West District Weekly

October 16, 2019
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.

  • Regular hours - Monday through Friday 9am to 4pm
  • Kristin will be out of the office Tuesday, October 22 through Wednesday, November 6. So please make sure you CALL during this time if you must drop anything off at the office.


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 at the bottom of this email has been updated as of 10/16/19.
Rapid Response for Immigration Team
A rapid response is needed for immigrants in our midst in Eastern PA Conference. Luky Cotto serves this community as pastor and organizer of assistance for families and especially children. Please consider challenging your congregations to help supply the essentials listed below and share the information following the list.

  • We need jeans or pants for 12, 13, 14 16 18 years old boys
  • We need beds for 2 girls ages 12 and 8
  • We need beds for 3 boys 18, 16 and 14
  • We need blankets for all of them and their moms
  • We need bed or a crib for a 3 year old girl and cloths
  • We need bed for two little boys 6-8 years old and we are gathering things for their apartment
  • We need dressers or something for them to put their cloths in
  • All of them need shoes, and winter coats, although, we hope to get some from the YWCA, the older kids won't get any. They are skinny boys and short, only one is chubby and we are having a hard time getting him clothes.

Right now we are helping a mother and three children with the father (whole family) to get a job and an apartment, but if they are not working they can't get an apartment - Warrington Apartments became so very expensive, two rooms and they are charging $1,300.00, plus deposit and the last month. I am about to talk to the housing authority to come and visit the apartments because two ceilings felled while the family was about to go out and the landlord is doing hardly anything. 

We want to start the Tutoring Program soon and we will need snacks for them. We are trying to organize the mothers so they can help each other and take care of their children, otherwise they won't have money left after they pay for a sitter.

Arrangements to drop things off should be directed to Luky Cotto.

Luky Cotto
Congregational Development and
EP Conference Coordinator for H/L Ministries 
Racial Ethnic Plan - GBGM
Advance #3021466    
Hatboro and Warrington Latino Ministries
215-470-2229 - 215-347-1020
2019 Charge Conferences
Completing the forms for charge conference is always a hassle, and we just don't seem to be able to find a simple way to meet everyone's needs and desires.
 

The conference has heard your distress and has created an alternate method for you to complete and upload your forms if you do not wish to complete them using Sign Now. For this year we will keep the Sign Now open so that we are not frustrating those who have already completed or are in process of their forms.
  1. Churches will need to disburse the forms to those who need to complete and/or sign the documents.
  2. Signed documents will need to be scanned and emailed to the District Office no later than 2 weeks prior to your Charge Conference date.

New Steps
  1. Download your forms in WORD format: click here
  2. Fill out your forms like you've done in past years (they're Word Documents, so you can SAVE your work and come back to it later)
  3. Once completed, print and SIGN your forms like you've done in past years
  4. SCAN and email them to the District Office (as many documents in one email is preferred - ZIP files are GREAT!)
  5. If you have to fax, mail or drop off your forms, please notify the District Office
Pay close attention to deadlines this year. Click the button below to start your ELECTRONIC 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.
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 - Elizabethtown: St. Paul's - 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.

Click here for full schedule with due dates.
Shalom Partnership of Lancaster Special Celebration
Shalom Partnership of Lancaster invites clergy/spouses to attend their special celebration event on Thursday, October 24th, at First UMC in Lancaster, at 6:30 p.m. We will be serving desserts and coffee/punch. This is an invitation - no monies involved - as we want the opportunity to share with you the good work we are doing at Shalom which is a United Methodist initiative serving rural schools in Lancaster County for over 19 years.

If you would like to attend, please call Rev. Bob Hannum, at 717-984-2736 so that he can add your name to our list. Come and join us for great desserts and good conversation about our summer programs offered to elementary schools.
Now Offering Auditing Help for Book of Discipline Compliance
Larry Turnbull, Consultant, has been added as a new resource for all EPA UMC churches to utilize in meeting the Audit requirement of the Book of Discipline. Larry will also be available to assist churches in streamlining and improving their accounting format. 

The Audit service will be provided at a reduced cost in order to encourage all churches to utilize this support in order to complete their Audit in a timely manner.    An Audit may be completed for as little as $260 or $5 per week over a 52 week year.

Larry has been providing accounting, auditing and cash management consulting support to various, for and non-profit, organizations including churches, for over 40 years. Contact Larry to discuss the help that he can provide your church. An estimate of the cost of the Audit or other service requested will be provided.

Testimonial : “The Audit was performed in a timely manner. The results were detailed and presented in a well-documented report. Larry is a knowledgeable, skilled professional and a pleasure to work with.”  Carol Barnes, Treasurer; Rev. Shauna K. Ridge, Pastor; Thorndale United Methodist Church

Contact: Larry – Larry@larryturnbull.com – 484-883-6179
Suicide Prevention Training
Event for
Clergy
Candidates for Ministry
Certified Lay Ministers
Interested Laity

Thursday, October 24
9 am - noon

Berwyn United Methodist Church
140 Waterloo Avenue
Berwyn, PA 19132

Light Refreshments

Registration Fee: $20
(scholarships available)

Urban Commission to host preview of film 'Harriet' on October 26
The Eastern PA Conference Urban Commission has 87 tickets available for a group preview of the new film “Harriet”, about iconic slavery abolitionist and Civil War spy Harriet Tubman, on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 11:00 AM - 2 PM, at the AMC Theaters behind the Plymouth Meeting Mall. The tickets are $15 each, first-come/first-served. The commission will host a Q & A panel discussion after the film.

For more information contact the Rev. William Brawner, Urban Ministries Coordinator, at wbrawner@epaumc.org .

Open Door Christian Community needs your help
Open Door Christian Community hosts an interfaith outreach opportunity open to all! Our next outreach opportunity is Nov 9 th from 11 am – 3 pm. We travel to Kensington, a drug infested area that suffers from crime and homelessness where we will connect with those who are suffering. The purpose of this outreach is to show compassion and God’s love through providing food and clothing to those suffering.

Ways to get involved:
  • Donate clothing (socks, hats, gloves, scarves, jackets, pants, sweaters, etc.)
  • Donate toiletries
  • Donate food and/or supplies (contact Pastor David Piltz, Campus Minister at 814-883-0118 for details)
  • Pray
  • Join

We leave at 11 am from the James E. Marks Intercultural Center (33rd & Arch Street) and return by 3:00 pm.
International Missions Opportunity
Hempfield UMC is planning a missions trip to Kenya during the summer of 2020 to visit Life For Children Ministries ( https://www.lifeforchildrenministry.org/ ) and help with their local needs. Members of other local churches are welcome to join us. Please be in prayer about this opportunity. If you are interested in learning more or are feeling called to go to Kenya, contact Tom Clingan ( tdc621@comcast.net ).
November 2nd, Four Stations of the Holy Spirit Training
CDT will have a training event from 8:30am to noon at Neffsville: Long Memorial on November 2. They will be hosting this event and inviting any churches or individuals who would like to be trained in doing the training of Prayer-Anointing-Healing; Reaffirmation of Baptism-new beginning; and Holy Communion-reconciliation.

Please contact Gordon Hendrickson at 267-2589-507 or gordonacts6@gmail.com. The cost will be $15 per person which includes books and materials.
Featured Article
"Hey, Hey, We’re The Monkees". St. John’s UMC, 3001 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise, PA will conclude its sixth year Classic Rock Services on Saturday, November 2, 2019 at 7 pm. The service will showcase the songs of The Monkees with the message based on their hit single, “Pleasant Valley Sunday”. Everyone is welcome to the informal service to hear some of your favorite songs from the 1960s and 1970s in a new light.
Faith Factory Learning Center, a ministry of St. Mark's UMC is seeking a lead teacher

Faith Factory is seeking an excited and passionate lead teacher for our toddler's classroom.  Our lead teachers are part of the classroom team and create lesson plans which adhere to the Pennsylvania Learning Standards, and partner with families to educate young children in a faith filled environment.

Faith Factory Learning Center, Mount Joy, is a DHS licensed and STAR 4 certified facility that seeks to blend our faith and education, while meeting each child where he/she is; providing a stimulating, caring, and nurturing environment where children are loved. 

The complete job description for this paid full-time position can be found on our web site  www.connectstmarks.com/full-day-preschool/
    
Resumes shall be forwarded to the attention of
Faith Factory Director
c/o St. Mark’s United Methodist Church,
37 E. Main Street,
Mount Joy, PA 17552
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.
2019 Events
**Details listed in articles above/below**

  • Inspiration for Small Congregations - Saturday, October 19, 2019 - Lighthouse Fellowship UMC – 137 N. Easton Rd, Glenside, PA 19038

  • Churches as First Responders to the Military & Veteran Population - Saturday, November 2, 2019 - First UMC, 865 Main St, Phoenixville, PA 19460

  • Pen-Del Youth Rally - January 10-12, 2020 - Ocean City, Maryland

  • Equipping Church Leaders - Saturday, January 25, 2020 - Salem UMC, 140 N. Penn St., Manheim, PA 17545

  • Tools for Ministry - Saturday, March 7, 2020 - Church of the Good Shepherd, 1500 Quentin Rd, Lebanon, PA 17042
District & Conference Reminders/Events
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.
Pen-Del Youth Rally 2020
All churches and youth groups are invited!

Youth Rally 2020, January 10-12, 2020 in Ocean City, Maryland
Early bird special price by September 20th....
Please click on the Brochure below and invite your youth group....
Music and Messages by: Citizen Way, KB, Seth & Irma, Zealand, Phil Joel, Heather Flies, Melvin Adams, plus more....

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. Janet Taylor, District UMW President - taylorjj1962@comcast.net

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

Rev. Kevin Babcock, Local Pastor's Registrar  - friarbabcock@yahoo.com

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.