Glen Mar receives 'Living the Dream Award' for Day of Service
Glen Mar Church, a United Methodist congregation in Ellicott City, received the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission’s 2020 Living the Dream Award for the congregation’s annual Day of Service. This year, 1,800 church volunteers of all ages joined in service to the community on Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan. 20.
The Living the Dream Award honors individuals and organizations that exemplify the work and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Established by the Howard County government, the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission works to encourage and coordinate activities and ceremonies throughout Howard County to honor the birthday, ideals, and legacy of King.
Glen March Church volunteers gathered this year at the church building, Sleep in Heavenly Peace in Howard County, Manna House in Baltimore, and The Salvation Army thrift store in Ellicott City for the congregation’s Day of Service. They packaged 114,400 meals, sewed 177 pillowcases, braided 278 jump ropes, assembled over 500 fishing kits, decorated over 50 dozen cookies, built 22 bunk beds for children, assembled 288 health kits, provided 35 blood donations, made 300 pencil kits, and collected 1,000 articles of clothing.
“There was the feeling in the air of what Dr. King called the ‘Beloved Community’ and what Jesus called the ‘Kingdom of God,’” said the Rev. Mandy Sayers, lead pastor of Glen Mar. “People are hungry for connection, for belonging and for making our communities better, safer and more loving. We’re hungry for love and meaning and eager to transform the world.”
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, the Office of Human Rights and the Howard County Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission presented the Living the Dream Award to Glen Mar Church at a reception and program at Howard Community College Jan. 19. In addition, U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes presented a Certificate of Special Recognition to Glen Mar Church for the award.
Glen Mar is a United Methodist congregation that seeks to love and serve God and the community. The congregation consists of 1,400 members and offers youth and family ministries, including an Early Learning Center, social and support groups and community events as well as local, national and urban outreach ministries serving people of all backgrounds.