| Blankets for Mother Teresas babies CHEVY CHASE Each of the 16 girls in Girl Scout Troop 141, which meets at Chevy Chase UMC, made a small quilt, which they took to the Mother Teresa Home for Infants.  Mother Teresa, who died five years ago, established two homes for babies who are to be given up for adoption.
While awaiting their new families, the babies stay at the Mother Teresa Home for up to four months. Nuns, wearing the characteristic white-with-blue-border habits of the order begun by Mother Teresa, told the girls to wash their hands and they could hold the four babies awaiting adoption. They couldnt get their hands washed fast enough, said Susan Denchfield, a mother who accompanied the Scouts. Each girl sent a note with the quilt to the baby and its new family. Churches open doors to secular music BALTIMORE St. Johns of Hamilton UMC is one of an increasing number of churches that open their sanctuaries to non-religious music groups. Joanne Juskus, a folk singer from Columbia, performs regularly at the church, as does a group called The Cellar Stage. We have a general emphasis here at St. Johns on the arts, said the Rev. Howard Nash, who hopes to expand the churchs artistic scope. We have a dream ultimately of having some artists actually in residence here, he said. Another church expanding its community music ministry is Rockland UMC in Ellicott City. Rockland has booked several groups such as The Junkyard Saints, who played zydeco tunes at the grand opening of the churchs amphitheater in June. Were hoping to do things that appeal (to people) on a broad range, not just Christian music, said Buddy Oliver, Rocklands music director. If we can bring people here in that atmosphere, maybe theyll come back on Sunday, he told the Baltimore Sun. Running for election  CHESAPEAKE BEACH Someone once said that all politics are local. The Rev. Joan Jones, a student pastor at St. Edmonds UMC, is putting that saying to the test. Before entering seminary and beginning her pastorate, she retired from the Calvert County schools after 30 years, mostly teaching at Huntingtown Elementary School. She is now one of two candidates running for the Calvert County Board of Education at-large seats. Pastoring and teaching are two areas where you get to work with people of all different areas, genders, races and classes, said the Calvert County native. I love to help (people) see that theres hope, to help them realize there is no room for hopelessness or disenchantment in their lives. Theres always room for growth, she told the Daily Times. VIM team restores Caribbean home ELLICOTT CITY Seventeen members of Glen Mar UMC spent a week in July in Andros, Bahamas, working in the home of an elderly couple. The  Volunteers in Mission team installed plumbing for a bathroom, a shower and sink in the kitchen, and shelves and ceilings throughout the three-room house. The couple had suffered significant health problems and was unable to maintain the small house on their own. Have you ever had to clean a stove with a chisel? We did, said volunteer Betsy Bucks. The group also held a Vacation Bible School for about 50 children, and worked on a church roof. A nurse on the trip did blood pressure checks and dispensed health advice. And, of course, we relaxed in the clear blue Caribbean, Bucks said. | 
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