the lobby area at church. Please review the variety of dates/times, locations available, and sign up! Some gatherings will take place at the church; others will be in the homes of the S/PPRC members. Your Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee encourages everyone to participate. More dates/times will be added throughout August and into September as needed, to accommodate busy summer schedules. We encourage all who are part of the Mill Creek Parish community to attend, including confirmands, youth and young adults as well as older adults. Come join in the discussion to get to know Rev. Deb and have her get to know you! Parking Lot Repairs ItвЂ™s hard to believe that our вЂњnewвЂќ parking lot is actually 15 years old and in those years it has aged considerably. Unfortunately nothing has been done in those 15 years to care for and preserve it due to ongoing financial challenges. So this August, Trustees are in the process of receiving bids to repair, reseal and restripe the parking lot. Our hope is to have this work done before the school starts. The lot will need to be closed while this work is going on. We apologize for any inconvenience but we appreciate your understanding. This will probably be at least a $20,000 project. Please stay tuned for more details. Our Regular With Sunday Adventure (6) 10 am Summer 26 10 am Summer Adventure (6) 19 7 pm SPRC (W) 10 am Summer Adventure (6) 12 9:30 am Worship & Sunday School 25 18 11 10 am Summer Adventure (6) 5 Tuesday 31 11 am Youth Info Meeting 9:30 am Worship & Sunday School 24 9:30 am Worship & Sunday School 17 9:30 am Worship & Sunday School Deadline 10 Newsletter 11 am Sandwich Making (S) 10 am Youth Room 9:30 am Worship, Sunday School & Worship Painting (7) 4 Monday 3 Sunday School For All Fall Schedule 9:30 am WOW Intro to Yoga 27 20 7:30 pm Finance Team (8) 13 10 am Youth Room Painting (7) 6 Wednesday Ages! Will Resume 28 21 14 7 pm New Member Orientation (W) 7 Thursday August 2014 September 7 29 22 15 8 1 Friday 30 23 16 9 2 Saturday " W h er e l if e i s sh ar e d a n d p e op le ar e ren ew e d . " (Calendar Subject to Change) Page 9 Mill Creek Parish United Methodist Church вЂњTo witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ in all the world, while worshiping God, and striving for truth, justice and peace.вЂќ 7101 Horizon Terrace Derwood, MD 20855 www.mcprainbow.org The newsletter is published twelve times per year. Items for publication should be VBS Mission 2014вЂ” submitted by the 10th of each month. 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 9:30 Sunday School for all ages Preschool through Adult Nursery provided Books For Zimbabwe The mission for this yearвЂ™s Vacation Bible School (which finishes up Aug. 1) is to collect gently used Senior Pastor: Debbie Scott (or new) books, suitable for ages 4-12, to send to 8 United (E-mail: [email protected]) Methodist Primary Schools in eastern Zimbabwe. Books will be Minister of Christian Ed: Martha Maxham (E-mail: [email protected]) shipped in September so we invite you to donate books toward Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries Kevin Burroughs (E-mail: [email protected]) Office Mgr. & Newsletter Ed. Ethelyn Christopher (E-mail: [email protected]) Church E-mail address: [email protected] this cause as well! Please no textbooks, magazines, coloring or activity books. Deadline for donation is August 17. Books in English are expensive and scarce in Zimbabwe but are invaluable in helping the students master English, which will allow them to get better jobs in the future. If you prefer, you can donate cash which will help defray the cost of shipping the books. For more information you can go to the website at: http://www.annmorrisinzimbabwe.net/