foundryFORGE
|
Concert for Life 2006: Amazing Folk Tales
Previous concerts have traversed centuries of musical history and genres, from Baroque to Broadway. The theme for this year’s concert – taking place on Friday, November 10th – has a decidedly American accent: celebrating the rich tradition of American Folk Music. The concert will feature an icon of the folk movement, Noel Paul Stookey – better known as “Paul” from the venerable group Peter, Paul and Mary. Stookey will be joined by bassist Dick Kniss, who also performs with the folk group. The talents of the Foundry Choir, augmented by members of Jubalate and others from the Foundry community, will once again be on full display. Musical selections will be drawn from the canon of American folk music, some of which will be familiar to most, while others may be “new” to us. The good fortune of having Stookey headline the concert was the brainchild of Eileen Guenther, Foundry’s Minister of Music and Liturgy. Stookey’s wife, Beth, is an ordained minister who spent a semester this past spring teaching and studying at Wesley Theological Seminary, while the singer himself served as artist-in-residence. When Guenther approached Noel about the possibility of participating in the concert, the only barrier was finding an open date. Guenther is excited about the prospect of an evening of American folk music that blends the talents of amateur and professional musicians alike in a spirit of community. “The chance for us to combine forces in a cause so important – supporting organizations working with those living with HIV/AIDS in the Washington area and in southern Africa – was a critical part of Noel’s enthusiastic response to our invitation,” said Guenther. The Concert for Life is a fundraising event to benefit a select group of organizations, at home and abroad, that provide direct support to persons living with HIV/AIDS. Tickets are $50 for concert only; $75 for concert plus pre-concert reception; and $25 for seniors, students and persons living with HIV/AIDS. There are numerous additional opportunities to purchase “ribbons” to support the Concert beyond the price of admission. Visit www.concertforlife.org for more information. Tickets and sponsor ribbons will also be sold in Fellowship Hall following both services throughout October and early November. The Pastoral Corner I heard recently about a family who lost a young child to death. The father was on the very edge of despair when his pastor told him something that made it possible for him to go on. His pastor said, "Instead of thinking of this as something God has done, think of God as walking beside you through this." The father said this comment kept him from losing his faith and perhaps from living the rest of his life in despair and anger. I do not believe that God is a micro-manager. I believe God walks with us. I mentioned in a sermon recently a quote I saw one day above the water fountain at my gym: “If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery I believe God has taught us in Jesus Christ – and in all the Christ-like people and acts of our world – to long for the goodness, beauty, justice and love of God’s kingdom. We figure out how to build the ships to get there. I believe that we know God best as that longing within ourselves for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, and as the one who walks beside us as we strive to get there. We are entering the financial stewardship season of our life together as a congregation. On Sunday, November 19, we are invited to give our commitments for 2007. We are looking forward to a fruitful 2007 with a beautifully repainted sanctuary, a new ramp so that everyone can come in through the front door, fresh air to breath, and new electrical and fire safeguards in place. And I am impressed everyday by the commitment, vision, and wisdom of our leaders and by the talent and devotion of our staff members. I hope that the longing for the immensity of God’s realm of goodness, beauty, justice and love moves us all to contribute as generously of our time, talent, and financial resources as we are able. Your witness, Foundry Church, inspires many to long for God’s kingdom. Charge Conference: Sunday, November 19th Foundry’s Annual Charge Conference will be held on Sunday, November 19, 2006 at 1:00 PM. Rev. David Argo, our District Superintendent, will preside at the Conference. All Foundry members are invited to attend. The agenda includes time for the pastors to share their vision for the congregation as it expresses the Discipleship Adventure of the Conference. In particular, this report discusses the progress made toward achieving Acts 2 fruit regarding receiving new believers, growing worship attendance, engaging worshipers in mission and service and recognizing the signs and wonders coming from God. The laity are then asked to respond to this vision. Voting takes place by the Church Council members regarding candidates for ordained ministry, the Committee of Lay Leadership Report, and ordained pastors’ salaries. “Building Community Together” Over the past few months we have seen tremendous progress being made on our building. While at times inconvenient and frustrating, we have managed to celebrate, meet, pray and work amidst the scaffolding, the ladders, the barriers, the cement trucks and the electrical conduit. We are already seeing the fruits of this work – repaired and freshly painted sanctuary walls and dome, the work on the 16th Street ramp, and smoke detectors and alarm systems are visible all over the building. And soon we shall begin to see a reduction in our electric bills due to the improved wiring. All of this has taken a lot of work – not only of contractors, but also of committees – as well as a significant amount of money, generously donated by Foundry members. While we continue the work on our building, we are also about another kind of building – building the community of faith. In our worship, our fellowship, our study, our mission and service, and our evangelism, we are building community together. That is the theme of this year’s Stewardship Campaign: “Building Community Together.” We at Foundry are rightfully proud of our success over the past year in how we have developed our Christian education programs, our mission outreach, our worship experience, our outreach as a reconciling congregation, our development of staff and our life together in Christ. The growth of our ministry depends upon time, talent and resources. In the coming month, you will hear about our stewardship campaign through Stewardship Moments at Sunday services, through letters and bulletin inserts, and through our website. On Sunday, November 12, Dean Snyder will preach on “The State of the Church: Jesus’ Bottom Line.” This will be followed by our Stewardship / Pledge Sunday, November 19th. As we continue to work on the church building, let us meet the challenges of building our community in response to our call to mission and ministry. With our time, our talent and our resources, we can see many more signs and wonders of God’s presence among us. A Summer of Pilgrimages Ripples in the water I wrote these words as I stood on the Kentucky side of the bank of the Ohio River, just across from Ripley, that virtual “Mecca” of freedom for thousands of African Americans held in slavery. Legend has it that it’s from this spot that Tice Davis, escaping across the river, gave birth to the term “underground road” (later changed to “railroad”). It was a sacred moment. This has been a summer of pilgrimage for me, beginning with a trip to Ohio and Indiana focusing on the Underground Railroad, both the courageous people who escaped, and the courageous people who helped those escapes by leading people north, providing food, clothing, and emotional support. One young woman, returning from some time away from home, was looking for a particular dress of hers; when she asked about it her sister replied, “It’s gone to Canada” – a response that undoubtedly was given countless times. Out here I visited sacred sites, like:
The role of song in the UGRR has been a subject of research and teaching for me – code songs, songs of liberation and freedom, songs of hope – and this trip helped me address the need to get closer to those who were a critical part of the total enterprise, to see the places, walk the streets, and connect with the sacrifices that enabled thousands to escape the bonds of slavery, many of them over this river. Another set of emotional bonds were created in another pilgrimage later in the summer, when I participated in a study trip sponsored by Wesley Seminary to civil rights sites in Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma, Alabama. Again, the role of song in the fight for civil rights has led me to want to know more about the struggle. The Spiritual that our choirs sing frequently, “I’m Gonna’ Sit at the Welcome Table,” was in my head throughout this experience, as I thought about all sort of tables…
I already knew that before every march, demonstrators gathered for prayer and for song, and it was moving to be in these sacred places, to be reminded of the importance of song in defining purpose and strengthening resolve in the critical moments of our lives. Dr. King said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” And until we are all welcome at the table, we all have work to do. I can’t help but think about the civil rights issues that are on our table today . . . immigration and gay rights, among others, and wonder what songs we will be singing that will support us in these struggles. Volunteering in the Big Easy In late June twenty-one volunteers from Foundry Church spent a week in New Orleans repairing two homes that were severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. With no air conditioning at the work site, temperatures in the 90’s, and high humidity, this trip to “The Big Easy” was anything but “easy.” Nonetheless, the Foundry Volunteers in Mission (VIM) team was undaunted in its determination to make a difference. The team started its week by attending a Sunday morning service and reception at its host church, St. Matthews United Methodist Church in Metairie, Louisiana. Foundry’s volunteers stayed at this church and were able to use the kitchen and other facilities while working on the damaged homes. After church on Sunday afternoon, the Foundry VIM team was taken on a caravan tour of New Orleans and its suburbs to see the hurricane damage firsthand. The damage was much worse than anyone on the team had expected. In the hardest hit areas, virtually nothing had been done to clean up the mess, let alone repair the damage. Nearly all of the damage was caused by water – flood damage that resulted from storm surges and failed levees. Street after street remained uninhabited and littered with rusting cars, garbage, boats, and trees. On Monday, the first day of work, Foundry’s team met with over a hundred other volunteers at the East Bank Storm Recovery Center at the Kenner United Methodist Church to receive guidance and work assignments for the week. A recovery program was being run out of that church by UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). The Foundry team was struck by how young most of the volunteers were; Foundry’s group was “the oldsters.” Foundry’s VIM team split into two groups that were led by Don Kirk and Alan Zabel. Don and Alan had driven from Washington to New Orleans with their tools and other supplies. Most of the other team members took airline flights to New Orleans. Foundry Church members, through the annual VIM Auction and personal contributions, had graciously provided money for supplies and some of the expenses of the VIM team. VIM team members paid their own transportation and personal expenses as on other VIM trips. The two groups were assigned to work on two homes – Don Kirk’s group worked on Betty Lundy’s home in the Eighth Ward (not far from the Mississippi River and the French Quarter) and Alan Zabel’s group worked on Ethel and John Hall’s home in Kenner (near the airport). Both homes were works in progress. Betty Lundy’s home had been gutted down to the studs by other volunteers and it was ready to be dry-walled. Don’s group put up almost 100 sheets of drywall. The following week another UMCOR team would be there to complete the work. The goal of Alan’s team was to finish the job by the end of the week. The work on Ethel and John Hall’s home included jacking up part of the house, tearing out water damaged sheetrock, installing new sheetrock, plastering, and painting. The enthusiasm of Foundry’s VIM team was palpable – everyone was very happy to do hard work for good people. The team members were transformed from individuals with different work and decision-making styles to two groups whose focus was on the most efficient way to collaborate by sharing responsibilities and decision-making to complete their tasks. As Alan had told the Foundry VIM team at the outset, “By the end of the week you’ll all be pros.” Although no one felt like a professional, all of the members were very happy to have successfully completed their work by the end of the week. Betty, John and Ethel were extremely thankful not only for the physical repairs made by Foundry’s volunteers but also for their caring and compassionate support. Despite the massive amount of work yet to be accomplished in New Orleans, the Foundry VIM team’s small contribution has had a huge positive impact on the people who were helped and on the members of the team itself. Respect, compassion, patience and hard work combined to make the Foundry VIM trip to New Orleans an unforgettable and rewarding experience for all who were touched by it. Foundry to Celebrate 50 Years of Women Clergy The Revs. Grace Eloise Huck, Marion Kline and Jane Ann Stoneburner Moore are the only survivors of the first 27 women granted full ordination after the 1956 ruling. All faced discrimination and resistance in varying degrees. "I didn't know I was a foremother. I never dreamed I'd see women like this in the ministry. I only thought I was doing what God wanted me to do with my life," said Kline who is 94. Weaver, who died on July 18, 2006 at the age of 96, did not consider where the church stood when she answered her call. "I felt eventually the church will grow up. I just thought a woman had a perfect right to be there," she said. Foundry has been blessed with the leadership of many strong women clergy over the years. It is our privilege to honor the gifts with which their service and ministry have blessed. On Sunday, December 3, 2006, Foundry will celebrate the 50th anniversary of women clergy, both at Foundry and throughout the United Methodist Church. Foundry Celebrates Day Laborer Ministry: Workers Form Union to Protect Their Rights in Difficult Labor Marketby Yadira Almodovar On September 3, Foundry celebrated the contributions of the day laborers to our community in a Labor Day commemoration. The 9:30 and the 11:00 a.m. services were conducted in both English and Spanish and a luncheon was held to kickoff the Washington, DC Workers’ Union. The organization was formed to help the day laborers bargain collectively and combat the abuses they can suffer in the often difficult Washington labor market. During the services and at the lunch, Foundry and other community members learned about the activities being conducted to benefit the workers, including: English as Second Language classes, Thursday outreach, the union, and the September 16 health fair held in collaboration with La Clínica del Pueblo, a local bilingual health clinic. We hope to strengthen our relationship with the workers of 15th and P Streets and the Home Depot site over the coming months. If you are interested in volunteering with our Day Laborers Outreach Program, please contact Jana Meyer at jmeyer@foundryumc.org or me, Yadira Almodóvar-Díaz, at almodovaryd@hotmail.com.
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month so I want to take this time to remind everyone of the importance of early detection. Everyone knows at least one person who has died from cancer, so why does it seem like people (particularly men) are still resistant to visiting the doctor? The fact is, DC ranks first among all states for breast and cervical cancer mortality and cancer is the second leading cause of death among all women regardless of age. And, according to information from George Washington University Hospital, DC has one of the highest rates of prostrate cancer. Today, I find myself as a cancer advocate. When my wife was diagnosed with Cancer of the Unknown Primary Origin (CUP) in March 2001, not only did I visit with several experts, but I read as many books as I could get my hands on to better understand why this was happening to her and what could I do to make things better. In Noel's case, early detection was not a factor, as only three percent of cancer patients suffer from CUP, which means the primary site cannot be detected at the time of diagnosis. Simply put, no family should have to go through what my family experienced. That's why we must make better use of programs that help educate those at risk and early detection efforts - they're essential for fighting the battle against cancer. Since Noel's diagnosis in 2001 and death in September 2003, I have worked to increase cancer awareness in DC. For example, I worked to fund the mammography van, which makes breast cancer screening readily accessible throughout the District. Through the Council's Committee on Health, chaired by Councilmember Catania, I have worked to invest in cancer related programs and will continue to do so until our rates come in line with national average and maybe someday, move below it. Let's make this National Breast Cancer Awareness Month the most effective one to date. I challenge everyone to take a spouse, partner, friend or sibling to a testing site and get a check-up. Together, we can save lives. All Saints Sunday: November 5th This is the Sunday that we particularly take the opportunity to connect ourselves with the past, with the saints who have gone before us, whether they be prophets, early Christian writers, personal mentors, friends, or family. Our lives have been touched by countless people, and we form a bridge between them and those whom we will, in turn, influence. During the service we will name those who have died within the last year, from the Foundry community and from the wider community. Our worship on this Sunday (at both services) will be enriched by the Yizkor Requiem, a work composed in 1994 by Washington composer Thomas Beveridge. It, too, is a bridge, as it links texts from the Christian Requiem with texts from the Jewish memorial service. The word "Yizkor" itself means "He remembers." The Foundry Choir and soloists Robert Baker (as Cantor), Theresa Severin, Patricia Caya, Adam Hall and Darren Perry will be singing in English, Latin and Hebrew. They will be accompanied by approximately 20 instrumentalists in this Eucharistic service that promises to be both beautiful and memorable. The composer describes it as "A quest for spiritual roots," and others have called the piece both "moving" and "expressive." It is my prayer that you will find it so. Check Out These New Titles in the Church Library!
We also have several new Children’s books – please take a moment to see those, too! Susanna Wesley House: Keeping Hope Alive “You are so kind to me,” Sally G. informed the members of the Susanna Wesley House Board of Directors. “You talk to me like a person. You are God’s blessing on me.” Susanna Wesley House is a transitional shelter that provides safe housing for formerly homeless women and has strong ties with Foundry United Methodist Church. It is managed by an all volunteer board of directors and is supported by professional services that assist the women in their development toward independent living. Sally came to Susanna Wesley House after years of being homeless. A hard worker, Sally was an ideal employee – except for one thing. An abusive family member preyed on her financially, turning up at work sites to demand that Sally turn over her pay. When Sally complied, she couldn’t pay her rent. When she refused, the relative raised such a ruckus that Sally was fired. When Sally moved into Susanna Wesley House, the relative attempted to move in too – along with her family of three. With the SWH Board standing figuratively – and some members literally – at her side, Sally was able to tell the relative to go. Since 1989, Susanna Wesley House has provided assistance to over 35 women as they strive to manage physical and mental challenges, eliminate use of drugs and alcohol, and attain job skills and stable employment. Volunteers are needed to do yard work, serve as liaisons with nonprofit service providers, arrange for furniture donations, provide audit services, and assist with a variety of other projects throughout the year. We also particularly need additional Board members who have experience in similar programs to provide guidance as we work with our case worker to ensure that the women are receiving the help they need. If you are interested in learning more about the work of Susanna Wesley House, join us for our Holiday Open House in December. See the house, meet members of the Board of Directors, and find your place in this worthwhile project. Contact Brenda Edwards at (301) 962-5141 or Chris Collins at (703) 532-9252 for further information. Or stop by our table in Fellowship Hall after service starting in November. New “Lucinda” pins will also be available for purchase. Monetary donations can be made through Foundry United Methodist Church. Please designate Susanna Wesley House on your check. Sharing Jerusalem On Sunday, October 1st, we held a Sharing Jerusalem luncheon in Davenport Center to try to mobilize Foundry members behind publicly supporting a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict that would include a “shared” Jerusalem as the capital of both countries. Sharing Jerusalem is a new ecumenical church initiative to provide public support for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, including a shared Jerusalem. A new 30-minute DVD entitled “Searching for Peace in the Holy Middle East” was shown during lunch. It presented a balanced view of the current conflict and is produced by Landrum Bolling, a former advisor to President Jimmy Carter during Camp David I and a 95-year old Quaker peace activist. Both Jim Vitarello and Wes Pippert made brief presentations to describe the importance of Jerusalem to both Israelis and Palestinians and why this conflict is so important to us as Christians, Methodists and Americans. For example, since 1996, the United Methodist Church has supported a “shared” Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and Palestine and that the “peaceful resolution of Jerusalem’s status is crucial to the success” of achieving a lasting peace between Israel and Palestine. We have formed a Sharing Jerusalem Planning Committee to develop an action plan that will include educating Foundry members about this conflict, why we should be involved in helping to resolve it, exploring different ways to express our public support for Sharing Jerusalem such as hanging a colorful banner outside the church and consulting with the Jewish Community Center across the street. Sharing Jerusalem bumper stickers will also be available on the Peace with Justice (a sponsoring organization) table in Fellowship Hall. If you are interested in joining the SJ Planning Committee, please contact Jim Vitarello at (202) 234-5817 or by email at jim.vitarello@sharingjerusalem.org. Foundry Launches Project to Upgrade Heating, Cooling System Foundry launched a major upgrade to the education wing’s heating and air conditioning system in October that will result in fresher air being circulated more efficiently through that area of the building. The work will cause disruptions in each Foundry classroom until Christmas, as parts of the ceiling are removed to replace rusted pipes. Plastic sheets will be installed to prevent dust from seeping into the learning area. Christian education classes will continue during the construction. The nearly $1 million project involves replacing a portion of a decrepit system of 10 air handlers and 16 convectors with a new chiller. The maze of steel pipes that run throughout the education unit have deteriorated over the last couple decades, causing ceiling and floor damage. They will be replaced by copper pipe. After the upgrade, each room in the Education Building, will have its own convector, allowing the occupants to set the temperature. The new chiller, which circulates cold water for the air-conditioning process, should lower electrical usage and repair costs. The improved system will bolster the Foundry environment by bringing outside air into the structure rather than recycling air that is already in the facility. It also will help conserve heat. “The new system will offer improved air flow and energy savings and should give us trouble-free service for many years,” says Alan Zabel, a member of the Foundry building committee. “Age of equipment and lack of proper repair plays a part in the decision to begin serious work on our air quality, heating and cooling.” Although it can seem like a mundane house keeping item, building maintenance is important to the life of a dynamic church. “We, in our time, have been called to step up to the plate and get the building into the condition it should be for the sake of our ministry and witness,” says Dean Snyder, Foundry’s Senior Minister. I wish to thank my friends at Foundry for their many cards, and expressions of concern during my recent illness. I am recovering well, am back at work, and may be back at Foundry soon. My love and thanks to you all. - Mary Jane Klipple |
||||
On May 4, 1956, in Minneapolis, the General Conference of the Methodist Church approved full clergy rights for women. Half a century later, the fruits of that action are the nearly 12,000 United Methodist clergywomen who serve the church at every level, from bishops to local pastors.
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