NEWS FROM THE STEEPLE

JUNE, 2009

       THE NEWS LETTER OF HERMON CHURCH                                                              

Dear Family,

            The Lord’s Prayer is the best known and most widely used prayer in Christendom.  It is one of the first prayers we learn as children and it is often the last prayer in our moments of dying.  Many of us follow the example of the early Christians in repeating it several times a day in our personal devotions, and rare is the Christian worship service that omits it.  It is the only prayer that could claim to be THE prayer of Christian faith.

            But what do the petitions of the prayer mean for our life today?  Someone has suggested that the Lord’s Prayer is the best known and least understood prayer in the world.

            In this sermon series, Dr. Ed Bauman, our esteemed interim pastor, will lead us in examining the Lord’s Prayer, petition by petition, in order to determine its basic meaning and its continuing relevance for our life in today’s world.

June 7              “Our Father in Heaven”

                                                               First Reading:  Romans 8:1-12

                                                               Psalm 29

                                                               Gospel:  Matthew 6:5-15

 June 14            “Hallowed be your name”

                                                               First Reading:  2 Cor. 5:11-21

                                                               Psalm 20

                                                               Gospel:  Luke 11:1-4

 June 21            “Your Kingdom Come”

                                                                First Reading:  2 Cor. 6:1-13:1-13:1-13

                                                                Psalm 133

                                                                Gospel:  Matthew 6:5-15

 June 28             Rev. Gunn preaching

                                                                First Reading:  2 Cor. 8:7-15:7-15:7-15:7-15

                                                                Psalm 130

                                                                Gospel:  Luke 11:1-4

Parking

The Session is developing a parking policy that will hopefully meet the needs of all while recognizing the substantial investment in our improved lawn.  Until options have been explored fully, we are requesting that all avoid parking at Adat Shalom.  In the interim, Judy and Jerry DeWitt continue to generously offer the use of their beautiful, curving driveway, located directly across from the church at 7820 Persimmon Tree Lane.  If you have particular parking needs or views on parking solutions, members of the Session look forward to hearing from you.   

Urgent Pastoral Care 

Until the selection of Dr. Graham Bardsley’s replacement, The Rev. Ms. Sandra Shaw is available to the congregation for urgent pastoral needs.  She can be reached on her cell phone at (301) 580-4815.  Ms. Shaw has longstanding ties to Hermon Church and has preached to us on many occasions.  She is the minister at Crusader Lutheran Church in Rockville.

General Presbyter to Preach at Hermon

We are honored to report that The Reverend Dr. G. Wilson Gunn, Jr., the General Presbyter of the National Capital Presbytery, will be preaching at Hermon on Sunday, June 28.  His visitation symbolizes the Presbytery’s love of Hermon, and we are hopeful that a robust attendance will provide a warm welcome.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Anne Eason is organizing a compassionate ministry of knitting prayer shawls to be distributed anonymously to those with physical, psychological or spiritual needs.  If you would like to learn more and possibly help in this endeavor, please contact her at (301) 365-1979.

Hermon Website 

Our website continues to be built and will prove more and more useful to you in providing current information about Hermon activities.  Please check it out as its construction continues at www.thehermonchurch.com.  The website is being managed by Captain David Stone, capndave@verizon.net.

Music Program

Special music programs will be provided by Music Director Muriel Lee Hom on the second and fourth Sundays each month.

Finances 

Year to Date (as of April 30, 2009): 

As you travel this summer, kindly remember to keep your Hermon contributions current.  

Newsletter

The Hermon newsletter is published monthly, except for one combined summer edition for the months of July and August.  Inquiries and input for the newsletter may be sent to Deborah Davenport, dd105@verizon.net 

Church Contacts

Clergy:

Preaching and Worship:  Dr. Ed Bauman, galatians220amen@aol.com

Urgent Pastoral Care: The Rev. Ms Sandra Shaw. (301) 580-4815

Church Officers, the Elders:

Shawn Brennan, 301 593-5570

Deborah Davenport, 301 320-5479

Judy DeWitt, 301 469-0075

Jeanne Edwards, 301 229-6155

Kevin Ewing, Clerk, 301 469-0345

Lilly Lievsay, 301 320-5453

Ken Manning, 301 299-2039

Pat Miller, 301 365-3458

Cece Woodard, 301 2298428

Anne Eason, Treasurer, 301 365-1979