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Members of the BWC and Pen-Del put love into action last week, working for justice at a legislative advocacy day in Washington, D.C. See photos from the event.

Aaron Rosen, the director of the Henry Luce III Center for the Arts and Religion at Wesley Theological Seminary, published a Lenten article in the Baltimore Sun asking what Jesus would see if he looked around today. Read his commentary.

Brook Hill UMC’s unique ministry of collecting bikes to be shared with needy people in Rwanda and Madagascar was recently featured in the Frederick News Post. Read the story.

We celebrate with the Rev. Leo Yates, who has been honored with an invitation to speak at the Methodist Diaconal Order in May in Staffordshire, England.

The Rev. Bryant Oskvig, the American University chaplain, explores what might change for people and the church if United Methodists began to think about being called to ministry for just a season. See his thoughts.

A federal judge in Delaware upheld the Chapter 11 plan of the Boy Scouts of America on Tuesday, saying he found no fault with a bankruptcy court's order channeling more than 82,000 claims of childhood sexual abuse to a $2.5 billion settlement trust and that the appealing insurance companies had not shown any clear error in the plan's confirmation. Read an FAQ from the General Board of Finance and Administration.

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The date of the Pre-Conference Briefing has been changed to May 6. From 9 a.m. to noon, the online webinar will cover resolutions and recommendations before the BWC's Annual Session. Register for the Pre-Conference Briefing.

The latest monthly episode of Bishop Easterling’s podcast Thursdays at the Table goes live on April 6. In “Love in Practice,” she talks with the Rev. Dorlimar Lebrón Malavé, pastor of the First Spanish United Methodist Church, commonly known as FSUMC/The People's Church in New York and JJ Warren, the founder of the Young Prophets Collect, a nonprofit that seeks to equip and empower a global community of young religious leaders who use their voices for liberation.

Raising Funds for West River: Join us for a casual evening at West River Center in Churchton to raise funds for summer camp scholarships to help all children grow in the love of God, self, neighbor and nature. The Grazing on Maryland fundraiser will be held on April 16 from 4 to 7 p.m. The event, featuring food from farmers, watermen and artisans across the state, will create an experience of cross-pollination between producers and products for a good cause and good food. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased online.

Help End Hunger: Join the Cumberland-Hagerstown District United Methodist Men in feeding 5,000 families. Volunteer and reserve 50-pound bags of fresh Maine potatoes to help feed families in need on April 15 at 8 a.m. at the Saint Andrew’s UMC parking lot at 1020 Maryland Ave. in Hagerstown. To reserve bags of potatoes for your church or food bank ministry, visit UMMrsvp.org.

It is not too late to register: Consider joining congregational developers for the United Methodist National Planters Gathering: April 24-26 in Denver. The registration deadline has been extended to April 15. Congregational Development will cover the registration cost, and scholarships are available. For more information and financial assistance, contact Lauren Harris. Learn more and Register.

Colesville UMC in Silver Spring will host a Christian Comedy Show on April 22 at 6 p.m. The show will feature three Christian comedians, Howard G., Rickey Shackleford and Laughin Lenn. Tickets are $40. Learn more and purchase tickets at www.cumc.org.

St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute is offering a course this summer entitled "Spirituality & Praxis of Resistance and Hope," taught by Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt, pastor of Epworth Chapel UMC in Baltimore. The class will explore how Christian spirituality can lead to human liberation and the actualization of hope for the church and world today. This 3-credit graduate-level course can be taken for credit or audited. New and visiting students are welcome. Contact Galen Zook for registration information or explore additional summer course offerings.

Embark on a Pilgrimage: You’re invited to take a sacred journey of discovery and faith as part of the BWC’s Pilgrimage Week, May 1-6. To culminate the week, a Social Justice Pilgrimage will kick off on May 6 at 8:30 a.m. It will start at the Mission Center in Fulton and explore five historical sites in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. The featured sites include The Methodist Building, Mt. Zion UMC in Georgetown and the Mt. Zion/Female Union Band Cemetery in Georgetown, Sharp Street Memorial UMC, and Old Otterbein UMC in Baltimore. The tour costs $75 and includes lessons on pilgrimage, informative tours of each site, opportunities for spiritual reflection and lunch. Learn more and register. For more information, contact the Rev. Bonnie McCubbin.

Holy Week observances:

The grant application period for the UMC’s Disability Ministries Committee has been extended to April 15. Seed grants of $500 - $1,000 for accessibility and disability ministry projects are available. Learn more and apply.

United Methodists are invited to join the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA at the National City Christian Church on Thomas Circle in Washington as it begins celebrating its 75^th anniversary on May 15 at 7 p.m. Bishop Vashti McKenzie, NCC Interim President/General Secretary, will preach.

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