On Harford Road in Parkville, Maryland, a congregation has been gathering for worship, fellowship, and service for more than 187 years. Hiss United Methodist Church carries the motto Loving God, Loving All, Changing Lives and invites neighbors, newcomers, and longtime residents alike to "Join the Journey." With two Sunday services, a chapel full of choirs, four weekly recovery support groups, a deep bench of mission work, and a wide range of programs for children, youth, and adults, Hiss is a steady presence on the Parkville landscape.
A Faith Community with Deep Roots
Hiss United Methodist Church has been serving the Parkville area for more than 187 years, making it one of the older United Methodist congregations in the region. A detailed history of the church, written by Donald Wiley, traces the congregation through generations of change. The church is part of The United Methodist Church and belongs to the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Conferences. Its mission is simple and stated directly: to invite people into a loving relationship with God and, through the sharing of faith, ministries, and resources, to serve the Lord. That mission is lived out through Sunday worship, midweek programs, a steady stream of outreach, and an extensive mission footprint that reaches from Parkville to Central America.
Two Sunday Mornings, Two Worship Styles
Sunday is the heart of the week at Hiss. From September through May the church offers two services, each lasting about one hour. At 8:30 a.m. the Traditional Worship Service is held in the Historic Chapel and uses bulletins, hymns, and no technology - a quieter, more reflective gathering. At 10:00 a.m. the Contemporary Worship Service fills the sanctuary with a praise band and uses screens and other technology; this service is also streamed live on Facebook and YouTube for those who prefer to worship from home.
During the summer months the two services combine into a single 10:00 a.m. Unity Service. Communion is celebrated the first Sunday of each month, and Hiss practices an open table. Bread is broken and shared, and grape juice is offered either by intinction (dipping bread into a common cup), individual disposable cups, or commercially sealed cups with wafer and juice.
Children and youth are part of the 10:00 a.m. service from the start. After the Children's Sermon, young people are dismissed to Sunday School. A nursery is available year-round on the second floor of the educational building for parents with children under three, equipped with toys, changing tables, cribs, and a TV so caregivers can follow the service while little ones play or sleep. Restrooms are located at the front of the sanctuary, downstairs behind the sanctuary, and on the lower level of the education building past the Fellowship Hall.
Music That Leads the Service
Music is a hallmark of Hiss. Piano and organ accompany worship, and four choirs share the work of making music across the program year. Jim Shiplet has served as Director of Music since 2001 and plays at all services while directing the Bell Ringers handbell choir. Chuck Solomon, who began attending Hiss in 1997 and directing choirs in 2000, leads all the vocal ensembles.
The Chancel Choir for adults rehearses on Tuesday evenings in Room 104. The Hearts on Fire youth choir meets on Sunday afternoons in the chapel and is open to middle and high school singers. The Wesleyan Choir welcomes all children on Tuesday evenings at 6:15 p.m. in Room 104. Bell Ringer rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings in the sanctuary. Periodically the choirs take the lead at special evenings such as the Music in Ministry gathering, where music, teaching, and conversation come together for the whole congregation.
Kids, Youth, and the Next Generation
Hiss invests heavily in its youngest members. Classes meet during the 10:00 a.m. Sunday School hour after the Children's Sermon, with rooms for three- to five-year-olds, first through third grade, fourth and fifth grade, and middle and high school. Teachers named on the schedule include Carol Jagoe, Nathalie Pembamoto, Lois Artes, and Chuck Solomon. Parents interested in baptism for their child are invited to talk with the church about taking that step.
The youth ministry, known as LABeL, gathers middle and high school students regularly and kicks off each program year with a Sunday evening event. The Hearts on Fire choir and a youth bell program give young people a musical outlet. Each summer the youth travel to Camp Joy in West Virginia for a Work Camp, helping neighbors in need with painting, ramps, landscaping, and other home repairs; Hiss youth and adults have been going there yearly since 2009.
Vacation Bible School is a major summer highlight. Children ages three through completed fifth grade are invited for an evening program of crafts, snacks, Bible story, games, and music. The church also hosts a Cub and Boy Scout program and offers a Blessing of the Backpacks each August for students, teachers, and school staff heading into a new school year.
Adults: Bible Study, Music, and Cornerstone
Adults at Hiss can choose from a number of ongoing groups. Faith Forum, a DVD-based adult Bible study facilitated by Dale Salah, meets in the Bride's Room under the sanctuary at 9:00 a.m. on Sundays during the program year. Studies have included a six-week series on Elijah and a Lenten study called An Unlikely Lent led by Pastor Mark, which met on Monday evenings and explored figures of the Easter story.
Cornerstone is the congregation's post-high school young adults group, providing a place to celebrate life and talk about how God is at work. Adults can also sing in the choirs or bells, serve on a committee, or have a wedding hosted at the church. The music ministry in particular invites anyone regardless of experience to join the Chancel Choir or Bell Ringers.
Four Weekly Support Groups
Hiss opens its doors to four recovery support groups that meet on a regular weekly schedule. Alcoholics Anonymous gathers on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Al-Anon meets at the same time. Narcotics Anonymous meets on Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m. Gambler's Anonymous meets on Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m. These are open meetings run by the respective organizations, and the church considers this hospitality an important part of its ministry to the wider community.
Missions: Local, National, and Global
Missions are woven through the life of the church. Locally, Hiss supports the Student Support Network, which provides food, school supplies, personal care items, and other necessities to Baltimore County Public School students living in poverty. Members donate sheets, towels, wash cloths, and bar soap to the Baltimore County Eastern Shelter in Rosedale, which serves low-income residents. Hiss also supports Victor's Vittles, a Parkville food pantry on Harford Road; collection baskets in the Narthex gather donated groceries each week.
The Disciples with Yarn ministry gathers crocheters and knitters (and those who want to learn) on Monday evenings in Room 208 to make infant and adult hats for local hospitals and lap quilts for seniors, along with comfort items for people dealing with cancer. No experience is needed, and yarn can be donated. Donna West coordinates the group.
Operation Christmas Child is a fall highlight. Shoeboxes are picked up from the Fellowship Hall or Narthex, filled with toys, school supplies, and personal care items, and returned by mid-November for Samaritan's Purse to deliver to children in need around the world.
On the national and global level, members have traveled on Volunteers in Mission (VIM) trips every year since 1993. Teams have built habitat homes in Rutherford County, Tennessee, from 2010 through 2024, and have worked in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. Each summer the youth also serve at Camp Joy in West Virginia. The church partners with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) for disaster response and long-term recovery, and members are encouraged to support UMCOR's work around the world. Planned giving through the Mid-Atlantic United Methodist Foundation is also offered as a way to leave a legacy gift to the church.
Giving and Getting Connected
Hiss makes giving straightforward. Offerings can be placed in the plate during worship or mailed to the church office. Giving is available through Vanco eGiving for recurring gifts and through PayPal or Venmo for one-time gifts. The church also encourages members to consider planned giving by making Hiss a beneficiary of a will or life insurance policy, or by establishing a charitable gift annuity or remainder trust through the Mid-Atlantic United Methodist Foundation.
Visitors and members can stay connected through the weekly "Essential Hiss" email, the church directory (powered by Instant Church Directory, with apps for both Apple and Android), the printed and digital church calendar, and a full lineup of social media on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. The church office, located at 8700 Harford Road, is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and closed on Fridays. The phone number is 410-668-5665, and the office email is office@hisschurch.org.
At Hiss United Methodist Church, the work of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world is shared across Sunday worship, weekday choirs, recovery meetings, mission trips, school hallways, and hospital gift bags. The Parkville church invites anyone who is curious to come as they are, to the chapel at 8:30 a.m., to the sanctuary at 10:00 a.m., or to a Bible study or support group during the week.