The Loop / March 25, 2025
Catch Up with the Current series:
This Week’s Announcements:
BECOME // OUR FIRST YOUTH RETREAT IS IN THE BOOKS!
This past weekend, the Revolution Youth Group held their first retreat ever in Lewes, DE. It was a big success! The kids had a great time, many games were played, and everyone got to learn more not just about each other, but about their identities in Christ. We want to give a huge thank you! to everyone who participated in the fundraisers over the last month to make this happen. We are so grateful for the generosity and kindness of this community, and we are so excited to see our teenagers continuing to grow in their faith. We are also grateful for the commitment of our Youth Group leaders–Jamie Hanauer, Robb Olson, and Maggie Young (along with a guest appearance by Garrett Rivera!)–for the ways they invest in the lives of our young people. If you see any of these folks around, make sure to encourage them for the good work they are doing!
BELONG // MEN’S RETREAT WEEKEND: NO SERVICE, WOMEN’S BRUNCH
This weekend is the 2025 Men’s Retreat! If you are registered for that event, be on the lookout this week for an email with all the info you’ll need. And if you’re not going on the retreat, please note that there will be NO CHURCH SERVICE THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 30! We always take “retreat Sundays” off at Revolution in order to avoid overtaxing volunteers, and just to give everyone a break and chance to sleep in. Our prayer is that this is a restful and restorative time for all of us… and we’ll look forward to getting back to our Sunday services in the usual place and at the usual time on APRIL 6.
Also, if you are a woman in this church community, you are invited to a ladies’ brunch Sunday morning at the Pfeifers’ home (1704 Tree House Ct, Annapolis, MD 21401). Sweet and savory breakfast casseroles will be provided (so, no need to bring anything!)… but if you are someone who would like to add a dish, please contact Monique for a few items that may be helpful (monique.l.pfeifer@gmail.com). Childcare will be provided. We’re excited to share this time!
BECOME // MIGRATING RECURRING GIFTS TO OUR NEW PLATFORM…
The last few Sundays, we have shared that our church management software, CCB, is requiring all recurring givers at Revolution to move from their old payment processing system (BluePay) to a new payment processing system (Pushpay). If you are a recurring giver, please be on the lookout this week for another email with instructions about how to 1) cancel your current recurring gift in CCB and 2) set up a new recurring gift in the new program. The process only takes a few minutes, and if you would like help, you can get in touch with Kenny, our Financial Lay Leader Matt Shacka (mshacka@gmail.com). We want to thank you for continuing to support this ministry! Revolution is an entirely self-funded community, and every single gift plays an essential part in keeping this church going. We believe in our mission (to create a genuinely safe place for people to explore and connect with Christian faith), and we also believe that the small part we play in the bigger story of the Church in Annapolis is an absolutely essential one. There are neighbors who need this little church… who are looking and hoping for it… and we want to continue to be here for them long into the future. Thank you for making this possible!
BECOME // CLEANING UP CAPE ST. CLAIRE
Hi everyone! Emily and Allison here. Earth Month is around the corner, and the Outdoors Group is planning to join Alliance for the Bay (a local environmental nonprofit) for a community event we can join to help clean up a stream in Cape St Claire. You can find details HERE, including instructions about how to sign up ahead of time. If you’re going, please also let Emily and/or Allison know so they can look out for you there! You can reach them at ehhel3986@gmail.com or amcnerney187@gmail.com. The event will be Saturday April 5th, 9am-12pm, at 1343 Cape St. Claire Rd in Annapolis. Gloves and garbage bags will be provided. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, as well as closed toed shoes. Recommended to bring a water bottle and any sun protection you deem worthy. We can go out to lunch together after to celebrate for those who want to join in more food fellowship after. We hope to see you there and steward God’s creation together!
BELONG // FAMILY RETREAT MAY 16-18
This May, we will be returning to Camp Harmison in Berkeley Springs, WV for our annual Church Family Retreat! This retreat is open to everyone who considers Revolution their church home, and it involves a “camping lite” experience: a covered shelter, fireplace, full indoor kitchen, and bathrooms/showers are available… but if you would like to stay on-site, you will need a tent or RV for sleeping. If the tent life isn’t for you, some folks also elect to get hotel rooms in Berkeley Springs for the night and visit with the rest of the crew at Camp Harmison during the daytime hours… so that’s also an option! If you will be staying in a hotel, please email/text Kenny to let him know so you can get in on the group emails… there is no need for you to pay/register!
This weekend is one of our very favorites each year: it’s a great chance to make new friends, play games, share stories around the fire, and find some much-needed space for relaxing. You can sign up SOON… but mark your calendars NOW!
BELONG // UPCOMING WOMEN’S EVENTS
Thanks to everyone who participated in our women’s planning meeting a few weeks ago! The women of Revolution will be meeting every other month this coming year (alternating months with the Outdoor Group), so there will always be something for everyone. Below are the main months (think “odd” numbered months…) and the activities we’ve drafted so far. For activities not chosen this year, anyone who wants to organize a get together (e.g., a meal, or an outing/event), please feel free to champion individual events. This can be right in the women’s GroupMe, or you can feel free to coordinate with Maggie and Emily as appropriate (e.g., if it makes sense to have a signup link and/or an announcement in the Loop). Otherwise, please save the dates below and we hope to see you at these future events!
March 30: Women’s Brunch and Worship during the men’s retreat (child care provided)
May 3: Art and Fondue Fun
July (exact date closer to the time): Game Night and Make Your Own Sundaes
September: Firepit
November: Women’s Retreat (including clothing swap)
BECOME // SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS YEAR
Cathy Miller, our Community Engagement Lay Leader, is once again putting a schedule together full of opportunities for you to serve our broader community here in Annapolis this Spring… but we would love to do more! So, what are you passionate about? What needs have you seen, or do you know about? Reach out to us to let us know, and we can work together to help our neighbors. Just message Cathy, Kenny, or anyone on the Leadership Team… we can make a difference together!
BELIEVE // COFFEE, ANYONE?
Do you have questions? Doubts? Would you just like to talk through things with someone? Kenny is also always up for that, too! Just send him an email (kenny@revolutionannapolis.com) or text (803.727.8500).
BELONG // ONLINE BIBLE STUDY GROUP
The Online Bible Study is a great place to get involved in community and expand your understanding of Scripture… all from the comfort of home! You are always invited to jump in with these studies any time! The group meets on Monday nights over Zoom, and for more information about how to get involved, just get in touch with our Discipleship Lay Leader, Dante Griffin, at dangriff67@gmail.com!
BECOME // SUPPORTING REVOLUTION CHURCH
At Revolution, we believe that our church needs to be a witness to God’s bottomless love and an example of what it means to wrestle and grow with our faith together. Following Jesus isn’t easy! But even in our doubts, if we take the things we are struggling to believe and put them into practice together, we learn to ask better questions and live in ways that are more beneficial for others.
If you want to join us in this mission, you can be a part in a few different ways:
First, you can commit to presence: it is our sincere hope as a church that you find real purpose and meaning in being a part of our services and groups at Revolution. They exist for you! But have you ever thought about what you have to offer those gatherings in return? Your unique perspective, hopes, experiences, and struggles are part of the bigger story of our church. You have an important part to play here, and that part begins by making faithful presence a priority!
Second, you can commit to generosity: we want to imitate God’s generosity by looking for ways we can share what we have been given with others to bring hope, justice, and safety to our neighbors. One way you can practice that generosity is by supporting our ministry here at Revolution financially: we are a non-profit organization committed to maintaining a Christian ministry in Annapolis, forgiving the debts of our neighbors, and financially supporting both church plants and existing churches in our area. Your gifts help keep this commitment going! But we also want to make sure you know that giving is important no matter where you do it: find a non-profit, charity, or aid organization whose cause you support and make a plan to be faithful and generous towards them! God can do more with our resources than we can… and giving is one of the practical ways we put our trust in what He can do.
Third, you can commit to service: here at Revolution, we are in need of all sorts of volunteers to keep our ministry going. If you are available to help out on any of our Sunday morning teams, or with any of our groups or other outreach ministries during the week, we need you! This is a great way to contribute to the church… and to make new friends.
The city of Annapolis needs help, too! If you are able, make time in your week to participate in a routine act of service for our community. There are multiple food pantries we support, all of whom need help, as well as opportunities to work with kids in need of tutoring, care for unhoused residents in our city who need assistance, and serve as an advocate for a variety of justice-seeking non-profits working to make Annapolis a more equitable place to live. For help a place to serve, just talk with Kenny (kenny@revolutionannapolis.com) or our Community Engagement Lay Leader, Cathy Miller (cathygrowinghealthy@gmail.com).
BELONG // STAY IN THE LOOP ALL WEEK LONG!
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