Philadelphia’s WPVI-TV News featured Eastern PA Conference Lay Leader William Thompson in a recent story about his decades-long business of teaching basic computer skills to seniors. It’s part of the ABC station’s series “The Art of Aging.” “Love them or …

EPA Prison Ministry launches ‘Toiletry Bowl’ donation campaign
As professional and college football teams begin preparing for their 2023 seasons, many have dreams of playing in big, championship bowl games in front of thousands of fans. But now we can participate in a bowl competition that will improve …

4 new Certified Lay Ministers bring EPA current total to 70
Four new Eastern PA Certified Lay Ministers (CLMs) “graduated” in a Service of Recognition June 11, at Asbury United Methodist Church in Allentown. In its 14th year, the conference program now has 70 active CLMs, and 16 of them are …

‘Kicking it up a notch’ at St. Paul’s UMC
Republished with permission from the Mid-Atlantic United Methodist Foundation newsletter The Rev. David Woolverton is the lead pastor at St Paul’s UMC in Elizabethtown, PA, and a graduate of the Mid-Atlantic United Methodist Foundation’s Advanced Financial Academy. Originally, David’s AFA …

Creating a Culture of Calling to Ministry, Part 2
“As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” —John 20:21b After his resurrection Jesus’ demonstrated his own practice of leadership succession. He lingered with his disciples to further instruct and strengthen their personal faith. And he assured them …

Retired 50-year church organist gets to share her gift once more
Celebrating the Creator’s gift of music on Sunday, May 21, enabled Covenant UMC in Lancaster to also celebrate a much-beloved, retired musician who shared that gift with the church for 70 years, including 50 years as its organist. Dolly Kepner, …

Hear God speak at Laity Academy #2, August 4-5
After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice. – 1 Kings 19:12 United Methodists of Eastern PA may hear God’s still, small voice speak to …

EPA Awardees Honored for Evangelism, Urban Ministries
About 30 people gathered April 22 for the 2023 Eastern PA Annual Conference awards ceremony at Christ United Methodist Church in Fairless Hills—a 30-minute, video-recorded ceremony where plaques and framed certificates were given out and brief remarks were shared. A …

Project Restoration moving disaster recovery work to Philly
The Eastern PA Conference’s Project Restoration is about to enlarge its territory of endeavor as it moves its Hurricane Ida disaster recovery work from suburban counties into Philadelphia. Doing so will require all that the project’s management team has learned …

Introducing a New Streamlined Reporting Process for Church Leaders
By Rev. James Lee jlee@gnjumc.org For many pastors and church leaders, reporting and form-filling is akin to the dreaded task of sorting through a mountain of laundry on a weekend afternoon—necessary, yet decidedly not exciting. However, things are about to …