Pastor Alisa's blog

Marriage has become the subject of considerable political discussion in recent years – the centerpiece of an ongoing national debate about same sex marriage and the civil rights of gay people. Despite tremendous certainty and conviction pulled down on both sides of the marriage debate, how much do people really know and understand about the history of marriage as a social institution?  How much has marriage been a topic of study within churches themselves? What does the Bible say about marriage? 

Capitol Hill United Methodist Church explored these and other questions during a five week marriage inquiry entitled “Exchanging Vows:  What Does God See in Marriage?”  This five week sermon and lecture series, led by prominent marriage scholars and United Methodist clergy, covered marriage from A to Z. 

A full summary of events is available for download here in PDF format.

More information on CHUMC's journey as a reconciling United Methodist church is available on our Reconciling Ministry page.

Check here each week for audio recordings of the sermons and lectures.

Please join us as we journey through Holy week together!

Maundy Thursday    Worship and Communion at 7 pm at CHUMC

Good Friday               Worship at noon at CHUMC

                                      Worship at 7 pm at Ebenezer UMC

Holy Saturday           Vigil at 8 pm at Christ Episcopal Church

Easter Sunday          Worship Celebration at 11 am

                                      Pot-luck Feast at 12:30 pm

As always, all are welcome here and please email with any questions pastor@chumc.net

Blessings Friends,

Last week I invited you to come and hear Sergio Silva from Rio de Janeiro share his story of growing up as a “street child” in an infamous Brazilian Urban Slum. In the parlor, through a young translator, he told of standing on the corner at 5 years old begging for food because he was responsible for providing for his two-year old sister and infant brother waiting in the shack after their parents abandoned them. He told of his arrest, separation from his siblings (one of whom would never acknowledge him again) his placement in a Methodist orphanage, and his encounter with a missionary, the first person he knew to exude joy. His tremendous journey of pain and redemption went from there. When he finished, a neighbor (who because I cannot reach him to ask his permission, I will leave unnamed) that attends Café Capitol Hill on Sundays and is currently on the streets himself, sighed and shared, “But that’s my story.” He, Sergio, and others then partook in an extraordinary conversation about the struggles of poverty, the presence of God and the calling and commission on the church.

This week, we will conclude our study of Genesis in worship. We’ve looked at what it means to be the People of God. And story after story, we’ve seen God’s earliest children be both radically broken and yet repeatedly brought into God’s action of bringing about God’s promises for the world.

Is that our Story? As I sat and listened to our extended community last Thursday, I caught a glimpse of “the people of God.” We tell our stories to one another. We hear and honor one another’s pain and possibilities. Scripture is shared. Through the sharing, we begin to glimpse God’s promise for us, not to be alone in the struggle but to wrestle together and discover God’s truest desire for us individually and for God’s world.

I look forward to seeing you in worship on Sunday.

What’s Happening this Week at CHUMC:

Wednesday Bible Study – Our study group is continuing with the series “Great Sermons.” Each week we dig into a proclamation by a different famous preacher. So no worries if you have not come before, each week is unique. So print off this provocative sermon by Martin Luther King Jr looking at the Christian’s role in Vietnam and head over to the church. We meet in the parlor at 7 and don’t worry if you haven’t gotten it all read.

Ongoing Food Drive - Mission Possible, one of the ministries of Capitol Hill Group Ministries suffered 3 repeated break-ins in one week. This ministry, which serves 25 children living in Potomac Gardens Housing and is now in its tenth year. has never experienced such a loss. Everything was taken. We at CHUMC will be collecting non-perishables to restock this ministry for the meals it offers the children there to learn. Please bring as you are able cans of tuna, chicken, vegetables, boxes of Macaroni and cheese and other pasta to the Lobby of CHUMC. Thanks to all who have already given!

Sunday Worship – Continuing our Journey through Genesis and what it means to be the People of God, we will wrestle with Genesis 45:1-15 and Matthew 15:10-28. And don’t forget to come to Sunday School at 9:45 in the chapel where the class will be discussing these passages. Consider class a “warm-up” for worship (smile).

Blessings friends. This past weekend marked a month of my time here and our journey together. I left the first service with you overflowing with thanks. There was the cadre of kids that came for the children’s sermon. The authenticity you brought forward at communion. The ring of the doorbell during the benediction from Capitol Café guests. The hugs and hellos when leaving the sanctuary. The list goes on. Simply put, I was struck by what an honor it is to be here with you. A month later, I feel the same!

I am also discovering, through you, some of the beautiful and exciting but hard and challenging work of discipleship that God has for us and wants to do through us in this community. So each week, we will send out an email with a short thought and a list of “What’s Happening at CHUMC This Week.” It will also list the upcoming scripture for Sunday. Read ahead and share your thoughts/questions with me via email. Also, don’t forget about Sunday School, each week at 9:50, where a group is looking at the text and life and how they connect. So…if you are not on the googlegroups listserve, please let me know (pastor@chumc.net) and I would love to add you.

Hope to see you in worship on Sunday!