February 2020

Peoples Prodder

Peoples Congregational United Church of Chris t

4704 Thirteenth Street , NW

Washington, DC 20011

WORSHIP SERVICES

10:00 a.m.

Adult Church School

Sunday at 9:00 a.m.

Bible Study

Thursday at 6:00-7:30 p.m.

HOLY COMMUNION

First Sunday

10:00 a.m. Worship

Nursery available during

10:00 a.m. service

Rev. Brandon Harris Senior Minister

Volunteer Transition Team Governing Oversight:

Robert Hendricks, Moderator

Administrative:

Nina Faulk-Knight

Carolyn Veiga

Facility Maintenance:

Esther Yarborough

Volunteers’ Coverage:

Pat Ellis

202-829-5511

During the month of February, we celebrate Black History

Month. We pay homage to the ancestors who have gone before us and their legacy of courage, faith, hope, and love. As a Congregationalist Church we have a proud history and legacy of Black Congregationalists that paved the way for us today. This month I want to highlight the contributions of African Americans Congregationalist Ministers.

The Rev. Henry Hugh Proctor (1868-1933) Minister of the First Congregational Church in Atlanta he developed First Church into an “Institutional Church” the first of its kind with classrooms, a women’s and men’s league, kindergarten, a water fountain for the black public in segregated Atlanta. In 1903 he founded the National Convention of Congregational Workers Among Colored People

The Rev. Dr. Nicholas Hood Sr. (1923-2016) Rev. Hood was the Charismatic Minister of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Detroit, MI. He served on the Detroit City Council for 28 years. The Rev. Dr. C Shelby Rooks (1924-2001) Dr. Rooks served a long and distinguished career within the UCC. He served as the first African American president of Chicago Theological Seminary. Additionally, he served as pastor of Lincoln Temple in D.C.

The Rev. Yvonne Delk (1939-) The first African American woman to be ordained in the United Church of Christ. She is a leading champion of justice within the U.C.C.

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MISSION AND VISION OF THE CHURCH

MISSION OF THE CHURCH

The Mission of Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ is:

• To worship God and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to labor for peace and justice so that the world may become the kingdom of God on earth;

• To foster within its membership, by its teaching and

its ministry, the spirit which was in Christ; • To be to its membership and the community a source

of spiritual refreshment, guidance, transformation, comfort and support;

• To impress upon its membership the need for mutual

loyalty and charity; • To teach its young people the noble traditions of its

past; to point them to the possibilities of its future, and to give guidance in the building of Christian char-acter; and

• To educate and develop its members for consecrated

and sacrificial service. VISION OF THE CHURCH

“…so we, who are many, are one body in Christ and indi-

vidually we are members of one another.” (Romans 12:5 NRSV) Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ is a pro-gressive Christian community called by faith, led by hope, and united by love to build strong and committed disciples for Jesus Christ and to be a spiritual presence locally and globally in service to humanity. This vision is lived out through our focus on relationship with the Lord, which produces perspective; scholarship in study of the Scrip-tures, which produces focus; stewardship awareness in our giving and sharing which produces trust; and fellowship with our sisters and brothers in Christ, which produces unity. “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it, for there is a vision for the ap-pointed time…” (Habakkuk 2:2-3 NRSV)

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Thursday Evening Bible Study: Rev. Harris conducts Bible Study each week. Winter Hours are in effect and class will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Corbin Lounge. Interested members, who cannot attend in person, will be able to participate by conference call. The call-in number is (515) 604-9545, and the Access Code

is 659959#. Please join us either in person or virtually!

There is Power in Prayer 1Thessolonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” The Board of Deacons is renewing the Wednesday Noon Prayer Service in the Corbin Lounge. The service is open to everyone who would like to come and pray or receive prayer. Those who cannot come are invited to make a prayer re-quest on the cards provided in the Atrium and place it in the Prayer Request Box. Your prayer will be lifted in the ser-vice.

Rev. Brandon Harris and the Board of Christian Education invite the entire church community to attend the Lenten Institute for 2020. We will be exploring stewardship, sustainability and faith in action. Rev. Harris has selected the book: A World Worth Saving: Lenten Spiritual Practices for Action as the Church- wide book for discussion. The first seminar will take place on Thursday, March 5th and will continue each Thursday through April 2nd ; and end on Tuesday April 7th. These sessions are for the entire family. Books will be available for sale for $10.00; in the Atrium after Service.

The Girl Scouts of Peoples Congregational Church would like to invite you to the Girl Scout Sunday Service on Sunday, March 8, 2020 at 10:00 am. Christian Herald, Ambassador and Gold Award Girl Scout at Peoples Church is an accomplished orator. She will deliver the message to celebrate the 108th Birthday of Girl Scouts. All are invited to help celebrate this wonderful occasion.

HELP WANTED! Volunteer drivers are needed for Sunday Worship Service and Leisure Group outings once a month on Tuesdays.

Please join us for A hymn sing of GIA’ s newest hymnal: One Lord, One faith, One Baptism An African American Ecumenical Hymnal. The price of the hymnal at the event $20. This event is a hymn festival under the direction of Dr. James Abbington, Who is the chairman and executive editor of One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. Choirs and Choir directors from the DC area will be present. Monday, April 27 7:00 PM Peoples Congregational United of Christ 4704 13th St NW Washington, DC 20011

Special Thanks

The family of Kevin L. Holt wishes to thank Rev. Harris, Minister Hudson, the Deacons, the Voices of Peoples and all the member and friends who supported us during Kevin's brief illness, through his transition, his memorial service through today. We also wish to thank all those who made contributions both small and large and sent cards too numerous to count. We are grateful for the love of this Church and the loving community within. May God continue to shine Its Light on Peoples as we grow in spirit and in truth.

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Wellness Corner

Eating Well and Live Well with a Healthy Gut

What we eat and the environment around us affects the trillions of microbes that live in our in-

testine, collectively known as the gut microbiota or gut microbiome. According to the Mayo

Clinic, a healthy diet can encourage the presence of good gut bacteria. Also, consuming ferment-

ed foods increases the level of fermenting bacteria in the gut. In addition, fruits and vegetables

contain fiber and sugar that can boost the health of gut bacteria. A diet high in processed foods

and added sugars can decrease the amount of good bacteria in the gut. Significant antibiotic use

may also have a negative effect on gut bacteria.

Research has found links between the typical Western diet, usually high in animal fat,

high in protein and low in fiber, with increased production of cancer-causing compounds

and inflammation.The Mediterranean Diet which is typically high in fiber and low in red

meat, has been shown to increase levels of fecal short chain fatty acids which have been

found to have anti-inflammatory effects and improve the immune system.

A western diet high in sugar and fat promotes growth of the wrong types of gut bacteria. Exer-

cise, however, may be key to improving gut bacteria diversity.

Studies have linked gut bacteria (or microbiome) – to changes in mood, tendency to obesity and

to cardiovascular health. For people who want to maintain a healthy weight and mental health,

the goal would be to alter their gut bacteria by eating a diet high fiber, naturally low fat

foods.

A high protein diet containing red meat is associated with increased production of TMAO, a me-

tabolite associated with heart disease that is produced by gut microbes and absorbed into the

body. Some studies have found that people who consume vegan diets have lower levels of

TMAO.

Five things you can do to make your microbiome healthier:

Eat fruits and vegetables

Add resistant starch – potatoes and legumes.

Eat different types of fiber, such as whole grains, legumes, vegetablesand fruits

Exercise – this will help your heart, mind and gut

Incorporate probiotic foods to your diet such as kimchi or sauerkraut- that contain microor-

ganisms that have health-promoting benefits

The bottom line…Eat more unprocessed plant-based foods and exercise. Eat well and live well.

Submitted by Wellness Ministry

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Dear Church:

One rainy afternoon, I peered out the window in my office and looked at the barren tree in the courtyard. Its

branches were bare and the rain glistened off it’s limbs. While, the tree was devoid of that glorious bloom of green that

comes in the spring it still possessed a deep sense vitality, life, and hopefulness.

There are times in our Christian journey when the limbs of our faith seem bare. We aren’t quite sure what to pray,

we don’t know what to make of the bible, and we aren’t sure where God’s presence is. St. John of the Cross called these

seasons “The Dark Night of the Soul.” While, it can be tempting to lose heart or faith we can instead utilize these seasons

to prepare for the spring in our lives.

Faith is not about having all of the right answers, it is instead about placing our hope in a living God who journeys

with us. There have been many days when I have been tempted to give up, to question my faith or even wonder why I’m in

the ministry. It is in these moments that faith kicks in. Faith, is a radical trust in God, it believing beyond our circum-

stances, our afflictions, and fears and believing that God is ever present in our lives. Faith, however doesn’t just appear in

our lives it must be exercised. Faith has to be put into practice each and every day.

So how can you activate your faith?

1. Spend time in God’s word daily (read the daily lectionary scriptures, or work your way through the Psalms or the

Gospel of Mark)

2. Meditate on God’s presence (focus your mind on a word such as faith, hope, love, and joy and ask the Holy Spirit to

show you how to live into these words each day)

3. Pray (use the book of common prayer, journal, talk out loud, color or draw your prayers. I encourage you read the

book “simple prayer” by local D.C. pastor Charlie Dawes)

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2020 MONTHLY MEMORY VERSES

(FROM THE REVISED STANDARD VERSION)

Judges2: 6-10...The people worshiped the LORD all the

days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who out-

lived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that

the LORD had done for Israel. Joshua son of Nun, the

servant of the LORD, died at the age of one hundred ten

years.

Matthew 3: 13-17...Then Jesus came from Galilee to

John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.

Psalm 90: 1-9… Lord, you have been our dwelling place

in all generations. Before the mountains were brought

forth, or ever you ad formed the earth and the world,

from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Psalm 27: 4-9… One thing I asked of the Lord, that will

I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days

of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to in-

quire in his temple.

February 2020 LECTIONARY READINGS February 2

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

“The Vision Beautiful ” Old Testament: Ps 15

Gospel: Matt 5:1-12 Epistle: 1 Cor 1:18-31

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February 9

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

“Restoring Beauty”

Old Testament: Ps 112:1-9 (10)

Gospel: Matt 5:13-20

Epistle: 1 Cor 2:1-12 (13-16)

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February 16

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

“From the Heart ”

Old Testament: Ps 119:1-8

Gospel: Matt 5:21-37

Epistle: 1 Cor 3:1-9

February 23

Transfiguration

“Dazzling Reign”

Old Testament: Ps 2

Gospel: Matt 17:1-9

Epistle:

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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Church School Pre-K Adult Church School Men’s Bible Study Youth Ministry Noon Prayer Service Bible Study

Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday 1st and 3rd Sunday Wednesday Thursday

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

Elmes Center Nursery Corbin Lounge Quiet Room Youth Lounge Corbin Lounge Corbin Lounge

CHOIR REHEARSAL

Voices of Peoples

Fellowship Choir

Rhythmic Choir

Chancel Choir

Men’s Chorus

Peoples Children and Youth Choir

Tuesday

Wednesday

Wednesday

Saturday

Saturday

1st and 2nd Saturday

6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

11:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.

10:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.

CHURCH BOARDS MONTHLY MEETING SCHEDULES Board of Christian Education

Board of Trustees

Church Council

Board of Christian Social Action

Board of Deacons

1st Wednesday

2nd Wednesday

3rd Wednesday

4th Wednesday

Saturday before the 1st Sunday

7:00 p.m.

6:45 p.m.

6:45 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

WEBSITE, FACEBOOK FAN PAGE, TWITTER & LIVE STREAMING NEWS:

Our website address is www.peopleschurchucc.org. The website is constantly being updated, so click the refresh button when you visit. Our Twitter handle is @PeoplesCongUCC. You do not need a Twitter Account to follow Peoples Church.

The Prodder, Website, Facebook Fan Page, Twitter and Live Streaming exist to further the social connection with the membership of Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ and with the community to promote outreach and notices of important Church events. The social networking tools are designed for easy mass communication and media sharing. Through the Website, members and users can access the Online Giving page to donate to the General Operating Fund and purchase tickets for Church events and fundraisers. Members/users can view the Events Calendar to participate in the life of the Church. Members can advertise Church events through the Website, Facebook Fan Page and Twitter. Members/users can view live streaming of Church Worship Services and other special liturgical services from the Website on Facebook Live. The Website is the “New Front Door of the Church,” and allows members/users to interact, communicate and connect to foster connectivity and community.

PLEASE NOTE: By attending Worship Services and other liturgical services at Peoples Church, your image may appear on camera during the transmission of live streaming.

Prodder Guidelines: All announcements and flyers must be submitted by the third Tuesday of the month by 12:00 Noon. Announcements and flyers can be emailed to info@peopleschurchucc.org, . Do not mail information. Announcements should be no more than 50 words and should be informational about Peoples Church events or members and their families. Announcements may be edited. NO PHOTOGRAPHS, VIDEO, OR AUDIO RECORDING: This policy has been adopted to protect the musicians and speakers who are a part of the worship services and special events at the Church. The cooperation of the congregation is essential to the observance of this policy by visitors and guests. Photographs and CD recordings of worship services and other events are available as produced by the designated Church photographers and the Sound Engineer. Please contact the Church office to request specific photographs and/or re-cordings. Thank you.

Facility Reservations: If you wish to reserve space for an event and/or activity, please contact Ms. Yvette Hunter, Operations Specialist, at the church office on (202)

829-5511 or email yhunter@peopleschurchucc.org to complete a reservation contract. Facility reservations can also be made online through the church’s website: www.peopleschurchucc.org. Reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis; however, religious events and funerals take precedence. Peoples Church is a multi-use venue so reservations are necessary Member and non-member reservation fees apply.

Floral Arrangements for the Altar: To order a designer floral arrangement to remember your loved one or recognize a special day, contact Vernandi Richardson, (202)829-5511 or Diane Miller for additional information.

Facilities Committee: First Aid Kits have been placed in the Main Office and the Fellowship Hall/Kitchen area. Incident Reporting Forms are also available in the Main Office for completion. All incidents must be reported on the forms, regardless of how small the incident is. The completed forms should be given to any member of the office/volunteer staff.

MINISTERS EMAIL

Rev. Brandon Harris, Senior Minister

CHURCH MODERATOR’S EMAIL ADDRESS: Robert Hendricks anc4c01@hotmail.com

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

(202) 829-5511 (Office)

Ms. Yvette Hunter, Operations Specialist, Yhunter@peopleschurchucc.org

Ms. Donika Palmer, Administrative Assistant

dpalmer@peopleschurchucc.org

MAINTENANCE

Mr. Lawrence McDaniel Mr. Akien Ingram

Ms. Maureen Betton

.

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Please bear with us as we continue with Church repairs. There are

several projects underway at the same time. This has caused us to

close off the use of several rooms. We are hoping to have use of

these rooms by the beginning of March. We therefore ask the

following:

1. Please be careful as you move through the building.

2. When planning a meeting or event at the church, please sched-

ule the time, date and room with Yvette Hunter in the Front Of-

fice.

3. The day before any meeting or event, please reconfirm your

meeting/event with Yvette Hunter, with the shortage of rooms, we

may need to shift groups around.