Church Members

It's Sunday morning, and the 670-seat auditorium of Annapolis High School is crowded with men, women and children clapping their hands, stomping their feet and swaying to the sound of a six-member band. The lead singer -- dressed in a fitted black T-shirt and khaki pants -- hits a high note on his electric guitar and encourages the audience to sing along. I want you. I need you. I love you more than ever. Hundreds of voices echo through the auditorium. It might sound like a rock concert, but to Bay Area Community Church members, it's just another weekly worship service.

The Supreme Court has declined to intervene on behalf of a Kansas-based anti-gay church that was successfully sued for protesting at a Marine's funeral in Westminster, a lawyer in the case announced yesterday. The news from Sean E. Summers, the plaintiff's attorney, came as a federal judge in Baltimore ordered Westboro Baptist Church to provide additional financial documents to determine how much of a bond church members need to post while they appeal the multimillion-dollar verdict against them.

A Baltimore insurer and a consulting firm that advises black churches have teamed up to offer a new series of life insurance policies -- with biblical names and features including a tithing of death benefits -- designed to help black churches raise money and reach an "underserved market."The "Faithful Steward Series" of policies was announced yesterday by Fidelity and Guaranty Life Insurance, part of USF&G Corp., and H&R Consulting of Baltimore, which provides accounting, financial advice and other consulting services for black churches.

Thousands of churchgoers walked through a gate adorned with royal purple and gold balloons and ribbons. A large sign trumpeted: "Holy City of Zion." To many, they had arrived at a promised land - despite the mounds of dirt, the construction equipment and chain-link fences. "In the providence of God, we have come of age," said Bishop Walter S. Thomas, senior pastor of New Psalmist Baptist Church. He stood in front of about 2,000 from the congregation who brought lawn chairs and parasols to a field where the church's new sanctuary will stand.

A federal jury in Baltimore is expected to hear closing arguments this morning in the first-in-the-nation lawsuit against a Kansas church accused of invading the privacy of a family mourning the death of their son killed in Iraq. The civil trial, now a week old, has pitted a grieving father of a 20-year-old Marine against members of the Westboro Baptist Church, who Albert Snyder says exacerbated his pain and suffering by protesting at his son's March 2006 funeral with anti-gay slogans.

BETHEL ASSEMBLY of God is sponsoring a Kids Crusade for Christ next week. This introduction to religious life will include a clown theme and activities.Jon and Simone Breuninger, along with other church members including young women from the Missionettes, have worked hard to make the weeklong crusade a celebration. Children ages 5 to 12 are invited to attend. Preschoolers may also attend, but they must be accompanied by an adult.The crusade will run from 7 p.m. to 8: 30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

FREDERICK -- The Rev. Walter P. Fogarty believes God has a sense of humor and won't mind if his Evangelical Lutheran Church uses comedic advertisements to spread the gospel.Mr. Fogarty, senior pastor of the twin-spire historic church in downtown Frederick, says he often tells God jokes -- original material only -- during private prayer sessions.Now, his 252-year-old church plans to use the radio airwaves tjoke with potential parishioners.The radio messages, written to lure new faces to weekend worship services and provided by an Atlanta-based company, end with the words: "This message is brought to you by God."

The Rev. Reginald J. Daniels, whose quiet, straightforward style of ministering carried him through 40 years at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, died Dec. 7 of heart failure at Union Memorial Hospital.Mr. Daniels, who was 81, joined Madison Avenue Presbyterian in 1944 and provided stability in a church and a West Baltimore community that were undergoing change."He was one of the last positive role models in the community. Reggie stayed and was a role model for many," said the Rev. Curtis A. Jones, who succeeded Mr. Daniels at the church.

Black mourning cloth hung over the doorway of Bibleway Free Will Baptist Church and draped the empty chair of its pastor, Bishop Junior Lee Gamble.But the mood that hung over yesterday's 2 1/2-hour service was not so much sorrow or outrage for Gamble's killing Thursday, but joy and thanksgiving that a beloved leader was with God."We know where our shepherd is. He's in heaven with God. Praise God," said Lorraine Perrin, who led the morning prayer.Gamble, 73, was shot twice in the head and killed outside his home in Park Heights.

A FULL YEAR OF events will mark the 240th anniversary of the founding of two congregations in Manchester -- Immanuel Lutheran Church at 3184 Church St. and Trinity United Church of Christ at 3229 York St. It was a cold winter day, Feb. 13, 1760, when the two congregations began worship in a single church -- built from trees felled in Manchester. They were called the German church, composed of Lutheran and German Reformed congregations. They met in the log church for generations before building a church in its place.