Fairhaven UMC
E-Messenger
Thursday, May 7, 2026
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 for our Mother’s Day celebration! Pastor Ken’s message is “Loving Christ,” inspired by John 14:15-21. The Sanctuary Choir will sing “The Lord is My Shepherd,” by Allen Pote. Come, worship with us!
This week's worship participants:
Acolyte: Sophia Mollard
Ushers: Regis Canny and Dennis Leighty
Liturgist: Rev. Dr. Gerard Green
Coffee Hour Hosts: United Methodist Men
The link to last week’s service: LINK
Happening This Week
Happy Mother’s Day
Save the Dates For Future Events!
Month of May – MCCH collection
May 17 – Youth Group
May 31 - Cultural Celebration
June 7 - Education Sunday
June 14 - Music Appreciation Sunday
June 19 – Juneteenth Celebration
June 20 – Pleasant View Historic Site Reopening Celebration
Additional New and Important Updates
Many thanks to EVERYONE involved with making our Earth Day celebration a success! Special thanks to our Young Adults for help setting up, for the Green Team’s commitment in running the event and to Marion for coordinating the event.
The Evelyn A. Hallman Scholarship Fund is accepting applications for the 2026 scholarship award. Please see Thompkins Hallman or contact the church office.
Pleasant View Historic Site Reopening Celebration!
Celebrate the reopening of the 158-year-old Pleasant View Historic Site and experience a powerful piece of local Black history brought back to life. Join us in person to explore the newly restored schoolhouse, church, and social hall—spaces that once served as the heart of this historic community. Enjoy an inspiring day filled with history, connection, and celebration.
11810 Darnestown Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Saturday, June 20 • 10 AM - 2 PM
JUNETEENTH Interfaith celebration. The Route 28 Interfaith Team will host the fourth Juneteenth celebration on June 19 at The Church of the Latter Day Saints, Kentlands Ward, at 7 p.m. This year we will share information on the 250-year history of Montgomery County. If you are interested in participating in the interfaith choir, please contact Freddie Payton or attend the first practice tonight (5/7) at 7 pm.
The Diversity by Design Group’s call for help. Please use this link to respond to the Diversity by Design Group call for help to make the cultural day on May 31 a success! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4BA8A728A3F5C52-63489291-cultural,
The day will celebrate the diversity of our church. We will have a variety of opportunities to share cultural experiences during the service and afterwards, as we will gather and enjoy various cuisines. Use the link above to sign up to share a song, prayer, a reading in your native language, food or drinks.
Speak with Trica Young, Corey Young, Geoff Kaiser, Markia Chambers, Todd Bridgeman, or Pastor Ken for further information or to volunteer to help in any way!
Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless (MCCH) yearly appeal begins in May. During May, OUTREACH and the UMM are asking for donations of NEW basic household items for people exiting homelessness and moving into their new home. People staying in a shelter don’t have the basics we all need in our homes. With your help, they can be ready to restart their life. Our goal this year is to provide household items for TWO clients. There is a Sign-Up Genius LINK for you to use to donate a variety of items.
There will be a table in the Fellowship Hall for your donations each Sunday in May. Thank you so much, as always, for your generosity and giving spirit. If you have questions, please contact Debbie Miller 301-538-2486 drmiller323@gmail.com or Shelton Mooney 301-525-5700, Shelton.mooney@live.com
The Green Team shares monthly ideas we all can do to care for God’s creation. The ideas for May are: Commute via train/bus; Reuse repair, and recycle; Eat meatless meals on Mondays; Plant a church vegetable garden; Take a child to a nearby nature center; Request a sermon on creation justice; In summer, set the thermostat to 78 degrees; Form and support a church Creation Care committee (in our church—Green Team); At picnics or bazars use paper and bamboo tableware; Give to victims of climate disasters e.g. UMCOR #982450.
May 3 Collection of Old Flags: Dear Fellow Church Members...Memorial Day will soon be here, and if you are planning to put up a new American flag, we have a great way for you to dispose of the old one. Who knows, you may find old flags when you go looking for the new one you will fly proudly on Memorial Day. This is a reminder that on Communion Sundays, we are collecting your used American flags to be disposed of properly. Look for more news on this topic that will be coming as we approach the 250th birthday of the USA
Looking for an easy way to be of service to Fairhaven? Do you have a welcoming spirit? Volunteer to be an usher! Additional usher teams are needed to greet members on Sunday mornings. Please contact Barbara Dougherty at 240.421.2156 or pldbad@aol.com, for more information.
The May/June Upper Room Devotionals are available
News from the Greater Gaithersburg Hub, the Baltimore-Washington Conference, and the Community
BWC News
Please see the weekly e-connection for news from our Conference. This week’s edition is full of interesting articles, including a joint statement from The General Commission on Religion and Race and the General Board of Church and Society warning that a recent Supreme Court ruling has significantly weakened protections under Section Two of the Voting Rights Act. A copy is attached for your information, education and contemplation.
There is also an exciting opportunity to join in a sacred pilgrimage, Journeys of Paul, in Greece with Bishop Easterling in March 2027. Download brochure. Learn more and register.
Community News
Annual Active Aging Expo, TODAY, May 7, 2026 • 9 AM - 2 PM, a day filled with energy, educational talks, interactive demonstrations, and preventive screenings. This free event will be held at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park, located at 506 South Frederick Avenue, next to Gaithersburg High School. Explore resources from not-for-profit organizations focused on health and wellness, along with businesses specializing in services for older adults. No registration is necessary—just show up and get ready to change your life!
Of Continuing Interest...
Remember our Sick and Shut-ins
Weekly Schedule
Office Hours week of May 10
Pastor Ken: :30-3:30 Tuesday; TBD Wednesday
Rita: Monday 11- 2; Tuesday -Wed. 9-2
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: Tuesday mornings at 10 am. (Introduction to Genesis, Chapter 10) ZOOM LINK Meeting ID: 811 8541 4235 Dial-In 301 715 8592
Tuesday Night Bible Study: Tuesday Evenings 7-8 pm by Zoom. Mala Prasad is leading a study on 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus by NT Wright. The 20th anniversary addition
ZOOM LINK Meeting ID: 811 8541 4235 Dial-In 301 715 8592
Thursday Evening Prayer Service: Please join us in person at Fairhaven or online at 7:30 for a Holy Thursday service entitled, From the Table to the Garden, Our regular time of prayer resumes next week, 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 pm. If you are interested in participating in the group, please get in touch with 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 through the year for specific causes (Huree, SAVE, UMCOR, etc.)