November 17, 2025 | "Transformed Lives Transform Lives" | | Please hold retiree Rev. Henry G. Butler and his family in your prayers following the passing of his wife, Mrs. Judith Butler, on Friday, November 14. A service celebrating her life will be held on Wednesday, November 19, at 11 a.m. at Bethesda UMC (11901 Bethesda Church Road, Damascus, MD), with a viewing from 10 to 11 a.m. Condolences may be sent to Rev. Butler at 27912 Kemptown Church Road, Damascus, MD 20872. | | |
We join Rev. Jessica Hayden in prayers of healing for her father Rev. Alfred E. Statesman, who recently suffered a stroke. We also offer prayers for strength and comfort for Rev. Hayden's mother, Eva, and her sisters, Diane and Mary.
We pray for the family and friends of Rev. Sherrin Marshall, who died on November 10. A service celebrating the life of the Rev. Marshall was held on Saturday, November 15, at Severna Park UMC. Condolences may be sent to her children, Jesse Marshall and Joanna Hershberger, and to her companion, Alan Mayer-Somer, at Severna Park UMC, 731 Benfield Road, Severna Park, MD 21146.
| | Please keep Christine Trott from the Peninsula-Delaware Conference Office in your prayers. Christine will be undergoing spinal surgery on Monday, November 17, and is asking for God’s healing, strength, and peace during this time. Let us lift her up, trusting in the Lord’s presence and care for her and her medical team. If you would like to send words of encouragement, cards may be sent to her home at 670 Plain Dealing Rd., Magnolia, DE 19962. | | More than three-quarters of BWC churches with electronic giving reached 100 percent of their mission shares in 2024. Discover how online giving is helping congregations strengthen their ministry and stabilize their finances year-round. Read the story. | | |
American University student Greta Merrill joined the border immersion trip this October to San Diego and Tijuana, where she witnessed immigration up close. In her reflection, she shares how the experience is reshaping her faith, advocacy, and understanding of community. Read her reflection.
| | Zion United Methodist Church in Lexington Park, led by Rev. Andreá Cummings, is continuing the legacy of Mike’s Food Fund through its annual Christmas food drive to support families in need across St. Mary’s County. Community members are invited to donate or volunteer to help ensure holiday meals reach local households this season. Read the story and learn how you can support this effort. | | |
The United Methodist Council of Bishops convened Nov. 3-7 for its 2025 fall meeting under the theme “One — With Christ, With Each Other, In Ministry.” The online meeting brought together about 100 active and retired bishops from across Africa, Asia, Europe and North America to worship, learn and discern new pathways for leadership in a rapidly evolving church and world. Read the press release.
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Send us your church vitality story.
Is your church finding ways to meet community needs? We want to hear about it.
Email us at communications@bwcumc.org.
| | Lay Servant Ministries has announced new trainings. Courses offered include: Introduction to Lay Ministry: The BASIC Course, Ministry with the Forgotten: Dementia Through a Spiritual Lens (Advanced Course), From Your Heart to Theirs: Delivering Effective Sermons (Advanced Course - Preaching), and Lay Servants Lead in Conflict Resolution (Advanced Course). Registration opens soon. Contact Kim Marie Walker or Linda Flanagan for more information. | | |
Early bird pricing for IGNITE ends November 17. Register today.
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
| | Although the federal government has reopened, many furloughed employees are still recovering from the financial strain of the shutdown. To offer support, Queen’s Chapel United Methodist Church (7410 Old Muirkirk Road, Beltsville, MD 20705) will distribute $50 Visa gift cards to furloughed federal employees who present a government I.D. and a copy of their furlough letter. Gift cards will be available on Friday, November 21, from 1 to 3 p.m., on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. | | The Baltimore-Washington Area Reconciling United Methodists (BWARM) invite you to join them for a worship service and fellowship on Saturday, November 22, 10 a.m. to noon at Asbury UMC in Arnold, MD (78 Church Rd. Arnold, MD). Your time together will include a sharing by Dr. Randi Johnson, who has led Pronoun Trainings and spoken out about her experiences as a trans woman. Refreshments and a time to connect with other Reconciling UMs will follow the worship service. Contact T.C. Morrow, chair of BWARM for more information. | | |
Training Tuesdays continues on with an exciting lineup:
- November 18: Local Church Insurance: Trends and Best Practices
- November 25: Local Church Finance Update
- December 2: Statistical Reports Training
Learn more and register.
| | The BWC Task Force on Artificial Intelligence is continuing in its work and needs your help. The Task Force has developed a survey to prepare for its next meeting. Please complete this survey by November 30. All responses are anonymous. | | |
The Conference Commission on Disability Concerns and Emory Fellowship United Methodist Church invite you to a Paratransit Listening Session on Saturday, December 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Emory Fellowship, 6100 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., 20011. Share your questions, concerns, and feedback about the phase-out of specialized lift vans, and discuss your experiences with new transportation options that address driver and vehicle shortages. Meet Christiaan Blake, Managing Director of Access Services, and Terrian Williams-Hall, Director Office of Metro Access Department of Access Services. A continental breakfast will be served. Contact Min. Yvonne Caughman at (240) 992-2095 or Rev. Leo Yates at (443) 991-3795 for more information. Register today.
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Get Ready for the Connect Leadership Summit on February 7, 2026. Hosted at seven locations across the Area, this one-day event will ignite creativity, renew passion, and empower both lay and clergy leaders to transform lives, churches, and communities.
We’re thrilled to welcome two dynamic keynote speakers: Rev. Jonathan E.L. Brooks of Lawndale Christian Community Church and Rev. Dr. Luke Edwards of the Western North Carolina Conference.
They’ll be live at St. Mark’s in Easton, with the message streaming to all six other sites, so no matter where you join, you’ll experience the same powerful inspiration. Each site will feature its own unique set of workshops offering practical tools, fresh ideas, and opportunities to connect with other passionate leaders. Learn more and register.
| | In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) | | Deaf Shalom Zone is asking for help with actual and virtual food drives to help meet the increased need of public servants and government workers who have been fired, furloughed, or are working without pay. Download the flyer to see what they are in need of and how you can contribute or make an online donation. | | |
Imagine what it was like to worship in the 1760s in the first Wesleyan Methodist Meeting House. Join us for an Annual Candlelight Worship Service. Two services to choose from, Sunday, December 7 or 14 at 4 p.m. at 2650 Strawbridge Lane, New Windsor, MD. Limited seating available. You may reserve a seat online or by calling the Curator at 443-289-0191. Dress warmly, it was cold in 1760.
| | 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 Kim Walker by December 31 to request to be nominated as one of the six women sponsored. | | Registration for Wesley Theological Seminary’s online Spring 2026 Health Minister Certificate is now open till January 24, 2026. The certificate allows participants to understand the basic foundations of health ministry – a ministry that integrates body, mind, and spirit. Partial and full scholarships are available. If you are interested in partnering with Wesley for Health Minister Certificate Scholarships, please e-mail Tom Pruski for more information. | | Join us for our Annual Confirmation Pilgrimages on Sunday, March 8, 2026, and Saturday, April 18, 2026. 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. Groups are limited to 40 people from multiple churches. | | Featured Resource: Building Beloved Community | | |
Building Beloved Community: The Courage to Love in the Face of Tyranny, written by the United Methodist Church Council of Bishops and featuring a compelling chapter on racism by Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling, equips readers with theological insight, practical strategies, and inspiring global stories to resist division and foster connection.
Drawing on theological insight and real-life experiences from across the denomination and around the globe, this book invites readers to examine the challenges facing our communities and to consider faithful, practical responses.
With reflection questions at the end of each chapter, this book is a valuable guide for congregations, ministry teams, and individuals seeking to deepen their commitment to building beloved community.
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The Baltimore-Washington Conference is seeking a part-time caretaker for Camp Harmison, located outside Berkeley Springs, WV. Camp Harmison is a 70-acre property featuring two RV and tenting areas and a small retreat house. The caretaker is responsible for maintaining the grounds and facilities to provide a safe and welcoming environment for guests, arranging contracted work when needed, and greeting guests and accommodating their needs during their stay. The ideal candidate will have experience in groundskeeping, carpentry, plumbing, electrical or mechanical work, and a pleasant demeanor for offering hospitality to guests. Hours for this position are heavier during the summer months and lighter during the winter. This is a part-time position (averaging 500-600 hours per year) with a starting pay of $15-18/hr depending on experience. Download job description. For more information or to apply, please send a cover letter and resume to director@westrivercenter.org.
See church classified ads
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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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