Multi-Ethnic celebration
Participants are being sought to share a portion of their culture through song, dance, dress, food, or artwork at a celebration at the annual conference session Friday, May 23. The evening event is titled “Passport to cultural understandings, a multi-ethnic celebration.” Anyone who would like more information or is interested in participating, can contact Edith C. Williams at 301-933-3681 or williamsedth40@aol.com.
Annual Conference breakfast
The Methodist Federation for Social Action will hold its annual conference gathering over breakfast, Friday, May 23, to discuss the new vision and mission. The annual God's Foolish One Award will be presented. Register for the Friday breakfast when you register for the annual conference. Cost is $20. For those not attending the conference but would like to come for breakfast, the cost is $22. For more information, contact rachelcornwell@verizon.net.
Ministry with young adults
An ecumenical conference with a focus on understanding and engaging young people in their quest for passion, integrity and faith, will be held at Western Presbyterian Church, 2401 Virginia Ave., N.W., in Washington, D.C., Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost of registration is $75 for two and $85 for three people, and covers breakfast, lunch and a copy of Carol Howard Merritt's “Tribal Church: Ministering to the Missing Generation." For more information, contact Anne A. Michel at 202-885-8582 or amichel@wesleyseminary.edu. To register online, go to www.thefund.org/calling/events or contact calling@thefund.org.
Cleanup day at Mt. Auburn cemetery
The conference United Methodist Men are seeking volunteers Saturday, May 17, to help maintain the grounds at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, originally called “The City of The Dead for Colored People.” Equipment for grass cutting, trimming and hauling debris is also needed. For information, contact Sherman Harris at 301-299-2984. To volunteer, contact Richard Campbell at rcampbell@annapolisdist.org. Also see http://www.bwcumm.org/.
Pre-conference briefings
Pre-Conference briefings to review legislation coming before the annual conference will be held Saturday, May 10. Morning sessions will be held at 9:30 to 11:30; afternoon sessions from 1:30 to 3:30.
• Western Region will meet at Harmony UMC, 9455 Williamsport Pike, in Marlowe, W. Va., in the morning.
• Baltimore Region will meet at Catonsville UMC, 6 Melvin Ave., in Catonsville, in the afternoon.
• Annapolis-Southern Region will meet at Community UMC, 1690 Reidel Road, in Crofton in the morning.
• Washington Region will meet at Woodside UMC, 8900 Georgia Ave., in Silver Spring, in the afternoon.
COSROW training for effectiveness
The Commission on the Status and Role of Women (COSROW) will hold a training workshop Saturday, May 10, coinciding with Pre-Conference briefings, from 9 a.m. to noon, and 1-3 p.m. Each workshop will assist people in effectively speaking and participating at annual conference. Bishop Forrest C. Stith will lead the workshops at the Baltimore-Washington Conference Center in Columbia. Cost for lunch is $8 per person. For information and to RSVP for lunch, contact Rev. Iris Farabee-Lewis at stjamesumc1@verizon.net.
NEJ Congress of the Deaf
Magothy UMC of the Deaf will host the Northeast Jurisdiction’s United Methodist Congress of the Deaf Saturday, May 17. Keynote speaker will be the Rev. Rick McClain who is deaf and runs the Internet American Sign Language Christian deaf pastor training online university. Churches with ties to deaf ministry are invited to attend the all day event. For information, contact the Rev. Peggy Johnson at RevPink@aol.com.
Web training for committees
The second Web training session for all conference boards and committees that would like a presence on the new BWC Website is open for June 5, 6:30-8:30 p.m. and June 6, noon to 2 p.m., at Howard County Community College, Gateway Campus in Columbia. RSVP with your name, contact information of your committee's Web updater and date available to Shaun Lane at slane@bwcumc.org.
Summer Camp
The Baltimore-Washington Conference offers a vast array of summer camping experiences at its facilities at Camp Manidokan, near Harper’s Ferry, W.Va.; West River, near Annapolis; and Camp Harmison in Berkley Springs, W.Va. Click here, for information or to register.
Older Adults' Day Away
An Older Adults' Day Away is scheduled at Camp Manidokan, May 8, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the second of two such events this spring. The Day Away includes workshops, Bible study, lunch, snacks and recreation. Cost is $24 per person, includes lunch and snacks. For registration information, go to www.bwcumc.org/camping or call 800-922-6795.
West River auction
The West River Center, 5100 Chalk Point Road in West River, will hold an auction Saturday, June 7, time to be announced, to sell surplus equipment, including sailboats, travel trailer and outboard motors. For complete list visit www.bwcumc.org/camping or call 800-922-6795.
Methodist Heritage Day
The first annual Methodist Heritage Day will be celebrated at the Robert Strawbridge Shrine in New Windsor, Saturday, June 21, from 1-6:30 p.m. Tours will be arranged, and program will include preachers, music and liturgical dance. Bring lunch, drink and lawn chair or blanket. A closing hymn sing will be held at Brick Chapel at 7 p.m. For more information or to participate, call Laura Apostol, curator, at 410-635-2600.
School of Christian Mission
The 2008 Cooperative School of Christian Mission, sponsored by United Methodist Women and the Conference Board on Mission, will be held July 24-27, at the Hilton Inn in Gaithersburg. The theme is "Living the Sacred." In addition to Bible study, led by Rev. Cynthia Belt, classes will include Israel/Palestine and Native Americans. Rev. Tony Love will lead worship and music. Conference mission projects, UMW officer training and a variety of focus groups will also be offered. Register by June 10 for last year’s prices. After that date, $25 will be added. Prices range from $205 for commuters to $425 depending on accommodations. Seven meals are included. For registration information, contact Heidi Eber at 410-374-9152 or buzzglory@yahoo.com or Dean Saundra Brooks at 410-382-4423.
Weaving a Web of connections
West Chester UMC in West Chester, Pa., is offering comprehensive training on how to effectively use the Internet for Web ministry Saturday, July 26. The training is open to local churches, conference volunteers, staff, editors, pastors, webmasters and communicators. Training fee of $75 includes all meals, sessions and materials. To register go to http://www.training.umcom.org/ and select Weaving a Web of Connections, or call 888-278-4862. Registration deadline is July 18. Space is limited to 100 people. CEU credit 0.6 is available for full participation. Overnight accommodations can be a arranged with Holiday Inn West Chester by calling 610-692-1900. Participants are responsible for their own transportation, lodging arrangements and payments. For more information, go to http://www.training.umcom.org/ or send e-mail to training@umcom.org.
Bible study with rabbi
Rabbi Joshua Siegel, the conference rabbi, leads a lectionary-based Bible study every Thursday, 12:15-1:30. All are welcome. Bring a bag lunch and your Bible.
Bishop’s cruise to Paul’s lands
Bishop John R. Schol will lead a cruise that follows Paul’s fourth journey to Greece and Italy in November. Pastors, teachers, church leaders and members are invited to join the cruise on the Orient Queen from New York Nov. 12 and returning Nov. 22. Sites to be visited include Athens and Corinth, Malta, Sicily, Rome, Naples and Pompeii. The bishop will lead a lecture series, “The Studies of Paul’s Life and Teachings.” Costs range from $2,298 to $4,148, including roundtrip airfare to New York. Discounts are available for early registration. Two CEUs available. For information and registration forms, go to http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/.
