Election Day has finally arrived after the torture of endless campaigning that seemed to last forever. Yet, that may be fitting, since the impact of our nation's collective votes could last forever as well.

At the end of the day, the best news could be record numbers of voters showing up at the polls to do their civic duty. If only the outcome would bring more worshipers to church on Sunday, too, even if they arrived with heavy hearts.

We've heard about the expected anxiety of our populace emerging from this election possibly more damaged, divided and desperate than ever before. So now what? Will your church try to offer healing, wholeness and hope to our fractured society?

Will you offer prayer walks and services, special worship emphases, Holy Communion at your altar or out on street corners (Read " Communion on Election Day can make a statement"),  community dinners with dialogues, compassionate outreach ministries, advocacy for justice and mercy, unity celebrations... In God's name, what will you do?

If your church plans to do something special in a community on or after Election Day, please let us know. Why? So we can put lamps on lampstands to shine light into the darkness. Because the world needs to know our witness for such a time as this. Contact us at [email protected].

Meanwhile, check out the Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe's article " Voting: A Prayerful Act." "Voting is a matter of faith, citizenship and democracy" writes the General Secretary of our denomination's Board of Church & Society. "It is a kind of prayer and faithful testament to the belief that every citizen bears a responsibility and equal right to determine the future of governance in society."

Two new employees, one temporary and one part-time, joined the Eastern PA Conference staff this week.

 

The Rev. Mary Catherine Miller ( [email protected]) is a District Transitional Consultant for the Central District, a new, temporary position that will end, along with the district itself, June 30, 2017. She will perform the duties of a District Resource Assistant but also other Central District responsibilities related to the conference's transition from six districts to four by July 1, 2017.

 

Miller is an ordained elder in the conference, and a Transitional/Intentional Interim Minister Specialist. She is currently pursuing a D.Min degree in Transformational Leadership in the Wesleyan Perspective through Wesley Theological Seminary, in Washington, DC, in partnership with Wesley House in Cambridge, England.

 

Diana Howard ( [email protected]) is our new part-time Support Associate in Accounting. She is a member of St. Matthew's UMC in Valley Forge and has an extensive background in accounting and computer troubleshooting.

The Conference Office will receive special guests from UM Communications today who are returning to help us share some glad tidings. Video producer Fran Walsh, who last year produced four videos for the denomination's website about three of our historic Philadelphia churches--St. George's, Mother African Zoar and Tindley Temple--is coming back for more. This time she's bringing a team to video record interviews with our conference Prison Ministries and Restorative Justice Team and also capture scenes of them sorting through thousands of signed Christmas cards for prison inmates.

 

Fran was looking for a good Advent story to produce while in the Philadelphia area. So we told her all about this timely ministry that delivered to inmates about 5,000 Christmas cards last year, each signed by a caring church member eager to share some Christmas spirit. We're doing the project again this year, hoping to surpass last year's record. And now Fran will be able to share our story and our Christmas spirit with the UMC connection and beyond next month through the www.umc.org website and UMTV.  Stay tuned.

The Eastern PA Conference Extended Cabinet joined about 750 other United Methodists at a summit for conference leaders last week in Jacksonville, Fla., to focus their attention on cultivating vital congregations. At a time when church controversies leave many feeling troubled with fear and pessimism, the leaders were urged to lead with courage for the sake of the church's future. Kathy Gilbert of UMNS reports on the discussion.  Read story. Also read " Church Leaders Kick Off Quadrennium With Vital Congregation Focus," about the summit's celebration of the denomination's global mission focus on cultivating vital congregations to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

The Nov. 2-4 summit came just as the  Council of Bishops announced a special General Conference that probably will be convened in 2019 to discuss the church's policies on homosexuality.  Members of the Commission on a Way Forward, who are charged with reviewing those policies, will be meeting throughout 2018 and will send their report to General Conference delegates.

The Central District Board of Church Location & Building invites anyone and everyone to attend a panel discussion about church transitions this Saturday, Nov. 12, 9:30 AM to 12 noon, at West Lawn UMC in Reading. This seminar is especially for churches wanting to know more about church closings, mergers or sale of property. Please download and share the flyer. Contact the Rev. Mary Jane Kirby at [email protected] for more information.

LUMINA will hold its annual Celebration Dinner on Friday, Nov. 18, at First UMC Lancaster, 6-8 PM. Once again, they will offer a baked potato bar with a variety of meats and veggies as toppings, along with a bounty of desserts, all for free, thanks to the generous LUMINA Board of Directors. However, donations will be appreciated.

The Congregational Development Office will hold another Lifetree Cafe Orientation & Training on Mondays,  Nov. 21 (part 1) and  Dec. 12 (part 2), from  6:30 to 8:00 PM, at the Conference Office. Contact the Rev. Gordon Henderson, Coordinator, at  [email protected] or call him at 267-258-9509 if you wish to attend. 

Dig into our fall cornucopia of coverage, overflowing with important news and views, fascinating features and dramatic photos:

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The printed 2016 Conference Journal is coming soon. Order now!
A limited number of printed 2016 Eastern PA Conference Journals will soon be available. Order yours today for only $30 each. 

You can order and pay online or send a check, by USPS, to: EPA UMC, Attention Gloria Knoeller, PO Box 820, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0820.

What's in the Journal?   Contact information for Conference staff, clergy, Camp and Retreat Centers, Districts, and United Methodist Boards and Agencies.  Also, clergy appointments, pastoral salaries and service records.  Plus, all about the 2016 Annual Conference; Conference statistics for 2015; historical highlights; and conference policies and procedures for clergy, staff, and others. Questions?  Please contact Gloria Knoeller at [email protected]. 

The Eastern PA Conference Health & Healing Council offers its new issue of Wellspring, a bright, easy-to-read but hard-to-put-down newsletter to help you become smarter and more spiritual about your health. Read about Global Ministries' 10,000 Church Challenge to spread health awareness and also cardiac emergency training for church members. Get Children's Book Corner tips on promoting kids' health and more tips on getting pregnancy and motherhood advice from texting services. Find creative ways to fit walking into your daily routines, or to use a scooter when walking is too challenging. Also, enjoy a recipe and health tips for using slow cookers. 

Download and read Wellspring Issue 4, November-December 2016  today and then share the wealth of its health wisdom with others. And if you have any ideas for future articles, please let the Health & Healing Council know. They would love to get your suggestions. 

The United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Northeastern Jurisdiction (UMVIM-NEJ) is looking for young adults to join in a Journey to Cuba next spring, March 3-12, 2017. Adults ages 18 to 30ish are urged to apply. You'll be trained to become UMVIM Team Leaders during the trip and be equipped to lead mission work teams in the future. Only 10 applicants will be selected, but act now. The deadline for applications is Nov. 25.

The Methodist Church in Cuba has more than 42,000 members and a worshiping community of 65,000. It is vibrant and growing, especially among young people. We will travel on religious visas by invitation of the Methodist Bishop of Cuba and spend most of our time in Havana at the Seminario Evangelico Methodista (Methodist Evangelical Seminary). We'll witness the revival taking place in the church there and worship with our Cuban friends. We'll also bring supplies and work alongside them to help build housing for the seminary. All levels of skill and experience are welcome.

Please share this information with pastors and young adults whom you think could make good mission team leaders. Read and share the flyers for more information including costs for the trip. Leading the trip will be UMVIM-NEJ Coordinator Tom Lank and Nechi Fullerton, leader of 8 VIM teams to Cuba. Deadline for applications is Nov. 25. Questions? Visit the UMVIM-NEJ website  or contact the Rev. Tom Lank , UMVIM-NEJ Coordinator, at 919-428-0461.

As challenging as 2016 has been, 2017 may prove to be even more so, as we embark on new, unpredictable four-year journeys for both our church and our nation. In both arenas, we are a people in conflict, encountering doubt, discord, disruption and division. But we are also a people of faith, who lean heavily on the steadfast promises of God.

So it is in our constant prayers and our confident praise that together we can seek and find unity, loving harmony and the blessed assurance of all things hoped for in God. The United Methodist Council of Bishops' Commission on the Way Forward has asked each annual conference to take turns praying vigilantly for one week. The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference will pray together during the week of January 8-14, 2017.

In fact, throughout 2017 our conference will present opportunities for God's people to gather in inspirational prayer and praise. We will teach, learn and celebrate these and other grace disciplines that are the mighty works of our faith. At least five of those opportunities-two for youth and three for adults-will happen during the 2017 winter months. Learn more...

The annual Peninsula-Delaware Conference Youth Rally will return to the Ocean City (Md.) Convention Center January 6-8 (from Friday evening to Sunday morning).  Thewinter weekendrally and retreat will offer praise and worship, learning and laughter through games, fellowship and plenty of fun.  Register early online by Nov.15 for $67 or by Dec. 15 for $77 at

http://umyoungpeople.org/youth-rally/

 

The theme is  "This Is Love" from 1 John 4:10. Featured guests will be motivational speaker and "champion for youth" Steve Fitzhugh, along with Rend Collective, Zealand Worship Band, Dave & Brian, and a full concert by gospel singer Tasha Cobbs.

Calling all talented youth...again!   Don't miss the next  FOHS gathering Friday, Jan. 20, 7 PM, at  New Birth UMC, Lebanon. Come for a fun-filled, high-energy night of young talent with uplifting, celebrative music in English and Spanish, plus dance and spoken words of wisdom! Also, enjoy dinner after the program. This is a Christian youth event, but you do not have to belong to a church to attend. Come one and all to share your talents with the Lord, or just come and enjoy this spirit-filled celebration of life and faith. Spread the word! 

The Restoration 2017 Retreat is Bishop Peggy Johnson's invitation to clergy and lay members of the Eastern PA and Peninsula-Delaware conferences, to gather in retreat January 26-28, at the Sands Hotel in Rehoboth Beach, Del. The theme is "Prayer, Praise and Presence." The purpose: "Finding new life in the spiritual disciplines to bring strength to our Christian journey." This event replaces the former Mid-Winter Retreat for Clergy and Spouses that had drawn fewer participants over the past several years.

 

The focus of this Restoration retreat is to bring to light aspects of ministry, life, and community that need to be restored within us on our journey of making disciples. Our guest speaker will be the Rev. Junius Dotson, the new General Secretary of UM Discipleship Ministries.

 

All are invited to join in this gathering to pray, praise and worship God in the presence of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Worship will begin the retreat Thursday evening and end it Saturday morning. In-between there will be ample time for prayer and personal reflection, workshops, fellowship and meals together, and even laughter inspired by a guest comedian. Two (2) CEUs will be granted for attendance.

 

Our 2017 annual Faith-Sharing Training Event will happen March 18, from 8:30 AM to 2 PM, at New Hanover UMC. Our guest presenter is the Rev. Terry Teykel, a leading "prayer evangelist" and popular speaker and author. He travels the world encouraging churches to develop and strengthen prayer ministries as a means of revival and transformation.

 

Teykel, the founder of Renewal Ministries and Prayer Point Press, has authored several books, including The Presence-Based Church, My Most Wanted: 40 Days to Pray for the Lost, and Pray the Price: United Methodists United in Prayer. He has spent his life teaching churches how to develop a heartfelt, meaningful relationship with the Lord. His warm, humorous style makes him a much-sought after speaker and seminar leader.

 

"We believe that when prayer and evangelism are reunited the Church will emerge as a powerful force for reclaiming the land and setting the captives free."      -Terry Teykl. 

Learn more about this passionate, powerful speaker and man of God.

And on Tuesday, Feb. 28, the day before Ash Wednesday, clergy across the conference will gather at locations in their respective districts for a Clergy Lenten Day Apart. They will pray, worship and fellowship together in preparation for the beginning of the Holy season of Lent.  

The Rev. Greg Ellis, Eastern PA Conference UM Volunteers in Mission (VIM) coordinator, announces a training for current and future VIM team leaders on Saturday, Nov 12, from 9 AM to 3 PM, at Faith UMC, 1160 Clause Drive, Stroudsburg, PA. The cost of $35 includes training materials and lunch. (Register online.) The training facilitator will be the Rev. Tom Lank, VIM Coordinator for the UMC's Northeastern Jurisdiction. A deacon in the Greater New Jersey Conference, his specialization is in missions and peace with justice ministries. Learn more...

• Online Registration
• Download the Flyer: UMVIM Team Leader Training

Christ UMC Fairless Hills will host a 90-minute Legacy and Planned Giving Workshop, Saturday, Nov. 12,  10-11:30 AM. J ack Brooks, CEO of the Mid-Atlantic UM Foundation, will share tools, techniques, and materials about this important aspect of Christian stewardship. Attendees will receive a copy of the book  Provide and Protect, along with other resources, case studies and answers to important financial questions. There is no cost for the workshop, but registration is required. Call Christ UMC at 215-943-2343, or email:  Christunitedmethodist@comcast.net.  Download and share the  event flyer.

And for the trifecta of upcoming youth events, plan to attend the 3rd Annual Eastern PA Conference Youth Rally on Saturday, April 22, 2017. For the first time, this youth rally will last all day, from 9 AM to 4 PM. We're planning fantastic features, with dynamic speakers, soul-stirring music, fun games, powerful prayers, laugh-out-loud humor, great food and hospitality, and enough friendship and fellowship moments to give you a lifetime of memories. Don't dare miss it! See and share the flyer, and look for more details, coming soon.