| Church wraps up 225-year anniversary REISTERSTOWN The congregation of Reisterstown UMC celebrated its 225th anniversary with a worship service at the historic open-air tabernacle at the Emory Grove Camp Meeting Grounds in Glyndon. As the bell atop the tabernacle was rung, the assembly  began singing hymns in the old-time Methodist tradition, said Nancy Warrington. The Chancel Choir and Lighthouse praise band and singers also performed. Following worship, the congregation gathered for a box-lunch social in the dining hall of the Emory Grove Hotel, built in the 1880s. It was a grand and fitting conclusion to the churchs 10-month long celebration of its 225th anniversary, Warrington said. From West Virginia to Washington by bike  LAUREL When Jim Welsh, office manager at First UMC, wanted to get away from it all, he took 16 people with him. They spent four days in mid-May bicycling the 184 miles of the C&O Canal trail from Paw Paw, W. Va., to the zero mile-marker in Georgetown, D.C.
Three cyclists from nearby Emmanuel UMC in Scaggsville joined the group. The cyclists ranged in age from 11-year-old Brian Miller to 60-year-old Wayne Rouse and included Mark Welsh, 26, who worried that his dad was too old for such a venture, Jim Welsh said. Several other parent and children combinations participated in the outdoor experience. Nancy Welsh met the group at the end of the trip with a picnic dinner and birthday cake to celebrate her husbands 59th birthday. Music minister retires after 35 years  BETHESDA On June 9, after 35 years on the staff at Bethesda UMC, Connie Creveling ended her career as director of liturgy and music ministries at Bethesda UMC, said the Rev. Ron Foster. Four former pastors, the Revs. Ken Tyson, Bruce Poynter, Carroll Gunkel and Wayne DeHart, joined in celebrating her ministry the weekend of May 11-12.
The celebration included a retirement dinner and a Sunday worship service with all the churchs choirs, brass, timpani and congregation performing an arrangement of What Gift Can We Bring, which was commissioned in Crevelings honor. It was composed and directed by her son-in-law, Douglas Mears. Crevelings contributions in music included organizing and directing all the church choirs, forming and directing three bell choirs, initiating a Pops series which ran for many years, and directing a score of larger works for special occasions. She also served on the Baltimore-Washington Conference worship committee and on the denominations new hymnal committee in the mid-1980s. Ventriloquist to appear at Rockland UMC ELLICOTT CITY Rockland UMC will host Mark Thompson, a nationally known Christian ventriloquist and comedian, at the new Rockland amphitheater Aug. 10. Food including hot dogs and hamburgers will be served at noon and the show begins at 1 p.m. The Rockland Praise Band will provide a concert of contemporary Christian music. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs, a dessert to share, and come spend the day, said the Rev. Mark Teasdale. A $5 donation is requested. | 
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