e-connection 3|11|2024

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March 11, 2024 | "Transformed Lives Transform Lives"

Prayers of the People

Recently, Bishop LaTrelle Easterling met with our affiliation partners in the three districts of the Peninsula-Delaware Conference. See a brief story.

"When we are open to the Spirit’s moving and immersing ourselves in practices, which can help make us available for God’s movement in our lives, all kinds of unexpected things become possible. Let’s see where God might be moving and go with that.”

-- Rev. Rod Miller, author of the BWC's “Living Like Christ

In this week’s Lenten exercises, participants explore "Unblocking Love." Many of us pay more attention to voices of shame, blame, self-doubt and false narratives that block us from being able to hear God’s voice and be hopeful and creative. This week, we will build our practice of identifying the internal, harmful voices that prevent us from better sensing God’s whisper. Visit Living Like Christ: A Banquet of Spiritual Exercises.

FX Academy members immersed in creative outreach

With a spirit of spiritual imagination, service, and learning, 17 members of the BWC's 27-member Fresh Expressions Academy recently went on an immersion trip to Ocala, Florida, where they visited the ministries of the Rev. Michael Beck, the leader of the denomination's Fresh Expressions ministries. Read the story.

Also see:

Fresh Expressions: Thoughts from the Road
Taking the Jesus Story Outside the Church by Rev. Lauren Harris
The Potential and Power of our FX Academy Immersion by Rev. Carm Evans

Rev. Beck will be the speaker at this year's Laity Session at Annual Conference on May 29 at the Hilton Hotel in Baltimore.

New and Featured

An online town hall to share a Restructuring Scenario for the BWC will be held on March 19 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The plan, designed by a Restructuring Task Force and reviewed by the Connectional Table, was designed specifically to focus on the BWC’s mission to cultivate world-changing disciples. Register for the Restructuring Town Hall.

Training Tuesday: Faithfully Managing Church Finances, led by the Rev. Cary James, Jr., will be the focus of the Training Tuesday webinar on March 12, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Learn more and register.

Renew -- Clergy Renewal Retreat: Join other clergy April 30 - May 2 at Pecometh Riverview Retreat Center in Centreville, Maryland. This Living Well retreat, led by the Rev Andy McClain, will not over-program you. In fact, you’ll be able to share meals, take walks, and simply be together. Time with a spiritual director or masseuse is available at an additional cost. The $319 registration fee includes two nights at single occupancy and five meals. Learn more and register.

Necessary Ingredients, a training and retreat for youth, children, and family ministry leaders, will be held on April 5 and 6 at Westminster UMC. Leaders working in youth, children, and family ministries are invited to attend. Attendees will spend two days with other youth, children, and family ministry leaders to focus on the necessary ingredients for a thriving ministry. Learn from experts Chris Sasser and Chania Dillard as they teach mental health, intergenerational ministry practices, and recruiting, training, and retaining volunteers. Early bird registration is $50 through March 18. Regular registration is $75. Register online.

The BWC is hosting a Pilgrimage Bus Trip to Strawbridge Shrine near New Windsor on June 8. Join a journey that lets you see Methodism through the eyes of Robert Strawbridge, one of Methodism’s mavericks and founding leaders, and learn about the power of the laity. Learn more and register.

General Conference, a global gathering of The United Methodist Church, is April 23 - May 3 in Charlotte, N.C. Learn more.

Join BWARM, Baltimore-Washington Area Reconciling Methodists, on March 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. at North Bethesda UMC for a meeting with special guest Jan Lawrence, executive director of Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), about the upcoming General Conference. You can also attend via Zoom, The link is: https://zoom.us/j/94532105593?pwd=N3ExRG90elNHTVoxSDM0Y3pBZ0Qydz09; Meeting ID: 945 3210 5593, Passcode: 699170.

Everyone is invited to join the Baltimore-Washington Chapter of The Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA) on Saturday, March 23, at 11 a.m. on Zoom to learn more about the upcoming General Conference. Mittie Quinn, a member of our conference and the co-convener of the Love Your Neighbor Coalition (LYNC) in Charlotte will present information about the plans and expectations of the LYNC in Charlotte. Register. For further information, contact Rev. Ken Hawes.

Registration is now open for the 240th session of the BWC Annual Conference, which will be held Wednesday, May 29, through Friday, May 30, at the Hilton Hotel in Baltimore.

A Pre-Conference Briefing will be held online on Saturday, May 11.

Additional Disicpleship Opportunities

Global Ambassador shares faith: On Sunday, March 17, David Worthington, Global Ambassador at John Wesley’s New Room in Bristol, England, will speak at Lovely Lane UMC in Baltimore at 11 a.m. The New Room was the first structure built specifically for Methodist meetings by John Wesley. Worthington will speak about using our heritage as a means of connection and mission. All are welcome.

Grants available to local churches: 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? The Baltimore-Washington Conference Congregational Development Grants, offered through the Unified Funding Task Force, can 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 closes on April 1. Learn more.

The Harry Denman Evangelism Award honors United Methodists in each annual conference for exceptional evangelism ministry. The BWC recognizes one clergy member, layperson, and youth at the Annual Conference session. The deadline for nominations is April 1. Learn more and see the application forms.

Explore the rich history of Methodism in Baltimore. The BWC will lead a pilgrimage in Baltimore on April 21. We will begin with worship and a tour of Old Otterbein UMC and travel to Lovely Lane UMC to see the church and museum. Full historical interpretation will be provided. Please note that there is no availability for May Confirmation Tours this year. Contact [email protected] or [email protected] for more details.

Applications for the next class of Certified Lay Ministers of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, Class of 2024-2026, are being accepted. Learn more. The next class will start in September and is a two-year commitment. Questions can be directed to Linda Flanagan, Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministries.