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 |
| If you are new to the Bowie area, we invite you to worship with us at 11:00 a.m. on Sundays. A nursery is provided. Christian education for children, youth and adults is Sunday at 10 a.m. We are affiliated with bot th Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the United Church of Christ |
There are those who see life as a series of chance events. They believe that if there is a god, he is not involved in human affairs. When things go wrong , they have only themselves and others to look to for help. This attitude puts a great burden on human resources. However human resources alone are not adequate for dealing with the threats and tragedies of life. Such an attitude leads to anxiety, rage, and despair.
Another way of looking at life is to see it as affected by God. This view holds that our lives are created for a purpose, life has meaning and that God can work in our lives at all times,including times of suffering and tragedy. Those who believe in God as active in life rely not just on themselves or others but on God. Putting trust in God can lead to peace and security.
There have been times in my life when I have mostly thought it was all up to me. This worked alright as long as I had no significant problems. When things went badly, however, I was alone. However those times when I have known God to be present and active have been times of much greater peace.
People sometimes say, ``Go with God.'' The saying is occasionally on exit signs at Church parking lots. How fearsome it would be to ``Go without God.'' Such a thought makes me shudder.
May you know the power of God in your life and may you know that God is leading you.
Carl O. Bickel, Pastor
United Parish of Bowie
While standing in line to eat lunch at the Amish Market a woman behind me started chatting with me about the meat that is sold in the grocery part of the store. She was quick to say, ``I buy all of my meat here,'' and then she told me why it was such an ideal place to purchase meat. I never recall buying meat there, but the stranger's forthright recommendation made me think, ``Maybe I should try their butcher's shop sometime.''
After enjoying some sub sandwiches for lunch yesterday, Bobby, (my daughter's friend) was sitting in our family room when he asked one of my sons, Matt, if he'd like to play on a softball team being organized. Now Matt and Bobby are different ages, and they each have their own friends yet it seemed so easy for Bobby to ask, ``Would you like to play on a softball team?'' My son replied that he'd like to play, but he'd have to consider his schedule before deciding. Bobby continued by telling Matt where the team played and what kind of a record they held. It was a very low key sales pitch.
Several of us gals were talking after worship, and my one friend remarked she was having a terrible headache that had lasted for days. My other friend suggested her doctor to the one suffering with a migraine. ``I have such a good doctor. She spends time with you!''
In each of these situations a person was recommending something or someone to another person because the recommender had found something or another person commendatory. It just happens so naturally to suggest an excellent barber to a person wanting to find a better barber or to recommend a particular nursery school if a new neighbor has a preschooler.
Yet many of us are reluctant to mention to a friend or a new person at work something about our church which we value. We tend to think it's not any of our business if another person attends or does not attend church.
I'm reminded of this song, ``Pass It On,'' which was written thirty-some years ago. It's message is still timely.
I wish for you, my friend, this happiness
I've found;
you can depend on Him, it matters not where
you're bound.
I'll shout it from the mountaintop; I want my world to
know;
The Lord of love has come to me, I want to
pass it on.
The church has been a strong link for me to get connected and stay connected with the God made known in Jesus Christ. When I was growing up back in the corn and wheat fields of Ohio we often took a neighbor girl to church with us because her parents did not attend church regularly, if ever. Well that spark of God's merciful love ignited in Anna, and she's been active in the church all of her married life.
When we settle into a relationship with God, I think we discover a satisfaction, a challenge, and a depth of happiness we can not find anywhere else. The above song declares, ``That's how it is with God's love; once you've experienced it; you spread his love to everyone; you want to pass it on.'' Did you ever wonder if God thinks we're callous or indifferent because we find it difficult to talk about our faith or recommend something about our church experience to a friend, a neighbor, or a colleague? September is an ideal time for us to ``pass it on'' to someone else the glue that holds our individual lives and corporate life together!
Shirley Klotz Bickel -- 2005
September 11 at 9:45 a.m.
Come enjoy a pancake breakfast hosted by our Senior High Youth Group, catch up with old and new Sunday School friends, and find out what adventures are in store for your classmates. It is an event not to be missed!
WE WELCOME CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO CHURCH SCHOOL AGAIN!
Church School begins September 11, 2005, and will offer classes each Sunday for children and adults. Classes will start at 10:00. A nursery is available during the worship service at 11:00, and Activity Time is provided for young children during the latter part of the worship service.
We want kids to know why we believe in God, who Jesus is and what he said and did, what it means to believe in God, and how to act on their faith in their daily lives. We invite you to bring your children, and bring their friends, too!
Please contact Charlotte Melichar, if you wish to volunteer to teach or offer your ideas.
Adult education is beginning the fall with a continuation of the History of Christianity course that we held in the late spring. For six weeks, we will read about and discuss the Renaissance church and the Reformation. Fran Coombs will be the discussion leader.
The Senior High Youth Group recently met at J.R. King's home to say farewell to Bonnie Coombs, Lizzy Hanner, Eric and Andrew Closs. The Closs boys have moved to North Carolina, whereas Bonnie and Lizzy have embarked on their first year in college. During this meeting at the Kings', the Senior High group went boating and devoured pizza and cake.
On Sunday, September 11th, the Senior High will host a pancake breakfast at 9:45 a.m. for all church members.
Matthew Bickel
The fellowship committee is excited to invite you to several events in the upcoming months: September 18 will be our Church Picnic, immediately following our 11:00 church service. We'll have a tent for shade, and enjoy food, fellowship, fun and games. A pot-luck Heritage Dinner is planned for Saturday, October 15. We'll bring foods from each family's cultures and those who wish can recount how the foods played a role in family memories. In November, our annual Consecration Sunday Dinner will follow the church service on November 6. Our sanctuary will be transformed into a dining room where we will share food, fellowship and entertainment to rededicate ourselves to the stewardship of the church.
Future fellowship events will include a Christmas concert in December, Progressive Dinner in January, Talent Show in February, as well as movie nights and 5th Sunday hymn sings. These events are a wonderful time to invite friends to the United Parish of Bowie and a great time to get to know our church members.
Jan Barbato
As the chairperson of the Flower Committee, I would like to thank each person who gave flowers in honor or memory of loved ones. The response to our Flower Chart has been marvelous! I know that the entire congregation sincerely appreciates the lovely arrangements we see each Sunday. Each one adds to our worship service. I feel sure God is pleased!
The Flower Chart for the next 5 months is on the bulletin board outside of the library. Keep in mind that we usually decorate the Church for Christmas on or about the 15th of December. May God Bless!
Elise Blaker
The Women's Bible Study Group will start its ninth year beginning September 2005 and continue on until May 2006. The group meets on the second Thursday of each month from 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at the church library. The focus of the group is Bible study, prayer, and fellowship.
This year we will take a close look at some of the women of the Bible and discuss/learn some basic principles of Christian living. In addition to the Bible, we will use the book Daughters of Eve: Women of the Bible Speak to Women of Today by Virginia Stem Owens.
The kick-off meeting will be held on the third Thursday of September, i.e., September 15th due to scheduling conflicts. We will go back to the regular schedule starting next month.
We extend a warm welcome to all women of the Parish. All are invited to come on a regular or ``ad-hoc'' basis and to bring friends/neighbors to the study. Please contact Becky DeMeo or Nikki Hillary if you need more information.
The adult choir has begun their rehearsals. We are meeting in the sanctuary at 7:15 on Wednesday evenings. This year will include a Hymn Sing on Sunday, December 25 to celebrate the birth of Jesus. United Parish of Bowie will be hosting the Thanksgiving Eve service. This service is a joint effort with All Saints Lutheran and CCPC. All singers are welcomed to join us!! We sing a variety of music. Come join in the fun!! For more information call me.
Diane Eades
We maintain all of the plantings by the patio and front sidewalk, near the driveway entrance, and three sides of the church. We hope that our efforts beautify the grounds and add to the enjoyment of church members, visitors and passersby.
Last fall we replaced the plantings lost in the front of the church during the reconstruction of the patio with kurume hybrids, holly and boxwood bushes; these plants will grow slowly to a modest size, so that they fit underneath the windows near the patio and sidewalk. We were able to save some of the perennials, including the black-eyed susans, sundrops, threadleaf coreopsis, liriope, day lilies, and ground covers. We also restored the garden near the church driveway with transplanted azalea bushes.
We also maintain plants in containers on the patio. In the warmer months these are filled with tropicals such as palms (areca, majesty, cat and pygmy date), lantana, hibiscus, and petunias, and in the winter hardy boxwood, dwarf spruce, ivy and pansies.
Our main project for the fall will be to clean up the gardens and plant replacements for the Bradford pear trees (in the lawn in front of the church) that were damaged by storms and had to be cut down. If you have any suggestions for small trees or large bushes that would look good in this area, or if you wish to participate in our cleanup and planting day (date TBA), please contact me or any member of the committee.
Merrill Hathaway
The Community Service Committee continues (after fifteen years!) to provide the residents of the Safe Passage home of the Family Crisis Center with a Sunday meal every third Sunday of the month. This meal is lovingly provided by a large number of parishioners month in and month out.
We also take the donated nonperishable staples and canned goods to the Bowie Pantry. This is especially important in the summer and early fall when their stocks decline precipitously. The food basket is located next to the sign-up-sheet table in the narthex. Bringing something every week is a tangible gift that many of our families provide.
This fall we provided five backpacks filled with items on grade-appropriate lists for students identified for us by the Central Union Mission in Washington. Extra supplies were also delivered to needy students. Packages of new pencils, pens, erasers, composition books, index cards, pencil cases, etc., should help start these children off in this new school year. We're reminded to pray for these children.
We have completed a similar but even more ambitious project every year by Thanksgiving--putting together a large bag of gifts (mostly clothing) for a greater number of children for Christmas. Judy Farrell has coordinated these projects. We've done the back-to-school project for the named students for only a couple of years, but the Christmas gifts has been a long-time commitment. Every year we get more information on each child, it seems, so that we can take their favorite colors and pastimes into account. And we have yet to hear a complaint!
We still take a number of names from the county's social services department to provide the makings of a holiday meal. We deliver several Christmas food baskets close to or on Christmas Eve.
Last year we provided a dinner for a homeless shelter on Super Bowl Sunday. We had many slow cookers-full of chili and cornbread, salad, and dessert. We hope to continue doing this, although not necessarily on that same Sunday.
Nancy Snyder
In addition to the updated computers in the library and church office, we are reviewing our needs now and in the future and how technology can help us grow. We are always open to new ideas.
Patty Keys
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