By the Rev. Greg Ellis Eastern PA Conference Disaster Ministry Coordinator We all want to be helping our beleaguered brothers and sisters in West Virginia…and Texas…and Oklahoma. And the list goes on… Turn on the news and you see devastation …
Open Wide Your Hearts! Part 1
During the Annual Conference, June 16-17, some enthusiastic leaders told us how their churches are living out this year’s Annual Conference theme by opening wide their hearts in ministries of outreach and welcome to their communities. We recorded six short …
Mrs. Muriel Mae Allyn
We received word of the death of Mrs. Muriel Mae Allyn, who passed away on June 15, 2016. She was the surviving spouse of the Rev. Pearce A. Smith. There will not be a funeral service. Mrs. Allyn is survived by …
Mennonites reconnect with UMC founder
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (UMNS) — When Martin Boehm began preaching to a wider group of believers, he was ex-communicated. Now — more than 240 years later — Mennonites have renounced “the small-mindedness of religious thinking” used against the former Mennonite …
Tears
If this sounds like a “Dear Diary” entry, I apologize. I was asked to write a reflection on the ordination service, and I am now going to invite you into sacred space. You may have seen me there. Red hair, white robe, crying…
Take me out to the ballgame…
Join hundreds–maybe thousands–of Eastern PA folks from across our conference for Methodist Night at the Phila. Phillies ballgame on Saturday, July 16, at Citizens Bank Park.
A whole lot of learnin’ goin’ on
Beyond their open hearts, United Methodists strive all year long to fill their open minds with new wisdom, much of it focused on finding new ways to open their doors to new people.
The Eastern PA Conference, its six districts and some of its teaching churches together sponsor learning events throughout the year, welcoming anyone to come and learn how to make disciples and help change the world. There are the perennial training events, some of them required of clergy and staff, including ones in Sexual Ethics, Changing Racism and Safe Sanctuaries.
Eastern PA churches, districts open wide their hearts
Eastern PA Conference churches in every district are reaching out near and far to embrace neighbors in need, from around the corner to around the globe. We lift up some noteworthy examples here, and we will feature more on our …
Annual Conference defers votes on key legislation
By John W. Coleman The 2016 Eastern PA Annual Conference, meeting June 16-18, cautiously postponed action on some key resolutions during debates, at times choosing compromise over controversy. But while some of the 21 submitted resolutions were approved, none were …
Repenting for sins against Native peoples
Church leaders repent, seek healing for sins against Native peoples By John W. Coleman The UMC’s Eastern PA Conference began its three-day annual session Thursday, June 16, with worship and a solemn ceremony that confessed and repented for an egregious …