Weekly Newsletter of

La Plata United Methodist Church

The Grapevine

April 9, 2020

In This Issue Good Friday Watch "Jesus" Streaming Free - April 10-12 only! A Gift From the La Plata UMC Chancel Choir Summer Camp Through BWC Thank You For Your Generosity During This Time Text Your Tithe “Charles County Cares” Initiative Opportunity to Participate The Love Feast Silent Auction Rescheduled Want to Experience Girl Scouts? Easter Family Devotion Update: Edelen Family Message From Maryland Let’s Celebrate! Let Us Pray The Meaning of Easter Facebook Find

A Note from Pastor Susan Family! How are you in the world today? I hope those of you who can are staying safe inside. For those essential workers and those engaged in the vital ministry of the church, we give thanks for your faithfulness and pray for your safety. In the life of our church, we are in the last week of Lent, called Holy Week. Today as you are reading this, it will be Maundy Thursday. This will begin what is known as the Passion of Christ. The Passion is that event that lasts from the Last supper, shared with his disciples to his betrayal, his arrest, his crucifixion and his death on Friday afternoon. It’s hard to think of our Savior suffering, being betrayed, hung on a cross and dying. Many folks just want to remember the joy of Palm Sunday and the victorious entry into Jerusalem - then receiving the risen Lord on Easter Day! But the truth is, we cannot get to Easter unless we go through the Passion of Christ. It is precisely because of the suffering and death of Christ that brought forth the victory of his resurrection and our new life in him. I know it is easy to get caught up in what is going on around us, but now is the time to dig deep in our faith and follow Jesus all the way to the cross. Now is the time to count the cost - what Jesus paid to save us from sin and death. It cost Jesus everything. Now is the time to reflect, recommit, and revive our resolve to stay connected to God and each other through Jesus, the Christ. And as for Easter and our changed plans for gathering together as a church? Remember this... DONT WORRY IF THE CHURCH BUILDING IS EMPTY ON EASTER MORNING....SO WAS THE TOMB! His ..... and Yours, Pastor Susan

The Grapevine Editor: Sherri Hastings

Publisher: Karen Hamner Circulation: 750

Weekly deadline for submitting articles is

Wed. at 4pm. Submit articles to

news@laplataumc.org

Good Friday Family! The hardest and most important day of our church year is coming up Friday. It is called Good Friday but not because it was good for Jesus. Good Friday is the day that Jesus took our sins upon himself and died in our place on the cross of Calvary. Good Friday is called good because it was good for us! On this day, Jesus makes a way where there was none for us. Jesus pays the sin debt we owe and by his sacrifice, we can be reunited with

the God who loves us. We will be having a special Facebook Live on Good Friday at 7pm. Please gather around your computer and bring a cross with you. It could be the one already in your worship space that you have made in your home or another one. We will hear the story of sacrifice and God's love and the lengths God will go to reclaim us as his own. Plan now to take part and share with your friends. We will see you at the cross!

3 Port Tobacco Road La Plata, MD 20646

301.934.2288 laplataumc.org

laplataumc@gmail.com

Senior Pastor: Rev. Dr. Susan E. Boehl

Sunday Worship Services:

8:30am Café Worship 11:00am Traditional Worship

Watch "Jesus" Streaming Free - April 10-12 only! We are thrilled to announce that JESUS will be made available for FREE in celebration of Easter! For three days only, experience the greatest rescue story of all time as it comes to life right in your living room. Exclusively available on TBN, watch it on your favorite device by downloading the TBN app, or stream it online: April 10-12 only! While we may not be able to gather together for Easter this year, may you still experience the joy of celebrating the one who came to save us all.

This Past Week

421

189

162

173

91

Facebook Views Preacher’s Pop Up Prayer Thurs, April 2 Preacher’s Pop Up Prayer Mon, April 6 Preacher’s Pop Up Prayer Tues, April 7 Preacher’s Pop Up Prayer Wed, April 8

A Gift From the La Plata UMC Chancel Choir

Although we are not able to share our 2020 Easter cantata with you this year, we wanted to give you the opportunity to enjoy two of our previous cantatas from 2018 and 2019. We hope these will help you prepare for this holiest of seasons even as we shelter within our homes. To view the cantatas, simply visit www.laplataumc.org and you will find the videos near the top of the home page. May they bring you joy and peace. The Chancel Choir

Courage Corner

By Rev. Lisa Caine

Fear, despair, and doubt may be inevitable parts of our lives, but in the end we have the resurrection promise

that joy, hope, and faith will ultimately prevail.

Summer Camp through BWC Summer is coming! Warm sun, time outside and camp! Baltimore Washington Conference offers summer camps at West River and Manidokan for students entering grades 2 - 12 in the fall. Camps are faith based, most are residential (week long) and offer exciting opportunities like rock climbing, hiking, water sports, and more. BWC has not made any decisions about summer events so the director of camps is getting ready for a fun filled summer! Next Sunday, April 19, we will celebrate Camping Sunday! Information will be shared about summer camp, and donations will be accepted to be used for camperships (scholarships for campers from our church). You can check 'campership' when giving online to support our campers. Check out bwccampsandretreats.com for more information and to register. Camperships are available, contact Corrie Roberts (scarlet301@gmail.com) to talk about your needs.

10,600

Church Income

$

Stop, Drop, & Pray! Everyday at 10am

Facebook Live! Every Thursday at 7pm

Thank You For Your Generosity During This Time Your church remains grateful for your faithful tithing during this time when we can't accept offerings the way we normally do. We are so blessed by your offerings and we are continuing the work of the church in many ways. This week, I had the privilege of being a part of Meals and Hope which brings both of those things to the homeless and working poor in our area. Many thanks to Kim Williams who chairs this important mission. Your giving enables us to give much needed assistance to our community. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Text your Tithe

In less time than it takes to write a check, you can make weekly offerings by sending a text message. Just read the instructions below of how to get started and you can continue to support the work of our church by texting your tithe.

“Charles County Cares” Initiative End Hunger in Charles County, LifeStyles, and other organizations are working on a program that will allow those in need to receive food, toiletries and information about resources during this COVID 19 Crisis. This initiative, Charles County Cares, is designed to allow for the delivery of groceries, meals, toiletries, etc., to eligible homebound individuals, curbside pickup of same, and promotion of operational food pantries. End Hunger in Charles County: Services Available during the COVID-19 Crisis End Hunger in Charles County is working collaboratively to provide emergency food, prepared meals, and other meal items to children and households in need. The goal is to work in a coordinated effort to maximize all available resources and to avoid duplication of effort. The organization will assist existing programs through funding and other resources as needed. We have partnered with agencies to provide the following services in Charles County: · Community Cabanas: LifeStyles is working with volunteers to build, install, and maintain ten cabanas throughout the community, located in areas such as Waldorf, La Plata, Indian Head, and Nanjemoy. These cabanas will provide necessities, such as toiletry items, ready-to-eat food, and water, for those in need. This drive-through process will be maintained by volunteers who will provide services each weekday from 11am – 3pm. This is done through a partnership with End Hunger and Charles County Government. · Meal deliveries: LifeStyles in partnership with other providers and Charles County Public Schools are coordinating the delivery of meals for households with school-age children that are not able to access the daily school meal distribution sites, to seniors who are homebound, and also for those that are homeless that need access to nutritious meals. These meal deliveries are scheduled for weekday deliveries, utilizing homebound delivery protocols developed by the Maryland Food Bank. When the purchase of groceries is more efficient and economic, it will be used as an alternative. Households must be pre-approved and requests for same-day delivery may be considered, but not a guarantee of availability. · School meal sites: Charles County Public Schools has 11 drive-through sites throughout the county to provide three meals for children 18 and under from 11am – 1pm Mondays through Fridays. Educational materials are also being distributed at that time. Children must be present in the vehicle to receive food. Southern Maryland Food Bank is providing groceries at these sites on Fridays to assist families. · Curb-side Food pantries: End Hunger has provided an updated listing of sites that are currently operating to provide non-perishable food items to the community that last from 3 – 7 days. Persons are served without direct contact, and information is collected from staff and volunteers via phone, email, or from a social distance. This list of food pantries will be maintained frequently as the situation changes. LifeStyles is currently providing curbside food pantry services from its satellite Waldorf location each weekday from 8am – 4pm. The link for pantries and meals in Charles County continuing service during this time is https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1z_I3HvqqMTjtUmjaCP70_CCZ-3wvsI9tqoUbHk2Ev-c/edit?ts=5e7b5294#gid=1433775003

· Groceries: End Hunger in Charles County will provide grocery gift cards to persons to purchase grocery items to supplement pantry items or to homeless individuals to access hot meals from grocery stores when appropriate. End Hunger will coordinate with local farmers to purchase food for families that have cooking facilities and are able to prepare their meals. · Hot meals: Southern Maryland Food Bank is providing hot meals through the Meals of Hope mobile unit at designated locations throughout the county that are considered food desert areas, i.e., Cobb Island, Bryans Road, etc. Our Place is also providing curb-side hot meals at their location in Waldorf on Designated days (to be determined). Please call if you are in need or have donations. · End Hunger in Charles County: 301-383-3683 · LifeStyles: 301-609-9900

Opportunity to Participate FAMILY! Now is the time! Help is needed to care for the vulnerable among us. Let us roll up our sleeves and work for the community and her welfare. Please see where the Lord is urging YOU to help! Charles County Cares – Community Cabanas We Need Help! Ten “Charles County Cares Cabanas” are being constructed, measuring 4’x3’x6’, and placed in strategic locations around the county. These Cabanas will contain bags of non-perishable food items and water, toiletry kits, and information about available resources. Cabanas will be open five days a week, Mondays through Fridays, from 11am – 3pm. Families and individuals will be able to pick up bags each day. Cabanas will be stocked daily with 50 bags of food and 50 bags of toiletry. The first cabana was placed at the New Hope Church of God in Waldorf on Monday, March 30th with four more scheduled to be placed soon. The remaining cabanas will be put in place as they are completed. We will eventually need 3500 meal bags each week, but for now we estimate needing 1750, to have 50 bags of food at each cabana. The same is true for hygiene kits. Volunteer Staffing of the Cabanas We desperately need volunteers to commit to a one-hour time frame to stand (or sit in your car) at a six-foot distance from the cabana to instruct individuals to limit themselves to one bag per person. You are NOT expected to enforce rules or engage with clients. A sign-up volunteer list has been created on the following website: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094FA4A92BA4FB6-charles1 Volunteers will be assigned to Community Cabana Captains. If volunteers are sick, have potential COVID-19 symptoms, or are considered the ‘vulnerable population’ during this COVID-19 virus pandemic, we ask that you not volunteer. Persons must be 18 years old to volunteer. Volunteers should not bring children to the site with them. Food and Toiletry Donations We also need volunteers to donate non-perishable food items and toiletry items, and to bag those items for distribution. The process and suggested ingredients are detailed below. You are instructed to wear gloves and to wash your hands often with soap and hot water. Donors can have them pre-made in bags or drop off assorted requested items. Donors are asked to call LifeStyles at 301-609-9900 or End Hunger at 301-383-3686 to state they will be delivering items, so staff are available to assist. Donations can be made daily from 8am – 4pm. Cabana Captains can access additional bags from the Fuller House. If volunteers are donating checks or items but have not assembled them into bags, they can drop them off at the Fuller House located at 3470 Rockefeller Court, Waldorf, MD 20602. Checks should be made payable to End Hunger in Charles County. Please write COVID19 food in the memo. Thanks and God bless you!

Hygiene Kits: Items Needed (Male/Female/Child)

Shaving Cream Shampoo (Family Size Optional/Travel Size Preferred)

Lotion Conditioner (Family Size Optional/ Travel Size Preferred)

Razor (Optional) Hand Sanitizer (if possible)

Floss (Optional) Pads/Tampons (Women’s Personal Care Items)

Toothpaste Comb/Brush (Optional)

Toothbrush (Individually Wrapped) Deodorant

Mouth Wash (Alcohol-free/Optional) Soap/Body Wash

Anytime Bags/Lunch Bags: Items Needed (Nonperishable Items Preferred)

Tuna Lunch Kits/Chicken Salad Kits Cookies

Vienna Sausages Slim Jims

Chips Apple Sauce

Water 16 oz (Preferred) Fruit Cups

Juice (Bottle or Boxed/Optional) Microwaveable Spaghetti, Ravioli, etc.

Crackers Plastic cutlery/napkins

The Love Feast The Love Feast, or Agape Meal, is a Christian fellowship meal recalling the meals Jesus shared with disciples during his ministry and expressing the koinonia (community, sharing, fellowship) enjoyed by the family of Christ. Although its origins in the early church are closely interconnected with the origins of the Lord's Supper, the two services became quite distinct and should not be confused with each other. While the Lord's Supper has been practically universal among Christians throughout church history, the Love Feast has appeared only at certain times and among certain denominations. The modern history of the Love Feast began when Count Zinzendorf and the Moravians in Germany introduced a service of sharing food, prayer, religious conversation, and hymns in 1727. John Wesley first experienced it among the Moravians in Savannah, Georgia, ten years later. His diary notes: "After evening prayers, we joined with the Germans in one of their love–feasts. It was begun and ended with thanksgiving and prayer, and celebrated in so decent and solemn a manner as a Christian of the apostolic age would have allowed to be worthy of Christ." It quickly became a feature of the Evangelical Revival and a regular part of Methodist society meetings in Great Britain and throughout the English–speaking world. As Methodists immigrated to North America they made Love Feasts an important part of early American Methodism. The Love Feast has often been held on occasions when the celebration of the Lord's Supper would be inappropriate—where there is no one present authorized to administer the Sacrament, when persons of different denominations are present who do not feel free to take Holy Communion together, when there is a desire for a service more informal and spontaneous than the communion ritual, or at a full meal or some other setting to which it would be difficult to adapt the Lord's Supper. The Love Feast is most naturally held around a table or with persons seated in a circle; but it is possible to hold it with persons seated in rows. A church sanctuary, fellowship hall, or home is an appropriate location. One of the advantages of the Love Feast is that any Christian may conduct it. Congregational participation and leadership are usually extensive and important, especially involving children. Testimonies and praise are the focal point in most Love Feasts. Testimonies may include personal witness to God's grace or accounts of what God has been doing in the lives of others. Praise may take the form of hymns, songs, choruses, or spoken exclamations and may vary from the relative formality of an opening and closing hymn to spontaneous calling out of requests and singing as the Spirit moves. Sometimes the leader guides those present alternating spontaneous singing and sharing in free and familiar conversation for as long as the Spirit moves. Wesley counseled that all the above be done decently and in order. Prayer is vital to a Love Feast. A fixed form of prayer may be used, especially something like the Lord's Prayer or Be present at our table, Lord, that is familiar to the people. Spontaneous prayer requests and prayers may come from the people. Scripture is also important. There may be scripture readings, or persons may quote Scripture spontaneously as the Spirit moves. There may be a sermon, an exhortation, or an address; but it should be informal and consist of the leader's adding personal witness to what spontaneously comes from the congregation.

Matthew 28:18-20

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy

Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always,

to the very end of the age.”

Silent Auction Rescheduled The Silent Auction has been rescheduled for June 20. We will begin accepting donations on May 15 until June 7. Tickets will go on sale on May 31 before and after worship services. This is our biggest fundraiser, so even if you cannot attend, please buy a ticket and one for your neighbor. Everyone will need a ticket to enter the auction.

The Love Feast - Continued Most Love Feasts include the sharing of food. It is customary not to use communion bread, wine, or grape juice because to do so might confuse the Love Feast with the Lord's Supper. The bread may be a loaf of ordinary bread, crackers, rolls, or a sweet bread baked especially for this service. If a loaf of bread, it may be broken in two or more pieces and then passed from hand to hand as each person breaks off a piece. Crackers, rolls, or slices of bread may be passed in a basket. The beverage has usually been water, but other beverages such as lemonade, tea, or coffee have been used. Early Methodists commonly passed a loving cup with two handles from person to person, but later the water was served in individual glasses. ~ from UMDiscipleship.org This Maundy Thursday, we will be sharing in the Love Feast. Though we must be apart, the Love Feast will connect us with God and with each other. To prepare for Maundy Thursday, bring a bread source or cracker and some water with you to your worship space. More information will be forthcoming but begin to prepare now for a powerful service this Maundy Thursday on Facebook Live!

Easter Family Devotion This is an important week. Holy Week is the time between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday where Jesus is arrested and crucified. I am sharing a recipe to make Easter Cookies (also called Tomb or Resurrection Cookies) with your family. As you can see, ingredients remind us what Jesus went through and the end result, a wonderful reminder of the empty tomb! Please note that you preheat the oven, and then turn it off when you put the pan in. While some of our Easter traditions may not happen this year, make a family memory and do something different to mark this day of celebration! Jesus is alive! Make banners and celebrate his resurrection this Easter! Corrie Roberts

Easter Family Devotion - Continued

Update: Edelen Family Message From Maryland This is a message from the Edelen family, who is working with Wycliff Bible Translators in Papua, Indonesia. Our church supports their efforts through our financial donations. Praise the Lord, safely arrived in U.S. Dear Friends, Thank you for praying for us to stay healthy and make it back to the U.S.! We had to re-book twice, but eventually made it. Praise the Lord, He has provided a vehicle! Thank you so much for praying and searching with us. One of our loving prayer partners is actually GIVING us a car to keep! Woo hoo! We may have a second one to borrow, too. Praise the Lord! Self-quarantine and longer-term housing We have a place to stay for self-quarantine, and good leads for a place to stay for the remainder of our visit here throughout the summer. Urgent prayer request from Bayono village

Would you take a minute and pray for Amau? She is fighting for her life after complications in childbirth.

Would you take 2 minutes and pray with us? • Praise for the items above! • Pray for Amau's life to be spared and that she would turn to Christ through this. Pray for her son-in-law

Bastian to clearly share the gospel with her. • Pray for the Lord's provision for us to return to Papua by early August. The Lord is our shepherd and we trust in His good plan. Thank you for partnering with us! Matt, Caroline, Mark (at Regent University), Micah, Elijah, and Luke Sentani, Papua, Indonesia (currently in Maryland for the summer)

For our friends and family who are living in nursing homes, and assisted living or home bound:

Tom Berry Wade Beswick Karyl Beverage Margaret Bowie Frank Brinson Patricia Buckler Sue Carns Jennifer Carpenter Jerome Church Cathy Compton Harolly Coombs Joyce Dean Joyce Donofrio Lane Duque Sandra Fykes

Remy Zachary Gordon Carl Greene Peggy Hamilton Randy Hill Christina Kingsbury Francis Lewis Tina, Paul & Christopher McCormick Donna McKenzie Ed McKenzie Johnny McPherson Renee Nash Carl Occhipinti Mary Perry

Frank Quinn Mary Beth Reckeweg

Melissa Faith Rollins Crystal Rupprecht Sunny Rupprecht Donna Sarnacki Tabitha Schneider Carol Sorenson Rosalie Snyder Don Stapleson Michael Stewart Brian Thomason Jeanette Tull Sandy Tull Linda Valente Mike Williams Rosalie Winters

Let Us Pray For our friends and family who have medical issues:

Ann Bergerstock Lennis Bridgett

Iris Dickerson Sharon Ferguson

Mike Merritt Helen Sullivan

Let’s Celebrate! Birthdays & Anniversaries

Friday, April 10 Jim & Joyce Clerico-44 Calvin & Cathy Compton-38 Henry Bowling Holly Knowland Sunday, April 12 Schuster & Mary Vance-41

Monday, April 13 Charlotte Brown-6 Bethany Righter Wednesday, April 15 James Cox John Hungerford Tabitha Schneider

Thursday, April 16 Robby Bartlett-18 David Hebner Bill Jackson Saturday, April 18 Robert Bartlett Owen Holcomb-8 Sunday, April 19 Michael Albrittain

Medical personal as the put their lives at risk caring for those with Covid19. Researchers as they strive to develop a cure for this virus. The leaders of our country, may the Holy Spirit be present at every meeting as they keep us informed. Our Pastors as the continue to find new ways to minister to their flock and keep us all connected. For each other that Christ will calm our fears and keep us safe.

Continue to pray for:

Facebook Find

The meaning of Easter is that God loves us and cares about us,

Desiring only the best And highest good for us.

He’s the God of peace, love, and joy.

He’s the source of every good and perfect gift.

The greatest gift God can give us Is His Son, Jesus Christ.

In Him God’s grace and love Are extended to us

To meet all of our needs.

Easter begins in our hearts When we receive God’s Son,

Jesus Christ, by faith.

May you come to know His blessing in your life always…

In every way...in everything!

May His life in You Be the REASON for

Your Easter Celebration…

He who has the Son has life. 1 John 5:12

The Meaning of Easter