WELCOME TO BUMC!
The pastors, staff and people of Bethesda UMC welcome all to worship, grow, connect and serve with us! Sundays are the busiest day around here, but you'll find that there's something going on just about every day of the year!
Want to learn more about what's happening here at BUMC? For a quick overview, we invite you to take a look at the online versions of our ministry brochures. And of course, feel free to poke around our website, check out the latest edition of our newsletter, The Messenger, or contact us at BethesdaUMC@washmorefeet.org to be added to our email list for all the up-to-date information about what's happening at our church.
We take your health and safety seriously:
Re-Entry Update (as of March 20, 2022)
In response to updates from CDC and Montgomery County Public Schools, the Re-Entry Team has decided to accelerate the timeline for returning to more normal gatherings. Masking will be optional for all participants who are vaccine eligible (age 5 and up) for worship and Sunday School effective Sunday March 27. For indoor activities focused on children who are not vaccine eligible, including Preschool-K Sunday School, Kids With Purpose and the Nursery, universal masking will still be required for those age 2 and up.
For other activities such as small group gatherings, committee meetings, music rehearsals, visits to the church building during the week, etc., the Team clarified the existing policy of following CDC guidelines and allowing masking to be optional for fully vaccinated people.
We will continue to have sanitizing stations available and encourage people to continue practicing good hand hygiene. Signs will be updated to reflect that mask wearing is optional, and that people who have symptoms of illness should refrain from gathering in person. Ventilation will remain a focus to ensure fresh air throughout the building.
We encourage those who wish to wear a mask to do so. We encourage all to respect the comfort level of others for physical spacing and interaction.
We are taking this week before implementing this change to allow people to be aware of this change, so that each of you can make informed decisions about your choices and have a chance to ask questions about our policy. We will continue to follow updates from the County and CDC and will adjust our policy if necessary.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me or the pastors.
God’s peace,
Jack Fisher, Re-Entry Team Chair
For a full description of our Re-Entry Guidelines, go to washmorefeet.org/reentry. And, as always, please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
For Families
Questions about our Children's Ministry? Contact Beth Reilly.
Nursery care is available on Sunday mornings in Room 105. Our nursery caregivers are fully vaccinated and ready to provide loving, safe care for your infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Children ages 2 and up are required to wear a mask.
Kids with Purpose is available for children in grades 1-3 during worship (kids leave following the Children's Message and return to their pew during the final hymn). Younger children are welcome to participate when accompanied by a parent.
Sunday School is back! Our classes meet from 10:00 - 10:45 am, in-person and online. Click here for all the details about our Sunday School classes, including classrooms and how to get Zoom links.
Vacation Bible School is back this summer! Register for this summer's VBS FOOD TRUCK PARTY, June 20 - 24 vbspro.events/p/583bc5
Racial Justice Ministry
BUMC’s Racial Justice Ministry is prayerfully working towards dismantling racism as a way of living out our faith in the liberating power of Christ. One of the ways our congregation has committed to that goal is by standing in peaceful witness alongside Old Georgetown Road every Second and fourth Sundays at 5pm Bring your signs of support and come take a stand. We invite all to join us as we Listen, Learn, Act, and Advocate for racial justice. Ready to get started? Check out the Racial Justice Resources that members of our congregation have found helpful in learning about these complex issues.