July 1, 2024 | "Transformed Lives Transform Lives"

There will be no e-connection on July 8.

tPrayers of the People

Today, this year's clergy appointments become official. We celebrate the ministry of all the pastors in the Baltimore-Washington Conference and the congregations they serve and pray for their well-being. See an alphabetical list of the 86 changes in pastoral appointments this year.

We pray for the Rev. DaeHwa Park whose father, (retired) Rev. KukWon Park, 97, passed away recently. Rev. Park’s mother died earlier this spring. Rev. Park was able to travel back to South Korea to be with his father in his final days. Condolences can be sent to him at 17506 Gallagher Way, Olney, MD 20832.

On June 22, the Washington East District United Women in Faith gathered for an annual prayer breakfast. Nearly 100 women gathered at St. Paul UMC in Oxon Hill for breakfast and fellowship. Following the meal, they entered into worship with music, readings and prayers regarding putting on the full armor of God. 

St. Matthew UMC in Baltimore joined the neighboring Friendship Baptist Church in worship on June 23 for a Celebration of Baptism. Rev. Dr. Kay F. Albury baptized six children, one youth, and 11 adults. Ten new professing members also joined the church.

Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference meets July 10-12

The Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference will meet July 10-12 at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh, Penn. The theme, based on Romans 15:13, is "Overflowing with Hope.”

Because of General Conference action, no episcopal elections are expected during this session. The assignments of bishops for the next quadrennium will be announced on Friday, July 12, at 8:30 a.m.

Jenkins to lead new campus minsitry at Bowie State

The BWC's Discipleship Ministries invites you to join in celebrating the birth of a new campus ministry at Bowie State University under the leadership of Pastor Bresean Jenkins. In addition to the gifts of outreach, enthusiasm, and creativity, Jenkins brings his experience from Hampton University, where he was a theatre professor and assisted with campus ministries. He is excited about artistically engaging this new ministry while creating a nurturing space for the students to grow spiritually.

In 2017, the Baltimore-Washington Conference dreamed of engaging over 500 college students through BWC-connected ministries on at least 12 campuses. At that time, we had ministries on five campuses in two districts. Since then, we have restarted, grown, or are in the process of planting campus ministries on eight campuses in four districts across all regions of our annual conference.

Two of the eight launching this year are Bowie State and Morgan State. Please join us in praying for and connecting with all campus ministers across our conference as they prepare to welcome students in the fall.

Discipleship Opportunities

Vitality Pilot: Does your church want to improve its planning for vitality? Does it want to help pilot a new process that will shape what all churches use in 2025? If so, please let us know by completing this Church Mission and Vitality Progress Report Pilot interest form. This progress report is designed to: 1) keep us focused on developing disciples for the transformation of the world; 2) record progress and set intentions; and 3) support local church annual goal setting to improve vitality. Learn more by watching the Discipleship Council report.

Mission u: The Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Conferences United Women in Faith and the BWC's Wellness and Missions ministries will host Mission u at the Maritime Conference Center in Linthicum on July 20. Registration is $90 for adults, $45 for youth and $35 on Zoom. Learn more. Register.

Hiroshima-Nagasaki Memorial Service: The BWC Creation Care and Peace with Justice Advocacy and Action Ministries will hold a special worship service to acknowledge the increasing threat to humanity of nuclear war and advocate the negotiated, phased and verifiable abolition of nuclear weapons. The Hiroshima-Nagasaki Memorial Service will be held at the BWC Mission Center in Fulton on Aug. 6 from 11 a.m. to noon. Learn more and register.

The BWC has openings for Campus Ministry Interns at United Methodist ministry HUBs on the campuses of Towson, Morgan State, and University of Maryland College Park. HUB stands for Here U Belong. The interns will help shape and create ministry with support from invested and gifted adults. The time commitment is six to eight hours a week during the school year. The pay is $16 an hour. Complete this form to apply for this position at Morgan State, Towson, or University of Maryland College Park.

Free piano to good home: A generous United Methodist is giving away a state-of-the-art 2000 Yamaha C# grand piano. For more information, contact drrek@optonline.net.

Accessibility Coordinators: Participants from United Methodist churches and ministries in the Baltimore-Washington Conference are invited to attend a free, two-hour class to learn some of the fundamentals of being an accessibility coordinator. This training offers a pathway for churches to be more welcoming to persons with disabilities and differing abilities. Volunteers, staff, and/or members of the board of trustees are welcome to attend. The class is led by Rev. Leo Yates and is from 10 a.m. to noon. Register for the training.

• July 13 - Baltimore - Christ Church of the Deaf
• July 20 - Annapolis - Arnold UMC
• Aug. 27 - Frederick - Trinity UMC
• Aug. 3 - Washington, D.C. - Silver Spring UMC
• Aug. 10 - Virtual training (open to participants from the BWC and Pen-Del)
• Sept. 7 - West Virginia - Asbury UMC in Shepherdstown
• Sept. 14 - Cumberland - Cresaptown UMC

In Memorium

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of four United Methodist pastors who served the Baltimore-Washington Conference with passion, integrity and faith.

The Rev. Eric Wellington King, a retired pastor and the husband of Rev. Twanda E. King, the pastor of Union UMC in Upper Marlboro, died on June 26. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be announced soon. Cards and other expressions of love may be sent to his family home at 8850 Fox Circle, Perry Hall, MD 21128.

The Rev. Mary K. Worrel, 79, a retired clergyperson, died June 24. Her family will receive friends at the Burgee-Henss-Seitz Funeral Home, Inc., at 3631 Falls Road in Baltimore on Thursday, July 11, from 5 to 8 p.m. See her obituary.

The Rev. Neva H. Leatherwood, a retired clergyperson, died June 22. A funeral service will be held on July 3 at 1 p.m. at Bethany UMC, 2875 Bethany Lane in Ellicott City. See her obituary.

The Rev. Sandra M. Greene, a retired Elder, died on June 23. Details of her memorial service are forthcoming.

We give thanks for the lives of each of these remarkable servants of God and the light they brought to the church and all its people.

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