Category: Uncategorized
SSUMC Awarded Montgomery County Security Grant
Montgomery County has awarded Silver Spring United Methodist Church $8,000 as a part of its 2023 Security Grant program. The grant funding will be used by the Leadership Council to offset costs related to security assessments, training, developing safety procedures, and/or installing additional security cameras on our campus.
Grant funds will be administered by the Leadership Council in collaboration with our Facilities Committee. Learn more about the 2023 Security Grant program.
Baptism Renewal Worship on January 8th, 2022
Join us at 10 A.M. on Sunday, January 8th, 2022 for a worship celebration that helps us give thanks for the gift of Baptism.
This worship celebration is held annually on Baptism of the Lord Sunday, a liturgical celebration held at the end of Christmas to commemorate and remember Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River. The ancient church would have celebrated the baptism of new converts on this day following a time of preparation during the season of Advent. By remembering our baptism, we both celebrate the gift of God’s active grace in our lives, and recognize our need of God’s continued action and involvement as we seek to feed people–mind, body, and spirit–on our corner and in our community in Silver Spring.
Baptism is one of two sacraments celebrated by The United Methodist Church, and is celebrated for all people regardless of their age. Children who are unable to speak for themselves at their baptism later participate in Confirmation, a time of intentional learning and service, after which they are invited to publicly acknowledge and profess their faith. Confirmation classes will be held this Spring at SSUMC, and you can contact Pastor Daniel Cho for more information. As a function of God’s grace, we also acknowledge that–even though we may fail in living up to the covenant promises made in baptism–God’s faithfulness through the sacrament is absolute. For this reason we do not re-baptize. You can learn more about our United Methodist beliefs about baptism here.
All worship celebrations at Silver Spring United Methodist Church are held in-person and online (via Facebook and YouTube). For more information on how to attend in person, please use this link.
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Silver Spring United Methodist Church is a reconciling congregation of The United Methodist Church. We fully recognize and celebrate the gift of human diversity as experienced and expressed through our age, race, ethnicity, gender and gender expression, sexuality, ability, and economic status. All of who you are, and all of what you bring, is welcome to find a place in the movement of Christ’s love among us.
Covenant Renewal Worship Celebration on January 1st
John Wesley introduced the annual covenant renewal service for use by the Methodist societies in 1755. Every year, on or near January 1, the Methodists gathered to renew their covenant with God. The service is adapted from a Puritan ritual. It is a powerful time of self-examination and confession that culminates in renewal of commitment to discipleship.
Join us on Sunday, January 1st, 2022 as we celebrate Covenant Renewal and Holy Communion, remembering both the grace with which God sustains us in the work of discipleship, and the call to continue growing in love of God and neighbor in everything we do. Through song and sacrament, prayer and intentional promise-making, we will recommit our lives and work to feeding people–mind, body, and spirit–in 2023.
All worship celebrations at Silver Spring United Methodist Church are held in-person and online (via Facebook and YouTube). For more information on how to attend in person, please use this link.
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Silver Spring United Methodist Church is a reconciling congregation of The United Methodist Church. We fully recognize and celebrate the gift of human diversity as experienced and expressed through our age, race, ethnicity, gender and gender expression, sexuality, ability, and economic status. All of who you are, and all of what you bring, is welcome to find a place in the movement of Christ’s love among us.
Leadership Council Elects Officers
The Leadership Council of Silver Spring United Methodist Church met Tuesday, December 20th to elect officers and begin planning for the new year. Officers elected include:
- Mr. David Ottalini, Chairperson
- Mr. Bill Scanlan, Vice-Chairperson
- Mr. Ryan Lincoln, Secretary
- Ms. Leah Bullis, Treasurer
Additionally, the Board unanimously affirmed the appointment of the following persons to serve as Equipping Board Members for its Standing Committees:
- Daniel Sherk, Personnel Committee
- Kevin Perry, Facilities Committee
- Debbie Boger, Governance Committee
- Melissa Politio, Nominations & Lay Leadership Development Committee
Leah, in addition to serving as the Council Treasurer, will serve as the Equipping Board Member for our Budget and Operations Committee.
Members of the Council will officially take office on January 1st, 2023. Monthly Council meetings will be held on the third Tuesday of every month from 6:30 – 8 PM and are open to the congregation with the exception sessions which are closed to deliberate confidential matters. All Council meetings will be held in a hybrid format, and links and information for joining can be found on our Church Calendar.
For questions, or to contact the Council, please email council@silverspringumcp.org.
Christmas Eve Worship Services
Join us as we celebrate the coming of the Christ-Child, Saturday, December 24 during 2 services:
Intergenerational Service @ 4pm
Lessons, Carols & Candlelight @8pm
Don’t forget our 10 am worship service on Christmas Day! ALL ARE WELCOME!
Celebrating Our Newly Elected Leadership Council
Following a special Church Conference led by our District Superintendent, Rev. Gerry Green, the Nominations and Lay Leadership Development Committee are excited to share the names of our newly elected Leadership Council. The include:
Nominated to serve for one year:
- Dave Ottalini
- Kevin Perry
- Ryan Lincoln
- Caleb Perry
Nominated to serve for two years:
- Marge Kumaki
- Leah Bullis
- Tijuana Irons
- Becky Eager
Nominated to serve for three years:
- Bill Scanlan
- Melissa Polito
- Debbie Boger
- Dan Sherk
- Cheryl Lammy
Additionally, we give thanks for the continued leadership of our Financial Secretary, Lynne Waters, and for our Lay Representative to the Baltimore-Annual Conference, Daniel Colbert, who have agreed to serve in 2023.
The election of a Leadership Council marks a change in our governance structure that was passed at our annual Church Conference in November. The new Leadership Council will replace the Council on Ministries and the Administrative Board, fulfilling the functions assigned to the Finance, Nominations and Lay Leadership, and Staff-Parish Relations Committee, as well as the Board of Trustees. Serving alongside the Council, four Standing Committees–Budget and Operations, Facilities, Governance, and Nominations–will assist them with these duties. The newly elected Council will begin their service on January 1st, 2023.
For more information, please email Pastor Will Green or watch the special Church Conference below.
Annual Angel Tree
Our Annual Angel Tree will be located in the Narthex from November 27 – December 11. Please stop by and choose an Angel (or several) off the tree to help make the holidays brighter for children and youth at Hearts and Homes for Youth (HHY). ). HHY is a non-profit that provides care for youth who are in need. Some of the youths are expectant teens or new mothers; and some are in foster care, group homes, or emergency shelters. They are all receiving assistance and support through the HHY program.
On each Angel you will find details (such as first name, gender, age, and clothing/shoe sizes) and a wish list indicating preferences for gifts. Please DO NOT feel obligated to fulfill all the wishes on the list – do what is practical for you. After you select an Angel, please place your gift(s) in a gift bag, UNWRAPPED, with the Angel attached and place the gift under the Angel tree. For gift cards, place them in an UNSEALED envelope with the Angel attached and give it to Ms. Marie. All gifts are due bySUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2022. Gifts can be bought on Sundays or delivered to the church office during business hours. Thank you so much for participating. Your gifts will bring great joy to the youth at HHY as they may be the only gifts the youth receive this year! Questions? Contact Rebecca McGinnis at rgwmcginnis7@gmail.com or Ms. Marie Matthews at mmatthews@silverspringumcp.org
Advent Festival & Live Nativity December 4, 4pm-6pm
We invite all to join us for our Advent Festival and Live Nativity, which will take place on Sunday, December 4th, from 4:00 – 6:00. Bring the whole family and come walk around our Live Nativity scene that will be brought to life by Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, the Wise Men and Shepherds in costume and real live animals. After you take in the sights of the Live Nativity, join us in the Fellowship Hall for a time of food (sandwiches and drinks), fellowship, and fun as we make Christmas crafts and gingerbread houses (Please note: There is one gingerbread house per family). Plus, wear your Christmas sweater for an UGLY sweater contest. For our homebound members, college students, and those in the military, we will make Christmas cards and wrap delicious boxes of cookies for them to enjoy. Questions? Contact Ms. Marie at mmatthews@silverspringumcp.org
Interim Director of Music Ministries Announcement
Welcoming our new Interim Director of Music Ministries, Leona Lowery Fitzhugh!
Several months ago, our Staff Parish Committee announced that Mary Ann Willow, our Music Director and Organist for the past 43 years, would retire, effective November 20th. While the completion of Mary Ann’s service in our Music Ministry will be difficult for us, we will celebrate with her a well-deserved retirement and a legacy of excellence in music ministry at Silver Spring United Methodist Church. More information about celebrations of Mary Ann’s ministry will be shared with our congregation next week.
Today, our Staff-Parish Committee is delighted to share that we have hired Mrs. Leona Lowery Fitzhugh as our Interim Director of Music Ministries. The Search Team was impressed by conversations with Mrs. Fitzhugh and with her technical, interpersonal and leadership skills. We believe that she understands and will fulfill the needs of our congregation as the interim Director of our Music Ministry.
Leona Lowery Fitzhugh has music degrees from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Catholic University, and is candidate for the Master of Sacred Music at Westminster Choir College. She was a Fulbright Scholar in Japan. She has a distinguished background as a music educator and choral director with Prince George’s Public Schools and Catholic University. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of Washington Women’s Chorale. For 22 years, Mrs. Fitzhugh currently serves Director of Music at Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Washington, DC. Leona is excited about Music Ministry and looking forward to her retirement from education to devote her work in glorifying God in song and music. One of her favorite Bible verses is Psalm 33:3 “Sing to Him a new song, play skillfully with a shout of joy”. She will begin her duties on November 21st, 2022.