Rejoice always , pray without ceasing , give thanks in all circumstances;
for THIS is the WILL OF GOD in Christ Jesus for you.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
West District Weekly

March 25, 2020
Please DO NOT drop items or paperwork off, no one is at the office at this time!

In some email platforms, you may have to expand your view by clicking MORE at the bottom of your email - this is not something the district can change.
It is an issue within your email client.

Pulpit Supply List at the bottom of this email has been updated as of 12/11/19.
Bishop Johnson will be praying for our West District during the week of March 29-April 4. Joys and concerns may be shared with her at pjohnson@epaumc.org .
West District Pastors and friends,

Right now, we want to get you the most helpful information in an easy to digest format, so we will be sending out "mini-updates" when we have collected a few useful pieces of information to share. We pray that you all find new opportunities for ministry in this circumstance.

Blessings and Prayers
2020 Annual Conference, Thursday, June 18 - Saturday, June 20
Registration is now open!
  • $275 per person
  • $100 for Retirees (not serving a local church or agency) 
  • Retirees also have the option of registering to attend the Clergy Session ONLY, for no cost.

  • Exhibit tables:
  • $150 per table for Affiliated Organizations
  • $300 per table for Non-affiliated Organizations
  • Meals for all 3 days are included in registration
  • All attendees are responsible for their own hotel accommodations


If you have any questions, please contact Regina Raiford Babcock at (484) 762-8222 or  rbabcock@epaumc.org .
EPA Conference UMW Ingathering Grants
The EPA UMW is now accepting grant applications for their 2020 Ingathering funds. These grants are available to all UMC non-profit organizations in the EPA Conference. For an application or more information please contact:

Ellen Messenger, West District UMW Vice President and Ingathering Chair
717-284-5004
Anchorage Breakfast Program Annual Yard Sale
Anchorage Breakfast Ministry Giant Yard Sale has been postponed. Date to be determined.

Please know that Anchorage continues to serve breakfast Monday - Friday at First UMC, Lancaster. Breakfasts are being bagged. Prayers are greatly appreciated during this time.
Part-Time Minister of Music

WEST WILLOW UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
118 West Willow Road, Willow Street, PA 17584

West Willow United Methodist Church is seeking a part time Minister of Music who is able to provide musical leadership to enhance our worship experience through song, liturgy, and prayer.

Primary role will be leading our praise band, but ideal candidate will also be proficient in leading hymns on a piano and/or organ. A strong personal faith in Christ and spiritual maturity is required.

Part time responsibilities include leading Sunday morning worship for three services- two traditional and one contemporary and one additional praise band rehearsal. Also, additional worship services such as Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday, and Christmas Eve.

Salary: $200 per Sunday. Please send resume and links to any performance samples to Dorothy at Dorothy@wwillow.org

Job Type: Part-time
Salary: $9,000.00 to $10,400.00/year
Experience: Relevant: 1 year (Preferred)
Location: Willow Street, PA 17584 (Preferred)
Language: United States (Preferred)
Hours per Week: 10 or fewer (Preferred)
Overtime often available: No 
Part-Time Children/Youth Director

Glossbrenner UMC is looking for a person experienced in working with children and youth and their families. The Director will work with the children and youth, their friends and families to develop and deepen their faith in Jesus Christ; and will encourage children and youth from outside our fellowship to join us. This person will build upon our fellowship’s efforts and focus on our Mission Statement to “Grow in our Christian faith, Praise God through worship, and Serve others for the glory of God (Grow, Praise, Serve).

Contact Pastor Brian Albert at  bgalbert2@gmail.com .

Click here for full job description.
If you have a need, please email the district office - the ad will run for two weeks in the newsletter, but will be available on the District website for one month. Additional listings are available on the District website.
2020 Events
**Details listed in articles above/below**

  • General Conference Listening Session #2 - Thursday, April 2, 2020 - ZOOM

  • General Conference Listening Session #3 - Saturday, April 4, 2020 - ZOOM

  • Spring Work Day - Saturday, April 18, 2020 - Gretna Glen, 87 Old Mine Road, Lebanon, PA 17042

  • Free Youth Night - Sunday, April 19, 2020 - Gretna Glen, 87 Old Mine Road, Lebanon, PA 17042

  • General Conference Listening Session #4 - Monday, April 20, 2020 - ZOOM

  • Gretna Gritty - Saturday, May 9, 2020 - Gretna Glen, 87 Old Mine Road, Lebanon, PA 17042

  • Basic Sexual Ethics - Saturday, May 16, 2020 - Faith UMC, 1290 Fruitville Pike, Lititz, PA 17543

  • Basic Sexual Ethics - Saturday, August 20, 2020 - St. Matthew's UMC, 600 Walker Rd., Wayne, PA 19087

  • Basic Sexual Ethics - Saturday, September 26, 2020 - Conshohocken UMC, 20 W. 6th Ave., Conshohocken, PA 19428
District & Conference Reminders/Events
Northeastern PA Pastor's Seminar
REGISTRATION OPEN!
Northeastern PA Pastor’s Seminar
September 24, 2020
9 AM to 4 PM
$35 per person includes full day seminar, book signing and books for purchase, continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks.
Open to all denominational and non-denominational clergy, staff, and laity.

Guest Speaker: Dr. Len Wilson (St. Andrews UMC, Plano, TX)
Len Wilson is an expert in communications and creativity in church life. He is known for his pioneering work in visual storytelling and has taught and consulted with organizations and ministries across the country. His life mission is to use oral, written and visual communication with equal effectiveness in sharing Jesus Christ and advancing God’s kingdom. Len is the author or co-author of ten books, has been featured in dozens of articles for major religious periodicals, and has acquired leadership books for Abingdon Press, a division of the United Methodist Publishing House. He currently serves as Creative and Communications Director at St. Andrew, a large church in Plano, Texas. Len holds a MA in Religious Communication from United Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry in Semiotics and Future Studies from Portland Seminary. Follow Len at  lenwilson.us  or on Twitter at @Len_Wilson.

Description of Seminar:
In today’s environment, each congregation needs its own brand –a clear, concise, creative, and compelling message to effectively communicate who they are. In this one-day seminar led by Dr. Len Wilson, storyteller and expert strategist in communications and creativity, and Creative Director at St. Andrew UMC, a large church in Plano, TX, participants will learn and practice a comprehensive process to develop and implement their own unique brand, including messaging strategy, sensing the pulse of community, and improving all phases of communication and creativity in their own church ministry.
CEU: .6
Attendees: Pastors, Staff, Key Laity, Communications and Creative Teams

SIGN UP FOR THE SEMINAR: Send check for $35 per person along with names, church or ministry affiliations, addresses, phones, and emails of all attendees to Rev Dr Lori Wagner, Quakertown UMC, 1875 Freier Road, Quakertown, PA 18951. Attn: Northeastern PA Pastor Seminar. Please write NPPS in the notation part of your check.

IMPORTANT: Please indicate if you and your participants will be requesting CEU credits.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact loribethwagner@gmail.com or 360-298-8327.
Sexual Ethics Workshops
Reminder - Those required to take a sexual ethics workshop every quadrennium can begin anew January 2020. The Basic Workshops are a prerequisite to the Advanced Workshops. 

NEW DATE PENDING Advanced Sexual Ethics      
Time – 9:30am - 3pm
Cost - $35
Presenter - Attorney Joy Melton - Legal Ramifications of Safe Sanctuary and the Reentrance for Offenders
Place - Elam UMC 1073 Smithbridge Rd, Glen Mills, PA 19342
CEU’s are available. Light refreshments and lunch are provided.


Saturday May 16, 2020 Basic Sexual Ethics    
Time – 9:30am - 3pm
Cost $35
Presenter - Linda Crockett – Director of Safe Communities
Place – Faith UMC, 1290 Fruitville Pike, Lititz, PA 17543   
CEU’s are available. Light refreshments and lunch are provided.


Thursday August 20, 2020 Advanced Sexual Ethics 
Time – 9:30am – 3pm
Cost $35
Presenter – FR. Charles Mauer -  Council on Relationships
Place – St. Matthews’s UMC 600 Walker Rd, Wayne, PA 19087
CEU’s are available. Light refreshments and lunch are provided.


Saturday September 26, 2020 Basic Sexual Ethics 
Time 9:30 – 3pm  
Cost $35
Presenter – Rev. Wanda Sevey, Council on Relationships
Place – Conshohocken UMC - 20 W 6th Ave, Conshohocken, PA 19428
CEU’s are available. Light refreshments and lunch are provided.


For more information contact Rev. Jacqueline Hines at pastorjacquelineumc@gmail.com or 410-963-1721

Click here for full flyer and details on each workshop.
Donations for Sierra Leone
In the past we have sent several barrels of medication, clothing and toys to Rev. Dorcas Kamanda in Sierra Leone for the Children's Village she started. We have been extremely successful with this mission and we would like to start sending more to the Village in the new year.

We have received an updated list of items that are needed for the both NarSarah Clinic and the Children's Village - both started by Dorcas.

Needs for Clinic

Clinic really needs surgical equipment for minor surgeries e.g. appendix. 

OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS
pain medications, antibiotics, anti-diarrhea, cold sores meds; cold medications, children's vitamins; vitamins for older women e.g. Centrum etc., rash medication, folic acid, prenatal/post-natal

Needs for Childen's Village

Children’s clothes and shoes especially tennis shoes for children ages 4 to 10 years, socks, NEW underwear, soccer balls, bathing soaps. 

We need a water well to address our water need.
We need solar panels to increase our energy demand.
We need a playground for the orphans and children from the village.
We will need a school bus as our numbers increase.

Please contact the District Office with questions by phone at 717-569-9673 or email Kristin at kreifsnyder@epaumc.org .
Local Church Resources
Do you find yourself wondering where you can obtain a 501(c)3 letter? Clergy W-2s? Various other bits of information that is crucial for churches? Look no further than the Local Church Resources tab on the EPA website and you can answer these questions.
Local Church & Connectional Events

Please don't forget that we love sharing the events you have going on in your churches and Connections. Be sure to share them with the district either on Facebook or via email . We can't share what we don't know is happening!

Pulpit Supply List

If you would like to be added to this list, please contact the district office with your name, which category you're in, phone number and area you can cover. We have limited names for the Lebanon area, if you are interested, please contact us as soon as possible!
IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION
Rev. Bumkoo Chung, District Superintendent - 717-569-9673; bkepaumc@gmail.com

Mrs. Kristin E. Reifsnyder, District Resource Assistant  - 717-569-9673; kreifsnyder@epaumc.org

Mrs. Sue Grimm Mattox, District Lay Leader - 717-575-6414; sgrimm1028@gmail.com

Rev. Elaine Bortman, Chair of Committee on the District Superindency  - elainebortman@yahoo.com

Mr. Craig Lenhard, Chair of Board of Church Location & Building  - rvrguyd@yahoo.com

Rev. Tim Smith, Chair of District Committee on Ordained Ministry - ts3707@gmail.com

Rev. Jason Perkowski, Chair of District Resource Team - jbperkowski@gmail.com

Ms. Hatsy Droke, District UMW President, 717-824-3714, hdroke552@gmail.com

Mrs. Lynn McCord, District Christ Servant Minister Coordinato r,
717-615-5616,  dpmlem1@gmail.com

Rev. Chris Eden, Interim Local Pastor's Registrar  - chris@quarryville.church

Rev. Jacqueline Hines, Conference Secretary - conferencesecretary@epaumc.org

Mrs. Correen Russo, LUMINA - correen.lumina@gmail.com

Conference Office  - 610-666-9090 / 800-828-9093
MISSION CENTRAL HUBS IN OUR DISTRICT
1)   Elizabethtown: St. Paul’s (Liz Helm, coordinator), 398 N. Locust Street, Elizabethtown, PA. 717-367-1889 **call to make sure someone will be there**
 
2)   Lebanon: Covenant (Mariellen Lantz, coordinator), 346 N. 9 th Street, Lebanon, PA. 717-272-0672
 
3)   Cleona: Immanuel (Jeanne Earnshaw, coordinator), 29 E. Maple Street, Cleona, PA. 717-926-2305 **call to make sure someone will be there**
Editorial Policy of the West District Weekly:  The West District Weekly is published on an as-needed basis on Wednesdays. Articles will appear once as new information; thereafter, they will be Reminders or Calendar Items. Spaghetti dinners, fundraisers, concerts, VBSs, bazaars, etc. are included only on the Local Church and Connetional Events page Job postings can be found in the Classifieds section of the website. The Weekly is sent to Pastors and Church Offices on the West District and to lay people who have requested having their names added to the distribution list. Please feel free to copy any article for your church’s bulletin or newsletter. Appointed clergy may not unsubscribe. All articles and announcements should be sent to the District Resource Assistant at westdistrict@epaumc.org  by 3:00pm Tuesday afternoon for consideration. Articles should be in the body of an email or an attached Word document (please no PDFs). Submissions made by telephone will not be accepted. Articles may be edited for clarity and space. The District Office makes all decisions regarding publication.