Carl O. Bickel, Ph.D.
Pastor
Office phone & fax (301)249-6411
Home phone (301)249-5885
Church School 10:00 a.m.
Worship 11:00 a.m.
web page http://www.unitedparishbowie.org
| United Church of Christ | Presbyterian |
|---|---|
|
Carl O. Bickel, Ph.D. Pastor Office phone & fax (301)249-6411 Home phone (301)249-5885 |
| MITCHELLVILLE AND
MT. OAK ROADS Church School 10:00 a.m. Worship 11:00 a.m. |
email pastor@unitedparishbowie.org web page http://www.unitedparishbowie.org |
| We invite you to worship with us at 11:00 a.m. on Sundays. A nursery is provided. We are affiliated with both the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the United Church of Christ. |
The theory is sometimes advanced that the influence of religion is waning in the world. Why is it then that virtually all of the issues we read about today either are at root religious or at least have an important religious dimension? Lets take a sample. First of all, terrorism today is incomprehensible apart from the motivation supplied by religion; the budget deficit is in part a response to the threat of terrorism, state-supported gambling is, at least for many people, a profoundly religious issue; homosexual rights is for most everyone an issue tied in some way with religion, and abortion is bound up with religion. To continue the recital, whether the Ten Commandments or manger scenes are allowed in the public square are obviously connected to religion; sex education in the public schools raises issues of religion; what government policy should be for the unemployed has religious dimensions, whether military academies should allow spoken prayers before meals is an obviously religious matter, whether President Bush's world view is too much influenced by evangelical Christians, the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, and on and on the list goes. As a matter of fact, it is hard to find an article in the newspaper that does not have a religious dimension or that is not at root a religious issue, even if the article does not deal with the religious sides of the story.
All important decisions in our lives are related to our views about God, even when we say we dont believe in God. Religion (or beliefs about God) is as inevitable to a living human being as it is inescapable that air enters the lungs upon inhalation. As human beings we are essentially religious. We all require, for the living of our lives, some unproven assumptions; our most root assumptions about life are religious.
Our society may be becoming de-Christianized, as some argue. However, our society or the world is not becoming void of religion. The only question is, What is the form and substance religion is taking?
Carl Bickel
Pastor, United Parish of Bowie
This Committee continues to deliver a monthly Sunday supper to the Family Crisis Center, a shelter for abused women and their children, thanks to the excellent support from UPB members, even in the summer months. The congregation participated in Christmas in April again, under the able leadership of Herb Sheppard. The Committee added $100 to complement the $100 donated by the congregation to defray meal costs of the Poor People's March re-enactors in late August. Currently, the committee is determining the allocation of the remainder of the $1200 given it by the Parish Board.
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The Women's Bible Study begins on Thursday, September 11th. The meeting will be held in the Church Library from 7:30-9:00 p.m. This year's study will focus on the Book of Proverbs. At our September session, Linda Hutchinson will present an overview of the Book of Proverbs. The Women's Bible Study meets September through June on the second Thursday of each month. These meetings are open to all interested women in the Community.
The Jr. High Youth Group, The Believers,
will meet Sunday, September 21st at the church from 6:30
p.m. to 8:00 p.m. All 6th, 7th and
8th graders are invited to come. We will play some
get-acquainted games, talk about plans for the coming year and
enjoy refreshments. See you there! The Jr. High Youth Group
was formed in the Fall of 2002. The goal is to create a
fellowship environment for 6th, 7th and
8th graders allowing them to socialize in a
Christian environment that promotes learning, service
opportunities and a healthy dose of fun. Here's some of the
activities we participated in during 2002-2003:
The tentative schedule for the 2003-2004 year is as follows:
| September 21, 2003 | Get Acquainted Games | |
| October 12, 2003 | Tales From the Crypt | |
| November 16, 2003 | What's Important | |
| December 14, 2003 | Christmas Pageant | |
| January 18, 2004 | Birthday Party | |
| February 15, 2004 | Indoor Camp Out (no overnight) | |
| March 21, 2004 | Special Gifts | |
| April 18, 2004 | TBD | |
| May 16, 2004 | Prepare for Church Picnic Games | |
| June 20, 2004 | Pool Party |
Hope to see all 6th, 7th and 8th Graders at the first Believers' meeting September 21st, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the church.
PRISM BRASS will be playing for our worship services about once a month, the next time being September 21st. Current members of Prism are Steve Haase and Matthew Bickel, trumpets; Aaron Moats, trombone; Jess Lightner, tuba; and Christian Johanson, french horn.
The Adult Choir begins their 2003-2004 season on September 14th. Rehearsals on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 have already begun. We will be telling the story of Christ's birth on December 14 at 11:00 a.m. through intergenerational participation of music, dramatic presentations and readings. A hymn sing will highlight the service on December 21. We will share the history and stories of some of our best-loved carols of the season. We also look forward to singing with the Prism Brass on the third Sunday of each month. All singers are welcomed to join in our musical ministry.
A crepe myrtle tree will be planted on the church property following the worship service on September 14th. The children of John and Barbara Lazur will be present for this ceremony. Barbara, among her many contributions to the life of the United Parish, over almost three decades was a member of the Outside Flower Committee. She and her husband died as a result of a car accident in North Carolina this past summer.
A new Confirmation Class will begin on Wednesday, September 24th. There will be 20-25 classes on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Pastor Carl Bickel will lead most of the sessions, which will cover the New Testament, the Old Testament, the History of the Christian Church, and Christian ethics today. Please sign up in the narthex or phone (301) 249-6411.
This series of meetings will deal with the beliefs of this Church, and how, through history, they have come to be. Such topics as the following will be discussed:
The course will meet seven times from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., beginning Tuesday, October 7th. It will be led by Pastor Carl Bickel. Please sign up in the narthex.
Have you ever wondered who wrote your favorite hymn? Or why it was written? Beginning September 14th, we will explore the history and stories behind some of the most beloved hymns we sing. Using resources from Ken Osbeck and others, we will gain some understanding of the circumstances surrounding these hymns. We will be singing through many of them as well. Please join us at 10:00 a.m. for this inspiring time of musical study. Diane Eades will lead this study. Please sign up in the narthex.
The general benefits of a sound arts education have been well researched and documented. It has been proven that arts education is vital to both young and old. However, there are few arts programs that target intergenerational collaboration and outreach to the community. One such program, the Mitchellville Community School of the Arts (MCSA), begins its second year this fall at the United Parish of Bowie. By providing arts education to our community, the Church will be providing a service desperately needed in our society.
From a small, cluttered off-site office, Executive Director Cheryl Nkeba operates the Mitchellville Community School of the Arts, an organization dedicated to making quality arts education accessible to every citizen. Mitchellville is an unlikely place to find such a broad and ambitious arts education program for children and adults. They are thriving in the big cities, Nkeba said. She has first-hand knowledge as a former music panel member of the Maryland State Arts Council and a graduate of the Arts Management in Community Institutions program (sponsored by the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts).
The Mitchellville Community School of the Arts offers visual arts, creative writing, and music. It offers private lessons on woodwinds, brass, guitar, piano, strings, painting, and drawing and group lessons on piano, small ensembles, handbells and creative writing. In addition, the MCSA is co-sponsoring a Community Ensemble with the Lake Arbor Foundation.
The courses start with preschoolers and continue through senior citizens. Research has shown that if children discover something that they are good at, everything else improves. It gives them focus and they find something they enjoy doing. Also, arts therapists and experts on aging tout arts programs' success as proof that seniors are ideally suited to absorb new knowledge and skills. Motivated and freed from daily pressures, they can learn to play music as well as or better than their grandchildren who often must be coerced into practicing.
MCSA will initially be housed at three locations. The Saturday program will be at The United Parish of Bowie; the Tuesday & Thursday program at Village Baptist Church and the Community Ensemble will rehearse at the Lake Arbor Golf Course in the Arbor Room.
The Lake Arbor Foundation and The Mitchellville Community School of the Arts will co-sponsor The Community Ensemble. This group is open to any resident of Lake Arbor and the surrounding area. The Community Ensemble will foster an intergenerational exchange and the joy of playing together. We will play movie themes, popular tunes, and standard repertoire. The only requirements are that one must love to play, bring an instrument and folding stand. Please bring a three-minuet selection to perform. At least one year of playing experience is recommended.
The Community Ensemble will rehearse on Saturday mornings from 9:00 a.m. through 10:15 a.m. following the public school schedule. Ensemble participation is free; however, there is an annual $35.00 registration fee. Limited registration fee waivers are available. For more information on any programs and an application, call 301-266-4980 or contact info@mitchellvillecsa.org.
Play Day pre-school is now accepting registration for 3 and 4 year old children for the school year 2003-2004. Play Day is a part of the United Parish of Bowie. It is designed to meet the pre-school needs of children through love and socialization in a pressure-free environment. Our Play Day curriculum teaches readiness skills in art, science, social studies, math, music, reading, and writing. There is a special emphasis on human values, socialization and practical skills. We have a fenced-in play yard with equipment for large muscle development, and field trips. Parent observation is always welcome. We care, we love and we play with children. For more information, please call Blanche Nash at Play Day, 301-249-7337.
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