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VOL. 15, NO. 4

Interfaith Center has a new face

COLUMBIA The current round of renovations are complete on the Owen Brown Interfaith Center, the home of Christ UMC. A two-story glass faade welcomes guests at the centers new entrance.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the $1.5 million expansion took place Jan. 11. The center provides worship space for Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and Jews.

The faades colored glass panels project a sense of spirituality as they change color depending on the angle and intensity of the sunlight striking them. The blending of the colors is like a metaphor for whats happening on the inside, said Rich Dean, president of the board of directors for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia.

The remodeling and renovation also included new offices, an elevator, a new stairwell and vestibule, and additional space for the daycare center.

These improvements make it more inviting, said the Rev. Gladys Joyner Hubbard of Christ UMC. When youre in a nicer environment it uplifts you.

Meeting the homeless with friendship

FREDERICK Centennial Memorial UMCs ministry, 2nd Street and Hope, not only offers hot meals to 100 homeless and lonely people, it also offers friendship and deliverance.

For the past two years, 2nd Street and Hope has cooked homemade meals every Saturday night. The program also offers Christian-based recovery programs.

The meal isnt the deal. Its getting to know them and to see how we can meet their needs, said Leona Sauser, a regular volunteer.

The churchs pastors, the Revs. George Earle and Mike Albro, say they are doing exactly what Jesus would want.

Albro, who sometimes plays guitar at church services, looks every one in the eye and tells them they are loved, including Bobby, who credits Albro and the program with bringing him from the brink of death to a brand new, prosperous life.

With the help of 2nd Street and Hope, Bobby spent five days in a hospital detoxifying from alcohol.

On New Years Day, he celebrated being sober for eight months, the longest hes ever been dry. Hes gotten his drivers license. Finally Im able to pay off my legal fees, have bought a new tool for my woodworking and have new friends, he told the Frederick News-Post.

The Rev. Peggy Johnson, right, and Sandy Ferguson, associate council director, display the award given to the Baltimore-Washington Conference as the institution of the year by the Metro Washington Association of the Deaf Blind. The award was presented in recognition of the conferences service to the deaf-blind community through their annual Deaf Blind Camp at West River. This year the deaf blind camp will be held June 12-18, again at West River. 

Newsletter Notes

• Phil Corddry, a member of Concord St. Andrews UMC in Bethesda, who played for the Boston Red Sox about five years ago, was the guest speaker at a breakfast at the church observing Boy Scout Sunday Feb. 8.

• Members of Calvary UMC in Annapolis will be filling ark-shaped banks this Lent to raise money to buy sheep, goats, chickens, a water buffalo and cows for those in need as part of the Heifer Project.

• In an on-going tradition, Wesley Grove UMC in Gaithersburg, is asking its members to write devotions for Lent which will be compiled in a booklet. The theme is The Strong Name of the Trinity.

• Hughes UMC in Wheaton recently installed an assistive listening system in the sanctuary. The same sounds that come through the public address system are now also broadcast using a small FM transmitter.

• The United Methodist Men at Mt. Zion UMC in Washington are raising funds working during the basketball games at Concession Stand A-15 at the Comcast Center on the University of Maryland campus in College Park.