April is National Donate Life Month. In fact, April 3 was Donate Life Living Donor Day, a time to honor living organ donors for saving and healing lives. These observances and recent media stories and films highlight the urgent, widespread …
Woolverton helps leaders’ wrestle with vulnerability in ‘Prophet & Loss…’
The Rev. David Woolverton, a longtime Eastern PA elder, pastoral counselor, consultant and trainer, has just published a new book to resource ministry leaders for the emotional and spiritual task of providing personal and pastoral care to others. Prophet and …
Apply for grants in May to pay higher education costs
Application period: May 1-13, 2024 On May 1 the Education Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference will begin accepting grant applications to help worthy United Methodist students pay the cost of higher education for the 2024-2025 school year. The grants are for students …
Churches celebrate Holy Week with special activities
Churches across the Eastern PA Conference spent much of a busy but blessed Holy Week in worship through sermons, ceremony and song—many worshiping jointly with neighboring churches. But some attempted creative, energetic ways to demonstrate the sacred significance of this …
A Holy Week delivery of Undies for Easter
Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them. Remember those who are suffering, as though you were suffering as they are. Hebrews 13:3 (Good News Version) The Philadelphia Prison Complex received a special delivery …
Historic church survives fire, as its worship and witness continue
Recovering from an electrical fire that damaged part of its building, 162-year-old Arch Street United Methodist Church, just blocks away from Philadelphia’s City Hall, is holding Holy Week and Easter Sunday services. While Good Friday worship will be held online, …
Hundreds find learning, encouragement, connections at Tools for Ministry
“I give thanks for Tools for Ministry events that provide us with learning, encouragement and connections for this journey,” said the Rev. Dawn Taylor-Storm, Assistant to the Bishop for Leadership Development and the Eastern PA Conference’s Director of Connectional Ministries. …
EPA members, Bishop Schol attend UM Black caucus’ 57th General Meeting
Six members of the Eastern PA Conference’s Black Methodists for Church Renewal caucus, plus Bishop John Schol, attended the national caucus’s 57th General Meeting March 6-9 in Cincinnati, Ohio, the caucus’ birthplace. Bishop Schol spoke to the assembly of over …
Celebrating Clergywomen during Women’s History Month, Part 3
For Women’s History Month, the Rev. Julia Singleton shared in her essay last week responding clergywomen’s memorable “Wow” moments of their ministries. In part three this week, she shares their answers to her third question, “We owe so much to …
Next spiritual retreat for busy pastors, April 3
The next Pastors Spiritual Retreat will happen April 3 at Hope UMC in Ephrata and online via Zoom, at 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. REGISTER. Participate via Zoom. (Meeting ID: 964 2192 0885. Passcode: 236569.) The Rev. Peter Jamieson will lead the retreat; and …