AN District News.....UMC Buzz...... March 29, 2018
Prayers of the People
This week, members of the 628 churches of the Baltimore-Washington Conference will join together with Christians throughout history and around the world to journey into Holy Week. Together, people of faith will celebrate a Last Supper, bear witness to Jesus' death on a cross, and celebrate his resurrection. We pray the journey to the cross, and the empty tomb beyond it, will be a meaningful one for you and the people of your church and community. Christ is risen! Hallelujah!
Last week, gunfire rang out at Great Mills High School in St. Mary's County. Jaelynn Wiley, 16, was shot and died from her wounds. Desmond Barnes, 14, a member of St. Luke UMC in Scotland, was shot in the leg. Austin Wyatt Rollins, 17, was the shooter and died during the incident. We pray for all the students and their families whose lives have been touched by this violence. And, we pray for the thousands of youth who turned out Saturday for the March for Our Lives in Washington, D.C., and 800+ other sites.
We continue to pray for Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, the BWC Cabinet, and pastors and churches receiving news of new appointments this time of year. See a list of new appointments here.
New This Week
Lay Servant Academy (formerly School of Christian Growth)
The classes offered may be taken by anyone: member of a congregation, local church leader, or lay servant. All class offerings except Introduction to Lay Ministries: The Basic Course may be used as a re-certification class for lay servants. The cost of $35 per course.
You may attend classes outside of your district, based on your own needs. Registration will close on April 1, 2018. Please register here today.
Annual Conference registration: As of last week, 90 percent of the rooms at the Waterfront Marriott Hotel were sold out for May 30 and 31. Members are encouraged to promptly register for annual conference and for their hotel stay. When the room block sells out, information on overflow hotels that are expected to have comparable rates will be made available. More information about the Annual Session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference is at www.bwcumc.org/events/annual-conference. Registration is not required for the April 21 Pre-Conference Briefings, which will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Jackson Chapel UMC in Frederick, and from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at St. John's United Church at the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center in Columbia.
Volunteers are being sought to work at this year's Annual Conference Session, which will be held May 30 - June 1 at the Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore. Volunteer opportunities include:
- Highlighters - offer radical hospitality and respond questions at the hotel. Training is available. Contact Julia Maxwell on 202-726-0536 or email ,
- Pages & Tellers help with voting and other proceedings. Contact Lillie Skinner at 301-782-4579 or email ,
- Ushers & Marshals - assist attendees entering and seating for the sessions and ensuring order. Contact Yvonne Mercer-Staten at 202-882-2122 or email ,
- The Prayer Room - the United Methodist Men's prayer center; Contact Bryon Gould at
443-858-1308 or email
Nominate your hero: United Methodist Communications is launching #amazingUMCheroes, a campaign featuring United Methodists who are doing extraordinary things -- either as difference makers in the community or through courageous or selfless acts. To make a nomination, send a few sentences about your #amazingUMChero, or the link to pre-published content, to .
Continuing Highlights
Conversations on the Way Forward: Registration will open for "Inclusive Conversations for a Way Forward," sponsored by the Baltimore-Washington Area Reconciling United Methodists (BWARM) and the Baltimore-Washington Chapter of Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA). The event, on Saturday, April 28, at the Southern High School in the afternoon. Please look out for that.
Come, let us rebuild together: Mission trips are rolling out of the Baltimore-Washington Conference and there is room for you on one of them. We are sending out and leading United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) teams, both near and far, to help respond to disaster. Check out our Mission page where you can see some of the mission trips that are planned and sign up to join one. Trips are planned to Texas, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Florida, and Louisiana. You will find trips from one day to one week; trips for youth and adults; trips that include construction, re-building and yard work; and trips where you will assemble flood buckets, including health, layette, and school kits. Space is limited on each trip so register soon.
Awards and Peace with Justice Grants
From now until April 30, the Baltimore-Washington Conference is accepting applications and nominations for five awards that will be given at annual conference plus the Peace with Justice grants. Nominate individuals who you believe exemplify the nature of the award and /or apply on behalf of your congregation for one of two awards that are designed to recognize and encourage congregations in the areas of Abundant Health and Advocacy and Action. The Peace with Justice grants and congregational awards include money to support ministry. Learn more:
http://www.bwcumc.org/ministries/grants-and-awards/
JOIN US TO CELEBRATE THE RESURRECTION
EASTER SUNDAY: 04-01-18
ASBURY TOWN NECK UMC
429 ASBURY DRIVE, SEVERNA PARK, MD
SUNRISE SERVICE: 6:45am & Breakfast
Musical Telling the Easter Story through Song, Traditional Favorites & Contemporary Flare
Other Featured Artists: Ron Ward Jr., Craig Dobson, Marquan Lowe, Gordon Cager, Brittany Lilley, Maya Lilley, and Lewis Day
Rev. James Bishop
9AM EASTER SERVICE/ COMMUNION