OPMH E Gram (Jan 20, 2008)

Meeting House Worshipers: Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

Morning Services (8:30 and 11:00 am)

Scripture

Isaiah 49:1-7

John 1: 29-34

Sermon

A Universal Plan — Dr. Laha

Hymns

O Splendor of God’s Glory Bright

In Christ There is No East or West

Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples

Other Special Music

Prelude:                      Prelude – Felix Mendelssohn

Introit:                         Like the murmur of the dove’s song – Carl P Daw, Jr

Anthem:                      There Shall A Star Come Out of Jacob – Felix Mendelssohn

Offertory:                    O Splendor of God’s Glory Bright – Flor Peeters

Postlude:                     Fugue – Felix Mendelssohn

Coffee Hour: Join us in Fellowship Hall after the 11:00 am service. The host this week is the Stewardship Committee.

Christian Education.

Children’s Education: All children in grades 1-5 continue the study of baptism. Check the board in the Education Bulding for grade assignments.

Share your gifts with children by serving as a Sunday School rotation leader. This 3 or 4 Sunday commitment involves sharing the good news with our elementary age children. All materials and directions are provided and you will be joined by someone who is shepherding the children each week. Rotation options include art, storytelling, baking, crafts, and more. Com join the fun!

Adult Education

Westminster Hall: The Gospel of Matthew, this Bible study continues this Sunday through March 16. It is an in-depth study of the second part of the Gospel of Matthew (Ch 17-28). Lee Posey, Tom Roberts and Hal Collums will serve as facilitators during the spring term. Please join us in Wesminster Hall.

Heritage Hall: Faith and Reason, Then and Now will be led by Dr. Bruce Douglass. Our society is now in the midst of a fresh debate about the rationality – and even morality – of religious belief. This is not a new issue. It has long been a part of modern life, and it has played an important role in the development of Reformed theology. This course is designed to clarify: 1) the issues at stake in the current debate; 2) why this debate has arisen; and 3) what bearing Reformed thinking has on the subject. Classes continue through Feb 10.

Fellowship Hall: An Inquirer’s Class begins this Sunday and continues until Jan. 27. It is for all who would like to know more about the Meeting House, are considering joining, or have recently joined the church. This class will provide an overview of Presbyterian belief, and an introduction to OPMH.

Wednesday Night Bible Study: Joshua, Judges, Ruth. Meets Wednesdays, 7:30-8:30 pm beginning Jan. 9.in Flounder 1b. Join us for this weekly Bible study, as we dig deeper into the Scripture, and listen for how it speaks to our lives today. Please contact Ann at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 549.6670, x129 for more infomraiton, or to sign up.

Reformed Institute: Look on the web site for these special offerings.

Fellowship, Study, and Prayer Groups:

Youth: Meeting this Sunday night is at 5:00 pm. We will be watching the movie, “Freedom Writers.” Dinner providers are the Druckers and the Bradys. Feel free to bring some pillows to make the floor in Fellowship Hall more comfortable.

Update from the Youth Director Search Committee: The committee has prepared a survey to obtain input and guidance from members and youth regarding the Youth Program and the desirable attributes for the position of Youth Director. The survey is located on the Meeting House website (www.opmh.org). Look under “Education” And go to “Youth Program”. Follow the link to the survey . For those without internet access who would like a paper copy of the survey, contact the Church Office or Rob Dunn, Chair of the Committee, at 703-836-9000 (work) or 703-998-9196 (home).

First Sundays with the Stephen Ministers: Stephen Ministers hosts an informal time of fellowship on the first Sunday of each month for those who are experiencing a difficult or challenging time and would welcome a willing listener. We meet in the Elliot House parlor following the 11:00 am service. If you would like more information or would like to spend one-on-one time with a Stephen Minister, call Susan Grandy at 703-780-4134 or 703.299.4749.

SPIRIT Trip: All members and friends are invited to join us on a trip to the Marine Corps Museum located at Quantico, VA on Wed, Feb 20 (snow date, Feb 27). Housed in this museum is the original flag that was raised on Iwo Jima during WWII. Documentary films and high-tech exhibits enable viewers to appreciate the accomplishments of this branch of our military. Entrance to the museum is free, but a small charge will be made to cover the cost of gasoline for the bus. We will meet in the church parking lot at 9:30 am. Lunch will be on your own at one of the dining facilities in the museum. Please call the church Office at 703.549.6670 to make your reservation. Our bus seats 14 so make your reservations early.

20s30s – This group is open to all in their 20s and 30s (married, single, members, visitors, friends). Join us Monday nights for dinner and discussion at 913 Oronoco Street at 7 pm. For more info, call Mike Campagna at 703.785.4736 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Mission

Prayers for the World: The Meeting House has long-standing relationships in both Kenya and Pakistan, and as those countries experience unrest, we ask that you keep Kenya and Pakistan in your prayers. In Kenya, we have been in touch with the moderator of Elburgon Presbytery and with the director of the United Orphanage and Academy – all are in areas of unrest and are very concerned. If you would like to assist our partners financially, as they cope with the high cost of food, sheltering displaced persons, and the impact of lost homes and crops, you may make an offering to OPMH, designated “Kenya relief” on the check or envelope. In Pakistan, an end-of-the-year letter from the director of the Church World Service Office asks for our prayers. The Meeting House has long supported the health and literacy programs of St. Thomas Church in Islamabad, as well as the Taxila Eye Hospital and Forman Christian College.

Souper Bowl Sunday: Please help end hunger and poverty in our community and around the world by donating canned goods and/or money on Souper Bowl Sun., Feb. 3. OPMH Youth will be collecting after each worship service. Donations will go to the Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter, a new homeless shelter in Fairfax Country, and to Moi’s Bridge Orphanage in Kenya. Please help us reach our goal of $650 and 350 cans, for a total of $1,000!!!.

Katrin Relief: The Global Mission committee plans to organize another trip to Bay St. Louis, MS, April 13-19 to help First Presbyterian Church with their community reconstruction efforts following Hurricane Katrina. An information meeting for those interested in learning about the trip will be held on Jan. 27 following the 8:30 am service in Elliot House Library, or you may contact Beth Roberts at 703.548.7938, or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Are you interested in creating a greener Meeting House and helping the Meeting House become a better steward of its resouces? If so, please contact Margaret Whitesides at 703.549.1783 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you or your family would like to help recycle paper from the meeting House and the Preschool.

Music:

Adult Choir rehearses on Thursdays, at 7:30 pm in the balcony. Everyone is welcome!

Children’s Choir’s rehearses on Sundays, in room 22, Education Building. 12:05-12:50 pm.

Concerts With A Cause: The La Ménéstrandise, Early Music Instrumental Ensemble concert raised $1,413 to benefit United College Ministries of Northern Virginia, an ecumenical Christian ministry reaching out to students at George Mason University and Northern Virninia Community College campuses.

Churchwide News:

Donation Envelopes – Are available for pickup in Fellowship Hall.

The Presbyterian Cemetery, located on Hamilton Lane in Alexandria, Virginia, is a mission of the Old Presbyterian Meeting House. For nearly 200 years, it has provided tranquil final resting places for members of this congregation and others of our faith, Interred in these hallowed grounds are a number of patriots of the American Revolution, leaders from Alexandira’s historic past, members of the clergy, and many others. The cemetery contains space for more than a thousand burial plots, and the recently completed columbarium, which became available for use January 1, 2008, provides 192 niches as permanent repositiores of cremated remains. For more information about the Presbyterian Cemetery or the new columbarium, contact robert Ellis, the Cemetery Superintendent, at 703.626.0879 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Congregational Meeting This Sunday: This meeting, following the 11:00 am service, is for the purpose of electing the at-large members of the 2008 Church Officer Nominating Committee. The nominating committee will consist of two members currently serving on session (Becky Bostick and Jim Foley), one member of the board of deacons (Bill Schreiner) and six at-large members (to include one youth) elected by the congregation. Those nominated to serve as at-large members are: Cate Elmore, Sandy Davis, Atilla Kocsis, Ann Lane, Kim Marin, and Debra McKeown. Thank you to the outgoing nominating committee for this final task! Outgoing members are: Marsha Rhea, Skip Bea, Hal Collums, Nora Biette-Timmons, Brooks Barwell, Susan Grandy, Lee Kousia, J.C. McElveen, and Doug Peterson.