Events

Academies, workshops, training events, convocations, retreats. The Eastern PA Conference is a vibrant, living organism that survives and indeed, thrives in community as we gather and grow together. Our connectional life is enhanced by these types of learning events and by other gatherings as well: worship and prayer services; concerts, theater, film viewings and other performances; celebrations; picnics; sports and recreation events–the list is endless.

We also provide access to a list of upcoming Conference meetings of boards, teams and committees, and to a list of recent and upcoming Local Church events. Please send us your complete information about meetings and events right away by using our Submit News page.

View Conference Calendar

September

Sept. 6 – 7: Camping at the Crossroads

Part festival, part rally, part retreat, all rolled into one event to reach youth and young adults for Christ.

All Eastern PA Conference youth and young adults are invited!

Covenant United Methodist Church of Moore Township 2715 Mountain View Drive, Bath, PA 18014

Come can camp out Friday night, or come Saturday for the day. 

Cost is $10 per person, or the group rate for 10 or more people is $100 total.

Cosponsored by Covenant UMC of Moore Township and Eastern PA Conference Young People’s Ministries (Councils on Youth Ministries and Young Adult Ministries)

Camping: Check in Friday to register onsite starting at 3 PM. Our event starts at 7 PM and will end at 7 PM Saturday.

You are more than welcome to stay an extra night if you want. We would love for you to stay for our combined worship service and church picnic on Sunday, September 8.

Meals are prepared on your own. Cooking is permitted at your campsite, and some food vendors will be onsite. All camping supplies must be brought with you, including tents, sleeping bags, camp chairs, tarps and blankets. Bringing blankets, chairs and tarps for the stage area is a good idea, since it is grass-seating. Campfires are allowed in a fire pit or fire ring. Please do not dig a hole.Click here to view and download the flyer 

Event Contact: Michael Gold, Youth Coordinator, CSM. 
Phone: 484-695-2976.  E-mail bubbahawk75@gmail.com 

Register Online Now!

Sept. 7: Celebrating Our Cultures: A Cookout/Picnic for Fellowship & Networking Especially Among People of Color

Saturday, September 7, 2019, 11 AM – 2 PM. Camp Innabah.

$10 per adult. Children under 16 are FREE

  • BBQ basic foods provided
  • Bring cultural side dishes to share.
  • Music, worship, fun, fellowship and Intercultural networking.
  • Musical performances by the Philadelphia UMC Mass Choir, Rev. Lydia Munoz, and more
  • Reflections highlighting cultural experiences
  • Playground, Gaga, & Basketball
  • Intercultural Networking

Download the flyer!

Sponsored by the Eastern PA Conference Commission on Religion and Race. Register at https://www.etouches.com/cultures.

Sept. 9: The 9th Annual North District Laity Academy, Fall 2019 Session

Methodists United (EPA Mission Link in Shamokin area) is a partnership of 11 United Methodist congregations located in the greater Shamokin area in the North District. We are a team of laity and clergy with the motto “doing better ministry together”. To better serve the local Churches, Methodists United partnered with the EPA Conference several years ago to offer the opportunity to study to become Christ Servant Ministers. We extend this opportunity, not only to our local Churches, but also to the North District and Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.

Dates:
Monday, September 09, 2019
Monday, September 16 2019
Monday, September 23 2019
Monday, September 30, 2019

Time: 6:00pm through 8:30pm

Location:
Elysburg United Methodist Church
171 West Center Street
Elysburg, PA  17824

Learn more. Download the registration form.

Sept. 14: Racism, Post-Traumatic Stress, & Transformation, Sept. 14

The conference Commission on Religion and Race and Office of Connectional Ministries will sponsor on Saturday, Sept. 14, an exploration of emotional distress and trauma caused in part by racist mistreatment, conflict and reactions, past and present.

All people of color, clergy and laity, are invited to come to Simpson House (2102 Belmont Avenue, Philadelphia), 8:30 AM – 3 PM , to learn from the Rev. R. Dandridge Collins, Ph.D., M.Div., who will facilitate discussion. Collins is the author of The Trauma Zone: Trusting God for Emotional Healing.

Cost for the session is $25.

Register Online Now!

Download and share the flyer

Sept. 21: Hopewell UMC’s “Planting Seeds for Ministry Growth”

Transformative leadership training for lay and clergy, designed to empower local congregations.

Keynote Speaker: Jen Hatmaker

Jen Hatmaker is an American Christian author, speaker, blogger, and television presenter. She and her husband, Brandon, lead Austin New Church located in Austin, Texas. Jen has been featured in Christianity Today magazine, and is the author of the New York Times bestseller Of Mess and Moxie (plus twelve other books). She also hosts the For the Love! with Jen Hatmaker podcast. Jen speaks nationally to varied audiences, and brings a combination of humor, relatibility, and depth to every event. Jen, Brandon, and their five children reside in Austin, Texas, where she and her family delight in helping to keep Austin weird.

Worship Leader: Dr. Tony Campolo

  • Professor emeritus of sociology at Eastern University
  • Ordained Baptist minister and evangelist
  • Founder of the Campolo Scholars program of the Campolo Center for Ministry (CCM)

Register online at hopewellumc.org/planting-seeds-event

View and download the flyer!

Sept. 21: ERT (Early Response Team) Training

The Eastern PA Conference Disaster Response ministry team will sponsor in partnership with Grove UMC an ERT training event . The event is scheduled for September 21, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at Grove UMC 490 W Boot Road, West Chester, PA 19380-1112.

Early Response Team (ERT), whose mission is to provide skilled support to disaster survivors as soon as communities allow response teams into disaster-impacted areas.

Robert Simcox, the conference’s Disaster Response Coordinator, will lead the ERT training. Contact: drc@epaumc.org or 610-427-0470.

“End of Summer” Special Training: $25 per person, includes training manual, material, a light breakfast, and lunch.

Early Response Teams are “background-checked, badged, trained and motivated to be a caring, listening Christian presence,” said Simcox. “You will learn how early responders prevent further damage by tarping roofs, stabilizing structure, and clearing out debris and water-soaked materials. ERTs know how to prepare a structure for UMVIM recovery teams to do their work and how to provide hope to desperate survivors that God’s people do care about their lives and their homes.”

The goal of the training is for you to have a better understanding of the roles of team members and the “team” as a whole, The concepts of “prevent further damage” and “do no harm” , an overall understanding of the disaster process and where ERT fits. We will cover the importance of safety and the importance of listening.

Presently we have a shortage of trained and badged ERT’s in EPAUMC. We are looking to grow the ERT ministry to be able to respond as quickly as possible in our own neighborhoods when disaster strikes. Hoping to see you at the training.

Register Online Now!

Sept. 21: Claiming Sabbath for Clergy Spouses

$50 Retreat Fee includes: program,  lunch, one coaching session

Registration closes on Sept. 8!

Partial scholarships available! Request a scholarship ($25) online on the Registration page. A limited number of scholarships are made possible by a matching grant from the Pastoral Excellence Network.

FOR clergy spouses, BY clergy spouses
  • Feel free to be totally authentic in a safe, sacred space with others who “get it”
  • Build skills to set boundaries for your own Sabbath time
  • Renew your spirit with private Sabbath time
  • Explore how you can make Sabbath “real” in your unique situation
  • Extend your insights after the retreat with:
    • A one-hour individual coaching session
    • Seven weeks of inspirational Sabbath reminders and sharing tips and experiences with your fellow retreatants in a closed Facebook group

Clergy spouse participants have said:

  • “This retreat was a much needed eye-opener for me on several levels. Scripture about Sabbath came alive, music activities inspired renewal,  and the “real-life scenario game” made it clear how I’m prone to work vs celebrate and worship God. I would still be floundering and spiritually exhausted without this program and the coaching.”
  • “I loved the engaging activities, the practical take aways I will implement, and the love your presence displays.”
  • “It exceeded my expectations!”

Your registration must be paid in full to attend the program. Payment due by Sunday September 8, 2019. Register Now! $10 Early Bird Discount before Sept. 1, 2019.

Sept. 28: Domestic Violence: The Church Responds II

Breaking Out of the Man Box

Sponsored by The Eastern PA Conference Domestic Violence Committee

Saturday, September 28, 2019, 9 AM to 3 PM
Simpson House, 2101 Belmont Ave, Philadelphia, PA.

In this seminar, the keynote message, panel discussion and a workshop will focus on helping men and boys unlearn and heal from toxic masculinity (i.e., socialized attitudes and behaviors that contribute to intimate-partner abuse).*

Keynoter: The Rev. Rickie Houston, a domestic violence specialist and trainer with the organization A CALL TO MEN. He has trained groups across the U.S., including religious groups and professional sports teams, and in West Africa, helping them to engage men in efforts to foster respect for, and end violence against, women. Houston, who trains men, women and boys, believes in a developmental, holistic approach in his ministry that includes the “interaction of spiritual and social consciousness.” He is the pastor of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Wilmington, NC.A CALL TO MEN educates men all over the world on healthy, respectful manhood. A CALL TO MEN is a violence prevention organization and respected leader on issues of manhood, male socialization and its intersection with violence, and preventing violence against all women and girls.

The half-day seminar will also feature a panel discussion with Houston, Chester County domestic violence prevention and response specialists, and the Rev. David Piltz, a campus minister, pastor and Eastern PA Conference Coordinator of Young People’s Ministries. Piltz is a Marriage and Family Therapist who once trained for and staffed a domestic violence response hotline.

Who should attend this seminar? All men and boys (and the women who love them).

Cost: $20. Includes breakfast, lunch and resources. 0.5 CEUs offered by request.

Register Online Now!

For more information contact the Rev. Jacqueline Hines, committee chairwoman.

*In psychology, toxic masculinity refers to traditional cultural masculine norms that can be harmful to men, women and society overall; this concept of toxic masculinity is not intended to demonize men or male attributes, but rather to emphasize the harmful effects of conformity to certain traditional masculine ideal behaviors such as dominance, self-reliance, and competition. (Wikipedia)

Dates in August – December

Interested in becoming a Certified Lay Minister?

Register now for an Orientation/Admission Session for the Certified Lay Ministry Class of 2020, which begins in April 2020. All prospective candidates must attend one of the Orientation/Admission sessions, which are held from September to December at locations in the four districts of the Eastern PA Conference. To register see the Orientation/Admission sessions schedule, and contact Judy Ehninger, CLM Program Coordinator at, 610-442-3140 or by e-mail at  judy.ehninger@gmail.com . Learn more about Certified Lay Ministers on the ChristServantMinistries.net website. 

October

October 5: Leadership Launch Workshop

October 5 @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Quakertown UMC
1875 Freier Road, Quakertown, PA 18951

A Leadership Training Adventure
Theme: Leading with Courage: Building Effective Teams

$10 cost includes breakfast and lunch.

Designed for leaders at all levels, including congregations, mission links, districts, and the conference.

Led by the Rev. Jacqui King,
Director of U.S. Connectional Relationships
United Methodist Discipleship Ministries

Download the flyer.

Register Online Now!

Learn more…

Oct. 19: UMW’S 46th Annual Celebration

Celebrating 150 years of women in mission!

9 AM – 3 PM at Grandview UMC (888 Pleasure Road, Lancaster, PA 17601)

Registration is $18 – includes lunch.

Download the registration form.

For registration information, contact Susan Dziuk at 215-637-7898 or dziuks1@verizon.net

Featuring:

  • Guest Speaker: Gail Douglas-Boykin, Chair of Governance Committee, UMW Board of Directors
  • Special Deaf Ministry Choir from Christ UMC: Fairless Hills
  • Continental Breakfast (8 AM – 9 AM)

Download the flyer!

October 19: HOPE! Talks 2.0: ReBoot!

Lighthouse Fellowship U.M.C.
137 North Easton Road
Glenside, PA 19038

Inspiration for Small Congregations

Saturday, October 19, 2019 (9 AM – 12 Noon)

Seminar on Vital Small-Church Ministries, with Bishop Peggy Johnson. Download the flyer!

And learn more at https://lfumcglenside.com/hope-talks/

November

Nov. 2: Laity Fall Rally and Assembly

Calling on the North, South East and West Districts. The Conference Board of Laity invites one and all to Come out for the Lay Fall Rally and Assembly: Having a 2020 Vision for Discipleship!

Saturday, November 2, 2019, 10:00– 2:00 (location to be announced)

Each District Lay Leader is invited to bring a team of Lay Ministers and Christ Servants–Missioners, Worship Leaders, Youth Ministers, Prayer Warriors, Praise Teams, Musicians, Dancers, Crafters, Artisans, Culinary Teams, Members and Friends–to commune within the connection, putting on full display their work of kingdom building!

Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, “Give them up,” and to the south, “Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth — Isaiah 43:5-6 (NRSV)

Nov. 13: “Churches as First Responders to the Military and Veteran Population”

November 13 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm at First UMC Phoenixville

Registration Cost: $10 per person

Clergy & Laity Training, includes:

  • Training in recognizing military or Veteran congregant families facing problems
  • Understanding military culture and its impact on families
  • Identifying pastoral roles in ministering to congregants with Moral Injury.

Sponsored by: EPAUMC Connectional Ministries, Committee on Disabilities Concerns

Download the flyer!

Register Online Now!

Bishop’s Days on the Districts

  • Mon. Sept. 23 – North District (East side) – Pen Argyl UMC 404 E. Mountain Avenue, Pen Argyl, PA 18073. Pastor Tim Fisher, host.
  • Tue. Sept. 24 – North District (West side) – Frackville: First UMC 25 South Balliet Street, Frackville PA 17931. Pastor David Davis, host.
  • Wed. Sept. 25 – West District – Manheim: Ruhl’s UMC (4810 Elizabethtown Rd, Manheim)
  • Tue. Oct. 1 – East District – Simpson House, Constitution Hall.
  • Wed. Oct. 2 – South District – Valley Forge: St. Matthew’s UMC

All District Days will begin at 6:30 pm.  The Bishop will be speaking about GC 2020 and evangelism in the community.

Other Events

September 25-27: Leadership Institute 2019

Bright Hope for Tomorrow: The Future of the United Methodist Church

September 25–27, 2019

The United Methodist Church is at a crossroads. For forty-eight years United Methodists have been in conflict over the official position of the denomination regarding God’s welcome of, and how the church will be in ministry with, LGBTQ persons. 2020 will be a defining year for the UMC as General Conference seeks to come to a resolution of the conflict. What will this mean for your church? For the future of United Methodism?

Leadership Institute 2019 is aimed at helping United Methodist leaders navigate and lead through the next steps for the denomination.

Keynote Speakers include NY Times columnist and best-selling author of The Road to Character, David Brooks and founder of the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard’s Kennedy School, Ron Heifetz.

Join us for this historic and important gathering as we, together, help shape the future.

October 10 – 11: Northeastern Jurisdiction BMCR Annual meeting

Northeastern Jurisdiction
Black Methodists for Church Renewal, Inc.
2019 ANNUAL MEETING

50-Year Anniversary (1969-2019)

Thursday, October 10 – Friday, October 11

Theme: Past, Present, Possibilities

Hosted by the Greater New Jersey BMCR Caucus

Asbury United Methodist Church
1213 Pacific Avenue
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
Rev. Latasha D. Milton, Senior Pastor

Need information regarding the NEJ BMCR Annual Meeting, please contact the program chair Rev. Andrea M. King at revamking@yahoo.com, or the registrar Darlynn McCrae at darmccrae@aol.com

To Register:

Download printed materials to share:

Eastern PA Conference Local Church Events

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Tue 27

CLM Program Orientation Session

August 27 @ 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm