| Teens start Christian dance troupe ODENTON Three years ago, twin teen-agers, Kat and Susan Cardwell, from Nichols-Bethel UMC decided that dance would be a good way to praise and worship God. They started a group that grew rapidly. When the family was transferred out of the country, the sisters arranged for a professional dance instructor and member of the church, Martina D. Kerns, to come aboard. Today 37 girls, ages 4 to 15, learn classical ballet, liturgical and tap dance styles to Christian music, Kerns said. They perform from October through May. Our troupe enjoys sharing and testimonies with others and welcomes any invitation to fellowship and perform for the enjoyment and uplifting of others, Kerns said. Contact Leah Man at (410) 544-5422 to make arrangements. Muslim, Jewish, Christian leaders pray CATONSVILLE For the first time in Maryland the ecumenical Interfaith Prayer for Peace in the Middle East was hosted by a United Methodist church. The service was held May 22 at Catonsville UMC. It was also the first time in this setting that a rabbi; an imam, originally from Iran; and two Christian pastors, the Revs. Mark R. Waddell and Dellyne I. Hinton, shared in providing readings from the Bible and the Quran and led litanies and prayers for peace, reported Lynn Robinson, the facilitator of the event. The prayer services, designed to work toward reconciliation between Palestinians and Israelis and among Jews, Muslims and Christians, meet in various churches on the 22nd of each month. As soon as I walked in the room, I was aware that this is a sacred place. Its something wonderful, the power of the prayer of three faiths, commented a Roman Catholic participant, Robinson said. AIDS victims remembered WASHINGTON, D.C. More than 1,500 communities in 80 countries around the world observed the 19th annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial May 19. Capitol Hill UMC was one of nearly 140 groups in the United States that hosted the event, which was held at Seward Square Park with a reception in the church. Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and the Rev. Douglas Fox addressed more than 120 people, many of whom were from the Ethiopian community, Fox said. It was very exciting, with participants from the religious, international, political and gay-lesbian groups present, Fox said. Music was provided by vocalists from the Capitol Hill UMC choir, one of whom participated in memory of her father who died from AIDS nearly 10 years ago, Fox reported. Information about the annual global event, sponsored by Global Health Council, can be found on the Web site at www.globalhealth.org . Softball game to benefit tornado relief ODENTON Nichols-Bethel UMC will play softball against the WWMX-Mix 106.5 radio team to raise money for recovery efforts in La Plata, a community hit by a devastating tornado in April. The game will be played July 21 at 1 p.m. at Christian Church of Christ, 8132 New Cut Road in Severn. Admission is free, and 100 percent of donations will go to the rebuilding of the church, its ministries and its community. | 
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