Bethesda United Methodist Church welcomes you! We know that people come to our church from different places in their spiritual journeys and we offer you a safe place here to explore your faith and ask questions. We have ministries for all ages, starting with infants & children, thriving youth and young adult programs, and reaching all the way through to our more senior members.
One of the things that defines our congregation is our commitment to service. We call ourselves a "wash more feet" congregation and we strive constantly to live up to this name following in the example of Jesus washing his disciples feet in the Gospel of John. This mission statement calls us to concrete acts of service, but also to live with Christ-like humility and love every day. Whether we are helping homeless individuals move into permanent housing; providing furniture and support to refugee families; serving lunch to patients, families and staff at Walter Reed; or sending out a team of youth to repair homes for people in need, we hope to make a difference in the lives of those we meet.
We offer two worship services on Sundays at 9:00 am and 11:00 am. Sunday School for all ages takes place at 10:00 am. In the summer (from Memorial Day to Labor Day), we join together for a single worship service at 10:00 am (no Sunday School). We also have many groups that meet throughout the week. The Church Office (located on the Huntington Pkwy side of the building next to the entrance with the red awning) is open Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, and you are welcome to stop in, visit with us, and pick up more information. If you have questions, you are invited to call (301-652-2990) or email us (bethesdaumc@washmorefeet.org) and we'd be happy to schedule some time to talk with you.
Whether you join us for worship, Sunday School, or a short-term Bible Study, we hope you find our church a welcoming place.
Rev. Dr. HiRho Park & Rev. Scott Bostic
P.S. Want to learn about the history of Bethesda United Methodist Church? As part of our Centennial Celebration in 2014, we compiled a short history of our church from its early days on Fairmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda to the construction of our current building in 1949 and of course, the church we know and love in the present day. We are proud of our history and look forward to continuing to make a difference in our community and beyond for many years to come!
Our Mission Statement : Growing together to love and serve Christ, our neighbor, our world.
Our Call to Action is Wash More Feet. It means:
As followers of Jesus Christ, a servant attitude permeates everything we do.
We seek to form people in the image of Jesus.
We are intentional about reaching out to more feet and all kinds of them.
We live in an atmosphere of shared vulnerability.
We are a community of joyful worship and service.