July 15, 2024 | "Transformed Lives Transform Lives"

There will be no e-connection on July 22.

Bishop Easterlings returns to BWC and Pen-Del Area

Bishop LaTrelle Easterling was assigned to serve as the episcopal leader of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Conferences at the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference, which met July 9-12 in Pittsburgh, Pa.

See a story about her assignment.

Read responses from conference leaders.

Learn more about the actions of the Northeastern Jurisdictional Session in a comprehensive wrap-up story.

See a story about the NEJ session from the Pittsburgh Tribune, including a very special story about a historic cross that greeted the delegates at the opening worship.

A message of gratitude and hope from Bishop Easterling

Beloved:

I am humbled and deeply grateful to be requested for a third quadrennium to serve a newly formed episcopal area that includes the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Conferences. Your belief in and support of my leadership are humbling and inspiring. I serve to bring God glory, nurture disciples and assist in transforming our communities. And, it’s all done through the lens of Christ-centered justice. This is a gift we’ve been given. We cannot squander it.

You have confirmed so many of my leadership principles: the importance of listening, the value of surrounding oneself with the most capable people, and not being afraid to take intelligent risks. You have also challenged me to be more prophetic, to never fear standing alone if it’s the right thing to do and to always be my authentic self. 

I am more committed than ever to empowering, equipping and deploying every member, lay and clergy, who desires to make a vital difference for the kin-dom of God. Thank you for this incredible opportunity to continue our ministry journey together. God said yes; I say, “Let’s Go!”

Blessings and Peace,

Bishop LaTrelle Easterling

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.

Disability service video: The Baltimore-Washington Conference Commission on Disability Concerns has created its first Awareness Worship Service, which is now available to view on YouTube. See the video.

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. 

Lay servant ministry classes: The Washington Region will host four lay servant ministry classes on Saturday, Aug. 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Aug.4, from 2 to 5 p.m. in person at First UMC at 6201 Belcrest Road in Hyattsville. Learn more. Space is limited; there are 10 slots per class.

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.

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 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

The Rev. Alfreda Wiggins-Ball died on July 4. A public viewing will be held at Howell’s Funeral Home, 4600 Liberty Heights Ave. in Baltimore, on July 22 from noon to 7 p.m. A funeral service will be held at First Mount Olive Freewill Baptist Church, 618 N. Hammonds Ferry Road in Linthicum Heights on Tuesday, July 23. The wake will be at 10 a.m. and the service at 11 a.m.

See a listing of local church events.

Explore more events and opportunities to grow in faith and vitality.

Learn more about 100% of churches at 100% vitality.

See church classified ads now online.