PA General Assistance risks elimination

Act now to protect it  

A bill that would eliminate Pennsylvania’s General Assistance program (GA -  HB33) was passed by the state assembly House in a near-party-line vote on last week. It will likely be voted on in the state Senate this week.

The Rev. Dai Morgan, Coordinator of UM Advocacy in Pennsylvania ( daimorgan@comcast.net --412-595-6011), reported this concern at the opening session of our Annual Conference, June 13. Morgan does state legislative advocacy for all three annual conferences in Pennsylvania. He urged members to contact state legislators and ask them to save the beneficial General Assistance program.

Project H.O.M.E. ( http://www.projecthome.org) also wants widespread public advocacy help now to encourage preservation of this “lifesaving program that offers a small amount of cash assistance (roughly $200/month) to our most desperate and vulnerable neighbors.” They suggest ways anyone can help; but that help is needed now, by  Monday, June 24.  Learn more… 

4 Stations of the Holy Spirit coming to East District, July 20 (In English & Espanol)

This is the first article to be posted in both languages on our website, thanks to the Rev. Brunilda Martinez, our outgoing Coordinator of Latino Ministries

Philadelphia and the East District will get their first  Four Stations of the Holy Spirit bilingual lay evangelism training event on Saturday, July 20, at Mount Zion UMC, 1530 N 11th Street (at Oxford St.),  Philadelphia. It will be offered in English and Spanish.

Churches in the West, North and South districts have hosted five of these well-attended, inspiring, instructional gatherings since January 2018. They are sponsored by the Eastern PA Conference’s Congregational Development Team.

The half-day training event, lasting from 8:30 AM to noon, teaches primarily lay people to 1) pray one-on-one with others; 2) anoint others with oil; 3) serve Communion wherever and whenever people need it; and 4) help those in search of “newness of life” in Christ to affirm their baptism. Some clergy also attend, eager to introduce the ministry to their congregations.

Learn more (Read the full article in English & Espanol) …   

EarthKeepers training in Phila. Aug. 8-11. Apply by July 1

Global Ministries, the UMC’s missions agency will bring its EarthKeepers training in “creation care” to Philadelphia, at Arch Street UMC, Aug 8-11 . The training–the first of three scheduled around the U.S. from August to October–will equip United Methodists to develop environmental stewardship initiatives in their churches and communities and connect them with others in the church who are actively engaged in such work.

Training topics include eco-theology, project planning and community organizing, anti-racism, strategies for social change, and accessing UMC resources. Participants will make plans to implement projects in their churches and/or communities and then have opportunities to apply for grants to support those projects.

Global Ministries will pay all costs for the training, including lodging for those who need it. But July 1 is the application deadline for that assistance.  The agency’s EarthKeepers will come from conferences around the U.S., ranging in age from 13-99, although teens must attend with a participating parent or guardian... Learn more . Find more information at  www.umcmission.org/EarthKeepers .     Download the flyer.