"Excellence-Focused"
East District Newsletter
The January Issue
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photo by Andrew McQuaid
It gives me great joy to announce that the Excellence-Focused East District now has a Poet Laureate, Fay Warner who is a CSM and member of Grace UMC in Philadelphia.
Below is a poem she is sharing with our district:
ANOTHER YEAR TO PRAISE GOD
The dawning of a new year
Filled with love and good cheer
Another year to give God praise
Joyful hearts, hands raised
One more opportunity to show our gratitude
In the awesome quiet of His solitude
Again, another chance to make amends
For last year’s multitude of sins
While God’s love for us runs deep
His promises…forever to keep
Undeserved blessings – ours to reap
Another year to give God the glory
And tell His wonderous story
Through a virgin’s miraculous birth
Jesus came to live with us on earth
To fulfill God’s salvation plan
For every woman and man
Life everlasting…for eternity
For sinners like us – such grace and mercy
Yes, another year to exalt the Savior
Another chance to check our behavior
One more time, just to say “thank you”
For abundant life beginning anew
Fay P. Claud
Copyright 1/2/2008
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Rev. Dr. Andrew L. Foster, III
Mailing address:
East District
Eastern PA Conference UMC
PO Box 820
Valley Forge, PA 19482-0820
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Best Safety Practices during Increasing
COVID Transmission
January 04, 2022
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As of January 4, 2022, the Eastern PA Conference Office will be on modified lockdown, out of an abundance of caution for our staff due to the ongoing Omicron wave of COVID-19 cases in Montgomery County and beyond. Most staff will continue their work virtually, rather than onsite, for the foreseeable future.
Recommendations for Churches:
Congregations that reopen or remain open must be committed to the goal of resisting spread of the virus by following all state and city guidelines. And they should responsibly implement a safety plan approved by their church council. Please continue to monitor COVID pandemic-related information on both the www.PA.gov and CDC websites for their latest guidance.
Due to the increase in the Omicron variant among communities, the EPA Conference leadership recommends masking in populated spaces or with vulnerable populations. Worship and work from home options are recommended for vulnerable populations and in communities with high COVID transmission.
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Excellence-Focused East District's
January Appointments
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Lemuel Jack Ross Jr. (Lay Supply) to serve Church of the Redeemer UMC, quarter-time, effective January, 1, 2022
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Elouise Nedwood (Lay Supply) to serve St. Thomas UMC, quarter-time, effective January 1, 2022
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Featured Event:
The Fundamentals of Church Statistics
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The Fundamentals of Church Statistics—counting what counts—will be the topic of the EPAUMC’s Bivocational & Small Church Network’s next meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 11, at 6:30 PM, on Zoom. And while the network typically comprises small-church pastors and laity, this session, which should be of interest to all churches, is open to everyone.
Lawrence A. Lee, MBA, is Comptroller and Senior Accountant in the EPAUMC Conference Treasurer’s Office and a former church treasurer. (He also is a Christ Servant Minister and just retired Dec. 11 from the U.S. Coast Guard with the rank of Chief after 30 years.) Learn more...
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Understanding & Applying Intercultural Competencies in Cross-Racial / Cross-Cultural Ministry
Feb. 11, 6:30 pm - 8 PM
& Feb. 12, 9 AM – 12:30 AM, via Zoom
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Clergy currently serving in Cross-Racial / Cross-Cultural appointments, together with the church leadership and staff (e.g., SPRC, Trustees, Lay Leadership and staff)... Learn More
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UMC Clergy CEU Webinars
Continue Education for Church Leaders
January 11 - Bishop Sharma Lewis: Tips for Preaching During Lent and Easter
As clergy, we are called, among other things, to preach. In September, there was a tremendous response to Bishop Sharma Lewis’ webinar related to preaching for Advent. Bishop Lewis, author of best-selling Lenten guide, Journey to Transformation, will be with us January 11 to lead a one-hour session on Preaching During Lent. Register.
January 27-Olu Brown: Preaching and Leading During Lent 2022
During Lent, worshipers around the world join together in a common theme of Christian faith, practicing self-reflection and remembrance of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on Calvary. It is not only a time of individual reflection, but a time of communal reflection, reminding us that we are a global community of believers, and we have a responsibility to one anther and to our world. Register.
February 1-Rebekah Simon-Peter: How to Do More With Less
For most local congregations, there are lingering questions about the future. One question on most church’s minds is “How can we do more with less?”
Congregations are learning to deal with a lot of “lesses” in the new, hopefully soon-to-be, post-pandemic world. Register.
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DS Chats with Clergy
Please join Dr. Foster at 9:00 AM on the 3rd Thursday of each month for DS Chats with Clergy
Revised Dates:
January 27, 2022
February 17, 2022
March 17, 2022
April 21, 2022
May 18, 2022
Zoom links will be sent prior to each session.
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St. Paul's UMC in Warrington is looking for a part time Church Organist/Choir Director.
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Featured Event Recordings |
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"Church for Nerds" Webinar with "Nerd Pastor Nate"
"Doing Church Differently (TM)" Faith-sharing Event with Rev. Olu Brown
Honoring Victims and Co-victims of Violence: An Urban Mini Summit
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East District EPAUMC Calendar |
January 7 & 8: Implicit Biases Workshop. Friday from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, and Saturday from 9 AM to 12:45 PM, on Zoom.
↻ January 11: Bivocational & Small Church Network. Every other Month, on the 2nd Tuesday of Month, at 6:30 PM, on Zoom.
↻ January 12 - February 9: Weekly Book Club: Being the Church in a Post-Pandemic World by Kay Kotan. Wednesdays at 11 AM.
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Revealing, Acknowledging and Transforming Our Implicit Biases |
The Eastern PA Conference Committee on Religion & Race presents:
Revealing, Acknowledging and Transforming Our Implicit Biases
The Human Dilemma:
What we don’t know, we think;
What we think, we do;
So, what can we do about it?
Friday, January 7, 2022
6:30 PM to 8:30 PM on Zoom
Saturday, January 8, 2022
9 AM to 12:45 PM on Zoom
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
- EVERYONE!
- Newly appointed pastors
- Pastors currently serving in CR/CC appointments
- Person in key leadership positions, e.g.,
- SPPRC, Worship Teams, Trustees, Lay Leaders, etc.
- Other interested clergy and laity
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January 2022 Book Club: Being the Church in a Post-Pandemic World
New for 2022: CEUs are provided for all book studies!!!
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Dates: January 12, 19, 26; February 2, 9 (5 weeks)
Study led by: Kay Kotan (author)
Sponsored by: EPAUMC Congregational Development Team (CDT)
The first 25 people to register will receive a free Kindle version of the book.
Focused specifically on how to help churches as we emerge from the pandemic. This will be a dynamic, interactive study that you and your church leadership will not want to miss!
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Advanced Christ Servant Ministry course
Preaching CAREfully
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Friday, January ,14th 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Saturday, January 15th 9:00 AM -12:00 PM
Saturday, January 22nd 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
*Attendance at all 3 sessions is required to receive CSM or CLM credit
Instructor: Rev. Lloyd Speer
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2022 EPAUMC Congregational Development Team (CDT) |
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WEEKLY PREACHING FORUM for SERMON COLLABORATION
(EVERY TUESDAY @ 2)
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12 Preachers from Across the Conference will lead us. Come as you are able (it's ok if you can't make every week). Each week we will look @ the text for Sunday. We will also collaborate on sermon ideas, illustrations, liturgy and more. Hope you will join us.
Rev. Candy LaBar, Pastor of Wesley UMC in Bethlehem, PA, will be our Facilitator for April 6. Come hear her thoughts on the texts for the Sunday after Easter - you won't want to miss it!
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Conference-wide Weekly Prayer Meetings |
The Eastern PA Conference can celebrate a special anniversary in April. The weekly, half-hour prayer meetings the conference offers every Tuesday at noon by video-chat on Zoom began in April 2020, just as the coronavirus pandemic was growing.
Schedule of Leaders:
- Jan 11, 2022 – Rev. Dave Piltz
- Jan 18, 2022 – Rev. Dr. Andrew Foster, East District Superintendent
- Jan 25, 2022 – Sue Kiefner, CLM
Here is the Zoom access information:
Meeting ID: 591 129 374
Or Call in: +1 646 558 8656
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Bi-vocational & Small Church Network |
Every other Month, on the 2nd Tuesday of Month, at 6:30 PM, on Zoom
“This is a group designed exclusively for church leaders of smaller churches, welcoming part-time, bivocational, retired and all other small-church leaders, both clergy and lay,” said the Rev. Dawn Taylor-Storm, Connectional Ministries Director. “Small churches are the backbone of The United Methodist Church, and we want to provide a bimonthly small group for conversation that relates to the unique opportunities found in our small, vital churches.”
The Rev. Denny Emrick, who has long served small churches, asked for such a group and will facilitate the initial conversation, which may produce a monthly gathering for “prayer, dialogue, connection and resourcing for part-time, bivocational and small church leaders."
Register here.
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East District Resource Center |
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Request For Clergy Photos
All clergy are encouraged to submit photos in for preparation for the Episcopal transition.
Link to submit clergy photos:
Online Worship & Music Resources for Livestreaming
- Questions and Answers about Online Worship and Copyrights
- Licensing Companies: What They Offer and What You Need
- Top Questions for United Methodist Churches
- Music & Singing
- Best Practices
Link to Article and resources
Apportioned Funds Spotlight:
Black College Fund
In 2021, each month prior to the opening of the postponed General Conference, UMC Support will be detailing each of the 7 apportioned funds, so that General Conference delegates and members of The United Methodist Church like you have a deep understanding of the fund and what each one does. This month we are highlighting the Black College Fund. This timely spotlight is a reminder of United Methodists’ commitment to equality. The Black College Fund supports the 11 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) related to the Church.
Create a Clean, Healthy Environment
For Everyone In Your Church
As in-person worship continues to increase, make sure you have the right information, resources and solutions to ensure the safety and satisfaction of your staff, congregation and visitors. Ecolab and Guest Supply have partnered with The United Methodist Church to help deliver clean, safe places of worship through comprehensive cleaning protocols, best-in-class disinfection products, compliance, and operational safety solutions.
Your PPP Partner
Christian Credit Union Network is your banking partner. We are well versed in helping churches with PPP, especially as a solution to retain employees and cover operational expenses. If you are interested in discussing a PPP solution for your church, reach out to professionals at your local Christian Credit Union Network.
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