Twelve participants stepped away from their busy lives for a three-hour, midweek pastors spiritual retreat June 5. The small, monthly gathering usually includes time for reflective roaming around scenic church exteriors. But this month’s retreat at Paoli United Methodist Church …
Connecting Our Cultures in Christ
The Eastern PA Conference Economic Justice Council invites all to join and support EPA congregations in celebrating Juneteenth 2024, especially two of our historic Black churches. Mother African Zoar UMC in Philadelphia, Saturday, June 15, 11 am to 3 pm …
July book study to explore Healing Fractured Communities
“How can congregational leaders be both healers and agitators at the same time?” That “both/and” question is one of many addressed empirically in the new book Healing Fractured Communities (2024), by F. Douglas Powe and Jessica L Anschutz. The Eastern …
Laity Session highlights lay leadership, ministry, Fresh Expressions
At their annual Laity Session, May 21, Eastern PA Conference lay members learned about how both the conference and the emerging Fresh Expressions movement are inviting and helping church laity to grow in discipleship through community engagement.
Consider EPA’s Loan Fund for loans, investments
The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Loan Fund helps United Methodist churches finance capital projects such as new construction, roof replacements, air conditioning projects, and the like. And it can only do so because of the assets provided by investors in the …
Pathways guides steps toward ministry growth, progress
On a Sunday morning after worship 25 church leaders are gathering around tables to set goals and action steps that will lead to a successful pastoral transition. At a weekday church council meeting leaders are meeting to move beyond the …
Neighbors enter church pickleball courts with praise
Believing that churches should be places to play as well as pray, two United Methodist churches in EPA & GNJ are providing indoor pickleball courts as inviting gifts to their communities. West Lawn UMC in Reading, PA, and St. Paul’s …
June 5 pastors’ spiritual retreat to feature Labyrinth walk
“We’re hoping for a good turnout for our next spiritual retreat for EPA pastors June 5th at Paoli UMC,” writes the Rev. Steve Morton, who helps to promote the monthly retreats led by the Rev. Peter Jamieson. “So, before you …
Urban Ministry Awards Go to 4 Community-Engaged Churches
In describing the urban ministry challenge today, the Rev. Evelyn Kent Clark, Eastern PA Conference Dean of the Cabinet, may have turned iconic author Charles Dickens’ most famous opening line into a call for mission evangelism. “We think these are …
Helping people feel they Belong
Open hearts, open minds, open doors. United Methodists of Eastern PA have special ways of making guests of all ages feel special, to feel like they Belong. That’s our 2024 Annual Conference theme. We asked churches to share some of …