District News

CM District Announcements, Events and Resources ~ April 21, 2022

Posted by Sophie Amer on


ANNOUNCEMENTS

Spring 2022 Hybrid 50+ Resource Fair
Winter Grace Senior Ministries, Inc. is hosting a Spring 2022 Hybrid 50+ Resource Fair from April 21-May 5 (virtual April 21-May 4) and in-person at Mt. Zion UMC in Highland, May 5, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Visit www.resourcefair.wintergrace.org.


April 23 (9am) -- Stay or Go: Real Talk for United Methodists Exploring Their Future
What will ministry for our local churches look like in the coming years, as the dust settles from our discussions and decisions regarding denominational separation? What will stay the same and what will change about ministry in the continuing UMC? What is the WCA’s vision for the Global Methodist Church? How will the logistics of each impact local churches and individuals?  Join us for this discussion with panelists from UMNext and the Wesleyan Covenant Association as they answer your questions about their visions for ministry after separation. Attendees are invited to submit questions to  , and topics will be selected based upon those submissions. This webinar will be recorded for later viewing. This session will not address the process for disaffiliation or the history of how the UMC arrived at this point.  For resources on those topics, please contact your District Superintendent. Registration is required, sign-up here: https://bwcumc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_onJr6Fj3QQuYDXH8-2iiMQ 

April 27 -- National Administrative Professional Day
Thank you to all our Church Administrators for all that you do -- seen and unseen -- to ensure the church office runs smoothly and district deadlines are met!  We appreciate you!    



Artist Creates Unique Version of the Stations of the Cross
This Easter, Wade Forbes of St. Paul's UMC in Sykesville deepened his profoundly personal exploration of the Stations of the Cross. See his story.

 

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 Organist/Choir Accompanist
St. Paul’s UMC in Sykesville (7538 Main St) seeks an Organist/Choir Accompanist responsible for providing the service music for worship at 11am on Sunday mornings, accompanying the choir in rehearsal each Wednesday night, and providing service music and accompaniment during special, seasonal worship services (e.g. Lenten/Easter, Advent/Christmas). The salary is negotiable and commensurate with experience. The full posting is available at https://stpaulssykesville.com/organist-accompanist-position/. Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to .

EventS

APRIL EVENTS
April 25 (9am) -- Seeds of Security Golf Tournament
The Seeds of Security Annual Golf Tournament, which raises funds to assist victims of domestic violence,  will be held Monday, April 25, at 9 a.m. at Hobbit’s Glen Golf Course at 11130 Willow Bottom Drive, in Columbia. Register as a single player or as a team.   Learn more and sign-up.

April 25-27 -- Virtual Ecumenical Advocacy Days
This year’s theme is “Fierce Urgency: Advancing Civil and Human Rights," based on a quote from Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. “We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late.” See the schedule and register. For more information and to connect with other United Methodists, contact Rev. Neal Christie. 

April 26 -- Clergy Responding to Unimaginable Times
A program to support clergy, will be held at Grace UMC in Baltimore on April 26 and May 10. This event is sponsored by Inspirit Counseling Service, the cost is $60. Learn more.

April 26 (7-9pm) -- The “Let’s Talk About _____”
These tours symbolically opens the doors of the churches of the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church for conversation and fellowship for young adults. Join the gatherings of young adults from 7 to 9 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

  • Tuesday, April 26, (Frederick District) at Cacique Restaurant in Frederick
  • Saturday, May 21, (for all young adults across the conference) at Old Otterbein UMC, 5 p.m. dinner followed by a Baltimore Orioles game at 7 p.m.

Learn more. RSVP to Neal Christie by April 22 for tickets. 

April 30 (9am, online) -- Pre-Conference Briefing
A briefing for the June 1-3, 2022,  Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference session will be held online April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon.  See the resolutions being considered.  See the proposed 2023 budget and other stewardship information.  Get Zoom details here -- https://www.bwcumc.org/event/4010119-2022-04-30-pre-conference-briefing-session/ 

April 30 (7:30pm) -- Street Requiem
The Arundel Vocal Arts Society will perform a Street Requiem, for those who have died on the streets, on Saturday, April 30, at 7:30 p.m. at Calvary UMC in Annapolis and on Sunday, May 1 at 3 p.m., at Linden Linthicum UMC. Proceeds from the tickets will be donated to The Light House and Arundel House of Hope. Tickets for this concert, which will include conversations, interviews, works of spoken word and song, are on sale now. Learn more.


MAY EVENTS

May 1 -- Native American Ministries Sunday
When you give generously on Native American Ministries Sunday, you equip seminary students who honor and celebrate Native American culture in their ministries.  Order offering envelopes.

May 1-6 -- Pilgrimage Week
You're invited to explore some BWC historic sites virtually, May 1-6, and in-person on May 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Print out a passport and visit sites like Old Otterbein UMC, Lovely Lane Museum, Cokesbury College, Sharp Street Memorial and more to learn about the roots of Methodism. Volunteer docents or staff will be available at most sites. Self-guided experiences will be available at the Bishop's Lot at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. See more about BWC pilgrimages and how you can participate. For questions, please contact

May 10 (12:15pm) -- Monthly Clergy Gathering via Zoom
The Zoom link will be emailed to clergy.

May 21 (11am) -- Health Fair Hosted by Glen Mar UMC
A free community health fair will be held at Glen Mar UMC in Ellicott City (4701 New Cut Rd, Ellicott City). There will be school children’s immunizations (K through 12); COVID vaccinations (5 and older); vision checks; health screenings; and more. Learn more.

 
JUNE EVENTS

June 1-3 -- 238th Session of Baltimore-Washington Conference (Virtual)
Registration is open for the 238th Session of BWC. Click here to register. Clergy and lay members will meet virtually June 1-3 for this time of holy conferencing. There will be no registration fee this year. The conference will also be live-streamed for non-voting members who wish to watch the plenary sessions and worship services. The theme of this year’s session is “Persevere: in Hope, Faith & Joy” and the guiding Scripture passage is Hebrews 12:1-3.  Six resolutions and the proposed budget for Annual Conference can be found here -- https://www.bwcumc.org/events/2022-annual-conference/.  

June 12 -- Peace with Justice Sunday
Peace With Justice Sunday (first Sunday after Pentecost) enables The United Methodist Church to have a voice in advocating for peace and justice through a broad spectrum of global programs.  Order offering envelopes.

June 30 (Deadline)  -- Fund Balance Report
This form must be completed through Arena by the Chairperson of the Finance Committee, Treasurer, or Pastor by June 30, 2022.  We did not include this report with Charge Conference material so that it could cover the fiscal year of January 1 – December 31.  If you need further assistance, contact your district office.   Visit the Finance resource webpage for additional information -- https://www.bwcumc.org/administration/finance/forms-and-reports/ 

RESOURCES
 

Re-entering Well Resources 
A number of resources are available to assist local churches with re-entry — https://www.bwcumc.org/article/re-entering-well/ 

Copyright questions?
UMC Support Legal Services offers a Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Copyrights for Your Ministry. See the guide.

COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), an UMCOR partner, is dedicated to helping ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the virus. Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 -related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. For more information about this assistance, visit COVID-19 Funeral Assistance | FEMA.gov or call (844) 684-6333. Get answers to frequently asked questions about the application process on FEMA’s Funeral Assistance FAQ page. Watch the video, Providing Financial Assistance for COVID-19-related Funeral Expenses or share this flyer.

Are You Being Called to Become a Certified Lay Minister?
New Certified Lay Minister Class Applications are now being accepted -- Applications for the next class of Certified Lay Minister, the Baltimore-Washington Conference Class of 2022-2024, are now being accepted. Go to the BWC website at https://www.bwcumc.org/ministries/certified-lay-ministers/ to learn more and see if you qualify and if you have met the pre-requisite requirements. Prospective CLM students must currently be a Certified Lay Servant or Certified Lay Speaker and must consult with their pastor before beginning the process. Additional information and frequently asked questions can be found on the website. Questions can be directed to Linda Flanagan, Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministries, at .
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General Board of Higher Education Ministry Scholarships
The General Board of Higher Education scholarship application opens in January of each year. College students in the Baltimore Washington Conference are encouraged to apply for these scholarships. You can only submit one application per year where it will be screened for all possible eligible programs. You may indicate on the first page of the scholarship application which of the below listed programs you would most like to be considered for. Award amounts below are a general estimate of awards given. Scholarship programs are divided into three categories: General Scholarships, Racial-Ethnic Scholarships, and Ministry as a Career Scholarships.

#BeUMC Toolkit for Local Churches 
A new #BeUMC online toolkit has launched to assist church leaders in creating engagement in their church communities. Resources include inspiring ideas and practical suggestions, worship and preaching aids, communication tools, informative research and more. The campaign focuses on disciple-making; belonging and inclusion; influence, connection and impact; and experiencing God through the UMC. Churches may access tools and details at Resource UMC.org/BeUMC. 

Elinor Thompson/ African American Cemetery Funding
Elinor Thompson works with the State of Maryland and wants to notify the BWC and its African American churches about grant funding that is available to African American cemeteries. She also wants to notify us that there is legislation coming up this session that will provide an additional $5 million for African American cemeteries in Maryland and wants our assistance with a survey they’re conducting.  View the survey. Ms. Thompson has worked closely with Sharp Street and Lovely Lane in the past.

Free COVID At Home Tests
If you haven't already ordered your free at home COVID tests from the government, visit https://www.covidtests.gov/.

Advocacy and Action, 2022 Mission Statement
Read the Advocacy and Action Mission Statement for the 2022 New Year, which outlines what we must do to continue our great work as Disciples of Jesus Christ, as well as ways for you to get involved in our work this year.

Training Tuesdays Archive – Learn at Your Own Pace
Training Tuesdays is an online training experience designed to inspire and equip local church leaders to connect more people with Jesus. Learn from experts from across the United Methodist denomination and come away with strategies to help you in your ministry work and to help your local church thrive.  Learn at your own pace and use the recordings for leadership training, on-boarding, and ministry development.
• Visit and bookmark the Training Tuesdays webpage to see what’s planned for 2022 -- https://www.bwcumc.org/events/training-tuesdays/
• Peruse the Training Tuesdays’ playlist, choose from 41 recordings -- https://tinyurl.com/ycybyt6h
• Replay the December SPRC webinar
• Next week, play-back the One Board presentation, the recording will be posted on the Training Tuesday webpage

Unified Funding Task Force
The UFT can assist congregations with grants for new ministry, new or renewed congregation development, and leader development. Visit the UFT webpage to learn what grants are available and how to apply -- https://www.bwcumc.org/administration/local-church-resources/unified-funding-task-force/

Serve as a Vaccine Location
The Maryland Governor's Vaccine Equity Task Force and the Maryland Department of Health are seeking help from communities of faith to ensure vaccine access to all people. Chaplain (Capt.) Amor Woolsey, of the Vaccine Equity Task Force, invites churches to offer up a space in their buildings for clinics to ensure those who want a vaccine can get one. The state will provide all three vaccines, including boosters; they also have pediatric vaccines available for those ages 5-11. For more information, contact Chaplain Woolsey at 808-218-3115 or

Subscribe to the E-Connection
Stay connected and subscribe to the BWC weekly newsletter -- https://www.bwcumc.org/news/submit-and-subscribe/

Free Downloads from Discipleship Ministries-Crash Course in Youth Ministry!
Congregations will want to look at the new Crash Courses in Youth Ministry. Each is loaded with practical tips and basic wisdom that you can read today and put into practice tomorrow. If you are a part-time or no-time (amazing volunteer!) youth worker, these crash courses are especially for you. Also, if you are a pastoral leader and find yourself leading youth ministry for the first time in a while, these crash courses are excellent refreshers and guides to help you recognize how the game has changed. Each Crash Courses in Youth Ministry eBook is between 3,000-6,000 words, meaning that you should be able to read and process the resource in just an hour or two. Each topic is approached with accessibility for the youth workers in mind, no matter if they are paid or volunteer. The materials are topically focused, and where possible includes a good dose of humor.  These eBooks are free to download. Just click the link and provide contact information so that Discipleship Ministries can continue to share resources and opportunities to support the youth ministry that you are called to lead. Topics include Recruiting Volunteers, Keeping Volunteers, Fundraising, Methodist Heritage and Beliefs, Trips and Retreats, and more.  Questions on how to use these resources? Contact Rev. Neal Christie at 

Zimbabwe Mission & Ministry Grants
The Baltimore-Washington Conference started its partnership and ZimVIM in 1997. With natural disasters and COVID-19 interrupting the Pastor’s School rhythm, we have re-directed the mission share allocation toward disaster response and now toward local congregation grants. If your local church has a record of building relationships, mission and ministry in Zimbabwe, then you are eligible to apply. Visit the Zimbabwe Global Partnership for more details.

Bible Study for Dementia Caregivers and Fellow Church Members
This Bible study written for dementia caregivers and their fellow church members is presented by author Elizabeth Shulman, D.Min., and Certified Nursing Assistant with over 30 years of experience in both parish and healthcare ministry. This study has been endorsed by retired United Methodist Bishop Kenneth Carder and recently listed as a #1 New Release on Amazon, Finding Sanctuary in the Midst of Alzheimer's (Morgan James Publishing, 2021) provides a valuable tool for churches seeking to provide support to caregivers in their congregations.  Finding Sanctuary in the Midst of Alzheimer's: A Spiritual Guide for Families Facing Dementia: Shulman, Elizabeth: 9781631954634: Amazon.com: Books

Sickle Cell Awareness 
Sickle Cell affects more than 100,000 Americans, most of African ancestry. Project SPIRIT Sickle Cell (PSSC) is a new, virtual community-based ministry founded by Rev. R. Lorraine Brown of Simpson UMC in Mt. Airy. The ministry offers one-on-one and group, non-denominational chaplain-led services at no cost to assist and support young adults who are in transition from pediatric to adult healthcare, discovering their personal sense of spirituality and navigating life challenges with sickle cell disease. For more information contact Rev. Brown   at 240-780-8986 and visit https://youtu.be/jDJ2qq4UK-Q

Creating a Narrative Budget:  The Story Behind the Numbers
The Wellness & Missions Board is pleased to share Discipleship Ministries' launch of a new self-paced course for local church leaders: Creating a Narrative Budget:  The Story Behind the Numbers. Through eight self-paced sessions, participants will learn the nuts and bolts of constructing a narrative budget. Visit the registration page for more information.  

Access the Church's Stats via Arena
Statistical data submitted via EZRA, the data collection system of the United Methodist Church, can now be viewed in Arena. And, Arena users can view 2017-2020 reports for their church if they serve in one or more of the following roles:
• Chair or President of a local church, district or conference committee 
• Church Pastor
• Church Administrator 

100 Man Mission to Support the NEJ United Methodist Men
Men’s Ministry Specialists will lead this effort and be supported by Conference Men who have a love for God and their fellow men. To do this 100 GENEROUS Men are needed to pledge to the NEJ, fifty cents per day, or $15.00 a month for 12 months, or a total of $180.00 per year. These men pledge to send their contribution MONTHLY to their UMM conference treasurer, who will forward one-half of these funds to the Northeastern Jurisdiction Treasurer, Mr. John Conklin. The conference will retain the other half for their expenses and to purchase education materials to support the NEJ efforts. Learn more here -- https://www.bwcumm.org/100man-prayerwalk

We Rise United Bi-Weekly Prayer Call
We all must look to God for help, guidance, and support during this time and as we journey forward towards reaching the goal of being an antiracist Church, let's lift our voices and be heard so that together, We Rise United. To join the prayer call and for more information, visit https://www.bwcumc.org/event/1946656-2021-02-03-we-rise-united-prayer-call/. The prayer call is held the first and third Wednesday every month until December 21, 2022.

Prayer in a Time of National Crisis
In this prayer from The United Methodist Church's Book of Worship, 517, we seek God's direction and enlightenment for our nation as it experiences turmoil and conflict. Take a moment to say and reflect upon the prayer, and then share it with your congregation -- https://www.umc.org/en/content/prayer-in-time-of-national-crisis?utm_source=thesource&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=resourceumc&utm_content=01/26/21paid 

 New Certified Lay Minister
Class applications are now being accepted: Applications for the next class of Certified Lay Ministers, the Baltimore-Washington Conference Class of 2021-2023, are now being accepted. Visit the BWC website to learn more about the pre-requisite requirements. (Click "Learn More" under "Certified Lay Minister" for information and application package, as well as a pastor information package.) Prospective CLM students must currently be a Certified Lay Servant or Certified Lay Speaker. The application process includes meeting with one's pastor, church Staff-Parish Relations Committee, and the district superintendent before the July 1 deadline. The next class will start in September and is a two-year commitment. Questions can be directed to Linda Flanagan ( ), the Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministries. 

 Who Are We?  
This is an 18-week small group journey from head to heart explores our identity as children of God, United Methodists, and the people of the Baltimore-Washington Conference. This study is an outstanding resource for churches seeking to grow deeper in their understanding of identity, faith, and discipleship. See the Study and begin your  exploration of "Who Are We?" -- https://www.bwcumc.org/resources/who-are-we/ 

  Improving Your Church's Web Presence 
  Sometimes we're overwhelmed by all that's involved in (re)building or maintaining a church website. Because a site requires a mix of time and skills, it's hard to know
  where  to begin. In part one of three screencast sessions, you'll learn how to improve your web presence by identifying the ministry needs and the multiple audiences
  served by your church's website. Take the first step -- https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/improving-your-churchs-web-presence-part-1 

BWC News
Find current BWC news and share your stories at https://www.bwcumc.org/news/ 

Church Resources
Where do you go to get a grant or loan for your church? There are resources to help you and your church. Visit https://www.bwcumc.org/administration/local-church-resources/ 

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