Fairhaven UMC
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Thursday, July 9, 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 a.m. as we begin our summer worship series, Grounded in Our Baptismal Vows. Pastor Ken’s message is “Tell the Whole Truth – Part 1.” Our scripture is Ephesians 3:14-21. Geoff Kaiser will sing the offertory. Come, worship with us!
Lay Reader: Carter Rogers
Ushers: Elaine Gibson and Barbara Dougherty
Coffee Hour:
Happening This Week
Different Shades of Pink Tea is SATURDAY! Please join with other Fairhaven women and friends for an afternoon of tea, food fellowship, and laughs. Please remember to step out in your pink. Whether it's a pink dress, purse, hat, or other accessories, we look forward to seeing you! Feel free to bring your favorite teacup and saucer, if you would like to, and we will have some teacups if you prefer that option. The suggested donation for attending the tea is $15.00, which can be paid in advance or on the day of the event to Penni Spriggs McDonald, Donna Adderly, or Debbie Prather. See the attached flyer for more information and share it with friends!
Save the Dates For Future Events!
July 16 – Special Church Conference
July 27- 29 – Vacation Bible School
Additional New and Important Updates
Special Church Conference: We will hold a Special Church Conference on Thursday, July 16 at 7:45 p.m. on Zoom for the purpose of approving Steve Catapano as an Exploring Candidate in the UMC Ordination process. COPA will hold a brief meeting following the Special Church Conference. All members of Fairhaven are invited to attend the Special Church Conference. Here is the LINK to participate:
Meeting ID: 864 2734 5176 Passcode: 539270 Phone: 301-715-8592
Vacation Bible School is July 27 - 29 from 6-8 pm!
We are actively recruiting volunteers-- adults and teens for our Vacation Bible School this year. If you’re interested, please reach out to Trica at tricasmiles23@gmail.com. Registration is open, so please go to our website to let us know that your family is coming! https://www.fairhavenumcmaryland.com/featured-project
For more information, please see the attached flyer or contact Trica Young or Pastor Ken.
Please share your reflections on Fairhaven’s ministries and your vision for our future in a series of listening sessions with Pastor Ken after worship. Each session will be for 12-15 people and last for no longer than an hour. In-person dates are Sundays, July 12, August 16, and September 20. One online session will also be scheduled for an evening in early September. Please sign up HERE to attend one of the sessions.
Our Amazing Youth want to know you! Please sign up to teach a Sunday or two of Sunday School this summer. Open dates are Aug 9, 16, and 30. There is a sign-up outside of the sanctuary on the bulletin board. Lessons and training are provided if you would like that. Any questions, reach out to Trica at tricasmiles23@gmail.com.
Summer Coffee Hour Hosts needed for our popular after service fellowship time. Please feel free to keep it simple—a few cookies and punch is fine. Linda Bowman is available to help with coffee set-up. See the sign-up sheet that’s usually on the table with the coffee cups or contact the church office for more information.
UMCOR Venezuelan Relief
The people of affected areas of Venezuela need our help—and United Methodists are stepping up. The Council of Bishops issued a pastoral letter on June 27, calling for United Methodists to pray for the people of Venezuela. Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. President of the Council of Bishops, noted, “Scripture teaches us that when one member suffers, all suffer together. The cries rising from Venezuela are the cries of our own family.” Read the entire text of the letter here. The General Board of Global Ministries and their humanitarian relief arm, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is on the ground and working with local partners. They are providing food, water, medical services, and shelter to the affected. One hundred percent of funds directed to UMCOR relief efforts in Venezuela will go to help the people of Venezuela recover. Fairhaven is receiving donations to be sent to UMCOR for their relief efforts. Checks made out to the church with UMCOR Venezuela in the memo may be mailed or placed in the offering plate or donations may be given through our online portal, and placed in the UMCOR Disaster Relief Fund.
SUMMER WORSHIP SERIES
Our summer worship series is Rooted in Christ: Love Boldly – Grounded in Our Baptismal Vows. The Episcopal Area Worship team developed this series to help us reflect on the theme of the year and specifically, our baptismal vows.
Sunday, July 12 – Tell the Whole Truth: Part 1 (Ephesians 3:14-21)
Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin?
Sunday, July 19 – Tell the Whole Truth: Part 2 (Ephesians 4:11-16)
Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?
Sunday, July 26 – Be Accountable to Christ and Others (Ephesians 4:17-32)
Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace,
and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the Church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races?
Sunday, August 2 – Nurture One Another in Love (Ephesians 5:6-21)
Will you nurture these children (persons) in Christ’s holy Church, that by your teaching and example they may be guided to accept God’s grace for themselves,
to profess their faith openly, and to lead a Christian life?
Sunday, August 16 – Embody Christ in the World (Ephesians 6:10-20)
According to the grace given to you, will you remain faithful members of Christ’s holy Church and serve as Christ’s representatives in the world?
CAPITAL PROJECTS 2026: Todd Bridgeman, chair of the Board of Trustees, outlined the major projects the Trustees will undertake this year: replace the split-rail fence along Route 28; install a new heat pump and air handler in the kitchen; and install a new LED road sign. The kitchen HVAC upgrades are scheduled to be completed next week. The total cost of these projects is estimated to be approximately $100,000. We are receiving donations from the congregation to help pay for these upgrades, with the remaining expense to be covered by our reserves. Over $25,000 has been received to date – thank you for your generosity. Donations may be made to the Capital Fund through the offering plate, mail, or Breeze portal. Todd’s presentation can be viewed HERE.
Additional Summer fun activities:
Summer is fast approaching. Have you signed your children up for camp? The BWC is blessed to have three different camp and retreat sites offering a wide range of programs in stunning locations at Harmison, Manidokan, and West River. Registrations are now being accepted. Learn more about summer camps.
Science, Sparks and Summer Fun! Mad Science Camps are coming to Fairhaven United Methodist Church again this summer! Turn your child's summer into an unforgettable adventure filled with bubbling potions and Dinosaurs full of hands-on STEM Experiments. Spaces are limited, and spots fill up fast! Sign up here; each week runs from 9am-4pm and is $395.
July/August 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 an invitation to attend Mission u 2026. Experiencing Emmanuel, a time of learning and spiritual growth centered on how we encounter “God with us” in both joyful and challenging moments, and how that shapes our call to live out faith, hope, and love in action. Mission u will take place at the Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel, 903 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, MD, from Friday, July 31 through Sunday, August 2, 2026. This gathering offers an inspiring opportunity to deepen your faith, connect with others, and be renewed for meaningful service. Learn more and register.
Also, check out the Discipleship Opportunities and Classified sections.
Community News
Pleasant View Historic Site thanks all who attended the Reopening of the Historic Pleasant View Site last month. If you missed it or would like to continue the celebration, please join us on July 18 for an evening of "Down Home Blues" with Jay Summerour and Miles Spicer. This will be a ticketed event, but it will provide an opportunity to tour the site in a smaller setting with light refreshments and "toe-tapping" music. Space is limited. Use this LINK to get your tickets. Contact Rita (ritamgreen5@gmail) or Gerry Green (therevjr@msn.com) for more information.
Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe’s newsletter notes, among other things, that our neighbor church, Poplar Grove Baptist Church on Jones Lane, was built in 1893. It is the sole surviving 19th century Baptist church of an African American congregation in Montgomery County. Immersion baptisms are said to have taken place in a tributary of the Muddy Branch during the church's early years.
Her newsletter is available on her website: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Balcombe/