The Rev. Diana Esposito is the new Executive Director of the Wesley Student Foundation of Philadelphia, where she directs the Open Door Campus Ministry at Drexel University. The ordained deacon has been a campus chaplain at Drexel for six years, …
Phone volunteers needed to aid Hurricane Ian survivors
The EPA Conference’s Project Restoration disaster recovery service is offering an easy way for people to help survivors of Hurricane Ian, which devastated communities in Florida last week. All you need are a telephone, a computer, some free time during …
Disaster Response leader urges prayers, patience in response to Ian
The Eastern PA Conference’s Disaster Response Coordinator asks for prayers but also patience as Hurricane Ian wreaks havoc and extensive damage in Florida and heads north on course to attack other states–including South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. “Please keep …
Camp director shares wisdom about relating to youth
When Terry Bridges, Coordinator of Urban Ministries and pastor of Midtown Parish UMC, was looking for ideas to bolster his church’s new youth ministry program, he turned to someone who works with young people a lot and knows them quite …
Prayers, support urged for Puerto Rico’s Fiona victims
UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) is calling for prayers and donations to support its disaster relief efforts, as we wait to learn the full severity of Hurricane Fiona’s destruction in Puerto Rico. The storm, a Category 1 hurricane when …
Summer camps connect 2,366 young hearts with God and each other
Two statements sum up the reactions of many children and youth to their summer camp adventures the past two months at the Eastern PA Conference’s four Camp & Retreat Centers: “I feel so much more connected with God, personally” and …
Hurricane Ida recovery, one year later
This weekend marks one year since Hurricane Ida unleashed its devastating winds and floods on Pennsylvania—from August 31 to Sept. 5. Just over a year earlier, August 4-5, 2020, it was Hurricane Isaias. Now the Eastern PA Conference’s Project Restoration …
District donates $20,000 to Ukrainian relief, resettlement, Aug. 1
The North District keeps showing its support for the beleaguered people of war-ravaged Ukraine. The district donated $5,000 in March to the Transfiguration Ukrainian Catholic Church in Shamokin, then more funds in April to the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Centralia …
Wholeness Centers to spur BIPOC church-community ministry partnerships
The Eastern PA Conference is placing a new milestone on its justice-centered Dismantling Racism: Path Toward Wholeness initiative with the launch of its Wholeness Centers program this month. Wholeness Centers are intentional church-based partnerships with local residents and groups in …
From a nudge, Leap of Faith praise band takes flight
“Right before the beginning of Covid shutdowns a small group of young adults who love music were nudged to begin a praise band.” That’s how the Rev. Jean Howe, former pastor of Grace UMC in Reading, began her email message …