Online Archives

Young scientist invited to White House

OLNEY – Jacen Sherman, a member of Oakdale Emory UMC and on the Tech team for ROCK, had "an awesome time," said his father Gary Sherman, because he spent the day Feb. 7, in the White House at the White House Science Fair. He received the invitation as a result of winning the Kodu Cup, the first prize in a national science competition in 2011 held by Microsoft.

"The kids got to rub shoulders and chat with the cream of the crop in U.S. Science and technology," Gary Sherman said. Jacen shook hands with the president twice. "We’re considering not washing it for a while." he joked.

After the official morning events, the guests were given almost full run of the White House for the rest of the day. "It was a great day full of amazing memories," Gary Sherman said.

Reaching out in love to Haiti

FREDERICK – Women of Centennial Memorial UMC gathered their fabrics, scissors, ribbons, threads, smiles, and skilled willing hands to create 31 colorful dresses and shorts for children in Haiti. Assisted by women from Homewood at Crumland Farm, they used their skills in their spare time, to complete the clothing to send with Patty Ansel of New Hope UMC of Brunswick to Haiti on her January mission trip.

The designs were simple, but they were "adorned with love for the children of Haiti" said Dolores Summers. Then she added, "Since mission never stops, the ladies will continue to make outfits to send with Patty Ansel when she returns later this year for her third mission trip to Haiti."

God’s natural beauty seen in photos

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Forty-five people gathered Feb. 12 at Metropolitan Memorial UMC to hear about the private butterfly and beetle collection of Alfred Russel Wallace, a contemporary of Charles Darwin. The event was organized by the Rev. Maynard Moore.

Robert Heggestad, a young lawyer in 1979, bought a chest of drawers at an antiques shop in Arlington, Va. It turned out to be 26 narrow drawers that were filled with 1,700 carefully preserved butterflies and beetles from all over the world. He had stumbled upon the unmatchable Wallace collection from 1858.

Heggested’s recounting of Wallace’s life story and his connection to Darwin was enhanced by the dozens of poster-size photos of the butterflies and beetles, he’d photographed himself, which surrounded the Grand Foyer.

The National Science Foundation has produced a video, "Cabinet of Wonders," about the collection that may be seen online.

40 years – clothes closet gets new space

THURMONT – Forty years ago, Thurmont UMC opened a Clothes Closet to serve the church members and community. Though it had been at its current location in a downstairs Sunday school room since 1988, the shop had outgrown the space. The Clothes Closet serves 50 to 70 families.

Running the shop takes a lot of work for volunteers, who must move bags of clothing up and down the stairs, said Felicia Albert.

But no more. Ground was broken May 13 for a new building, to the side of the church, that would house the Clothes Closet. It’s taken a long time, but the new building was completed in January, and held an Open House Feb. 19 to let the community and donors "see what the Lord has provided," Albert said. The fully stocked "free-to-shop" Community Clothes Closet is open two days a month for the community and every Sunday for the congregation. All items are free.

BRIEFS

DAMASCUS – Montgomery UMC has begun a new worship experience called Holy Grounds Café. The service is designed to reach those who prefer a more relaxed conversational style of worship. It meets at 5 p.m. Sundays and features both contemporary and time-honored music. Church members say they’re looking forward to expanding their reach beyond the local community.

CHEVERLY – For some time, the Rev. Saroj Sangha has wanted a United Methodist Men’s group at Cheverly UMC. Now it’s happening. Conference UMM leaders held a worship service and explained the importance of men’s leadership in the life of the church, and on Jan. 7, a group of seven men applied to the General Conference for a charter membership. About 20 men have expressed an interest in the group, said David Watkins, who was elected the first president.

LEONARDTOWN – During 2011, First Saints Community UMC reported that in their Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen ministry, volunteers served 7,039 meals and handed out 66,406 pounds of food. The soup kitchen operates out of St. Paul’s campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week.