Dec. 11, 2023 | "Transformed Lives Transform Lives"

Prayers of the People

Each year, businesses, organizations, and families decorate parking meters in Frostburg. This year, Frostburg UMC designed meter decorations featuring Star War themes, assuring the community that the Force, and the Light of Christ, are with them.

The BWC's delegation to the General and Jurisdictional Conferences has begun its process of discernment to consider who they will endorse as a nominee for the episcopacy. We pray for the delegation and the nominees who have put their names forward to serve. Learn more.

Pastor Angelic Williams of St. Luke UMC in Baltimore creates vibrant ministries as she takes the church to the streets. The church is made relevant in the lives of those living in Sandtown Winchester by claiming obedience, grace and evangelistic intentions. God is making a way. Read the story.

We Seek Peace and Pursue It

The UMC’s Board of Church and Society is hosting a webinar: Advocating for Peace: An Advent Call for Ceasefire, on Dec. 13 at 3:30 p.m. Learn more and register.

The 17th annual Service of Christmas Lessons and Carols from the Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem will occur on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 10 a.m. EST. Hear familiar carols and readings in Arabic and English, and a word of hope preached this year by the Most Rev. Hosam Naoum, Archbishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. Watch it on YouTube.

Those interested in community development that leads to peacebuilding in and around Bethlehem can contact the Rev. Neal Christie at NealChristieUMC@gmail.com or 202-285-4544.

The Rev. Stacey Cole Wilson, the BWC’s Executive Minister of Beloved Community, recently met with the families of people being held hostage by Hamas. She encourages United Methodists to learn more from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum as the world works to “Bring them Home Now.”

New and Featured

In the generosity accompanying the Christmas season, we're praying that your church will remember and support the thousands of immigrants arriving in Washington by bus from southern border states. The BWC is raising $40,000 to assist them with vital needs. Your congregation is encouraged to take an offering, and individuals are asked to give generously. Learn more and give.

The Training Tuesday webinar on Dec. 12, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., will focus on church Statistical Report Training with Dave Schoeller and John Gauthier. Learn more and register.

As always, all Training Tuesdays are recorded, but we encourage you to attend this Tuesday so that you have the opportunity to ask questions. We are in the process of updating the BWC's Statistical Reports page. It should be updated by tomorrow. Please visit the link below after you’ve completed your Stats Report Training on Dec. 12 at https://www.bwcumc.org/administration/finance/statistical-reports/

Bishop Easterling's Thursdays at the Table podcast this month features a conversation with Bishops Marianne Budde and Leila Ortiz. The trio, all named to be the first women to lead their judicatories, share some of the blessings and challenges of the episcopacy and their hopes for the church.

Resolutions for the 2024 Annual Conference Session are due to the Conference Secretary on Feb 16.

Local Church Activities: As we move through the season of Advent, churches throughout the BWC are holding several programs and activities. Please look at a listing of some of the celebrations and ministries in the area.

Becoming More Vital in the New Year

Community Organizing Retreat: Are you passionate about engaging your congregation to be more involved in your community? Do you want to work more effectively on justice issues? Join leaders from across the BWC in a Community Organizing Training Retreat on Jan. 5 - 7 at West River Camp near Annapolis. The three-day course, led by Kristin Kumpf and the Rev. Dorlimar Malave, will empower you to advocate for the issues that matter most to you and your community. Scholarships are available to make the retreat free for young adults. 1.7 CEUs will be offered to clergy. Learn more and register.

So You Want to Repurpose Church Property? Repurposing church property effectively is more than just a real estate transaction to make more money. There are several elements required to see a successful effort come to pass. Join the Rev. Joe Daniels and leaders from Emory UMC in Washington, D.C., as they share their story of going from a part-time appointment and a congregation that was presumed dead to a revitalized congregation that facilitated the construction of a $60 million multi-use building project with 99 units of affordable housing. Register for the Jan 20 event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Emory UMC.

Cooperative Parish Summit: Churches considering joining in creative ways with other faith communities to do vital ministry are invited to join a Cooperative Parish Summit on Jan. 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the BWC Mission Center in Fulton. The pastor, lay leader and SPRC chair (or their designee) of each interested church are encouraged to attend. A World Café featuring rapid conversations with five current Cooperative Parish leaders from the BWC will be held in the morning, and a strategy session will be held in the afternoon. Register before Jan. 19. Learn more and register.

Lessons in Leadership

Level Up is a video series that provides lessons in church leadership using best-selling secular writings by the Rev. Jack Shitama of the Center for Vital Leadership. This week, Shitama explores the "Three Ways Gratitude Makes You a Better Leader."

Free Puppets to anyone with a puppet ministry or wanting to start a puppet ministry. The puppets are in excellent condition and ready to help add life to any worship service or outreach ministry. Clothes and props are included. They will be available after December 24th. Please contact Rev. Joan Carter-Rimbach today at mcpumcpastor@gmail.com if you're interested.

See church classified ads now online.