| Church to enlarge social hall NORRISVILLE The members of Norrisville UMC have raised about 40 percent of the estimated $175,000 needed to enlarge the social hall of their small church, one of three on the Norrisville Charge. They hope to start construction this spring. The original hall was constructed from October 1944 to May 1946, at a total cost of $3,000. That amount was as much a leap of faith for them as the $175,000 is for us, said the Rev. Melissa McDade in the church newsletter, Chapel Bells. Cooperation builds new Habitat house  ELLICOTT CITY Members of Bethany UMC and Glen Mar UMC are preparing to start on their next Habitat for Humanity house. On Dec. 21, they dedicated a west Baltimore row house completed by the two churches. Each church spent a different Saturday a month working on the house. Other neighborhood churches also sent volunteers. Nearly 50 people welcomed the new homeowner, Charles Johnson, at the dedication. Johnson, a certified addictions counselor, is a lifelong resident of the Sandtown community, and a longtime supporter of Habitat, said the Rev. Rod Miller, pastor at Bethany. Conference leads scholarship giving COLUMBIA In a report that covered the entire denomination for the year 2001, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministrys Office of Loans and Scholarships reported that the Baltimore-Washington Conference offerings were near the top of the list for the Northeastern Jurisdiction. The Student Day offering totaled $22,840, second to Western Pennsylvanias $28,612. The World Communion offering was $42,525, again second to the Western Pennsylvania Conference. Jurisdictional offerings for the two special Sundays totaled $450,430 which included Baltimore-Washington Conference at $65,365. All six jurisdictions together gave a total of $1,771,537 in the two offerings. Total financial aid for scholarships and loans from the denomination was $153,310, the report said. Volunteers work on lodge at Manidokan HARPERS FERRY, W. Va. During January and February, Manidokan Outdoor Ministry Center hosted 63 volunteers during five workdays to prepare its new lodge for occupancy by March 21. Volunteers in groups of about 15, under the supervision of Dick Kaetzel, put in insulation, installed windows, hung doors, put in handicapped fixtures and vanities in the bathrooms, installed cabinets in the kitchen and completed trim work. The winter weather this year has been a problem, said camp director, the Rev. Bill Herche. Its meant that the two decks arent done yet. Several volunteers from Davidsonville UMC, under the direction of Erik Andrews, the missions and outreach coordinator, intended to work on the decks. But it was too cold to dig the holes, said the Rev. James Stutler. Instead, they installed cabinets. Volunteering at Manidokan is a way to be in mission and ministry, and an investment in our own future, Stutler said. Painting brings back memories  HAGERSTOWN Marjorie Tressler, an acclaimed portrait artist now living in Waynesboro, Pa., recently donated a 5-by-7-foot painting that hangs at the back of the sanctuary of St. Andrews UMC. The artist grew up in the church, was baptized and married there. She was approached to do a painting for the church a few years ago. The large oil painting is titled All of Gods Children Come to Me. In addition to the main figure of Jesus, five children are in the painting. In the background are the church building on Howard Street and the rural setting she remembered as a child. Jesus and the children are all painted from live models. Tressler said she wanted to donate the painting to the church because of all those who helped her grow into the love of Christ, reported the Hagerstown Morning Herald. | 
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