Deaconesses and Home Missioners are theologically trained lay women and men who dedicate their lives to full-time lay ministry as part of the United Methodist Church. They live out their call to lay ministry in the vocational field to which …
Thank you for helping us minister to people in prison at Christmas
This year, the EPA Prison Ministry & Restorative Justice Team again asked congregants and community members in Pennsylvania and New Jersey to write brief encouraging messages on Christmas cards to be given to those who are incarcerated. These cards are an …
Latino Pastors and Missionaries gather to remember and to grow deeper in faith
On a cool autumn day, Latino pastors and missionaries from across Eastern Pennsylvania gathered at Gretna Glen for a day apart. Their purpose was to reconnect with God, with one another, and with all they had learned in the past. …
Collaborative CoNAM work embodies fundamental truth, “We are all family”
On Saturday, October 26th, on a beautiful, crisp fall morning, volunteers arrived at 8:30 a.m. for the annual Winter Giveaway at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Bridgeton, New Jersey. Despite the early hour, cars were already lined up, some …
Serving the Community: A Tribute to Pastoral Leadership in Norristown
On October 22, 2024, in the city of Norristown, Pennsylvania, the fraternity of pastors from the “Greater Norristown Area Ministry” (G.N.A.M.), in collaboration with the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, held a special reception to recognize the work and commitment …
Healing from the Trauma of Domestic Violence
On Saturday October 26th EPA is sponsoring a Domestic Violence Awareness workshop. Two survivors will share their stories and then Rev. Neelley Hicks, a UMC pastor will facilitate a conversation to equip faith leaders with the tools they need to …
Camphor Memorial UMC hosts community conversation
On Friday, September 13th, Camphor Memorial UMC hosted a Community Conversation designed to bring church members, neighborhood residents, and business and community leaders together to dream about how Camphor might be in ministry with their community. The conversation opened with …
Beyond the Requirement: The Lasting Impact of the Dismantling Racism Workshop”
The Dismantling Racism workshop is a required training for those who want to become certified candidates and for conference staff. However, it is more than just a requirement; it is an experience in the best possible sense. This twelve-hour course, …
Sharing God’s Love at Christmas Begins Now
Can you imagine being separated from your family and friends at Christmas? Those who are incarcerated suffer this isolation and other deprivations on a daily basis, but at Christmas, those losses can be particularly difficult. Though the EPA Conference’s Christmas …
A Day of Joy and Service: Highlights from Sayers Memorial UMC’s Community Day
Sayers Memorial UMC celebrated its third annual Community Unity Day in West Philadelphia on August 17. This celebration originated from a vision that the Lord gave to Pastor Washington in 2019, leading to the creation of an event called Youth …