Believing that churches should be places to play as well as pray, two United Methodist churches in EPA & GNJ are providing indoor pickleball courts as inviting gifts to their communities. West Lawn UMC in Reading, PA, and St. Paul’s …
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 …
June 5 pastors’ spiritual retreat to feature Labyrinth walk
“We’re hoping for a good turnout for our next spiritual retreat for EPA pastors June 5th at Paoli UMC,” writes the Rev. Steve Morton, who helps to promote the monthly retreats led by the Rev. Peter Jamieson. “So, before you …
Eastern PA Annual Conference celebrates Beth Stroud’s reinstatement as an elder
WILDWOOD, NJ, May 21, 2024 – On its final day, May 3, The United Methodist Church’s momentous 2020/2024 General Conference voted to allow for the reinstatement of clergy who were previously defrocked due to their sexual identity. On the first …
EPA Recognizes Four Who ‘Go and Make Disciples’
The Eastern PA Conference celebrates evangelism each year with two major awards, the One Matters Award and the Denman Evangelism Awards, that recognize churches and individuals making strides in living out Jesus’ Great Commission to “Go and make disciples” (Matthew …
Urban Ministry Awards Go to 4 Community-Engaged Churches
In describing the urban ministry challenge today, the Rev. Evelyn Kent Clark, Eastern PA Conference Dean of the Cabinet, may have turned iconic author Charles Dickens’ most famous opening line into a call for mission evangelism. “We think these are …
Helping people feel they Belong
Open hearts, open minds, open doors. United Methodists of Eastern PA have special ways of making guests of all ages feel special, to feel like they Belong. That’s our 2024 Annual Conference theme. We asked churches to share some of …
EPA Annual Conference to ordain, commission 8 clergy
“Who presents these candidates to be ordained or commissioned?” Bishop John Schol will ask that question to begin the 2024 Eastern PA Conference’s Service of Ordination and Commissioning May 21. The congregation’s response will remind all present of where these …
EPA to vote on conference partnership, camp’s land easement
The 2024 Eastern PA Annual Conference, May 21-23, will consider 11 resolutions, including a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to continue and extend the 18-month collaborative partnership between the EPA and Greater New Jersey conferences (EPA&GNJ). The MOU resolution—which also …
Embracing the Joy of Our Unity
A MESSAGE FROM OUR BISHOP (From NEWSpirit newspaper’s Spring 2024 issue) “…so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” –Romans 12:5 I tasted grits for the first time at the age …