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Wrapped in a fleece of faith

FALLSTON – When freshmen go off to college from Fallston UMC, they go wrapped in a blanket of love. The colorful throws are big enough to wrap up in when worried, anxious or lonely. "We send a little piece of us to let them know we're with them," said Lisa Greenlund, who chairs the group. As they wrap up, "it is a reminder of the presence of God in their lives."

About 10 people craft the fleece blankets, each made individually for a specific student in that school's colors; the two-sided blankets have one color on one side, another on the other, the two sides tied together in a time-old quilting technique. "The student is being prayed for as the blanket is crafted," Greenlund said.

Fallston presented the throws to 20 of the 24 students beginning their freshmen year at 16 different colleges on Student Day Sunday, Nov. 27.

"I thought it was a great example of a new ministry to our young adults," said District Superintendent Karin Walker.

Special 'Messiah' brings churches together

ADAMSTOWN – Flint Hill UMC, which returned to a 2-point charge in July, came up with a very special Christmas celebration. In spite of not having participated in the Urbana-area cluster churches parish activities, the church organized an unusual Messiah Sing, reported District Superintendent Vivian McCarthy.

They invited the churches in the cluster to join together in singing the Messiah's four choruses. The Rev. Walt Edmonds came from Damascus to direct the choir, and brought three singers from Damascus to join the party.

It was a wonderful event, filled with joy and hope, McCarthy said.

"There were so many cars, they had to park in the cemetery," one Flint Hill member said.

Two BWC young adults serve in mission

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Among the young adult missionaries serving with the General Board of Global Ministries is Kevin Huff, a member of Asbury UMC in Washington, D.C; and Michelle Dromgold, a member of Dumbarton UMC in Georgetown.

Dromgold joined The United Methodist Church in 2008 at the Kay Spiritual Life Chapel on the American University campus, where she was a leader. She was commissioned in August 2011 as a Global Mission Intern. She works with the Kindertreff Delbrucke, in Berlin, Germany. It is an after-school program for underprivileged children and youth.

Huff was commissioned a US-2 in 2010. He is a business graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, now on assignment in Lincoln, Neb., where he and his wife work together as a "dynamic duo" with the New Visions Community Church, on substance abuse counseling, prison ministry and mentoring youth.

"I've found the US-2 program to be enormously stimulating – spiritually mentally and emotionally," Huff said. "God continues to teach me the importance of faith, work-ethic, compassion, authenticity and, above all, love."

Church experiences holiday break-in

HAGERSTOWN – A break-in at Grace UMC after a Scout meeting Dec. 5 is "a mystery," said the Rev. Clark Carr. The burglars cut phone and alarm wires, broke a few drawers looking for cash, and stole a kitchen cart and gifts collected for local school children, Carr reported to local security officials.

Disturbing as the break-in was, Carr said that when people in the community heard about the loss of gifts for needy students at two elementary schools, they sent presents to replace them.

"It is our prayer that God's spirit will move upon them (the intruders) and melt their hearts that they might be able to find the grace we know in Jesus Christ," Carr said.

Middle-schooler becomes leader in mission

CAPE ST. CLAIRE – Grace Timko is a 13-year-old 8th grader who attends Cape St. Claire UMC. Last summer she was the only one from her church to go to Camp Manidokan for a week.

There, she learned about Mission Manidokan, a program in which the campers voluntarily donate any left-over spending money to a specific mission. This year it was Stop Hunger Now, an organization founded by a United Methodist minister.

When the youth returned to their home churches, they took with them a small plastic container in which to collect donations from their church members to help with a project to package 10,000 meals for schools and orphanages in Africa.

"Grace came back fired up about the project," said her pastor, the Rev. Lysabeth Cockrell. She made an appeal in front of the church, and stood at the door as parishioners left. "She did this at least three times."

And when she returned the little bucket of money to camp, she had collected $562, by far more than any other camper, said Chris Schleikert, director of Manidokan. The campers together raised $3,562, enough to ship 10,000 meals, Schliekert reported.

Church blankets youth in warmth of God's love

CHARLOTTE HALL – The youth of Mt. Calvary UMC were given crocheted blankets "to cover them as they journey through life," said Denice Whalen-White. The presentation was made at a special service Dec. 18, at which District Superintendent Ianther Mills preached.

Whalen-White, who chairs the Blanket Ministry, told the children that whenever they are ill, their spirits are low, afraid or discouraged, they could cover themselves in their blankets and feel the warmth of God surround them and know that they are protected and special.

Mills affirmed to the youth that the blankets are a symbol of God's love for them.