This is a photo/video montage of Epworth Youth Ministry's trip to ROCK Retreat 2010, held over January 22-24, in Ocean City, MD. The two songs you hear were heavily played by the bands featured during the weekend.
This is an example of Parable Time for children at Epworth UMC. The children of the church are invited to the front for a lesson by Audra Mulder, the director of children ministry. This Parable Time was on the first Sunday of Advent. Afterwards, the children went downstairs to the Fellowship Hall for the Advent Workshop.
Our website name reveals something about who we are, a congregation full of life. Our purpose in existing is simple: to help each other to be in relationship with Jesus Christ. We come close to God in worship, prayer, study, outreach, mutual support and having fun. Epworth is a diverse congregation and proud of it. We are old and young, long-time and new Christians, and those just exploring the faith. We come in all sizes and colors. What binds us together is a common faith in God, a desire to grow in that faith, and an excitement about sharing that faith with others.
We invite you to explore our web site. Check out the navigation bar at the top of the screen with the different categories such as the calendar and the various leaders and ministries. Epworth is Alive!
Epworth Worship Services:
Worship schedule: 9:15 am and 11 am worship services at Epworth UMC
Epworth Upcoming Events:
Mar. 20 - Churchwide Yard Sale, Silent Auction and Pit Beef Sale and Children's Ministry Field Day - open to all; all proceeds benefit the mission team (see Mission/Outreach & Children's Ministry pages for more information)
Mar. 28 - Palm Sunday services -- at 9:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. (Sunday School at 9:15am)
April 1 - Holy Thursday service - 7pm
April 2 - Good Friday service - 7pm
April 3 - Easter Egg Hunt - 10am - an Epworth tradition to reach out to children in our church and in the community. Volunteers hide dozens of eggs around the church campus and a good time is had by all.
April 4 - SonRise Service at Historic Jessop Church -- 6:30am-- organized by the youth at Epworth UMC and conducted at this historic old church just off York Road above Shawan Road near Loveton Farms.
April 4 - Easter Worship -- 9:15 am and 11 am (No Sunday School, nursery provided at both services)
April 16 and 17 - Picture Taking for the New Church Directory -- All of the church family and friends are invited to come get your picture taken during a time slot on one of these. You will receive a free 8x10 portrait with no obligation to buy more! You will also be helping our church to develop a new, updated pictorial church directory. You may sign-up for a time to get your picture taken on signup.olanmills.com.
April 23-25 - 30 Hour Famine Hunger Awareness and Fundraising Weekend - Youth and leaders will fast for 30 hours while exploring ways in which we can make a difference in cobatting hunger issues in our world. For more information, contact Pastor Bill Jones.
Ministry Opportunities
If you are looking for ways to serve or provide ministry, there are many opportunities at Epworth UMC:
Assistant Treasurer - Do you have an interest in maintaining a budget, keeping records of financial transactions, and other items pertaining to the church. You will be trained and guided under the direction of our longtime treasurer, Wayne Sutter. It you are intersted, contact Pastor Kim or Wayne Sutter (wayne.sutter@verizon.net).
Parable Teachers - We are looking for two willing hearts who would teach a lesson to our children (up to grade 3) during the 11 am worship service. Lessons and training provided. Please volunteer for as few or as many weeks as you are willing! Contact Audra Mulder @ myepworthkids@gmail.com
Altar Hoppers - This ministry is designed for those who like to help and have an interest in working with the team in preparing Epworth's sanctuary for worship. Some of the duties include decorating the altar table and sanctuary with paraments and other visual displays for worship and setting up for Communion.
Church Office Helpers - The church office is looking for anyone willing to provide assistance in helping to fold weekly worship bulletins and occasional help with special mailings.
PowerPoint Ministry - Visual communication is an important part of Epworth UMC and we are looking for helpers who would be willing to run the PowerPoint presentation each Sunday morning either at the 9:15am service or the 11 am worship service. You just need to "click". Contact the church office.
Coffee Hour Helper - The fellowship time between services is an important part of our church life to allow our 9:15 and 11 am congregations to mix and mingle and linger a few minutes before or after worship. We are looking for a volunteer to prepare the light refreshments. Contact Pat Patrick by e-mail at dpatrick@capid.net.
Church Directory Team - It's time for Epworth UMC to once again put together a pictorial directory of our church family. If you are interested in helping with this effort in any way, please contact Pam Jones by email at jones.pamela@comcast.net.
Epworth UMC History
The Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church was begun with a faith meeting in 1893. Early services were held in the Odd Fellows Hall under the leadership of Rev. Thomas Wood, senior pastor of the Hereford Circuit. A lot was purchased on Beaver Dam Road and on September 12, the cornerstone was laid. The building was completed in the spring of 1894 and was built of the white marble from the Beaver Dam Quarries in Cockeysville. The church was named after the town in England where John Wesley was born.
In its early years, Epworth UMC was part of a group of churches served by one pastor, but in 1956 Rev. Ernest Bortner Jr. became the fulltime pastor for Epworth as Cockeysville was preparing for major growth with new housing complexes and the development of Hunt Valley. In February, 1972, the congregation took the first steps toward relocating to a new and larger building. The final service in the old church was held on January 23, 1977. Groundbreaking for the Warren Road sanctuary was held September 24, 1978 and the cornerstone was laid in May, 1979. The Warren Road building was expanded in 1998 to accomodate the Epworth Children's Center and several changes have been made in recent years to accomodate more parking, renovation of the old carriage house for additional classrooms, and a new Thrifty Penny building.
Longtime members report that despite the numerous challenges over the years and the risks taken by the congregation to meet those challenges, Epworth has always had a personality of a friendly and mission-driven church.
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