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January 6 January 13 11:00 am service: January 20
“Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Challenges of Laboring for God” January 27 The Pastoral Corner: Going Deeper One of the messages I heard at last fall's house meetings was a desire for deeper and more meaningful community in our congregation. There are things we can do – and are doing – programmatically to build deeper relationships between those who make Foundry our church home, but there are also things each of us can just go ahead and do ourselves. We can take responsibility for our pew neighborhood. Most of us tend to sit in the same section of the church most Sundays. We can get to know the people who sit near us. We can watch for and welcome new people who make their way into our neighborhood. It is my hope that by the time anyone has attended Foundry six times or more, at least four people will know her or him by name. We can make that happen by reaching out to those around us. We can be prayer partners. Pastor Dee has posted a short article on our homepage about how to be a prayer partner. I know that when someone says to me that he or she has been praying for me during the week, it can make all the difference in my spirit and attitude. Each of us could take time each week to think about and pray for someone else in the congregation. We can let him or her know that we have thought about them and prayed for them during the week. We can also ask someone to pray for us. Praying for one another is a deep expression of community and caring. We can participate in one of the Mustard Seed projects led by our US-2 missionary Katy Wheat . Working with a group of people on a project is a great way to build deeper relationships with others. Mustard Seeds are one-time projects. For information about upcoming opportunities email Katy at kwheat@foundryumc.org. Here are just a few other ways to help build community – come to coffee hour in Fellowship Hall and introduce yourself to someone you don't know yet. Sit down at a table with a group of people you don't know at brunch in Davenport Center after worship. Offer to be a greeter and welcome people to church. Offer to lead a small group or class by talking to Pastor Dee or e-mailing her at dlowman@foundryumc.org. What ideas do you have about how we can deepen our community at Foundry Church ? Email me at dsnyder@foundryumc.org. Creating a Culture of Peace with Justice In the workshop we will explore the nature of violence and nonviolence, how social change occurs, and how to build communities of trust. We will learn about the spirituality and practice of peacemaking and plan concrete actions and peacemaking projects. This training is applicable to many areas of conflict: domestic violence, LGBT, racial and other forms of discrimination, community and school violence, environmental concerns, and other controversial issues. The workshop, to be held over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend (January 19-21), will be a great way to remember this champion for nonviolent social change. It will be held at the Manidokan Conference Center in Knoxville , Maryland , approximately an hour and a half drive from Washington or Baltimore. The workshop begins at 10:00 am on Saturday and ends at 12:00 noon Monday. To register online send an e-mail to chandamour@earthlink.net. Please provide your name, address, and telephone numbers. The workshop fee of $150 covers program costs and room and board from Saturday morning through mid-day Monday. Some partial scholarships are available for those with need. If you can’t register online or need further information, call Jim Pollock at (202) 607-3515. The registration deadline is Saturday, January 12, 2008 . Foundry Women to Retreat to West Virginia . . . or perhaps Advance? Garrison Keillor once quipped that Methodists don’t “retreat” — they advance! Whatever the metaphor, the lovely PriestField Retreat Center in Kearneysville , West Virginia will once again host the annual Foundry Women’s Retreat February 1-3, 2008 . This year we will welcome retreat leader MaryBeth Hibbert, from the Troy (NY/Vermont) Conference, whose expertise includes incorporating art and visuals into worship. Building on last year’s theme of “Weaving Our Stories Together,” this year’s retreat will again focus on exploring aspects of our personal stories—particularly as they relate to our spiritual journey. To this end, each participant will have an opportunity to make a book, a personal, hard-bound volume to take home and enjoy. There will also be time set aside to consider new interpretations of familiar Bible stories. And, of course, ample time for fellowship, worship and fun! No artistic ability required! Simply bring your open heart and mind. All materials will be included in the registration fees. This year’s registration fees will be $180, which includes two nights’ accommodations, all meals, and bus transportation to and from PriestField. Partial scholarships will be available to defray costs. Registration forms will be available in Fellowship Hall following worship services. For information about scholarships, please contact Mary Rollefson at maryrollefson@starpower.net or (202) 333-0947. For general retreat information, contact Suzanne Stokes Vieth at msvieth@verizon.net or (202) 744-7556. We hope to see you in West Virginia ! Foundry Gears Up for Another Confirmation Class
The program, which lasts four months, is built on the relationship between the adult mentors and the students. The mentors share their faith journeys with the teenagers, who are making an important step on theirs through confirmation. “Mentors need not be doctrine experts nor have vast experience working with young people, but should have a desire to support one of our teenagers and learn with him or her,” said Matt Smith , Foundry youth minister. Mentors and youth agree to pray for one another, read two chapters of Luke each week and check in weekly by phone or email. The confirmation class meets as a group once a month in four Saturday morning sessions. Smith and other ministers, staff and Foundry members will lead the sessions. Matt Smith , who is organizing the program, anticipates about five youth in this year’s class. A mentor is needed for each student. Confirmation begins with a kickoff luncheon on February 3 and concludes at the 11:00 a.m. service on May 11, Pentecost Sunday. During the course of the program, the class attends one Friday night synagogue and holds a lock-in. Jack Davis serves as the confirmand recruiter and would be happy to help answer questions youth and their families may have about this experience. Mark Schoeff is glad to talk to potential mentors. “Confirmation is a wonderful time for youth to take stock of and better understand their faith and make a deeper commitment to the life to which God call us,” Matt Smith said. “I am particularly glad that the youth are able to learn by looking over the shoulder of a more seasoned Christian. The mentors are so vitally important because we learn the faith by modeling others' behavior. It's more like carpentry than geometry.” Baptism Celebration on January 13 Baptism is the sacrament recognizing one's initiation into the body of Christ, the church. We baptize children as well as youth and adults, believing that the Holy Spirit works in the life of the smallest child to prepare him or her for a later profession of faith (confirmation) and affirmation of Christian discipleship. At Foundry, we usually celebrate baptism on the fourth Sunday of each month. We also celebrate it on Christmas Eve and the Baptism of the Lord Sunday (this year: January 13, 2008 ). Our Baptism Orientation program has been enthusiastically received by those being baptized and/or their parents. The orientation is conducted every other month on a Saturday morning at 9:30 . We discuss the meaning of baptism as well as the commitments being made by the baptized, their parents, and the congregation. We also review the various ways our ministry to children and families will be there to assist the parents and children as they continue to grow in their faith. Baptism is then seen as an important first step in a long and fruitful journey of Christian discipleship and discovery. On January 13th, we will celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord Sunday at both morning worship services. On this day, we remember Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist and celebrate all those baptized at Foundry over the past year. Children, youth and adults baptized in the last year are invited to participate in the services; parents are invited to bring their recently baptized children to the front of the sanctuary for a special time of recognition and re-commitment. In this service, we as a church community also remember our own commitment to Christ and to the spiritual formation of those whose baptisms are being recognized and celebrated. After the services, we will have a special celebration in Fellowship Hall. For those considering baptism for themselves or their children, the next orientation is Saturday, January 12, from 9:30-11:00 am . The following is a list of those who were baptized at Foundry in 2007. Children and Youth: Morgan Chelsea Brown, daughter of Richard and Patrice Brown Adults: Harlin Wade Sanders Gripped by Grace: The Wesleyan Understanding of God's Love Brian writes: “About six years ago, I encountered a group of people called ‘Methodists.’ Growing up outside the church, all I knew of Christianity were textbook facts and people with an unnerving concern about eternal damnation. However, these ‘Methodists’ were so different from my previous experiences that I had to know more. Since then, my life has not been the same. “Over time, I learned more about the unique theological heritage and history of these ‘Methodists.’ I learned that what started as a ‘holy club’ at Oxford University has become a church that is known all over the world. I learned of the unique theological heritage that we inherited from John Wesley, whose understanding of grace can be seen everyday in ministries for the poor, the fight for social justice and the global presence of the Methodist church during times of disaster. As I learned more and witnessed the Holy Spirit at work, I felt my own heart become ‘strangely warmed’ and I too became a Christian – and a United Methodist.” This January, Brian Lee, a recent new member, and Matt Smith , Foundry’s Youth Minster, will facilitate a three-week study of Wesley’s understanding of how God’s love is experienced in the lives of individuals. Each week we’ll sing a hymn by Charles Wesley, discuss a selection from one of John Wesley’s sermons, and examine how our understanding of God’s love has shaped Methodist history and practice, from preaching to coal miners in a field to the Reconciling Movement. We’ll meet for three consecutive Sundays from 12:30 until 1:45 pm . January 13 – Prevenient Grace: God loves each of us January 20 – Justifying and Assuring Grace: God’s love cancels our debts January 27 – Sanctifying and Perfecting Grace: God’s love transforms our hearts We hope this course offering will lead you to greater understanding of our Methodist heritage and greater appreciation for the breadth and depth of God’s love. For more information, contact Brian at brianlee9k@gmail.com or (703) 350-1581), or Matt at msmith@foundryumc.org or (202) 486-9344). Foundry Volunteers Spread Christmas Cheer at L'Arche
We began our evening by preparing a Christmas feast at the Ontario Road House for the L’Arche core members, assistants, and assembled guests. Serenaded by the music of our gifted pianist, Ella Cleveland , volunteers Sarah Cook, Mandi Janis, Rebecca Stewart, Jeni Vitarello and Claudette Parm prepared a meal of honey baked ham, chicken casserole, fresh salad, glazed carrots, cooked kale and beans, and rolls. Jim Vitarello and Dave Cleveland could be found in deep discussion with new friends in the living room. After a grace offered by one of the L’Arche residents, Johnny, Foundry and core members enjoyed conversation and the delicious food (of which many sought seconds!). Following dinner, we sampled cookies and brownies, while Ella led us in familiar Christmas carols. Our night ended with promises between volunteers and core members to shop, to visit, and to certainly have more dinners in the future. What blessings our celebration brought!
Foundry Moves to Trim Budget: Food Serevices to be Outsourced Foundry has outsourced Sunday brunch and food service at other times of the week in an effort to trim the church budget deficit. The Church Council was slated to approve a plan at its December meeting that would increase the price of the Sunday brunch from $8 to $10. Seniors would pay $7 and families $15. The meal would be catered from Café Luna/Skewers. A boxed lunch, which must be ordered in advance, would be offered to people participating in Wednesday evening programs and for other meetings. Because of these changes, Donald Thomas is no longer serving as our Food Service Supervisor. Sunday lunches, which currently draw a weekly attendance of about 40 people, will be staffed with volunteers. The Finance Committee estimates that the changes will save Foundry $45,000 annually. The church has been losing about $40,000 by subsidizing food services. It was argued that such a large subsidy does not fit Foundry’s mission. Jim Irwin , Director of Finance and Administration, asserted that Foundry could find better ways to allocate the funds it has used to subsidize brunch. “We’re talking about the fundamental morality of how we spend our money,” he said. “We’re not in a restaurant business.” The food service cut was the centerpiece of a plan to trim a $211,229 deficit to $88,830. Another major reduction involved the elimination of new student singers, for a savings of $13,000. Total revenue for 2008 was planned to be $1,708,018, a 3 percent increase over the current budget. Pledge income was assumed to rise by 4 percent. Even though the church had to make adjustments to achieve a sustainable deficit, the proposed change in Sunday brunch caused concern among some Church Council members. The concern is how some members of the congregation who regularly attend the brunch might be affected by the change in the Sunday program. Jim Irwin explained that the brunch would continue as a catered meal, but that we would need to ensure that it come close to break-even in order to continue past mid-2008. Senior Minister Dean Snyder acknowledged that the brunch does serve as a time of fellowship and suggested that groups volunteer to staff the lunches. “I do have a pastoral concern about elderly members of our church for whom this is a substantial meal,” Dean Snyder said. For a number of people, the Sunday brunch is a time of fellowship for them. Dean also expressed his hope that the brunch would be an opportunity for these regulars and others to connect with each other over a meal, suggesting that members of the Council themselves take time to attend the brunch and support its fellowship. Foundry Snow/Extreme Weather Policy Foundry UMC is governed by Federal Government procedures with respect to closings and “liberal leave” in response to extreme weather conditions. In other words, if the Federal Government offices open two hours late, Foundry will open two hours late. If the Federal Government announces that its offices will be closed due to extreme weather, Foundry will close. However, please keep in mind that Foundry never closes on Sundays. We are always open for regularly scheduled worship services and other Sunday activities. Maximize your tax deduction! Please complete payment of your 2007 pledge and get other contributions you would like to make to Foundry’s missions and ministries in to the Finance Office no later than December 31st. We thank you for your continued faithful support of Foundry’s work. Final Year for Gifts from IRAs If you are 70.5 years or older, you might be interested to learn about the Pension Protection Act of 2006. This law provides a wonderful opportunity for you to make charitable gifts to Foundry directly from your IRA account, while excluding the amount of those charitable gifts from your gross income. This might make sense if you’re required to take a minimum distribution from your IRA, but don’t need the additional income (or don’t want to pay tax on it). However, this tax saving opportunity expires at the end of this year. Gifts must be received at the church or postmarked before midnight December 31, 2007 . As always, Foundry encourages you to consult your tax/financial advisor about this or any other tax-related matter. "Blood Done Sign My Name" You are invited to a four-week discussion series during Black History month and Lent centered on the book Blood Done Sign My Name by Timothy Tyson. Theresa Thames -Lynch and Jana Meyer will lead the discussion on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm from February 13 through March 5. Blood Done Sign My Name is Timothy Tyson's memoir of growing up in Oxford , North Carolina as the son of the pastor of an all-white Methodist Church , at the time when his friend's father murdered a 23-year-old black man in public. Alex Kotlowitz writes about the book that: “In this tale of a small-town murder, Timothy Tyson, a combination memorist and reporter, gently nudges us to consider the ways in which history and memory can so easily become distorted, especially when it comes to race.” The series will focus on the following themes: February 13: Original Sin (Chapters 1-3); February 20: What the Church Stands for (Chapters 4-6); February 27: Amnesia and Resistance (Chapters 7-9); and March 5: We all have our stories (Chapters 10-12). Lent is a time that calls us to self-examination. We hope this book will provide a lens for us to reflect together on our own history as well as our present context. Mayor Recommends Surplus Allocation for Homeless Foundry's WIN team helped take the lead in the Washington Interfaith Network's (WIN) effort to create supportive housing for chronically homeless people. Mayor Fenty announced on December 6 that he is recommending that the city's current $50 million surplus be allocated to create supportive housing for the homeless. Fenty wrote to Council Chairman Vincent Gray that t he funds would enable the city to create 400 units for the chronically homeless who live downtown and 100 units for homeless families.
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Are you looking for a way to strengthen your skills and spirit for peace and justice work? B-WARM (Baltimore-Washington Reconciling United Methodists) is presenting a three-day interactive, experiential workshop designed to train participants in the ethics, practice and techniques of using nonviolence to bring about personal and social change. This workshop is a national, spiritually-grounded program which has been adopted by The Methodist Federation for Social Action, Veterans for Peace, and other national and regional organizations. It is coordinated by Jane t Chisholm at Kirkridge Retreat Center in Pennsylvania . The Certified CCP Facilitators will be Kolya Braun-Greiner and Tim Pluta.
Foundry has begun recruiting students and mentors for another confirmation class this spring. 
On Sunday, December 2 nd, a group of eight Foundry volunteers celebrated the joy of the Christmas season with L’Arche. In addition to its work with the developmentally disabled in Washington DC , L’Arche sponsors three homes in the area for adults with and without disabilities. These “core members” come from all walks of life, and are supported by live-in assistants. We were privileged to spend a Sunday evening celebrating with core members from all three homes, and took time to appreciate the blessings of good food, the company of friends, and the joy of music. 
Foundry United Methodist Church
1500 16th Street, NW * Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 332-4010 * Fax: (202) 332-4035
Email: foundryumc@foundryumc.org
Web: www.foundryumc.org
Pastoral Care Emergency Phone
(after normal office hours): (202) 306-2659