Bishop Peggy Johnson announces new 

Register by Friday for Faith Sharing Event

The 2015 Faith Sharing Training Event is Saturday, March 21. But the pre-registration deadline is this Friday, March 13th. Register now, if you haven't yet, so you'll be sure to have a delicious lunch, the presenters' course book and other materials waiting for you there. Discover the four major reasons people are leaving church...maybe even your church. And learn how to win them back. Come learn Why Nobody Wants to Go to Church Anymore. And also learn "Four Acts of Love and How to Implement them to Grow your Congregation."

https://epaumc.smartevents.com/public/events/faith-sharing-2015-why-nobody-wants-to-go-to-church-anymore 

Bethany UMC to dedicate new campus Sunday

Bethany UMC in Wescosville (Allentown) will dedicate its new $8 million Macungie Campus church facility Sunday, March 15, at 3 PM, at 3801 Brookside Road, Macungie, Pa. The Rev. Jim Brashear, senior pastor, will welcome members and guests. Sunday services there are at 8 AM (Blended), 9:15 AM (Contemporary) and 11 AM (Contemporary). Bethany also has a Saturday 5 PM contemporary service at its spacious new edifice. The four-campus church offers worship and ministries at its Catasauqua and Emmanuel (Allentown) campuses and hosts a Sunday evening (5 PM) coffeehouse at its original Wescosville Campus.

The congregation first worshipped in its new home Feb. 28 and March 1, "after ten years of praying, planning and preparing," wrote Brashear in the church newsletter. Their first Sunday there drew over 2,000 people despite plenty of snow and ice. Bethany, formerly an Evangelical United Brethren church, has the largest United Methodist congregation in the Northeastern Jurisdiction. 

Healing Communities Training Event, May 9

There are many ways groups and congregations can engage in creative prison and restorative justice ministry, not only inside prison but in churches and communities, too. With scores of inmates being released and returning as citizens every day, the need is urgent for churches to reach out to them--and also to victims--to offer help, hope and restorative healing. A valuable ministry that has seen success nationally is now coming to the EPA Conference to help churches respond to this need.

Our first Healing Communities Training Event will take place Saturday, May 9, from 9 AM to 4 PM at St. Matthews UMC of Valley Forge. "This is a great opportunity for people to learn how to offer restoration and healing to everyone impacted by the criminal justice system," said Marilyn Schneider, chairwoman of the conference Prison Ministry and Restorative Justice Committee, which will cosponsor the training with the Board of Church and Society and Healing and Wholeness Teams. Learn more... 

"A Century of Commitment, A Legacy of Love." That reverent theme will mark a joyous celebration of the former Delaware Annual Conference, the segregated but beloved conference of black Methodists in our region from 1864 until it merged in 1965. Philadelphia-born Bishop Gregory Palmer, Bishop Ernest Lyght of New Jersey, the Rev. David Briddell and the Rev. Herbert Palmer, all sons of the old Delaware Conference, will remember highlights, honor heroes and challenge attendees to continue building the "beloved community" and making disciples of Jesus Christ. Bishop Peggy Johnson will greet hundreds of members and guests for an uplifting morning of music, dance, spoken word, and inspiring testimonies, followed by a fellowship reception.

Churches to learn responses to domestic violence 

EPA Conference church teams chosen from each district will receive training on"Faith Community Responses to Domestic Violence" Saturday, June 6,from 8:30 AM to 5 PM, at West Lawn UMC in Reading. The training will partner local churches with the national offices of United Methodist Women, United Methodist Men, and FaithTrust Institute.  A selection committee will choose teams from two churches per district or region for training, with consideration given to achieving diversity in ethnicity, church size and other criteria. Teams will represent churches that passionately desire to become informed sources of aid to victims and perpetrators of domestic violence and to train other teams in their districts. See the event page to download the information flyer and the paper registration form, or the fillable PDF application.

Education Society college grants available
The EPA Conference Education Society will offer grants to help deserving students defray the costs of higher education during the 2015-2016 school year. The attached pages describe the opportunity and method of application. All grant applications received in the Conference Office May 1-16 will be considered. Qualified applicants will be randomly selected. Please be sure to share this information with church members who may plan to attend institutions of higher learning this coming fall. Questions? Contact Al Adey, Education Society Chairperson, at [email protected]. 

Great Day of Signing

Save the Date! Nov. 14, at Hempfield UMC in Lancaster.An official announcement with more details will follow in April.

Other Events

Black Preaching forum features dynamic young pastor

Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia will host "Preaching with Power: a Forum on Black Preaching and Theology," March 15-19. The Rev. Olujimi (Olu) Brown, a popular speaker and the innovative founding pastor of the Impact Church in Metro Atlanta, Ga., will preach for United Methodist/Lutheran Night Thursday, March 19, at 7 PM. The service will be at Reformation Lutheran Church, 1215 E. Vernon Road, Philadelphia. Impact, a vibrant new church, has grown from 25 to more than 1,800 attendees each Sunday, many of them young people, making it the fastest growing UM church in the nation. On Friday, March 20, there will be a breakfast meeting with Rev. Brown at 8:30 AM at Lutheran Theological Seminary, at a cost of $15. Persons interested in attending should contact the Rev. Lillian Smith (St. Matthew's UMC of Valley Forge) at 610-688-7055 or [email protected].  Learn more about Brown and about the weeklong activities and other speakers. 

Give to One Great Hour of Sharing this Sunday

Simpson House offers Senior Living Options seminar

Simpson House in Philadelphia, celebrating 150 years of service as the oldest United Methodist-related  retirement community, will host an important seminar, Navigating Senior Living Options, March 18, starting at 10 AM (or at 9:30 AM for continental breakfast). Medical experts will discuss many ways for adults of all ages to stay active as they grow older and to access needed health care options. Download the Invitation Letter  Download the event announcement.

Brain scientist explores reducing conflict

The Center for Clergy and Congregational Health and Wholeness at Drew Theological School will host the Rev. Dr. Wesley Wildman as keynoter on Clergy Health Day, April 9, from 8:30 AM to 3 PM. Discussing his findings in brain research, he will explain not only the thinking differences between liberals and conservatives, but why the two need each other. "Conflict and the Brain" is based on his work in neuroscience that offers ideas about reducing emotional responses that escalate conflict. Using principles of "Empathy through Understanding," Dr. Wildman examines how the workings of people's brains relate to their strongly held views and how they can become better listeners and more compassionate responders. His presentation will be live-streamed. Registration is $10, and CEU credit is available for an additional $17.50. Learn more about registration, watching the live stream or viewing an archived copy of the presentation.

Certified Lay Minister graduation
You are cordially invited to a service to honor new Certified Lay Ministers graduating in the EPA Conference's Spring 2015 Class on Sunday, June 7, 3 PM, at Royersford UMC (380 Church Street, Royersford). Bishop Peggy Johnson will preach. 

EPA Conference Job OpeningsConference 

Treasurer/Director of Administrative Ministries
Serves as the principal financial advisor to the Bishop and Council of Finance and Administration. Manages all fiscal and administrative affairs relating to the Conference operating budget, trusts, memorials, legacies, investments, insurance, and property. Monitors the use of all funds which flow through the Conference Office.  Provides financial support to all Boards, Agencies and Committees related to the Conference.  Supervises the Conference staff.  Is a member of the Bishop's extended cabinet.  Additional information is available on the Conference website.

Food Service Manager/Head Cook: Camp Innabah  

Annual Conference 2015

The deadline for Annual Conference resolutions to be received is also March 10. Follow the specific guidelines provided on our Website to submit your resolution successfully to the Conference Secretary, the Rev. Lloyd Speer, by e-mail at [email protected]. If you have questions call him at (O) (215) 943-2343.

Exhibit tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact Lori Henning at (610) 544-1400 or [email protected] to reserve tables. The Conference Center Office will not take reservations for tables.

You can find other information on the Annual Conference page of our Website about reserving exhibit tables and helping us to facilitate media requirements for those making presentations to the conference.

Come for UM Night at the L.V. Phantoms game, April 14

We have a new United Methodist Night and a new sports arena where we can gather from across the conference and fellowship as faithful fans. It's the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL). The game is Tuesday, April 14, 7 PM, at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa.  They will play their big rivals, the Hershey Bears.So it should be an exciting, competitive game. "Our UMC tickets are only $20, and parking is only $6 in surrounding garages," says Ross Brightwell, Conference United Methodist Men's president. Download the flyer to order tickets and share it with others.

Deadline for purchasing discount tickets for UM Night is March 20.  

This is the Phantoms' inaugural season in Allentown, after moving here from Glens Falls, NY. But as the Philadelphia Phantoms, they have been the top minor-league affiliate of the NHL's popular Philadelphia Flyers since their 1996-97 season. The new PPL Center arena covers a full block in downtown Allentown, between 7th and 8th Streets, and Hamilton Blvd. and Linden St.

The EPA Conference United Methodist Men have added Lehigh Valley Pro Hockey to our extraordinary annual menu of United Methodist special gatherings. Many will come together again this summer for a Phillies baseball game (July 18), a fun-filled day at Dorney Park (June 27) and another visit to the Philadelphia Zoo (August 15). So save these UM dates, spread the news, invite others, get your promotional-discount tickets, and join your EPA Conference family for fun and fellowship. Questions? Contact Ross Brightwell at 215/643-1269 or [email protected].

Tri-Conference Disability Ministry Conference, March 28, 2015

Check out our Local church Events page 

We have lots of great local church events listed for you on our Web site at www.epaumc.org/events/localchurchevents. Please take time to peruse them and try to attend events of interest to you. It's part of being a connectional church. So check out our listings, and send us your special church events too, so we can add them to the page.