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Hunt’s Memorial UMC in Towson is celebrating 250 years of service this year. One of their mission event celebrations was to fill 101 UMCOR Cleaning Buckets. On May 9, they loaded the buckets to be taken to the UMCOR warehouse in Mechanicsburg, PA.

In related mission news, Calvary UMC in Mount Airy is becoming the third Mission Hub in the Conference (along with St. Matthews UMC in Bowie and Bentley Springs UMC in Parkton). They will celebrate their Hub opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication service on May 21.

At the Annual Conference session, members will vote on the proposed disaffiliation of 22 churches seeking to leave The United Methodist Church. If you have questions about disaffiliation, see a new video from Bishop LaTrelle Easterling.

We pray for those involved in the disaffiliation process. The Beginning Again Guide is a resource for United Methodists who want to stay within the UMC after their church disaffiliates. Several "Lighthouse Congregations" also now serve individuals who want to remain United Methodist. They include:

To find a Lighthouse Congregation or to learn more about remaining United Methodist, contact Rev. Bill Brown.

In 1739, in his journal, Methodism's founder John Wesley wrote: “At four in the afternoon, I submitted ‘to be more vile’ and proclaimed in the highways the glad tidings of salvation.” That day, he preached to 3,000 people about Luke 4:18-19. Last week, Ashley Boggan, a United Methodist historian and agency top executive, shared with the Council of Bishops how the United Methodist history as a movement can shape today's church.

“Some people will wrestle with the term ‘vile,’” said Bishop LaTrelle Easterling. But she sees it as a call to be subversive in the same way Christ was subversive. "Christ was subversive to those oppressive forces that were privileging some at the expense of others. I think General Secretary Boggan calls us back to that kind of theology, that kind of advocacy, that kind of bold, innovative action.” See the story.

May 21 is Heritage Sunday. In celebration of Methodist history, the General Commission on Archives and History recently selected two BWC churches and a BWC history video for awards. The commission received about one hundred submissions for the Local Church History Contest, and chose 10. The three from the BWC are: Metropolitan Memorial UMC in Baltimore; Dumbarton UMC in Washington D.C.; and the Conference's Pilgrimage Passport Video series. Learn more.

Churches and individuals are invited to put Love into Action through service by purchasing school supplies for students at eight Baltimore schools during the Annual Conference session.

Through your generosity, notebooks and construction paper have been purchased, but there are still many items to purchase. Select the items you wish to give on the Amazon wish list by May 18. When checking out, you'll be prompted to choose a shipping address. Scroll down to the "other addresses" heading and select: "Heart of America/United Methodist School Supplies Gift Registry Address."

If you are an Annual Conference member and are participating in the Love in Action mission project, but haven't yet ordered your T-shirt, please do so in the registration form by May 17.

The June issue of The Bulletin, a monthly reproducible resource on vitality for local churches to distribute to their congregations, is now available. This month's issue includes a message from Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, an article on the power and potential of the laity, insights from the Thursdays at the Table podcast, and some interesting facts about Methodism's founder, John Wesley. Download and reproduce your copy.

Celebrating Young People: The voices, ideas and thoughts of our young people will be the focus of the Annual Conference session on Saturday morning, June 3. We will be celebrating confirmands and those newly confirmed. Please use this form to submit church names and young people's names to be displayed on screens so that they might be celebrated. There will also be opportunities for individuals or youth groups to showcase their gifts and talents with the Annual Conference. If you are a young person (or work with young people) who would like to share/lead on Saturday, fill out this form. If you have any questions, contact Cheryl Cook.

Campus Ministry Chaplain Sought: Applications for the campus ministry chaplaincy at Frostburg State University are being accepted through May 22. See the job description.

Wespath is hosting an interactive, virtual event for clergy on May 17 at 2 p.m. to provide information and insights about benefits, well-being and investments to help pastors better navigate their career and retirement. Learn more and register.

The Council of Bishops is calling for a 5-day General Conference in May 2026 that would focus on re-establishing the connection, lament and healing, celebration, recasting the mission and vision for The United Methodist Church and considering a more regional governance structure to support the mission and vision of the church for the current and future realities. This gathering would be in addition to the regular General Conference sessions already planned for 2024 and 2028. See the story.

The BWC Chapter of Black Methodists for Church Renewal is holding a dinner at Annual Conference at the Hilton Hotel in Baltimore on June 2 at 5 p.m. The deadline to purchase tickets, which are $50, is May 17. Register.

Level Up is a video series that provides lessons in church leadership from the Rev. Jack Shitama of the Center of Vital Leadership. This week, Shitama asks the intriguing question: "Finite and Infinite Games: Which One Are You Playing?" A new video premieres each Monday.

Mission-Shaped Church is a weekly blog that helps leaders grow in discipleship. Written by the Revs. Bill Brown and Lauren Harris, who lead the BWC's innovative evangelism ministries, the blog is an important resource for those seeking to grow in their understanding of faith and "move from maintenance to mission."

Blessing of the Bikes: Nottingham Myers UMC in Upper Marlboro and the Rev. Shemaiah Strickland will host a Bike Blessing of motorcycles on May 21 at 11 a.m.

Church bazaar: West Baltimore Unity UMC in Baltimore is looking for vendors for their bazaar on June 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact blountr2002@yahoo.com.

Jazz Jam: New Waverly UMC in Baltimore will hold a free Pop-Up Jazz Jam on Tuesday, July 18, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The Epworth House Mission Project Committee will hold its annual spring virtual celebration to benefit their Wesley Seminary Missioner-in-Residence on June 17 at 11 a.m. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Alexis Faith Brown. The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82845384079. A $20 donation may be sent to Epworth House Committee, 7008 Whitney Avenue, Forestville, MD 20747.

Assisting migrants with personal needs: As migrants continue to arrive in Washington, DC, we ask you to support our new neighbors. Donate now to help purchase much-needed undergarments for children and adults.

Donate Now:

Celebrating History: Strawbridge Shrine, near New Windsor, celebrates its annual Colonial Days on June 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This free, family-friendly event features skill demonstrations, music and tours of the shrine where Methodism began in America in 1760. The Shrine needs temporary tour guides to help during Colonial Days. They will provide a script that you can read to the visitors. Contact Helen at ledug2001@yahoo.com.

Learn more about 100% of churches at 100% vitality.

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