On Christmas Eve, we noticed that the Baby Jesus in the manger scene in the front of the church went missing.  We suspect that someone took the statue.  This also occurred last year and we had since replaced the Baby Jesus.  Anyone with information is requested to contact us.  If you know the person who has the statue and wish to return it, we won’t hold it against you if you return it in the condition it was in to the church.

Thank you for any assistance in resolving this matter.

Your prayers are requested for the following persons for various reasons. Please pray for our Lord to meet their needs. Remember also our members and friends who are homebound or in nursing homes.

• Deborah Albert
• Johnette Anzer
• Eric Askew
• Dorothy Barefoot
• Andrew Beckett
• Joyce Burke
• Frank Burrus
• Mabel Contic
• DUMC Congregation
• Dan Ellison
• Kathryn Evans
• Barbara Foust
• Gertie Graham
• Caroline Hagan
• Walter Hagens
• Hess Family
• Dottie Hill
• Matthew Holton
• Tess Hurley
• Iraq & Afghanistan
• Jordan Jeffries
• Bill Kirby
• Dick Kvist
• Martha and James Lancaster
• Betty Lawrence
• Joan McCord
• John & Marie Mason
• Members of the Armed Service
• Judy Mongan
• Harry Morrison, Jr.
• President Obama and Congress
• Ray Phillips
• Geri Shifflett
• Dennis Sowards
• Judy Stout and Family
• Robert Street
• Ruby Thomas
• All those facing challenges due to economic conditions

If you have placed someone on the Prayer List, please call the church office at 410-284-4818 and update their status. Generally after someone has been on the prayer list for 3 months, they will be removes unless you update their status and request they remain on the list. Thank you.

Allow us to elaborate briefly on the issue. This is not a halfway house nor are any of the residents criminals as has been brought up.  The residents are all screened for drugs and have background checks performed on them.  Curfews are set for the men to be in the house by a certain time and out of the house at a certain time.  Failure to abide by the rules and they will be asked to leave the program.  Strict rules are in place by the Streets of Hope organizers to prevent any activity the neighborhood would frown upon.  They want their residents to be good neighbors just as much as the neighborhood residents want to be good neighbors to their community. These men all have a job of some sort and must report to that job.  Grounds for not doing so are dismissal by the Streets of Hope program.  The program aims to provide the men with shelter while they get back on their feet.

We understand that residents of Dundalk and the community have questions and concerns.  It is entirely reasonable of the community to ask questions and know what is going on in their neighborhood and we certainly encourage it. Anyone who has questions or wants to make their voice heard should plan to attend the HOA meeting at the Dundalk-Patapsco Neck Historical Society at 7PM on Wednesday, October 5, 2011.   Representatives from the Streets of Hope program as well as representatives from the church will be there to answer your questions.  If it is seen fit, we will try to post a FAQ on the website after the meeting this week to answer some of the common questions.  We do ask for the time being that you do not call the church office for comments and rather ask you to attend the meeting Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at 7PM.

Thank you.

Update as of October 10, 2011 – Dundalk United Methodist Church will not be able to acquire the proper zoning in time for the October move in of the residents. As a result, other churches who participate in the program have graciously come forward to hold those men at their existing locations.

We look forward to seeing you there!