KGullickson's blog

Holy Week Schedule

by KGullickson | Sat, 03/27/2010 - 8:36pm
  • Palm Sunday Processional and Worship March 28, 11 am
  • Reconciling Congregations Worship Celebration at Mt. Vernon Place UMC March 28, 4 pm
  • Musical Monday Concert with David Kim March 29, 8 pm
  • Capitol Hill Group Ministries Easter Party March 30, 7 pm
  • Maundy Thursday: Reflection with The Lord’s Supper April 1, 7 pm
  • Good Friday Noon Day Service: Stations of the Cross April 2, 12 pm
  • Good Friday Evening Service: Seven Last Words at Ebenezer UMC 7 pm
  • Easter Vigil: Join other Capitol Hill churches as we rejoice "He is Risen!” April 3, 8 pm
  • Easter Morning Worship! April 4, 11 am
  • Easter Feaster April 4, 12:30 pm

A Lenten Invitation to Prayer

by KGullickson | Tue, 02/16/2010 - 10:30pm

 
Dear church family,
 
In First Thessalonians, Paul reminds the early church in the city of Thessalonica, “to always seek to do good to one another and to all.  Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances.”  It is in the spirit of growing our hearts, doing good to one another and deepening our relationship with God and others that we invite you to “grow” your prayer life during the season of Lent.

Lent runs from Ash Wednesday (February 17) to Easter Sunday (April 4).
 
Specifically, we invite you to participate in prayer in the following ways:

Group Prayer: To celebrate the morning and the evening in prayer, you are invited to phone-in to pray each day during Lent – either at 7:00 am or 9:00 pm.  Using the free service – www.freeconferencecall.com – we will have a twice daily prayer time.  Anyone can dial-in from anywhere, listen and prayer along together.  Led by a church member, the time together will start by reading a psalm or bible verse, followed by prayer.  We anticipate the call should not last more than ten minutes.  The first prayer will be on Thursday, February 18 at 7:00 am.  If you would like to volunteer to lead a prayer, please contact Kirsten Gullickson. Instructions to lead the call will be provided to you.

Extended Time in Prayer: As we know, the bible offers us examples of pray that occurred in great lengths of time.  Jesus spent whole nights praying.  Nehemiah prayed ‘certain days’ upon hearing of the plight of Jerusalem. Three times Moses spent 40 days and 40 nights alone with God.  To honor the tradition of extended prayer, we invite you to find an extended time in your schedule during Lent to prayer.  It may be one hour, four hours, or an entire day.  A handout will be available on the usher’s table and in the narthex describing ways to spend extended time in prayer.  If you would like me to email you a handout, just let me know.Directions for participating in group prayer

Starting on Thursday, February 18 and each subsequent day in Lent, please join us in group prayer by following these instructions:
·         At 7:00 am or 9:00 pm, dial:  (712) 432-0800
·         Enter Access Code: 770739#
·         The leader will wait a minute or two before reading a psalm or bible verse, followed by prayer.
·         You may be prompted to announce your name.  If you join the call late, please do not announce your name.  Simply join the prayer.
·         As participants join or leave the call, the sound of a bell can be heard until the call leader turns the bell off.
 
 
If you have any questions, please ask Pastor Alisa or Kirsten Gullickson.

The Annual Stocking Project Wrapping Party...

by KGullickson | Mon, 12/08/2008 - 12:16am

On Saturday, December 13th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm in the church fellowship hall, we will be wrapping gifts for the Stocking Project. Food and refreshments will be provided. Each year, CHUMC prepares stockings for children in our community who would otherwise receive few, if any, gifts at Christmas. This year, over 135 children identified by Capitol Hill Group Ministry will receive a personalized hand-sewn stocking filled with small gifts, school supplies, fruit, and treats. There are a number of ways you can help share the joy and promise of Christmas with neighborhood children in need. DONATIONS… A direct monetary contribution to the Stocking Project is always welcome and appreciated. To make a donation, just mark your gift "Stocking Project" and put it in the offering plate on Sunday. If you’re looking for “alternative gift” ideas, consider donating a CHUMC Christmas Stocking in someone's name! Gift cards are available at the usher's table.

WRAPPING… WRAPPING… Join us on Saturday, December 13 to help wrap the gifts. Stop by anytime for any amount of time. You will be surprised at how much we can get done with many hands. If you have any questions, please contact Gale Munro or Kirsten Gullickson

Charge Conference on Saturday, November 8th.

by KGullickson | Wed, 11/05/2008 - 7:09pm

This is a reminder that our church’s charge conference will be this Saturday, November 8th from 1:00 pm to 3:00pm at the United Methodist Church of the Redeemer in Temple Hills, MD.   (Directions are below.)

At this meeting, we will set our pastor's compensation package for 2009, vote on four candidates for ordained ministries, and have an opportunity to share the signs and wonders that are happening at CHUMC.  While all are invited to attend the meeting, only members of the charge conference will be allowed to vote.

The Baltimore-Washington conference are holding charge conference meetings in a "cluster" format.   On Saturday, four churches are holding their charge conference meetings at the Church of the Redeemer in Temple Hills -- CHUMC, Ryland-Epworth UMC, Christ UMC, and Grace UMC.   All four churches will worship together from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.   In addition, we will have time to fellowship together.   Worshipping together will be well-worth the short trip to Temple Hills!

Again, this important annual meeting will be held at the United Methodist Church of the Redeemer in Temple Hills, Maryland this Saturday from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.  Please consider attending.

The directions from CHUMC to the Church of the Redeemer are as follows:

  1. From CHUMC, head south on Pennsylvania Ave SE (2.3 miles)
  2. Turn right at Branch Ave SE (2.2 miles)
  3. Turn right at Iverson St (1.4 miles)
  4. Make a u-turn at 19th Ave (322 ft)
  5. The church is at 1901 Iverson St, Temple Hills MD. 

 Thank you!

A special invitation...

by KGullickson | Sat, 10/18/2008 - 3:35pm


CHUMC Family,

As announced in church on Sunday, you are invited to a CHUMC House Party. We hope you’ll be able to fit one of these events into your busy schedules. As we ontinue to grow as a church, events like these allow
us to connect with our pastor and with one another to discuss our
church’s past, present and future. Please join us!

Who: You! Everyone in the congregation is invited to attend one of the house parties. There's even an opportunity for our CHUMC kids to participate.

What/Why: The house parties have two purposes. We will fellowship with our new pastor, Alisa Lasater, and share with her our church’s identity, strengths, and challenges. We will also discuss how CHUMC is living out the call to be the heart of God in the community and dream together about what the church building should look like in order to better answer that call.

When/Where: We’ve provided a diversity of times, dates and locations. Options listed below.

RSVP to Abbey Levenshus with which event works best for your schedule. Your host will be in touch with more details.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19
Host: Sam and Sue Marullo
Time: 6 – 7:30 p.m.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 20
Hosts: Ray and Sandy Smith,
Roy and Eleanor Jensen
Location: Church Parlor
Time: 2 – 3:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21
Host: Abbey Levenshus
Time: 6:30 – 8 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22
Hosts: Becky and Aaron Tallent
Location: Church Parlor
Time: 7 – 8:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23
Host: Jessica Lundberg and
Brian and Laura Rossbert
Time: 7 – 8:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26 - Special Kids' House Party
Host: Laura Bensman and the Sunday School Teachers
Location: Sunday School rooms at CHUMC
Time: 10 - 10:45 a.m.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26
Host: Judy Boyd  Time: 6:00 – 7:30

RSVP to Abbey Levenshus with which event works best for your schedule. Your host will be in touch with more details.

Important Update: Student Associate

by KGullickson | Fri, 09/12/2008 - 10:47am

Dear CHUMC,

It is with joy that I announce that Dottie Yunger has completed her seminary internship as Student Associate here at CHUMC as of September 7. While her official duties and worship requirements were actually completed in May, she graciously agreed to remain as our worship leader this summer to aide Pastor Alisa and the congregation in our pastoral transition. Dottie will continue in her role as staff to the Ebenezer Capitol Hill Cooperative Parish, coordinating Parish activity and leading the Parish congregations through our Diversity training this fall. On behalf of the Staff Parish Relations Committee and Rev. Alisa we offer you thanks for being a part of Dottie's formation and preparation for ministry, just as we thank Dottie for allowing us to walk with her on this journey. Beginning Sunday September 14, worship leadership will be rotated among our declared Seminarians.

Please join us in offering up heartfelt prayers for Dottie, and for all our seminarians, as they continue to prepare to serve God in new and glorious ways. God has clearly called CHUMC to the ministry of preparation! What a testament to our family that God has entrusted us with this awesome responsibility. Let us pray for our congregation as we continue to answer this call.

Kirsten Gullickson, SPRC Chair

Thank you!

by KGullickson | Sun, 07/20/2008 - 4:43pm

Thank you all for the wonderful welcome you have given Pastor Alisa.  It is a blessing to know that we can live out our call of welcome and hospitality.   If you have not met Pastor Alisa yet, feel free to call her at church or send an email.  After service on Sunday morning is another good time to meet her.  This summer, we are traveling through the book of Genesis during worship and it has been a fascinating journey.  Again, thank you all for your gifts of welcome and hospitatlity.

Kirsten Gullickson, chair, SPPRC.

Warm good-byes and good wishes: Sat. June 21 and Sun. June 22

by KGullickson | Wed, 06/11/2008 - 7:53am

Dear Members and Friends of Capitol Hill United Methodist Church,

During our worship service on April 22, 1008, it was announced that Pastor Ginger Gaines-Cirelli will be moving to New York City with her husband Anthony and her ministry at Capitol Hill United Methodist Church will end on June 30, 2008.  To celebrate her and her time with us, we wanted to invite you to an open house on Saturday, June 21 and Ginger's last Sunday service with us on June 22.  Come celebrate with us. Our warm good-byes and good wishes will allow Ginger and Anthony to leave our community with joy and freedom to start new endeavors and share God's love with others.   Details are below.

CHUMC Open House
Saturday, June 21, 2008
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Food and refreshments will be served.
A short program will start around 3:00 PM

Sunday AM Worship Service
(followed by a special fellowship hour)
Sunday, June 22, 2008
11:00 am
We look forward to seeing you on June 21 and/or June 22.   If you have any questions, please feel free to call the church office at 202-546-1000.

Please forward this to others who may not be on our church's email lists.  Thank you.

 

Special Announcements from the Staff-Pastor Parish Relations Committee

by KGullickson | Tue, 04/22/2008 - 6:53am

Dear church family,

Two important announcements were made by the Committee on Staff-Pastor Parish Relations during recent Sunday services.  The first one announced that Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli’s ministry at CHUMC will end at the end of June.   The second announcement, made the following Sunday, announced that Bishop Schol has appointed Rev. Alisa Lasater to CHUMC.  Reverend Alisa will begin her responsibilities as our new pastor and spiritual leader on July 1.

The SPPRC Committee wanted to take the time to share with you the text of these two announcements.  They are printed below.   After reading the announcements, if you have any questions or would like to help coordinate this important departure and this important arrival, please contact Kirsten Gullickson (chair, SPPRC), Trista Soendker-Nicholson (Lay leader), or Abbey Levenshus (chair, church council).

Sincerely, The Committee on SPPRC           

Kirsten Gullickson (chair), Tres Bailey, Anne Bowman, Judy Body, Doug Dougherty, Rob Farley,  Eleanor Jensen, David Kennedy, and Trista Soendker-Nicholson.

***

Text of the April 13 Announcement

“Good morning, my name is Kirsten Gullickson and I am the chair of the Committee on Staff Pastor Parish Relations Committee.   The folks standing with me are the members of the Committee.  Today, we have an important announcement to make – a bittersweet announcement.  The Committee learned yesterday that Pastor Ginger’s husband, Anthony Gaines-Cirelli has been offered and has accepted a tenured faculty position at St. John’s University in New York City.   

“Congratulations, Anthony.  We are very proud of you and celebrate this with you!     

“That was the sweet part of the announcement. Now, for the bitter part.  Pastor Ginger will be moving to New York City with Anthony and her ministry here at CHUMC will end at the end of June.  

“As it is stated on the cover of the bulletin, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want”.   God calls and his faithful disciples follow.   Ginger and Anthony are responding to that call.   And we as a congregation will respond as well, by saying goodbye well.  We will use the coming weeks – now through the end of June -- to celebrate and honor Ginger’s ministry here.  We will have the conversations, the rituals, and the celebrations that will allow Ginger and Anthony to leave our family -- our community -- with the joy and freedom to go and spread God’s gospel to others.  As a Committee member stated yesterday, “We are being called to share Ginger and Anthony’s gifts with the larger, communal church”.  Saying good-bye will be difficult, but we can trust that God is at work in all of our lives and here at CHUMC. 

“Yesterday, the Committee met with District Superintendent David Argo.   Not only were we told of Ginger’s departure, we were also told that the Bishop and his cabinet will be meeting and will be appointing a new pastor to CHUMC.  This new pastor will start the first of July. 

“There are unknown details at this time, but specifics will be forthcoming. This news is also being announced at our sister church, Ebenezer UMC this morning.  If you have any questions, please talk to myself or one of the members of the Committee.  We will be available after service.”  

Following this announcement, a prayer was offered.  

O God, our Shepherd,  We thank you and praise you for your presence here today.   Help us to stay open to your guidance and to trust that you want what is best for us.  

Lord, we know you have been at work.  You have called Ginger and Anthony to go to a new place in your Kin-dom.  May you be with both of them during this time of transition.  

Lord, we are grateful for Pastor Ginger.  She is a beloved member of this community.  She has guided us and helped us become the church we are today.  Lead us in this time of saying good-bye.  May we say good-bye well. 

We ask that you give our church leaders, our staff, and our congregation…and Anthony and Ginger…the wisdom, the courage, and the energy that will be needed to move us through this important time.  

We also pray for the Bishop and his cabinet as they look for a new pastor for CHUMC.  Help them make an appointment choice that will be life giving for us and for your people.  

Lord, renew in us a deep trust in you.  Calm our anxiousness.  As we reflect upon our lives, help us to realize that you have been present in all of our leavings and in all of our comings.  Let us place our lives in your hands.  May all of this bring us closer to you and closer to one another.   Let us trust in you that all things do work together. 

Amen. 

 

Text of the April 20 Announcement

“Good morning, my name is Kirsten Gullickson and I am the chair of the Committee on Staff Pastor Parish Relations Committee.   As you may know, last week the Committee and I made the important and bittersweet announcement that Ginger and her husband, Anthony are moving to New York City, and Ginger’s ministry at CHUMC will end at the end of June.  

“At the time of last week’s announcement, we did not know who our new pastor would be.  However, I can say with joy today that the Bishop and the Cabinet have appointed Reverend Alisa Lasater to Capitol Hill United Methodist Church.  Reverend Alisa will begin her responsibilities as our new pastor and spiritual leader on July 1. 

“The members of the SPPRC were able to meet and visit with Reverend Lasater on Tuesday evening.  The meeting was very good.  Pastor Alisa is currently serving as the associate pastor at Myers Park UMC in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Myers Park UMC is a traditional yet progressive congregation of 5,000 members.  Pastor Alisa is a graduate of Duke Divinity School and her hometown is Albuquerque, New Mexico.   

“Besides serving in her current position, she has served at Rising Hope United Methodist Mission Church in Northern Virginia and at Center UMC in Albuquerque, NM. She has experience working with young adults; and experience working across class and race lines to bring healing and authentic reconciliation.  She is well-equipped, energetic, and will be ready to join our journey on July 1 as we continue to learn what it means to "Be the Heart of God in the Community". 

“I ask that we all keep Pastor Alisa and the congregation of Myers Park UMC in our prayers.  Like us, they will have the conversations and celebrations that will allow Pastor Alisa to leave their community with joy and freedom.   

“After the whirl-wind of the last week, it is clear to me that God is at work in our lives, and I continue to trust God.   

“The SPPRC Committee will be meeting on Tuesday.  We will start planning for events that will celebrate Pastor Ginger’s ministry with us.  Some specific details should be available shortly after that meeting.  We will communicate all of the happenings on the web site, via email and by postal mail. 

"If you have any questions or want to share any ideas, please speak with myself, Abbey, our council chair, Trista, our Lay Leader or any member of the SPPR Committee. 

“This announcement and last week’s will be posted on our web site.  In addition, the announcement that Pastor Elisa has been appointed to CHUMC will be posted on the conference’s web site.”  

Following this announcement, a prayer was offered.  

O God, our Shepherd, hear this pray. 

Today, we pray for all churches, pastors, pastor’s families, and congregations going through transition.  Help each one stay open to your guidance and to trust in you. 

Today, we pray specifically for two pastors – Pastor Ginger and Pastor Alisa.   To each, give wisdom on what is most important to do in the coming weeks.  May you guard them against the false sense of urgency.   To each, give them health and energy.  May you comfort them as they encounter days filled with the mixed emotions of excitement, sadness, joy, and grief about their individual departures and arrivals.  

To each, renew their sense of calling.  For you, O God, have called Pastor Ginger and Pastor Alisa to stand-out as ordained clergy.   Let them remember who they are and whose they are -- for they are yours alone, O God.  You are their rock and salvation. 

O God, we pray for our two congregations -- Myers Park and Capitol Hill.  May both congregations say good-bye well and welcome well.  Provide to both churches the wisdom, the courage, and the energy to move through this time. 

O God, we thank you for the Bishop Schol and the Cabinet and the work they do.  We thank you for District Superintendent David Argo and his gifts to this process.  May the appointment of Pastor Alisa be life-giving.   

Lord, as we prayed last week, renew in us a deep trust in you. Continue to help us to realize that you have been present in all of our leavings and in all of our comings.  Let us place our lives in your hands.  May all of this bring us closer to you, closer to one another, and bring glory to your Kin-dom. 

Amen.