| Youth leader inspired group to care BUCKEYSTOWN For more than five years the youth group at Buckeystown #85 UMC, under the leadership of the late Jami Buck, raised money to address hunger through a World Vision program, 30 Hour Famine.  Buck died last January from cancer, but her enthusiasm and spirit caused World Vision to name an inspirational youth group award in her memory. The first award was presented to the Buckeystown youth.
Last years famine (fast) was dedicated to Bucks memory. The church raised $7,000 for the World Vision program at the youth weekend and from designated memorial funds. Thirty youth, including two who came from Wesley Chapel UMC, participated in this years famine, Feb. 28-29. They raised $5,000 and made 200 sandwiches, which they delivered to the Frederick Rescue Mission. The youth were also given money to purchase food for a local food bank. Community rescues local church LANDOVER HILLS When the Gazette newspapers carried a story that Christ UMC, generally referred to as Christ United, might not make it to its 48th anniversary in June, the community came to the rescue. The small church had a $25,000 deficit, and a congregation that was working hard to help. Conference officials were working hard, too, to help the church focus on its ministry to the community. Thats when Ascension Lutheran Church, six blocks away, came to help. The Rev. Frederick Hedt, the churchs pastor, made a $100 contribution and e-mailed 99 of his friends to do the same, the Gazette reported. Within 36 hours, he had raised more than $4,000, and the amount nearly doubled by mid-February. I was just looking at what we can do to be good neighbors, Hedt said. The towns mayor, Lee P. Walker, also joined the effort. The church is part of the towns history, he said. Jerome Gary, chairman of Christ UMCs board of trustees, said the communitys response was key to the congregations decision to remain open. Im really just overwhelmed by the outpouring of support. It has been incredible, said the Rev. Cammie Reed. Congregation gives valentine to police  WASHINGTON For the fifth consecutive year, police officers in the First District near Capitol Hill UMC received a valentine tribute from the church.
Each year members of the church womens group, called CHUM Women, extends its thanks to the neighborhood police on the Thursday before Valentines Day. They arrived at the substation with valentines, decorations and good things to eat, said Carol Anderson. We are greatly indebted to these men and women officers for their dedication to our neighborhoods, said the Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli. Their everyday heroism is easy to take for granted. You get used to seeing the patrol cars, the bike cops, and the occasional horse-mounted officer. But we owe our overall sense of safety and well-being to their daily diligence and their constant presence, she added. Our officers were greatly looking forward to this years visit, said Inspector Keith L. Williams, the 1D1s commander. Methodists in wartime on exhibit BALTIMORE While the Council of Bishops met in Washington, D.C., in November, their spouses opened an exhibit on war and peace at Lovely Lane Museum. The displays, which focus on World Wars I and II, include two chaplains communion sets, a Red Cross memorial quilt and a Jewish stole designed to be used with all religions, said Wanda Hall, a volunteer at the museum. In one book in the display are photographs of two local Methodist brothers, one returned from war, the other did not. Contributions to the on-going exhibit are welcome, and will be returned in good condition, Hall said. Call the museum at (410) 889-4458 or e-mail
Items from the Revolutionary War and the Civil War will be especially appreciated. Church helps in local controversy BALTIMORE When Rodgers Forge UMC leased their parking lot to a local construction company as a staging area for some major construction, it didnt expect a backlash from the community. But the temporary fencing, barb wire, Spot-A-Pot, office trailer, back hoe, pickup trucks and 20 orange and white barrels are an eyesore, according to some members of the community, reported the Towson Times. We agreed to do it because the York Road construction will be a benefit for so many citizens, said the Rev. Gregory Coates. We feel we wanted to facilitate the project. | 
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