The Baptism and Testing of Jesus

9  At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.   10   Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.  11   And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

12  At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness,  13   and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.



Jesus Announces the Good News

14   After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.  15   “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” ~ Mark 1:9-15 (NIV)

DISTRICT OFFICE SCHEDULE

If you are dropping something off, please call before coming to the office to ensure someone is here as the DS and DRA attend off-site meetings. There is no external drop box or mail slot at this time.

DOCUMENTS PAST DUE:

STATISTICAL REPORTS DUE FEBRUARY 18

All churches are required to submit the Statistical Report using the EZRA Data Management System of the General Board of Finance and Administration. The website address is http://ezra.gcfa.org. If you are not able to complete the report online, please click here for a hard copy.

Your Username is your church’s GCFA ID Number (6 digits). If you need assistance

contact the District Office. There is one username per church but more than one person can enter data by using the same password. For your Password, please type in “ stat2017” (do not include quotation marks). It is case and space sensitive, you must use all lowercase and there are no spaces.

After you have completed all of the information for the four required tables, make sure it is properly reviewed because your church’s apportionments depend on the accurate reporting of these numbers. We recommend that at a minimum, the pastor, finance chairperson, and treasurer review and approve the data before final submission. To make the task less daunting, you can work in stages and save partial information until later without submitting it.

The deadline for completing the report is February 18.

For user instructions , you may download a step-by-step guide to help you through.

UPDATE: As of 2/21 at 12:25pm -

84 out of 104 churches have completed/submitted their stats

5 out of 104 churches are working on theirs

15 out of 104 churches have not started working on theirs

The District Office will start contacting those who have not submitted their statistics yet, later today and tomorrow.

TOOLS FOR MINISTRY - MARCH 10 - REGISTRATION DEADLINE APPROACHING

PLEASE NOTE DESCRIPTIONS & BULLETIN INSERTS HAVE BEEN UPDATED TO REFLECT CORRECT DATE OF MARCH 10, 2018.

Saturday, March 10, 2018, inclement weather date: Saturday, March 17, 2018 - Lebanon: Church of the Good Shepherd, 1500 Quentin Road, Lebanon, PA 17042.

Keynote Speaker - Dr. Brenda J. Ingram-Wallace accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at thirteen years of age and has been running for the Lord every since. She is a native of Youngstown, Ohio. She was called into a teaching ministry in her late teens. She began her preaching ministry as a licensed minister in the AME church and has served on the ministerial staffs at Bethel A.M.E. Church in Reading PA and New Beginnings and St. Matthews United Methodist Churches. Currently she is a Christ Servant Minister at Covenant United Methodist Church in Lancaster. PA. Dr. Wallace has served in numerous roles in the church including Director of Christian education, children and youth ministries, choir and praise team director and community outreach coordinator.

Registration is now open. Deadline: February 28, 2018. Walk ins are accepted, but course availability may be limited.

Please make check payments payable to: EPAUMC with West District TFM in memo line.

Cost: $8.00

Please contact the district office with questions.

Click here for: Course Descriptions

Click here for: Bulletin Insert

ADVANCED SEXUAL ETHICS - THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018

Time: 10am - 3:30pm

Place: West Lawn UMC, 15 Woodside Ave, Reading, PA 19609

Cost: $35

“The impact of pornography on children and adults, and the intersection of child sexual abuse and trafficking”

Presenter: Bethany Smith, Organizing Coordinator for Education, Communication and Engagement

Bethany has more than 20 years of multinational experience working with Christian not-for-profits in areas related to development of community and social justice initiatives, fund raising, communication, and strategic planning.

Bethany joined the Safe Church team in 2014 as a part time congregational educator on child sexual abuse prevention and response, and related topics. A dynamic and engaging teacher, Bethany works with full congregations, as well as small groups, to engage and equip adults to protect children from sexual violence. She also provides training on PA mandated reporting for church staff and volunteers. In 2016, her role expanded to include a focus on judicatory and denominational leadership, social media communications, and periodic legislative advocacy.

She is the founder of Not in My Back Yard, a Lancaster, PA based organization dedicated to the eradication of human trafficking.

UNITED METHODIST NIGHT AT THE SIXERS - MARCH 28

Sponsored by Eastern PA Conference United Methodist Men 

Come join United Methodists in supporting the NBA Philadelphia 76ers on  March 28, at 7 PM.  

We will enjoy fellowship together while watching and cheering our home team, as they take on their rivals, the New York Knicks. We have good seats available for $36 and $45 tickets. A portion of ticket sales for this annual fundraiser will go to support ministries of the Eastern PA Conference United Methodist Men. 

BONUS!  We have special PRE-GAME access! Come early to enjoy watching the teams warm up before the game. Please come through the 11th Street entrance by 5:25 PM. Also, everyone can receive a Sixers drawstring bag for attending the game. Pick up yours outside of Section 111/112 anytime between the 1st and 3rd quarters. 

To purchase tickets, please go to:  groupmatics.events/event/UM76ers . Your tickets will be e-mailed to you directly once you check out. Any questions? Please contact Clifton Hubbard at  [email protected]

Download the flyer!

GRANTS TO ASSIST IN DEFRAYING HIGHER EDUCATION COSTS

April 30 is rapidly approaching. On that date, the Education Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church will be accepting grant applications to assist worthy individuals with defraying the cost of higher education for the 2018-2019 school year. The application is available on the Conference website. It can be accessed as "Grants to Defray Higher Education Costs." at the following website address:

epaumc.org/administration/finance/higher-education-scholarships

 

All applications received in the Conference Office (between and including) April 30 to May 21 will be considered for a grant. Like last year, all applications will be considered. Unless there is some disqualification, grant recipients will be randomly selected. 

 

It is important that this information be provided to church members who plan to attend an institution of higher learning in the fall of 2018. Please communicate this grant opportunity to your congregation as soon as possible.

 

If you have questions, please contact the Education Society Chairperson, Al Adey at [email protected] .

 

Sincerely,

Alfred H. Adey

Application: 2018-19 Education Society Grant Application

PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER FOR EFFECTIVE MINISTRIES WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

You're invited, Saturday, March 3, 2018 at Cornerstone UMC, 3135 Summit Bridge Road Bear, Delaware to join the Pen-Del Conference Committee on Disability Ministries in this helpful workshop. The opening workshop will be "All About Autism."

Schedule:

8:30am - 9:30am - registration

9:30am - 10:30am - Opening workshop and Keynote Speaker, Lori Bennett

10:45am - 11:45am - Workshop Session

12:00pm - 1:00pm - Lunch and Networking

Cost: $10.00 due by 2/28/2018

Breakout workshops include:

To register online: click here.

To register by mail and to view full flyer: click here.

Download flyer here.

"THE STRUGGLE IS REAL SUMMIT"

Imagine church members, pastors, small group leaders, counselors, mental health advocates, coaches, crisis responders, chaplains and more coming together to have a new conversation and learn together about “Mental Health and the Mission of the Church.”

One thing is certain — the struggle of dealing with the pain, pace and pressure of everyday life is real. Everyone has something they need to deal with and find victory over.

STRESS AND ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, BI-POLAR DISORDER,

RELATIONSHIPS, SUICIDE, ADDICTION, SEXUAL DISORDERS, ANGER, ABUSE

The Church needs to be at the center of bringing hope and healing to those seeking help and direction with life’s most difficult issues and challenges.

Don’t miss the Church, Mental Health and Counseling Summit as we address Mental Health and the Mission of the Church together. Packed full with pre-conference workshops, dynamic plenary sessions featuring some of the world’s leading experts, and engaging workshops built around eight tracks, this event will teach us how to care for people God’s way.

Prepare to be encouraged, educated, equipped and empowered in our time together.

This event will be held in York, PA, May 4-5, at Grace Fellowship Church.

For more information: http://york.cmhcsummit.com/

CONFERENCE RAISING FUNDS, SENDING AID TO PUERTO RICO

By John W. Coleman -

Like the three kings, or Magi, who journeyed to Bethlehem bearing gifts for Christ’s birth, three Eastern PA Conference Cabinet members will visit Puerto Rico in the coming months bringing aid to residents on the disaster-stricken island. Their journey will follow the launch of a $100,000 conference-wide fundraising campaign to help the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico in its disaster recovery efforts.

Three district superintendents, (shown in Magi attire, from right) the Rev. Irving Cotto, of the North District Superintendent, the Rev. BumKoo “BK” Chung of the West District and the Rev. Tracy Bass of the East District, will visit in February some of the 96 Methodist churches in Puerto Rico and their pastors and members, as guests of Bishop Hector Ortiz... [READ MORE]

At Right: Lancaster: Covenant's, Rev. Quentin Wallace's plea for help during their service on the 11th.

Please share with us if your church is doing something specific for Puerto Rico.

Click here for a copy of the above to share.

BIRTHDAY PARTY AT ANCHORAGE BREAKFAST

NEW PROGRAM...looking for 10 churches, Sunday School classes, UMW, Youth or other groups to present 'BIRTHDAY Party' to individuals who attend Anchorage Breakfast program. One Friday each month. (Date could vary to fit your schedule) Time 8:30-9:45 am. Sponsoring group will be responsible for cake, plates, napkins and 2-3 people to serve cake. Small gifts or cards...the event is up to the Church. Contact Sue Grimm Mattox,  [email protected]   or call 717-575-6414.

HEALTHY TRANSITIONS FOR CLERGY SPOUSES

Date: Saturday, May 12, 2018, 10am-3pm

Location: Refreshing Mountain Retreat Center, 455 Camp Road, Stevens, PA 17578

Cost: $10 (lunch included), child: $0.

Led by: Julie Anderman, clergy spouse, ARTOS Retreats

This open to any transitioning clergy spouse and children (ages 5-14). Registration available online soon! Contact Julie Anderman for more information:

ArtosRetreats.org, [email protected] or 717-492-4238

Prepare your head and heart with other clergy spouses going through similar transition journeys.

For the kids:

Click here for flyer.

ANNUAL TRANSITIONAL CLERGY WORKSHOP

Date: June 9, 2018.

Location: West Lawn UMC, 15 Woodside Lane, Reading, PA 

Time: 9:30-12:30pm 

This open to any transitioning clergy and the SPRC members from their new church.

There is no charge for the event, however, so we can have the correct number of attendees, registration will open in February for participants to use.

Click here for flyer.

LOCAL CHURCH & MISSION CONNEXION EVENTS

Please don't forget that we love sharing the events you have going on in your churches and Mission ConneXions. Be sure to share them with the district either on Facebook or via email. We can't share what we don't know is happening!

Current Local Church and ConneXion Events

EPAUMC LICENSING SCHOOL REGISTRATION

Register now if you are interested in Pastoral Ministry as:

Come to a Licensing School sponsored by the Eastern PA Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and held at the teaching pastor’s church or at the Eastern PA Conference Center.

Course instructors are clergy in the Eastern PA Conference and/or from PATH 1, a church growth initiative of Discipleship Ministries, UMC.

Cost: $1,100 for all five segments toward licensing or $250 per segment.

Five Major Areas of Study:

Who Should Attend?

For more information contact Gordon Hendrickson at [email protected] [email protected] 267-258-9507

Flyer and registration form available here.

DEADLINE FOR 2018 RESOLUTION SUBMISSIONS

The Rules of Order for the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference state that the deadline for resolutions to be submitted shall "be set by the Conference Secretary and shall be at least thirty days prior to Annual Conference." The Rules of Order also require that resolutions "shall be printed and distributed to the members of Annual Conference at least ten days prior to the Annual Conference session." In recent years we have made the printed resolutions available at the District Conferences, and not just 10 days before the Annual Conference session. To make this possible, however, the deadline for submission of resolutions has needed to be moved beyond the 30 day window.

For the 2018 session of Annual Conference, resolutions are therefore to be submitted by Monday, March 12, 2018   to the Conference Secretary (Lloyd Speer) at:  [email protected]

It would be best  not  to wait for that date to submit resolutions, however, as it leaves little time before the print deadline to make corrections if they are needed to ensure a resolution is in order for consideration.

 

Resolutions must meet the following submission requirements and format:

Requirements

1.     Resolutions are to be submitted by email to the Conference Secretary as a Word document attachment (.doc or .docx format).

2.     Resolutions are to be submitted by a conference member, member of a conference church, conference church, or conference related organization or institution.

3.     Resolutions must list the person who will present the resolution.

4.     If the resolution requires the Conference Secretary to contact people or agencies, names and addresses must be submitted as a separate Word document attachment at the same time the resolution is submitted.

Format

1.     Word document (using .doc or .docx format)

2.     Letter size, 8.5" x 11"

3.     Portrait Orientation

4.     No spacing before or after paragraphs

5.     Single Line Spacing

6.     1" margins, with no indentations of paragraphs

7.     Arial 12 point font

8.     CAPITALIZATION of certain words and phrases, as displayed in the sample.

 

SAMPLE RESOLUTION FORMAT

RESOLUTION 2017 - X (The Conference Secretary will assign the resolution number)

RESOLUTION to the 2017 ANNUAL CONFERENCE SESSION

Relating to Rental/Housing Allowances for Retired or Disabled Clergypersons

Presented by Board of Pension and Health Benefits

 

WHEREAS, the religious denomination known as The United Methodist Church (the "Church"), of which this Conference is part, has in the past functioned and continues to function through ministers of the gospel (within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code section 107) who were or are duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed ministers of the Church ("Clergypersons");

WHEREAS, the practice the Church and of this Conference was and is to provide active Clergypersons with a parsonage or a rental/housing allowance as part of their gross compensation;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that an amount equal to 100% of the pension or disability payments received from plans authorized under  The Book of Discipline  of The United Methodist Church ("the  Discipline"),  be and hereby is designed as a rental/housing allowance for each such Clergyperson; and Person responsible for presenting this resolution: Tom Smith

 

Questions about submission can be directed to the Conference Secretary at 215-943-2343, or at the following email address: [email protected]

HEALING COMMUNITIES TRAINING FOR CLERGY & CONGREGATIONS

MARCH 17, 2018 9:00 AM—4:00 PM

Why Healing Communities is needed:

The odds are EVERY congregation has members affected by crime and the criminal justice system, whether as crime victims, offenders, or families.

Shame and stigma prevent people from talking about the resulting hurts and harms, or seeking help.

 How can congregations create a culture of safety and support for those who need it?

Healing Communities* training offers answers.

The one-day Healing Communities training covers:

Location: Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist, 1500 Quentin Road, Lebanon

Cost of Training: $25.00 per person; cost includes training materials and lunch

To Register: Go to www.pachurches.org; click events, downloadable registration form and details can be found under the google map of Lebanon. Send the registration form along with your registration fee to Pennsylvania Council of Churches, 900 S. Arlington Avenue, Suite 211A, Harrisburg, PA 17109. For more information, contact Sandy Strauss at 717-545-4761 or [email protected].

The Healing Communities model equips congregations to become a “Station of Hope” by providing training and support in building relationships of healing, redemption, and reconciliation with individuals and families impacted by the criminal justice system.

 Congregations are encouraged to send a group of at least three leaders/active members in order to effectively implement the model in their setting. 

BASIC SEXUAL ETHICS TRAINING - TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2018

“I Sound Like My Parent:

Understanding How Family Systems Impact Your Ministry”

 

10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

At Willow Grove UMC

34 York Road, Willow Grove, PA 19090

Understanding self is essential in serving others. As adults we are shaped and molded by our family systems. As clergy, we engage with our members on a very personal level. We empathize and seek to provide support in their healing and many life transitions. How are we affected by this interaction as we give of ourselves? Are we aware of issues that trigger us? How do we understand and manage our triggers?

Creating healthy boundaries is essential in effectively serving others and models appropriate behaviors to those we assist. This interactive workshop will engage you to explore family themes through three generations of your family and its impact on your life and ministry.  

For more information and registration, please click here.

For more information on Advanced Sexual Ethics Training, click here to download .

FELLOWSHIP OF ASSOCIATE MEMBERS & LICENSED LOCAL PASTORS ANNUAL RETREAT

EPA and Pen-Del Conferences will join together on April 22-24, 2018 at Black Rock Retreat Center, 1345 Kirkwood Pike, Quarryville, PA 17566, to explore the topic " The Character and Purpose of Luke's Christology.

If you would like to be added to this list, please contact the district office with your name, which category you're in, phone number and area you can cover. We have limited names for the Lebanon area, if you are interested, please contact us as soon as possible!

IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION

Rev. Bumkoo Chung, District Superintendent - 717-569-9673 / 201-787-9373; [email protected]

Mrs. Kristin E. Reifsnyder, District Resource Assistant - 717-569-9673; [email protected]

Mrs. Sue Grimm Mattox, District Lay Leader - 717-575-6414; [email protected]

Rev. Elaine Bortman, Chair of Committee on the District Superindency  - [email protected]

Mr. Craig Lenhard, Chair of Board of Church Location & Building  - [email protected]

Rev. Tim Smith, Chair of District Committee on Ordained Ministry - [email protected]

Rev. Jason Perkowski, Chair of District Resource Team - [email protected]

Rev. Kevin Babcock**, Local Pastor's Registrar - [email protected]

Rev. Terry Cooney**, Local Pastor's Registrar - [email protected]

Conference Office  - 610-666-9090 / 800-828-9093

**Please note: You only need to email Kevin or Terry, they are splitting the workload.

Editorial Policy of the West District E-Alert: The West District E-alert is published on an as-needed basis on Wednesdays. Articles will appear once as new information; thereafter, they will be Reminders or Calendar Items. Spaghetti dinners, fundraisers, concerts, VBSs, bazaars, etc. are included only on the Local Church and ConneXion Events page. Job postings can be found in the Classifieds section of the website. The E-Alert is sent to Pastors and Church Offices on the West District and to lay people who have requested having their names added to the distribution list. Please feel free to copy any article for your church’s bulletin or newsletter. Appointed clergy may not unsubscribe. All articles and announcements should be sent to the District Resource Assistant at [email protected] by 3:00 Tuesday afternoon for consideration. Articles should be in the body of an email or an attached Word document (please no PDFs). Submissions made by telephone will not be accepted. Articles may be edited for clarity and space. The District Office makes all decisions regarding publication.