Calvary United Methodist Church has been part of the Finksburg community since the late 1700s, when it began as a meeting house church and grew into the family-friendly congregation it is today. The motto is the John Wesley call: "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." Calvary Gamber is mission-driven, traditional in worship, and rooted in the life of rural Carroll County.
A Little Country Church with a Big Family Feel
The history of Calvary Gamber goes back to the late 1700s, when the congregation began as a meeting house church. The cornerstone at the Gamber Road location dates to 1872, and the families who continue to worship and serve here now are part of that long thread. The church describes itself as "a little country church with a big family feel," with plenty of opportunities for children, youth, and adults to grow in faith alongside one another.
Sunday Mornings at 10:30
Weekly worship begins at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary, and the whole family is welcome. Services lean traditional with a family-friendly atmosphere and a blend of music anchored by the church choir. The congregation appreciates the sounds of children during worship, but nursery care is offered every Sunday for infants through Pre-K. Visitors can let a greeter know they would like to use the nursery, and parents are welcome to accompany their child.
Services are also livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel for those who prefer to worship from home.
Sunday School for all ages meets at 9:15 a.m. from September through May, with classes organized for adults, youth, fourth grade and up, first through third grade, and Pre-K through kindergarten. Older children in grades seven and up meet in the social hall downstairs, while Pre-K and elementary ages gather in the upstairs education wing. An Adult Bible Study and Discussion group called Sunday Seekers meets alongside the program.
Baptism and Joining Calvary Gamber
Baptism is described as a gift from God that welcomes the baptized into the church family, with the waters serving as an outward sign of God's grace and spiritual blessing. The church welcomes anyone who wishes to join as a way of living out the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Forms for both baptism and membership are available.
Children, Youth, and Family Ministry
The Family Ministry program fills the year with craft afternoons, holiday gatherings, picnics, movie nights, and Vacation Bible School. The youth group is open to middle and high school students and meets monthly with the local HUB churches. Each year the youth take part in mission trips such as Camp Hope and Appalachia Service Project, along with local service projects, flower sales, and youth-led events. Summer mission projects bring middle school, high school, young adults, and families together to put faith into action and earn service hours.
Music on Thursday Nights
Music is a centerpiece of Calvary Gamber's worship and is led by Pamela "Ela" Wiswakarma, Director of Music Ministry. Wiswakarma holds degrees in conducting and eurhythmics from the Hochschule fuer Musik und Theater Hamburg and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from St. Mary's College of Maryland. She also serves as Executive Director of the Opus Community Music School in Sykesville and coordinates partnership concerts between Opus and Calvary.
On Thursday evenings during the school year, Kids Music meets at 7:00 p.m. for students to explore music with instruments, play, and voice. At 7:30 p.m., youth and adults are invited to join the choir together. The choir is always looking for new voices.
Hands, Feet, and Heart of Christ
Calvary Gamber is mission-driven and intentional about getting outside the church walls. Each month of the calendar year carries a designated Love Offering that supports a local, regional, or global mission, with an active hands-on component added whenever possible, such as collecting school supplies for Shepherd's Staff or cold-weather items for the Rescue Mission. In one recent year, the congregation contributed more than $25,000 through these efforts.
- January: Westminster Rescue Mission
- February: America's Warriors Care Package Projects
- March: United Methodist Committee on Relief
- April: Youth Missions
- May: Habitat for Humanity, Carroll County
- June: Shepherd's Staff
- July: Good News Jail and Prison Ministry at Carroll County Detention Center
- August: Caring Carroll
- September: ESCAPE Ministries
- October: Joslin School in Kenya
- November: Carroll County Food Sunday
- December: Mechanicsville Elementary School and Human Services Programs of Carroll County Cold Weather
Knitting with Purpose
The Prayer Shawl Ministry gathers knitters and crocheters who begin each shawl with prayers and blessings for the recipient and continue to pray and meditate as the work takes shape. Once completed, the congregation blesses the shawls before they are sent out to comfort others during medical treatment, after the loss of a loved one, in times of stress, for birthing and nursing babies, for bridal showers and weddings, and during illness and recovery. Anyone interested in receiving a prayer shawl can contact the church office.
Freetimers, Scouts, and Recovery
Freetimers is a gathering of retirees, spouses, friends, and church staff who meet monthly on the third Wednesday at noon for lunch at Bistro 91. The group stays connected to congregational life and supports one another in care.
Calvary Gamber hosts several Scout troops, including Girl Scout Troop 5353 under Andrea Jarosinski, Girl Scout Troop 1735 under Valerie Carney, and Boy Scout Troop 735, which meets Monday nights from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. under Raymond Wiggins. The church welcomes additional troops and groups, particularly on nights other than Monday.
An Alcoholics Anonymous group also meets at the church on Monday nights at 7:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall.
Providence Cemetery
Providence Cemetery is associated with Calvary Gamber. The grounds are maintained and operated by a third-party organization independent of the church, and permission must be obtained before any work is done there.
Pastor Bill Thomas and the Team
Pastor Bill Thomas came to Calvary Gamber as a retired elder in the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference after 46 years of pastoral ministry, including 14 years as pastor of Hereford Faith and Life Church in Monkton, Maryland. He also serves as a leadership coach with the Faith Foundation of the UMC Mid-Atlantic Foundation. Jacob Schwarz serves as Media Specialist, working on online worship services and social media after joining the team as a high school intern in 2021.
Giving and Stewardship
Roughly 80% of Calvary Gamber's operational expenses are sustained by the offerings collected in the plate each Sunday. Gifts can also be made online through the church's giving portal, with options for automatic recurring giving or one-time donations. Pew envelopes support the General Fund and the monthly Love Offerings, and QR codes on the pews offer another way to give digitally. Appreciated securities are welcomed as a way to support the church while receiving tax benefits. Each year's stewardship campaign invites members to prayerfully reflect on their giving, with an Annual Report and Narrative Budget available online.