‘We Don’t Know How’ Thanks to her reinstatement by clergy members of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference May 21, the Rev. Dr. Irene Elizabeth “Beth” Stroud can preach and serve Holy Communion as an Elder again. She did so for the …
Go deeper this summer at the next 2024 Laity Academy
Have you been hearing a quiet whisper, or maybe a not-so-subtle shout for you to take the next step in discipleship? The Laity Academy Summer Session II, scheduled for August 2-3, at Eastern University’s Palmer Theological Seminary in St. Davids, …
Camp’s suburban farm feeds urban families
The Carson Simpson Farm Christian Center is located in suburban Hatboro, PA. Since he arrived as its director in 2020, Jonathan Curtis always wondered about that odd name because it didn’t have a farm. Well, now it does…albeit a small …
Celebrating a new class of transformational leaders
Lay and clergy leaders from across the Eastern PA Conference gathered June 2 at Bickley’s New Beginning United Methodist Church in Philadelphia to celebrate the 2024 class of new Certified Lay Ministers, serving in three EPA districts. This cohort of …
EPA summer camps ready to transform young lives
Summer camps at the Eastern PA Conference’s four Camp & Retreat Centers blast off this week and next, launching perhaps several thousand children and youth into a season of enjoyable, exploratory experiences, as they are encouraged, taught and guided by …
Leadership Academy offers 2 new Bible study courses led by Bishop Schol
The EPA&GNJ Leadership Academy features two new, in-depth Bible study courses in June, with discussions led by Bishop John Schol via Zoom. The courses are Gospel of Luke and Gospel of John. Each course includes eight videos, pre-course assignments, helpful …
Historic church shines a light of service in a place of refuge
In its 230th year of ministry, Mother African Zoar United Methodist Church in North Philadelphia maintains a legacy of loyal service to its community. It will celebrate that 230th anniversary with a banquet and other activities in November 2024. The …
Yea, though I walk… Pastors tread labyrinth in spiritual retreat
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 …
Project Restoration, local church host visiting disaster response teams
Thelma Bruton has lived in her family’s modest, two-story brick home in Darby, Pa., for over seven decades, since she was a year old. But for over three years she slept downstairs, away from the hole that Hurricane Isaias ripped …
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 …