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January 21, 2025 | "Transformed Lives Transform Lives"

Prayers of the People

Healing prayers are requested for the Rev. Susan Boehl, pastor of La Plata UMC, who was involved in a car accident which left her in a serious yet stable condition.

Grace Lane, the wife of the Rev. Albert Lane, Sr., has died. A service of remembrance will be held at Westminster UMC on Jan. 24 at 10:30 a.m., with visitation from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

We pray for Bishop Easterling, the Cabinet, and pastors and churches experiencing changes in pastoral appointments. See the appointment list. See a list of Clear Opening church profiles.

Today at 11 a.m. Bishop LaTrelle Easterling will join other members of the interfaith community at Washington National Cathedral for a Service of Prayer for the Nation. The service will be live-streamed at https://cathedral.org/about/service-info/ and on the cathedral’s YouTube site.

As wildfires continue to devastate communities in Southern California, UMCOR has provided emergency relief funding to the California-Pacific Annual Conference for food, water, and essential supplies for evacuees and to bolster local volunteer efforts. They will continue to offer support throughout the long-term recovery.

Churches that want to help have multiple options:  

• Assist the California-Pacific Annual Conference directly. Learn more.
• Give to UMCOR to support this disaster response effort. Give now.
• Share a bulletin insert for a special offering. View insert.
• Use a litany for worship written by the Cal-Pac Annual Conference. Read litany.

Celebrating Camping and Reatreat Ministries

The BWC is blessed to have three camping and retreat sites offering a wide range of programs in stunning locations at Harmison, Manidokan, and West River. This summer, grow in love of God, self, neighbor, and nature with traditional adventure and discovery camps for all ages, or through specialized programs like Camp Joy (a service-based program), Deaf camps, sailing camps, leadership camps, mini camps (partial week), day camps, and more.

Last summer, more than 1,300 campers participated in the BWC's summer camp programs led by nearly 200 volunteers and 75 part-time/seasonal staff. 

Get your family and your church ready to join the fun this summer:

• Celebrate Camping Sunday on Feb. 9. See a worship liturgy for your church.
• Keep your eye out for summer camp brochures in the mail right now.
• Mark your calendar for the start of camp registration:
• Feb. 5 at 9 a.m. for overnight camps and
• Feb. 17 at 9 a.m. for day camps

Learn more or contact the office at admin@bwccampsandretreats.com or 410-867-0991.

New monthly column explores Faithful Stewardship

2024 was a year of blessing and generosity, said the Rev. Daryl Williams, chair of the BWC's Council on Finance and Administration. "Your extraordinary generosity has been a powerful testament to the transformative love of Christ and has equipped the Church to fulfill its mission in remarkable ways," he writes in his first monthly column, Faithful Stewardship.

Learn more about and celebrate how your church's missional giving enables "the light of Christ to shine brightly in new and innovative ways, reaching those who are most in need of the Love of Christ." Read his column.

New and Featured Ministries

The first Sunday in February is Disability Awareness Sunday in the Baltimore-Washington Conference. Churches are encouraged to center their worship around disabilities awareness and invite people with disabilities to help lead worship. The Conference Disability Commission offers additional information. See a list of resources for Disability Awareness Sunday.

MissionInsite is launching a new version on Feb. 3. As a result, MissionInsite will not be available Feb. 1-2. Every user will have to reset their password when logging into the new version. To familiarize yourself with the new version, watch the MissionInsite’s tutorial. Church leaders will be provided with training materials specific to their needs, but in the meantime, contact Lauren Jones if you have any questions.

The BWC’s Deaf Shalom Zone will celebrate 25 years of service at its annual business meeting and GALA on Jan. 25 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Christ Deaf Church in Baltimore. The celebration will include dinner, entertainment, an overview of the past and vision for the future. Reserve tickets, which are $25.

The BWC’s 2025 Maryland Legislative Advocacy Day will be Feb. 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Asbury UMC in Annapolis. The event is an opportunity for United Methodists to meet their representatives and advocate for United Methodist values. Learn more and register.

College scholarships available: The denomination's Higher Education and Ministry scholarship application portal is open for United Methodist students seeking scholarships for undergraduate and graduate study. Scholarships range from $500 to $1,200. The deadline to apply is Monday, March 31. Learn more and apply. The Baltimore-Washingotn Conference is also offering college scholarships. Learn more about the requirements and application process.

World Day of Prayer: A worship service for the World Day of Prayer will be held March 7 at noon at St. Matthews UMC in Bowie. This year’s prayer focus will be for the people in the Cook Islands. The theme is “I made you wonderful.” All are invited to the one-hour prayer service or to join on Facebook at 7 p.m.

Rejoice in the Lord: Dwell in Joy!" Is the theme of the 2025 Baltimore-Washington Conference session, which will be held Tuesday-Thursday, May 13-15, at the Hilton Hotel in Baltimore. Registration will begin in early February. An online PreConference Session will be held May 10 at 9 a.m. Resolutions to be considered at this session are due Feb. 14 and should by submitted to Kevin Silberzahn, the BWC Secretary. Learn more.

Discipleship Opportunities

Confirmation Pilgrimages available for local churches Feb. 15 and 23

This Spring, the BWC will offer opportunities for Confirmation Pilgrimages to learn about our United Methodist history and heritage. The first will be on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 9 a.m. at Lovely Lane UMC in Baltimore for a tour of the Mother Church of American Methodism and a tour of the Lovely Lane Museum. Participants will then proceed to the historic Old Otterbein UMC, the Mother Church of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, to learn about our German roots. The bag lunch you will bring may be eaten in the Fellowship Hall before proceeding on to Sharp Street UMC, the Mother Church of Black Methodism. The guided part of the day should conclude about 2 p.m. On your way out of town, you can add a self-guided stop at the Bishops' Lot, where Bishop Asbury, Robert Strawbridge, and other historic Methodist leaders are buried.

Another confirmation pilgrimage opportunity is available on Sunday, Feb. 23. Worship at Old Otterbein (a congregation that has been continuously worshiping since 1771!) at 10:30 am. Eat your bagged lunch after worship in the Fellowship Hall before taking a tour of the historic grounds. Proceed to Lovely Lane UMC for a tour of the church and museum. The guided portion of the day should conclude about 3:30 p.m. On this tour, you can also add a self-guided tour of burial sites of prominent Methodists.

RSVP to Rev. Bonnie McCubbin, Director of Museums & Pilgrimage, with a headcount and approximate number of vehicles, no later than Friday, Feb. 7, at noon. Your group will be combined with other groups, up to 40 persons total for each event.

The Courage to Lead Retreat for Young Leaders & Activists will be held Feb. 27 - March 1, at Wellspring Retreat Center in Germantown. Young leaders and activists (ages 20-40) are invited to an intentionally established space to slow down and do their own inner work in the company of peers and kindred spirits. The retreat is led by the Rev. Kara Scroggins and Tara Reynolds, with support from the BWC Missional Innovation Grants, which allows for the reduced fee of $150 for lodging and all meals, with a limited number of full scholarships available if needed. Learn more and register before Jan. 31.

Mustard Seed Grants: United Methodist churches in the U.S. can help immigrants, migrants and refugees living in their local communities. UMCOR’s Mustard Seed Migration Grant program provides congregations with up to $2,000 for a one-time, community-based service project. The application process is open and up to 100 churches will be awarded a grant. Learn more.

See a listing of more discipleship ministries and local church events

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