AN District News.......UMC Buzz.......December 10, 2021
New and Featured
Dec. 13 deadline for local church grants: The Baltimore-Washington Conference is offering a year-end Covid-19 Church and Community Equity Grant. This non-renewable micro-grant seeks to alleviate hardship and realize congregational and community equity among persons who are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Grants are awarded on a rolling basis through Monday, Dec. 13 and are open to BWC congregations and faith communities. If you have any questions, please contact Fathima Rifkey. Learn more and apply.
Roots of Racism: In the series of trainings Identifying the Roots of Racism in the Church, the Hispanic-Latino Ministries of the BWC invites you to its third session: Testimony from an Afro-Latino perspective by Rev. Dr. Rene Knight. The webinar will be Dec. 11 from 10 a.m. to noon. Connect by Zoom at https://bwcumc.zoom.us/j/91807335371. Translation will be available from Spanish to English. Share a flyer in English. Share a flyer in Spanish.
Nonviolent Organizing webinar: The Central Maryland Ecumenical Council will hold a webinar on “Healing Resistance: The Radical Legacy of Nonviolent Organizing” with Kazu Haga on Monday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. Haga is the founder of the East Point Peace Academy, a core member of the Ahimsa collective, and author of Healing Resistance: A Radically Different Response to Harm. Register.
Advent Seminar with Moscow Seminary Leaders & Students: In Mission Together, the partnership between Eurasia and the BWC, invites you to join Elena Melnikova, Sergei Nikolaev, and recent and current students Lena, Liliya, and Vadim from the United Methodist seminary in Moscow as they share stories, practices, music, traditions and devotional thoughts around a meaningful Advent season. The Zoom event will be Saturday, Dec. 11, from 1-3 p.m. Register.
You're invited to the annual Candlelight Advent Service at the historic Strawbridge Shrine, 2650 Strawbridge Lane in New Windsor, on Sunday, Dec.12, at 3 p.m. The free event will feature inspirational worship and Christmas carols in a large tent followed by cookies and hot punch. For information contact the curator, Helen Kemp, at 410-635-2600.
The BWC Commission on Disability Concerns just put together a new liturgy for Disability Awareness Sunday. Churches are encouraged to celebrate Disability Awareness Sunday the first Sunday in February. See resources for the celebration.
Scouts Bankruptcy Case: Progress continues as conference and denominational leaders are working with area United Methodist churches to address a bankruptcy case against the Boy Scouts of America. Read the story.
Be Light: The Rev. Lloyd Nyarota, one of the BWC's partners from Zimbabwe, shares a word about justice and peace. See this week's Be Light Advent devotional.
Upcoming Events
Opportunities for Discipleship and Transformation
Training Tuesday: The One Board Model
Dec. 14, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
An online webinar on One Board: The Gifts of a Simplified, Accountable Structure for Such a Time as This with the Revs. Johnsie Cogman, Washington East District Superintendent, Donna Claycomb Sokol of Mount Vernon Place UMC in Washington, D.C., and Revs. Alan and Kari Jones of Connection in Middletown, DE. Learn more and register.
WAVE
Jan. 7-8, 2022
A revival event for BWC and Pen-Del youth will be held online. Learn more at https://waveoc.org.
Christians Engaged in Faith Formation
Jan. 13, 10 a.m.
The theme of the online call is “Vacation Bible School.” Learn more and see the Zoom registration information.
Mark your Calendars:
The 238th Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference will be held in a hybrid session June 1-3 at the Baltimore Waterfront Marriott Hotel. An online Pre-Conference Briefing will be held April 30 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Resolutions to be considered at the June session are due to the BWC Secretary by Feb. 11.
BWC Events Calendar
Online 24/7
Be sure to visit the BWC Events Calendar frequently to stay up-to-date on all the wonderful training, resource webinars, and events coming in the weeks and months ahead. Visit www.bwcumc.org/events/
Discipleship News and Ideas
Churches invited to offer space for vaccines: The Maryland Governor's Vaccine Equity Task Force, along with the Maryland Department of Health, is seeking help from communities of faith to ensure vaccine access to all peoples. 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 from ages 5-11. For more information, contact Capt. Woolsey at 808-218-3115 or .
Gather to Grow, Scatter to Serve: The group, Strengthening the Black Church, in the Peninsula-Delaware Conference, is hosting its annual online Gather to Grow, Scatter to Serve workshop, Dec. 11 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The Rev. Dr. Jacqui King, Director of Ministerial Excellence from the Illinois Great Rivers Conference, will discuss implementation systems to embrace community wholeness. Learn more and register.
Classifieds
Magothy UMC of the Deaf in Pasadena is seeking to hire a part-time bookkeeper. This position is ready to be filled. The job includes: seven hours a month at a rate of $15 to $20/hour. The duties will entail check writing, bookkeeping, generating reports, presenting reports every other month to the Church Council and assisting with formatting the church budget. A full job description is available upon request. For more information or to apply, contact Rev. Kathleen Lossau at 217-341-2181.
Pasadena UMC is hiring an office manager to handle the church’s day-to-day operations with a focus on digital communication. To apply, submit a cover letter and resume to Ginger Atchison. Questions? Call 410-647-3090.
Calvary UMC in Annapolis is seeking a part-time organist to accompany weekly Sunday worship services and additional services on the organ, piano, and keyboard. Includes rehearsals with choirs, soloists and/or small groups weekly. Church instruments include: Moller organ, III manuals/37 rank, 2,012 pipes. See full listing at www.CALUMC.org/music. Provide resume to: ; Subject: Attn. Organist Search.
Training Opportunity
Annapolis District Disability Training: January 19, 2021 via Zoom! The Annapolis District will be training on disability awareness, how to make your buildings and programs more accessible. Please join us via zoom on January 19, 2021 at 7pm. To Register, click here!