West District Weekly
August 14, 2019
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If you are dropping something off,
please call before coming to the office
to ensure someone is here as the DS and DRA attend off-site meetings. There is no external drop box or mail slot at this time. The phone number is: 717-569-9673.
- Summer hours Monday through Thursday, 8am-4:45pm.
- Regular hours go back into effect on September 1. Monday through Friday 9am to 4pm.
- The district and conference offices are closed on Monday, September 2 for Labor Day.
Please
DO NOT
drop items or paperwork off if no one is at the office. There is currently no drop box.
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 is at the bottom of this email.
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Pay close attention to deadlines this year. There is a completely new format for Charge Conference forms!!!!! Click the button below to start your forms now. READ the directions carefully!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click here to download all Charge Conference PDFs
– This link is provided for your convenience, so that you can download all of the Charge Conference forms at once and use these PDFs for your reference while collecting information for the form responses. When you are ready to fill out the forms, please use the link below to fill out and sign the forms ONLINE.
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Charge Conference dates have been finalized. Please see below for the list.
Date / Location / Links
- Thursday, October 17 - Leola - Northeast Lancaster & East Central Lancaster
- Tuesday, October 22 - Ono - North Lebanon
- Thursday, October 24 - Mt. Nebo - SOULanco & Extended River Hills
- Monday, October 28 - Lancaster: Otterbein - Lancaster Urban
- Wednesday, October 30 - Lampeter - South Central Lancaster
- Tuesday, November 5 - Church of the Good Shepherd - Lebanon City & Southeastern Lebanon
- Tuesday, November 12 - Neffsville: Long Memorial - The Pikes & Northern Lancaster
- Wednesday, November 13 - Cleona: Immanuel - Palmyra Area & West Lebanon/Annville/Cleona (WAC)
- Monday, November 18 - To be determined - West Central Lancaster & Northwest Lancaster
Please keep in mind that documents are still due 2 weeks prior to your conference!!!!!!!! This is imperative. DO NOT make the district office chase you down for these forms.
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VBS MISSION PROJECT at FAITH UMC (1290 Fruitville Pike, Lititz, PA 17543) THIS YEAR
was to support the ministry of Rev. Dorcas Kamanda in Sierra Leone at the Children's Village and the NarSarah Clinic.
We need help filling one or more large 55 gallon shipping barrels
with supplies. We are asking for donations of
basic medications
(pain medications, antibiotics, anti-diarrhea, cold sore meds; cold medications, children's vitamins, vitamins for older women e.g. Centrum, rash medication, folic acid, prenatal/post-natal),
children’s clothing
(clothes, sneakers, socks, underwear),
deflated soccer balls
(hand pump included)
, and soap
. Items can be dropped off at Faith UMC. Call the office at (717) 560-0321 to be sure someone is here to receive items.
We will be collecting items until the end of August.
The district will continue to collect after August.
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Anchorage Breakfast Program needs your help
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Want to help Anchorage Breakfast program?? The program is seeking funds for a walking freezer. We have 80% of the funds, seeking to finish for installation. Could your church do a 'Freezing in the summer" special offering? Anchorage is an approved Advance special.
For more information contact Patty Eastep, Director, Anchorage Breakfast Program, 717-682-9976 or
Anchoragebreakfast.org.
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Eastern PA Conference Leadership Launch
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A Leadership Training Adventure
Theme: Leading with Courage: Building Effective Teams
Led by the Rev. Dr. Jacqui King,
Director of U.S. Connectional Relationships
United Methodist Discipleship Ministries
Designed for leaders at all levels, including congregations, mission links,
districts and the conference.
How are we building and leading ministry teams that are connecting mission and community together? How is God opening our hearts to reach new people today? This leadership equipping event will seek to answer these questions and more for church teams that want to launch into new areas and forms of ministry.
Fifty years ago it took courageous leadership and outstanding teamwork for the USA to launch into space and land on the moon, a historic achievement. Today it takes that kind of courageous leadership and effective teamwork for churches to launch viable ministries that make disciples who can transform communities.
We will work together to develop leadership practices to live courageously in our personal and connectional journeys.
Saturday, October 5, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Quakertown UMC, 1875 Freier Road, Quakertown, PA 18951
Cost: $10 - Includes breakfast and lunch
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Claiming Sabbath for Clergy Spouses
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Are you looking for new ways to claim Sabbath time for yourself? Do Sundays sometimes feel like just another workday? You are not alone! Come to a retreat FOR clergy spouses BY clergy spouses that:
- Explores how to claim and celebrate an elusive Sabbath
- Bridges isolation and builds informal networks of support
A retreat about wholeness, more than holiness.
Lean in; don't miss out!
Register by September 1 for a $10 discount!! Regular registration deadline is September 8.
Registration link:
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LUMINA is looking for enthusiastic and cheerful adults or high schoolers to serve as small group guides during Community Day Camp, held at New Creation UMC at 10 W. Farnum St. on August 5-9, from 9:30 am to 2 pm each day. Guides will be responsible for safely moving their group of children through the day's activity stations. They will also eat lunch (provided) with their group and accompany them on a field trip and picnic midweek.
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2019-2020 Licensing Registration Info
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Register now if you are interested in Pastoral Ministry as:
- A certified and licensed Local Pastor
- A Growing Church Licensing School Pastor
Come to a Licensing School sponsored by the Eastern PA Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and held at the teaching pastor’s church or at the Eastern PA Conference Center.
Course instructors are clergy in the Eastern PA Conference and/or from PATH 1, a church growth initiative of Discipleship Ministries, UMC.
Cost: $1,100 for all five segments toward licensing or $250 per segment.
Five Major Areas of Study:
- Preaching, Worship & Sacraments: Suzanne Wenonah Duchesne and Tim Duchsene, Sept. 14,28, Oct. 12, 2019 at First UMC of Conshohoken, PA
- Christian Education: Michael Roberts, Dec. 7, 2019 Jan. 11, and 25, 2020 EPA Conference Center
- Church Administration--Leading a Congregation: Larry Leister, March 7,21 April 4, 2020 Lititz, UMC, PA
- Pastoral Care: Truman Brooks, June 6, 27, July 11,2020, West Chester UMC, PA
- Congregational Development at EPA Conference Center, Norristown, PA One day event—July 25, 2020 from 8:30 to 3
- Growing Church/SLI, Four Stations of the Holy Spirit, UM Polity : Gordon Hendrickson
- Mission & Outreach/Tom Bandy: Peter Wernett & Gordon Hendrickson
Who Should Attend?
- Persons who want to be trained in a Growing Church Licensing School
- Persons who want to be trained as certified, licensed Local Pastors
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Can your mission group help?
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LUMINA is asking for help from every church mission team in Lancaster County! Please consider joining us in providing a week of noontime meals for Lancaster County prisoners who are doing community service with us in the work release program. About 5-10 inmates work each day with Manifest and Impact Missions in the reconstruction of blighted city properties. We would like to create a new prison ministry by feeding these workers a nutritious lunch and sharing conversation at the work site. Each church mission team interested would be scheduled for a week of the year. Lunches could include hot or cold sandwiches, chips, fruit, soups, etc. Alternatively, a church could choose to send LUMINA a monetary donation which would pay for takeout meals for a week.
Please contact Correen Russo to sign your church team up for the week of your choice. Email
Correen.lumina@gmail.com or call 717-394-8412 and leave a message.
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This year's West District Bishop's Day with Bishop Johnson will be held on
Wednesday, September 25 at 6:30pm, at Rulh's UMC, 4810 Elizabethtown Rd., Manheim PA. Please plan on attending. We will be covering General Conference 2020 and Evangelizing within our churches.
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Zion UMC in Schaefferstown is celebrating First Responders Service on Sunday, August 25th at 10:30am to commemorate 100 years since their fire in July 1919. There will be fire apparatus at the church for viewing. A picnic will follow the service. If anyone would like more information, you can call the church office at 717-949-3041 or Pastor Jerry at 717-892-9667.
Zion UMC is located at 400 West Main Street, Schaefferstown, PA. Come out an join us!
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This is a new section where we will feature two wanted ads for two weeks.
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Ranck's UMC seeks Organist/Pianist
Organist/Pianist needed for the 2nd and 4th Sunday each month at Ranck’s UMC in New Holland. Salaried position. Contact info:
emillerbortman@gmail.com
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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.
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2019 Events
**Details listed in articles above/below**
- Women Only Sexual Ethics Workshop - Tuesday, August 20, 2019 - Bethel UMC, 952 Bethel Church Rd., Spring City, PA 19475
- Claiming Sabbath for Clergy Spouses Retreat - Saturday, September 21, 2019 - Franciscan Spiritual Center, Aston, PA
- West District Bishop's Day - Wednesday, September 25, 2019 - Ruhl's UMC, 4810 Elizabethtown Rd, Manheim, PA 17545
- UMW District Celebration - Saturday, September 28, 2019 - Myerstown: Zion
- Basic Sexual Ethics Workshop - Saturday, October 12, 2019 - Bethel UMC, 952 Bethel Church Rd., Spring City, PA 19475
- Churches as First Responders to the Military & Veteran Population - Saturday, November 2, 2019 - First UMC, Phoenixville
- Tools for Ministry 2020 - Saturday, March 7, 2020
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At the beginning of July, Pastor Kevin Babcock, Local Pastor Registrar, suffered a stroke and is currently recovering. At this time,
Interim Local Pastor Registrar is Rev. Chris Eden. He can be reached at
chris@quarryville.church.
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Financial Leadership Academy
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Starting Fall 2019 Apply now! This is the Mid Atlantic United Methodist Foundation’s Premier Educational Offering
!
Seminars
The FLA will meet for seminars covering topics related to the Financial Health and the well-being of churches and pastors. Personal Finance, Leadership, Planned Giving, Leading Your Change and Generosity development are some of the topics. Each event will include a seminar with a key note speaker and small group time with a trained coach.
Peer groups
Participants will be assigned to a peer group with a coach. The group will meet during each seminar to develop an action plan based on information gained during the seminar.
Coaching
The coach will help individual clergy develop an action plan and follow up with coaching calls.
Comments:
Great Experiences! “I really enjoyed meeting with Leading experts and Theologians around Financial Leadership and Stewardship”. “Loved it! I Completely flipped my Strategic Planning on its head”. “Empowering!” “I Grew as a Disciple and Pastor in the area of Stewardship!” ”I gained confidence in my Ministry with new resources!” “Every Pastor should take this!”
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Domestic Violence: The Church Responds II
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Saturday, September 28, 2019, 9 AM to 3 PM
Simpson House, 2101 Belmont Ave, Philadelphia, PA.
In this seminar, the keynote message, panel discussion and a workshop will focus on helping men and boys unlearn and heal from toxic masculinity (i.e., socialized attitudes and behaviors that contribute to intimate-partner abuse).
Keynoter: The Rev. Rickie Houston, a domestic violence specialist and trainer with the organization A CALL TO MEN. He has trained groups across the U.S., including religious groups and professional sports teams, and in West Africa, helping them to engage men in efforts to foster respect for, and end violence against, women. Houston, who trains men, women and boys, believes in a developmental, holistic approach in his ministry that includes the “interaction of spiritual and social consciousness.” He is the pastor of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Wilmington, NC.
A CALL TO MEN
educates men all over the world on healthy, respectful manhood. A CALL TO MEN is a violence prevention organization and respected leader on issues of manhood, male socialization and its intersection with violence, and preventing violence against all women and girls.
The half-day seminar will also feature a panel discussion with Houston, Chester County domestic violence prevention and response specialists, and the Rev. David Piltz, a campus minister, pastor and Eastern PA Conference Coordinator of Young People’s Ministries. Piltz is a Marriage and Family Therapist who once trained for and staffed a domestic violence response hotline.
Afternoon workshops
- Healing the Community of the Trauma of Domestic Violence
- Teaching Respect and Helping Men Prevent Domestic Violence
- When Love Hurts: The Dynamics of Domestic Violence
Who should attend this seminar? All men and boys (and the women who love them).
The cost is $20 and includes lunch and resources. 0.5 CEUs offered by request.
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For Women Only -- Sexual Ethics Workshop fulfilling both Basic and Advanced Sexual Ethics Requirements
Tuesday August 20, 2019 from 9:30am . to 3pm. Cost is $35. Light refreshments and lunch are provided. Bethel United Methodist Church, 952 Bethel Church Road, Spring City, PA 19475; (a few miles from Camp Innabah)
#MeToo: The Self of the Minister, and the Role of Clergy Women in Light of the
#MeToo Movement.
“Making one’s own wounds a source of healing, therefore, does not call for a sharing of superficial personal pains but for a constant willingness to see one’s own pain and suffering as rising from the depth of the human condition which all [humanity] share” (Nouwen, 1979, p. 88).
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Future Basic Sexual Ethics Workshop
Saturday, October 12, 2019
9:30am - 3pm
Cost: $35.00, light refreshments and lunch provided.
Location: Bethel United Methodist Church, 952 Bethel Church Road, Spring City, Penna. 19475; (three miles from Camp Innabah)
As ministers we interact with people with many vulnerabilities both in our congregations and our communities. This workshop will provide training regarding how to manage situations in which sexual ethics become an issue in ministry. Participants are invited to bring specific situations and cases from their ministry settings for exploration and discussion. CEU’s are available.
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Inspiration for Small Congregations
October 19, 2019, 9:00 am – Noon
Registration & Breakfast begin at 8:00 am
Be inspired as speakers from small congregations doing great things share how God is moving and imparting hope to and through small congregations.
10 speakers * 10 minutes each * One morning!
Gain a new perspective. Connect. Be refreshed.
Get HOPE! ReBoot!
Join us for this live-streamed, TED talks-style event at
Lighthouse Fellowship UMC – 137 North Easton Road, Glenside.
Scheduled Speakers:
Pastor John T. Brice, St. James UMC
Pastor Rodney Brailsford, Berwyn UMC
Rev. Cindy Brubaker, Lighthouse Fellowship UMC
Rev. Eric W. Carr Jr., St. Daniels UMC
Pastor Chris Hardy, Bangor: First UMC
Rev. Gregory Holston, Janes Memorial UMC
Rev. Dr. Allen Jenkins Jr., St. Matthews UMC, Trevose
Rev. Elena Ortiz, New Birth UMC
Rev. Steve Pittman, Grace UMC
Rev. Jackie Anne Stewart, Bickleys New Beginning UMC
Featuring:
Grace N Motion
Bickleys New Beginning UMC Worship Team
Lighthouse Fellowship UMC Worship Team
Register now online in advance for free, including breakfast!
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Donations being accepted for Sierra Leone
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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.
At the end of September the District presented Dorcas with a check for $2,038 for supplies and medication needed for the Village. These funds came from donations received from YOU (district conference, direct donations, etc.). These funds were also used for purchasing barrels and covering the shipping costs on all of these barrels.
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
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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.
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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!
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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!
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Rev. Tim Smith, Chair of District Committee on Ordained Ministry
-
ts3707@gmail.com
Mrs. Lynn McCord, District Christ Servant Minister Coordinato
r,
Conference Office
- 610-666-9090 / 800-828-9093
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MISSION CENTRAL HUBS IN OUR DISTRICT
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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**
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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.
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