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At the session, Bishop Easterling was reassigned to serve as the episcopal leader of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Conferences. See the story.

At the NEJ Session, members from throughout the BWC hosted the faith-filled session, which included the election of Bishop Hector Burgos. See the story.

The Rev. Dr. Yvonne Mercer-Staten, a retired Elder in the BWC, died Oct. 30. Services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 19, at Eastern UMC, at 5315 Harford Road in Baltimore. The celebration of life will begin at 10 a.m. with a family hour and continue with a homegoing service at 11 a.m. Guests are requested to wear masks. Clergy in the procession are asked to wear white robes and red stoles. Interment will be at 1:30 pm at Woodlawn Cemetery in Baltimore.

We welcome Elijah Ferebee as the new Campus Ministry Coordinator for the United Methodist Terp Hub at the University of Maryland in College Park. Elijah follows Cristin Cooper, who led the Terp Hub with creativity and passion from 2019 until this past September.

Even as the war continues in Ukraine, our United Methodist partners in Russia continue in ministry. Learn more about their ongoing mission and how God is at work in season and out.

A mega-block at Hanwa Primary School in Zimbabwe, with six classrooms, a computer lab, and a library equipped with 28 Samsung Galaxy tablets was dedicated on Oct. 18. The project was made possible by the labor and financial support of the VIM-ZIM team from Community UMC in Crofton.

Asbury UMC in Jessup took on a Halloween spirit on Oct. 30 with their "Boolievers Sunday." More than 30 youth and young adults attended the service with the Rev. Gay Carden as the scarecrow preacher. The service centered on how no matter what costumes one wears on the outside, being a believer begins in the heart.

3 to 7 p.m. All items must be new or gently used. Share the details on how to give: download the flyer.

See a video about this mission opportunity.

Heath, who served as a professor for 11 years, lives with her spouse at Spring Forest, a new monastic community in rural North Carolina, where along with friends they tend a forest and small farm. Spring Forest supports refugee resettlement through sponsorships and an ESL program. They also donate fresh produce to area food banks and host a range of spiritual formation ministries, children's programs, and more. She currently serves as Abbess for their gathered and dispersed community. Register for the webinar.

On Nov. 29, Training Tuesday will focus on the fourth pillar of vitality: Multiply Your Impact: Measure What Matters. Using simple tools to measure progress, and reflect on opportunities for improvement, participants will leave with a framework for applying the ideas shared within their own contexts. Presenter: Naomi Annandale is the Executive Director of Research and Strategic Evaluation Stakeholder Relationships of the denomination’s Discipleship Ministries.  Register.

The "Intent to Apply" deadline for the BWC's three vitality pathways is Nov. 15. Do you want to see your congregation become more vital? Do you know what that looks like or how to get from where you are to a place of vitality? You are invited to submit your intent to apply for one of the three Vitality Pathways. See the intent to apply form.

Meeting with rural pastors: Bishop LaTrelle Easterling will meet for a conversation with pastors who serve in rural settings on Dec. 3 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Otterbein UMC in Hagerstown.

The 2024 United Methodist General Conference will be held April 23 – May 3, 2024, at Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Delegates from Africa, Europe, Asia and the U.S. will attend the 11-day gathering.

The United Campus Ministries at Frostburg State University invites you to a time of fellowship and devotion as they celebrate 45 years of ecumenical campus ministry, and welcome the Rev. Trey Daniel, the university’s Protestant chaplain, on Nov. 10 at 1 p.m., at Frostburg UMC. RSVP today.

The BWC’s Deaf Shalom Zone is seeking individuals or small groups to support food ministries at Christ Deaf Church. For more information, contact Kathi Jeffra.

A free Community Health Fair will be held at Glen Mar UMC in Ellicott City on Saturday, Nov. 12, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be free COVID booster shots for 5-year-olds and up; annual flu shots for 6-month-olds and up; health screening; vision and hearing screenings and more. Register and learn more.

Wesley Grove UMC in Gaithersburg will hold its annual Holly Days Craft Bazaar and luncheon on Nov.12 from 9 to 3 p.m. with 25 crafters and more.

Taylorsville UMC will host a Christmas bazaar and fried oyster luncheon on Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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

See the church classified ads, now online.