October 13, 2025 | "Transformed Lives Transform Lives" | | We lift up prayers of thanksgiving and celebration for Rev. Leo Yates, who was honored with the Civic Engagement Certificate from the Governor’s Office of Deaf & Hard of Hearing on Friday. This was in recognition of his faithful work in Maryland. We pray for encouragement, strength, and continued impact in his ministry and advocacy. | | |
Maryland is providing crucial tax credits for Silver Spring United Methodist Church’s $88.2 million affordable-housing initiative. The church is among many congregations focusing on property with a purpose. Read more.
Alison Burdett found a surprising Scripture lesson while watching Netflix's K-Pop Demon Hunters with her family. In a new editorial, she shares what the film taught her about anger, faith, and a hopeful way forward. Read more.
The Comics X Theology book club, founded by Rev. Jonathan Brown, associate pastor at Foundry UMC, meets once a month to discuss how faith and comic book storytelling intermingle. Read more.
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Lexington Park UMC answered its call to care for creation by installing 138 solar panels, generating clean energy, and using the savings to fund new mission work. Learn more.
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Save the date to attend the Connect Leadership Summit on Feb. 7, 2026. The Connect Leadership Summit, hosted at seven locations across the Area, is designed to spark creativity and inspire lay and clergy to transform lives, churches, and communities. This year’s theme is "Living Water." In a time when many leaders are weary, systems are strained, and hope feels parched, "Living Water" invites us to return to the source, to Jesus, who offers water that quenches our deepest thirst and flows through us to nourish others. Registration opens this month.
| | Training Tuesdays continues on October 14 with 100% at 100% – A Pathway towards Congregational Vitality and on October 28 with Church Council Leadership. Training Tuesdays offers accessible and practical training to clergy, laity, and ministry teams. These sessions are designed to foster church vitality, deepen spiritual leadership, and inspire innovative responses to the evolving needs of our communities. Learn more and register. Download flyer. | | |
In the His Book "John Wesley and the Origins of Methodist Missions," Dr. Wingeier-Rayo lifts up the unheralded lay people who pioneered Methodist missions in places like Gibraltar, Antigua, Nova Scotia, Sierra Leone, and Maryland. You are invited to the book launch, where he will share what inspired his writing, along with stories that connect directly to Baltimore’s Methodist history. Download flyer. Register.
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You’re invited to join Intergenerational Worship Listening Sessions, November 8–11, where clergy, children’s ministry leaders, and caregivers will share hopes, challenges, and best practices for nurturing children’s spiritual growth through worship and prayer. These 60-minute gatherings will help shape resources and practices that welcome children as full and vital participants in the life of the church. Learn more. Sign up.
| | In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) | | |
Our 28 Days of Prayer began on October 1.
How to Join:
- Get your copy of Dynamite Prayer (if ordering 10 or more books, use code INNOVATE50 for 50% off your order).
- Commit to pray daily from October 1–28.
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RSVP and let us know you’re ready to pray boldly, listen deeply, and move forward together in love.
- Optional: Join others in live prayer from 7 to 7:30 a.m. via Zoom.
- If joining the 7 a.m. Zoom, download the calendar reminder to add the daily prayer time directly to your schedule.
| | Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15 - October 15. Local church resources have been provided by the General Commission on Religion and Race, including a book study on “Brown Church: Five Centuries of Latina/o Social Justice, Theology, and Identity” by Robert Chao Romero. See Hispanic Heritage Month Resources. | | |
Spark interest and community about the IGNITE Youth Conference being held in March 2026 in Ocean City by attending an IGNITE bonfire. While each site will have its own unique twist, youth, young adults and chaperones will find fun, fellowship, s’mores and camp activities. Bring friends from the community and start fanning the flame toward the IGNITE Conference. RSVP.
Locations:
Camp Pecometh - Sunday, October 19, 4 to 7 p.m.
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Wesley Theological Seminary invites you to the Yu-Lee Lecture on Tuesday, October 28, at 11 a.m. in Oxnam Chapel. This lecture celebrates the contributions of the Asian American community. This year’s speaker, Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, Bishop of the Ohio Episcopal Area, will deliver a lecture titled “Messianic Hope and Liberating Missions Among the Korean Diasporas.”
Download the flyer.
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Registration is LIVE for the IGNITE Conference in Ocean City
Too many of our young people feel disconnected, unseen, and uncertain of their worth in a divided world. IGNITE 2026 responds with "belong" - a theme that grounds youth in their identity as God’s beloved, equips them to embrace their own sacred worth, and calls them into a just and loving community with others.
"You belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.”
– 1 Corinthians 3:23
Early bird pricing ends November 17. Learn more and register.
| | Six young adult women ages 18-35 (one per district) will receive full sponsorship to attend the 2026 United Women in Faith Assembly, including travel and registration. Don’t miss this chance to connect, worship, and grow in leadership. Learn more. Email kwalker@bwcumc.org by December 31 to request to be nominated as one of the six women sponsored. | | Join us for our Annual Confirmation Pilgrimages on Sunday, March 8, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. You will see four historic sites and learn about your Methodist Roots. New this year: Junior Circuit Rider Program and interactive touch boxes. Please RSVP to Rev. Bonnie McCubbin, Director of Museums & Pilgrimage. Groups are limited to 40 people from multiple churches. | | Featured Resource: Indigenous Peoples' Day | | |
Monday, October 13, is Indigenous Peoples’ Day. We are invited to into a sacred rhythm of reflection, truth-telling, and celebration. Raggatha Rain, who serves both as the Native American Inter-Tribal Caucus Chair and The Pen-Del CoNAM Chair, has shared a powerful resource for our local churches: Seven Days of Medicine Teachings Bundle: Seven Days of Truth, Gifts, and Endurance. This offering is a pathway to deeper understanding and solidarity with Indigenous communities.
Rooted in spiritual wisdom and cultural resilience, the bundle provides daily reflections and practices that honor the gifts of Indigenous peoples and the truths that must be acknowledged for healing to begin. It’s a meaningful way for congregations to engage with Indigenous Peoples’ Day, not just as a moment, but as a movement.
We encourage churches across the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Area to explore and share this resource. Waanishii (thank you) for your support and encouragement as we walk together toward justice, healing, and hope.
The Methodist Church affirms the sacred worth of Indigenous people and calls for justice, truth, and healing. It urges solidarity with Indigenous-led movements and support for legislative efforts addressing historical harms. Learn more.
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Submissions?
Alison Burdett, Interim Director of Communications
11711 East Market Place, Fulton, MD 20759
410.309.3428 | aburdett@bwcumc.org
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