“God sees us and loves us, no matter how unworthy we may think we are!” The Rev. Lydia Sohn’s blessing reverberated like a pulsing heartbeat throughout the IGNITE youth conference, whose excitement filled the Wildwood New Jersey Convention Center from …

Clergy find soul-care at ‘Reset’ spiritual retreat
Over 70 clergy serving in the Eastern PA Conference—including several from Greater New Jersey—found much-needed soul-support during a free, daylong retreat for spiritual renewal Sept. 20, at the Daylesford Abbey in Paoli, Chester County. The monastery was an ideal setting—both …

All youth invited to Latino Commission’s Youth Force event, Nov. 11
EPA’s Latino Commission invites all youth to its bilingual Unleashed! Youth Force event on Saturday, November 11, at 2 to 8 p.m., hosted by Casa del Pueblo at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Warrington. “Come meet new young people, …

Color of Compromise book study to explore church’s ‘complicity in racism’
Some Eastern PA Conference members and others, perhaps from Greater New Jersey and elsewhere, will embark this month on a challenging literary expedition through Jemar Tisby’s acclaimed 2019 book The Color of Compromise: The Truth About American Church’s Complicity in …

EPA seminar to explore ‘Healing from the Trauma of Domestic Violence’
The Eastern PA Conference Domestic Violence Committee will sponsor its eighth annual seminar October 20-21 to address a widespread, often lethal problem that afflicts many families, intimate-partner relationships and even churches. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. “Healing from …

Thank You for IGNITE 2023! Youth Conference Recap
Dear Friends, We are still basking in the glow of the incredible IGNITE Conference we just shared! This year’s theme “Belong” truly resonated with each of us, as reflected in our theme verse: “So in Christ we, though many, form …

Bethlehem church serves church, community in local Mission Blitz Week
Forty-one members of Epworth United Methodist Church in Bethlehem shared in a fast and furious, one-week Mission Blitz, this past summer, serving needs of others in their church and community. It was an intergenerational labor of love, with volunteers ranging …

Lancaster church to open year-round shelter for homeless neighbors
Otterbein United Methodist Church in Lancaster will open its spacious, rarely used fellowship hall as a year-round emergency, overnight shelter for homeless neighbors starting December 1, in response to an urgent appeal from the city. The historic church will have …

EPA groups begin planning leadership succession for 2024-2028
EPA’s Committee on Leadership convened leaders of conference boards and committees September 28, via Zoom, to discuss leadership needs for the 2024-2028 quadrennium, including timely succession of chairpersons. “All groups will have changes in membership, and some will have changes …