From the comfort of air-conditioned offices on one of the hottest days of summer, the Rev. Zach Hopple and I chatted about the UM Global Ministries’ Earthkeeper program and how the church can be better stewards of creation. This interview …
HealthFlex Annual Election for 2025 (October 30 – November 14, 2024)
Our HealthFlex Annual Election period for Clergy and Lay eligible members is October 30 – November 14, 2024. This is your opportunity to enroll or waive coverage for yourself; add or remove an eligible child or spouse; waive coverage for eligible …
Jurisdictional Conference Repents of Systemic Racism
Delegates explore history of structural racism in the Methodist Church In the space where episcopal elections would have taken place, delegates gathered for a holy conversation about race and the way that structural and systemic racism colors both our past …
Angela Overstreet of UMCOR to teach ERT Training at Laity Academy August 2-3
When disaster strikes, early response teams can make all the difference. Angela Overstreet, a manager for the UMCOR United States Disaster Response Training Program, is coming to Eastern Pennsylvania to teach us how to help those impacted by disaster. When …
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 …
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 …
July book study to explore Healing Fractured Communities
“How can congregational leaders be both healers and agitators at the same time?” That “both/and” question is one of many addressed empirically in the new book Healing Fractured Communities (2024), by F. Douglas Powe and Jessica L Anschutz. The Eastern …
Consider EPA’s Loan Fund for loans, investments
The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Loan Fund helps United Methodist churches finance capital projects such as new construction, roof replacements, air conditioning projects, and the like. And it can only do so because of the assets provided by investors in the …
Use Breakthrough’s ‘On Purpose’ Summer Worship Series
“Why was I born?” begins Oscar Hammerstein II’s poignant lyrics to a 1929 classic torch song. “Why am I living? What do I get? What am I giving?” All good questions for anyone deeply searching for their raison d’etre (reason …
How do you help people Belong?
Our 2024 Annual Conference theme is Belong. EPA&GNJ Communications wants to celebrate that theme by inviting churches to tell us, so we can tell others, how they help people—members, nonmembers and guests—feel they Belong. “People go where they are welcome,” …