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The Rev. Lyle E. Harper, a retired pastor in the Baltimore-Washington Conference, died July 20. Rev. Harper served nine churches in the Baltimore-Washington Conference and as the district superintendent of the Washington Central District from 1984-1990. Condolences may be sent to his wife, Mrs. Dottie Harper, at 3455 San Pablo Road, S., #105, Jacksonville, FL 32224.

Rev. Mildred (Millie) Martin, a retired Elder with the Baltimore-Washington Conference, died Aug. 15, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Her memorial will be held Saturday, Sept. 24, at 11 a.m., at Asbury UMC, 110 W North Street in Charles Town, W.Va.

We continue to mourn the death of Sandy Ferguson, the former Director of Connectional Ministries for the Baltimore-Washington Conference, who passed away over the weekend. Details of the memorial service have not yet been finalized. Condolences can be sent to Sharon Ferguson, her daughter, who serves as the Conference receptionist.

Bishop Mark J. Webb, resident bishop of the Upper New York Area, announced last week that he will retire from the active episcopacy on Dec. 31, 2022. See his retirement letter.

In the midst of ongoing challenges related to COVID-19 and church disaffiliations, the Council of Bishops will meet Aug. 22-26 to discuss the future of The United Methodist Church, prepare for new bishops to be elected later this year, and address other timely topics related to its ongoing work. The bishops' meeting will be live-streamed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today and on Aug. 26 on the Council of Bishops Facebook page.

We pray for those youth who participated in Camp Joy. For more than 30 years, youth groups from the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Conferences have been serving in the Appalachian region of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, providing home repair to those who do not have the means to take on the repairs themselves. This year, 13 teams served on 35 different work sites. See the story.

Training Tuesdays, a webinar series that draws on experts to assist local church leaders, will focus on growing in vitality this Fall. See a story on this important resource. Learn more about the Pillars of Vitality. The first gatherings this fall include:

Find financial well-being; The Rev. Cary James, pastor of Jones Memorial UMC, will be one of the panelists in a Discipleship Ministries conversation on Saving Grace: A Guide to Financial Well-Being on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at 7:30 p.m. Saving Grace is a Wesleyan study resource to help people better manage their personal financial resources and find the peace that comes with being in control of ones finances. Learn more and register.

Journey to Beloved Community is an eight-session online course that focuses on six actions you and community partners can take to create inclusive spaces of belonging and becoming. An orientation will be held Thursday, Sept. 15. The classes run Thursday evenings from Sept. 22 to Oct. 27, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Registration closes Sept. 12. Learn more. Register.

It's Your Story to Tell: Storytelling for Advocacy Training is a special event led by SPACEs in Action. It takes place Saturday, Sept. 24, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the BWC Mission Center and online. Through storytelling, participants will be guided to articulate what they value and then connect their problems or issues into bold solutions and actions. See a promotional video. Learn more and register.

Health Fair: First UMC in Hyattsville will host the 12th Annual Hyattsville Community Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, Sept. 10, from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. Learn more.

Ending Domestic Violence: Join the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence and the Baltimore-Washington Conference to learn about how you and your congregation can engage in legislative advocacy that addresses domestic and intimate partner violence in a webinar on Tuesday, Sept. 20, from noon to 1 p.m. Moderated by the Rev. Neal Christie, the presenter will be Melanie Shapiro, Public Policy Director at Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence. Register.

Calling all singers: Lovely Lane UMC in Baltimore will hold a Choral Festival on Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. to celebrate its 250th Anniversary. They are seeking 200 choristers. There will be two rehearsals; the first at Colesville UMC on Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; the second on Nov. 5 at Lovely Lane UMC. The cost for music is $30. Singers may register by sending the following information to the church (lovelylane.bcs@gmail.com) by Aug. 29: name, email, phone number, postal address and vocal part. For more information, see a letter from Rev. Deb. Scott.

Deaf Awareness: The denomination’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ministries Committee invites you to observe International Deaf Awareness Week, Sept. 19-25. The committee is offering $500 microgrants to churches to promote and celebrate Deaf awareness. Applications are due Aug. 25. Learn more.

Accessibility Conversations: The BWC's Commission on Disability Concerns will hold three "Accessibility Conversations" this fall. The committee seeks to support churches and ministries to become accessible and inclusive for persons with disabilities (differing abilities) in the church or ministry setting. The webinar meets on the first Friday of the month at 11 a.m. Topics include: in September, suicide prevention; in October, National Disability Awareness; and in November, best practices for disability. Register.

Justice for our Children: Healing for Our Communities: The BWC Committee on Native American Ministries invites United Methodists to observe a special time of prayer and action from Sept. 30 to Oct. 6, as they remember the atrocities perpetrated on tribal children when they were taken from their families and placed in boarding schools. Learn more.

See the four pillars of church vitality.

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