Annual Congregational

February 2014

roamed the country in southern Palestine. Annual Congregational These ancient enemies of Israel dealt subtlety with the Hebrews by striking Meeting & Dinner them from the rear. In response to this unprovoked attack against His people, Saturday February 1, 5:30pm God directed Moses to put Joshua in Covered Dish Dinner command of the army, and for Moses to stand on the top of the hill, lifting his staff toward heaven. This was the same staff Moses used to deliver the Hebrews from Egypt. It was a sign of God’s power and PASTORS’ CORNER presence, and so it would be lifted up Lifting Up the Rod before the people as a reminder that God would fight for them against their In 1 Peter 5:2, we read instructions that God enemies. gave to those called to be pastors. He said, “Feed the flock of God; care for it willingly, The lifted rod served to bolster the faith not grudgingly; not for what you will get out and encourage the fearful hearts of Israel of it but because you are eager to serve the as they warred against the Amalekites. Lord.” While God certainly calls pastors to When we know that God is with us, that it lead and feed, He also calls many people to is by His power we are saved, our faith is help carry the load of leadership. As Pastor strengthened and the battle goes our Andy begins his three month sabbatical, it’s a way. good time to be reminded by Scripture that Moses’ task to lift up the rod was not even the strongest of leaders need the support. merely an encouragement to the We see this example unfold very clearly when Israelites of God’s presence, but it was, in we look at those who physically and essence, intercessory prayer to God. And figuratively helped carry the load that so we learn from this that those who go belonged to Moses. Here’s part of an article out into the fields to wage war against our printed with permission from Ligonier enemies need those who are committed Ministry. to prayer to intercede on their behalf. Matthew Henry comments, “When the host goes forth against the enemy, “When Moses held up his hand, Israel earnest prayers should be made to the prevailed; and when he let down his God of hosts for His presence with them. hand, Amalek prevailed” It is here the praying legion proves to be (v. 11). - Exodus 17:8–16 the thundering legion.” The Amalekites were the posterity of Being but a man, Moses soon grew Esau and thus Israel’s sworn enemies. weary: The spirit is willing but the flesh is They were a nomadic people who weak. Thus, we learn how important it is preparing to welcome their first child at to have supports in our ministry, to admit the end of February! that we are frail and in need of help from others. Jason and Tina Craft live in Gaithersburg with their two dogs. Jason was raised in Moses anticipated this weakness of his the Baptist Church in South Carolina and flesh and so asked Aaron and Hur to go Tina was raised Greek Orthodox in the DC up with him on the hill. We should be just area. Jason works as a mechanical as willing to have others help us in the engineer at the Naval Surface Warfare midst of spiritual warfare, times of trial, and physical affliction. It is to our own hurt Center in Bethesda and Tina has gone when we fail to rely on others in the back to school after 8 years as a PG church to assist us. Imagine what would County police officer. Jason plays have happened if Moses had refused competitive pool, so we can all be thankful help. Israel would have been defeated. that he’s married to a former cop to keep him in line. Israel, however, did not suffer loss, but Virginia Groves is a native Coloradan was victorious over its enemies. Notice grew up rooting for the Broncos at New that Moses did not claim credit for this Hope Baptist Church in Denver. She is victory, but gave God the glory, saying, currently a student in Public Health and “The Lord is my banner.” We, too, should her favorite verse is Isaiah 40:31, and says always remember that God is our banner, she is glad to join a church that values the the one who delivers us. life of the mind. She is classically trained in voice, piano, and flute and has also Do you regularly pray for someone in bicycled 2,000 miles in one year and seen ministry? it snow every month of the year (the last It could be any ministry from a pastor, to a missionary, to a husband and wife two are normal for Coloradans!) ministering to their children, to a Sunday School teacher. If you do not already do Mollie Kaufmann first learned about this, make a list of people to pray for. God in the Sunday School of St. Matthew Intercede for them, praying that God will Methodist Church in Memphis TN. She give them faithfulness in their ministries. has traveled the globe with her late husband Paul, who worked for the State - Pastor Pete Department. Mollie is a retired secondary school teacher and has been a participant in the Friday morning Women’s Bible Meet our New Members! Study for a couple of years. She has seen her faith transform her from a timid and Anoop Clifford and his lovely wife fearful person to someone filled with love, Ruchi Chatterjee were born and raised in peace, and assurance. India and were married in December 2012. Before coming to Germantown to begin Ralph Lovejoy is the proud father of two working at Qiagen, Anoop worked in grown daughters and works as a State Hollywood California and grew in his faith Farm agent in Germantown (look for the through the ministry of First Presbyterian sign with his name on it on Germantown Church of Hollywood. After spending Road!) He grew up in a small town in much of his life as an atheist, Anoop West Virginia and his faith has caused him became a believer in Jesus Christ as a to focus on helping others in family and in result of reading the Gospel of John. his career. He has a special passion for Ruchi was an IT professional and is now blood donation and ran blood drives for years at his previous church in Charlotte, Men’s Ministry Opportunities: NC. He loves Matthew chapter 6, where Jesus gives us a complete guide to prayer. • Tuesday morning Bible Study meeting at 6:30 at the McDonalds on Quince George Oku is the father of three boys: Orchard Road near NIST (contact Al Andrew, a student at Montgomery Henins for more info). College, Christopher (3rd grade) and • Jordan (1st grade). Born a Presbyterian in Wednesday night Bible Study at NPC, Ghana, he has lived and studied all over led by Brian Farrell meets at 7:30 in the the world. He comes to Neelsville from Parlor. just down the road at Gaithersburg • Wednesday night Small Group meeting Presbyterian Church, and works for the US at 7:30 at Pastor Pete’s house where we are Postal Service. He values a church where studying “Discipleship Essentials” by Greg the Bible is deeply and widely read, and Ogden. points out that one of the keys to engaging the Bible is to recognize that the story has For more information, to get involved, or not yet ended. Amen! help plan events, contact Pastor Pete or Brian Farrell ([email protected]) - Pastor Andy Adult Education

Fellowship @ NPC 2013

There are eleven members of fellowship committee who were responsible for coordinating twenty eight fellowship February Adult Education Series events (exclusive of MOPS) at the church Home: The Bible and during 2013! The fellowship committee Homelessness strives to provide a variety of activities to Join us in the Fellowship Hall this interest a broad section of our church February at 9:40 am on Sundays for a family- whether they are families, singles, special adult education opportunity. Rev. seniors, or anyone in between. The Derek Longbrake, Presbyterian Pastor and fellowship committee views its job as two- current staff member at the Montgomery fold, the first is to provide new and County Coalition for the Homeless, will exciting ways for the church to interact lead us in teaching and reflective and grow (rather than running the same conversation about Scripture and the old events year after year). Second, the various ways it calls us to concern for the fellowship committee views its job as homeless. We’ll also learn about evangelistic as it strives to offer activities homelessness in our area and ways we can and events not only for our church to obey God’s call in our own context. Don’t grow as a family but for us to have reasons miss it! and ways to invite new friends to activities at Neelsville. We are hopeful that fellowship committee is able to offer something that will get you out meeting 2013. The Neelsville MOPS is coordinated your church family and bonding you in by Kimberly Nugent King, Barbara Miller, relationships with each other and our Kathryn Johnson and Jennifer Michael. Savior. Heather Rutz joined the coordinator team in September 2013. Neelsville MOPS The activities offered in 2013 were the focuses on supporting moms who are support of the annual pregnant, have newborns, and who have dinner/congregational potluck, a secret children not yet old enough to enter sister brunch, Easter brunch, Mother’s kindergarten. MOPS is designed to Day strawberry social, a baked potato bar connect mothers in a loving Christian for lunch in honor of father’s day, environment. The Neelsville group meets women’s craft nights, refreshments at the formally every other week at the church building dedication, the Frederick Keys and strives to provide an activity or Family Faith Night, a church picnic, a opportunity for the mothers to connect family friendly trunk or treat, a Veteran’s informally on most days during the week. Day potluck with special patriotic music performed by Harmony Express, an During the formal meetings, the moms evening of family Christmas caroling at meet for a time of fellowship, Christian Wegman’s, the Yankee Swap, and a devotion, breakfast, a speaker and a craft. cookie swap. In addition to all those The children are lovingly cared for by a activities, the fellowship committee team of volunteers from Neelsville and we provides support for Young at Hearts, would not be a success without he hard MOPS, JOY Fellowship and coffee service work love and support of this very for all church activities. We welcome new dedicated team. They are an amazing ideas and helpers in 2014! blessing! Barbara Miller has developed a Biblically based curriculum for the children ages 2 and older including Bible stories, crafts, music, movement, circle time and snack. Children younger than 2 are rotated in to the activities as they are able to participate while babies are lovingly cared for in the nursery. Through What Is MOPS? the work of these volunteers, twenty eight children, twenty-one moms, a grandmother and a nanny are currently participating in the program.

Where have we seen Christ in MOPS? At the very first MOPS meeting held at Neelsville the steering team handed out a calendar of activities that the moms could connect at between the formal meetings. None of the activities were fancy… lunch MOPS, or Mothers of Preschoolers, is an at Chick-fil-a, meeting at the library, and a international Christian program designed kids cooking class at Whole Foods... just to support mothers in raising their opportunities to get out of the house and children. Neelsville MOPS was chartered have adult conversation. One of the at the end of 2012 and began this ministry moms burst in to tears and said, “There is under fellowship committee in January something almost every day… now I won’t have to be trapped inside feeling isolated lunch bags with stickers, stamps, crayons and lonely.” Many months later this mom and words and phrases of loving support. told us that she had really been struggling Finally, the Neelsville MOPS moms served with postpartum depression and that the community by making fleece baby MOPS provided her the friendships and blankets that were donated to the NICU at support that she needed to heal. MOPS Shady Grove Hospital. It has been a provides an opportunity for moms to blessing for the MOPS moms to be bond, get support and care from other welcomed in to and loved by the Neelsville moms and to learn that they can rely on Community and we look forward to Christ during their times of need. continuing to serve Christ with Neelsville well in to the future. From my own personal experience, I am a bit embarrassed to admit that prior to MOPS I had a child who hated to attend What is JOY Fellowship? church. Once Gavin began attending MOPS everything changed. Barbara Miller Under the Fellowship Committee, a designed a program that was so fun-filled women’s ministry JOY fellowship (Jesus, that the children pretty quickly forget that Others, Yourself) began on October 1, 2011 their mom had dropped them off. The and meets at the church the first Saturday team of volunteers showers the children morning of each month, at least eight with love, support and fun activities so months of the year. Each meeting that all the children really look forward to includes music, crafts, games, attending MOPS and have begun to see devotions/Bible verses, worship and the church as a place they want to attend. prayer. There are additional opportunities The volunteers are such a huge blessing to support local and global missions at and really mirror Christ’s light on to these each meeting as well as individuals in the precious little children. My child loves church who may need support and seeing the MOPS volunteers at church on encouragement. Women of all ages are Sunday mornings and is always filled with encouraged to attend and invite other delight when he gets to see Miss Barbara. female neighbors, friends and family members. Child care is provided. JOY is How has MOPS served our Community? not primarily a women’s fellowship event, but rather is a “door ministry” to The MOPS moms have provided love and encourage people to come to these events support to church members during times regardless of church membership and to of need. Whether through cards, phone get to know us with the ultimate hope that calls or words of encouragement many they will grow in their relationship with church members have benefitted from the Christ. love and prayers of the MOPS moms. It was such a blessing to be asked to What did JOY Fellowship do in 2013? contribute lunches to the women’s shelter the week that Neelsville sponsored meals The theme in January was snow. We had at the women’s shelter. The moms had 48 ladies attend. Five of them were first been looking for a community service time visitors to Neelsville and many ladies project that they could participate in with who attend the ESL classes offered at their children and the shelter lunches Neelsville attended. Commotion Fitness were a perfect opportunity. Moms Studio of Germantown came and did a assembled sandwiches while kids as young free interactive Zumba demonstration. as 18 months old helped to decorate the The January community outreach was to help collect coats, hats, gloves, socks and performed by East Rising Sun Lion Dance McDonald’s gift cards for the homeless. Troupe. The community outreach Our youth delivered them to Washington supported missionaries Howard and Jo- D.C. residents living on the streets. Ann Brant (supported by Neelsville since 1985), who have been working with 22 The February theme was Japanese Tea. 57 students recently graduated from a Bible women attended and 12 were first time school in Ethiopia. They received a visitors to Neelsville. The Japanese generous donation of embroidered Embassy connected us with a group that messenger bags and cards of came and performed a formal Japanese congratulations, support and tea. All the food was Japanese themed. encouragement for the new graduates. Amanda Kay, from Amanda Kay Designs volunteered her time teaching us how to In May, JOY fellowship had Polynesian make origami flowers. The community entertainment provided by Tepua Hio outreach was bringing snacks (homemade Hio. The ladies were treated to leis, or purchased) for local first responders to beautiful decorations and fabulous food show our appreciation for their hard work. while enjoying a narrated show that In addition, February’s JOY also supported included traditional conch shell blowing, 2 of Neelsville’s missionaries. Jayme and graceful dance demonstrations, and Malia Swanson serving in Ghana who are audience participation. This event starting a ministry with some Ghanaian allowed many of the attendees to don widows who could not afford to send their their beautiful Hawaiian dresses and children to school. Together they learned skirts! Several first-time visitors were to make soap and sell it at the market to welcomed. The outreach for the month pay for their girls to attend school. This was food donations for the local area food story was shared at JOY and the soap the banks. widows made was offered for purchase. We also helped support a missionary After taking the summer off, JOY serving in Tajikistan - a woman who came fellowship kicked off season three with a to Christ and left a life of prostitution. She down on the farm theme. Attendees makes beautiful hand crocheted contributed apple themed baked goods for snowflakes to support her family. These a contest. Pastor Pete welcomed the snowflakes were offered for purchase at ladies and judged the baking contest with JOY. Gerry Davis taking first place. Betsey Bell led a devotion on Adam and Eve. The theme in March was Spring in to Entertainment was provided by Charm Fellowship. Christian musicians, Jay and City Limits, a country western/blue grass Tessa Frost, performed (piano and duo, as well as a local square dance caller, singing). Resurrection eggs were made as Kenny Farris, who instructed the ladies in the craft. The monthly community square dancing. Many ESL students outreach was to bring in supplies for both joined in the dancing. The community the Rockville and Shady Grove Pregnancy outreach focused on showing our Centers. appreciation to local teachers at Seneca Valley High School and our neighbors at In April, the ladies enjoyed beautiful violin Neelsville Middle School by making them music by David Shulman, ate delicious handmade pencil holders filled with Chinese-themed food provided by Gerry donated pens, pencils and high lighters as Davis, made a homemade card and well as an invitation to join us at enjoyed a traditional Chinese Lion Dance upcoming JOY fellowship events. believed in Jesus but had never The theme for November was soup and participated in public worship. When I bread. Ten ladies donated crock pots of reassured her that would not happen she homemade soup for attendees to enjoy began coming to worship at Neelsville. and Tom Allison donated homemade rolls. A devotion was led by Betsey Bell on Ruth At the very first JOY fellowship we hired and Boaz which included audience the Darryl Brenzel Jazz Band. After their participation and acting out the story. lovely performance we invited them back Several ESL students joined JOY in November 2013. One of the band fellowship in the craft of assembling dried members confessed that he had turned soup starter mixes. The community away from the church for many years. He outreach for November was bringing non- said that when he came to Neelsville and perishable food items for Germantown had an opportunity to see all the ladies Help. having a good time, participating in fellowship and welcoming them without December’s JOY fellowship celebrated questioning whether or not they were theme of Happy Birthday Jesus. Betsey Christians he returned to his home church Bell gave a beautiful devotion on Mary and in Frederick. He mentioned that he had Joseph and the group was entertained by just returned from a 6 week long mission an amazing Gospel choir- Thomas Sligh trip in Honduras. He told us that JOY and Treasures of the Hearts Ministry. 54 fellowship helped him return to church women attended, many from the ESL and refocus his life on the Lord and program at Neelsville. The community missions! He brought some pictures of outreach was to provide food items for the the mission trip to share with the JOY Women Who Care Ministries which ladies. identifies children within the public schools who are at risk of going hungry Church member Joy Newton over the weekend. This ministry Grubb sent this letter that discretely places non-perishable food embodies the vision behind items in the backpacks of these children. JOY fellowship: “I wanted to This was a wonderfully uplifting event that write this quick email about really welcomed the Christmas season. how JOY Fellowship impacted my decision to, along with my Where have we seen Christ in this Mother, join Neelsville Presbyterian ministry? Church this past year. Upon the passing of my father, my Mother and I wanted to find Some have questioned the value/return for a church that would fit both our needs. A investment for this program. I would like church that would reach out to all to share a few short stories that really generations. It was important that show how Christ’s light is alive in this activities were strong and available for ministry. both of us…. We attend our first JOY fellowship after our first worship session In JOY’s first year a Chinese woman and could not believe that this fellowship attended the program. When she was was available to us as non-members. We invited she did not realize the program started attending JOY and church was in a church. After the meeting she regularly. When the inquirer's class came called me to ask if anyone was going to about we had no hesitation in joining the report to the Chinese government that she church. Our biggest influence was and is had come to a church. She had always the JOY fellowship on Saturdays. We met many people that we engaged with quickly…But the clear message was this is where we belonged. The rest is history. I am now an active committee member and we continue to participate.”

It is the prayer of the JOY planning team that women from all walks of life will feel welcome at JOY fellowship. Making the Heading down on the Metro women who attend feel valued and maybe even a little pampered is part of our goal, so that women know that Jesus loves them unconditionally. Whether Christian on non-Christian we want them to feel that Neelsville Presbyterian Church is a warm and loving environment where they are loved, cared for, and welcomed. Our goal is to BE Christ to one another and plant Sharing Good News in DC the seeds for a deeper relationship with Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Join us for Scout Sunday Pack 618 and Troop 489

February 2nd

GIVING TREE THANKS!! Mission to Serve A great big thanks to everyone who helped Thank you to all who donated and make the 2013 Giving Tree a reality. Thank participated in the clothing distribution! you to Sherrie for making the tags, Betty On Saturday, January 11th, 22 adults and for making phone calls, Hugh and his youth distributed approximately 45 daughter for covering the boxes, Michele shopping bags of warm clothing to for helping with the grocery shopping, and individuals living on the streets of Darryl, Karen & Michele for packing the Washington DC. A special thank you goes boxes. Thanks to each of the shoppers to the Knitting & Crocheting Group who and to the Smiths & Perettis who each knitted warm hats and scarves, and to the made a delivery. The families I spoke to Evangelism Committee for again providing were very grateful for “people who care.” funds for McDonald’s gift cards (which are “ He who gives to the poor will lack always in high demand). Many of those nothing...” we talked to were very grateful to have Proverbs 28: 27a warm clothing, and some asked for prayer over their circumstances. There are some familiar faces, like Lulu and James, who Shelter Week Blesses truly appreciate the generosity of Recipients and Volunteers Alike Neelsville. Neelsville was blessed to provide and serve The Deacon Board made and served meals for a week in January at the Wilkins dinner for one evening. The ladies were Avenue Women’s Shelter in Rockville, a appreciative and enjoyed the food – the homeless shelter for some 36 women run casserole pans were empty, and they by Interfaith Works. NPC members especially enjoyed dessert. Deacons provided three meals a day, for a total of Sharon McNott, Caron Stewart, and Steve 756 meals! Thank you to all who gave of Kline, who were assisted by Marshall themselves in the name of Christ to lift McNott, served dinner. Katie Elliott’s up these women in need! Junior Girl Scout troop provided the dinner casseroles. The servers had great A few comments from the many groups interactions with the ladies and it was a and individuals who served: good, worthwhile experience. Caron MOPS provided lunches for one day: It Stewart highly recommends the was a blessing for the Neelsville MOPS experience! (mothers of preschoolers) to provided lunches for the women's shelter. The Many thanks to several small groups, mother's had been eagerly searching for a study groups, Girl Scout troops, families service project that they could do with and individuals who helped make this a their children and meals for the shelter success this year. A big thank you to provided a perfect opportunity. Many Cheryl Della Santina for again shopping to moms contributed the items to make the stock the pantry items for the week. lunches while the children (ages two to Submitted by Liz Elliott, NPC Shelter Week five) decorated the lunch bags with Coordinator stamps, stickers, crayons and markers while the moms added words and phrases of encouragement.

The 4th and 5th grade Sunday School provided and served dinner one evening. RECYCLING AT NPC Four children from Sunday School helped to serve dinner, and they enjoyed the NPC is keeping recyclables out of the experience. The ladies liked interacting waste stream each time we put cups, with the children, and asked if they could plates and napkins in the blue recycling come back soon. Caroline Green stated “It bin near the kitchen. Please make sure felt good to help people who are less food scraps and liquid are removed first. fortunate. I want to do it again!”, and Another way to help in the effort to reuse during Sunday School Warren Swank is to bring a reusable cup from home to asked “”Mrs. Green, can we go back to the use during fellowship time or meetings. homeless shelter again?” Thanks for all your efforts to help preserve God’s creation! Local Missions provided and served dinner one evening, headed up by Gail Haag, Church Library News Karen DeMatteo and Joan Ginetis. They enjoyed serving and the women were very New donations to our church library await appreciative of the food. Most of them you! thanked the servers as they left the dining area. DVDs • If You Want to Walk on Water You’ve Got to layout, or editing. Call the church office Get Out of the Boat by John Ortberg, for more details at 301-972-3916. with accompanying leader’s guides and Please continue to email Word file student submissions by the 15th of the month

guides! for inclusion in the • The Girl’s Still Got It, by Liz Curtis following month’s newsletter to: Higgs, a study of Ruth. [email protected]. • Body & Soul, by M. Craig Barnes, Reclaiming the Heidelberg Catechism, DVD and book. • Vintage Nicole, 10 of your favorite sketches by Women of Faith actress, Nicole Johnson.

Books for Reference and Help • In the Footsteps of Jesus, a National Knitting and Crocheting Geographic book on the Bible Lands Group • Genesis, a commentary by Jeanne Guyon Yards of yarn! Hundreds of hats! And • The Healing Connection, by Harold more! For the seven years, the Knitting Koenig , and Crocheting Group has met regularly A world-renowned medical scientist on the second Saturday of the month to explores make hats from “preemie” size to adult, IV the powerful link between Christian covers for kids, prayer shawls, baby faith and blankets, afghans, even blankets of polar health. fleece in bright colors that you only need a scissors and a good eye to create.

Where do they go? All over the place: Shady Grove Hospital, Steppingstones Newsletter news: Shelter, Rainbow Place, Rockville Pregnancy Center, Sons of Thunder, our Many thanks to Cheryl Della Santina for youth distribute them to the homeless, all her efforts that made the newsletter our own members for whom a prayer happen over the past few years. She has shawl is a comforting “hug from God.” I’ve decided to focus on Jonathan’s home been asked how many items we’ve made. schooling. Cheryl, thanks for all your Who knows? But in the first three weeks dedication and effort! of January we gave away 83 items—each one a unique creation made with love by someone who will never know the We are putting together a Newsletter recipient! team. Please consider volunteering to help with compilation of articles, We appreciate all donations of yarn. cosponsored by NPC We’ve made a lot of wool hats recently and the Children's because that’s the yarn we have. We can Home Society & find a use for almost anything that is Family Services. taking up space in your closet. Or come, Presentations were bring the yarn yourself and join us in the given by experts on library at 10:00 am Saturday, February 8. international, Questions? Please contact Marilyn Splete domestic, and private adoption as well as at [email protected] or Marsha foster care. Let's pray that God would use Stewart. this event to bless many children and families. Many thanks to Judy Allison for all her work in organizing this event!

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENT OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE, CHRISTIAN CARE, & FELLOWSHIP

Community Relations is available to help you advertise your NPC event to the local In Review: Yankee Swap 2013 community. If you would like assistance in selecting ways to let Montgomery This year's Adult Christmas County learn about an event your group or Party and Yankee Swap was committee is holding in 2014 please held on a snowy Saturday contact Earl Haag at least 60 days before night, December 14, at 6 pm the event and we can discuss how we can in Fellowship Hall. The assist. day 240-299-0606 evenings 301-515- event, started with a 1918 delicious potluck dinner, piano music by Michele Kelly, a Christmas Carol quiz/devotion, a bit of prestidigitation by Phil Peretti, and the traditional swap. Many creative gifts were swapped during the evening and Al Blount went home with the TOWEL - which has been coming back to the swap for 35 to 40 years! This year we also collected cans of food for the NEELSVILLE CHANCEL CHOIR Giving Tree food baskets. Despite the INVITES YOU TO JOIN & SING dicey weather, 35 thoroughly enjoyed the festive evening. We hope to see you next 7:30 IN THE SANCTUARY year! WEDENSDAY NIGHT REHEARSALS Brian and Sue Farrell, Phil and Julie Peretti

ADOPTION FAIR

On Saturday January 11 over 100 people Young at from the area came to an Adoption Fair Hearts The Young at Hearts group will meet Supper & Service Wednesday, Feb. 5 in the Fellowship Hall beginning at 11:30 AM. Please note the change in day. Lunch will be served. The The Deacons would like to welcome program will bring us up to date on the everyone to the Lenten Soup & latest in physical fitness for seniors led by Bread Supper, March 5th 6:30pm in our own Steve Escholtz. Questions? Fellowship Hall to be followed by Contact Marilyn Splete at the Ash Wednesday Service, 7:30pm [email protected] or 301-253-1274. in the Sanctuary. Come and enjoy the fellowship and annual tradition with delicious soups prepared by fellow members. Bring soup to share Ash Wednesday if you like! The Salt and Light High School Choir From First Presbyterian Church in Boulder, Colorado Spring Concert — Sunday, March 23 at 7:00 pm Potluck supper at 5:30 pm

There are 30 students traveling on their annual spring tour. The program will include a wide variety of music. The Chancel Choir is hosting them. We will need homes to house 18 girls, 12 boys, and 6 accompanying adults.

First Presbyterian, Boulder, is the home church for Andy and Bethany Nagel and for Tricia Bradford. Andy and Bethany sang in the Salt and Light choir when they were teens.

************************************************************************************ ******** Christ in the Passover Presentation March 2nd at 6pm

Jews for Jesus is an organization that promotes awareness of the Jewish heritage of the Christian faith and strives to make the Messiahship of Jesus an unavoidable issue to the Jewish people worldwide. On March 2nd at 6pm there will be a presentation of “Christ in the Passover” at Neelsville. Those attending last years’ presentation were quite impressed by what they learned. So much so, the Worship and Arts Committee asked them to return for a repeat presentation! “Christ in the Passover’ shows the link between the ancient Festival of Redemption and Christ as the Lamb of God. The use of scripture, as well as the visual items used to walk through a Jewish Passover Seder, weaves the story of Exodus together with the life, death and resurrection of Christ. Please join us in the main sanctuary for this very informative experience. New Christian Preschool Coming This Fall! Registration (at Clarksburg United Methodist): - February 3 – 6 Members of NPC, alumni and Since 1985 we have served the communities of currently enrolled students Damascus, Cedar Grove and Clarksburg. We are - February 7 Public Registration excited that God has opened the door for us to move and partner in ministry with Neelsville Classes Offered: Presbyterian Church. The 2014-15 September Tues/Thurs 3’s 9:30 - 12:00 $175.00/ month through May school year will be our first in our (must be 3 by Sept. 30) new home. Mon/Wed/Fri 3’s 9:30 – 12:00 $250.00/month We provide a loving Christian preschool that (must be 3 by Sept. 1) reinforces Biblical truths and family values. Our Mon/Wed/Fri Pre K 9:30 - 1:00 $375.00/month “hands-on” approach is filled with age (must be 4 by Sept. 1) appropriate academics designed to stimulate a Mon. – Fri. Pre K 9:30 - 1:00 $525.00/month child’s love of learning. We include social (must be 4 by Sept. 1) emotional enrichment in addition to academics and are licensed through Montgomery County Check us out at: www.dcp-clarksburg.info. and the State of Maryland. Call us at 301-916-8888 to schedule a visit.