Top 5 @ SPUMC
#1 A QUESTIONING FAITH
Is the Bible primarily a book of answers or questions? That was just one of the queries that Rev. Ron posed to the congregation in his sermon on Sunday, April 14, as he suggested that when we are paying attention, we will see that Jesus and the prophets both used questions quite regularly and powerfully to get at the heart of faith and deepen our relationships – with God, with our neighbor and with ourselves. We looked at some of the most familiar questions in the Bible like “What does the Lord require of you?” (Micah 6:8), “Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye?” and “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29). We can also use questions to show care and empathy with those around us, to make them feel seen and heard, just like Jesus did. Join us over the next 5 weeks as we continue our series, I’ve Been Meaning to Ask and discover the power of a questioning faith.
#2 GIVE US YOUR TIME & STUFF!
Our Spring Missions Garage Sale is Saturday, May 4, 8:30am-1pm. We need hundreds of volunteers May 1-3 to help sort and price donations and on the day of the sale, as well. Volunteer sign-ups have begun online and in Fellowship Hall on Sunday mornings. We will begin receiving donations on Wednesday, May 1 from 5-8pm. You can also drop of your items on Thursday, May 2 from 8am-8pm, or Friday, May 3, 8am-2pm. If you need to arrange for larger items to be picked up, please Email the Garage Sale Team.
The Garage Sale raises over $20,000 twice a year to support the work of Volunteers in Mission (VIM) and the missional outreach of the the United Women in Faith (UWF). VIM has two mission trips planned for this year (Costa Rica in August and Sager Brown UMCOR Depot this fall). If you have questions about the Garage Sale, you can find out more here.
#3 UMC GENERAL CONFERENCE MEETING
After years of delay due to Covid and other factors, the General Conference of the United Methodist Church is finally meeting in Charlotte, NC April 23-May 3. Up for consideration are important matters like Regionalization (giving the US, Africa, Europe and the Philippines more autonomy to do contextual ministry and moving away from our colonial past), Right-sizing our denominational boards and agencies (following the loss of nearly 25% of our congregations to disaffiliation), Revising the Book of Discipline and the Social Principles and Removal of harmful and discriminatory language from our Book of Discipline and Social Principles (around issues of inclusion and human sexuality). We are holding Information Sessions on Sunday, April 28 following each of our worship services in the Parlor. Additionally, we are posting updates and links on our website before, during and after General Conference to keep you informed.
Here are some helpful links so you can follow along:
VIDEOS:
April 23 Highlights
April 24 Highlights
April 25 Highlights
What Is General Conference? (A short introductory video)
DS Sarah Schlieckert’s video posts from General Conference
Former BWC Bishop John Schol’s video update (4/25)
(he’s currently the Bishop of Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey)
WEBSITES:
General Conference Official Website
The UMC Website
The Baltimore-Washington Conference Website
General Conference is a representative body of lay and clergy delegates from each of our Annual Conferences that meets every four years (in normal times!) for holy conferencing and to set the missional priorities for the United Methodist Church in an ever-changing world.
#4 BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS
The 7th Annual Blessing of the Animals will take place this coming Sunday, April 28 at 5pm in our beautiful Memorial Garden. This is always a fun afternoon as you get to show off your furry friends to one another and it’s a great event to invite your friends and neighbors to attend with you.
We hope that you will join us during Earth Week to celebrate the goodness of God’s creation and our love for our pets!
#5 EXTREME MAKEOVER TEAM
We have some exciting renovations planned for the Sanctuary that will begin this summer and will include new flooring, refinishing & re-cushioning the pews, a major refurbishment of the organ, AV capability upgrades, painting and more. We are seeking all kinds of skillsets to help with this project. We need people to help with publicity, project management, financial tracking, community engagement and fundraising. Email Rev. Ron if you’d like to be part of this effort in any capacity or become a lead donor.