United Methodists of Eastern PA and Greater New Jersey learned in a series of webinars, Dec. 7-8, how structural collaboration will work to help both their conferences improve efficiency and effectiveness in achieving together their common mission to “make disciples …
Drop by drop: Employ random acts of appreciation
“I do not cease to give thanks for you…” (Ephesians 1:16a) A recent card I received in the U.S. mail warmed my heart in an unusual and lingering way. It was an expression of thanks for something I had done—in-and-of-itself, …
As attendance dips, churches change to stay relevant for a new wave of worshippers
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — It’s Sunday morning and a small group sits around a fire pit in a community garden under the limbs of an expansive box elder tree. Church is about to start. And it’s cold. “God our Father, we …
New EPA/GNJ joint communications team collaborates
The newly aligned EPA/GNJ Conference Communications Team is working together from EPA’s Conference Office and GNJ’s Mission Resource Center (MRC) on numerous shared tasks. Included are: EPA’s former newspaper, NEWSpirit, will return as a quarterly publication in 2023. The six …
EPA sends over 10,000 Christmas cards to prisoners
A heart-to-heart ministry Eastern PA Conference members and churches again reached out to incarcerated persons with caring messages of encouragement penned on signed Christmas cards. And again, we went the second mile by also donating unsigned cards that inmates can …
Church food pantry feeds hundreds of neighbors
Bridesburg UMC in northeast Philadelphia, established in 1834, provides food to about 250 families from the 19134 and 19137 ZIP codes, through the Bridesburg Community Food Pantry, located on its lower level. The church is fighting hunger in an area …
EPA’s hurricane recovery efforts in Puerto Rico continue
The Rev. Nicolas Camacho led his seventh mission team of Eastern PA volunteers to Puerto Rico Nov. 5-12 to help residents there recover from the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Maria in 2018. The ramshackle, storm-damaged house they transformed into …
Spotlight: recorded video courses on Safe Sanctuaries and more
Do your church members who work with young people still need to take EPA’s required Safe Sanctuaries training? If you missed the recent online trainings in September and November, you’re in luck. Video recordings and resources provided in those trainings …
Times Square Remains a Centerpiece of Advent Advertising
The bustling holiday crowds in Times Square will see an invitation from The United Methodist Church in the weeks leading up to Christmas: join us as we seek out the hope present in God’s love.
Bishop announces EPA/GNJ affiliation, EPA regionalization plans
Bishop John Schol introduced in a letter to Eastern PA Conference members this week an “affiliation” of EPA’s administration with that of the Greater New Jersey Conference and the creation of two EPA regions to forge closer working relationships among …