“Be purposeful and fruitful.” That creative challenge is in the last line of Bishop John Schol’s April 4 essay titled “ Direction: A Key Ingredient for Successful Leadership – Part 2: Mission.” He reminds us of the Eastern PA Conference’s mission: “Recruit …
Church offers healing vigil in response to shooting
Washington Crossing UMC (“The Crossing”) hosted neighbors for a solemn, public prayer vigil Tuesday night, May 3, to remember two boys whose mother allegedly shot them as they slept in their beds, leaving them gravely wounded.
DePaz to staff EPA’s Latino Commission
The Rev. Maria Quesada “Lisa” DePaz, Pastor of Haws Avenue UMC in Norristown since, will become Coordinator of the Eastern PA Conference Latino Ministries Commission July 1. Currently the commission’s secretary, she succeeds the Rev. Lillian “Luky” Cotto, who will retire …
Black-Brown Youth Retreat explores identity, relationships
“Black, brown, black, brown, black, brown.” That’s how the Rev. Will Brawner instructed the youth at the Black and Brown Youth Retreat, April 1-3, to sit in chairs encircling Gretna Glen Camp & Retreat Center’s largest meeting room. He mixed …
EPA delivers ‘Undies for Easter’ to grateful prison staff
Eastern PA Conference members delivered a modest but much-appreciated Easter gift to the Philadelphia Correctional Facility complex on State Road April 12. A team delivered 2,123 men’s briefs, 2,264 men’s undershirts and 625 women’s briefs for persons incarcerated there, bearing fruit …
Support Native American Ministries May 1 and beyond
As we support EPAUMC’s efforts toward Dismantling Racism, we can learn more about Native American heritage, culture, concerns and faith expressions–especially on Native American Ministries Sunday, May 1, and beyond. View EPA’s Committee on Native American Ministry” (CONAM) 2022 Tools …
Restored Language = Restored Culture = Healing
Watch a fascinating presentation on how an American Indian people are trying to rescue and preserve their native language. Halay Turning Heart, a formally-trained tribal language preservationist for the Yuchi people, spoke with the EPAUMC Committee on Native American Ministries …
EPA leaders learning ‘3R’s’ of dismantling racism
Dismantling Racism may start with learning a new form of “the 3Rs”: Relationships, Recognition and Revelation. Relating openly and lovingly to others who are different—especially cross-racially or cross-culturally—can lead to honest recognition of what one doesn’t know and then to …
As JFON’s immigration cases grow, so does its need for help
Justice for Our Neighbors of the Delaware Valley (JFON-DV) has been operating immigration legal clinics for 13 months in three states, handling a growing docket of cases, as it looks for volunteers, especially language interpreters. The Eastern PA regional office moved …
Women’s History Month Feature
UM advocacy agency reveals lagging equity for clergywomen
The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (GCOSROW), created by General Conference in 1972, provides research, advocacy, training, monitoring and educational resources to churches and conference commissions like Eastern PA’s COSROW…