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.

Local Church EventS

• To respond to concerns regarding our immigrant neighbors Eastport UMC is hosting a community conversation with the Annapolis Immigration Justice Network (AIJN) on Sunday March 2 at 4 p.m. AIJN Executive Director Jessa Coulter will discuss the organization's work, challenges faced by local immigrant families, and how the community can help. The 45-minute presentation will be followed by a Q&A. Learn more.

• Mt. Tabor UMC, at 24115 Laytonsville Road in Gaithersburg, will hold a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on March 4 from 4 5o 7 p.m. Donations will be accepted.

• A worship service for the World Day of Prayer will be held March 7 at noon at St Matthews UMC in Bowie.  This year’s prayer focus will be for the people in the Cook Islands.  The theme is “I made you wonderful.” All are invited to the one-hour prayer service or to join on Facebook at the church website at 7 p.m.

• Calvary UMC in Frederick is also celebrating the World Day of Prayer on March 7 at 2 p.m. The service was written by the women of the Cook Islands. The  'I Made You Wonderful' program is based on Psalms 139. "Kia orana" which is more than a hello.  It means: May you live long and may you live well, May you shine like the sun. May you dance with the waves. 

• Mt. Olive UMC at 2927 Gillis Falls Rd in Mt. Airy will host a buffet country breakfast on March 8, from 7 to 11 a.m.

• Mt. Carmel UMC, at 4760 Mountain Road in Pasadena, will hold its third annual Pasta Night on Sunday, March 9, from 4 to 7 p.m.  Learn more. 

• Emmanuel UMC in Scaggsville, will host a Lenten Prayer Breakfast focused on the Stations of the Cross on Saturday, March 15, from 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The theme is Towards Resurrection & The Potter's Hand. During the prayer breakfast, participants will engage in clay work to explore how their personal journeys are intricately connected to God’s master plan. A time of reflection and creative expression will follow.  RSVP to .

•  Westminster UMC will host a short-term Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic with The Least of These Ministries on April 21-26. The team will serve with impoverished communities in Barahona on a service project and in a food distribution program. The trip is $645, which covers everything except airfare. Learn more. 

• Taylorsville UMC, at 4356 Ridge Road in Mt. Airy will host the Ernie Couch & Revival Concert on May 3 at 7 p.m. This gospel group from Nashville will share 20th Century Gospel and original music.

• Want to learn how to play a band instrument? Want to dust off your old clarinet or horn and play with a group of folks who are doing the same thing?! The Timonium-Phoenix Cooperative Parish at Timonium UMC, in partnership with Towson University, is offering a new outreach program: Band Camp for Adults ages 50+. The camp will be held  June 16-27, from 10 a.m. to noon.

Across the Connection

The 241st session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference will be held Tuesday through Thursday, May 13-15, 2025, at the Hilton Hotel in Baltimore. Registration for the conference is expected to open in mid-February. 

The Network of Biblical Storytellers will hold their international conference Aug. 6-8 at the Maritime Center in Linthicum. The theme of the event is “Searching for Peace in Troubling Times: The Abiding Wisdom of 2 Kings 5-6." The keynote speaker is Tavis West. Learn more and register.

Advocacy and action

The BWC’s 2025 Maryland Legislative Advocacy Day will be Feb. 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Asbury UMC in Annapolis. The event is an opportunity for United Methodists to meet their representatives and advocate for United Methodist values. Learn more and register. A Federal Legislative Advocacy Day will be held on March 26 at Capitol Hill UMC, and a D.C. Legislative Advocacy Day will be held April 30 at Asbury UMC in Washington.

The General Board of Ministries is offering racial/ethnic local church grants. Applications will be accepted until March 7. Racial/Ethnic Local Church Grants support local congregations with projects and programs centered on leadership development, church growth, ministry with the poor, and health ministries. Eligible churches may receive up to $5,000 for programmatic grants and up to $5,000 for one-year salary support. Please note: Applicant churches must have a congregation that is at least 51% majority nonwhite.

Mustard Seed Grants: United Methodist churches in the U.S. can help immigrants, migrants and refugees living in their local communities. UMCOR’s Mustard Seed Migration Grant program provides congregations with up to $2,000 for a one-time, community-based service project. The application process is open and up to 100 churches will be awarded a grant. Learn more.

The BWC’s 2025 Immigration Border Immersion is a transformative experience open to clergy and lay people, especially young adults, seeking to learn more about migration. Participants will have the opportunity to listen to God through the voice of the immigrant and be part of the change as they implement and take action in their local communities. The trip to San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico, is April 23 to 27. The cost, which includes airfare, is $1,480. To learn more about scholarships for young adults, contact Christine Taylor. Register.

Save the Date: The BWC’s United Women in Faith will host a Critical Race Theory Workshop on April 26 at 1 p.m. at the BWC Mission Center in Fulton. Registration opens soon.

Green Team Initiative Sign-Up: The Baltimore-Washington Creation Care is launching a Church Green Team Initiative — a new effort aimed at promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship within church communities. All interested congregations are invited to sign up. Meeting dates and other ways to be involved will be emailed to those who sign up. To learn more about the initiative, visit the BWC Creation Care Website. For more information, contact Sharee Wharton.