December 18, 2021 REVISED
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Cabinet’s recorded post-Christmas worship service now online
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Spanish- and Korean-language versions are being translated and subtitled; and they should be available for viewing online by Wednesday, Dec. 22. While all three versions are intercultural, the Spanish and Korean language versions feature additional Latino and Korean worship participants, respectively. Their liturgies are spoken and songs are sung in their languages, and Bishop Schol’s sermon is translated with subtitles.
The Cabinet is offering the complete worship service to churches as a gift to offer pastors and worship leaders a brief respite from busy Advent and Christmas activities—in other words, a Sunday off. The worship service, titled “Clothed in Love,” features a sermon by Bishop Schol, based on Colossians 3:12-17, in which he especially emphasizes the virtues of gentleness and patience, among others. Learn more…
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Annual Conference: onsite, online or both? |
Group surveys conference members for help with decision
The Eastern PA Annual Conference will meet May 20-21, 2022, with the usual highlights. What has yet to be determined, however, is where and how we will meet: either onsite at the familiar Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, or online via Zoom as in the past two years. Or maybe both onsite and online in a hybrid arrangement to accommodate the safety concerns of some, amid rising COVID-19 transmission rates, and the desires of others for face-to-face proximity.
The Commission on Sessions hopes to decide in January how to meet, which may affect logistics, participation and costs for both the conference and its paying registrants. So it is asking voting Conference members for their onsite or online preferences in a new survey questionnaire. Members are asked to complete and submit the online questionnaire by Thursday, Dec. 23. Learn more…
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A Message for Advent and Christmas, from Bishop John Schol
Pastoral theologian Frederick
Buechner described what God said to Job about suffering and calamity: “You don’t want to know why things happen. You want to know that I love you.”
At some level, all of creation is in a Job moment. Disasters, poverty, racism and a pandemic that has brought the world to a common experience of tragedy and loss. We have lost family, friends, time, identity, health, trust, jobs, interactions with people, innocence, confidence, and the list goes on.
You would think people would lose faith, belief in God. Nope. A recent Pew Research study found that people’s faith at this moment has not changed because of the pandemic. We cling to the Advent/Christmas story in which God said, I love you.
This faith, this love, this hope does not come easily. It’s hard, and yet, it is worth fighting for because God fought for us. A love greater than we could have imagined came as a whisper in the birth of a child. Learn more…
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EPAUMC Cabinet sets priorities for its work |
The Eastern PA Conference’s Extended Cabinet, comprising district superintendents, senior staff and Bishop John Schol, is building on EPA’s vision, mission and a recent survey of laity and clergy to set priorities for its work.
That conversation started in September with a survey of conference members, followed by Cabinet members’ consideration of survey findings and deliberations around the question “Why do we exist?” And then it moved to conference staff and elected leaders of ministry groups who serve on the Connectional Table, all giving feedback, perspectives and energy in developing priorities.
The Extended Cabinet, in addition to leading and managing the administration and ministry of EPA, works together to develop transformational lay and clergy leaders. Those leaders will guide congregations to become healthy, vital and missional, as they “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The Cabinet will focus its work on four key areas. Learn more…
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Bishop announces 2022 Cabinet transitions; requests two new DS recommendations |
Bishop John Schol announced Dec. 16 the imminent departure of two district superintendents in June 2022, and he appealed to EPA Conference members for recommendations of who should succeed them.
“I am sad that the Rev. Bumkoo Chung (right) will finish his tenure as a superintendent on June 30, 2022,” wrote the bishop in a conference-wide letter, noting Chung’s passion for effective evangelism and community engagement among churches. “He has served EPA and the West District faithfully. In the short time I have known him, Rev. Chung is deeply committed to leading congregations to health and vitality, growing lay leadership and supporting clergy.”
Bishop Schol also expressed sadness for the departure next June of the Rev. Steve Morton (left) as North District Superintendent. Morton requested a new part-time appointment. “I have known Steve for much of my ministry career and have found him to be an exemplary leader in growing churches, developing leaders and supporting clergy and laity in their ministry,” wrote the bishop. “His leadership in the North District has led to innovative and strengthened ministry. He too will be deeply missed as a superintendent.”
Bishop Schol asked for prayers for the Cabinet, “as we prayerfully discern and appoint two new superintendents.” He also requested members’ help in that process. “Please submit up to two names of individuals you believe will serve well as superintendents. I will only consider names submitted by clergy and laity for the superintendency.” Learn more…
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Churches to enjoy Connectional Ministries Fund ‘holiday’ |
Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day. These are our three, ordinary, end-of-the-year holidays. But the Eastern PA Conference is offering its churches an extraordinary “holiday” as this year ends—one that’s all about thanks and about giving. In fact, it’s more than just a day. It’s a whole month.
It’s the “one-month Connectional Ministries Funds Holiday” promised to churches at the EPAUMC Annual Conference session May 21. And while many churches continue to struggle to make ends meet, this holiday relieves them of paying December’s apportioned Connectional Ministries Fund.
“To celebrate the good financial standing of the annual conference,” the conference’s Council on Finance & Administration announced at the online annual session in May, that churches would only be expected to pay 11 months of the CMF (Connectional Ministries Fund). The cost of this “payment holiday,” which only relates to the CMF and not to other apportioned funds or remittances, may total more than $300,000, according to Conference Treasurer James Brown. Learn more…
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UMCOR grants EPAUMC $417,000 to aid disaster recovery efforts |
Conference to seek more volunteers to help restore homes
We are pleased to announce that the United Methodist Committee on Relief of Global Ministries (UMCOR) has approved your grant request of USD ($)417,737 on behalf of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference for Hurricane Ida and Hurricane Isaias Recovery (Project Restoration).
Those welcome words brought an Advent blessing last week to EPAUMC’s Director of Connectional Ministries, the Rev. Dawn Taylor-Storm, who labored for months on the UMCOR grant application. But it was also a blessing to flood-ravaged communities in dire need of the aptly named “Project Restoration.”
The immediate result is a search to find and hire a Director of Disaster Response to lead in recruiting and managing volunteers, among many other tasks, and a Case Manager to help families still waiting to return to their damaged homes or be safely relocated.
EPA’s volunteer Disaster Response Coordinator Robert Simcox has been organizing and overseeing the labors of Early Response Teams several Saturdays a month in Downingtown since October--including today, Dec. 18.
Meanwhile, Hopewell UMC has member teams doing major home restoration work there as well, in partnership with local groups. And the church has raised and contributed over $60,000 plus supplies to the town’s recovery needs. Learn more…
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7,200 Christmas cards sent to inmates in 13 prison facilities |
This year Eastern PA Conference members and churches again reached out to incarcerated persons with caring messages of encouragement penned on signed Christmas cards. And again, the ongoing pandemic required such determined creativity as arranging pick-up and drop-off sites at a handful of helpful churches.
The conference’s Prison Ministries & Restorative Justice Team is grateful to have received and delivered 5,700 completed and signed cards to 13 correctional facilities. In addition, they appealed for, collected and distributed about 1,500 unused, unsigned cards requested by the head chaplain of the Philadelphia correctional system’s six facilities with 6000 inmates. Learn more…
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Conference seeks Data Entry Clerk |
The Eastern PA Conference is seeking to hire a part-time Data Entry Clerk for entering and maintaining accurate data in the conference database. This is a 25-hour per week position that does not include health benefits. Resumes and cover letters should be sent to UMJobs@epaumc.org by Jan. 10, 2022. Learn more…
NOTE: See two more conference job opening announcements in the Mission Opportunities section below.
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New Pocono Plateau Camp director a leader in church and corporate worlds |
Carmen OShea, of the Philadelphia area, a leader in corporate finance and in discipleship, outreach and youth ministries at her local church, will become the new director of EPAUMC-owned Pocono Plateau Camp and Retreat Center in Cresco, Pa, Jan. 15, 2022. She succeeds the Rev. Ron Schane, who leaves that post Dec. 31 after 20 years.
O’Shea, a lifelong United Methodist who enjoys camping and outdoor activities with her family, is a top finance executive at a global insurance firm. But she is also a new Drew University part-time seminary student answering a longtime call to ministry. She says she “looks forward to transitioning to a vocation that glorifies God and fosters communal and spiritual development with a commitment to stewardship of God’s creation.” Learn more...
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Pastor serves as PA Senate Chaplain for a Day |
The Rev. Mandy Miller, pastor of Holy Cross UMC and its Calvary Campus in Reading, served as Guest Chaplain for the Pennsylvania Senate in Harrisburg Dec. 13, invited by State Sen. Judy Schwank of the 11th District. In presenting Miller to offer the Senate prayer, Schwank noted that the pastor encourages her church’s community involvement and is the longtime president of the parents and teachers association at her children’s elementary school. Miller was accompanied in her visit by her husband John and son Kean. Read Miller’s prayer…Learn more...
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Conference seeks Disaster Recovery Director |
The Eastern PA Conference has an immediate need for a Disaster Recovery Director to assist with disaster response and recovery efforts across the Southeastern Pennsylvania region. The director would work closely with the Director of Connectional Ministries, the Disaster Response Coordinator, and the Volunteers in Mission Coordinator to manage the design, implementation, and communication of the recovery plan.
The director will partner with disaster response efforts in Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties to help communities devastated by floods caused by Hurricane Ida (2021) and Hurricane Isaias (2020). That includes working with vendors, volunteers, case managers and construction managers; also helping recruit and deploy volunteers. Learn more…
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Conference seeks Disaster Recovery Case Manager |
The Eastern PA Conference has an immediate need for a Case Manager to work with individuals and families who are recovering from floods caused by Hurricane Ida (2021) Hurricane Isaias (2020) across the Southeastern Pennsylvania region. The Case Manager would coordinate needed services and resources to address clients’ complex disaster recovery needs in order to re-establish normalcy and holistic recovery.
The case manager would work closely with the Disaster Recovery Director to identify vulnerable persons in need of services and referrals, screen applicants to identify urgency of need, and direct individuals to appropriate services, information and referral. Learn more…
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LOCAL CHURCH MINISTRY NEWS |
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What is your church doing for Advent and Christmas? |
What is your church doing for Advent and Christmas? Hanging of the Greens? A decorated Christmon tree? A Christmas cantata or pageant or caroling? Special community outreach activities? Gift-giving to others in your community or around the world? What about Advent Bible studies or special Advent or Christmas Eve services?
We’re looking for glad tidings of churches sharing and celebrating hope, faith, joy, peace and love. Please send us your church news, promotional flyers and photos of your events to communications@epaumc.org. Or use our Submit News web page.
We will publish news of activities we have received from some churches in next week's final 2021 issue of NEWSpirit Digest.
[Photo: Hanging the greens at Wesley UMC Bethlehem. Sue Kiefner photo]
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We’re looking for glad tidings. Please send us your church news! |
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January 2022 Book Club: Being the Church in a Post-Pandemic World
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Dates: January 12, 19, 26; February 2, 9 (5 weeks)
Study led by: Kay Kotan (author)
Sponsored by: EPAUMC Congregational Development Team (CDT)
The first 25 people to register will receive a free Kindle version of the book.
Focused specifically on how to help churches as we emerge from the pandemic. This will be a dynamic, interactive study that you and your church leadership will not want to miss! Learn more... Register now!
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2022 book studies to offer lively Learning for Leaders |
Learning for Leaders is a new series of four Conference-Wide, Author-Led Book Studies that will continue in January 2022. The lively, guided, hourlong discussions will continue on Wednesdays, at 11 AM via Zoom. Having the books' authors lead those discussions makes them deeply insightful with personal, first-hand wisdom for participants.
The books to be studied are:
These studies gather clergy and lay leaders who are passionate about lifelong learning, personal and church growth, and leadership development. The real bonus is learning with others in dynamic group settings, even online. The diversity of experiences and open minds and open hearts has enriched the Conference-wide book studies throughout 2021.
The 2022 studies are sponsored by various Conference ministry teams. For each book study, the first 25 registrants will receive a free e-copy (Kindle edition) of the book! Download and share the flyer!
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Five things you may not know about Christmas |
We know the stories in the Bible, attend Advent and Christmas Eve worship each year, listen to tons of Christmas carols, and have seen just about every Christmas movie and special. We United Methodists know a lot about Christmas, but like most things there is always more to learn. Here are a few lesser-known tidbits. Learn more…
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A Dismantling Racism Advent resource for churches |
Dismantling Racism: As you prepare to lead your church through this Advent season, prayerfully consider incorporating this theme into your preaching and teaching while adapting any of the following elements for use in your context. This Advent resource was prepared by the Eastern PA Conference Connectional Ministries Office, incorporating a similar resource created by the UMC Council of Bishops.
It features timely Scriptures from Lectionary Year C from the Gospel according to Luke. Included are a season prayer and theme-related song, from “O Holy Night,” verse 3. A key line from that song is highlighted: “And in his name all oppression shall cease.”
In the spirit of Advent and what churches are called to do in anticipation of Christ’s coming, the four weeks are themed: “We Watch,” “We Prepare,” “We Act” and “We Rejoice.” Each week emphasizes a particular racial injustice concern in our society and invites us to “Learn,” “Watch,” “Pray” and “Act.”
“We hope churches will make good use of this helpful resource, as together we continue to commit ourselves to dismantling racism in our church and society,” said the Rev. Dawn Taylor-Storm, Director of Connectional Ministries, who composed EPAUMC’s portion of the blended resource. “We pray that our churches will discover deeper and broader dimensions of Christ’s mission and message for us, as we seek to make disciples for the transformation of the world.” Get the resource...
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United Methodists respond after devastating twisters |
United Methodists in Kentucky, Tennessee and neighboring states are coming to terms with the devastation of a string of tornadoes Dec. 10-11, while also mobilizing quickly to provide food, emergency shelter and other relief.
The storm system that struck on Friday evening into Saturday morning — including one tornado that caused destruction across some 240 miles — is blamed for nearly 90 deaths.
Twisters sheared roofs and shattered windows at some United Methodist churches and parsonages, as well as badly damaging congregation members’ homes and local businesses. Learn more…
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Family throws surprise Christmas party for 250 women |
With joy and jubilation, the Mutoko East 2 United Methodist women’s organization received an early Christmas surprise from the Mukandi family.
During the Nov. 27 festivities at Bwanya United Methodist Church, the family thanked God for protection and healing from COVID-19 and shared their joy with 250 United Methodists from six local churches. Learn more…
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Seeking ‘faithful stewards of God’s grace’ for disaster response |
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” –-1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
Whether it’s “time, talent and treasure,” as cited in several biblical passages, or the “prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness” of The United Methodist Church’s membership vows, the sharing of God’s many gifts and merciful grace is key to the lives of faithful stewards.
United Methodists are sending donations to the Eastern PA Conference for its Disaster Response Fund to help neighbors recover from Hurricane Ida’s remnant storms that devastated a church and several communities in our area in early September. We received $32,780 in donations from individuals, churches and districts as of Nov. 30, plus a $10,000 grant from the UM Committee on Relief (UMCOR, which we support through our connectional giving).
But that is only a start, and more is needed. You can support the conference Disaster Response Fund by visiting our Giving Page. Make checks payable to "Eastern PA Conference" and mail them to: Eastern PA Conference, Attn: Accounting, PO Box 820, Valley Forge, PA 19482. Write the name and fund number (Disaster Response Advance Special project #0345) on your check memo line. Or use our convenient Online Giving Page.
While some are giving directly to affected churches, the conference is raising funds and seeking grants to respond broadly to unmet needs and to support home restoration efforts with the help of hard-working teams of volunteers. The conference hopes to recruit and deploy more Volunteers in Mission this month to join already engaged Early Response Teams in Downingtown, who work along with volunteers from Hopewell UMC and the community. Learn more...
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Churches who help Afghans eligible for grant |
Churches helping refugees from Afghanistan resettle in the U.S. are eligible for $1,000 grants through a partnership between the United Methodist Committee on Relief and Church World Service. Recognizing that providing resettlement support to refugees presents congregations with new responsibilities, the relief agency is offering to share some of the costs. Applications are being taken through April 30. To apply. Learn more. UM News: Global Ministries, UMCOR approve $10M in grants
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Majority of churches offering hybrid worship |
HARTFORD, Conn. — A new study exploring the pandemic's effects on U.S. churches has found that eight in 10 of them now offer hybrid worship services, meaning in-person and online. The Hartford Institute for Religion Research study is part of a broader, five-year research project done with Faith Communities Today. United Methodist Communications is a member of Faith Communities Today and is working with United Methodist leaders and members to assist the ongoing research. Adelle M. Banks reports for Religion News Service. Read RNS story Read study Read about research project
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BOOM assistance available for clergy counseling, spiritual direction |
The EPAUMC Board of Ordained Ministry (BOOM) recognizes the importance of clergy practicing good self-care through both spiritual direction and counseling. The board wants to ensure that all clergy are aware of financial resources available for both counseling and spiritual direction.
Insurance should be used first when seeking counseling. If additional support is needed, BOOM provides financial assistance for counseling and spiritual direction. Clergy may choose their own provider; but the counselor or spiritual director needs to be licensed.
The board provides $75 per session for up to 6 months available. Except where BOOM has required otherwise, pastors are expected to contribute to their own care. For further information or application, contact the Rev. Greg Impink, BOOM Chair of Pastoral Care, at greg.impink@gmail.com. All names and identifying information are held in confidence by the Pastoral Care Chair.
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Also, view recordings of many other recent online events on our Event Recordings webpage. Share them with your congregation and church leaders. Use them as a training resource.
Please tell us if and how you use our Event Recordings and if they are valuable to you. Write to us at communications@epaumc.org.
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Update your church's Find-A-Church webpage |
Update your church’s Find‑A‑Church webpage to offer potential visitors current, helpful information. As people begin to seek in‑person connections once more, they’ll be searching online for information about local churches. Be prepared to welcome them with an updated Find‑A‑Church profile! Include a note about who you are as a congregation, links to your website and social media channels, location details and more.
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Conference Leadership Opportunities for all! |
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Visit our Local Church Resources webpage |
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 page under the Administration tab on the EPA website and you can answer these questions.
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Let's stay connected. Send us your newsletters |
Please add our Communications Office to your church newsletter's digital and/or print mailing lists. We find much of our news in church newsletters (when we find time to read them), and we try to report local church news and events as much as possible. (We also love seeing Conference news reported in your newsletters. Thanks!) However, we want to receive only your church newsletters please, not other e-mailed church announcements. Thanks!
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Missed any past issues of NEWSpirit Digest? |
You can still read or share informative, colorful back issues of our weekly e-newsletter on the Eastern PA Conference Website at epaumc.org/news/newspirit/newspirit-digest. Share this link with others who might want to stay informed about our news, events, resources and concerns. And please encourage them to subscribe by e-mailing communications@epaumc.org. Thanks!
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January 2022
January 7 & 8: Implicit Biases Workshop. Friday from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, and Saturday from 9 AM to 12:45 PM, on Zoom. Download the flyer. Register.
January 11: Bivocational & Small Church Network. Every other Month, on the 2nd Tuesday of Month, at 6:30 PM, on Zoom. Learn More. Register.
Starts January 12: Weekly Book Club: Being the Church in a Post-Pandemic World by Kay Kotan. Wednesdays at 11 AM. Dates: January 12, 19, 26; February 2, 9 (5 weeks). Sponsored by CDT. Learn More. Register.
April 2022
April 2: 2022 Laity Session, Cedarville UMC, 9:30 AM – 12 PM.
April 20-24: Dismantling Racism – Level I. Virtual, via Zoom. Learn More.
April 30: "Relating with Clergy Spouses" workshop for SPRCs, led by Julie Anderman (Executive Director, Artos Retreats). Registration and further details TBA.
May 2022
May 4: 2022 Clergy Session, St. Matthew’s UMC of Valley Forge, 9 AM – 12 PM.
May 14: Transition Workshop for new appointments, led by David Woolverton. 9 AM – 12 Noon via Zoom. Registration and further details TBA.
May 20-21: 2022 Annual Conference, Oaks Expo Center.
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Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of The United Methodist Church
980 Madison Avenue, Norristown, PA 19403
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