Hispanic Heritage Month: The observance from Sept. 15-Oct. 15 celebrates the culture and traditions of Hispanic Americans. The observance begins in mid-September because the 15th is the anniversary of independence of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua; the 16th for Mexico; and the 18th for Chile. United Methodist Communications provides a number of resources to celebrate, learn and support Hispanic neighbors. They become available Aug. 15, free to download. DVDs of the materials will also be available for the cost of shipping. Check out: QuickTime (MP4); Windows Media (WMV); Rethink Church Immigration video; General Board of Global Ministries’ National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry brochure; UMC Giving offers a moment for mission, newsletter nuggets, offertory prayer; and General Board of Discipleship has a “Liturgy for the Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month” among its resources.
2011-2012 Adventure Devotional Guide: This lectionary-based devotional guide connects Monday to Sunday through lessons from the Old Testament, Epistles and Gospels with thoughts and reflections from Bishop Schol and 11 pastors from the Baltimore-Washington Conference. This essential resource provides one year of readings for individual or group Bible study. Purchase the Adventure Devotional Guide in book form or view each day’s devotional electronically.
Pocket size book with daily Scripture readings, reflective questions, daily prayers, and room for journaling. Purchase online at BWC website - $5.50 each (including shipping), or purchase at the Cokesbury Store at 11711 East Market Place in Fulton, (beginning Aug.15). Order online at: http://www.bwcumc.org/resources/adventuredailydevotional.
Electronic Version (no charge) includes daily Scripture readings, reflective questions and daily prayers.
o BWC website each day at http://www.bwcumc.org/resources/adventuredailydevotional
o Twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/bwcumc
For additional information or a paper order form, e-mail: pbowen@bwcumc.org.
Women's Equality Day: On July 19-20, 1848, the First Women's Rights Conference was held in Seneca Falls, NY. It took 72 years of unrelenting campaigning for U.S. women to finally win the right to vote. Then, in 1971, at the behest of Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY), the U.S. Congress designated Aug. 26 as "Women's Equality Day." The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. The observance of Women's Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women's continuing efforts toward full equality. Learn more about Women's Equality Day here.
DREAM Sabbath: The Interfaith Immigration Coalition, of which the General Board of Church & Society is a part, is organizing the DREAM Sabbath observance with support from United We Dream. Congregations can pick a Sunday between Sept. 16 and Oct. 9 for their DREAM Sabbath. They are urged to Sign up for a Sunday online to ensure the sponsors and others in their area are aware of their participation. The DREAM Act is bipartisan legislation pioneered by Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill, and Sen. Orin Hatch, R-Utah. The sponsors hope to have many "DREAM" students speak to congregations during the observance to assist faith leaders in educating and mobilizing their congregations. The DREAM Sabbath packet includes planning resources, sacred readings, reflections and more to help plan an event. Congregations should feel free to adapt materials to their own needs, and are encouraged to share the toolkit with others. The packet is available at DREAM Sabbath Toolkit. For more information, contact Bill Mefford (bmefford@umc-gbcs.org), director of Civil & Human Rights at the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society, (202) 488-5657.
Older Adults Day Away: The fall Older Adults Day Away will be held at West River Tuesday, Sept. 20, with the theme “Churches are Created for Growth.” The Rev. Andy Lunt, Director of Congregational Development, will be the keynote speaker and the Rev. Karin Walker will lead Bible study and worship. Afternoon workshops will focus on church growth, World Missions Day, Real Questions on Real Estate, UM Archives, boat rides and more. Cost is $28 per person, which includes lunch and snacks. For more information, go to : http://bwccampsandretreats.com/WRDayAway.html.
Discipleship Opportunities UPDATE - Petitions for General Conference: United Methodists can submit petitions for consideration by the 2012 General Conference, the denomination’s top legislative body, until Sept. 27, 2011. According to church law, “Any organization, clergy member, or lay member of The United Methodist Church may petition the General Conference.” Detailed instructions for submitting a petition are available on the General Conference website. Petitions must be submitted via e-mail to petitions@umpublishing.org or through the website. The deadline for mailed or faxed petitions was July 1. Petitions should indicate whether they have general church budget considerations.
Thrift store opening: Arnolia UMC, 1776 E. Joppa Road in Baltimore, will hold a Grand Opening for its new Thrift Store Monday, Aug. 22, at 11 a.m. The store will carry men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing and household items for residents in the Parkville area, but for any who would like to come. It will be open Mondays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and the second Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Proceeds from the store will help support the outreach ministries of the church. For information, contact the church at 410-665-7005.
New preschool: Beechfield UMC, Baltimore, announces the opening of Word of Life Christian Academy. Now enrolling for the pre-K program (ages 3-5) - classes begin Sept. 6. Download the flyer here for more information.
Take Action on the DREAM Act: Religious leaders announced plans for DREAM Sabbath, a faith-based campaign to encourage congregations to focus a worship service on the DREAM Act, which would provide undocumented students with an opportunity to earn legal status. Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, which includes the UM Board of Church & Society, unveiled the plan. Click here to learn about DREAM Sabbath 2011, which will take place in congregations around the country from Sept. 16 to Oct. 9. Read more»
Susanna Wesley House Annual Fundraiser: Susanna Wesley House will hold its annual fundraising luncheon event, Inspired to Serve, on Sept. 17 from 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the BWC Mission Center. This will be an afternoon of great food and great deals at the silent auction and nearly new table. Be inspired by speaker Sabrina White, President of the Northeast Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Women. While serving as Board President from 2001-2003, Sabrina was instrumental in implementing (and renovating for) the current model of assisting homeless women and children in attaining independence and self-sufficiency. Seating is limited, so order tickets today. All proceeds support the mission of Susanna Wesley House. For more information call 410-837-3787, e-mail SusannaWesley@verizon.net, or visit www.SusannaWesley.org.
Change the World: Mark the Date! Oct. 8-10 for Change the World Mission Workday in your community. Imagine 15,000 United Methodists all working together in mission in their communities. Plans are underway for a conferencewide event this fall. The Change the World Mission Day will celebrate the spirit of United Methodism, a faith built on social action. Congregations will be encouraged to move outside the walls of their local churches to serve in their communities. More details will be announced as they become available. You can download a flyer or register your church or organization now by going to www.bwcumc.org/events/changetheworld.
Concert: Seventh Day Slumber's Small Town America Tour - Concert will be in Springfield Barn in Williamsport, Oct. 16. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., concert begins at 7 p.m. Tickets: inside standing room only, $15; lawn seats, $10. For tickets contact Diana Church, Williamsport UMC, 301-223-7040. Three great bands: Seventh Day Slumber, Cory Lamb, and Southbound Fearing. On this date only, LaVale UMC's youth drama team "Unchained" will be featured. Sponsored by the Cumberland-Hagerstown District (CHD) Youth Council and the Town of Williamsport. Proceeds will go towards future CHD Youth Council projects and activities.
‘Youth for Eco-Justice’ looking for participants: Young Christians ages 18-30 years are invited to apply for an ecumenical program addressing the links between environmental and socio-economic justice, jointly organized by the World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation. “Youth for Eco-Justice” starts with a Nov. 26-Dec. 10 training and immersion in the context of the international climate change negotiations (COP 17) in Durban, South Africa. The postmark deadline for applications is Aug.15. Apply here
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