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We pray for the people of Florida and the Carolinas, whose lives were dramatically affected last week by the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian. Learn more about UMCOR's response and give. Churches interested in providing cleaning kits can find information about kit components and assembly instructions here. We encourage churches to coordinate their shipments with their local affiliate warehouses. Learn more about the UMCOR Relief Supplies Network here. 

We also pray for Puerto Rico amidst the damage caused by Hurricane Fiona. Last week, the Council of Bishops issued an appeal for United Methodists to give to long-term recovery efforts on the island. See a letter from Bishop Lizzette Gabriel Montalvo.

The Rev. Mandy Sayers, lead pastor of Glen Mar UMC in Ellicott City, will be the featured preacher on Day 1, a nationally-broadcast ecumenical radio program and podcast, on Oct. 23. She will preach on “God’s Star Student” and the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector in Luke 18:9-14.

We pray for Christol Medley, who is moving on from her ministry as the district administrator of the Washington East District.

Congratulations to Emory Fellowship in Washington and Gethsemene UMC for receiving $150,000 grants, and Mt. Olive UMC in Baltimore for receiving a $136,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security as part of the Non-Profit Security Grant program.

The Rev. Charles Harrell shares insights and stories on how Ukrainians are addressing the war with faith. Read his commentary.

Indigenous People's Day is Oct. 10: The United Methodist Native American International Caucus (NAIC) believes the creation of Indigenous People's Day as a federal holiday is a contradiction with the continued observation of Columbus Day as a national holiday. “At best this revises history and at worst this denies history,” NAIC’s leaders say. “More needs to be done to unpack the implications of the Doctrine of Discovery.” Read their statement.

Even as the pandemic produces ongoing challenges for churches, it also creates blessings. Asbury UMC in Jessup and the Rev. Gay Green Carden recently celebrated several baptisms in the West River.

“We had three sisters whose dad is incarcerated, two brothers who lost both parents at the tender ages of 2 and 6, a young man who saw the flyer on Facebook, and then we had four parishioners who just wanted to reaffirm their baptism,” Carden said. Read the story.

You’re invited to join Bishop LaTrelle Easterling and Tod Bolsinger, the author of Canoeing the Mountains and Tempered Resilience, in a conversation on leadership on Oct. 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s UMC in Easton.

Registration for the in-person session closes this Friday, Oct. 7. 

Register today for the Next Level Speaker Series.

A Diverse Church by Design is a biblically-based Cross-Racial and Cross-Cultural (CRCC) leadership certificate program that is a unique approach to diversity and inclusion. ​An orientation will occur tonight, at 7 p.m. Learn more and register.

Rebuilding after a disaster: In the wake of the tragedies in Puerto Rico and the southeast, United Methodists interested in helping rebuild communities following disasters are encouraged to enroll in early response team training. The training is on October 15 at Benevola UMC and on November 12 at the BWC Mission Center in Fulton.

Blessing of the Animals: Salem UMC, at 12 High St. in Brookeville, is hosting its annual Blessing of the Animals on Oct. 9 at 2 p.m. The Rev. Emily Hart will administer the blessings that celebrate the bond of love that animals have with their humans and the gifts that animals bring to our lives. All animals must be leashed or in pet carriers.

A forum on protecting places of worship will be held Tuesday, Oct. 11, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Annapolis City Hall, 160 Duke of Gloucester Street in Annapolis. The forum offers resources and provides faith-based leaders and congregations with information about religious hate crimes, law enforcement threat assessments, and ways to protect places of worship from hate crimes and other threats of violence. Learn more.

Dunning Lecture: St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute in Baltimore will host the Rev. Edgardo Colón-Emeric, Dean of Duke Divinity School, for its annual Dunning Lecture on Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m. at the school and online. Colón-Emeric, who has served on the United Methodist Committee on Faith and Order, will speak on the topic, "Romero and the Preferential Option for the Poor: An Ecumenical Praxis.” His latest book is The People Called Metodistas: Renewing Doctrine, Worship, and Mission from the Margins. Register.

Contemplative Advocacy and Poverty Walks: Chevy Chase UMC will host a series of events Oct. 7 - 9 with Ryan Taylor, a spiritual activist, pastor of Urban Mercy Church in Denver and author of “Awkward Spirituality: The Divinity of Ordinary Life.” On Friday, Oct. 7, area pastors and leaders are invited to meet at Old Otterbein UMC in Baltimore from 1 to 3 p.m. for a Poverty Walk and discussion on Seeing Beyond the Empire. On Sunday, Oct. 9 Taylor will present his message on spiritual renewal at Chevy Chase UMC during the 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship services. Following a brief time of fellowship, participants will experience a Poverty Walk together in the D.C. area. For more information, contact the Rev. John Nupp.

Justice for our Children: Healing for Our Communities: This week, United Methodists are invited to observe a special time of prayer and action in remembrance of the atrocities against Native American children in boarding schools. United Women in Faith is offering a two-hour virtual event on Oct. 6 that will include prayer, an educational program and reflection in small groups about the abuses suffered by Native American children in the schools. Register for the event.  See resources.

Winter Grace Senior Ministries will hold a virtual Resource Fair for people aged 50 and older through Oct. 15. The fair will offer resource providers, expert speakers, fitness class access and workshops. Learn more.

The BWC’s United Men's Ministries will hold their annual gathering and business session on Oct. 15 from 9 to 11 a.m. Learn more.

The ninth annual Rev. Callie Matthews Scholarship Walk will commence at 9 a.m. on Oct. 22 at 1 Dock Street in Annapolis. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. Learn more, register and donate.

The Strawbridge Shrine Association will hold its annual meeting at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 22 at New Hope UMC/Bethel Church in New Windsor. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Bonnie McCubbin, Director of Pilgrimage & Museums for the Baltimore-Washington Conference. Learn more.

The application period for the BWC’s congregational development grants is now open. The grants, offered through the Unified Funding Task Force, assist congregations in launching new ministry initiatives, new or renewed congregational development, leader development and reaching new people. The deadline is Oct. 10. Learn more and apply.

The annual period to apply for mission innovation grants for advocacy and action, wellness and missions, and young people’s ministry is now open. Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to faith communities that have a proven ministry idea in one of these ministry areas. The deadline to apply is Nov. 1. Learn more and apply.

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