The EPA&GNJ Leadership Academy’s new Lilly Endowment-funded Preaching Institute (LAPI) hired a new director and coordinator January 1. The Rev. Darryl Stephens, who chairs the Order of Deacons in the Eastern PA Conference and teaches at Lancaster Theological Seminary, will serve as director. …

Leadership Academy uses Teachable online courses to train church leaders
EPA&GNJ’s Leadership Academy has launched its first online courses for training church leaders, using Teachable, one of the nation’s top online learning management systems. The multimedia, fully accessible digital platform enables creation and hosting of a variety of instructor-led courses …

IGNITE’s 2 Youth Leader Days to empower youth ministry
Join fellow youth ministry leaders for a day of enrichment, networking, and skill-building at the IGNITE Youth Leaders Day. EPA&GNJ will fan the flame of its IGNITE creative youth ministries with two upcoming events designed to empower youth leaders and …

Denman Evangelism Award nominations extended to Jan. 19
Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. (1 Thessalonians 5:12) The deadline to submit nominations for the 2024 Harry Denman Evangelism Awards is extended to January 19. The Eastern PA Conference Cabinet and …

2024 Breakthrough Worship Series is here!
The EPA&GNJ 2024 Breakthrough Worship Series outlines are now available online and ready for you to explore at www.breakthroughseries.org/2024. This free, creative and comprehensive resource will help you plan six faith-inspiring worship series throughout the year. The series relate to …

EPA board, agency, committee leaders sought for 2024-28
The mission of United Methodists of Eastern PA is “to recruit and develop transformational leaders so that people and communities experience healing, renewal and wholeness from God.” That mission pertains not only to congregations but also to the conference boards, …

Submit names for EPA episcopal nominations by Jan. 15
Eastern PA clergy and lay members are invited to submit, by January 15, up to two names of clergy the Annual Conference may consider, when it meets in May, to nominate for election to the office of Bishop in 2024. …

2024 Advance Special project applications due Jan. 4
The EPA Conference Global Ministries Team announces Jan. 4 as the application deadline for churches and other entities to request mission funding from EPA churches through the Advance Specials program. Advance Specials are local projects in EPA approved annually by …

CoNAM helps college students, faculty feel the Loss of Turtle Island
During National Native American Heritage Month in November, students and faculty at Lebanon Valley College (LVC), in Annville, PA, participated in a unique, interactive learning experience that taught them the history of a tragic loss. That loss resulted from “the …

Church’s interfaith community Thanksgiving service reaches hundreds
Members of 15 faith communities came together at Stroudsburg United Methodist Church on Sunday, November 19, to share in a creative, meaningful community Thanksgiving service, sponsored by the Monroe County Faith Leaders. The Rev. Monica Guepet, Stroudsburg’s lead pastor, conceived …