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Last week and next week, youth are gathering for CAMP HOPE to repair and rebuild homes in the Frostburg area. Read the story.

On Sunday, 66 pastors began new clergy assignments within the Baltimore-Washington Conference. We pray for the and for the new congregations in which they serve.

We also honor the ministry of the Rev. Neal Christie, who is no longer serving as the Executive Minister of Connected Engagement for the BWC. He will continue to serve as an independent contractor for the conflict transformation work of our affiliated Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Conferences and with the IDEA interns. The vital work that he launched and shepherded will continue. We will miss Neal's daily presence and celebrate his innovative spirit, joy, and passion for living with a wide-open heart.

The Rev. Jerome Jones and the congregation of Fowler UMC in Annapolis celebrate the connection and the generous spirit of the many churches that have offered to assist their church following an incident of vandalism that resulted in more than $100,000 worth of damage last month. Police announced arrests connected to the case last week.

We celebrate the accomplishments of Africa University, which the BWC supports through its mission shares. On June 10, the United Methodist-affiliated university in Zimbabwe graduated its largest class. More than 950 students from 19 countries received degrees. More than 60 percent of the new alumni are women.

Five young adults are serving as IDEA interns in locations across the Conference, working in ministries of inclusion, diversity, equity and anti-racism. Read their impressions and insights.

The BWC's Fresh Expressions Academy, designed to equip clergy and laity to innovate and take risks to engage people not yet part of a faith community, launches on Nov. 4 and runs for 12 months. It combines presentations, regular coaching, peer-to-peer discussions, immersion experiences, and an online group to help facilitate the cultivation of Fresh Expressions. Learn more. Register.

Save the date for a day of fun, fellowship and talent on Sept 30 at 11 a.m. at Camp Pecometh. Youth and youth leaders of the BWC and Pen-Del will spend the day together at Pecometh enjoying games, inspirational talks, music, and a talent show. All youth are invited to attend, performing is not a requirement. Youth interested in performing must fill out this virtual audition form. The cost is $5 per person for lunch, snacks, games and more. Registration coming soon.

The BWC’s 2023 Immigration Border Immersion is a transformative experience open to clergy and lay people, especially young adults, seeking to learn more about migration. Participants will have the opportunity to listen to God through the voice of the immigrant and be part of the change as they implement and take action in their local communities. The trip to San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico, is Oct. 19 to 23. The cost, which includes airfare, is $860. To learn more about scholarships that are available to young adults, contact Emma Escobar. Learn more about the trip. Register.

Church Planter's Discernment Academy: This nine-week Discernment Academy is designed to help participants discover their leadership style, strengths and weaknesses, intercultural competency and learning style, and then to incorporate those discoveries into their leadership practices in a Post-Christendom context.

The Academy begins Oct. 9, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., and ends the week of Dec. 4. Learn more. Register.

A.I.M., (Administrators in Ministry) is participating in UMCOR’s Feminine Hygiene Kits Assembly project. On July 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., A.I.M. members and other volunteers will assemble much-needed “Period Packs,” which provide necessities to support vulnerable women. If you would like to support this ministry, purchase the items needed from the Amazon Wishlist. Items will be shipped directly to the Conference Center. If you prefer, you can also drop off items at one of the designated drop sites. For more information on the items needed, drop sites, or to register to participate, visit https://www.adminsinministry.org/umcor-project.

A new Certificate in Congregational Leadership (CCL) program uses online learning to provide a comprehensive approach to developing leadership excellence in the local church. The courses, which take about 10 hours to complete, may be taken for personal enrichment or certification. The courses focus on church administration, sacraments, pastoral care, Wesleyan theology, time management, and United Methodist history and doctrine. To access the core courses, you will need an account in Assembly, the conference's online learning portal. If you do not have one, you can register directly on the site.

Second Saturday Serve - July 8 at Bethel UMC in Smithburg: Second Saturday Serve days are VIM projects organized across the Baltimore-Washington Conference to engage more people in mission. Put your faith into action. Register as an individual or team; $25 per person covers project materials, lunch, and insurance.

Celebrating summer praise: Emory Grove, located in Glyndon, has been a center for summer worship for 156 years. On July 5 at 7 p.m., Emory Grove will conduct its 50^th year of hymn sings during July and August. The Cow Truck of Reisterstown will supply Italian ice and frozen custard. See the story.

Mission u, sponsored by United Women in Faith and the BWC's Wellness and Missions team, is a retreat designed to explore current issues that impact our culture. This year’s Mission u for the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Conferences, which will explore the Lord's Prayer, is July 22 at Community UMC in Crofton. Learn more and register. Registration closes July 9.

TAGE on Steel of First UMC of Hyattsville will hold a free outdoor steelpan concert on Saturday, July 22, at 4 p.m. Follow the group on Instagram.

AWARE – an Alternative Work/Study and Reality Experience -- offers educational and hands-on mission opportunities in Mexico. Nan McCurdy and Miguel Mairena, BWC missionaries serving in Mexico, are offering a study/mission opportunity with Give Ye Them to Eat in Puebla, Mexico, Nov. 10 - 19. The trip includes almost three days of educational tourism, including the colonial city of Puebla and the Cholula Pyramid. Most of the time, you will be learning, working and building relationships near the small town of Tlancualpican, where the Tree of Life Training Center is located. The VIM experience, sponsored by the Rev. Marian Hartman of Pennsylvania, is $1,050 plus airfare and $300 for a work project.

Mt. Carmel UMC in Frederick will hold a Golf Tournament on July 31 at Holly Hills Country Club in Ijamsville with an 8 a.m. shotgun start. The fee is $150 per golfer or $550 per foursome. Learn more and register.

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