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of Bowie Home Page| United Church of Christ | Presbyterian |
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| Carl O. Bickel, Ph.D. Pastor Office (301)249-6411 Home (301)249-5885 |
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MITCHELLVILLE AND MT. OAK ROADS
Church School 10:00 a.m. Worship 11:00 a.m. |
One of our college students was recently stopped by the
police. For speeding. To church, our church. Her mother, riding
with her, protested to the officer, saying, I suppose, something
along the lines of, She's just a good kid eager to get to
church. Why don't you go get a drug dealer or a thief?
The
officer was sympathetic and gave the young woman a warning rather
than a ticket. Whether she would have received a ticket had the
mother not protested, is unknown. Actually, the headline above
this story is misleading. I wanted, however, to keep pace with the
often sensationalized news reporting of events in and around
Bowie.
A young person stopped by police for speeding to church. What a metaphor! Of course, we're all against speeding and reckless driving. Still, a church should be not a dreaded, boring place to which we drive at the slowest possible pace. We want to have worship to which people look forward, not endure. I hope we're succeeding.
Carl Bickel, Pastor
by Shirley K. Bickel, c. 1997
I His skin balloon smooth
punctured by needles and vital hookups
imprison this grown-up on the gurney
headed for the operating room.
Legal documents signed away his rights.
No admittance signs will isolate me.
Yet I cling to the moving doctor's arm,
"But he's my son."
II
The Romans throw dice
for the garments I wove
not so long ago. I know
the mantle means nothing to them,
a moment's sport at the most.
If only I could have his mantle,
I'd wrap myself at night
and remember his growing up days
before the miracles and crowds.
Still as a stone I am.
The soldiers ignore me,
this crazy woman
heaped on the ground
as if beseeching the "gods."
On my knees pleading, pleading.
Only God must hear my pleas,
"But he's my son."
III
Without food for forty days,
tempted by Satan. Rejected
by the religious authorities,
yet he never strayed from the prophesy
he came to fulfill.
Now, betrayed and forsaken
by those who knew him best.
He never harmed another being.
How could they condemn him to death?
Drop your whips, you puppets of power.
You've no right to tear his head
with thorns. Stop pounding nails
into his flesh. Give him a drink.
Don't leave him there
for vultures to feast.
How can I make you see?
I'll hide the sun and shake the earth,
rip apart the temple veil.
I'll open the tombs, make the dead to walk.
Clothed in darkness, perhaps you'll see,
"He's my son.
But he's my son."
Seven young people have completed this course of study with the Pastor begun in September and were confirmed on Palm Sunday, March 23. Members of the group are Elizabeth Murray, Ben Buss, Maxwell Hathaway, Charissa Bickel, Chris Sheppard, Hanna Simpson, and John Hanner. Confirmation involves confirming the vows taken on their behalf by their parents at the time the young people were baptized or dedicated. The class studies the New Testament, the Old Testament, church history, and ethical living.
A Youth Committee has been meeting since November to envision what our future youth ministry should be. Members of the Committee have interviewed many other U.C.C. and Presbyterian and other churches in the area. Denominational personnel have also met with the Committee, which expects to make a report to the Parish Board in May. The Committee is co-chaired by Jan Barbato and Brian Hunt. Other members are Kathy Busch, Donna Hanner, Chad Bickel and Nan Hathaway. If you have any ideas about our church's youth ministry, please contact one of the Committee members.
The church will be have a talent show for fun and fellowship on Sunday, April 20. Please save this evening and start honing your singing, comedic, performing, or other talents. Should be a great deal of fun. The evening will begin with a pot-luck at 6 p.m. Please sign in the narthex to indicate you are coming and if you will be providing some entertainment.
The church will soon be able to receive e-mail. In addition, its web site is now in operation. It soon will have a new address, which will be provided, as will, of course, its e-mail address, when operational.
Our Assistant Treasurer, Becky DeMao, reports that all of the personal notes used to finance construction of our building have now been retired. These notes originally amounted to more than $75,000. In late 1985 the church was completed at a total cost of approximately $550,000(building, land and furnishings). As of this date, the current indebtedness is approximately $109,000. The church could be debt-free in approximately three years. Our current rapid progress in eliminating our debt is due, of course, to the generosity and commitment of our church family and friends.
Christian Education has some really exciting projects going on right now. We are presently creating a church school directory so that we can easily see the composition of our classes. It will also allow us to create a birthday calendar. The second project we are working on is related to the Outreach Committee's goal to add new members to the church. We are starting in the month of March a project called, "Bring a friend to church." The program contains the following components:
We have also gotten a large file cabinet for storing materials. One of our goals for this file cabinet is to create some ready-made Activity Time projects, so check future newsletters for completion of this project.
If you have suggestions or would like to become a member of the Christian Education Committee, please let me know. We can always use new ideas and another set of helping hands.
Your Friend,
Lisa Ferrer
An Outreach Committee comprised of Gene Barbato (Chair) and the Chairs of the various committees of the church. The purpose of this committee is to accelerate the rate at which people are introduced to the church and find their place in it.
Pastor Bickel will lead this series of six sessions on special issues in this Gospel. We will give some attention to the so-called "Jesus Seminar" which has received a great deal of attention in the press. The sessions will begin May 4 at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning. Please sign up in the narthex.
The Junior High Youth Group (consisting of 7-9 bright, talented and enthusiastic kids) has begun meeting every other Saturday evening. The group is currently experimenting with the agenda of the meetings, including expanding meetings beyond twice a month and planning different activities. The meetings have included dinner, fellowship, Bible study and much fun.
The Senior High Youth Group has been having some joint meetings with St. Barnabus Episcopal Church in Upper Marlboro. Once a month in the gym at St. Barnabas is used by the combined groups. The United Parish group meets once a week, Sunday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
In April, Senior and Junior High Youths are meeting at the Barbato's, 1414 Pinelake Ln., on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. to watch a movie and for fellowship. Contact Jan Barbato or Brian Hunt for further information.