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February 27, 2023 | "Transformed Lives Transform Lives"
Prayers of the People
Members of the In Mission Together Asia Partnership from the BWC and Virginia Conference, along with Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, welcomed Dr. Sergei Nikolaev, president of the Moscow Theological Seminary of The United Methodist Church, to a banquet at the Mission Center on Feb. 25. Our prayers continue for our partners in ministry in Russia.

Wes Moore, Maryland's new governor, preached at Fowler UMC in Annapolis as part of a Black History Month Celebration.

The governor told those present about his historic journey and recalled the inscription in a Bible his grandfather gave to him before he went to war, "Have faith, not fear." See the story.
Council of Bishops President Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton will deliver a Mid-Term State of The United Methodist Church Address on March 2 at
1 p.m. The presentation will launch on the official United Methodist denominational website at UMC.org/Renew and be shared on Facebook.com/UnitedMethodistChurch.

He is expected to build off his call for members to “make the pivot away from what was, into new and concerted efforts to reclaim, revive and renew The United Methodist Church throughout the world.” A downloadable discussion guide offering scripture readings and opportunities to engage in conversations with other United Methodists on key points from the address will follow shortly after the video presentation.
Spread the word: Summer camp is hiring
Summer camp is one of the best things about United Methodism. This year, camp registrations for this summer are already well ahead of last year's pace. But this great news of children's lives being shaped by the spectacular, means we need your help! 

Both Manidokan, near Harper's Ferry, and West River, near Annapolis, are looking for staff to fill various roles this summer.

  • Program Staff (Manidokan and West River) – Run activities for campers (must be 18+)
  • In-Cabin Counselors (Manidokan and West River) – Provide general 24-hour supervision of campers (must be 18+)
  • Day Camp Staff (West River) – Run activities for day campers 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (must be high school graduate)
  • Lifeguard (Manidokan and West River) – Keep campers safe at the pool and on the river (must be 16+)
  • Van Driver (Manidokan) – Drive campers to activities (must be 21+)
  • Kitchen Aide (Manidokan and West River) – Help with dishes, meal preparation, and clean up (must be 14+; year-round opportunities)
  • Cook (Manidokan and West River) – Prepare and serve delicious meals (year-round opportunities)
  • Nurse (Manidokan) – Provide health care to campers and staff (RN preferred)

Contact the office or call 800-922-6795 for more information. Apply online today.
BWC's first VIM Mission Journey set for March 4
Join the BWC's mission journey on Saturday, March 4. Gather with other Volunteers in Mission teams to help Solomons Mission Center on Solomons Island to further their transition from a church to a full-service center for outreach and ministry.

The Solomons Mission Center responds to the needs of those experiencing food insecurity or other basic needs. We are seeking 20 - 30 people ages 10 and older to help organize, sort, and hang donated supplies and dispose of items no longer of use. The cost is $25 per person. Register quickly. Registration ends Friday at noon.
New and Featured

This month's Thursdays at the Table podcast on March 2 will focus on the ministry of Deacons, a special order of ministry that creates a life of service and compassion beyond the pews and pulpits in ways that make the church relevant and meaningful. Join Bishop LaTrelle Easterling as she talks to two well-storied Deacons, the Revs. Leo Yates and Stephanie Moore Hand, as they explore how each of us is called to bring our best gifts to the table. Learn more.

Pastors of rural churches in the Baltimore-Washington Conference are invited to join Bishop LaTrelle Easterling for a conversation on March 4 from 10 a.m. to noon at Otterbein UMC in Hagerstown. Register.

Faith in Action: Join BWC and Pen-Del members for the 2023 Legislative Advocacy Days in Annapolis on March 16, and Washington D.C. on March 29, to advocate for United Methodist legislative priorities. Learn more.

Conversations with the Bishop: On March 25, at the BWC Mission Center in Fulton, Bishop Easterling will meet with local pastors at 10 a.m., Deacons at 1 p.m., and clergy serving beyond the local church at 3 p.m.

Rooted, Renew and Restore, a retreat for youth and children's ministry leaders, will be held March 24 - 25 at Wesley Freedom UMC in Sykesville. Early bird registration is open through March 10 for $100. If you want to stay overnight on Friday, there is a guaranteed room rate of $104 at the Hampton Inn in Owings Mills; the code is YWC. Learn more and register. Scholarships are available.

Discipleship Pathway: A Mastermind group is forming to help you create your church's Discipleship Pathway. The 12-month, cohort-based course is designed for churches that are ready to develop and implement an intentional discipleship pathway. If accepted, the pastor and a person in lay leadership will work together to learn Discipleship Pathway concepts and principles and discern the best way to apply them to their ministry context. The application deadline is March 24, and the program will begin the week of April 24. There is no cost to participate in this program. Space is limited to five pastor/layperson pairs. Learn more and apply now.

The BWC's Abundant Health Ministry Team has created a six-week Walk to Jerusalem Lenten Study Guide. It's not too late to begin. Learn more.

The BWC's initiative to offer charging stations for electric vehicles was recently highlighted by Religion News Service. Read the story.

Discipleship Calendar -- At a Glance
The application process closes today, Feb. 27
March 4, 10 a.m. to noon
Otterbein UMC in Hagerstown
March 4, Solomons Island Mission Center
VIM teams sought to work
March 8, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Online from Severna Park UMC with author Jacqui Lewis
March 16
Maryland State House
March 19
Support the the United Methodist Committee on Relief with a special offering
Conversations with the Bishop
March 25, BWC Mission Center in Fulton
Local pastors at 10 a.m., deacons at 1 p.m. and clergy serving beyond the local church at 3 p.m.
May 31 - June 3, Hilton Hotel, Baltimore
Registration opens soon
An online PreConference Briefing will be held April 29
Discipleship Opportunities
Unified Funding Grants application process: Baltimore-Washington Conference Congregational Development Grants help local faith communities by providing grants to launch new ministry initiatives, congregational renewal projects, leader development ministries and opportunities to reach new people. The application period closes on April 1. Learn more.

World Day of Prayer: St. Matthews UMC in Bowie will observe the World Day of Prayer, Friday, March 3, at 1 p.m. This year, they will join people worldwide in lifting up prayers for women living in Taiwan. The service will be live-streamed on Facebook and available for viewing later that day.

Save the Date: The United Women in Faith and missions leaders from the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Conferences will hold Mission u on July 22 at Community UMC in Crofton. The theme is “Living the Kin-dom: Exploring the Lord’s Prayer as Spiritual Practice for Social Transformation.” Studies will be available for youth and adults. For more information, contact the dean, Denise Snyder.

Church histories sought: To celebrate Heritage Sunday on May 21, the General Commission on Archives and History asks local churches to submit their church histories for consideration to be one of a dozen highlighted on the agency website, social media channels, and Heritage Sunday resources. Church histories may be submitted in various formats, including written, video, audio, timeline, or other creative forms. Send all submissions to aboggan@gcah.org and type “Local Church History” in the subject line. Submissions are due March 1.

Non-Anxious Leadership Course: A four-session course on being a non-anxious leader will be offered from March 6 through April 2. The registration deadline is March 1. The course, offered by The Center for Vital Leadership, is free to lay and clergy members of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Conferences. Get more information and register. In addition, information on this topic can be found in Rev. Jack Shitama's blog, The Non-Anxious Leader.

IDEA Internships: The Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Conferences offer several summer internships to college students seeking to work in the areas of inclusion, diversity, equity and anti-racism. Interns will be able to engage in direct social justice action, learn from social justice experts, and connect with United Methodist advocates. These internships run from June 5 - July 28. The stipend is $2,500. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis from Feb. 20 to March 31. Learn more and apply.
Sign up now to join Bishop LaTrelle Easterling on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Jan. 29 - Feb. 7, 2024. This sacred journey to Israel and the West Bank will be hosted by the Society for Biblical Studies and costs $3,439. The theme of the trip is, "The Land of Jesus: Then and Now." Learn more and register.
Submissions?
Melissa Lauber, Director of Communications
11711 East Market Place, Fulton, MD 20759
 410.309.3455  |  mlauber@bwcumc.org