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What’s past is prologue: This month, volunteers assisted a professional archeologist at Old Otterbein UMC in Baltimore, the oldest church building in the city. Learn what they discovered and see photos from the dig.

We celebrate the ministries of Middleway UMC, which collected 107 jars of peanut butter to help feed children during the summer months through two local food pantries. They also collected more than 61 Bibles to share with the clients of Jefferson County Ministries.

Climate change is coming home to the United Methodist Church. Eroding History is a documentary that shows the impact of sea level rise on two historically black United Methodist churches on Maryland's shore. View it for a limited time.

A recent Associated Press article on disaffiliations reports that more than 6,000 congregations – a fifth of United Methodist churches in the US – have received permission to leave the denomination over disagreements on the role of LGBTQ people in the church. See a chart, compiled by UMNS, of disaffiliations by annual conference.

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, coaching, peer-to-peer discussions, immersion experiences, and an online group to facilitate the cultivation of Fresh Expressions. 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. You can drop off items at one of the designated drop sites. For more information on the items needed, the drop sites, or to register to participate, visit https://www.adminsinministry.org/umcor-project.

Save the date for fun, fellowship and talent. At 11 a.m. on Sept 30, youth and youth leaders of the BWC and Pen-Del will spend the day together at Camp Pecometh enjoying games, inspirational talks, music, and a talent show. All youth are invited to attend and performing is not required. Youths interested in performing must fill out this 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 for young adults, contact Emma Escobar. Learn more about the trip. Register.

Church Planter's Discernment Academy: This nine-week experience is designed to help participants discover their leadership style, strengths and weaknesses, intercultural competency and learning style, and then how 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 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. They 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 Assembly account. If you do not have one, you can register directly on the site.

GCORR Justice Grant: The Commission on Religion and Race is offering grants for churches to create cohorts or small groups focusing on mental health awareness and wellness, that are trauma-informed, and culturally appropriate. Learn more here.

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 of Vital Leadership. This week, Shitama explores "Leading Change and the Fundamental Attribution Error."

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, 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.

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

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