Worship Service

Children will help conduct the worship service at St. John Baptist Church on Sunday as the west Columbia congregation holds a Children's Day service recognizing young people in its Sunday school classes, those graduating from high school and others."

It was a typical Sunday worship service with a twist. The congregation at Ames United Methodist Church in Bel Air, the same lively and prayerful group that planned the hugely successful Yolanda Adams concert a couple weeks ago, was offerering hearty praise songs and worshipping together Sept. 2, in the church's Baltimore Pike sanctuary. Pastor Jay Blake, their annointed and ebullient leader, had just finished delivering a thought-provoking sermon. Challenging them that faith without works is dead, he implored the assembly to gather after the worship service for a brief road trip.

St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Bel Air recently became one of at least three Harford County churches to offer a deaf ministry."It's more of an outreach effort and a labor of love," said the Rev. Paul Schmidt, assistant pastor of the church. "It wasn't prompted by a large number of deaf people."In fact, he says he isn't sure whether any deaf people attend St. Matthew.Two years ago, June Cain, director of outreach and assimilation, began the Signing Spirits, a group dedicated to providing services to the deaf, "in an effort to minister to all of God's people."

These groups meet regularly Columbia Area Mothers of Multiples - First Monday, 7 p.m. Mothers of twins and multiples. Christ Episcopal Church, 6800 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia. 410-750-1322. Columbia Toastmasters - First and third Monday, 7:30 p.m. Public speaking and leadership skills. Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. Terry Meyers, 443-831-0069, http://www.progress.org/toast or vpcolumbiatm@gmail.com . Columbians Toastmasters Club - First and third Wednesdays, 7:15 p.m. Visitors welcome.

AFTER NEARLY two years of research, Severna Park United Methodist Church is ready to introduce a new style of church service, called Contemporary Worship.The services are scheduled on Saturday evenings, and the inaugural session is April 5.The Saturday service will start at 6 p.m. and last about 45 minutes. The goal is to attract folks who are searching for a more upbeat, less-traditional form of worship or who are unable to attend services on Sundays."I think this is going to open a large door to the community," said Rev. Warren Ebinger, the senior pastor.

Glen Mar United Methodist Church will hold an evening worship service Nov. 11 to honor and thank those who have served in the military and to offer prayers for the men and women still in harm's way. The service will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the church, 8430 Glenmar Road, Ellicott City. An offering will be taken to support the Wounded Warrior and Coming Home projects, which provide assistance to veterans. Everyone is welcome. Information: 410-465-4995. Centennial to offer Shakespeare play Centennial High School will present its version of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream at 7 p.m. Nov. 14, 15, 16 and 17 in the school auditorium.

The fifth-floor auditorium of Baltimore's police headquarters, normally the scene of solemn events such as academy graduations and medal ceremonies, rocked during the lunch hour yesterday with the evangelical fervor of a revival.Uniformed police officers, plainclothes detectives and civilian workers filled the room with gospel music, clapping and "Amens" during the department's first interfaith worship service."I'm just praising God for the opportunity to see people of faith come together," said a slightly out-of-breath Aloma Taylor after the hourlong service.

St. Luke's to pay tribute to Pastor LaymanSt. Luke's (Winters) Lutheran Church, 701 Green Valley Road, New Windsor, will have a worship service at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday to recognize the Rev. Darrell Layman's five years of ministry at the church.The guest preacher will be the Rev. Morris G. Zumbrun, former bishop of the Delaware-Maryland Synod.A buffet luncheon will be served in Fellowship Hall after the worship service.A Service of the Word is offered at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays for those unable to make Sunday services.

Action Worship Center, 9805 Lyon Ave. in North Laurel, invites the community to its annual cookout on Sunday, July 22, immediately following the 9 a.m. worship service. There will be games, moon bounces and plenty of food. For more information, call the church office at 301-498-7501.

Oaklands Presbyterian Church, 14301 Laurel Bowie Road, will present its annual Christmas Concert Sunday, Dec. 18 during the 11 a.m. worship service. Concert will feature the Chancel and Bell Choirs plus its own Dr. Jay De Wire on the piano. Service is open to everyone. Come celebrate the Christmas message in music. 301-776-5833.

Action Worship Center, 9805 Lyon Ave. in North Laurel, invites the community to its annual cookout on Sunday, July 22, immediately following the 9 a.m. worship service. There will be games, moon bounces and plenty of food. For more information, call the church office at 301-498-7501.

Oaklands Presbyterian Church, 14301 Laurel Bowie Road, will present its annual Christmas Concert Sunday, Dec. 18 during the 11 a.m. worship service. Concert will feature the Chancel and Bell Choirs plus its own Dr. Jay De Wire on the piano. Service is open to everyone. Come celebrate the Christmas message in music. 301-776-5833.

Community United Methodist Church of Maryland City will hold a Thanksgiving service Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. at 300 Brock Bridge Road. There will be a soup dinner at 6 p.m. and a worship service at 7 p.m. Join us for dinner and worship as we pause to express our gratitude for the many reasons we are thankful in life. 301-725-4918.

A screening of the documentary film, "Forks Over Knives" is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Norrisville Seventh-day Adventist Church, at 2 p.m. "Forks Over Knives" takes a look at the epidemic the world faces with degenerative diseases - coronary heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes and strokes. It presents the case that these diseases are practically non-existent in societies where the people eat mostly a plant-based, whole foods-type diet. The film goes on to show that these degenerative diseases can be prevented and even reversed by not eating animal-based and processed foods.

Hope Baptist Church, in North Laurel, honored Waldo King by naming him deacon emeritus June 12. Waldo and his wife, Muriel King, have been members of Hope Baptist since 2005. Waldo King was presented with a plaque and the King family was honored at a luncheon following the worship service. Waldo and Muriel King were married in December 1945. Waldo was in the Army and stationed in Maine where he met Muriel before leaving for service in Europe. Muriel joined the Navy WAVES and was stationed in Washington during the war. Afterwards they were married and lived in Washington, Greenbelt and College Park.

'Celebration of Miracles' Event takes place at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26, at Chesapeake Christian Center, 206 Weston Woods Drive in Pasadena. David and Gail Price deliver a message on healing for broken relationships, sickness, financial needs and more. Information: 410-255-3168. 'Bless the Years' St. Paul's Lutheran Church holds its annual "Bless the Years Celebration" on Sunday, Sept. 26, at the church, 308 Oak Manor Drive in Glen Burnie. The event is to help people recognize and celebrate each year that's added to their lives as a gift from God and to respond with renewed commitment and service.

Social service worker from Russia to speakUnitarian Universalist Congregation will present the sermons "For World Peace" and "People's Freedom" at the worship service at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at Owen Brown Interfaith Center.Bernadine Jocelyn, who works in social service training in Russia, will speak. Information: 730-8296.POLICE LOG* Long Reach: 9100 block of Lambskin Lane: A red 1984 Toyota four-by-four truck with Maryland tags 04C366 was stolen Monday morning, police said.