Flohrville United Methodist Church 100th Anniversary Celebration

Flohrville United Methodist Church is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year: a 100-year tradition of serving Jesus Christ. But tradition is just the foundation on which to build, it is not something that binds us to the past. Flohrville UMC is seeking to build (or maybe rebuild is the right word) a church that is not only a place to worship Go, but also a place that will give glory to God's name. We want to make our church a joyful and exciting place, arousing a fire in the hearts of those who seek Jesus Christ.  

On May 15th we will have a re-dedication service at 9:30 a.m.  Bishop Schol will re-dedicate the building and give the message that morning. At 2:00 pm we will have a Celebration Cookout (free of charge) with hot dogs, music and a marshmallow roast (or burning the way I do it). Come join us and help us celebrate. Hope to see you there!  

For more information go to flohrvilleumc.org or contact me, Pastor Rick Nace at pastor@flohrvilleumc.org. Event goes on rain or shine. (PS:  If anyone would like to perform at the afternoon celebration, that is sing for hot dogs, please let me know.)  

Bonnie Scott Wins National Award

Bonnie Scott, soon to be associate pastor at Wesley Freedom United Methodist Church has received a very prestigious preaching award, becoming the first Methodist woman to receive it. Details can be found here: http://divinity.duke.edu/news-media/news/20110427bscott.

Job Openings at the Conference Mission Center

The Baltimore-Washington Conference staff is a great team of committed believers who are making a difference in our conference and the world. We seek to hire the best to serve God and you with excellence. We need your help in identifying outstanding candidates for the following positions:

·          Senior Accountant

Full descriptions of these may be found at https://gateway.bwcumc.org/bwcssa/ecmssamsganalytics.click_through?p_mail_id=E36616A655631B1C2552.

You can help us best serve God and you by passing this information on to people that may be interested in the positions and posting the following announcement in your bulletin, web page or any other communications resources you use.

Employment Opportunities that offer a challenging and rewarding opportunity to be in ministry. The Baltimore-Washington Conference, located in the Columbia, Maryland area, serves the 650 United Methodist congregations in this region and has several positions open. These include: IT/Property Manager; Administrator for Connectional Ministries; Administrator for Communications; Washington Region Administrative Assistant; and Director of Archives and History.

You can learn more about these positions by going to Fuller descriptions of these may be found at https://gateway.bwcumc.org/bwcssa/ecmssamsganalytics.click_through?p_mail_id=E36616A655631B1C2552. We invite you to prayerfully consider if you are called to this work.

Annual Conference Credential Cards

Please download and print the appropriate Credential Card http://www.bwcumc.org/content/2011annualconferenceoverview#credential and bring it with you to the Registration Desk at Annual Conference. You will need to turn in the Credential Card to receive your registration packet. There will be forms available at the Registration Desk, but please fill it out before getting in line to eliminate any additional delays. Please do NOT mail the card to the Conference Mission Center.

Lay Members representing the local church MUST have the pastor sign the Credential Card BEFORE coming to the Registration Desk. No Registration Packet will be distributed unless a Credential Card is turned in for those who are required to do so. Only the Lay Member who is the ‘voting’ member from their church needs to have the pastor sign the credential card. 

QUEST SCREENING AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE

This is a friendly reminder.  If you are planning on taking the Quest screening at Annual Conference, you must register by today, Friday, May 6, 2011.  Quest Diagnostic will be on-site at Annual Conference on Thursday, May 26 and Friday May 27. 

Since this is a new program for Quest, we require that you preregister to take the screening.  When you register, an order will be placed in the Quest system before your appointment.

The Blueprint for Wellness screening can also be done at a Quest facility near you – you can find one when you call to register.  

Registration can be done by Phone: 1-866-908-9440, employer/group: “HealthFlex” or “United Methodist Church”; or Online: at www.gbophb.org log into “HealthFlex/WebMD.” Under “HealthFlex Vendor Links, choose “Quest Diagnostics”, registration key: umc2011, click submit and complete the necessary steps to register.

To receive your $100 HealthCash, you must be enrolled in the Virgin Healthmiles program (see attached) and the screening must be done between April 1 – July 31, 2011 either at our on-site location or at a Quest Diagnostics facility.

THE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON CONFERENCE MISSION CENTER NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

We are seeking any individuals that have a desire to get involved with the ministries we have at the BWC Mission Center. The areas where we have the greatest need are with our hospitality staff as front desk attendants and librarians, and with various large events throughout the year.

If you feel you might be interested in being a member of our volunteer staff, please contact John Gauthier, the Coordinator of Radical Hospitality by email: jgauthier@bwcumc.org or by phone (900-492-2525 x406). Also, feel free to use our volunteer form on the BWC website: www.bwcumc.org/content/volunteerapplication.

Thank you for your continuing support of the important ministries in our conference!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE

If you are interested in serving as an usher or a marshal at the 2011 annual conference session, call the Rev. Yvonne Mercer-Staten at 202-882-2122. If you are interested in serving as a page or teller, contact the Rev. Paulette Wilkins at 410-362-8547.

MISSION INSITE TRAINING - May 18 - 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

MissionInsite is a powerful new online tool to help equip congregations with information about their community demographics. The Baltimore-Washington Conference has purchased a subscription for this tool for all local churches in the conference. You’ll get desktop, web-based access to demographic data to help you grow your congregations and enhance your ministries.

• flexible web based information system
• comprehensive socioeconomic and lifestyle data
• interactive mapping platform
• responsive system to answer individual questions
• strategic information resource for ministry

You’re invited to attend a free training that will help get you started with this user-friendly and versatile tool:

Location of Training

Washington and Baltimore Region Clergy and Laity
Baltimore-Washington Conference Mission Center
11711 East Market Place, Fulton, MD 20759

To register go to the BWC website (www.bwcumc.org) and click on MissionInsite training under the highlights box.

URGENT - PLEASE GO IN AND UPDATE YOUR COMMITTEE LISTINGS

The Washington Region office has received many calls from officers in the local church because they are receiving e-mails and calls from the conference office for positions that they haven’t held in two to three years. It is the responsibility of the local church to update these records each year. This region does not update these records. This also applies to keeping e-mails, addresses and phone numbers updated in Gateway.

Workshop on Evangelism

Dear Brothers and Sisters: "Please make plans to attend Saturday, May 21st at 9:00am our first Workshop on Evangelism at Pleasant Grove UMC. There will be refreshments for those attending. Everyone from any church is welcome to come and enjoy the workshop. The Rev. Jenny Smith from Mt. Carmel UMC will be leading the workshop." We want to reach to those in our community that have no church, and everyone who wants to build community.

Rev. Eliezer Valentín-Castañón

Gateway Training Schedule for 2011

Mark your calendars for Gateway training! Gateway training will be available to those you register. Each class will max out with 50 registrants. Online registration will be available in the coming weeks. The Gateway training schedule is as follows:

General Gateway Training for church administrators and pastors as administrators:

August 16, 2011 9-11 a.m. & 1-3 p.m. at the Conference Mission Center

Gateway Training on Clergy Compensation for SPRC chairs and treasurers:

September 7, 2011 2-4 p.m. at the Conference Mission Center

September 9, 2011 2-4 p.m. at the Conference Mission Center

Gateway Training for Lay Speaker and CLM Reports:

September 13, 2011 3-4 p.m. & 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Conference Mission Center

Gateway Training on Statistical Reports for pastors, church administrators, and anyone else involved in the statistical report process at your church:

November 29, 2011 9-11 a.m. & 1-3 p.m. at the Conference Mission Center

Change The World!

Imagine 15,000 United Methodists all working together in mission in their communities. Plans are now underway for a conference-wide event on October 8, 9 & 10, 2011. 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. If your church would

like a practice run, you are encouraged to participate in the denomination’s Change the World event, which is expected to draw 500,000 people across the nation into 3,500 mission projects May 14-15. http://www.blogger.com/www.bwcumc.org/events/changetheworld