Foundry’s Family Camp is a family reunion and church picnic all packed into one weekend. It reminds us that you don’t need to be blood to be considered family, that leadership comes from a willing heart, not your title, and that you’re never too old to eat a s’more over a campfire.

Family Camp 2023 was a turning point in my first months on Foundry ‘s staff. Much like the Appalachia Service Project trip in late June, shared experiences can build genuine relationships in a short period of time.

Each Sunday since June, I watched children slowly walk up to participate in the children’s sermon. I appreciated their questions, conversations, and participation when they barely knew me. I knew it would take time and common experiences before there was a genuine relationship of trust.

Family Camp was that experience, for Family Ministries and for me. In one weekend, I watched as the same children who clung to their parents on Friday as we arrived at West River, in time were running free, full of excitement to play yard games before outdoor worship Sunday morning.

I watched as our youth helped younger children use pipe cleaners and crayons to craft story books. I watched youth become facilitators, leading group after group on nature walks to the turtle pond. We looked through old Foundry pictures, decorated cookies and enjoyed an unlimited supply of snacks. I watched as parents built fires, pulled out their guitars and ukuleles as we sang silly songs and told stories while our faces glowed orange from a crackling fire.

Evidence of our time together came as we gathered for worship the next Sunday back at Foundry. More faces were familiar. I felt excitement in the air. And when the time came for me to invite the children to the front of the sanctuary for children’s sermon, they not only came, but hurried to the front to gather in front of me.

One child whispered “Ms. Natalie, do you remember me?”

“Of course I do. How could I forget the time when we became family?”

Natalie Harvey
Foundry Director of Family Ministries

The first time I came to Foundry, I put some crumpled cash in the offering plate. The next Sunday, I had no cash and was mortified. The Sunday after that I brought my checkbook. Some years ago, I put a credit card number into the Foundry portal.

All this time, nearly 15 years now, I have been proud to be able to contribute to Foundry financially. At first, I gave more or less automatically, because I was raised to. I was taught about tithing and, if I’m being honest, the importance of income tax deductions. But as I kept coming Sunday after Sunday, I found myself increasing my giving because I wanted to be more connected.

I wanted to be a part of Foundry, and giving financially was an easy entry point. It felt good to offer, even in small amounts, my resources to support a church I was getting so much from. I wanted to support the clergy and the lay leaders. I wanted to support the mission, the ministry, the message, the transcendent music. The music!

There are many ways to lean into the ways God pulls us to engage at Foundry. Even just in coming together on Sunday mornings, in congregating in our sacred space, we give. For me, giving financially – and increasing

my pledge over time as possible – has been a key and constant part of my spiritual connection to Foundry.

Someone once said that being alive is expensive, and they were right. In the roles I eventually found myself in on the Foundry Board, and now the Stewardship Committee, I’ve learned firsthand the costs involved in making Foundry hum as it does do divinely. Simply put, it’s expensive.

Please join me in making your pledge to support Foundry financially in 2024. It will help the Board and staff budget and plan for the coming year. And, I promise, it will make you feel connected.

Gwen grew up in the southeast and has spent most of her adult life in practicing law in DC. She was drawn to Foundry in 2009 by a sermon about faith and Darwinism and married her wife, Eleanor Mayer, at Foundry in 2017.

Sunday, October 1
Reunite and Renew

Sunday school is back between services at 10 a.m. for children ages pre-K through middle school; Children’s Worship returns during both services, and childcare is available from 8:45 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. for children four and younger.

Our 10:15 adult classes continue:

• Rev. Jonathan Brown’s “Be Our Guest: Disney Hospitality and the Church” in Room 203. More information at foundryumc.org/be-our-guest.

• Lay leader Ed Crump’s session exploring “Ignatian Spirituality” in Room 202. More information at http://foundryumc.org/adventure

Tuesday, October 3, 10
Envision Foundry's Future
 

You are invited to come to these Strategic Vision Gatherings and share your best experiences as part of Foundry. These stories will provide insights for the Foundry Board and key lay leaders as they begin discernment about where God is leading Foundry into the future. On October 3 we will meet in Arlington; on October 10 we will meet online. More information about these and other sessions on Thursday, October 5 (online), Sunday, October 15 at Foundry and Thursdays, October 19 and 26 in Northwest DC can be found at foundryumc.org/events.

Wednesdays, October 4, 11, 18, 25
Discipleship in Depth
Join Foundry Discipleship for this deep dive into the New Testament books of John, 1 John, 2 John and Revelation. We will meet each Wednesday night from 6:45–8:30 p.m. until May 29, 2024. We will meet both at Foundry in room 203 and online. Learn more and register at foundryumc.org/under.

Saturday, October 14
Green Day of Service

Here’s a wonderful opportunity to join other Foundry folk to remove invasive plants, plant new ones, detect gas leaks in the neighborhood, or help clean up the Potomac River! Register for this day of congregational creation care at foundryumc.org/gdos, or email jackie@foundryumc.org with questions.

Sunday, October 15
Baptism Orientation

Interested in learning more about baptism at Foundry? Join us today from 12:30–1:30 p.m. for Baptism Orientation, where we discuss the specifics of baptism within the United Methodist Church! Visit foundryumc.org/baptism-orientation, or contact Natalie Harvey with any questions at nharvey@foundryumc.org.

Sunday, October 22
Spirituality Today
A new four-week Sunday class, “Digital and Divine: Spirituality in an Age of Machine Learning,” begins today at 10:10 a.m. in room B2 at Foundry. We will learn some accessible Machine Learning basics — and then consider how concepts like morality, ethics, consciousness, free will, and theologies of technology may intersect with present and future technologies. Learn more and register at foundryumc.org/machine.

Wednesday, October 25
Foundry Board Meeting
Foundry’s Board convenes its monthly meeting at 7 pm. If you are interested in attending, use this Zoom link.