On Saturday July 11th, as some of the most talented soccer players in the world prepared for the quarter finals of the World Cup, leaders from across EPA & GNJ gathered to make some goals of their own. Leaders from …
Pull up a chair: Why LAPI is for you, too
There is a moment that happens in almost every church.It’s not during the sermon.It’s not during a committee meeting.It’s not even during worship. It’s the conversation in the hallway. The volunteer who notices someone sitting alone. The person who organizes …
Camp Corner: Stories from Summer 2026
Pocono Plateau Day Camp gets sisters choosing kindness by Rev. Carmen O’Shea A parent reached out with the quote below. She tried a different camp closer to their home last year and came back to Pocono Plateau this summer because …
Latino Camp 2026: A Week of Faith, Friendship, and New Possibilities
This summer, 73 children and youth from the Eastern Pennsylvania (EPA) and Greater New Jersey (GNJ) Conferences participated in Latino Camp 2026, hosted at Gretna Glen Camp and Retreat Center in Lebanon, PA. This year’s Latino Camp was a joyful …
Chester County Health Department seeks United Methodists’ help amid measles outbreaks
Cases of measles, a highly contagious disease that can have serious, even deadly effects, are on the rise in Pennsylvania and nationwide. The Chester County Health Department is seeking help from United Methodist churches. The call for help aligns with …
Neurodiversity ministries blossom from deep listening
In recent years, awareness and acceptance of neurodiversity—the reality that people’s brains develop and function in different ways—has grown significantly. Often associated with conditions like autism and ADHD, neurodivergence reflects a wide spectrum of human experience. Yet the church has not always embraced these differences …
Intentional Discipleship
“Over this next year, I am going to require that every local church develop a plan for forming disciples.” – Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, 2026 Annual Conference Discipleship is the process in which we learn about about, grow closer to, and …
After 10 years, conference continues Act of Repentance efforts toward healing
This year marked the tenth anniversary of the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference’s 2016 Act of Repentance, a response to the 2012 General Conference “Act of Repentance toward Healing Relationships with Indigenous Peoples.” That small word, “toward,” acknowledges that the work …
EPA celebrates six new CLM graduates
On Sunday, June 28, 2026 six lay members of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference became Certified Lay Ministers (CLM) in a ceremony at Christ United Methodist Church, Broomall. The Rev. Dr. Jesse Coale, pastor of Christ UMC, Broomall, warmly welcomed everyone. …
Conference historians explore racial, religious and revolutionary past
PENNINGTON, New Jersey—Just before The United Methodist Church celebrated Heritage Sunday, May 24, denominational historians and archivists learned about the earliest history of both American Methodism and its host nation, which is celebrating its birth 250 years ago. That past …