Current Happenings

Enjoy a delicious Italian meal and support HopeWorks of Howard County by buying food at Tino's, 8775 Center Park Drive on Monday, Sep. 23. Ten percent of proceeds from all meals that day (including carry-out, delivery or dine-in) will go to HopeWorks, the only county agency that provides support and advocacy for those who have experienced partner violence.

People from a wide variety of ministry areas will staff tables after services Sep. 28 and 29 to share opportunities to serve and transformational experiences and to address questions. Deadline to participate has passed.

One of 50 churches supporting this Grassroots outreach, Glen Mar provides lunch the 4th Saturday of every month. To contribute to the potluck menu or help serve on site, RSVP here.

Glen Mar will hold its annual "business meeting" to share highlights of the past year with our district superintendent, approve pastoral compensation packages, hear reports from different ministry areas and conduct other church business. The conference will be held at 3:30 p.m. at St. Paul's UMC, 7538 Main Street, Sykesville, MD 21784. Worship will be at 2:45 p.m. All church members are eligible to vote.

This is the start up meeting for the school year. Support our college students, either away at college or living at home, by sending care packages filled with treats four times a year. This group meets in Room 146. For more information or to add a student to the mailing list, contact youvegotmail@glenmarumc.org Please include name and college mailing address.

PATH (People Acting Together in Howard) will present Learn and Organize: Equity in Public Education at St. John Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 9055 Tamar Drive in Columbia. Sabina Taj and Mavis Ellis, education advocates and Howard County Board of Education members, will be the presenters. This event is for member congregations. Glen Mar is a member congregation.

This group is for church leaders of all descriptions and folks who would just like to hear where Glen Mar is now, any news and learnings from Leadership Days, and some of our congregational vision for 2020-21. Leadership Board and staff have discerned that this is a season to re-engage with our local neighborhood, and to be intentional about extending the radical hospitality of Jesus to people God sends to us, and to give that same hospitality as we are sent into the community so that we might grow as disciples of Jesus and God would use us to make more disciples of Jesus.

Come build dreams with us! This ministry is normally held the second Saturday of every month except this year it will be held Nov. 16 instead of Nov. 9. Meet at Glen Mar in the morning to carpool. Times vary, and will be announced right before the workday. Forms and sign up are due the Sunday prior to the work day. Contact Adrienne Taylor, habitat@glenmarumc.org to sign up. Ages 16 and up. Learn more.

Adults and children working with children or vulnerable adults must have up-to-date and complete Safe Sanctuaries training. The Oct. 8 training is in Room 121. The Oct. 13 training will be in Room 146. Click here for more information and additional Safe Sanctuaries training times.

Are you a tired parent of small children? Looking for other parents with active little ones? If so, this is the group for you. Parents of Preschoolers, version 2 or POPs2 will meet every second Saturday of the month at Glen Mar to share a meal, enjoy a time of social fellowship, and participate in a short Bible study. Childcare is available for the study portion of the meeting. If interested please contact Kim.

Serve a hot breakfast to a homeless population at Manna House in Baltimore. Glen Mar’s team works on the second Sunday of the month. Leave the church at 7:15 a.m. and carpool to the site. Adults and youth 14 and older can participate. Contact Ellen Burns at 410.913.5772 or mannahouse@glenmarumc.org if interested.

Baptism class is for adults seeking baptism or for parents who wish to have their infants and children baptized at Glen Mar. It will be held in Room 144.

PATH (People Acting Together in Howard) will hold a PATH Assembly in the sanctuary at St. John Baptist Church, 9055 Tamar Drive in Columbia. The topic will be public education and immigration action. This event is for PATH member congregations and allies. Glen Mar is a member congregation.

Our Welcome Center Team is looking for warm, friendly faces to greet newcomers before and after worship. Welcome Center hosts serve on a rotation at the worship service of their choice. To find our more, contact Jen.Eschilman@glenmarumc.org

Glen Mar is recruiting singers in sixth grade through adults to perform in the church’s Christmas cantata, John Rutter's Magnificat. Rehearsals have started and are Thursdays at 7 p.m. in the Music Suite. Two performances will be held at the 9 and 11 a.m. services on Sun., Dec. 15. For more information, contact sophie.hong@glenmarumc.org

All men are welcome to practice and sing on Oct. 10 for both 8 and 9:30 a.m. services. Practices will be Sep. 25, and Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Spencer Klevenow menschoir@glenmarumc.org.

Join us for an in-depth 8-week Bible study in which people read and discuss the Bible together, learning how to love God and each other better. For information about Glen Mar's Covenant Bible Study click here. Questions? Contact growthgroups@glenmarumc.org.

Individuals who care for others are among us. If you or someone you know wants to do more as a Christian caregiver, consider Stephen Ministry. For more information, call 410.799.4028 or email stephenministry@glenmarumc.org

Seeking ordinary Christians to serve as Friends in Faith for confirmation students. Contact Jen Rowell at Jen.Rowell@glenmarumc.org to learn more.

Walk to Bethlehem is an indoor/outdoor theatrical Christmas adventure for the whole family. It will be held Dec. 6, 7, and 8, 5 - 8 p.m. During its 12 years, it has reached 22,000 visitors through our dedicated and strong volunteer staff. Help us by signing up early for your favorite spot. Contact Margaret Lang at margaret.lang@glenmarumc.org to volunteer.

HopeWorks of Howard County, the only county agency that provides support and advocacy for those who have experienced partner violence, will benefit from the slightly worn jewelry and scarves you donate. The collection bins are in the upstairs office with Corrina Watson and in the Early Learning Center. Please donate by Nov. 3. There will be a special drop-off location Thu., Sep. 26, 2 - 8 p.m., at Talbot's where you will receive an additional 10 percent off Talbot's featured promotion during that time.

Donated items will be sold at the fourth annual Jewels for Hope event on Sat., Nov. 16, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Glen Mar. Contact hopeworks@glenmarumc.org with questions.

Glass bottles and jars, especially unique or old looking ones, are being sought. Drop off in the youth office.

If have have a Staples account and buy ink there, you can help provide supplies for youth programs through the ink cartridge recycling programs. For details, contact Fayette Stewart at 573.578.2412.

Grassroots Shelter and the Day Resource Center are always in need of essential items such as toiletries, non-perishable food or new or slight used clothing and bedding. Blue shopping lists with specific seasonal needs are updated and available in The Gathering Place kiosk, Welcome Center and near the collection bin on the lower level.

Glen Mar Church collected more than $7,400 from parishioners in September to send to the Bahamas Hurricane Relief through The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). All of it will go to Bahamas Hurricane disaster relief.

Glen Mar Church donated 50 filled baskets of school supplies and 80 gift cards to staff at
Veterans Elementary School in Ellicott City on Sept. 12. To add to the well wishes, the school was given a myriad of homemade cards with uplifting messages and drawings from parishioners.

Glen Mar is in its fifth year of College and Career Prep, our partnership ministry to improve the future for youth living in Baltimore. This ministry has been successful because our volunteers maintain an ongoing relationship ministry with tutoring on the side. We are currently working with 20 youth.

Three of our youth graduated from high school this year. One needed us to help pay for seven twilight classes that she needed to graduate. Her school suggested it would be wasted money because if she missed a class twice she would be dropped. We expect God to give us second chances, so we ought to do the same. We paid the course fees. She passed them all.

Terrance is starting eighth grade. He attended robotics nationals and NASA space camp, and this summer he volunteered to go on his first Hurley mission trip.

A fifth grader joined us about a year ago. His teachers had given up on him because of how disruptive he can be in class. We got to know him and realized that he would rather get suspended than show his weakness - he can’t read. We’re working with him privately, and during the year he’s improved two grade levels. He is quite the gentleman when he is confident.

They’re God’s kids, and our kids. They seek our companionship, our willingness to walk with them, to learn from our mistakes and theirs, to learn their world. We believe in them as a way of showing that God believes in us.