Arundel Association
The Christian rock band, Holy Smoke, will play at “Saturday Night Live,” a coffeehouse hosted by North Arundel Church, Glen Burnie, on Dec. 20.
The Church at Severn Run offers occasional date nights, providing babysitting for chi
Stauros group members build cabins on property near Skycroft Conference Center.
ldren ages three months to 12-years-old to give couples a chance to take a breather and relax with each other.
Riva Trace Church, Davidsonville, will participate in winter relief Dec. 22-29. Over 30 churches in Anne Arundel County participate, basically turning their facilities into emergency homeless shelters for a week during the winter. Church members pick up the guests in the evenings from an intake center in Glen Burnie and transport them to the church. Riva volunteers provide meals, transportation and help with laundry. They also spend time with the guests, playing checkers, chess, and cards and watching movies. The church members also seek opportunities to share Christ.
Baltimore Association
The Gleaners, a women’s Bible study and prayer group, of Beacon Church, White Marsh, will meet on Dec. 14 at 6:30 p.m. to celebrate Jesus’ birth – what a special gift! For more information email: godislovejohn316@live.com or go to www.beaconbaptistsbc.org.
Members of First Church, Dundalk, distributed coffee and donuts at Eastpoint Mall beginning at 4 a.m. on black Friday as a community outreach.
The church’s children’s ministry hosted a movie night for kids. Children ate pizza and snacks and watched a movie about David and Goliath.
Stauros, a ministry to those struggling with addictions, meets at White Marsh Church. Stauros Group members are building “Elim” houses. John Burghauser, Stauros pastoral care worker, explained that the group has friends, Rock and Margie Stemple, who own seven acres of property near Skycroft Conference Center.
“When we have our men’s retreats and women’s fellowship, we spend the first part of our day at their home. The ladies stay overnight and the men travel to Skycroft. The Stauros group was seeking a place for a man or woman to go for short times for some needed rest and to spiritually recharge,” Burghauser said. As the group prayed, God put it on the Stemples’ hearts to have a few cabins built on their property for that purpose. Now the group has been busy building the cabins.
“As I was praying, I thought about ‘Elim’ in Exodus 15:27. It was the place of rest for the Israelites after Egypt. We have named this endeavor the same because it is a place of rest, Burghauser explained.
“… the entire structure is being built by those associated with Stauros. It is a great time of fellowship. One man said he felt like he was in the first two chapters of The Wild Heart by John Eldridge,” Burghauser said.
The Church on Warren Avenue (TCOWA), Baltimore, served as a water station for runners for the Baltimore Marathon. Volunteers cheered runners on and gave them water as they passed the church.
Warren Fine Arts Academy of Music now offers private and group lessons in chamber music for violin, viola, cello and piano. The new academy is under the leadership of classical musician Michael Gamon, the church’s new minister of administration.
The academy’s first recital was in October and featured the works of Brahms, Bach and Schubert. In November, students played “Four Seasons” by both Vivaldi and Piazzla.
For registration or more information, call (410) 752-7833 or email warrenfinearts@gmail.com.
TCOWA is engaging its community in a variety of ways. They host a contemporary/flexible worship service called “The Vine” on Tuesday nights at the church. “The River” is a campus ministry at Peabody Conservatory sponsored by TCOWA. In addition, the church is working with the Sharp Leadenhall Community, offering Bible studies on Tuesdays.
Woodbrook Church, Baltimore, members filled gift bags for homeless shelters to distribute during the holidays.
The church is also going green with “operation joy.” Church members are being urged to recycle their gift bags cards and ribbons and their gently used clothing to help people in need in Appalachia.
Church volunteers are also collecting toys, books, cold weather clothing, toiletries, and other items to give to poor people in the Appalachia area.
Riverside Church, Baltimore, has been studying about various religious groups including Muslims, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons.
Shelbourne Church leads in an evangelistic service at the Baltimore Rescue Mission every fifth Monday of the month.
Blue Ridge Association
Faith Church, Knoxville, reaches out to the community by hosting Mission of Mercy, a national organization that provides free medical and dental services to the community. The church also operates a clothes closet, providing lightly used clothing. Pantry on the Go comes to the church monthly bringing food donations.
The church’s prayer room is open during these ministries for those who want prayer and spiritual counseling.
Delaware Association
Iron Hill Church’s “Common Ground Café” will host Ray Seemans at 7:07 p.m. on Dec. 6. Seeman is a singer/songwriter and is founder of “Through Me to You Ministries.” To read more about him and the ministry see http://tmty.org.
Ogletown Church had an adult singles ministry Christmas celebration dinner. Al Demers, campus coordinator at Ogletown, was the guest speaker. The participating singles, aged 50 and older, fellowshipped, ate and sang carols. They also had a Christmas ornament exchange.
Eastern Association
Children at First Church, Easton, collected nine-volt batteries and donated them to the Easton fire company to give to needy families in Talbot County.
The church will have a children’s Christmas party on Dec. 13. Children are encouraged to bring new wrapped toys for kids in need.
The children will present the musical “No Wonder!” on Dec. 17. Light refreshments will be served afterwards.
Mid-Maryland Association
The ladies at Friendship Church, Sykesville, had a night out to fellowship enjoying a light dinner together followed a craft demonstration then hands-on craft time.
Bethel Church, Ellicott City, is successfully drawing the community to the church through their “Financial Peace University.” Forty people enrolled in the September session. Most are not members.
Montgomery Association
Colesville Church, Silver Spring, had a unique fellowship event—a recorder concert followed by a “chocolate feast.”
The church offers a continental breakfast every Sunday morning prior to Bible study.
Seven Locks Church, Potomac, will have a Christmas craft night on Dec. 7 with fun activities for the whole family.
The church will have an old fashioned Christmas sing at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 14. Seven Locks will have its annual Christmas Eve communion service.
Potomac Association
Bayside Church, Chesapeake Beach, had a welcome luncheon for their new youth pastor, Glenn Swanson, and his family.
Christian Fellowship of Calvert, Owings, members will take presents to patients at the Children’s Hospital Cancer ward this month.
Christian Unity Church, Waldorf, had a comedy café last month. Guests came for dinner and a comedy show.
Hughesville Church had a western themed chili cook-off as a fellowship/outreach.
Youth at Hughesville collected blankets and socks and will distribute them to homeless people in Washington, D.C., this month.
Nanjemoy Church will have a youth movie night on Dec. 5. Teens will eat dinner together, watch a double feature movie and munch on popcorn.
The church is gearing up for its holiday programs including a Sunday school Christmas program, carols by the choir and a candlelight Christmas Eve service.
Sung Yang is the new pastor of Waldorf Korean Church, currently meeting at Trinity Church.
Kingdom Church, Waldorf, has a Christian Gospel Concert the first Friday of each month.
Prince George’s Association
Kent Church, Landover, has a new arts program called “Revelation Ministry.” About thirty members are participating, using their artistic abilities including acting, dancing, modeling, fashion design and music to glorify God.
The ministry had its first event in October called “Entertainment Night.” Director Mandrill Solomon said for two hours participants entertained with a variety of musical skits. One was called “The Flesh Family,” about a mom, dad and their ten children with names like “gluttony” and “vanity.” The “children” terrorize the community and the parents praise them for their evil deeds. Solomon wrote the skit along with Mary and Kenya Rhodes.
Solomon said “Revelation” is about change, and about offering Christians a chance to use their talents and to have fun.
Sixty-two women from Kettering Church, Upper Marlboro, attended the annual women’s enrichment retreat, “Stepping Forward in Faith: Moving Beyond Your Comfort Zone” at a retreat center in Pennsylvania. The focus was on Esther 4:13-16.
The church’s employment ministry hosted an employer forum. Recruiting experts from Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Graham Staffing services gave members and friends employment advice.
Whitehall Church, Accokeek, will host “warm nights” on Dec.14-21. The church will open the doors of the building and their hearts to the area’s homeless, giving them a warm place to sleep, food, and friendship.
The church is preparing for Christmas with an assortment of special activities including a Christmas craft shop, cookie decorating, and a children’s concert. Other events include the annual hanging of the greens, a Christmas dinner, a presentation of “On this very night” by the sanctuary choir and a Christmas Eve service of praise and adoration.
Susquehanna Association
Real Life Church, Abingdon, members visit residents at the Parkview Senior Apartments on the first Sunday of each month for worship.
North Harford Church has family basketball nights every other Tuesday in the gym.
The church will have a Christmas cantata on Dec. 21 and a Christmas Eve service.
Towne Church, Joppa, called Aaron Stewart as pastor of music and administration and Ron Slayton as associate pastor.
Grace Church, Cumberland, will have its birthday party for Jesus on Dec. 21. They’re also making plans for a Christmas craft day.