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 …

EPA to graduate 7 new CLMs June 2
Eastern PA will celebrate the 2024 Class of Certified Lay Ministers at their graduation ceremony on Sunday, June 2, at 3 p.m., at Bickley’s New Beginning United Methodist Church, Philadelphia. The Rev. Andrew Foster III will preach at the event. …

Church invites youth to serve in MyCalling! mission adventure
Yardley (PA) United Methodist Church’s youth invite others to come join in their annual MyCalling! youth mission adventure July 14-18, as they learn to serve others, while learning about themselves and worshiping God together. The young people enjoy working at …

How do you help people Belong?
Our 2024 Annual Conference theme is Belong. EPA&GNJ Communications wants to celebrate that theme by inviting churches to tell us, so we can tell others, how they help people—members, nonmembers and guests—feel they Belong. “People go where they are welcome,” …

Church and partners ‘Help Build Hope’ through new home
Bethel Hill United Methodist Church in Lansdale and its generous partners are proving that Hope can be chronic and infectious—not as a disease but as a cure. Together, they “helped build hope” by erecting a fourth house—their second duplex—April 5-7, …