Southeast District E-Alert
March 2, 2017


ABOUT THIS E-ALERT

All Appointed Clergy are emailed this E-Alert as a primary source of communication of important information, reminders and upcoming events from the Southeast District Office.

Laity and Clergy (not currently appointed) are welcome and encouraged to receive the E-Alert. Laity and Clergy who are not appointed may request to be added to or removed from the E-Alert mailing list. Please contact Lin George in that case at lgeorge@epaumc.org.
Southeast District Is Transforming the World!

Message from District Superintendent
Rev. Dawn Taylor-Storm

"As we move into the season of Lent and stand even closer to the cross, I ask you to prayerfully consider places where suffering is a daily reality.  The work that our district has done in Mpasa, Congo, is seeking to bring health and healing to God's beloved children.  In this Lenten season, I invite your congregation to consider being part of this project.   Our missionaries are available to skype with you, visit with you when they are here in the States and educate our churches on the realities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Sunday School classes, small groups, UMW, UMM and young adult groups have all been joining forces to bring HOPE to God's people in Mpasa.   We can do more together.  Please issue checks to "Southeast District" and mail to 60 West Boot Road, West Chester, PA 19380.

Thank you so much. Blessings, 
                                   Dawn
Save the Date!
Southeast District Conference
Sunday, May 21
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
Register early to get your first choice workshop.

SOUTHEAST DISTRICT  TOOLS FOR MINISTRY
Saturday, April 29, 2017
West Grove UMC, 300 N. Guernsey Road, West Grove, PA 19390

  8:30            Registration & Breakfast; Gathering Music
  9:00            Welcome/Opening Devotion, DS Taylor-Storm
  9:20            Keynote Address - Dr. Rod: What is Beloved Community?
  9:45            Session I for all participants:
                              "Steps to Becoming the Beloved Community"
11:00-11:15   Break
11:15-12:45   Session II - Workshops

       $8    Early Registration - Until March 15
       $10  Standard Registration - March 16 - April 14
       $13  Late Registration - After April 14


 


Rev. Dr. Rodney Smothers



Rev. Dr. Rodney Thomas Smothers serves as the Pastor of Liberty Grove UMC in Burtonsville, Maryland.   During the past 36 years he has founded new congregations, served as the lead pastor of multicultural, urban and suburban congregations. He has served as the Director of Evangelism at the General Board of Discipleship, a Path 1 New Church Development Coach, and Conference Director of Congregational Development for the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church. Dr. Smothers has also served as an adjunct seminary professor; he taught courses in Church Administration, Evangelism, UM History, Preaching and Worship.  As a church leadership coach and training facilitator, he resources local churches and denominational leaders in the areas of congregational health, and ministry effectiveness.  
2017 FAITH-SHARING SEMINAR
Registration Extended to March 10
Saturday, March 18, 2017                  
8:30 AM to 2 PM
New Hanover UMC
2211 Swamp Pike, Gilbertsville, PA

Guest Presenter:  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.

Attention Southeast District Appointed Clergy
Save the Date!

Southeast Clergy Breakfast 
With District Superintendent Taylor-Storm 

Please Reserve Tuesday morning, April 4th
Registration will open next week.

2017 METHODIST NIGHT AT THE PHILLIES
Saturday, July 29th
7:05 p.m.
Phillies vs. Braves

For more info contact Gene Huffman MEugene@aol.com)

2017 ANNUAL CONFERENCE 
June 15-17, 2017
  100 Station Avenue
 Oaks, PA 19456


Registration will be open on March 17


PRELIMINARY INFORMATION
FOR ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2017

Registration

Clergy, Lay and Equalizing Delegates are encouraged to register on-line beginning March 17. The deadline to register is May 19.  Registrations received after May 19 will be considered walk-ins with no guaranteed meals and will incur a $50 late fee. If you mail your registration (with payment), it must be postmarked by May 19.

Exhibit Tables

Space is limited and all requests will be filled on a first come first served basis. All requests received after table space has been exhausted or after Friday, May 21, will be placed on a wait list in the event that a group cancels their reservation.

Resolutions

Deadline:  April 21
HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS
 
The Education Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church will be offering a number of Grants to assist worthy individuals with defraying the cost of higher education for the 2017-2018 school year. The application is being forwarded to individual churches and is also available on the Conference website. It can be accessed as "Grants to Defray Higher Education Costs.'  CLICK HERE
 
All applications received in the Conference Office (between and including)  May 1 to May 15  will be considered for a grant. Like last year, all applications will be considered. Unless there is some disqualification, grant recipients will be randomly selected. 
 
It is important that this information be provided to church members who plan to attend an institution of higher learning in the fall of 2017. Please communicate this grant opportunity to your congregation as soon as possible.
 
If you have questions, please contact the Education Society Chairperson, Al Adey at  ahadey@verizon.net .
 
Sincerely,  Alfred H Adey
CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION

CHRIST SERVANT MINISTRY SPRING 2017 CLASSES 

May 5 & 6 - A Basic Course taught in Spanish is scheduled for Emmanuel UMC in Allentown, PA. The instructor for this course will be the Rev. Brunhild Martinez. This course needs at least 12 participants and is limited to the first 20 registrations. Cost $35 (Download Registration Form – Asbury Basic - Spanish in PDF at christservantministries.net). For additional information contact Northeast District Director, Judy Ehninger at ehninger@ptd.net. 610-442-3140

May 12 & 13 - A Basic Course is scheduled for Asbury UMC in Allentown, PA. The instructor for this course will be Judy Ehninger. This course needs at least 12 participants and is limited to the first 20 registrations. Cost $35  (Download Registration Form – Asbury Basic in PDF at christservantministries.net ).). For additional information contact Northeast District Director, Judy Ehninger at ehninger@ptd.net.  610-442-3140

May 12 & 13 – A Speaking 1 Course is scheduled for Asbury UMC in Allentown, PA. The instructor for this course will be Rev. Harold Burkett. This course needs at least 12 participants and is limited to the first 20 registrations. Cost $35   (Download Registration Form – Asbury Speaking in PDF at christservantministries.net). For additional information contact Northeast District Director, Judy Ehninger at ehninger@ptd.net.  610-442-3140

YOUTH RETREAT 
ACTIVELY DISCOVERING HUMAN DIVERSITY
The Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM) is hosting a Youth Diversity Retreat entitled “Actively Discovering Human Diversity” during the weekend of March 3-5 at Gretna Glen Camping and Retreat Center. Co-facilitators are the Rev. Anita Powell (Central District Superintendent), David Piltz (EPAUMC Youth and Young Adult Ministries Coordinator), and Carlen Blackstone (Educator and Lay Member of Asbury UMC in Allentown. Read more here. Cost is $95 (scholarship support is available). Registration is still open; it is hoped that a group of diverse youth will attend. Find a brochure here.

THE HEART OF POVERTY COURSE
 Thorndale UMC
April 1, 2017
9:00am-1:30pm
No Cost; A Freewill Offering will be taken
Registration Required in Advance by March 15
Register by emailing Rev. Mark Moore:  mark.moore@thorndaleumc.org 

Course description – The course will help you develop a basic understanding of poverty in the United States and this county. About 33,000 people live in poverty in Chester County, but the need is significantly greater than that. We will discuss what poverty is and what causes it, the impact of hopelessness and hope, what the Bible says about poverty, and dispel myths about the poor. We blend elements of the Bible, stories, testimonies, and our personal experiences to help people develop a heart for the poor in Chester County. The sessions culminate with a discussion about opportunities to serve the poor right in our own communities.

Facilitators – Roger Wayne, Special Projects Coordinator, CYWA (Community, Youth, and Women's Alliance) and Jim Ford, founder and Director, Good Works, Inc. (retired)
Save the Date!
CLERGY OPEN HOUSE
A T THE PARSONAGE
FOR THE SOUTH DISTRICT
 
August 12, 2017
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Families welcome. 
Outdoor games for children (water balloons & slip&slide - bring swimsuits).  
Food will be provided. 
Just bring yourself and your family. 
Come and meet the clergy & clergy families of the South District.  

Watch for registration announcement.

Save the Date!
NEW SOUTH DISTRICT
CELEBRATION WITH BISHOP PEGGY JOHNSON
September 13, 2017

PLEASE NOTE - NEW LOCATION
Hopewell UMC
852 Hopewell Road
Downingtown, PA 19335

4 p.m. Clergy Meeting with Bishop Johnson
5:30 Laity & Clergy Dinner
6:30 Laity Session with Bishop Johnson 

Watch for registration announcement.

SOUTHEAST DISTRICT
Eastern PA Conference The  United Methodist Church
A District of H.O.P.E
Hospitality. Offering. Prayer. Engagement.

Rev. Dawn Taylor-Storm, District Superintendent
Rev. Lin George, District Resource Assistant

60 W. Boot Road, West Chester, PA 19380

Telephone: 610-436-4277, Fax: 610-431-4715