"As we welcome President Trump and say goodbye to President Obama, we pray for the world, the Church, and all of God's creation," she writes. "With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray, 'Lord, have mercy.'"   Learn more ...

Values stressed as part of confirmation hearings
Also, Henry-Crowe asked U.S. Senators, in a Jan. 9 letter during confirmation hearings, to evaluate each Cabinet nominee for the new Trump Administration using the values of dignity, justice, peace and the common good. Read Letter

Prayer warriors gathered in churches across the Eastern PA Conference last week seeking wisdom, compassion and divine direction for a special commission of UMC leaders whose forthcoming deliberations on church law and homosexuality, beginning next week, may help determine the future of The United Methodist Church. There were two Concerts of Prayer held Jan. 11 for the conference at Lima UMC and for the Northwest District at First UMC Schuylkill Haven. Meanwhile, other churches around the conference reported lifting the denomination in prayer during Sunday and midweek services.  Learn more...

Ten Eastern PA Conference clergy spouses gathered in November 2016 to enjoy a full-day Sabbath retreat designed just for them. Those who missed it will get another chance at the next retreat on Saturday,  May 13, at Daylesford Abbey in Paoli. The 10 participants in "Claiming Sabbath for Clergy Spouses," offered by  Artos Retreats, were diverse in age and tenure as clergy spouses, but all extolled the value of the experience. "We all wanted to be able to express ourselves authentically and safely, but with the positive intent to create connection and support," said one.  Learn more...

Bishop Peggy Johnson's latest essay continues her effort to focus much of her work, prayerful reflection and commentary on concerns of race and reconciliation in our church and nation, especially in light of the Call to Action resolution and commitments endorsed at the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference last July. She invites conference members to do likewise.

Bishop Johnson reflects on her recent visit to the tragically historic 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., where horrific racist violence snuffed out the lives of four little girls in 1963. She also visited the nearby Civil Rights Museum where painstaking but unfinished progress against such racism can be witnessed and appreciated. She remembers words of hope and solace in the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s eulogy at the girls' funeral. "This tragic day may cause the white side to come to terms with its conscience," King said. "In spite of the darkness of this hour, we must not become bitter. We must not lose faith in our white brothers. Life is hard-at times, as hard as crucible steel-but today, you do not walk alone."

Remembering also Dylann Roof, the young white supremacist who, just 18 months ago, viciously killed nine people gathered for a Bible Study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., the bishop writes, "It is clear to me that we still have a long, long way to go. Despite years of progress, the evil root of bigotry is alive...and it sprouts acts of disrespect, blatant hatred and racially motivated violence every day. We-all of us-must challenge it and try to dig up that diseased root. It must become a daily effort and our daily witness."  Learn more... 

Please pray for all the race relations and racial reconciliation learning opportunities currently happening across our conference. Pray that the lectures, exercises and dialogues bring mind-opening, heart-touching discoveries, hopefulness and a determination to respond and share what is learned. The gatherings of concerned, faithful leaders have been small in size but great in purpose.

 

The  East District holds its extended Conversations on Race Relations this weekend,  Jan. 20-21, as clergy and laity gather, hopefully with other conference members, at Washington Crossing UMC (1895 Wrightstown Road, Washington Crossing). The conversation theme is "Walk With: The African American Experience." 

 

The  Southeast District convened nearly 40 members for a multi-dimensional teach and talk session titled "Becoming the Beloved Community" on Monday, Jan. 16-yes, on the MLK Jr. holiday-at Church of the Open Door in Kennett Square. Devotions, a brief, enlightening lecture with Powerpoint visuals, intimate testimonies, creative activities and in-depth small-group "vital conversations" filled the two hours, setting the stage for a follow-up session, set for the district's Tools for Ministry event on  April 29.

 

The  Central District will follow up last month's first Real Talk about Racism learning and dialogue session with another on  Saturday, Feb. 4, hosted by Tindley Temple UMC (50 S Broad St, Philadelphia). Many attendees promised to apply their new knowledge back in their churches and communities, and some will be prepared to give initial progress reports.

 

Meanwhile, the  Southwest District, which holds periodic discussions to broaden racial understanding, will convene its next Racial Justice Dialogue on  Monday, Feb. 20,  6-8 PM, at Faith UMC Manheim (1290 Fruitville Pike, Lititz). This one will focus on some practical steps people can take to seek justice and improve race relations. Visit and "like" the  SW District Racial Justice Dialogue page on Facebook. All of these learning events are open to anyone to attend.

 

Moreover, the conference  Commission on Religion and Race (CORR), in collaboration with  Healing the Wounds of Racism, will sponsor  Changing Racism: Continuing the Conversations on  Saturday, Jan. 28, from  9:30 AM to 3 PM, at the Conference Office. The dialogue is an experimental follow-up session to the biennial Changing Racism workshop experience that all persons in official ministry roles must take. Only participants in the October 2016 Changing Racism workshop and CORR members are invited-in fact, encouraged-to attend to share new learnings, reactions and next steps with one another since their fall workshop experience.

 

Bishop Peggy Johnson convened an ad hoc group of people from various groups working on race and racism concerns around the conference for a lively discussion on Thursday, Jan. 19. They shared reports on ongoing efforts and upcoming events, and heard insightful remarks from the Rev. Giovanni Arroyo, visiting from the General Commission on Religion and Race. Bishop Johnson will report on our conference's progress at the next NEJ College of Bishops meeting  Jan. 29 to Feb. 2, to be held in Lancaster. Look for highlights of these and other reports in the winter issue of NEWSpirit in early February.

UMCOR (UM Committee on Relief) and the Northeastern Jurisdiction Volunteers in Mission will provide training  March 26-29 for persons wanting to lead the church in disaster response and in its wider mission in God's world. Our own Pocono Plateau Camp & Retreat Center will host the classes, ranging from beginner to advanced, including: UMCOR's Foundations; Early Response Team Advanced (201-level) Training; using the Connecting Neighbors curriculum; Spiritual and Emotional Caregiving; and more. There will also be workshops on Global Health, Communication Technology, Race and Privilege, Asset-Based Community Development, Caring for Creation, and other mission topics. No prior qualifications are necessary. CEUs are available. Register now. Early-bird rates apply until  Feb. 26. For more information contact the Rev. Tom Lank, UMVIM-NEJ Coordinator, at 919-428-0461, [email protected], or visit  www.umvimnej.org.

Branding matters because a logo can influence behavior. Just ask Apple, Nike and Starbucks. On  Feb. 8, at  2 PM, UM Communications will host a free webinar: "3 Reasons Your Church's Brand Matters." During this 45-minute event, you can ask real-time questions of our specialists and learn about:

• Why churches should care about branding
• How branding has helped our denomination - and the numbers that prove it
• Ways United Methodist Communications can serve your church

Sign up today! Attendees will receive a quick-reference branding guide as our thanks.

 

Premarital/Marital Counseling Training  
Rev. Lloyd Speer will conduct several training workshops in 2017. The next will be  Feb. 23 at Christ UMC Fairless Hills. To register, go to  www.prepare-enrich.com to fill out and mail a printable registration form. The cost is $220, and includes certification, lunch and materials. For more information, contact Lloyd Speer at 215-943-2343, or  [email protected].

 

March 28, 9 AM - 3:30 PM, at  Grandview UMC (888 Pleasure Road, Lancaster, PA). Participants pay $35 to participate, which includes light breakfast, lunch, and materials. Presenters are the Revs. Andrea Brown and Jose "Ricky" Ayala.  Find out more » 

Fresh Expressions Vision Day Training 
April 1,  9 AM - 3:15 PM, at Mount Carmel UMC (2203 Harmonyville Road, Elverson, PA). Changing Church for a Changing World. Fresh Expressions is a movement that is cultivating new forms of church alongside existing congregations in order to reach a changing world. It offers to empower and equip God's people to develop creative expressions of church that can reach the increasing diversity of our society. Eastern PA Conference is a co-sponsor of this event. Cost: $30.  Learn more...

Basic Sexual Ethics 
July 15, 9 AM - 3:30 PM, at  Conshohocken UMC (20 W. Sixth Ave., Conshohocken, PA).Participants pay $35 to participate in this class. The fee includes light breakfast, lunch, and materials. Presenters are Rev. Jose "Ricky" Ayala and a female presenter to be named.  Find out more

• Andrew Wyeth, the legendary artist from Chadds Ford, Pa., who mastered of realism and would have turned 100 this year;
• Henry David Thoreau, the revered critic of materialism and author of Walden Pond; and
• Robert Panara, an influential pioneer and teacher in the field of Deaf Studies, who inspired generations of students with his powerful use of American Sign Language.

Date corrected: FOHS (Full of the Holy Spirit), a mostly Latino youth worship and praise ministry, invites all youth to attend the next   FOHS gathering Saturday, Jan. 21, at 7 PM, at New Birth UMC Lebanon.  Come for a fun-filled, high-energy night of young talent with uplifting, celebrative music in English and Spanish, plus dance and spoken words of wisdom! Also, enjoy dinner after the program. This is a Christian youth event, but you do not have to belong to a church to attend. Come one and all to share your talents with the Lord, or just come and enjoy this spirit-filled celebration of life and faith. Spread the word! 

The Eastern PA Conference's Disability Ministries Committee urges churches to celebrate    Disability Awareness Sunday Jan. 22  or on a more convenient date. The UMC's Book of Discipline calls for every conference and church to celebrate this special occasion annually to increase response to the need for including more disabled persons in the life of our churches. The committee invites churches to receive a special offering for UMCOR's "Disability Ministries" Advance Special (# 3021054). You can find information and     resources online at   www.umdisabilityministries.org/dasunday.   Learn more...

Also visit the     committee's webpage for more information and be sure to read Bishop Peggy Johnson's new Bishop's Blog essay, titled "   Privilege." "Sadly, however, many of our churches are ill-prepared to receive people with disabilities," she writes. "Not only are they unable to receive them physically, with accessible buildings and services; but often church members have inaccessible "hearts" that fail to welcome disabled visitors. It is even harder to find churches that engage in the greatest form of accessibility of all: empowerment." Be sure to read Bishop Johnson's   entire essay  that addresses similar barriers and burdens of race and disability in our society and in many of our churches. 

A limited number of printed 2016 Eastern PA Conference Journals are available.  Order yours today for only $30 each. You can  order and pay online or send a check, by USPS, to: EPA UMC, Attention Gloria Knoeller, PO Box 820, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0820.

Philadelphia/Chester Black Methodists for Church Renewal (BMCR) will meet on Sunday, Jan. 22, at 3-5 PM, at St. James UMC (199 E Tabor Rd, Philadelphia).  This will be the first meeting led by new caucus officers, including the Rev. Shayla Johnson, coordinator, and co-coordinator Krystl Johnson. The caucus has a new team-based structure and will address a number of important concerns, including conference redistricting and the NEJ Call to Action.

Palmer Seminary at Eastern University will host a UM alumni reunion on Friday, Oct. 20, with a morning program followed by a luncheon.  Bishop Peggy Johnson will keynote the gathering, and Bishop Violet Fisher has been invited also. Plans are still developing. For more information contact the Rev. Bron Yocum at   [email protected]. 

The Restoration 2017 Retreat is Bishop Peggy Johnson's invitation to clergy and lay members of the Eastern PA and Peninsula-Delaware conferences, to gather in retreat January 26-28, at the Sands Hotel in Rehoboth Beach, Del. The theme is "Prayer, Praise and Presence." The purpose: "Finding new life in the spiritual disciplines to bring strength to our Christian journey." This event replaces the former Mid-Winter Retreat for Clergy and Spouses that had drawn fewer participants over the past several years.

 

The focus of this Restoration retreat is to bring to light aspects of ministry, life, and community that need to be restored within us on our journey of making disciples. Our guest speaker will be the Rev. Junius Dotson, the new General Secretary of UM Discipleship Ministries.

Our 2017 annual Faith-Sharing Training Event will happen March 18, from 8:30 AM to 2 PM, at New Hanover UMC. Our guest presenter is the Rev. Terry Teykel, a leading "prayer evangelist" and popular speaker and author. He travels the world encouraging churches to develop and strengthen prayer ministries as a means of revival and transformation.

 

Teykel, the founder of Renewal Ministries and Prayer Point Press, has authored several books, including The Presence-Based Church, My Most Wanted: 40 Days to Pray for the Lost, and Pray the Price: United Methodists United in Prayer. He has spent his life teaching churches how to develop a heartfelt, meaningful relationship with the Lord. His warm, humorous style makes him a much-sought after speaker and seminar leader.

 

"We believe that when prayer and evangelism are reunited the Church will emerge as a powerful force for reclaiming the land and setting the captives free."      -Terry Teykl. 

Learn more about this passionate, powerful speaker and man of God.

Plan to attend the 3rd Annual Eastern PA Conference Youth Rally on Saturday, April 22, 2017. For the first time, this youth rally will last all day, from 9 AM to 4 PM. We're planning fantastic features, with dynamic speakers, soul-stirring music, fun games, powerful prayers, laugh-out-loud humor, great food and hospitality, and enough friendship and fellowship moments to give you a lifetime of memories. Don't dare miss it! See and share the flyer, and look for more details, coming soon.