“David took the lyre and played it with his hand. Saul would be relieved and feel better, and the evil spirit would depart from him.” (I Samuel 16:23b) “‘You know you’re in trouble when your colleague recommends their antidepressants,’ begins …
Creating a Culture of Calling to Ministry, Part 2
“As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” —John 20:21b After his resurrection Jesus’ demonstrated his own practice of leadership succession. He lingered with his disciples to further instruct and strengthen their personal faith. And he assured them …
‘Here I Am, Send Me’: Call to Ministry Worship Service
Use this suggested order of worship to celebrate the call to ministry, prepared by two of our EPA pastors and members of the Board of Ordained Ministry. It’s titled Here I Am, Send Me: Call to Ministry Worship Service. Plan to use …
Spiritual retreats offer weary clergy respite, renewal
“Pastors need a break. We need some sense of support and nurture.” That’s how the Rev. Peter Jamieson, pastor of Richmond UMC in Bangor, described what brought 25 EPA clergy members to scenic Pocono Plateau Camp & Retreat Center April …
Workshop will help churches prepare for pastoral transitions
The EPA Transition Workshop for New Pastoral Appointments, to help churches receive new pastors, will be offered twice, May 4, at 7:00 p.m., and May 6, at 9:00 a.m., both via Zoom. Each participating church should form a transition team to attend the …
Complexity and Calm
“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10a) When Mike Slaughter spoke at Hopewell UMC’s Planting Seeds for Ministry event back in 2015, I recall him repeating one of his favorite lines: “Our God does some of his best …
Managing the fast pace of change
“Your word is firmly fixed in heaven.” —Psalm 119:89b “The only constant in life is change,” Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher of the sixth century BCE, taught us. But when is too much change just too much for a system to …
Mission to Mama Land: Church bonds with UM orphanage in Sierra Leone
A “dream team” from First UMC Lancaster landed in Sierra Leone, West Africa, Feb. 1, on a mission to visit a children’s village known affectionately as MamaLand. The Rev. Dorcas Kamanda, an elder in Eastern PA, birthed the fledgling home …
World Methodist Council nominations sought
Bishop John Schol seeks persons—clergy, lay adults and youth—to nominate for membership and leadership on the World Methodist Council, for the remainder of its current term, 2022-2024, and also for 2024 to 2030. The Eastern PA and Greater New Jersey …
Holding on together
Cabinet epistle prescribes remedies to clergy stress, burnout
“In the midst of deeply felt challenges to our health, our churches and our society, it is normal for stress and anxiety to increase.” Thus begins a letter sent recently by the joint EPA&GNJ Cabinet to all clergy and chairs …