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We pray for Francess Tagoe, the BWC's Director of Human Resources and benefits, who will marry Lloyd Spain this Wednesday. We wish them every happiness! Send your good wishes to ftagoe@bwcumc.org.

The Rev. Bruce C. Thompson, a retired Elder in the Baltimore-Washington Conference, died Nov. 17. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 11 a.m. at Pasadena UMC. See his obituary.

We live in challenging times. The pandemic, economic uncertainty, political division and a pending denominational split have raised anxiety in the church and in the world. Now more than ever, we need people who can lead as a non-anxious presence. Jack Shitama, Director of the Center for Vital Leadership, will share principles from his book, Anxious Church, Anxious People: How to Lead Change in an Age of Anxiety to help you grow as a non-anxious leader. Join us for this Training Tuesday webinar on Feb, 21, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Register.

The deadline for individuals and groups to submit resolutions to the 239th Session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference is Feb. 1. The resolutions may be sent to the Conference Secretary, Kevin Silberzahn, at bwcsecretary@bwcumc.org. Information about the format and information to include is online.

The Annual Conference session is Wednesday, May 31, through Saturday, June 3, at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Baltimore. Registration opens in late February.

Do you have an innovative and exciting idea for a New Faith Expression or new worship service? Do you have a plan for a new ministry that will help your congregation go to the “next level”? Are you developing a way to reach new people who are not yet a part of any church? If you answered yes to any of these, then the Baltimore-Washington Conference Congregational Development Grants, offered through the Unified Funding Task Force (UFTF), may be able to assist you with a grant to launch your new ministry initiative, congregational renewal project, leader development ministry or to reach new people. The application period opens Feb. 15 and closes April 1. Learn more.

The BWC Volunteers in Mission (VIM) invite you to join Second Saturday Serve. Teams formed in local churches from across the BWC will gather each month to work on short-term mission projects in the conference. You are also invited to recommend a project that teams can work on either at your church or a location in your community. Submit your project ideas no later than Feb. 1 to VIM@bwcumc.org. Questions? Contact tbecton@bwcumc.org.

Every moment, we make decisions to create either more or less inclusion, diversity, equity and antiracism (IDEA). This eight-session course will focus on six actions that you and your community partners can take to build beloved community and create spaces of belonging and becoming. You will learn how to have contextual, brave conversations that matter, learn evidence-based strategies for bias reduction, and become rooted in the theological and Wesleyan principles that undergird this work. The spring iteration of Journey to Beloved Community begins on Feb. 2, 2023. The course's facilitated Zoom sessions occur Thursday nights, 7 to 8:30 p.m. If you are unable to attend at that time, contact Fathima Rifkey for alternatives. Learn More & Register.

The BWC’s Gun Violence Prevention Team and the Maryland Chapter of Moms Demand Action will gather for a rally and meet with legislators at Legislative Advocacy Days in Annapolis on Jan. 31. The day begins at 9 a.m. with a rally followed by legislative meetings at 11 a.m. The legislative priorities this year include strengthening Maryland’s concealed carry permitting laws, ending gun manufacturer immunity, repealing qualified immunity for police officers, and improving safe storage laws. United Methodists can gather as a group at the Thurgood Marshall statue on Lawyers’ Mall at 9:20 a.m. that day. For more information, contact Susan Bender at susanbender@comcast.net or 301-379-4561. RSVP.

Why should United Methodists be involved in legislative advocacy? The Rev. Neal Christie, BWC's Minister of Connected Engagement, has some insights. Read his commentary and register for BWC Advocacy Days March 16 and March 29.

Rooted, Renew and Restore, a retreat for youth and children's ministry leaders, will be held March 24-25 at Wesley Freedom UMC in Sykesville. Early bird registration is now open through March 10 at a cost of $100. If you would like to stay overnight on Friday, there is a guaranteed room rate of $104 at the Hampton Inn in Owings Mills; the code is YWC. Register.

Bishop Easterling will host a Next Level Leader conversation on March 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Severna Park UMC. Her guest will be Jacqui Lewis, author of “Fierce Love: a Bold Path to Ferocious Courage and Rule-Breaking Kindness that Can Heal the World.” Registration for in-person attendance closes Feb. 22.

Sign up to join Bishop LaTrelle Easterling on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Jan. 29 - Feb. 7, 2024. This sacred journey to Israel and the West Bank will be hosted by the Society for Biblical Studies and costs $3,439. The theme of the trip is, "The Land of Jesus: Then and Now.

Learn more and register.

Disability Awareness Sunday: Churches of the BWC are called to observe Disability Awareness Sunday on Feb. 5 by celebrating the gifts and graces of people with disabilities and calling the Church and society to full inclusion of persons with disabilities. Learn more.

Mental Health First Aid: The Wellness & Missions Board invites you to attend a virtual Mental Health First Aid class. Upon completion, participants will be certified for three years. CEUs are available for clergy. Review the choices below and follow the registration link next to your selection. Registration deadlines are not flexible; this ensures participants have adequate time to complete the pre-class work.

For more information, contact abundanthealth@bwcumc.org.

Earthkeepers training: Global Ministries seeks United Methodists to lead grassroots environmental projects that are action-oriented, anti-racist, bold and entrepreneurial. The application deadline is Feb. 10. Training is March 10 - 25. Learn more about EarthKeepers online training.

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