CCUMC MINISTRIES
For more information or to volunteer for any of the following ministries, call the church office at (301) 652-8700. We welcome your interest and participation.
- ADULT EDUCATION & FELLOWSHIP: classes and programs with an adult focus.
- GREEN TEAM: a group focused on the environment.
- HOSPITALITY AND MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: welcoming newcomers and caring for our existing members.
- MISSIONS AND SOCIAL CONCERNS : extending the love of Christ to the communities we live in.
- MUSIC MINISTRIES: Demonstrating our faith through music.
- UNITED METHODIST WOMEN (UMW): Women of all ages at CCUMC enjoying fellowship while learning and working together.
ADULT EDUCATION & FELLOWSHIP
Friendship Class
An interesting speaker each week stimulates lively discussion in the Friendship class which meets on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., September to June. All are welcome to stop by in Room 106 (Fellowship Room) during that time.
Library Study Group
Class members take turns leading the discussion of books of religious significance which everyone reads in the Library Study Group. The class meets in the church Library (1st floor) on Monday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The group has a social activity once a month. All are welcome to come for one class, one book (usually 4 - 6 weeks), or more.
Alpha Course
People at an Alpha Course explore the Christian faith in a relaxed setting over ten thought-provoking weekly sessions with a day or weekend away. Each session includes a meal. Classes are low-key friendly and fun. Alpha classes are running in thousands of churches all over the world. The current class at CCUMC meets on Sunday evenings but the timing of future classes will vary.
Programs and Lunches for Seniors (PALS)
Seniors gather one Monday in most months for a program and a simple lunch. They have a variety of musical, travel and other types of programs.
Short-term Classes
Four to eight week classes for adults are often planned to coincide with holiday periods and/or appeal to special interests. Speak to Carol Armstrong-Moore for more information.
Our Green Team is an eco-friendly group that educates us about dangers to the environment and what we can do to protect it. They sponsor drives to collect old cell phones and batteries and hold regular sales of cloth grocery totes, and fair-trade coffee and chocolate.
HOSPITALITY AND MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Members focus on the best ways to meet, greet and assimilate newcomers into our fellowship, as well as how to keep our current membership connected and actively involved. We meet whenever there is a need to work on such areas as publicity, outreach and communication, seeking and following up on information from visitors, recruiting greeters and our weekly fellowship time between services.
Coffee Fellows: Several volunteers schedule the many groups and individuals that prepare and clean up refreshments at our Fellowship Hour in the Wesley Room between services on Sunday mornings. The groups take turns on a rotating basis.
Christian Caregivers: The mission of the Caregivers is to keep in touch either by phone or by home visits those members of the church who are unable to get out much. They meet bi-monthly on Thursday afternoons for support and continuing education.
The Missions and Social Concerns Committee coordinates the church's efforts to extend the love of Christ to the communities we live in (local, regional and global). The following are specific programs:
Backpack Collection: In preparation for back-to-school time in Sept. we collect backpacks and school supplies for the benefit of Interfaith Works in Montgomery County. For more information, browse to their website: www.iworksmc.org
Christmas Shoeboxes: During Advent we collect gift-wrapped shoeboxes filled with toys, toiletries and warm accessories. The shoeboxes are given to Interfaith Works for distribution to low income children in Montgomery County. For more information, browse to their website: www.iworksmc.org
Elves' Workshop: Early in Advent, many "elves" gather for the morning to clean up and repair donated toys which are given to a group in D.C. for distribution to children from low income families.
Meals-on-Wheels: One Thursday a month volunteers from CCUMC participate in the Bethesda/Chevy Chase Meals-on-Wheels program by delivering the meals to seniors in need and others who can't shop or cook for themselves because of a disability.
Nicaragua Mission: This is a long-term effort to build a relationship with a sister church in Nicaragua. Several teams from CCUMC have visited and been nurtured by the warmth and hospitality of the people of Nicaragua while providing some material support. We are committed to providing monetary support to Nan McCurdy, a UMC missionary and Dra. Lizzett Cortez, a dentist in a poor barrio outside of Managua.
Our Lady of Lourdes' Feeding Program: CCUMC provides food for a homeless feeding program at a church in Bethesda once a month on Sunday nights.
Sandwich Brigade: On the 3rd Thursday morning of every month volunteers prepare sandwiches which will be passed out to the homeless in downtown D.C. by McKenna's Wagon.
Walk for the Homeless: Members from CCUMC form The Brad Kormann Memorial Team and participate in the annual walkathon in memory of a former member.
Women of all ages at CCUMC enjoy fellowship while learning and working together. Many meet in small groups monthly or for the purpose of studying a specific topic like climate change or Israeli-Palestinian relations. All women are invited for a program and refreshments four times a year.
Caring Casseroles: Members of Hope Circle coordinate volunteers who deliver homemade suppers to church members who have had new babies, been hospitalized or bereaved, or are facing some crisis in their families.
Christmas Bazaar and Rummage Sale: Proceeds from the two big annual fund-raisers of the UMW are donated to local and international relief and development programs.
Small Group Meetings: There are four small groups that usually meet monthly within the UMW. Circle One and Circle Four meet on weekday afternoons in members' homes for refreshments and a variety of programs. Potpourri members are either working or recently retired women who meet on Tuesday evenings for a meal and/or some kind of service project either in someone's home or at the church. Young mothers make up Hope Circle which meets on Monday mornings at church, often for a program or project. Childcare is provided for Hope Circle.
Quarterly Programs: All women are invited to programs held every quarter, often on Saturday mornings with a light brunch. Recent topics have included "Healthy Living," "Mission Trip to Nicaragua," "Hunger Issues" and "Faith and Music."