“Be purposeful and fruitful.” That creative challenge is in the last line of Bishop John Schol’s April 4 essay titled “ Direction: A Key Ingredient for Successful Leadership – Part 2: Mission.” He reminds us of the Eastern PA Conference’s mission: “Recruit …
Ordinands’ fruitfulness projects respond to individual, church, community needs
As the COVID pandemic in late 2020 took a heavy toll on many lives—including health, housing, businesses, jobs and family incomes—members of Wooddale UMC in East Stroudsburg and nearby rural Analomink UMC saw their communities increasingly in dire need of …
Church celebrates confirmation of 16 youth
”It was my joy to confirm 16 youth from our church who claimed their faith on Confirmation Sunday,” announced the Rev. Candy LaBar, pastor of Wesley UMC Bethlehem. “I wish our confirmands every blessing on this new stage of their …
3 Annual Conference offerings, 3 ways to give
The 2022 Annual Conference, May 20-21, will again receive offerings to provide crucial support to conference youth and young adult ministries and scholarships for higher education—both undergraduate and seminary. While the Annual Conference will take place online for a third …
Camps combine new and old in upcoming events, site improvements
During nature’s season of vibrant vitality, EPA Conference Camp & Retreat Centers are springing forth into new things. They are hosting and planning exciting new events and site improvements, while making preparations and registering children and youth for the thrill of their summer camps.
Churches offer healing ministries through GriefShare groups
Grieving the death of a loved one can become a healing journey when shared with others, and at least two United Methodist churches in Eastern PA are helping members and neighbors to take that journey together. Grove UMC in West …
Church offers healing vigil in response to shooting
Washington Crossing UMC (“The Crossing”) hosted neighbors for a solemn, public prayer vigil Tuesday night, May 3, to remember two boys whose mother allegedly shot them as they slept in their beds, leaving them gravely wounded.
DePaz to staff EPA’s Latino Commission
The Rev. Maria Quesada “Lisa” DePaz, Pastor of Haws Avenue UMC in Norristown since, will become Coordinator of the Eastern PA Conference Latino Ministries Commission July 1. Currently the commission’s secretary, she succeeds the Rev. Lillian “Luky” Cotto, who will retire …
Black-Brown Youth Retreat explores identity, relationships
“Black, brown, black, brown, black, brown.” That’s how the Rev. Will Brawner instructed the youth at the Black and Brown Youth Retreat, April 1-3, to sit in chairs encircling Gretna Glen Camp & Retreat Center’s largest meeting room. He mixed …
EPA delivers ‘Undies for Easter’ to grateful prison staff
Eastern PA Conference members delivered a modest but much-appreciated Easter gift to the Philadelphia Correctional Facility complex on State Road April 12. A team delivered 2,123 men’s briefs, 2,264 men’s undershirts and 625 women’s briefs for persons incarcerated there, bearing fruit …