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Bermuda church celebrates 150 years

BERMUDA – Marsden First UMC celebrated its 150th anniversary Oct. 9. The Rev. David Cooney, representing Bishop John Schol, was there.

The Rev. Joseph Whalen and the congregation honored Rodney Tucker, retired organist and music director, for his 68 years of service to the church. Tucker began playing the organ for the congregation when he was 14 years old. Cooney read a letter from the bishop to Tucker and presented it to him.

The Rev. Zan Holmes, pastor emeritus of St. Luke’s UMC in Dallas, perhaps best known as the host on the Disciple I Bible Study series, preached at both morning and afternoon services.

Board of Child Care opens new facility

The Baltimore-Washington Conference-affiliated Board of Child Care opened a new group home for youth near Denton Oct. 14. The new resident program serves 16 males, ages 12 to 18, in a home-like setting.

The 117-acre campus includes two cottages, an administrative building, a computer center and outdoor recreation center.

“Our program on the Eastern shore will provide a safe, stable and caring temporary home for young men so that they can work toward becoming productive members of society,” said Thomas L. Curio, the board’s CEO.

UMM awards outstanding achievers

WASHINGTON – At its annual breakfast meeting at Asbury UMC, the United Methodist Men presented its Man of the Year award to Rodger Findiesen of Annapolis District and John Collins of the Washington East District. They also awarded their first Youth of the Year to two young men, Key-Ayra Scott, also of the Annapolis District, and Aaron Collins of Washington East.

In addition, Charles Jones of Central Maryland District and Kenneth Hill of Frederick District were honored with Outstanding Youth Achievement awards.

Bishop Schol opened the event, which drew 87 men. The Rev. H. David Hall preached, challenging the men to be Christians in action. Also participating were the Revs. Louis Shockley, Gerald DeFord and Helen Fleming.

Garage sale benefits missions

SEVERNA PARK – Not only did Severna Park UMC’s recent fall garage sale earn more than $19,300 for the church’s programs, it also gave material support to many local charities and mission projects.

“This is a huge amount of money and this year we gave away more than ever to charities and mission projects,” said Gwyndolin Linthicum. All the items were donated.

The sale, which is held in spring and fall, engaged more than 185 volunteers helping for the four-day event.

Church begins food drive

IJAMSVILLE – In a new mission program, Ijamsville UMC held a drive-by food drive to benefit the Urbana Food Bank. “We feel the drive was quite successful for our first venture,” said Marilyn Spear. They handed out book marks advertising the church to all who contributed food. This isn’t the end. The bookmarks give the dates for the November and December drives.

St. Luke’s turns 100

MARTINSBURG, W. VA. – In 1907, a handful of laymen started a Sunday School class in the old Mason School House on Maryland Ave. in Martinsburg, and grew it into what today is St. Luke’s UMC.

Members have been celebrating their 100-year heritage, honoring the church and sharing their stories, said Sallye Heffle.

The July 31 service highlighted recognition of descendants of charter members. It featured a model of the original church building, the dedication of a church window found and refurbished by Bryan Mauck, and the dedication of a quilt designed by Donna Barbour.

The Rev. John Yost, the 19th pastor to serve the church, told the church’s history from its beginning through its years as a United Brethren church, then in 1946, as St. Luke’s Evangelical United Brethren Church, which lasted until the 1968 merger that created the UMC, to today’s community-action oriented church.

St. Luke’s doesn’t just look to its past. It is known for its support of groups serving the needy in the community, foreign and home missions, Heffle said.

Church changes the world a block at a time

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Among the 10,800 area United Methodists who joined together in mission to change the world Oct. 8 and 9 were members of Emory UMC, whose on-going ministry is to clean up their stretch of Georgia Avenue and surrounding area.

Members walked the streets, picked up and bagged trash."Thanks for doing this," shouted one passerby who saw the church at work. "Thanks for all you do."