Wednesday 7pm - Lent Book studies with St John Riverdale
Thursday 3:30-5:30pm - CARing Kids After School Program at Hope
Friday evening - Living Water Small Group at Hope
Saturday 11am-1pm - Living Water SDA Worships in person at Hope
Sunday
10:15am - Doors and Zoom Open for Community
10:30am - Palm/Passion Sunday Worship
in person and on Zoom
Zoom info
online here: https://zoom.us/j/338100220
or call in: 301 715 8592
(Meeting ID : 338 100 220)
password 214341
noon - Synod-Wide 24-hour Prayer Vigil Begins
3-4pm - Addie and Pastor Julie lead family-friendly session in prayer vigil
5-7pm - Humble Walk meal and worship for Students
Dear People of Hope,
This Sunday in worship, I invited us to pray Psalm 148 as a morning prayer every day this week. There's still time to pray, even if today will be your first day. The Psalm is pasted below, in the Women's Lectionary translation from Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney. Of course you can pray with any translation. Many of our Jewish siblings pray this Psalm every day, as part of their morning prayer. We wonder how this prayer will prepare us to enter Holy Week, starting with Palm Sunday this Sunday.
Peace of Christ, Pastor Julie
Psalm 148
Praise the ALMIGHTY!
Praise the EXALTED from the heavens;
praise her on the heights!
Praise her, all her angels;
praise her, all her starry warriors!
Praise her, sun and moon;
praise her, all you stars of light!
Praise her, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the Name of the MIGHTY GOD,
for she commanded and they were created.
She established them forever and ever;
and set boundaries that cannot be crossed.
Praise the CREATOR OF ALL from the earth,
sea monsters and all watery deeps,
Fire and hail, snow and frost,
swirling wind fulfilling her word!
Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
Animals wild and tame,
creeping things and winged birds!
Queens and kings of the earth and all peoples,
royal seed and all rulers of the earth!
Young women and men alike,
aged and young together!
Let them praise the name of the ETERNAL,
for her name alone is exalted;
her glory is above the earth and the heavens.
She has raised up a horn for her people,
praise for all her faithful,
for the daughters and sons of Israel who are close to her.
Praise the ALMIGHTY!
Hope plans to celebrate Easter in person this year. In preparation, we're inviting some donations and participation from you:
Easter Egg Hunt Donations: Volunteers are hosting an egg hunt for children and welcome donations of eggs and treats. Non-food treats are especially welcome, as several of Hope's kids have food-allergies; look for stickers, mini-stamps, bubbles, etc.
Eater Potluck Breakfast: Sunday April 17, join us at 9:30am for a potluck breakfast downstairs (and outside if the weather is nice). Bring food to share if you are able, or simply come; there is always plenty of food.
Congregational Meeting for Property Vote Sunday April 24, 1:30pm, by zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83526910785?pwd=ek14dHQ3MDlvVldSRU9aSDR5WWlUZz09
Meeting ID: 835 2691 0785; Passcode: 112233
After nearly 2 years of prayer, research, and discernment, council senses that Hope is prepared to vote on how to officially move forward with the current property development proposal. You have participated in small groups, large groups, prayers and walk-throughs. There are some details we simply won't be able to know until later in the process, but council feels it is time to take a next-step.
Watch for details, the specific langue of the vote, and logistics for zoom/remote voting in coming weeks. For now, reserve the date and zoom information listed above.
Journeying into Holy Week: A Prayer Vigil for Racial Healing and Understanding Sunday - Monday, April 10-11, noon to noon
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2408630251?pwd=bnhHOThrSmppbTY5MGYxc2tXSFkvZz09
The Metro D.C. Synod Racial Equity Team is hosting “Journeying into Holy Week: A Vigil for Healing and Understanding” on Palm Sunday, April 10 at Noon through Monday, April 11 at Noon. The vigil will take place on Zoom and be livestreamed onto Youtube and Facebook Live. We will focus on healing, understanding, and celebration of the multitude of cultures of our church.
Addie A and Pastor Julie are hosting a family friendly session from 3-4pm Sunday afternoon. This will draw on themes from the 2020 Anti-Bias Parents group that Addie facilitated.
Lutheran Disaster Responds to Crisis in Ukraine give online here: https://community.elca.org/eastern-europe-crisis-response?_ga=2.166274300.316586039.1647374526-1284281429.1601561745
Lutheran Disaster Response is accompanying companion churches and ecumenical partners as they respond to the crisis in Ukraine and Eastern Europe.
Because of your generosity, $1 million will support the Lutheran World Federation and these member churches:
German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ukraine
Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland
Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia
Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Romania
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Romania
They are distributing hygiene supplies, food, medicine, bedding and psychosocial and pastoral care to refugees and internally displaced people, most of whom are women and children. We pray for the Roma communities and foreign nationals who are facing racial and ethnic discrimination at the borders as they flee Ukraine. Our companions are ensuring that people in these marginalized groups will be treated with respect and dignity as they seek safety.
Gifts designated for “Eastern Europe Crisis Response” will be used entirely (100%) to provide support for people impacted by conflict in the region.
Lent Programming and Worship at Hope
Wednesday Evening Prayer and Conversation: Holy Discernment
Hosted by St John Lutheran Church in Riverdale
Wednesdays March 9, 16, 23, 30, April 6, 7pm by zoom
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82987643073
Meeting ID: 829 8764 3073, no password
In church, we talk about God’s will, God’s plan, following God’s call, being faithful to the mission, and so on. How we determine these is through the process of discernment. The word process is very important because discernment is different from decision-making. Notice that God is part of these phrases. God is also part of the discernment process. Discernment involves creating space in our hearths, minds and souls for God. It involves being open to God and God’s direction. And God will fill that space. Join these Wednesday prayers and conversations to explore more.
Sundays throughout Lent
Our morning scripture will come from the Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, crafted by the Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney. When we used this lectionary in Advent, we were enriched by the variety of stories.
Holy Week, April 10-17
Palm/Passion Sunday, April 10
10:30am Morning worship in person and by zoom as usual If you are worshiping from home, considering bringing houseplants or other greenery to your worship area
Maundy Thursday, April 14
6:30pm holy meal and foot washing at home, a worship service only on zoom Prepare a simple meal at home; try to include bread and wine or juice in your menu. You may also choose to prepare a space for foot washing or hand washing, such as a pitcher of warm water, a bucket to catch water, some towels. Bring your computer, tablet or phone to your table. Leaders will guide everyone through eating together, optional washing together, and remembering Jesus's last meal with his disciples. When we hosted this service throughout COVID, people found it incredibly meaningful to worship from home and see each other’s faces. Even with the opportunity to gather in person this year, we expect there will be something holy about worshiping from home. Same worship zoom link.
Good Friday, April 15
7:30pm worship in person at Hope and on zoom
Holy Saturday, April 16
2-4pm clean and decorate the church
Easter Sunday, April 17
9:30am Easter Breakfast at Hope
10:30am Celebratory Worship in person and by zoom as usual
11:45am Children’s Egg Hunt at Hope
Property Development Discernment Process Congregational Meeting and Vote Scheduled - Sunday April 24
Hope continues to pray and discern how to best steward our property for mission and ministry. In the coming weeks, look for details about these opportunities to connect, learn, and share your thoughts:
• UPDATED google drive with new documents, including the draft resolution on which Hope members would vote, and proposed small teams that would lead the process moving forward
• NEW: Sunday April 24, 1:30pm Congregational Meeting to vote on how to move forward. -------
You can continue to find documents and past zoom meeting here. (listen or ask for the password):
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eKIHqllVHTMccTVkdvF3Hr1bcfwrfI13?usp=sharing
Calendar and Links
Wednesday April 6, 7pm, Lenten Book Study and Conversation details and zoom links above
Thursday April 7, 3-5:30pm, CARing Kids After School Program in person at Hope
Saturday April 9, 11am-1pm, Living Water SDA Worship Service in person at Hope
Sunday April 10, 10:30am, Palm/Passion Sunday Worship in person and online Same zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/338100220?pwd=dkdBZFhsZmJuWXNEWXNBajk5d1Nudz09
Sunday - Monday, April 10-11, noon-noon, 24-hour Prayer Vigil for Racial Healing and Understanding on zoom, streaming on facebook and youtube
Addie A and Pastor Julie lead a family-friendly session from 3-4pm
Sunday April 10, 5-7pm, Humble Walk Student Meal and Worship at Hope, students only
Thursday April 14, 6:30pm, Maundy Thursday Dinner Worship zoom only, eat and offer foot-washing at home
Friday April 15, 7:30pm, Good Friday Worship in person at Hope and on zoom
Saturday April 16, afternoon time 2-4pm, Clean up and Decorate for Easter at Hope
Sunday April 17, 9:30am, Easter Breakfast in person at Hope, bring food to share if you are able
Sunday April 17, 10:30am, Celebratory Easter Worship in person and online Same zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/338100220?pwd=dkdBZFhsZmJuWXNEWXNBajk5d1Nudz09
Sunday April 17, following worship, Easter Egg Hunt in person at Hope
NEW: Saturday April 23, 3pm, memorial service for Ellen Pitt Nairn, followed by fellowship in person at Hope
NEW: Sunday April 24, 1:30pm, Congregational Meeting to vote on property proposal on zoom only: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83526910785?pwd=ek14dHQ3MDlvVldSRU9aSDR5WWlUZz09
Meeting ID: 835 2691 0785
Passcode: 112233
Wednesday April 27, 7:30pm, Hope Council Meeting zoom link shared with council
Friday May 20, UMD Graduation Weekend in and around College Park, watch for Humble Walk invitations
Wednesday May 25, 7:30pm, Hope Council Meeting zoom link shared with council
Friday-Saturday June 10-11, Metro DC Synod Assembly Lauren M, Rose W and Pastor Julie attend on behalf of Hope
Saturday-Sunday June 11-12, DC PRIDE Parade and Festival Reconciling Lutherans attend and support, watch for details
