The BWC is blessed to have three different camp and retreat sites offering a wide range of programs in stunning locations at Harmison, Manidokan, and West River.  This summer grow in love of God, self, neighbor, and nature with our traditional Adventure and Discovery Camps for all ages, or through specialized programs like Camp Joy (a service-based program), Deaf Camps, Sailing Camps, Leadership Camps, Mini Camps (partial week), Day Camps, and more!

Last summer more than 1,300 campers participated in our summer camp programs led by nearly 200 volunteers and 75 part-time/seasonal staff. 

Get your family and your church ready to join the fun this summer by:

• Celebrating Camping Sunday on February 9^th (Download the PowerPoint and Word Outline below)
• Keeping your eye out for summer camp brochures in the mail right now!
• Marking your calendar for the start of camp registration:
  • February 5^th at 9:00am for overnight camps
  • February 17^th at 9:00am for day camps

Find out more by visiting our website www.bwccampsandretreats.com or contacting our office at or 410-867-0991.

PowerPoint Word Outline

Camping Sunday (February 9)

Call to worship (from Psalm 138)

Leader: I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart;
People: I bow down and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness
Leader: On the day I called, you answered me; you increased my strength of soul.
People: All the leaders of the earth shall praise you, O LORD, for they have heard the words. They shall sing of the ways of the LORD
Leader: For though the LORD is high, God regards the lowly, but the haughty God perceives from far away.
People: Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies;  you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me. The LORD will fulfill the purpose for us. Your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. 

Opening Prayer

Loving God, we come into your presence with thanksgiving, deeply grateful for the unfailing love and faithfulness. When we call out to you, you answer. When we are exhausted, you give us the strength to go on. When we find ourselves in trouble, you are there, standing beside us. Open our eyes to see and know you in our midst; help us to recognize your voice. And then send us out from here, to live and work in the world as your disciples. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. 

Children’s Message

Magnet fishing

Materials: blue box or similar, fishing poles or sticks with fishing line and magnet on the end, fish cut outs with small magnets attached
Set up a cardboard box painted blue (or whatever small barrier you have on hand). Have fishing poles or sticks with fishing line that have magnets attached to the end. Put the fish cut outs on the other side of the barrier. Have the children try to “catch” a couple of the magnet fish.
Talk about the ways fishing for fish and people are similar and different (having the right tools, finding a good place, not rushing the process could all be similarities)

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Once while Jesus was standing beside the Lake of Gennesaret and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to burst. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’s knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were astounded at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

Sermon Ideas:

• God doesn’t always call us when we’re ready, sometimes we’re tired and don’t want to follow the call. Even in those times, when we go where God is leading, we will be renewed.
• Even Jesus needed a retreat away from the crowds and onto the boat. What are the spaces we can retreat to? Our camp and retreat centers offer a great escape.
• God is overwhelming for us as we see in Peter. The power, grace, and love can be terrifying when meeting Jesus for the first time (or being reminded after a while away) but God’s grace extends even in the midst of our fear.
• Christ calls us to abandon our old lives and follow where he leads. Where is God calling you to serve? Like the fishermen turned disciples, do you have to learn new skills to follow that call? What do you need to leave behind to follow Christ more fully? Are you called to serve in a new setting like summer camp? West River and Manidokan have volunteers counselors that serve in cabin for a week at a time.

Pastoral Prayer:

God who calls us past our comfort zone, help us to heed your call no matter where it leads us. As you come to us and meet us where we are, you do not leave us there. While we are often overwhelmed at your grace and your love for us, help us to understand that they are models for us. Enable us to show your care to all we encounter. Open our hearts to the cries of the oppressed, those who mourn, the vulnerable people around us. Guide us to do your work in the world as we work to build your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

When we become overwhelmed with the world you’ve called us to serve, help us to find places of retreat and respite as you did. Call to us from the quiet places where we can recenter ourselves and find you anew. We give you thanks for the places that offer spiritual renewal, like our camp and retreat centers. We ask that you would enable us to support the ministry of our camps and all the guests who seeks to find you there.

God, help our church to be a place of solace for the weary and the lost as well. May we do your work in the world and extend our love to all those around us. In your name we pray, amen. 

Song Suggestions:

• Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore UMH #344
• The Summons TFWS #2130
• I Have Decided to Follow Jesus TFWS #2129
• Oceans (Taylor Mosby and Kirk Franklin version)
• Way Maker by Leeland
• Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumult UMH #398
• Lord, I Want to be a Christian UMH #402