This is W. E.! 11_10_2020
Lift up your Hearts:
A weekly prayer for the Baltimore-Washington Conference from the Appointive Cabinet.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control... If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Sprit. -- Galatians 5:22,25
God of Grace and Mercy, we ask you, by the fire of your Holy Spirit, to light our hearts, that we may proclaim your Gospel with holiness of heart and life in ways that all can understand.
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on us, melt us, fill us, use us.
Spirit of the Living God, empower us that we may express your love in our attitudes and actions so that the violence and animosity of this time can be lessened.
Spirit of the Living God, provide us with patience to be with those whose pain may be lessened if we brought our compassionate presence.
Spirit of the Living God, fill us with your kindness that heals and restores our desire to be considerate to others.
Spirit of the Living God, breathe renewed confidence into our fatigued spirits. Send us forth with a passionate intention to be conveyors of your unconditional love.
Receive this prayer through Christ who came among us that we may have life, and have it abundantly.
Amen.
November 12th at 9:30 am: Christians Engaged in Faith Formation; This meeting will explore talking about racism with children and families. Join the Zoom meeting athttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/89150929659. The meeting ID is 891 5092 9659. Password is 297120. Or dial by phone: +13017158592. Future CEF meetings will be held Dec. 10, Jan. 14, Feb. 11, March 11, April 8, and May 13.
Lay Planter Training, an innovative program by New Faith Expressions and Path 1, is offering opportunities for all laity to explore how to create new ministries, including new faith communities. It includes three online classes that focus on the "why" of planting new faith communities, and seven self-paced sessions that cover how to plant a new ministry or church. A video of a Zoom session that explores details of the Lay Planter Training is online.
The training is $100, or $200 for Certified Lay Ministers seeking specialization. Questions? Please contact Lauren Harris at
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Register for the training.
Register as a CLM.
November 14th: The Laity Session of Annual Conference will be held online Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. to noon. This year's session is open to everyone -- all clergy and lay people. However, attendance will be limited to the first 1,000 people to register (.https://arenaweb.bwcumc.org/default.aspx?page=3439&eventID=5870) . We will livestream everything except the interactive dialogue which is why registration is required and limited.
In addition to the time of equipping, our gathering will include:
- A time of worship and welcome from BWC Lay Leader Delores Martin.
- An address to leaders of the Baltimore-Washington Conference by Bishop LaTrelle Easterling.
- Honoring the BWC's 11 new Certified Lay Ministers.
- Presentations of five awards to churches and individuals that honor outstanding discipleship. Learn more at www.bwcumc.org/resources/grants-and-awards.
Young People's Voices Needed for the Laity Session: It is critical for the future of our churches to have young people engaged. Encourage your youth and young adults to lift their voices as participants in this year's virtual Laity Session. Young people have three opportunities to participate by recording themselves either reading scripture, singing "This Little Light of Mine," or finishing the prompt, "The church can keep the dream alive by... " Contact Cheryl Cook at for more details.
Next Level Leaders Academy Rescheduled for November 20th – 21st :The Academy will train leaders who understand the purpose, design, mission, character, and power of the church and are capable of leading others to make disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Registration extended and the cost is $30. For more information and to register:https://www.bwcumc.org/event/1871210-2020-10-30-next-level-leaders-academy/
We celebrate that many BWC congregations that have committed to becoming an anti-racist church. The BWC's Discipleship Council encourages all churches to rise as they consider and sign the Commitment to Become an Anti-Racist Church by clicking the following link: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/commitment-to-becoming-an-anti-racist-church?source=direct_link&. Resources will be provided to all the signatories to assist in their efforts to seek justice, do the work, and end racism. See an FAQ (https://www.bwcumc.org/article/faq-on-the-commitment-to-becoming-an-anti-racist-church/) and download a PDF of the Commitment to Become an Anti-Racist Church clicking the following link: https://b65de766771c0b853a36-be165dca3b4cdda77f8dc2ad6b17900c.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/uploaded/c/0e10565326_1592505033_commitment-to-becoming-an-anti-racist-churchfinalpdf.pdf.
Who Are We?
A Journey from Head to Heart
As the church faces an uncertain future, churches in the Baltimore-Washington Conference are called to explore the heart of their faith with this 18-week interactive study on who we are as a people of God, as United Methodists, and as the people of the Baltimore-Washington Conference. This interactive resource can be used in a variety of ways in congregations.
Click here for video https://youtu.be/_znHcnJytoQ
Washington East Virtual Choir - Please use following link to register for the choir:
https://stpauloxonhill.org/events/washington-east-virtual-choir-/
Training Tuesdays start again today, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., with a webinar on "Church Finances during the Pandemic: Tools for a Challenging Time" with BWC Treasurer Paul Eichelberger.
After many months of shuttered churches, how should a church finance team approach the budget cycle for 2021 as the pandemic continues to impact its ministries? This webinar identifies the common financial issues that BWC churches are experiencing at this time and explores several financial decision-making tools that can be used to address these issues. Register online.
November 17th from 7 pm- 8:30 pm: Training Tuesday: Simplified, Accountable Structure; presented by Rev. Kay Kotan, a coach and expert on church growth. Are you tired of unproductive meetings that seem to go on forever? Does your church have more leadership positions than people to fill them? Do meetings occur without ever discussing how ministries align with the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ? Is your church simply meetinged-out? If this sounds like your church and you are looking for another way to lead your church more faithfully, more simply and with greater impact, please join us to explore simplified, accountable structure. To register: https://arenaweb.bwcumc.org/default.aspx?page=3452&event=5871 In this workshop, you will learn:
- The leadership styles of most churches and how effective they are
- The difference of management and governance through leadership
- Why many will not serve in the church structure today
- How to meet less but be more effective and missionally focused
- How to simplify the four administrative committee functions
- How to offer permission-giving guidelines for day-to-day ministry to occur within safe boundaries
- Why accountability must be part of leadership at all levels
November 24th from 7 pm- 8:30 pm: Training Tuesday: Nominations; with Janice Harmon; details and registration forthcoming.
December 8th from 7 pm- 8:30 pm: Training Tuesday: Statistical Report; with District Administrators