September 25, 2017
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WHAT'S NEW
Bishop, supporters advocate for DREAMers
As usual, Bishop Peggy Johnson is receiving both impassioned agreement and vehement opposition to her advocacy for justice and mercy for undocumented immigrants. Those voicing the latter sentiment often tell her she should stay away from politics and proclaim only Jesus's gospel of salvation, a constraining view contrary to Wesleyan and United Methodist tradition, many would say.  

The outspoken bishop wrote to churches and members of her two annual conferences--Eastern PA and Peninsula-Delaware--last week urging broad, active support for the  DREAM Act (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) in the U.S. Congress. The bill would grant conditional, legal residency to qualifying immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children by their parents. While many are building lives, families and careers for themselves and contributing to our society, many are also hiding in fear of arrest and deportation.

Advocacy for their protection through DACA and passage of the DREAM Act is growing across the nation among diverse supporters.  Attaching a sample letter and petition form, Bishop Johnson and others are asking individuals and churches to collect signatures and submit them to their "senators and representatives, making phone calls and keeping all those affected in your prayers."   Learn more... 
Ministry leadership event to focus on urban ministry
Managing the church's mission, music and money. That fairly sums up the diverse curriculum at  Hopewell UMC's 14th annual  Planting Seeds for Ministry Growth leadership development event, set for Saturday, Sept. 30 at the Downingtown church. The main session begins at 2 PM, but pre-conference workshops will precede it at 11:30 AM, and a closing worship service will follow at 5:25 PM. Expert teachers and eager learners will explore:
  •   doing urban ministry that meets people where they are,
  •   drawing the most out of aging voices singing in church choirs, and
  •   developing best practices in church financial management.
With the theme  "Pray for the City," the event will feature keynoter the Rev. Scott Chrostek, pastor of  Resurrection  UMC Downtown, in Kansas City, Mo., who will speak and then teach on "God's Misfit Mission: Meeting People Where They Are." He'll ask the question, "What does it take to meet our neighbors, share the gospel, and change the world around us?" The answers he found led his church to grow from nine to 1,000 worshipers in just six years. 

Hopewell Church is trying to meet people where they are through its new urban mission enterprise,  The Well. Church volunteers have been laboring for months to rehab the former funeral home purchased this year and convert it into a much-needed community center in downtown Downingtown. Some Planting Seeds attendees will get to visit that work in progress and learn about its ministry partnership potential.  Learn more and be sure to register and attend this important learning experience.
Help for hurricane victims
You can help bring relief to people dealing with the aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey Irma and Maria.
 
First, pray for the families, individuals and congregations affected and the many United Methodist volunteers already on the ground doing relief work, those from the conferences in the area and from UMCOR (The United Methodist Committee on Relief).

Second, you can donate to UMCOR, to support its relief and recovery efforts. 100% of your donation goes to the cause. You can give online to  UMCOR's Domestic Disaster Advance #901670; or send a check for UMCOR, with the Advance number in the notation line, either to your church's office or to:  Conference Treasurer, Eastern PA Conference, United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 820, Valley Forge, PA 19482. Contributions support the personnel, supplies and equipment needed to organize disaster response and long-term recovery.

Third, you can make relief kits, including flood buckets and health kits, to send to your local mission central hub. Meanwhile, we offer a list of  other disaster recovery locations in our region where help, especially from work teams, is much needed.   Learn more...  

Also, our United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) was featured in a Sept. 10 USA Today article about faith-based organizations being a major resource and FEMA partner in responding to disasters. In citing the strengths of several groups, Paul Singer reported in Faith groups provide the bulk of disaster recovery, in coordination with FEMA that UMCOR is "known for its expertise in case management.   

"After the initial cleanup--where the Methodists have work crews helping pull mud out of houses," Singer writes, "the church sends trained volunteers into the wreckage to help families navigate the maze of FEMA assistance, state aid programs and private insurance to help them rebuild their lives. UMCOR also trains other non-profits to send their own case managers into the disaster zone."

Organizations like UMCOR are "integral partners in state and federal disaster relief efforts," Singer writes. "They have specific roles and a sophisticated communication and coordination network to make sure their efforts don't overlap or get in each other's way. Not just Christian but also Islamic, Buddhist and Jewish relief agencies are credited for their essential contributions to the recovery process, including raising funds from members, work teams, corporate connections and other donors in amounts that reach billions of dollars in disaster recovery assistance.  Learn more...
Celebrate World Communion Sunday, Oct. 1 .
On Oct. 1, millions of Christians around this divided world will unite to celebrate the Eucharist and the global, unifying power of Christ's gospel on World Communion Sunday. Join your sisters and brothers everywhere around the Lord's Table, and join millions of your fellow United Methodists on this day, or on a more convenient date, in lifting and receiving the annual, churchwide World Communion Sunday special offering.

Our gifts provide scholarships and grants to help United Methodist scholars and servants in the U.S. and worldwide acquire education and training needed to serve their churches and communities-and for many, their countries. If you have not already done so, please download the free  World Communion SundayPastor and Leader's Kit  and order your  leaflet/offering envelopes and posters  to enhance your celebration.  Learn more... 
Celebrate UM Volunteers in Mission Sunday 
The General Board of Global Ministries invites churches to celebrate United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) Awareness Sunday. This new special Sunday approved by the 2016 General Conference offers opportunities to recognize volunteers who offer their time, talents and abilities to serve others near and far, in short- and long-term missions.

"UMVIM volunteers are engaged in God's mission," said Una Jones, Director of Mission Volunteers at Global Ministries. "This ministry stretches them to be in relationship with the partners they serve. Both the recipient and the volunteers learn so much from each other. This is a great reason to celebrate!"

UMVIM Awareness Sunday is an annual celebration held on a date determined by local churches or annual conferences. Laity Sunday, on October 15, 2017, is a suggested date to hold the event. Churches should consider:
  • Asking a UMVIM volunteer to share their experience with the congregation.
  • Sharing a mission moment that lifts up the ministry of UMVIM during worship.
  • Recognizing volunteers in the congregation and/or annual conference.
  • Displaying photos or videos that highlight volunteer work.
Global Ministries has created free downloadable resources to support UMVIM Awareness Sunday planning efforts. Resources are available at UMCmission.org/volunteer, and include a bulletin insert, poster and PowerPoint presentation. Also, worship resources and more media materials.
Churches are encouraged to also recognize all volunteers in their congregation and to direct any special offering to the conference's UMVIM fund.


A reunion of old friends

Attending the National Association of Annual Conference Treasurers (NAACT) conference in Philadelphia last week were (from left) Eastern PA Conference's Director of Pension and Health Benefits Jo Fielding, new Treasurer James Brown, East District Superintendent the Rev. Tracy Bass, and Bishop Peggy Johnson, who greeted attendees as Mary Thorne, an early class leader at Old St. George's Church and one of the first women to have a leadership role in America's early  Methodist movement. Joining them, for old time's sake, was Tamara Wims ( right), former Eastern PA Conference accountant and now  Conference Treasurer/Director of Administration for the Wisconsin Annual Conference.
Conference office seeks new chancellor
The conference is beginning the search for a conference chancellor as Rob Shoemaker, current legal counsel, transitions from this role.  If you are an attorney, laity member of a United Methodist Church in The Eastern PA Conference and would be interested in receiving an RFP for this position, please contact Jo Fielding ( jfielding@epaumc.org) by October 2nd, 2017. This is a contract position and will be a gradual transition.
Camp & Retreat Centers promote fall fun- and fund-raising efforts
After a bustling summer camp season at our Camp & Retreat Centers (see their total attendance stats), the fall season has arrived, when retreats and other events fill the calendar. Meanwhile year-round fundraising efforts continue.
 
Pocono Plateau held its 4th annual Hero Dash Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, offering a 5K race and a One-Mile Fun Run amid the wonders of God's creation. They awarded prizes for best costume and most money raised to benefit the camp.  Innabah will host its Fall Classic benefit race on Saturday, Oct. 7, offering a 5-mile "hilly, trail romp around the beautiful hills and dales of one of PA's oldest camps."
 
Gretna Glen launched a new season of Sunday evening Free Youth Nights this month. The next one will be Oct. 15, at 4 PM.  That same weekend the camp will also host its final 2017 UMC Confirmation Camp, Oct. 13-15. The theme is "Embrace Your Faith."   Learn more...
Christmas Cards for Inmates project returns
Can you imagine how it would feel to be separated from your friends and loved ones at Christmas?  Inmates who are incarcerated can find it difficult to maintain connections with important people in their lives. At holidays, their distance, and the pain of absence, can be felt most deeply.
 
Last year, thanks to your efforts, over 8,000 Christmas cards with brief handwritten notes of caring encouragement were provided to inmates in 10 correctional facilities in Eastern PA. This year, through a simple, signed Christmas card, you can again share the spirit of Christmas and a powerful message of God's love with persons who are incarcerated. We have information and instructions to help you and your church participate. The deadline to submit all cards is  Nov. 6Learn more...
New video, photos from the North District clergy family picnic
Want to see a really cool but heartwarming video? (Yeah, we Methodists have a passion for warmed hearts, don't we?) Then check out the new, spirit-lifting 3-minute video of the new North District's clergy family picnic held in August at Knoebel's Amusement Resort. Produced by Daniel Hyun, District Resource Assistant Sheila Milz's son, it features great, wonderfully edited video and photo images (showing such camaraderie among all those red "EPC North District" t-shirts!) and an ideal upbeat song performed by the district's Free Spirit Praise Band. We've kept the story on our home page for another week, just so you can easily view this fun family fellowship video and also see more photos that we just added to the North District Clergy Family  Flickr album.   Learn more...
From Wilderness to Joy: A Meditation
"From the Wilderness and a Solitary Place to Joy and Gladness" was the soulful, liberating message offered at the Laity Retreat, Sept. 9, by Sharon White, Christ Servant Minister at Grace Community UMC in Chester. She joined a cadre of clergy speakers--the Revs. John Brice, Bruny Martinez, Gary Knerr and Dawn Taylor-Storm--and musicians Herman Turnage and Kevin Kresge--in providing 36 lay and clergy attendees with a Saturday morning of profound inspiration in speech, song and sacrament. 
 
Their words of wisdom were drawn from the powerful witness of God's prophet Isaiah. The day ended in a sharing of Holy Communion, anointing with oil and a lunch feast. Suzette James coordinated and emceed the retreat at Grove UMC. Bishop Peggy Johnson and Conference Lay Leader David Koch also offered greetings.

"The wilderness is an experience of our faith," said Sharon White. "We are most likely to experience  weariness in the wilderness and a readiness to give up when we are close to a spiritual breakthrough. But we serve a God who is strong when we are weak; and if we tap into God's power, read and believe his word, he will build us up when we get weary." Read  her entire message  in our INSPIRE section. Also enjoy viewing on our Flickr page some  photos from the event  taken by Roger Kresge.

If you have an appropriate, inspirational meditation or reflection that you want to share with our readers, please send it to communications@epaumc.org, along with your photo and permission to publish or republish it. Of course, we reserve the right to minimally edit all works, with author's permission, to make them suitable for publishing in our media. Thanks!
NEWS BRIEFS

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. 
Here is a link to an article "(More than)  10 ways to appreciate your pastor" which was originally posted three years ago. 

National Hispanic Heritage Month
Will your church celebrate Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month, observed nationally each year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15? If so, please tell us how. La Trinadad UMC and Asbury UMC in Allentown will again combine for a joint celebration at Asbury (1533 Springhouse Road, Allentown) this Saturday, Sept. 30, from 3 to 7 PM. They will celebrate Hispanic/Latino heritage with cultural foods, music, dance, stories and more. And to all of us, they say, "Te esperamos!" ("You're invited!") We'll report more heritage events as we receive them.


Bethany UMC to host Wesley Covenant Association telecast
The Wesley Covenant Association, which connects "spirit-filled, orthodox United Methodists and their churches," will hold its global gathering    Saturday, Oct. 14, 10 AM - 4 PM, at Woodlands UMC  near Houston, Texas.  A simulcast of this gathering will be broadcast at  Bethany UMC in Wescosville  ( 1208 Brookside Road , near Allentown), joining other churches around the nation as gathering sites.  A hot breakfast and lunch will be served.  Learn more about the WCA.

St. James UMC cited by Outreach magazine  
The popular magazine Outreach recently took note of the remarkable growth and gifts bursting out of St. James UMC in Philadelphia. Thanks to its energetic, visionary pastor, avid members and a supportive East District, the historic church has turned around and come from near-death to vibrant life in its worship and witness to Christ's love in the Olney community. As Outreach put it, T he Challenge was:  Adopting a grass-roots approach to growing a congregation. And the One Big Idea? Knock on doors, text, post, pray-embrace all means possible to find out what the community wants and needs. Check out St. James' reappearance on our Methodists Make News webpage. Or go directly to the Outreach article.

Brighten, energize your future at revitup! 
Clergy under 40 can attend  revitup!, Nov. 13-15, in Pensacola Beach, Fla, to strengthen their leadership skills in personal and financial matters and help them sustain a lifetime in ministry. Scholarships and child care are available.  Learn more... 
REMINDERS
Sexual Ethics course suitable for Basic and Advanced students   
The Board of Ordained Ministry has opened up the next Advanced Sexual Ethics workshop, Oct. 3, at St. Luke UMC in Bryn Mawr (9 30 AM to 3 PM) to anyone who needs to complete the Basic Course in Sexual Ethics as well. Workshop leader Dr. Mayra Picos-Lee says the course on Sexual Boundaries is suitable for Basic and Advanced levels. So, those who still need to complete their Basic Course by March 2018 will be able to attend. Learn more about the course... For more information contact Rev. Jacqueline Hines.   
Boehm's Chapel Apple Fest back by popular demand
Historic Boehm's Chapel will celebrate its 32nd annual Boehm's Apple Festival on Saturday,  Oct. 7 , 9 AM to 3 PM, on the Boehm Campus at 13 West Boehm's Road, Willow Street, PA. The Apple Fest will feature music, craft stands and tours of the 1791 chapel. "The Boehm Legacy" video will be shown in the Tying Shed. Luncheon foods will be available for purchase, along with homemade apple ice cream, apple nuggets, apple dumplings, apple butter, hot and cold apple cider, various soups and the popular Grandview UMC apple bread. For more information, e-mail boehmschapel@gmail.com  or call 717-872-4133 and speak to Dolores Myers  Executive Director, Boehm's Chapel .    
From sunlight on the roof to 'blood in the refrigerator,' 
Want to witness a modern miracle? Watch the short (1:35 minutes) video showing the historic arrival of solar energy at the UMC-supported Mpasa Pediatric Clinic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Rev. Jonathan Baker and his wife Donna Baker, a retired nurse, are both Congo Partnership missionaries serving in the DRC with generous support from the Eastern PA Conference, especially from the South District.  

After helping to build a new and much-needed pediatric hospital, district members then raised additional funds to furnish and equip it with new medical equipment. Their Phase III effort was to provide solar power and add a much-needed blood bank. 

"There's blood in the refrigerator," wrote Donna recently, attaching a photo that depicted the new blessing of a solar-powered refrigerator to store blood. "Hallelujah! There is solar energy at the Mpasa Medical Center! And we saw blood in the refrigerator! What an exciting morning to witness lights turned on, the incubator and ultrasound functioning and so much more!"

Enjoy and share this video, now on YouTube, that portrays the installation of the solar energy equipment at the Mpasa Clinic. Especially enjoy the delightful, melodious voices of young children singing an old but perfectly chosen hymn, "Heavenly Sunlight" (1899).  

"We are so very grateful for the dream of solar power coming to reality at Mpasa!" wrote the Bakers. "Thank you so very much for your generous contributions!" Says Lin George, South District Resource Assistant, "Honestly, this is miraculous. I hope people realize that they are responsible for this miracle."  
Racial reconciliation project grants available for young people  
Racial Reconciliation Grants are now available for United Methodist young people with a passion and a project for pursuing racial justice. The UMC Discipleship Ministries Division on Young People  program seeks to inspire young people in the UMC with a passion for racial justice "to take action in their church, community and the world." The grants of up to $2500 per project will be awarded on a rolling, monthly basis, with the first deadline being Oct. 15. Monthly review and distribution will continue until all $65,000 has been distributed. For questions about the application process, contact Patrice Rullo (prullo@umcdiscipleship.org).  The application can be found at: https://ypm-umc.fluidreview.com/.   
NEJ ReCall Summit to promote 'racial justice, multicultural living' 
 
The UMC Northeastern Jurisdiction's Multi-Ethnic Center for Ministry will sponsor the ReCall Summit, Oct. 20-21, to promote "racial justice and multicultural living." The ReCall Summit, at the BWI Marriott Hotel, 1734 W. Nursery Road in Linthicum, MD (near the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport), is inspired by the NEJ Call to Action racial justice and reconciliation resolution, passed at the 2016 NEJ Conference. 

The Friday-to-Saturday event, co-sponsored by the Baltimore-Washington Conference, will feature a series of "courageous conversations to reimagine, redefine, reposition and respond to racism." Invited speakers include:
  • Pastor Zach Kerzee, of the Simple Church in Boston, who gathers people around the dinner table for faith experiences.
  • Pastor Jeffrey Hooker, a young adult creatively ministering to young adults at Grace UMC in Newburgh, NY.
  • Pastors Ianther Mills and Matthew Wilke of Asbury UMC in D.C., an historically black church that is creating a new worship experience to reach out to its multicultural neighbors.
  • Pastor Joe Daniels of Emory UMC in Washington, a church of 26 nationalities that is building a $53 million affordable housing complex with a worship center, retail space and community centers.
  • Dushaw Hockett, the executive director of Safe Places for the Advancement of Community and Equity in D.C., who will assist people in recognizing and addressing bias as a critical step in creating communities of Hope - healing, opportunity and possibility for everyone.  
Learn more and be sure to register for this important, timely convocation. Deadline to register and get the special hotel rate is Oct. 1.
GCOSROW seeks info about sexual misconduct in the church 
 
While sexual misconduct is a problem in all religions and denominations, the UMC has been addressing the problem for about three decades. "But there is more to do," writes leaders of the General Commission on the Status & Role of Women (GCOSROW). "In our efforts to hear from those who work and worship in UM churches and offices, and to better understand the extent, nature, and trends of this problem among both clergy and laity, we are inviting everyone in The United Methodist Church to participate in the 2017 Sexual Harassment Survey." 
 
The voluntary, anonymous survey should take 5-20 minutes to complete, depending on one's experience with sexual harassment in the church. No answers will be tracked; but the study's results will "provide important feedback about the frequency and response to sexual misconduct within The United Methodist Church and help the Church address abuse." The agency wants the survey to be distributed as widely as possible and completed by a broad sample of clergy and laity. They hope to publish the findings later this year.
 
Here is the survey link: UMC Sexual Harassment Survey.  The deadline for submitting surveys is Oct. 3. If you have any concerns about sexual misconduct in your ministry setting or believe that you may be a victim of sexual harassment, contact Becky Williams at GCOSROW, 312-346-4900.  If you have a question about the survey, contact Gail Murphy-Geiss at 719-389-6868. 
Tom Bandy returns to teach  MissionInSite in November  
Do you want to strategically reach and draw new people to your church? Renowned church growth strategist and coach Tom Bandy will return to our area November 13-15 to teach clergy and lay leaders to do just that. How? By using MissionInSite to design and adapt ministries to attract new people.

Bandy will visit the Eastern PA and Peninsula-Delaware conferences to teach basic and advanced classes on how to use MissionInSite's demographic and lifestyles research-based tools to create new approaches to ministry and mission. He will teach from his groundbreaking book See, Know & Serve the People within Your Reach.

Basic training is for persons or churches who either have no understanding of MissionInSite or feel uncomfortable using it. Advanced training is for those who already understand MissionInSite, but who want to be trained to do more for their church and to help other churches. Basic classes will be held conveniently at churches in the North and South districts.

Online registration will begin Sept. 19 and end Nov. 8 or when space is filled. Churches should send teams. There will be a $10 registration fee per church.  M ore information to come.

Tom Bandy MissionInSite Training Schedule

Basic Training
  • Monday, Nov. 13, 6:45 to 8:30 PM, at Bethany UMC Wescosville (Allentown-North District).
  • Tuesday, Nov. 14, 6:45 to 8:30 PM, at Thorndale UMC (South District). 
Advanced Training (For people who have a working knowledge of MissionInSite and Bandy's usage of demographic information for ministry)
  • Monday, Nov. 13, 9 AM to 12 PM, at Eastern PA Conference Office. 
  • Tuesday, Nov. 14, 9 AM to 12 PM, at Eastern PA Conference Office. 
Bandy will also meet with the conference's Order of Elders on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 10 to 11 AM, at Gretna Glen Camp Retreat Center in Lebanon, before heading to Delaware to work with the Peninsula-Delaware Conference. For more information contact the Rev. Gordon Hendrickson, Congregational Development Coordinator, at gordonacts6@gmail.com or call 267-258-9507. 
Local Church Communicators Survey, RSVP 
The search is on! The Communications Office wants to identify, resource and network with Local Church Communicators-i.e., pastors, communications ministry coordinators and committees, webmasters, church newsletter editors, etc. We want to know who you are, what you're doing in church communications, what help you may need and what help you can offer others.

We also want to share with you resources we come across that may aid in your ministry. For example, we just watched a free, helpful UM Communications (UMCom) webinar last week titled "7 Ways to Promote Your Church Event On Facebook," something many churches would love to do.  Fortunately, you can still view a recording of that easy-to-understand, 45-minute webinar (starts at 6:04 minutes). 

We want to share more resources--including webinars, online articles, training and networking events--with anyone doing communications in and for our local churches. That includes helpful resources that you share with us.

So please tell us your name, church name and location, your communications role and other information about the types of communications your church does and/or wants to do. E-mail us at communications@epaumc.org or use our Submit News page to send us your information.

Or, better yet, just take a few moments to download, complete and return our short   Local Church Communicators Survey   questionnaire, so that we can better communicate, serve and share resources with you and your church. Thanks! 
Find your path...
at Exploration 2017
Friday, October 13, 
from 10 AM to 2 PM 
Lancaster Theological Seminary, 
555  W. James St, Lancaster, PA.

Come   enjoy worship, prayer, fellowship and conversation  to help you discern, explore and respond to  G od's Call to Ordained & Licensed Ministry  in all its forms. 

Visit  a seminary class at Lancaster Theological Seminary  and witness the sharing of knowledge, insights, experience and community among teachers and students.

Learn   about the seminary experience , your options for theological education and various ministry fields available to help you answer God's call to sacred service.

Explore   your gifts and passion  for service as a Deacon or Elder or Local Pastor in The United Methodist Church.


Our Districts  will have representatives there to discuss your interests and potential avenues for entering, preparing for and living out your call to ordained & licensed ministry.   The $20 registration fee  includes lunch.  
For more information contact: 
the  Rev. Dr. Michael Roberts  at  drroberts42@aol.com , or
the 
Rev. Johnson Dodla  at  johnson@olivetumc.org .

Who Should Attend?   Adults, especially young adults, who sense God's call to ordained & licensed ministry, or who want to know about preparation for ministry in The United Methodist Church.
Don't wait or available space may fill up!   Register Online Now! 
North District to sponsor its own Laity Academy
The new North District will again sponsor its own Laity Academy over four weeks on Monday evenings, September 11, 18 and 25 and October 2. Classes will be in session at St. John's UMC, 1211 West Arch Street, Coal Township, PA. To better serve local churches in their region, the active Methodists United Mission ConneXion, in the Shamokin area, is partnering again with the Eastern PA Conference, as they did  a few years ago, to bring the Laity Academy closer to home.
 
This year, the "Basic" course will be offered as well as two Advance courses: "Leading through Failure" and "Visitation and Nurturing." The academy is open to anyone in the North District or in the entire Eastern PA Conference, for those who want to drive out there and see the sheer beauty of God's early autumn canvas in our northwestern region. Each session will run from 6 to 8:30 PM. For information, contact Patty Korbich at pbkorb@verizon.net or 570-672-1031. A small fee will help pay for class materials and light refreshments. Registration is required. Register here.
HOPE! Talks: Inspiration for Small Congregations, Oct. 21
Save the date! HOPE! Talks: Inspiration for Small Congregations happens Oct. 21, from 9 AM to 3 PM, at Lighthouse Fellowship UMC, 137 North Easton Road, Glenside, PA. Be inspired as speakers from small congregations doing great ministries share how God is moving and imparting hope to and through them.

A link to live-streaming of the event, which is scheduled to begin at 9 am on the 21st, will be available on the Lighthouse Fellowship UMC website ( http://lfumcglenside.com/ ) by the week of the event. There will also be a download available on the site so that those participating on the web can participate in a discussion that will take place around the tables during lunch. The discussion will be aimed at helping congregations to think in new ways, in God ways, about their situations.

Gain a new perspective. Ask questions. Connect. Be refreshed. Get hope!  Join us for this live-streamed, TED talks-style event sponsored by Bishop Peggy Johnson and the Cabinet. ASL Interpretation and Handicapped Accessibility will be provided. Registration is $10 in advance and $15 at the door (includes breakfast and lunch).  To register online, click  here . A flyer is attached for posting and distribution at your church.  Want more information? Visit lfumcglenside.com/hope-talks .  
Update your Find-A-Church profile
Developed by United Methodist Communications, Find-A-Church helps your church connect with people who may be looking online for a church to provide worship, fellowship, spiritual nurture and other needs. If your church has a Website, having a church page in Find-A-Church doubles your local visibility to reach people searching by city, town or zip code. It is the official online directory of United Methodist churches in the United States and  one of the most visited sections of UMC.org, averaging more than 1,000 page views a day. You'll achieve the best results from your Find-A-Church profile when you update your church's information. For video instructions on how, visit Video Tutorial: Find-A-Church Overview
Missed any past issues of NEWSpirit Digest?
You can still read or share informative, colorful back issues of our weekly e-newsletter on the Eastern PA Conference Website at www.epaumc.org/news-events/newspirit-digestShare this link with others who might want to stay informed about our news, events, resources and concerns. And please encourage them to subscribe by e-mailing communications@epaumc.org. Thanks!
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of The United Methodist Church
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