June 14, was World Blood Donor Day, during a time when our nation is suffering a severe blood shortage. St. John’s UMC in Ivyland is offering a solution to that problem. It will sponsor another Blood Drive July 8, from …
Juneteenth: Hope for the future wrapped in a history lesson
Juneteenth, historically celebrated on June 19, will be observed as a federal holiday this year on Monday, June 20. It commemorates the delayed emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the U.S. But more than 150 years after the first Juneteenth …
Church welcomes neighbors into its ‘spiritual home’
“Welcome Home.” One sees that greeting written down at First UMC in Media and on its website. But now members are also saying it more, as they welcome new and diverse attendees to join them in worship and ministry. The …
Local Pastors Licensing School to begin in August
The Eastern PA Conference’s next Local Pastor Licensing School will begin August 19 and run eight weekends total until Oct. 8. That includes six weekends total of in-class modules, again offered fully online via Zoom video-conferencing, with a weekend off …
Carson Simpson Farm to host Worship Fest, Oct. 15
Carson Simpson Farm in Hatboro, EPA’s Philadelphia-area Camp & Retreat Center, will host a free, lively, half-day, outdoor worship festival on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 12 to 5 PM. WorshipFest will feature an outpouring of music and messages from a …
COSROW to host event on women’s heart health, June 25
EPA’s Commission on the Status & Role of Women (COSROW) will shed light this month on a topic too long lost in the shadows of medical ignorance: heart illness in women. Deena Weems Thornton (left), Portfolio Advisor for Health & …
New Certified Lay Ministers persevere together while apart
Six new Certified Lay Ministers (CLMs) “graduated” in a Service of Recognition June 5, at Salem UMC in Orwigsburg. After months of class sessions on Zoom, they met each other in person there for the first time. Yet, despite so …
Churches make VBS 2022 ‘Monumental’
Many EPA congregations are planning or already hosting Vacation Bible School gatherings. They are turning up the excitement meter probably inside and outside their church buildings, and enlisting youth and adult volunteers to help offer children plenty of fun, food and festivities, along with faith formation lessons drawn from various offered VBS themes.
UMC, BSA* Relationship Update webinar set for June 16
A Letter from Steven Scheid, Director, Center for Scouting Ministries General Commission on UM Men (GCUMM), The United Methodist Church The following letter is being sent to scouting representatives in UMC congregations. There is no indication as of this email of …
Step into PATHWAYS, now available on EPA’s website
Pathways to Congregational Fruitfulness & Health offers a menu of intentional processes congregations can use to prepare, assess, learn and grow in their understanding of what it means to be a healthy, fruitful congregation. It is a timely resource, especially …