During this Holy Week we remember how our Lord and Savior entered Jerusalem, at first celebrated but then castigated by the clueless crowds there. We recall how he went from sharing an intimate love feast with his closest friends to being arrested, unjustly tried and brutally punished by ignorant strangers who knew him not. We remember the darkness that enshrouded his mutilated, nail-pierced body, as it hung on a rugged cross, at first in prolonged agony, and then lifeless, and finally, buried in a borrowed tomb.

But then came Sunday, and we can imagine and indeed, celebrate the luminous Son-light of that first Easter morn. The light must have radiated from his risen form and filled the earth with the promise of deliverance and the hope of glory.

So much can happen in one fateful week. So many bewildering reversals of fortune can swing wantonly from the terrifying, to the tragic, to the triumphant.   Learn more...

The West Lebanon/Annville/Cleona Mission ConneXion will inaugurate the first Lifetree Café in the Lebanon area on Tuesday, April 5, at 7 PM. Lifetree Café is a proven means of outreach to "churched" and "unchurched" persons in a community. The ministry welcomes local guests--primarily non-church members--to experience meaningful encounters through friendly, open-ended, non-judgmental conversations stimulated by well-produced topical videos on contemporary issues--some serious, some less so. Lifetree Café engages individuals wherever they are in their spiritual development and acknowledges to them that God loves them and wants them to draw closer to Him. The Lifetree Café motto is, "You're welcome just as you are. Your thoughts are welcome; your doubts are welcome. We're all in this together. God is here, ready to connect with you in a fresh way."   

Anyone is invited to visit this new Lifetree Café on any Tuesday night, at 7 PM, at Heisey's Diner, State Route 72, North Lebanon, PA. The Rev. Bill McNeal, pastor of Water Works UMC and Kauffman's UMC in Annville is Coordinator. Please share the  invitation letter with potential guests. 

In just a few weeks, we will join thousands of other United Methodists to celebrate Native American Ministries Sunday. The offering received on this special Sunday is the United Methodist family's way to support our Native American congregations and ministries so they can serve and worship with their communities as only they can. The offering allows us to support Native American pastors and communities through scholarships and funds. God's church is amazing! Our ministry here can tangibly be a part of bringing the gospel to diverse communities across the United States. See the  impact of our giving on Native American Ministries Sunday .   Be sure to  download the free resources   for Native American Ministries Sunday celebration on April 10.

Remember: Our four conference-owned Camp & Retreat Centers are accepting registrations for Summer Camp 2016, as well as applications for staff and volunteers. The 2016 Summer Camp theme is God's Love without Boundaries. Children, youth and families who sign up can look forward to thrilling, creative adventures and possibly life-changing encounters for campers of all ages and abilities. But here's an update on what exciting events are planned before the summer fun arrives:

• Youth Music Camp Retreat: April 8-10
• Dangerous Retreat for Boys (and Dads): April 22-24
• Mothers & Daughters Retreat: May 13-15
• Young Adults Retreat: June 3-5 

• Final Free Youth Night: April 17 (4-6:30 PM)
• Confirmation Camp: April 1-3 & April 8-10.
• Gretna Gritty Mud Run: May 7
• Spring Fling Senior Adult Day: May 10
• Open House: May 21

• Spring 5K Trail Run & 1.5 Mile Run/Walk for Kid's & Families: April 16
• Spring Open House: May 14

• Open House & Flower Sale: May 7
• Disciple Training: May 13-14
• Little Critters Camp: May 14

Also, want to see a few cool videos? Check out the two on Gretna Glen's Gretna Gritty 2016: https://vimeo.com/154241545   an  https://vimeo.com/151246371

The Gritty, May 7, is a 5k Mud Run and Walk-A-Thon fundraiser set in the beautiful rolling hills of Mt. Gretna. In its 4th year, they aim to impress and continue a strong tradition of fun, safety, and plenty of MUD in exhilarating, competitive and non-competitive events that are both accessible and challenging. T he Gritty has raised over $116,000 so far, and they have over 360 participants signed up so far for this year's event. Sign up today, and find out more at gretnaglen.org/gritty. They're also looking for plenty of volunteers. Please contact them today if you can help them keep the Gritty great. You can also call Dan Kirby, Gretna Gritty Coordinator, at 717-639-1813.

Online registration is underway for the 2016 Eastern PA Annual Conference ,  June 16-18, at the Lancaster Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. Hard-copy materials will be mailed out by next week. All clergy and selected lay members to annual conference are urged to please register online now or well before the May 13 deadline. The r egistration cost is $225 for all members. Registering after May 13 will incur a $50 late fee, with no exceptions. Also, please book your hotel room reservations now . Rooms are $129 a night and must be reserved by April 29.

The deadline to receive Annual Conference Resolutions and Reports is May 13, with no extensions. Instructions for preparing and submitting resolutions will be posted by next week. And you may register for display space online or e-mail Lori Henning or call her at 610-544-1400.

All districts will hold Pre-Annual Conference Meetings June 5, from 3 to 5:30 PM. To learn more visit our Annual Conference 2016 Webpage and read the news story about plans for this historic 230th annual conference session. 

The Eastern PA Conference delegation to General and Jurisdictional conferences will sponsor in April four Listening Sessions. titled A Time for Listening and Discernment. The sessions are offered every four years in preparation for General Conference to hear from members of the annual conference about their concerns and to clarify understanding about proposed legislation coming before the global legislative gathering. The dates of sessions to choose from are:

Information regarding arrangements, resolutions and guidelines for the sessions will be published prior to the sessions in conference and district newsletters and on the conference Website .

The day will feature worship, dramatic portrayal of biblical call stories, self-expression and lively interaction with other young people, fun indoor and outdoor games and activities, lunch and snacks, and encounters with people involved in various fields of ministry. Cost is $10. Questions? Contact the Rev. Matt Heckman at [email protected] or 717-679-8346 . Register online  today

This training follow-up to Part 1 last fall will take place on Saturday, April 23, at Royersford UMC (380 Church St.). If you are a pastor serving in a cross-racial or cross-cultural appointment or belong to a congregation with a cross-racial or cross-cultural pastor then this full-day training is for you. It will be facilitated again by our partners at the General Commission on Religion and Race. Cost: The Annual Conference will cover the cost of clergy, missionaries and up to 3 members of your congregation to join you.  Additional participants are $10 per person. Register at  https://epaumc.churchcenteronline.com/registrations/events/19946

The Fellowship Of Associate Members And Local Pastors will hold their annual retreat April 24-26, at Black Rock Retreat Center, 1345 Kirkwood Pike, Quarryville, PA. Associate Members, Local Pastors, Student Pastors and Certified Lay Ministers of both the Eastern PA and Peninsula-Delaware conferences are encouraged to attend and to register online now . The  $275 price includes 2 nights, 5 meals and 2.0 CEUs. For more information contact Mark Beiderman at 610-585-0575.  Download the brochure for a registration form.  The keynote speaker is the Rev. Dr. Charles Yrigoyen Jr., of Lancaster County, the author or editor of 16 books, mostly on Methodism and its founders, the Wesleys.