“Be united in the same mind and the same purpose.” (I Corinthians 1:10b NRSV) A compelling vision, paired with a competent and committed team, can accomplish extraordinary feats of mission. The president of my graduate school alma mater recently shared …

‘The best summer of my life!’ EPA Camps touch, change many lives
By Apryl Miller This summer our four sites served 1,375 individual families from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and 12 otherstates—Arizona, Delaware, California, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia—plus Washington DC. Those families provided an opportunity …

All the World Needs Our Witness: Celebrating Laity Sunday with Children
Celebrating Laity Sunday 2023 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” —Matthew 19:14 My husband and I have a small handful of parenting …

IGNITE 2023 sets hundreds of young faithful hearts on fire
“God sees us and loves us, no matter how unworthy we may think we are!” The Rev. Lydia Sohn’s blessing reverberated like a pulsing heartbeat throughout the IGNITE youth conference, whose excitement filled the Wildwood New Jersey Convention Center from …

Clergy find soul-care at ‘Reset’ spiritual retreat
Over 70 clergy serving in the Eastern PA Conference—including several from Greater New Jersey—found much-needed soul-support during a free, daylong retreat for spiritual renewal Sept. 20, at the Daylesford Abbey in Paoli, Chester County. The monastery was an ideal setting—both …

Gil Rendle to speak on his new book, Countercultural, Nov. 15
EPA clergy are invited to attend another Cabinet-sponsored, special teaching event November 15—this one led by the Rev. Gil Rendle, preeminent author and EPA clergy member, to discuss his latest book, Countercultural: Subversive Resistance & the Neighborhood Congregation. GNJ clergy …

All youth invited to Latino Commission’s Youth Force event, Nov. 11
EPA’s Latino Commission invites all youth to its bilingual Unleashed! Youth Force event on Saturday, November 11, at 2 to 8 p.m., hosted by Casa del Pueblo at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Warrington. “Come meet new young people, …

Color of Compromise book study to explore church’s ‘complicity in racism’
Some Eastern PA Conference members and others, perhaps from Greater New Jersey and elsewhere, will embark this month on a challenging literary expedition through Jemar Tisby’s acclaimed 2019 book The Color of Compromise: The Truth About American Church’s Complicity in …

Thank You for IGNITE 2023! Youth Conference Recap
Dear Friends, We are still basking in the glow of the incredible IGNITE Conference we just shared! This year’s theme “Belong” truly resonated with each of us, as reflected in our theme verse: “So in Christ we, though many, form …

$1.2 Million Grant to The United Methodists of EPA&GNJ
News Release: $1.2 Million Grant to The United Methodists of Eastern Pennsylvania and Greater New JerseyThe United Methodist Church of Greater New Jersey (GNJ) has received a grant $1,249,980 from Lilly Endowment Inc. to further develop the Leadership Academy through a …