As pastor of Fallston UMC, the Rev. Karin Walker, like many pastors in the BWC, have been responding to people caught in the opioid epidemic. Recently, she issued a letter to the first responders in the community who are the front lines of addressing the pain and tragedy that can accompany...
By Chris Schlieckert* Two campers practice canoe safety in the pool at Manidokan Camp and Retreat Center before hitting the river. I have been to approximately 150 weeks of summer camp as a staff person. I have been a dishwasher, a lifeguard, a counselor, a wilderness guide, an...
By Terri Cofiell* Photography is my thing. Or at least it became my thing. Back in Junior High, I wrote “camera” on my Christmas list, expecting a plastic Instamatic with rotating flashcubes. Instead, I received a 35mm aperture-priority Yashica; in my father’s words “a...
By Jerry Wicklein* Light thinks it travels faster than anything, but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it. –Terry Pratchett, Reaper Man. And this is the way it all begins: God said, “Let there...
Ancient church mothers and fathers often greeted one another with the phrase, “Give me a word.” This greeting led to the sharing of insights and wisdom. Today we continue this tradition with this monthly column. Excel By Mandy SayersLead Pastor, Glen Mar UMC, Ellicott...
By Tim Warner* Editor’s Note: This summer, tears mixed with the baptismal water as the Rev. Tim Warner began to understand hope in new ways. As one of the founders of the BWC’s Camp Hope, he celebrated the 13th year of this weeklong gathering at West River of children whose parents...
“So why do the church thing?” It’s an interesting question and Ben Trawick, the online campus pastor for FaithPoint UMC in Urbana, offers interesting answers. Among them: “We are an Easter people and alleluia is our song.” See and share this video homily from...
By Dottie Yunger* Around Ash Wednesday, a pastor’s thoughts naturally turn to spotted turtles. Wait. What? Rev. Dottie Yunger introduces a baby turtle to water and the turtle introduces her to wonder. As I prepared for Lent this year, those preparations included ashes for...
By Rev. Dr. Ianther Marie Mills Editor’s note: This article reprinted by permission from “By Faith Magazine,” May/ June 2018 issue. By Faith is a magazine celebrating the gifts and ministry of Black United Methodist churches. The article here was written by Mills as part of...
By Erik AlsgaardUMConnection Staff Which came first: John Wesley’s conversion experience (“I felt my heart strangely warmed…”), or that of his brother, Charles Wesley?* Knowing the answer to this question was just one of the fun facts I learned during a 10-day Wesley...
