Fairhaven UMC
E-Messenger
Thursday, September 17, 2026
Mission: To Love, Live, and Serve like Jesus
In our church, community, and world
Sunday Worship
Join us online or in person at 10:30 a.m. as we consider what the Spirit might be revealing in Matthew 20:1-18. Pastor Ken’s message is “A Word on Generosity.” The Sanctuary Choir will sing, “Great Jehovah,” by Pepper Choplin. Come worship with us!
Acolyte: Sophia Mollard
Lay Reader: Rita Green
Ushers: Trica Young and Drea Omoyefa
Coffee Hour Host: Giovana Cerquera
The link to last week’s service: LINK
Happening This Week
September 20 – Last In-Person Listening Session with Pastor Ken. He has held a series of listening sessions with congregation members listening to reflections on Fairhaven’s ministries and visions for our future. If you have not participated in any of the previous sessions, a final in-person session is scheduled for September 20. One online session will held on Monday, September 28 at 6 p.m. Please sign up HERE to attend either session. The link for the 9/28 session is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85728382529?pwd=n919DDowdPkAvEI9x6a6tHarZQjvjL.1 Meeting ID: 857 2838 2529 Passcode: 261818
Save the Dates For Future Events! (details below)
September 26 and 27 – Homecoming weekend: Women’s Gathering Sat. at 10; Finding Fellowship screening Sat. at 3 pm; Special Worship service and brunch Sunday at 10:30 am; Youth Group kicks off Sunday evening at 6:30!
October 10 – Annual Coffee House
October 1 – COPA meeting
Additional New and Important Updates
HOMECOMING WEEKEND, September 26-27! We will kick off the weekend on Saturday morning with a Women’s Gathering in Fellowship Hall at 10 am. Deacon Megan will lead us in a time of spiritual renewal. All women are invited. In-person attendance is encouraged. The LINK to a virtual option is also available. Please email Rita at ritamgreen5@gmail.com for more information and to register.
At 3 pm we will come together for a screening of Finding Fellowship. Finding Fellowship tells the story of Fairhaven’s history while exploring the themes of community, resilience, and overcoming division. Please share the attached flyer with your neighbors. Seeing the film together and sharing reflections as a congregation is sure to be a powerful experience. The producers will join us via Zoom for the discussion following the film.
The celebration will continue on Sunday morning with a special guest preacher, Rev. Will Green of Silver Spring UMC. Rev. Will Green (no relation to the Greens of Fairhaven 😊), is deeply committed to collaborative, lay-driven ministry that empowers all people to use their God-given gifts to create anti-racist, radically inclusive, and heart-transforming Christian community. All of our choirs will bless us with special music during the service. We will conclude the celebration with a return of the Omelette Guys along with a few other goodies for brunch following the service.
**Please sign up on the sign-up sheets for Saturday’s (9/26) Finding Fellowship movie screening and for Sunday’s brunch on the two different sign-up sheets on the bulletin board or in Fellowship Hall to help us prepare. Feel free also to email the church office with your expected attendance count.**
The final event of the weekend is directed to MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL FAMILIES! We will kick off our 2026-2027 Youth Group program on Sunday, September 27 from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Students in grades 6-12 are welcome to join us in this time of fellowship, community, and learning. Reach out to Lauren or Shelton Mooney, Jenn Moss, or Carter Rogers if you have any questions. As we look to the future, this will be a great way to end Homecoming Weekend 2026!
Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 15-October 15: Please read the linked article by Epworth UMC’s Rev. Yolanda Pupo-Ortiz, a pioneering Latina clergywoman whose leadership has helped create space for greater representation, shared leadership, and belonging across the United Methodist Church. https://www.r2hub.org/library/rooted-in-faith-building-belonging-the-witness-of-rev-yolanda-pupo-ortiz
Save the date for Fairhaven’s Annual Coffee House on Saturday, October 10th, from 7-9 PM in Fellowship Hall. This evening of fellowship and entertainment is an opportunity to have a little fun together as we showcase our talented performers of all ages. You won’t want to miss out! If you’d like to volunteer as a performer or to help with set up or clean up, please see Kelley or Carter Rogers. More details to follow, but get it on your calendar now!
Sunday School Rooms: Please be aware that Rooms 1, 3 & 4 are used for Christian Education. Please maintain those spaces for the use of our children, youth, and teachers by not storing unrelated items in those rooms. Our children and youth deserve clean, appropriately decorated, and well-equipped spaces for growing in faith. Items not related to Christian Education will be removed from those spaces after September 15 at the discretion of our Sunday School leaders and Pastor Ken. The storage closets in Room 1, which are used to store materials for other ministries, can remain as is and will not be changed, but please keep them neat and well-organized. Rooms 2 & 5 will be cleaned and reorganized at another time. Thank you in advance for your help in keeping our space looking inviting and welcoming. Questions can be directed to Rev. Ken.
News from the Greater Gaithersburg Hub, the Baltimore-Washington Conference, and the Community
BWC News
Please see the weekly e-connection to learn the latest news of our Baltimore-Washington Conference. This week’s edition includes a story about steps that the United Methodist Council of Bishops are taking to address the climate crisis. Read the press release.
Hub/Community News
Councilmember Marilyn Balcome’s newsletter announces a “Back to School Block Party” this Friday, Sept. 18. It’s her third annual Back to School Block Party! This free and fun event for middle and high school students will be held on Friday, September 18th from 12:30- 3 PM at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. For more information, see her electronic newsletter at her website: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Balcombe/
Of Continuing Interest...
Weekly Schedule
Office Hours week of September 20
Pastor Ken: Tuesday, 9:30-6:30 and Wednesday, 10-5.
Rita: Tuesday, 9-2; Wednesday and Thursday, 9-1
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.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study resumes September 8 at 10 a.m. in our usual hybrid format. We begin a new study, Disciple Fast Track, which is a United Methodist-based Bible study offering a survey of the scriptures in 24 lessons, beginning with the Old Testament. Books are available from Cokesbury. (see link above to order) ZOOM LINK Meeting ID: 775 496 640 Passcode: 656327
Tuesday Night Bible Study: Tuesday evenings, 7-8 p.m. by Zoom. Mala Prasad is leading a study on 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus by NT Wright. The 20th Anniversary Edition. ZOOM LINK Meeting ID: 811 8541 4235 Dial-In 301 715 8592
Thursday Evening Prayer Service: Every Thursday 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. Meeting ID: 987 2687 0589 Passcode: 489488
Grief Support Group: Will meet in person on selected Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. If you are interested in participating in the group, please contact Rev. Gerry at therevjr@msn.com for more details.
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 UMC
● 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 throughout the year for specific causes (Huree, SAVE, UMCOR, etc.)