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Posted on : Thursday June 18, 2020
“God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You. I thirst for You; my body faints for You in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water. So I gaze on You in the sanctuary to see Your strength and Your glory. My lips will glorify You because Your faithful love is better than life.  So I will bless You as long as I live; at Your name, I will lift up my hands.” Psalm 63:1-4
Easter Cantata in June
Northpoint Baptist Church in Dundalk, Maryland, had several outdoor services, first a drive-in, and then they added bring-your-own optional outside seating. The church filled a portion of the parking lot, and visitors from the community stopped by upon seeing the cars or hearing the music.
Following the county’s lifting of some restrictions, the church was inside on June 14 for the first time since March and they celebrated Easter with a cantata. Interim Pastor John Burghauser told the congregation it may be late for the actual date for Easter, but they’ll celebrate it in their hearts.
Six members of the choir were spaced and staggered at least six feet apart for the program and, likewise, the congregation practiced social distancing, wore masks, and observed other necessary precautions.
Music classes
Bethany Music Center, a ministry of Bethany Church, in Ellicott City, Maryland, turned to online classes during the COVID-19 lockdown. Though they’re resuming private lessons, they have decided to continue and expand the online classes due to the positive response.
Currently, there are classes for kids in grades 1-5. For a small charge, students can learn ukulele, guitar, percussion, creative movement and expressive movement, strings, general music, songwriting, piano, and art. Classes offer 40 minutes of instruction, teacher-led practice, and online resources.
Minister of Worship and Arts Minister Sherrie McKay said they’ll soon be adding classes for teens.
“We have a lot of great classes online and it’s going well,” McKay said. Each week there is a theme for the music classes. One recent theme was “Guardians of the Galaxy” and they’ve had Broadway musical and worship themes as well. McKay said most of the students are from the community, and because it’s an outreach, they’re careful to offer a variety of themes, not just those with a biblical focus. Each music class has a song they work on based off of the theme.
Referring to the online classes, McKay said, “We were trying to help families navigate the time when kids were in all day and then it became a part of family’s routine. We thought we would stop it when school resumed but people want to continue. So we’ll build on it and mix it up. It’s a new world and we’re learning new things that work for people.”
In addition to the online classes, students of all ages may register for private lessons in violin, viola, cello, upright bass, drums, percussion, acoustic guitar, voice, and piano. Classes are $30 for a half-hour.
Check out the website for more information and registration.
Senior Grab Bags
Severna Park Baptist Church in Maryland honored graduating seniors with “senior grab bags,” offering Chick-fil-A, Donut Shack, and Steak and Shake coupons along with a chance to win AirPods.
Say “Yes” to “VVBS” 
First Baptist Church of Beltsville in Maryland will have a virtual Vacation Bible School on June 29-July 3. Kids will receive “porch packs” tailored to their families, filled with Bible lessons, games, crafts, snacks, and more. On VBS week, families can go online as directed to watch the worship rally, hear the Bible story, and get directions for crafts and activities.
History Highlights 
In June 2o10, Georgia Avenue Baptist Church, in Silver Spring, Maryland, hosted a Braille reading technique presentation for individuals with impaired vision.
Also in 2010, Oak Grove Baptist Church, in Bel Air, Maryland, had an educator’s encouragement day in May. The special service honored public, private, and homeschooling educators with gifts.
In 2001, the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCM/D) started 21 new congregations. Maryland and Delaware gave more than $87,000 for relief efforts in New York to help victims from the 9/11 terrorist attacks,  and the convention began a three-year partnership with churches in Puebla, Mexico. (Several BCM/D churches continue to minister in Puebla as a result of that partnership.)

Quotable Quotes 

“I would rather be what God chose to make me than the most glorious creature that I could think of; for to have been thought about, born in God’s thought, and then made by God, is the dearest, grandest and most precious thing in all thinking.”
― George MacDonald

“Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in Thee.” — Augustine of Hippo

“If our leaders are not passionately driven by the right beliefs, we are headed for disaster. At the same time, if believers cannot lead, we are headed nowhere.”  — R. Albert Mohler