Dear Friends in Christ:
You are welcome here, every Sunday at 11 am!
St. Paul’s is a lively gathering of God’s people around the Gospel-centered promise of grace, a “Reconciling in Christ” congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in NW Washington, DC.
St. Paul’s is a gospel centered gathering of God’s people, focused on living thankfully in light of God’s gracious love, gathered in prayer for the world, and actively working for justice and peace locally and globally. Join us for worship this Sunday and often!
Simply Giving: Click Below
Contact Information
| Phone | 202-966-5489 |
| office@stpaulslutherandc.com | |
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Address
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4900 Connecticut Ave. N.W. We are located between Ellicott & Everett Streets NW, between Murch Elementary School and the Fire Station.
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From Pastor Walker's Desk:
"Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live, a place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive. Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace; here the love of Christ shall end divisions;
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome
in this place." (ALL ARE WELCOME, ELW 641)
This tune and sentiments of this song come to mind as I finish my first week in DC. The welcome of the members of this congregation and staff has been warm and has made me feel safely at home. I know that this is a welcome place.
Speaking of home and houses, the parsonage is beautiful. The care and attention to detail put into renovating 3625 Ellicott is marvelous. I especially want to thank whoever came up with the idea of a sunroom. It is my favorite space. I love the house and I am already enjoying being in the neighborhood. My first day waking to the sound of children playing and the activity all around help me know that I have found a home. I look forward to being an active participant in what goes on in the church and in the community.
While we are talking about home, I know Pastor John talked to you about boundaries and I hope you will respect mine. Please call or text if you are thinking about dropping by the parsonage. I might not be there, and you might miss me. If I am "home," you might run the risk of catching your new pastor in her tank top and gym shorts. This might make us both a little uncomfortable.
When the boxes are unpacked and the place is in order, there will be an invitation for you to come see what I have done with the place. I plan to have an open house sometime in the Spring. Not yet, I still have more organizing to do.
If you would like to visit before the open house, give me a week or two to make sure there is a path to get in the front door and remember to call or text to make an appointment.
St. Paul's, I give thanks to God for the welcome that you have so graciously extended and the opportunity to be pastor and people in this place.
Pastor Andrea
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Novices and all skill levels are welcome! While members have been providing their own supplies, please reach out if you would like to contribute but would like to partner on supplies. The focus has been knitting and crochet, and this fiber arts ministry is open to other suggestions.
Over the years the shawl ministry has provided handcrafted comfort to those in need in our community including members of the congregation and their families, women's shelter residents, individuals in hospice, patients at Children's hospital and others. New ideas are welcome! There are also volunteer opportunities to deliver our offerings and contribute in other ways.
Any questions or suggestions please don't hesitate to reach out. Amy Moorhus Baumgardner.
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Join the YOUTH CHOIR !
The St. Paul's youth choir has begun its 2019-2020 season!
New this year, we will meet to rehearse in the downstairs choir room, opposite the kitchen (conveniently close to Epiphany Chapel for the chapel gathering before Sunday School classes).
We'll practice as usual for 30 minutes-from 9:15-9:45am-to work on vocal warmups and technique, learn new music and incorporate Orff instruments to accompaniments.
The Youth Choir is open to young people ages 7-high school.
If you wish to join the youth choir or would like more information, please contact director Marcia Perez .
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Adult Sunday School meets Sundays from 10 am to 10:45 am in the Lower Auditorium. The class meets each week unless we send out a notice of cancellation. Please join us each Sunday morning for discussion based on topics of interest for the group. Past topics have included The Reformation, St. Paul's history, the work of Rev. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and a discussion of the book "Dear Church: A Love Letter From a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the U.S." written by Lenny Duncan, an ELCA Pastor.
This Sunday, January 26, we discuss the psalm of the week: Psalm 27:1, 4-9. If we have extra time we will look at a lesson or gospel reading (Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Matthew 4:12-23). We are continuing our journey to identify a longer term theme, and your input is welcomed!
All are welcome !
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MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLERS LOOKING FOR SERVICE HOURS: Please contact Lisa Wackler if you would like to package candy for Community Service or SSL hours!
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Website Work for St. Paul's
We are planning for some web redesign and expansion. Please let us know what you would find useful on the congregation's website. What's missing? What do you use? If there is old and bad info, please continue to point us to that as well. But do talk to us! It makes our work better.
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New Benches for Portico Garden
We would like to thank both Lynn Adkins and Bruce Pihlstrom for their wonderful generosity in the purchase of the two new black steel memorial benches that were installed recently in the Portico garden. Not only do they look perfect in their setting, but the benches are also comfortable and functional. In fact, we are pleased to note that many visitors to St. Paul's have already been able to enjoy using the two benches.
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Donors Needed for Altar Flowers
Please contact Joy Belew to reserve a date. Thank you.
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TELLERS NEEDED!
We are looking for people interested in volunteering for this very important church function. It consists of a two member team that works on Sundays after church or Monday for about 1 or 2 hours collecting, counting and recording the offering. The teams are assigned a month at a time, usually 3 or 4 months a year (depending on how many teams we have). Sundays can be switched with other teams. Training and written instructions are provided. Please contact Paula Stewart 410-956-7117 or the church office to volunteer.
Regular Worship Times at St. Paul's
9:45 am--Sunday School
11:00 am--Service with Holy Communion
And don't forget! The church nursery is available in room 111 every Sunday during the 11 am worship service. Let us give you a break when you need it!
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FROM STEWARDSHIP...
Please return your intention for giving in 2020. This is an important opportunity to start a new ministry in a strong position, helping St. Paul's achieve a sustainable financial program. This is one of our top congregational priorities. Thanks to all who have returned their cards already. Questions may be directed to Mike Charlton or Rod Larson.
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St. Paul's Lutheran Church Calls the Rev. Dr. Andrea Walker to be 11th Pastor
On Sunday, December 8, 2019, the congregation of St. Paul's English Lutheran Church of Washington, D.C. approved the call of its new pastor, the Rev. Dr. Andrea Walker. Members of the congregation had the opportunity to meet Pastor Walker at a reception before the service this past Sunday, and Pastor Walker delivered the sermon during the service. Afterward,the congregation convened in a special meeting to vote on the St. Paul's Council's recommendation to call Pastor Walker to St. Paul's. Led by the Holy Spirit, the overwhelming majority of the 90 members in attendance voted to approve the Council's recommendation. The congregation also approved a compensation and benefits package. After the vote, Pastor Walker entered the sanctuary to a standing ovation and many hugs and tears of joy. Pastor Walker, who will serve as the 11th pastor of the 176 year-old congregation, said "The feeling of love and connection that I felt in my first encounter with the call committee bodes well for our life together."
Pastor Walker comes to St. Paul's with extensive experience as a parish pastor, and most recently as ELCA Global Mission Area Director for Madagascar, West and Central Africa. She received her Master of Divinity and doctoral degree in preaching from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Speaking for a unanimous call committee, Sue Hollar said that "the committee was confident that Pastor Walker would value and respect what we hold dear, including our music and liturgy, and that she would bring energy, ideas, and a commitment to collaboration that will lead this faithful congregation to live out the Gospel in new and exciting ways."
"What an exciting time for St. Paul's as we enter the next chapter of our ministry together," added Council President, Kate Belinski. Pastor Walker will begin her call in mid-January, moving into the parsonage on Ellicott Street. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Kate Belinski at kate.belinski@gmail.com.
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January 26th -- Annual Congregational Meeting & Youth Sunday!
Youth Sunday and the annual congregational meeting will take place on January 26th.
Please mark your calendars and join us at the one worship service at 11 am led by St. Pauls' Children and Youth. Sunday School students as well as youth are invited to participate in the service.
Please take a look at the attached Signup Genius to see what we're looking for--there is something for everyone! (Please note that not all "jobs" are available to all ages...please read the descriptions carefully, and let me know if you want to make a case to be something "off limits.")
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B084AABA92AA2F49-youth
In addition, children and youth of all ages are invited to join the bell choir to ring in Youth Sunday. Contact Karen Leigh Campbell by text at 703.508.2492 or email here.
Following the service, we will hold our Annual Congregational Meeting. There will be pizza available and the congregation will have the opportunity to elect Council members and vote on St. Paul's budget for 2020. Draft Annual reports with the 2020 budget will be available on January 19th for review prior to the meeting on the 26th.
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Click HERE for more information about the Prime Time Senior Center.
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StLuthRefA (SLRA) Youth Group
Our next SLRA Youth Group Meeting is Sunday, February 9th, 1-4 pm at Reformation Lutheran Church.
For more info, contact Lisa Wackler.
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TEXT MESSAGE FROM A VISITOR TO ST. PAUL'S
Recently we received an interesting text message about St. Paul's from a work friend and colleague of Matt's; he was one of the numerous visitors who attended the cantata service on November 24, Christ the King Sunday. With his permission, we quote it below.
But first, a little background. This friend trots the globe for Internet work. He loves classical music and will travel a distance to hear music that interests him. He and his family live in Loudoun County, VA.
On October 28th, 2018 he drove in to St. Paul's to hear the Reformation cantata service. He heard Pastor Omholt preach a quite ecumenical, next-to-last sermon at St. Paul's. On November 24th, 2019, the day after returning from a trip abroad, this friend once again drove in to St. Paul's to take in the music. A few days later he texted Matt:
"So I went to a funeral mass today in Pennsylvania. Boy, what a difference from St. Paul's. The way I explained it to my wife, at St. Paul's there was (for me) a palpable sense of community. The congregation, the musicians, the chorus, and the clergy all pray together as a family. At this Pennsylvania church, it was a priest and deacon and a singer (not sure of the title; in Judaism she would be called the cantor) all talking TO the mourners. Very aloof and cold compared to what I, a stranger and a non-Christian, felt at St. Paul's."
This friend visited St. Paul's in appreciation and anticipation of fine music, and he left additionally impressed by the participatory power of the liturgy. He will return again for music, and because he is now interested to hear our new pastor...
-Sonja Kahler & Matt Larson, music directors
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SAVE THE DATE!
Vacation Bible School: June 22nd--26th, 2020! More details to follow...
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Mar-Lu-Ridge
Summer Camp 2020
Mar-Lu-Ridge is now accepting registrations for the summer of 2020. Send in your registration and $130.00 deposit prior to February 18th and receive $35.00 off your total camp cost. Go to www.mar-lu-ridge.org for more information or call 301.874.5544. _______________________________________________________________