Discipleship Opportunities

The Baltimore-Washington Conference offers a number of opportunities for learning and growing in faith and discipleship. Scroll down this list of some of the offerings to put your faith into action.

    • Monthly Prayer Breakfast: The Maryland Christian Chamber of Commerce (MDCCC) is seeking church partners across Maryland to host a monthly prayer breakfast that brings together church and marketplace leaders for prayer, fellowship, and encouragement. Gatherings will take place on the first Tuesday of each month from 7:00–9:00 a.m., with a different church hosting each month. MDCCC will provide food and beverages, receive an offering for the host church, and provide a speaker. The host church may also invite a business owner or marketplace leader from its congregation to share for approximately 15 minutes, and church members are warmly welcome to attend. Churches interested in hosting a month are invited to contact Rev. Eunjoung Joo to explore the opportunity and coordinate the program.

    • Monthly yard sales: Monthly yard sales will begin on Saturday April 4, 8am-2pm and the first Saturday of each month through October at Liberty Grove UMC.  No registration is required. Bring a table and set up as early as 7am.

      •  Certified Advocate Development Program: The General Board of Church and Society is launching a new cohort-based training to equip United Methodists for faith-based legislative and policy advocacy. This inaugural U.S. cohort runs September 3–December 3, 2026 (online), combining self-paced coursework with monthly live sessions. Graduates join a network of Certified Advocates working directly with GBCS on policy engagement. Registration closes August 21, 2026. Register here

      • Blood Drive: The Christopher Gipson Sickle Cell Moya-Moya Foundation, Macedonia United Methodist Church, and the American Red Cross are sponsoring a Blood Drive in recognition of National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Join us September 5, at Nichols Bethel UMC - 1239 Murray Road, Odenton, MD 21113 from 9 am to 2 pm. Your donation will Give the Gift of Life and you will receive the Gift of Gratitude. Eligible donors will receive a Hello Kitty Collectible item and an Amazon $20 e-gift card for supporting Sickle Cell Warriors. Eat iron-enriched foods and hydrate. Register at redcrossblood.org; sponsor code: imogipsonc; or call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767). Complete the Rapid Pass the day of the blood drive to save time.  Thank you for your donation and support.

      • Community Health & Wellness Fair: Free community health information and screenings! Join us Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville, 6201 Belcrest Rd., Hyattsville, MD 20782. Learn about cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, women’s health, behavioral health, dental health, weight loss, and more. For information: 301-927-6133 or .

      • Bus Trip to Myrtle Beach SC : St. Matthews New Life UMC is having a bus trip to Myrtle Beach SC in September 14 to 18, 2026. Roundtrip from SMNL UMC Baltimore to Myrtle Beach. 4 Nights Lodging 4 Breakfasts and 4 Dinners. Enjoy theater shows and beach walks. More information.

      • Homecoming Bazaar and Community Health & Wellness Fair: The congregation of historic Good Hope Union UMC (Silver Spring, est. 1870) invites the BWC family to its Homecoming Bazaar and Community Health & Wellness Fair, Saturday, September 19, 2026, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Celebrating 156 years under the theme “Great Is Thy Faithfulness — Celebrating 156 Years of Good Hope,” the day offers vendors, food, fellowship, and free health screenings All are welcome. 14680 Good Hope Road, Silver Spring, MD 20905.

      • Piano recital: free community piano recital at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church in Severna Park, Maryland, on Sunday, September 20, at 2 PM. The program will celebrate the breadth and diversity of American music through works by Amy Beach, Art Tatum, Mark Maarder, Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Samuel Barber, and others. A central goal of the concert is to promote diversity and inclusion by highlighting historically underrepresented American voices, including women, LGBTQ composers, African American musicians, immigrants, and composers whose contributions have not always received equal recognition within the traditional concert repertoire. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome.

      • Blood Drive: Help save lives by donating blood! Join the American Red Cross Project SPIRIT Sickle Cell and Gaithersburg Grace UMC Blood Drive on Friday, September 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church Social Hall in Gaithersburg. Schedule your appointment at RedCrossBlood.org using sponsor code GRACEUMC or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. Every donation makes a difference!

      • Affordable Housing Development on Your Church's Property webinar: Is Your Church Property a Financial Burden, or a Mission Field? Churches across denominations are exploring how underutilized property can become affordable housing while advancing their mission of serving the community. Join Sanctuary AP3, BUILD-UMC, and Georgetown University’s Affordable Housing Initiative for a free webinar, “Discernment: Listening to God’s Call to Affordable Housing Development on Your Church’s Property,” on Wednesday, September 30, at 2 pm. Designed for clergy, denominational leaders, trustees, and lay leaders, this candid conversation will feature four UMC pastors—Rev. Will Ed Green (Silver Spring UMC), Rev. Abi Foerster (Community of Faith UMC), Rev. Dr. Michael Armstrong (Colesville UMC), and Rev. Yvonne Penn (First UMC, retired)—sharing their experiences moving from curiosity to a shared vision for affordable housing and community engagement. Learn about spiritual readiness, overcoming resistance, navigating denominational systems, and the sacred work of discerning how your church can steward its property to house its neighbors. Registration is free.

      • Bible Study: Cecil Memorial UMC, 15 Parole Street, Annapolis, MD, hosts an in-person Bible study every Tuesday at 7 PM. All are encouraged to join.

      • World Communion Praise in the Park: The Charles County Hub is having a World Communion Praise in the Park on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at Gilbert Run Park starting at 11 AM. 

      • Sight & Sound Theatre - “Joshua”: Trip on October 8, 2026, Thursday, Sight and Sound Theatre, "Joshua" Benefit Sollers UMC, 1219 Wrighton Road, Lothian, MD 20711, Cost $195.00 per person contact person Earlene McClain

      • 200th anniversary: Wesleyan Chapel UMC in Aberdeen will be celebrating its 200th anniversary on October 18th, 2026.

      • Winter Fair: Join us for Emory UMC's 1st Annual Winter Fair on Saturday, November 7, from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. at 911 Cherry Hill Rd., Street, MD 21154. Enjoy shopping, games, food, kids' crafts, baked goodies, hot cocoa, music, fellowship, and photos with Santa (pets welcome, too!). Rain or shine. Interested in being a vendor? Email for more information. Everyone is welcome!

      • Do No Harm virtual conference: on Nov. 12-14. The conference is designed to equip individuals and churches for the urgent work of preventing sexual harm and fostering trauma-informed care. Ashley Judd and Rachael Denhollander will headline the event, alongside several United Methodist bishops, an experienced slate of advocates, mental health practitioners, scholars, and church leaders. Learn more and register.

      • Holiday Bazaar:  Frederick Calvary UMC Holiday Bazaar will Kick off the holiday season November 14, 9am to 3pm. Enjoy a festive day full of shopping, food, family fun and fellowship. From gifts to goodies, from music to memories, there’s something for everyone. And bring the kids to have fun in the North Pole craft room and meet Santa. You don’t want to miss this Frederick holiday tradition!