| Board hosts deaf ministry advocates WASHINGTON, D.C. Thirty-two deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf and blind people from the Baltimore-Washington and Virginia annual conferences met at the Board of Church and Society in Washington, D.C., March 10, for an all-day conference designed to help enable the participants to be more proactive in obtaining services in their churches or the community. Participating churches included Magothy UMC of the Deaf, Christ UMC of the Deaf and Emmanuel UMC. Participants shared their concerns about health care, interpreter access in doctors offices, housing, employment and education. Worship was led by the Rev. Denise Donnell, a student at Perkins School of Theology who is an intern at Christ UMC of the Deaf. Youth visit Board of Child Care facility POTOMAC Members of the youth group at Potomac UMC delivered gifts donated by church members to the new Board of Child Care facility at Falling Waters, W. Va., in time to make Christmas a little happier for the boys already living there. This newest of the Board of Child Care facilities is still under construction, but cottages for residents are gradually being completed, and staff and youth are moving in. Its such an impressive facility, said Charley Ryan, Potomacs youth leader. The facility will be dedicated April 8. Church to demolish 1820s building HEREFORD The Tipton House, which has stood on York Road, the main street of Hereford, for 180 years, is about to be demolished. Officials for Hereford UMC, which acquired the building a little over a year ago, have been given permission from Baltimore County zoning officials to raze the structure. By razing the building, we can eliminate the eyesore, clean up the property and eliminate any additional upkeep or worry for us. Right now its a safety issue, said Mark Gardner, co-chairman of the churchs building committee, according to the Towson County Chronicle. Church officials have had a couple dozen inquiries from people interested in acquiring the termite-ridden building or parts of it. But so far no agreements have been reached, and as soon as the permit is in hand the demolition will proceed, said the Rev. Steven Cochran. The church plans to eventually build a family life center in the cleared space. Hug Me Dolls provide comfort  BRUNSWICK For the women of First UMC of the Brunswick Cooperative Parish, March is the month for making Hug Me Dolls. In 2002, nearly 350 dolls were given away to comfort children in a crisis center, as well as to United Methodist-supported orphanages in Russia and nursing homes in the Brunswick area and throughout the state, according to an article in the Brunswick Citizen.
The project started six years ago when Eleanor Weitzel learned of the need for dolls from a Frederick District meeting. She soon had the United Methodist Women in her church engaged in making the small, plain cloth dolls. The women brought their friends to help and the project soon became ecumenical, Weitzel said. Whenever there is a need, the women gather in the fellowship hall, where some cut the patterns, some sew and others stuff the dolls. Last year 17 women participated. | 
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