Volume 43, Issue 8

Contact September 2014

North Bethesda United Methodist Church

Inside this issue

Birthdays 2

Preacher Feature 3

OAK Study 4

Lectionary 5

Endowment Fund 7

Music 9

Bible Study 10

NBUMCFlash 12

Back on Stage! 12

Favorite Hymns 14

Calendar 15

It’s Picnic Time!

Sunday, September 7 is picnic time! Everyone is invited to wear his/her

picnic clothes to church at 10 AM. Then, after an inspiring message from

Pastor Jeff, head on over to Cabin John Park (right there on Tuckerman

Lane) for fellowship and food. Grillmaster Wayne

Huff has crabs, chicken, hot dogs, and hamburgers,

including something for the vegetarians! YAY!

There will be games for the children (both big and

small! I used to be really good at spitting

watermelon seeds. Is that

on the agenda?)

There will be fresh corn on the cob. (And if you can

spare the time on Saturday, September 6, come

help shuck the corn. Contact Mark Aehle if you can

help.)

Please sign up on the tables in the hallway to let us

know if you are coming AND what side dish you can

bring.

Our church family wants to see YOU there!

Contact Page 2

4 Gordon Cragg

4 Paul Mobley

6 Mark Spang

7 Betty Ball

8 Matthew Stanton

13 Robin Harwood

13 Connie Myers

13 Brian Lewis

16 Jim Silk

18 Mary Lou Griffin

18 Virginia Swanson

20 Jeffrey Workman

21 Jacqui Cragg

21 Grant Blank

22 Thomas Spang

22 Laila Tabatabai

23 Nydiaris Hernandez-Santos

23 Diane Walsh Barberesi

24 Matthew Aehle

24 Mary Love

26 Helen George

28 Tonashe Ball

29 Nancy Kane

For additions or corrections you can contact Diane

Tabatabai at 301-983-6878 or diane@linktech.org

North Bethesda

United Methodist Church 10100 Old Georgetown Road

Bethesda Md. 20814

Phone: (301) 530-4342

E-mail: nbumc.office@gmail.com

Website: www.NorthBethesdaUMC.org

Office Manager: Chris Lee

Office Hours: Tuesday thru Thursday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM

Pastor: Pastor Jeff Jones

Cell Phone: (240) 994-1505

Minister of Visitation: Linda Thompson

Music Director: Tony Ashur

Coordinator of Education: Vicki Morrison

Custodian: Ram Phuyal

Contact Newsletter Editor: Valerie Blane

Contact Publisher: Chris Lee

Grammarian’s Corner

We are revisiting “me.” “Me” is a wonderfully

flexible word, and it’s short! It is an objective

pronoun, which means one uses it after

prepositions and as the object of a sentence.

“Me” and “I” should NOT be used

interchangeably.

Please give the report to Pastor Jeff or me.

NOT I! NOT myself!

Linda will take Josh and me to Asbury. NOT I!

NOT myself!

Please pass the wine and bread to Erin,

Ardoth, and me. NOT I! NOT myself!

Tony shared the music with Penny, Jackie,

Mark, and me. NOT I! NOT myself!

NAME TAGS

Starting in August, 2014, Membership and

Evangelism will have a container for name

tags at the front and back doors. When you

leave the church, please put your name tag in

the container. Sherrie Da Vault will return the

name tags to the name slots outside of the

parlor, ready for the following Sunday. Or,

you can return your name tag to the name

slots. We will try this procedure for two

months. We welcome your comments. You

can wear your name tag around your neck or

secure it with a clip. Call the church office at

301-530-4342, if you want to want to change

your name tag from a lanyard to a clip.

Joy Burt, Chair of M&E

Volume 43, Issue 8 Page 3

PREACHER FEATURE

Welcome back to school/church/ busy hectic life that always seems

to be September. Unfortunately, the world of God’s work seems to

pick up about that time, too. It’s no different here at North

Bethesda! Come join the craziness! Please!

This year, September starts off with an opportunity to be

photographed for our directory. I urge, plead, implore, beg,

whatever, all of us to get our pictures taken for the directory. It has

been a tremendous help for me to get to know the congregation. It

will be a big help for new people who become a part of our church,

as we grow to be able to recognize you as well. So come on

Wednesday through Saturday, the 3rd through the 6th, to have your picture taken.

Sunday, September 7th, is our picnic after church at Cabin John Park. We will

worship at 10 am that morning and then head to the picnic. We hope all of you plan on

coming! We will provide meat. We ask you to bring a side dish to share. It’s going to be a

great moment to spend quality time with your church family and to connect with one

another. There will be fun and games, too. Please pray for good weather for this.

Monday, September 8, we begin our adventures in Bible Study: Bible 101, a Bible for

Dummies type of class to introduce you to the Bible. No experience required. Bring your

own Bible (BYOB), and we will discover it together. Questions from the participants are a

major element of the class, so you will have the chance to go at the pace that works for

you. We will have class each Monday night at 7 pm, going from Genesis to Revelation. I

am hoping to repeat the class during the daytime, too. Please stand by for news on that

portion. At the moment, that class will probably be on Thursday afternoons. There is a

sign up sheet on the bulletin board in the hallway to help me know how much material

will be needed.

The OAKS group, always open to new members, will be involved in a study with me

after the Fitness for Eternity class, meeting from 11 until noon on the second and fourth

Wednesdays of each month. The book we will study is called Pilgrimage into the Last

Third of Life 7 Gateways to Spiritual Growth. The book is produced by the Upper Room

company in Nashville, TN, the ones who provide the Upper Room devotional. You don’t

have to do the Fitness for Eternity part for the study, but if you are heading this way . . .

Sunday school classes will resume at 9:30 am on Sunday with worship at 11 am on

September 14th. I’ll be teaching a class well each week. The participants can help

determine what kind of study you want to do. Ideas include reading a book together and

studying current events with a Biblical element to reflect on the news. We can grow

together in faith.

Elaine and I are very thankful for your great welcome into the family of North Bethesda.

We look forward to ways we can continue the great start we have made.

Blessings on your September,

Pastor Jeff

Contact Page 4

Meet and Greets a Huge Success! We did it! After much creative work, the Staff Parish Committee, additional church leaders, and Pastor Jeff

formed the Transition Team. This team created a pathway for Pastor Jeff to meet most members of North

Bethesda through “meet and greets.” Meetings were held in the evenings, Sunday after services, and during

the Oaks meeting on Wednesday. The relaxed atmosphere (and the delicious treats!) provided folks with the

opportunity to answer Pastor Jeff’s three questions: our names, how we came to stay at NBUMC, and what

our occupations are. Then, he opened the floor for any questions we had of him. These questions varied,

depending upon the group’s primary focus. Pastor Jeff listened well, writing down our answers, requests, and

possible changes in routine. In addition, our beloved Linda Thompson took Pastor Jeff to meet those home-

bound for the opportunity to have their Meet and Greet. All committees, Youth, Sunday School participants,

those who were not in committee but interested, and most visit-list members met with Pastor Jeff during his

very first month as our new Pastor. Amazing!

Pastor Jeff gave us a wonderful introduction of his path from the Congo, where he lived as a young boy, to

the pulpit of North Bethesda. His theological and personal journeys are inspiring.

The Transition Team has been working side by side with Pastor Jeff as he begins to discuss some new

additions to the upcoming year. One of these will be a new format for the bulletin. This will be slightly larger

and a bit easier to read. He has also put together a Pastor’s Corner insert in the Bulletin, for news and items

he wishes to share.

I want to thank each member of the church for your participation in our Meet and Greets. Thank you also for

wearing your Name Tag! Not only has this helped our Pastor, but it has encouraged the new visitors to chat

with us on Sunday mornings.

Blessings to all,

Diane Walsh-Barberesi, Chair SPRC

OAKS STUDY

Come and study a way to get the most out of your life, no matter what you’ve been through. In the OAKS

study, we will read a book called, Pilgrimage into the Last Third of Life. The book is written by a retired

United Methodist Pastor, Richard Morgan, and a retired teacher on aging, Jane Marie Thibault.

OAKS will meet on the second and fourth Wednesday mornings at 11 am, following the Fitness for Eternity

class. Whether you come for that or not, join us for this class. Although I ordered enough copies of the book

for everyone, reading it is not necessary for attending the class. I will present the information and guide the

discussion as a part of each class.

Solomon, the son of David the King, pursued the gaining of knowledge and wisdom. The class is offering the

same opportunity to gain wisdom and understand for the last third of life to maximize our experiences and

share them together.

Chapters include: Facing Aging and Dying, Living with Limitations, Doing Inner Work, Living In and Out

of Community, Prayer and Contemplation, Redeeming Loss and Suffering, and Leaving a Legacy. The book

has short chapters and comments from each of the writers about their own experiences. We look forward to

having you in the class.

Volume 43, Issue 8 Page 5

WORSHIP THEMES

Here are the topics and themes for

the worship services this month. We

are following the Uncommon

Lectionary, created by Tom Bandy, to

cover the 52 most important stories in

the Bible for those who are seeking an

overview of scripture. I hope that by

knowing what’s coming, by reading

the lesson ahead of time, you will gain

even more from the whole service. The

hymns and prayers are all selected or

written to match or emphasize the

message.

I encourage you to think of people

you can invite to church in

September. We have many ways to

help people on their spiritual journey,

and we know people will come if they

are invited by people they know. Think

about friends, neighbors, co-workers,

children, grandchildren, friends of the

children, that you might invite to join

us.

9/7 Holy Communion Sunday

2 Corinthians 5:11-21. We are all new

creations made by God and enabled to

be ambassadors for Christ.

9/14 Back to 11 am worship

Exodus 2: 1-10 & 3:1-15. Moses is

born and is called to set the people

free. Where can you help to be a part

of what God is doing for others?

9/21 Back to Church Sunday

Matthew 5-7. The Sermon on the

Mount. The major teachings of Jesus

and the service will be a Lessons &

Songs format to help us see the

summary of all of Jesus’ teachings.

9/28 Ezekiel 37:1-14. The valley of

dry bones comes back to life. God can

put us back together and fill us with

the breath of God.

UPCOMING

SCRIPTURE LESSONS

Here is a sneak peak at upcoming

topics and scripture lessons for the

next few months.

10/5 Luke 9:1017 Jesus feeds

5000

World Wide Communion Sunday

10/12 Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 There is

a time and season for everything.

10/19 Revelations 21:1-8 Alpha &

Omega and a new Jerusalem from

God

10/26 Amos 5:18-27 A call to right

living and love for justice

11/2 Gal.5:16-26 The Fruits of the

Spirit. All Saints Remembrance &

Holy Communion.

11/9 1 Kings 18:20-39 Elijah & the

battle for faith on Mt. Carmel

11/16 John 11:1-44 Jesus raises

Lazaruth from the dead

11/23 Thanksgiving

11/30 1 John 4:7-21 Love is from

God, Love our neighbors with God’s

help.

The topics and chosen lessons come

from The Uncommon Lectionary, by

Tom Bandy. The purpose is to help

us remember the 52 most basic and

important stories in the Bible. You

will see that we have chosen the

passages from both the Old and the

New Testaments.

Contact Page 6

Sign Language Corner

Orientation, movement, and placement of signs are very important. Because there are a

limited number of hand shapes, their placement differentiates the signs. For example, the

five hand with a bent middle finger (called an open 8) can mean different signs depending

on the placement, orientation, and movement. An open 8 with the middle finger brushing

up the center of the chest means “feel.” An open 8 with the middle finger touching the

lips, then turning outward means “delicious.” An open 8 with the middle finger touching

the temple, then turning outward means “smart.” An open 8 touching the back of the non-

dominant hand means “touch.” If you sign “touch,” then move your hand in a shaking

motion upward, you are signing “glory.”

One of my sign dictionaries is sorted according to hand shape – very interesting!

NEW PICTORIAL DIRECTORY!!!

Membership and Evangelism is sponsoring a brand new pictorial directory, using

Lifetouch again. The dates for the picture taking are: Wednesday, September 3, 2:00 -

9:00 PM; Thursday, September 4, 2:00 - 9:00 PM; Friday, September 5, 2:00 - 9:00

PM; and Saturday, September 6, l0:00 AM - 4:00 PM in Johnson Hall. Please arrive 10

minutes before your scheduled appointment. There is a poster at the front door, back

door, and Johnson Hall with instructions on how to schedule an appointment online. If

you do not have a computer, please contact Joy Burt at 301-987-6920, Vera Jennings at

301-294-9057, or Mary Lou Griffin at 301-499-3673 to schedule your appointment.

What a great opportunity to do some Christmas shopping! Share a beautiful, new family

picture with your parents or grandparents! Each family or person will receive a free church pictorial directory,

including the picture, name, phone number, email address, and mailing address, plus one 8 by 10 color

portrait. Sign up soon! Spaces are going fast! Thank you in advance for your support of this activity. Help

Pastor Jeff put names to faces!

Joy Burt, Chair of M&E

OAKS First Meeting

Come to the first OAKs meeting on Wednesday, September 10, at

11:00 AM. Pastor Jeff will be leading us in a Bible study from a

book from the Upper Room Devotions people called,

PILGRIMAGE into the Last Third of Life. There are copies of the

book for everyone!

And following the Bible study, we will have our opening luncheon,

provided by Linda Thompson and Joanna Voight. There will be a

freewill offering to help pay for it. Come for fellowship, learning,

and nourishment! Bring your friends!

Volume 43, Issue 8 Page 7

Enabling Ministries Receive Endowment Fund Support

The terms of the NBUMC Capital Improvements Endowment Fund allow releases of funds to the Trustees

and the Church Council, the signatories to the Joint Resolution that created the Fund. Trustees oversee the

physical facilities of the church. The Church Council oversees NBUMC’s Enabling Ministries.

As the NBUMC Endowment Fund grew from its initial $375,000 (1995) to $802,000 (2013), the

Investment Committee released over $350,000 for capital improvements such as replacing the roof, re-

paving the parking lot, and purchasing the HVAC system. Currently, the Trustees are holding two recent

fund releases ($20,000 in 2012, and $38,700 in 2013) to complete the total cost of the soon-to-be-built Don

Smith Elevator.

By 2006, it seemed clear that the Capital Improvements

Endowment Fund had achieved its purpose of meeting the

Trustees’ capital improvement needs. Referring back to the

founding benefactor’s wish that the fund “further the ministry

of NBUMC as well as help keep the Church facilities in good

order for carrying out these ministries in the future,” *

Investment Committee member Marvin Burt, who manages

the Fund’s investments, proposed that a second Fund be

established to support programs that enable achievement of

the NBUMC mission. The Enabling Ministries Fund was

created at a meeting of Mr. Burt, the Financial Committee

Chair, the Treasurer, and the Trustees Chair. The companion

fund was duly established by a Resolution that mentioned

some specific examples of Enabling Ministries. (See the table

at right for a list of enabling ministries.)

Funds released to the Enabling Ministries have been modest ($2,000 in 2012 and $1,400 in 2013). In 2013,

the Church Council approved granting $2,000 for funding a Retreat in 2014, but with the transition to new

pastoral care, this plan has been put on hold.

*Quoted from a 1998 brochure NBUMC produced “in praise and thanksgiving” for the Endowment Fund.

Are You Walking Right By the Tree of Life Without Seeing It?

The Tree of Life, with its polished brass leaves, is mounted on the west wall (on the parking lot side) of the

Narthex. Flanking it are engravings of founding benefactors Loyse and Warren Hardin, whose bequest

created the initial asset base of the Capital Improvements Endowment Fund. See the names of donors

engraved on the leaves.

NBUMC Enabling Ministries

In alphabetical order

Arts Committee

Church Council (meetings)

Education / Vacation Bible School

Historian

Library

Membership & Evangelism

Missions

Older Adults in Kinship and Service

Pastor’s Discretionary Funds

Stewardship

Worship/Pulpit Honorarium

Page 8 Contact

The Pumpkins Are Coming!

Attend, parishioners! and you shall see

The pumpkins coming to NBUMC! All sizes of pumpkins from large to small

And we-be-littles, we've got them all!

The truck is coming, October 10, And dinner will be served once again!

Be there at 4 for supper and fun, And the unloading will have begun!

But that's not all! The ponies are coming

And will have all of the children humming! October 18 is the date to know

Pumpkins galore, what a show!

The blessing of animals in the patch, Whether they chirp, bark, meow or scratch,

October 25 is the blessing day! See the animals run and play!

So sign up to volunteer

Put on a smile, spread some cheer! Take a turn in the patch and don't

delay, Sign up to work for pumpkin play!

If everyone signs up for a time, Selling pumpkins, the patch is prime.

Many hands make the work light, Pumpkins will disappear out of sight!

Please sign up for the following times:

Weekdays (October 13-17; 20-24; 27-

31): Shifts 2-5 and 5-8.

Saturdays (October 11, 18 and 25):

Shifts 10-2; 2-5 and 5-8

Sundays (October 12, 19 and 26):

Shifts 12-2; 2-5 and 5-8

The Story Behind “Be Thou My Vision”

This hymn has a fascinating history. St. Patrick was in Ireland during Easter, which fell at the same time as the spring

pagan festival. He lit candles on Slane Hill (some sources cite Tara Hill) on Easter Eve, in defiance of the High King’s

decree that no fires could be lighted before the King lit the bonfires to begin the festival. The High King, Logaire, was

astounded by St. Patrick’s faith in defying his decree. He allowed Patrick to continue to do his work in spreading

Christianity in Ireland.

In the 6th Century, the prolific Irish poet and monk, Dallan Forgaill, wrote the original words to the hymn, titling it, “Rop

tu mo Baile.” He also helped inspire interest in Gaelic literature at a time when the Christian Irish were missionaries all

over the known world. His poem became part of the church literature in Ireland.

In 1905, Mary Elizabeth Byrne translated the poem from the Old Irish into English. In 1912, Eleanor Hull set the English

into the verse form that we use today. Later, the poem was set to Slane, an ancient Irish folk tune. The Methodist version

was published in 1964.

This popular hymn has been translated into modern Irish, modern Scottish, Indonesian, Chinese, Dutch, French, German,

Norwegian. Spanish, Swedish, Ukranian, and Welsh.

Volume 43, Issue 8 Page 9

What I Did This Summer

By Tony Ashur

One of the things you look forward to as a teacher is summers with no classes. It gives you time to

recharge and work on ideas for the coming year. However, this summer I was presented with an offer I

couldn’t refuse. I was offered the position of music director/worship leader for the Course of Study

Program at Wesley Theological Seminary in D.C. The Course of Study program is a program of courses

during the month of July for licensed local pastors who travel from places ranging from Northern Maine

to The Bahamas.

I had several responsibilities, the most important being daily worship at 11:30 am in the chapel. Each

day a different student was responsible for selecting the reading and giving the sermon. My job was to

compile the service around this, including prayers, anthems, and hymns. Before each service, I rehearsed

a choir of about 20 students. We had some incredible talent including a professional opera singer and a

pastor who had his own praise band. It was great working with the students, faculty, and staff at Wesley,

particularly our former Christian Education director, Sara Sheppard.

The services were not just for worship but were meant to be instructional. We did a variety of services

including a Love Feast (a service outlined in the Book of Worship) and several Emerging Worship

services. We also had a Wesley Hymn Sing and a Hymn Sing of Spirituals. The program culminated

with graduation at Metropolitan Memorial.

Music at NBUMC

If you would like to

participate in the Music

Ministry at NBUMC,

there are many ways

you can contribute your

talent. Our adult choir is

one way. You do not

have to read music or

have experience. We

are also looking for people who are willing to

do solos and work in small groups during the

year. If you play an instrument such as guitar,

trumpet, violin, etc. there is also a place for you.

Please see music director, Tony Ashur, after

service or contact him via e-mail at

TAPiano@aol.com.

Choir Resumes

Choir rehearsals resume in September with the

following rehearsal schedule:

Wed., Sept 3, 11, 17

Thurs., Sept 25

All rehearsals begin at 7:00 pm and end at 8:30

pm. On Sundays, choir members gather in the

Sanctuary at 10:15.

Page 10 Contact

BIBLE STUDY

One of the many tasks the pastor has is “to equip God’s people for the work of serving and building up

the body of Christ, until we all reach the unity of faith and knowledge of God’s Son. God’s goal is for us to

become mature adults – to be fully grown, measured by the standard of the fullness of Christ.” That happens

in part by a Bible Study.

Actually called a library, the Bible can be overwhelming. But going into a library can be awesome or

overwhelming, depending upon whether you know your way around it or not. Monday night Bible Study

101, or Bible for Dummies, (and there are actual books by that name), can be a source of an introduction to

the Bible.

Come for the class, no prior knowledge is necessary! Questions will be a major part of the class. An

overview, a flyover if you will, is one way to look at this class. You will learn where to find things in the

Bible, what parts are really important, and what “begats” can be skipped.

The plan is to go from Genesis to Revelation as a general introduction. It can be a stepping off place for

future Bible Studies.

There is a sign up sheet on the table in the Narthex, so we can know how many copies of notes we will

need. If you have any other questions, just email me at macpastor@gmail.com

Perfect attendance will not be required; we all have busy schedules.

THE JOY OF GIVING

You may not know this, but one third of Jesus’ parables were about money. It

must have been important to him for that topic to be included so often.

When it comes to church, we somehow turn our attention to other things besides

money. It is a real challenge, because the church does need our money. God has

given us all that we have. Even the brains and the body in which to earn our living

are gifts from our loving creator. We need to respond with gratitude and give back some of our financial

resources into the storehouse of God, the church.

It would be great fun to know that God wrote the check to us that paid for everything we do. But in God’s

finances, he has given us the resources necessary to write the check to support the ministry of sharing God’s

blessings and love with those around here and around the world.

The church is changing lives; making a difference; giving guidance, help, and support; and teaching us

how to live with one another. When you give your portion back to God, you are truly making a real

difference. I urge you to consider stepping up in faith and financial support as we go into this fall. You can

increase your giving level at anytime, not just when we have our stewardship campaign.

The suggestions of God are for 10% of your income. Getting there may seem so hard to do. But in small

steps, you would be amazed. Start at 2%, or add five dollars more every week, or ten more a month. Let’s

take a step closer to God together, with our thanksgiving and sharing.

Volume 43, Issue 8 Page 11

Dinners From The Heart

We need volunteers to deliver dinners! Dinners From The Heart is sponsored by Membership and

Evangelism, but it is a church-wide program. It is responsible for bringing a meal to members of

NBUMC on a temporary basis. The recipients are usually recuperating from an illness, surgery, or in

the middle of a move. Each Sunday, starting August 17 through September 7, the original signup sheet

for Dinner From The Heart will be in Johnson Hall. Please add your name to the list to deliver a dinner

to a family in need of food. If you wish your name deleted from the list, please mark through your

name. It isn’t necessary to cook. One can always bring prepared food. Recipients are always

appreciative. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your support to

this worthwhile program.

Joy Burt, Chair of M&E Phone: 301-987-6920 Email: joyburt720@comcast.net

I Said a Prayer For You Today

I said a prayer for you today,

And know God must have heard –

I felt the answer in my heart

Although he spoke no word!

I didn’t ask for wealth or fame

(I knew you wouldn’t mind)—

I asked Him to send treasures

Of a far more lasting kind!

I asked that He’d be near you

At the start of each new day

To grant you health and blessings

And friends to share your way!

I asked for happiness for you

In all things great and small—

But it was for His loving care

I prayed the most of all!

Associate Pastor Dr. Richmond gave this poem to Bobbie Malmi at a prayer group during the 1970s. “I

prayed it every day while my children were away in college,” she says.

Page 12 Contact

Not getting the online NBUMCFlash!?!

Q: What is the NBUMCFlash?

A; It is a Yahoogroups listserv used to communicate with members and friends at NBUMC.

Q: Why should I be getting it?

A: It's a quick and easy way to share news, activities, concerns, and such with one another.

Q: How much mail will I receive? I get so much mail already. I'm sick of Spam.

A; On average, there are 1 to 5 messages a day. (PS: "Delete" works.)

Q: What do I do? I used to get the NBUMCFlash, but I haven't seen it in months. I think I may be

subscribed with an older email address.

A: Email Ardoth with your old and new emails addresses. I cannot change email addresses, (hey, it's a free

service), but I can add the new one and delete the old one. [Note: a recent review showed that mail to 51

of 211 subscribers is bouncing and not getting through!!]

Q. How do I join?

A: Email Ardoth with the email address you want added to the list. (Please provide your first and last

names.)

Q: Who's Ardoth?

A: Ardoth Hassler-Short AKA ardoth@gmail.com

IMPORTANT: when joining, you will receive an invitation. You will need to follow the instructions in the

email message to confirm you really want to join and complete the joining process.

Questions? Email ardoth@gmail.com

Back on stage! For 1 weekend only!

Natalie McManus will be performing with the Peace Mountain Players in the two person Broadway

play, Collected Stories, by Donald Margulies. Performances will take place at the Har Shalom

Synagogue at 11510 Falls Road, Potomac, MD, the second week in September. This show deals

with the relationship between a teacher/mentor and her student/colleague over the course of several

years and the blurry moral lines of the literary world of fiction.

Shows are:

Thursdays Sept. 11 at 8pm

Saturdays Sept.13 at 8:30pm

Sundays Sept.14 at 2pm

Tickets are $18 for General Admission. The venue is handicapped accessible.

Tickets can be purchased at www.harshalom.org/collectedstories .

Group tickets of 10 people or more cost $15.00 each.

Volume 43, Issue 8 Page 13

Altar Flowers

Thanks to everyone who has donated our beautiful altar flowers this year. In addition to

the loveliness of our worship, it is also a wonderful way to remember loved ones. I try

to call in the order to Suburban Florist on Monday morning for the following Sunday.

Please let me know a week in advance,

preferably by e-mail

(nekane1@verizon.net) or home phone at

301-530-0573:

1. How much you would like to spend (the range is $45-$60)

2. The type and color of flowers

3. If you prefer the flat-back or round style arrangement

This prevents my inconveniencing you, as well as preventing a delay in ordering your beautiful flowers.

Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

Nancy Kane

Names

One’s name is an intrinsic part of a person. Some people have to grow into their names. Can you

imagine little Nebuchadnezzar? Some people have legal names, but use nicknames. John Enders goes

by Jack. Sometimes an Elizabeth will go by Beth or Betsy. A Margaret is sometimes Peg. But in each

case, that person chooses to continue the nickname or revert to the original name. And some of us

prefer to be called by our whole name: Diane, Barbara, Kathryn, Melissa, Michael, Jennifer, Ludmila,

Ardoth, Natalie, Virginia, and Valerie, who is also pleased to answer to “Sunshine,” the nickname that

Fanny gave her. Please do not shorten our names. It’s not who we are. Thank you.

NBUMC SERVES AT THE INTERFAITH WORKS WILKENS

AVENUE WOMEN’S HOMELESS SHELTER

A BIG THANK YOU to all who prepared and served dinners and prepared lunches for the Women’s

Homeless Shelter during the week of July 6-13. As always, our Youth, with Rose Aehle leading, got the

week off to a splendid start! As Theresa Ford, Assistant Volunteer Coordinator for Interfaith Works, said,

“Many thanks to all who prepared and served dinner to our residents. We are fortunate to have North

Bethesda United Methodist Church as our friends and supporters!!!”

Gordon Cragg

Contact Page 14

We want to thank Laura Shockley for her work here over the past two

years. Laura’s gifts and talents helped keep the NBUMC office running

smoothly over the past two years. Don’t be surprised if you see her

from time to time. She has offered to help when she can if we are in

need. She rescued Chris and Valerie during Contact week! We wish

her well as she goes on to find fulltime employment. Thanks to those

many of you who contributed to her farewell gift.

Please take time to give Mrs. Christine Lee a warm welcome. Valerie has

found that she is invaluable! Chris is the new friendly face and voice of the

NBUMC Office. Chris has an extensive background in management, with 40

years in legal services. She resides in Potomac, Maryland, with her husband,

Wah. Chris and her husband have three grown sons and eight beautiful

grandchildren (the oldest being nine years of age.)

Chris and her husband love to travel. They have visited Italy, France, Czech

Republic, Dominican Republic, China, Hawaii, Caribbean Islands; her next

trip is to Japan October 15-27th.

She enjoys golf, hiking, bridge, pinochle and gardening; also crossword puzzles and she play Words with

Friends.

FAVORITE HYMN REPORT I will continue to collect a list of your favorite hymns using the fellowship pads in the sanctuary, or you

can email the pastor (macpastor@gmail.com) with your list of favorites. Here is what we’ve received so far.

Sweet Hour of Prayer He Leadeth Me

Be Still, My Soul This is My Father’s World

Morning Has Broken All Things Bright and Beautiful

What Child Is This Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life All Creatures of Our God and King

For All the Saints Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty

The King of Love My Shepherd Is Blest Be The Tie That Binds For the Beauty of the Earth

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise Be Thou My Vision

Christmas Hymns, esp. People, Look East

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing It Is Well with My Soul

This is My Song Keep those suggestions coming. You will see them on Sunday mornings, when they fit the message well.

Thank you for your suggestions.

Volume 43, Issue 8 Page 15