Fairhaven UMC
E-Messenger
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Mission: To Love, Live, and Serve like Jesus
In our church, community, and world
Sunday Worship
Join us in person or online at 10:30 a.m. as we continue our Favorites and Questions series. This week we ponder a question about intercessory prayer. Rev. Ken’s message is “Fervent Prayer,” inspired by James 5:13-16 and Matthew 6:5-15. Since one should never simply talk about prayer, we will spend a significant portion of the service in prayer. Carter & Kelley Rogers and Rev. Ken will provide musical selections. Prayer Shawls will be consecrated during the service. Come worship with us!
This week's worship participants:
Ushers: Trica Young and Rehya Clark
Lay Reader: Sue Brothers
Coffee Hour Host: Ellen Voorhees
The link to last week’s service: LINK
Save the Dates For Future Events!
September 16 – Bishop Easterling visits District (see below for more information)
September 21 – Youth Fellowship Kickoff
September 27 - 28 – Homecoming Weekend
October 4 – Nebel Street Men’s shelter BBQ
Additional New and Important Updates
Pastor Ken will be on vacation Monday, August 18-Sunday, August 31. Deacon Megan is on call for pastoral emergencies. She can be reached at 704-787-3072 and rev.megan.b.blanchard@gmail.com. Deacon Megan will also lead worship and preach on Sunday, August 24. Geoff Kasier, Lay Leader, will lead worship and preach on August 31. Jonathan Chambers will lead Prayer Time on Thursday, August 21 and Rebecca will lead on Thursday, August 28. Rev. Ken expects to be back in the office on Tuesday, September 2 from 10-6. We pray he and Nancy have a safe and restful time away.
Blessing of the Backpacks - Students (of all ages), teachers, administrators, and staff are invited to bring their backpacks and/or bags to participate in the Blessing of the Backpacks next Sunday, Aug 24.
Prayer Shawls - Fairhaven has an active prayer shawl ministry whose members knit and crochet prayer shawls for the community. These shawls, which are blessed by the congregation on a periodic basis, are given to people experiencing loss of a family member or friend, celebrating a wedding or a new baby. Shawls have even been given to pets during their final weeks.
These shawls are made to be given to anyone in the Fairhaven congregation who knows someone in need. If you know someone who needs one, please let Sharie Bernard or a member of the Prayer Shawl ministry know so that they can arrange for you to receive it.
And if you knit or crochet and would like to join us, we'd love to have you join us. We meet once a month on the second Saturday of the month in the Fellowship Hall. We have plenty of yarn to get you started!
Way to go Fairhaven! We are not only sending Jayquan, Zoey, Leonardo, Gabriella, Devin, Harmoni, Elijah, Kacey, John and Laila off to school this year with a complete backpack, but also EIGHT of their friends as well. In addition, thanks to a very generous monetary gift, we are contributing four $50 Walmart gift cards that families will use to purchase new shoes and clothes for that first day of school! This year, Fairhaven, you have gone above and beyond demonstrating just how kind and giving a congregation we truly are! Many thanks!
FUMC Youth Fellowship - KICK OFF THE FUN, FAITH & FELLOWSHIP
Sunday, September 21, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM For Youth in Grades 6–12
We’re turning the page to an exciting new chapter of Fairhaven United Methodist Youth Fellowship — and youth in Grades 6–12 are on the guest list!
Get ready for an evening jam-packed with joy - snacks to fuel your spirit, games to break the ice, laughs to fill the room, and a devotional to warm your heart. Whether you’re fresh to the flock or a youth group OG, this is your chance to find your crew, grow your faith, and have a blast doing it.
Questions or ideas? Contact:
Lauren Mooney – laurenej1983@yahoo.com; Jenn Moss – moss3210@gmail.com
Uriel Casas - ucasas1@gmail.com
Come for the food, stay for the fellowship, and leave with your soul tank *full*.
We can’t wait to meet, greet, and grow with YOUth!
Sympathy is extended to the Hallman, Lyons, and Green families on the passing of Roberta Hallman in Knoxville, TN on Monday morning. Roberta is the sister of Esther Lyons and Thompkins Hallman. Her funeral will be at Fairhaven on August 29, viewing at 10 am and service at 11am.____
Homecoming Coffee House: September 27 – 7pm. Please start thinking of a “act” you can present at this annual fun evening. Inter-generational presentations are encouraged. More information to follow.
Fairhaven SAVE 2025 Fundraising Drive Continues: The Fairhaven/Sierra Leone Agape Voluntary Efforts (SAVE) Fundraising Drive will be conducted through Sunday August 17, 2025. This year’s drive will focus on raising funds to support the work of one of SAVE’s partners - Diakonia Interdenominational Services for Counselling, Evangelism and Teaching (DISCET)’s ministry to correctional institutions in Sierra Leone. They visit, counsel, train, and prepare inmates for life after release by providing business startup funds. Please see the attached document for more information about this very important program. Your contributions will be greatly appreciated, and will go towards giving someone hope and a new start in life. We are very thankful for the prayers and support that Fairhaven members and friends have provided in the past. Contributions can be made online through Fairhaven’s giving portal, by the envelopes provided or by mailing checks to the church. Please make checks payable to Fairhaven UMC and write “SAVE” in the memo line. For further details or questions, please contact Christian at 240-534-9805 or Rebecca at 240-477-2758. Thank you.
Bishop Easterling visits the Tidal Basin District: Bishop Easterling will be visiting all of the newly formed districts this fall. She will visit the “Tidal Basin District,” which is our newly formed and named district. We used to be in the “Central Maryland District.” Members from all of the churches in the district are invited to this gathering. The meeting for the Tidal Basin District is scheduled for September 16, 6 p.m. at Hyattsville First UMC, Belcrest Rd., Hyattsville.
The September – October Upper Room Devotionals are available
News from the Baltimore-Washington Conference, the Greater Gaithersburg Hub, and the Community
Click HERE to read Bishop Easterling’s statement in response to the Trump Administration’s actions in Washington.
Book Discussion: The Baltimore-Washington Conference United Women in Faith Charter for Racial Justice (CFRJ) Committee presents the August 2025 Book Discussion: Raise Your Voice: Why We Stay Silent and How To Speak Up by Kathy Khang. Click here to REGISTER, and join the virtual event on Aug. 10, 17, 24, and 31 at 7pm via zoom. It’s not too late to join this discussion continuing for the next 3 Sundays.
Young Adult Retreat: Young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 are invited to relive your childhood for a weekend and do all the fun things you used to do at camp at the Manidokan Young Adult Retreat on September 12-14. The retreat will offer classic camp activities including high ropes, swimming in the pool, hikes, tie-dye, and a river trip. If you have someone in your life that has never experienced camp, this would be a perfect opportunity to bring them along. The price of young adult camp is $175/person and covers all meals, lodging, and activities. If you and a spouse plan to attend and want a private room, email the program director, Jarrett Snider, or give us a call at 301-834-7244 ext. 3. Register.
Civil Rights Tour: The civil rights tour that Gerry and Rita took in 2023 is happening again this year September 26-October 4. It is an unforgettable journey through the heart of the American South, where the fight for justice and equality changed history. This immersive bus tour will take you along the Freedom Trail, visiting the landmarks and cities that shaped the Civil Rights Movement. Click here for more information.
For more news from the Baltimore-Washington Conference, Click here
Of Continuing Interest...
Remember to pray for our Sick and Shut-ins
Weekly Schedule
Office Hours week of Aug 17
Pastor Ken: on vacation
Rita: Monday - Wednesday 9 am – 12 pm
Sunday Worship: Every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. ZOOM Link
Meeting ID: 156 030 351 Passcode: 324036 Dial-In: 301 715 8592
We kindly request that you remain muted during the Sunday service once worship has begun. The service is edited before being posted to our YouTube channel.
Pastor’s Bible Study: Tuesday Morning Bible Study is on break for the summer. We will resume, in our usual hybrid format, on Tuesday, September 9, at 10 a.m.
Adult Bible Study: Tuesday Evenings 7-8 pm by Zoom. Mala Prasad is leading a study on The Bible With and Without Jesus by Amy Jill Levine and Marc Zivi Brettler. ZOOM LINK Meeting ID: 811 8541 4235 Dial-In 301 715 8592
Weekly Prayer Service: Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. Need a mid-week spiritual lift? All are welcome to join us online at 7:00 p.m. for our weekly Thursday evening prayer service. ZOOM LINK. Jonathan Chambers will lead the service on 8/21.
Grief Support Group: Will meet in person on selected Thursdays, at 6:30 pm. If you are interested in participating in the group, please contact Rev. Gerry at therevjr@msn.com for more details.
Contact Information
Pastor Ken Hawes: pastorken.fairhavenumc@gmail.com; 240-329-7638
Deacon Megan Blanchard: rev.megan.blanchard@gmail.com
Rita Green: fairhavenumc@gmail.com, c- 301-648-8294
Christina Mollard: ycmollard@gmail.com
If you would like to participate on Sunday mornings, please contact:
Lay Reader - Sharie Bernard at shariemb@gmail.com
Ushers – Barbara Dougherty at pldbad@aol.com
Acolytes – Hannah George at Hannahgeorge5@gmail.com
Financial Giving to Fairhaven: Thank you for your continued generosity for the ministry of Christ through Fairhaven UMC. There are 3 ways to make an offering:
● In Person: place a gift in the offering plate on Sunday mornings
● Mail: send a check to the church payable to Fairhaven United Methodist Church
● Online: https://fairhaven.breezechms.com/give/online
You may designate your gift to several funds:
● General Fund: the primary fund covering budgeted expenses
● Discretionary Fund: helps people in need on an emergency basis (at the pastor’s discretion)
● Capital Expenses: for ongoing church building needs
● Invest in Fairhaven: a specific capital campaign to do building upgrades
● Building Use: for community members who use the building to pay their use fees
● Other funds are activated-deactivated through the year for specific causes (Huree, SAVE, UMCOR, etc.