Worship:

Our worship service (10:45 a.m. Sunday mornings) is informal, with prayer, reading of scriptures by laity, singing hymns, special music or a bible-based skit, a time for Young Disciples, time to share our Joys and Concerns, and a message from our pastor.

If you would like to receive our weekly service bulletin in email, please contact westharfordumc@gmail.com.

You can also access our Sunday worship service live (as well as previous worship services) at West Harford – YouTube and click on “Live”

Communion is served on the 1st Sunday of each month.

In the 4th Sunday of each month we have a “Dashing for Dollars” time where the children buzz around the congregation to collect funds for that month’s mission project.

The Importance of Music

Music is a very important part of our worship and praising God! Our choirs meet on Wednesday evenings September through May, with special music by smaller groups/ensembles during our summer worship services.

The vocal choir, under the direction of Gloria Hague, will meet each Wednesday night 8:00-9:00 p.m.  We welcome singers/musicians who want to provide special music during our worship services.

Our handbell choir, directed by Cheryl Dixon, has been active for 24 years!  The choir consists of 3 octaves of bells. Practice is held on Wednesday, 6:45 – 7:45 p.m. September through May.  We welcome additional bell ringers!  You do not have to read music — “just be able to count to four!”

Email wwchurchlady@verizon.net for more information.

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Children’s Ministry

A Children’s Message is included in the worship service. Supervision of young children is available in the Gathering Room, which is adjacent to the sanctuary, or in the Nursery.
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Study & Sunday School Opportunities

Sunday School classes are available (September through May from 9:30-10:30) for children and an Adult class (age 16 and up.)

Children’s class will begin meeting on Sunday, September 3, 2023.

Adult’s class will begin meeting on Sunday, September 17, 2023

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Phone-in Prayer Group

Our prayer group meets over the phone every Thursday 9:15-9:45 a.m. by calling in on (1-425-436-6341 and enter access code 457091 followed by # – JOIN US!) Pastor Bernardo generally leads the group, beginning with a Scripture reading. We then share our prayer concerns, have a general prayer and we end with everyone joining in the Lord’s Prayer.

Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

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Missions

Missions is a very important part of our Christian faith – helping those in need and spreading the word and grace of Jesus Christ.  Throughout the year we support various local missions and have provided help to individuals having an immediate crisis.

Some of the missions we support include:

Clean-up Buckets:

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) collects supplies and donations and puts together buckets of cleaning supplies for those who are affected by natural disasters (floods, fires, tornados, earthquakes, etc.)  Our mission group is sends funds to help with the devastation after hurricanes.  We have made trips to Mission Central in PA in to fill or to verify the contents of flood “clean-up” buckets that have been packed. Given the many natural disasters and fires, it is important that this help is available to those in need. Contact Dave if you have any questions. (ddkdbielecki@aol.com)

For information about this ministry go to: https://www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies/Relief-Supply-Kits/Cleaning
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Harford Family House:

Harford Family House is the largest provider of transitional housing in Harford County for homeless families with children and unaccompanied young adults ages 18-25. They provide a program to transition families from homelessness to self-sufficiency. We collect items mid-Nov to mid-Dec and deliver them in December. For information about this mission check their website: harfordfamilyhouse.org

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New Hope Outreach Ministry:

This ministry reaches out to the homeless in Edgewood and the surrounding areas in Harford County. They offer free breakfast and lunch every day. Clothing, spiritual counseling, and connection to local services are provided.

Our church along with other churches help them by supplying clothing, hygiene products, paper products, food items, and outdoor living items.  For information go to their website: Home | New Hope Day Shelter | Harford County – Edgewood

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Education for Belize and the Water Fountain Christian Resource Center.

A former pastor of our church, Rev. Ray Keene, had done mission work in Belize,  providing students with the funds to attend school.  He moved to Belize after retiring and continued his mission work there until his death.  Our church continues to sponsor support for elementary and high school students.

We also support the Water Fountain Christian Resource Center which offers various types of Counseling. (Counseling | The Water Fountain Christian Resource Center | Belize (thewaterfountainbelize.org)

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Operation Christmas Child (Samaritan’s Purse.)

In 2016 we became one of the 4,655 drop-off locations in the US for Operation Christmas Child.

This ministry not only distributes gifts to children, but they are also invited (not required) to attend a 12-week study of the Bible after receiving the box.  As a result of this program, “The Greatest Journey”, the children (and often their parents) learn how to follow Christ in their daily lives and share Him with friends and family. More than 26.5 million children have enrolled in this program since 2009. Become a stay-at-home missionary and FILL SOME SHOEBOXES! 

For more information on volunteering with this mission, becoming a project leader at a church/community organization; or, if you would like to have someone come talk to your group about filling shoeboxes, or need shoeboxes, please contact Jackie (wwchurchlady@verizon.net or call 410-557-7685.) If you know of students who need community service hours, this is a great way to have them volunteer!

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United Women in Faith (previously named United Methodist Women)

We invite you to accept our invitation to join our United Women of Faith! Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month (Sep-June) at 1:30 p.m. at the church and via Zoom.  Contact: westharfordumc@gmail.com. Membership is open to all women. Membership in a church is not required to join our group.

We are a community of women who nurture and encourage each other in our spiritual growth. We get together monthly for prayer, study, mission projects, fellowship, friendship and fun.

The purpose of the United Women in Faith is:

• To know God
• To experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ
• To develop a creative, supportive fellowship
• To expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church

We have several events to raise funds to support mission such as the Harford Fuel Fund, Community Needs (ex. victims of fires, Centre UMC Food Pantry), United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR), Shenandoah Women’s Center and other local, national and international mission efforts.

Annual Fall Bazaar & Apple Dumpling Sale – 1st Saturday of November. (November 4, 2023 from 9:00a a.m. – 2:00 p.m.) If you are a crafter or vendor, and wish to participate in our  Fall Bazaar or our Spring Bazaar (1st Saturday in April)  contact Jackie for information 410-557-7685 or email wwchurchlady@verizon.net

Annual Spring Bazaar:   Saturday, April 6, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

For further information concerning the United Women in Faith, go to United Women in Faith | Love in Action (uwfaith.org)

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Community Outreach

Cub Scouts: William Watters Memorial UMC provides our facility for Cub Pack 865’s meetings. For information about the pack send an email to: Membershippack865@gmail.com

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Girl Scout Troops: Girl Scout Troops  also meet at William Watters Memorial UMC.

For more information contact: westharfordumc@gmail.com

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North Bend Elementary: William Watters Memorial UMC is the emergency shelter for North Bend Elementary School.

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Cooptown Car Show: The Saturday prior to Father’s day each year.

The Mission Team from WWMUMC has sponsored the Annual Cooptown Car and Truck show to raise funds for mission projects. In 2024 we had 251 registered cars (and some unregistered joining!!!!)  The 2025 event is being turned over to a local Car Club using our facilities.