Equipping Church Leadership

Saturday, January 19, 2019 from 9 – 11:30am (Snow Date: January 26)
(Registration, Light Breakfast, and Fellowship from 8:30-9am)
at Faith UMC, 1290 Fruitville Pike, Lititz, PA 17543 (entrance off of Koser Road)

COST: FREE!!

We are inviting all laity who will be serving on church committees in 2019 to come out to this training and get equipped to take on the task effectively. Expert workshop leaders will cover the basics for people newly elected and fresh tips and practical insights for leaders who are more experienced. We are inviting chairpersons, committee members, and pastors to join us for these training sessions designed to help you start the new year off right in your role to equip the church to go and make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

We will be offering training in the following areas: Church Council; Evangelism; Finance; Marketing, Web Design, and Social Media; Missions and Service Projects; Stewardship; Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee; and Trustees.

Registration and fellowship is from 8:30-9am—with light refreshments in the Welcome Center. Each workshop lasts from 9-11am. We will conclude with a combined Q&A Panel Discussion from 11 – 11:30am.

Registration
Even though the workshops are free, registration is helpful so that materials and space can be prepared. Walk-ins will be accepted as space permits. Individual sessions may fill up due to limited physical space, so please register early (we will fill spaces in the order of registration). If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Jason Perkowski at (717) 333-9238 or jbperkowski@gmail.com.

• Download full flyer here.
• Download course descriptions here.

 Cross-Racial/Cross-Cultural Information Session

February 23, 2019, 10 AM to 12 PM at Cedarville UMC (1092 Laurelwood Rd, Pottstown, PA 19465)

Registration: Free!

This event is for churches and members who are interested in learning more about CR/CC appointments.

Registration is free but mandatory for attendance, and EVERY church is requested to send at least one representative to attend.

Bishop’s Lenten Day Apart for Clergy, March 4

Bishop Johnson would like to invite all clergy to attend the Bishop’s Lenten Day Apart for Clergy on Monday, March 4, 2019 at Aldersgate UMC in Wilmington, DE. The keynote speaker will be Bishop Hector Ortiz from the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico. Any clergy interested in having lunch with Bishop Ortiz must register and prepay on the provided link in the flyer. If you have questions and/or need further information, please contact Amy Botti,  abotti@epaumc.org  or 610-666-1442.

All clergy are encouraged to bring a love offering from their churches for the Puerto Rico relief effort. The Mid-Atlantic UM Foundation will be matching all contributions up to $10,000 total across both the Peninsula-Delaware and Eastern PA Conferences.

• English Brochure: Lenten Day Apart for Clergy
• Español: Dia Aparte para la Cuaresma para el Clero

United Methodist Night with the 76ers!

The Philadelphia 76ers will offer another spectacular night of pro basketball and fun fellowship for United Methodist church members and their guests on Tuesday, March 5, at 7 PM, when the 76ers play the Orlando Magic at the Wells Fargo Center Arena!

Church groups who attend can be seated together if they purchase tickets in bulk and in time. Contact our 76ers rep Angelina Gasparo by email at angelinagasparo@76ers.com or by phone at 215-558-2780 now to purchase your group tickets, for as long as tickets are available.

We have these following seats available:

• Mezzanine corner for $34
• Balcony suites for $45

$5 from each ticket sale will be donated to support ministries of the Eastern PA Conference UM Men (including its annual potatoes giveaway at Annual Conference). They appreciate all the support for this important mission fundraiser.

As part of this United Methodist Night with the 76ers, we can get early access to the arena to come watch pre-game warmups. Also, everyone will receive a 76ers drawstring bag. And look for the special welcome to our gathering on the Jumbotron.

So order your tickets today, don’t delay. Join fellow United Methodists, their families and friends at the big game to cheer on our team together.

Sponsored by the Eastern PA Conference United Methodist Men
Clifton Hubbard, President

Download the flyer!

Eastern PA Conf. Youth Rally

March 16, 2019 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Location: Wesley UMC Church, Bethlehem PA 18017

Main Speaker: Ex-NFL Football Player – Lee Woodall who is currently the Chair of the NFL Alumni Association of Philadelphia and owner of Pros 2 Professionals (http://www.p2pelite100.com).

Topic: Living as a Christian in a world that is not Christian

Bible Verse: 1 John 2:15

Register for 2019 FAMLP retreat

The Fellowship of Associate Members and Licensed Local Pastors (FAMLP) will hold its 2019 annual retreat May 5-7 at the Peninsula-Delaware Conference’s Camp Pecometh, 136 Bookers Wharf Road, Centreville, Md.

The Rev. Jack Shitama, executive director of Pecometh Camp & Retreat Ministries, will be the featured presenter. He serves on the Peninsula-Delaware Conference Vision Team and formerly chaired the United Methodist Camp & Retreat Ministries Association Board. Shitama, a former pastor in Maryland, authored the book Anxious Church, Anxious People: How to Lead Change in an Age of Anxiety, which is the theme for the retreat and his presentation. The book is available at Amazon.com, Bookdepository.com and other booksellers for under $13.

For more information, contact the Rev. Mark Beideman, Eastern PA Conference FAMLP Chairperson, at 610-585-0575 or umcpastormark@earthlink.net

View and download the brochure: https://www.epaumc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2019-FAMLP-Retreat-Brochure.pdf

Advocacy Weekend: May 18-20, 2019

United Methodist Advocacy in Pennsylvania will conduct a conference, May 18-20, on the subject of faith and politics. The conference is entitled “Change the World.” It will take place in the state capital, Harrisburg. This conference is designed for United Methodists—and others—who believe that a life of faith extends into the community and as far as the halls of government.

Saturday, May 18, is “Change the World through Knowledge.” It will take place at Paxton UMC, Harrisburg. This conference-style gathering will consist of opportunities to learn more about current issues, such as: How Laws are Made, Climate Change, Human Trafficking, The Meaning of Justice, Legislative Redistricting Reform, Criminal Justice in PA, and more.

Sunday, May 19, is “Change the World through Service.” It will take place in downtown Harrisburg. There will be opportunities to tour the Capitol building, join in environmental service projects, participate in an ecumenical environmental-based worship experience, and learn how to communicate with lawmakers.

Monday, May 20, is “Change the World through Your Voice.” We will make legislative visits in the morning. Participants with interest in special topics will be guided to appropriate contacts. We will conclude at 1:00 with a news conference in the Capitol.

More detailed information and registration materials will be released soon. Registration for the conference does not require participation on all three days.

Mark your calendar and spread the word.

Other Events

Bishop’s Mid-winter Retreat: Restoration 2019!

January 24-26, 2019
Ocean City, Maryland

Download the brochure

Palmer Theological Seminary Annual Lectureship

February 1, 2019
The Reason for Our Hope: The Church’s Commission in Challenging Times

Conference Save-the-Dates

2019:

• March 2: Tools for Ministry
• March 16: VIM & (Volunteers in Ministry) ERT (Early Response Team) training event
• March 16: Eastern PA Conf. Youth Rally: Wesley UMC Bethlehem
• April 5-7: Changing Racism Workshop
• April 9: The Art of Preaching, West Lawn UMC, $20 registration.
• May 5: District Conferences
• June 1: Cross-Racial/Cross-Cultural Ministry Workshop
• June 13-15: 2019 Annual Conference

District Events

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Bishop’s schedule of spring town hall meetings

Bishop Peggy Johnson will hold special town hall meetings on the four districts in March 2019, to address legislation enacted at the 2019 Special Called General Conference in February. Please save these dates now:

• Mon. March 25, 2019 – 6:30 pm – East District
• Tue. March 26, 2019 – 6:30 pm – North District
• Wed. March 27, 2019 – 6:30 pm – South District
• Thu. March 28, 2019 – 6:30 pm – West District

Locations will be announced later.

Sexual Ethics Workshops

The Level 1 (Basic) Workshop is mandatory for all persons seeking certification as candidates in ministry, candidates for ministerial roles and for all other individuals beginning ministerial roles within the Eastern PA Conference. 

Other approved courses for BSE requirements:

• Peninsula-Delaware’s comparable BSE course
• Lancaster Theological Seminary’s Boundary Training class
• Evangelical Seminary’s Boundary Training class
• Drew University Theological School’s Sexual Ethics course
  • Drew Sexual Ethics Syllabus Fall 2017

Upcoming Sexual Ethics Workshops:

View More…

Eastern PA Conference Local Church Events