Bishop Peggy Johnson announces new 

Annual Conference 2015

 It is time now to register for the 2015 Annual Conference, May 14-16. The deadline is April 27. Registrations received after that date will be considered walk-ins with no guaranteed meals. Click here for 2015 AC ONLINE REGISTRATION or  download and print this paper registration form and submit it to: Annual Conference Registrar, Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, P.O. Box 820, Valley Forge, PA, 19482. Clergy, Lay and Equalizing Delegates are encouraged to register on-line. If you mail your registration (with payment), it must be postmarked by April 27. Contact Gloria Knoeller at 800-828-9093 ext. 7002, or at [email protected] with any questions regarding registration.

We will elect delegates at this Annual Conference to the UMC's next General Conference, May 10-20, 2016, in Portland, Ore., and to the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference in July 2016. We will use electronic voting devices for the first time.To submit delegate nominations, read the information on our Website and send your completed nomination forms in an e-mail attachment to the EPA Conference Secretary, the Rev. Lloyd Speer, at [email protected].  Nominating petitions must be received by March 10, 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.

Advance Special applications for fundraising due March 10

The EPA Conference Missions Team is now receiving applications for ministries that want to raise funds through the Conference Advance Specials program in 2015. The deadline is March 10, and the applications must be vetted by the team and presented for approval to the 2015 Annual Conference in May. Once approved, the church and community ministries may seek funding through conference-wide appeals, which requires Advance Special status. Applications and more information can be found on our Website at www.epaumc.org/finance/2015-2016-advanced-special-projects-application . A descriptive list of 2014 Advance Special projects is also available on our Website at www.epaumc.org/ministry/advance-special-projects.

National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is March 10. Please help spread the word, urges the Rev. Deborah Tanksley-Brown, head of H.U.B. of Hope. And please share this link for those who want more information: http://www.womenshealth.gov/NWGHAAD/. Your support and assistance is appreciated.

New Home-page Highlights

Have you checked out the news stories on our home page? Read about

Lives are being saved and changed every day in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) thanks to the ministry of the Peter D. Weaver Congo Partnership, which includes the Eastern PA Conference. But more support is needed to expand vital mission efforts there. That is the praise report of a mission team that traveled there Feb. 10 and has been posting updates on the Partnership's Website. Learn more...

Pen-Del Youth Rally renders a vivid 'Masterpiece'
Like so many artistic masterpieces, there was a lot happening across the sweeping, kinetic canvas of the Peninsula-Delaware Conference's 2015 Youth Rally that occurred Jan. 9-11, in Ocean City, Md.'s convention center.  The stage, bathed in iridescent lights, pulsated with the loud, lyrical music of several, impassioned Christian rock bands. Gifted speakers also captivated the young crowd with heartfelt wit and wisdom. Learn more...

Money has a deep and profound effect on how pastors do the work Christ calls them to do, the Rev. Phil Jamieson told 62 pastors embarking on a two-year learning experience through the Financial Leadership Academy. Two dozen of the pastors were from the Eastern PA Conference, their participation funded by the Mid-Atlantic United Methodist Foundation, sponsors of the Academy. "This is a unique approach to get to change within the church," said Foundation director Jack Books. Learn more...

Videos honor MLK, Tindley, Zoar for Black History Month
As the U.S. marks the 50th anniversary of many landmarks in the civil rights movement, www.UMC.org featured stories about heroic people and historic events during February, Black History Month. You can still see these dynamic video stories on the denomination's Website, including a series about prominent United Methodists who shared the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s timeless dream for America, and also the stories of two historic Philadelphia UM churches, Mother African Zoar and Tindley Temple. Learn more...

KYW Radio honors Thompson for Boys Book Club
Former Eastern PA Conference Lay Leader Lenora Thompson was honored last week by Philadelphia's KYW Newsradio as one its local Gamechangers, a program that celebrates Black History Month in February by recognizing local community heroes. Thompson, a member of Wharton-Wesley UMC in Philadelphia, received an award Feb. 25 and appeared the next day on KYW TV to discuss her development of the Boys Book Club.  Learn more...

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.

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].

The Winter 2015 issue of NEWSpirit is here. Read it online a www.epaumc.org/news/newspirit.

Read all about our exciting plans for the 2015 Annual Conference. Enjoy colorful images and insights from the Pen-Del Conference's annual Youth Rally in Ocean City, where nearly 500 youth from our conference attended.  See the listing of key conference events through May. Delve into Bishop Peggy Johnson's inspiring tribute to the historic Delaware Conference.  And check out our coverage of the Financial Leadership Academy, new happenings at our Camp & Retreat Centers, our mission endeavors from the Congo to Carolina, and compelling insights on creating vital congregations and clergy. Relax, sit back--or rather, lean forward--and read all about us on the Web.

New Lenten Bible Study: Transformation through the Word

Feb. 22 is the first Sunday of Lent, and Hopewell UMC in Downingtown is guiding the development of a new adult Bible Study series for what some might call our yearly season of sacrifice and self-denial. The series is titled It is Necessary: When God Says "You Must." This seven-week study will track a formulaic saying used repeatedly in the biblical writings of Luke and Acts to describe the nature of Jesus' ministry and the mission of the Christian Church.   

Following a weekly introduction by the Rev. Steve Morton, Hopewell's Lead Pastor, seven clergy elders from around the Southeast District offer a 10-12 minute presentation based on one of the "It is Necessary" passages in the Gospel of Luke.  The curriculum is free and will be ready for distribution the first week of February. For information or to place an order, contact Deb Boyd, Director of Lay Ministries at Hopewell UMC ([email protected]  

Need a ministry makeover?  

Clergywomen to unite in prayer on retreat
EPA Conference clergywomen will gather for their annual retreat Tuesday, March 10, at Gretna Glen Camp & Retreat Center to life up their hearts in prayer, witness and fellowship, with the theme "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10). ! All Eastern PA Clergy Women of every status are invited. To register, please send name, contact information, and info about dietary needs, with a check (payable to Newtown UMC Pastor's Fund) by March 1 to Rev. Dorry Newcomer, 35 Liberty Street, Newtown PA 18940. The cost is $25 for the day retreat, with an option to stay overnight Monday for an additional $40. Get more details online , or contact Dorry at 267-795-8153 ([email protected]) or Cyndi at 215-316-1431 ([email protected])

Register now for March 21 Faith Sharing Event
The EPA Conference will welcome Thom and Joani Schultz, co-authors of the provocative book Why Nobody Wants to Go to Church Anymore: And How 4 Acts of Love Will Make Your Church Irresistible, as keynote presenters at its 2015 conference-wide faith sharing event Saturday, March 21, 9 AM to 3:30 PM, at New Hanover UMC. Come, bring a team from your church, and learn some eye-opening research findings, compelling, real-life stories, and effective approaches to welcoming visitors and making disciples the way Jesus would. You'll be stretched to redefine the way you do church. Read our Website article, visit our online registration page, and  find full details for the event and how to register.

Note: Registering in advance will ensure that you receive a seat, event materials and your chosen meal selection. Those who register onsite may not be assured of getting a seat or receiving materials and may find a very limited meal selection for lunch.

Order your 2014 Conference Journal in print before we run out!

A limited number of 2014 EPA Conference Journals in print are still available. Order yours today for only $25. You can pay online or send a check by postal mail to EPA UMC, P.O. Box 820, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0820.  What's in the Journal? Contact information for Conference staff, Camp and Retreat Centers, Districts, and United Methodist Church boards, agencies and resources. Also clergy appointments, committee assignments and service records. Plus, all about the 2014 Annual Conference, the 2015 conference budget, conference statistics for 2013, historical highlights, and conference policies and procedures for clergy, staff and others. 

Time to nominate delegates to General Conference
Eastern PA Conference members will vote during Annual Conference, May 14-16, to send delegates to the 2016 UMC General Conference. The next gathering of this quadrennial, worldwide church lawmaking body will be May 10-20, 2016, in Portland, Oregon. The procedures governing the election of delegates are in the 2014 Conference Rules of Order.

Download and complete the "Nominating Petition" and send it to Lloyd Speer, Conference Secretary, to arrive by March 10.

Tri-Conference Disability Ministry Conference, March 28, 2015

1. Why Find-a-Church is Important"
2. Updating Your Church Profile

Over 300,000 people per month visit Find-a-Church. More visitors are on the way. Is your church ready to welcome them?

Associate Members, Local Pastors to retreat
in April 2015

The Fellowship of Associate Members and Local Pastors (FAMLP) of the Eastern Pennsylvania and Peninsula-Delaware conferences will gather April 26-28, 2015, for their annual retreat at the Black Rock Retreat Center. Associate Members, Local Pastors, Student Pastors, and Certified Lay Ministers of both conferences are welcome to attend. They will explore the theme "Church Growth and the Local Pastor," led by the Rev. Thomas Haugh, pastor of Mount Hope UMC.Participants will receive 2.5 CEUs. The registration fee, $50/person, is nonrefundable.  A deposit is due Dec. 15; the balance is due Jan. 19, 2015. Contact Cheryl Snyder, Treasurer and Registrar, at 443-553-2263 for questions. "We hope to meet you at Black Rock Retreat Center for a restful break," said the Rev. Mark Beideman, Retreat Chairperson, "so we can grow and be renewed together in Christ."

See the brochure and registration form at www.wilmingtondistrict.org/famlp2015retreat.pdf. Questions? Call Beideman at 610-585-0575.

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.