WPAUMC e-news for April 11, 2012

Recovering from Easter: Working double time to prepare for extra services and special Easter Sunday worship can take its toll on pastors. It’s time for a Sabbath. Read some articles on pastor self-care on Ministry Matters.

Rural Fellowship to Honor Schwab: Indiana District Superintendent Sharon Schwab will be recognized with a life membership in United Methodist Rural Fellowship at the organization’s noon banquet April 24 during General Conference in Tampa. To help UMRF honor Schwab, send checks payable to the Indiana District Union, %Don Shaffer, 4765 Ramseytown Rd., Brookville, PA 15825.  UMRF lobbies for small membership churches, rural congregations and communities, Certified Lay Ministers and Licensed Local Pastors.  Schwab has been active in the group since 1976.

Help Needed Now! Connellsville Community Ministries needs help to complete construction and dry-walling of their new offices. The work must be completed before April 21.  To volunteer, contact Shelly Auer at 724-626-1120.

Congregation-Based Clinical Pastoral Education: The Samaritan Counseling Center of North Tonawanda, NY will offer a congregation-based CPE class in Northwestern PA from August to December.  The class will meet two days every other week—on Thursdays and Fridays.  The location has not been determined, but will probably be in the Erie-Meadville area.  Participants use their experience in their own churches and other settings as the “clinical material” for learning in a small group of five to eight students. Rev. Robert P. Spilman, an ordained pastor of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, is the CPE supervisor. Learn more.

Third-Graders Get Bibles. Then What? Every year, in congregations across the United States, third-graders line up at the altar rail to receive their Bibles. Names are inscribed inside. Then what? Too often, the children go home, and the Bibles go up on the shelf. You can help prevent the Bibles from being forgotten. Check out these tips for teaching children how to study the Bible.

Take the Complaint-Free Challenge! What would your church be like without complaints? Find out by issuing a 21-day Complaint-Free Challenge.  Learn more.

Pastor Rethinks His Purpose:  Ed Dobson, author, pastor emeritus of a large Michigan church and an icon among religious leaders, has ALS, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. While he once thought he had all the answers, he says that the longer he lives, the fewer answers he has.  Others say he is a man filled with lessons. Read more and watch part of his story on CNN.com.

Christianity in Crisis is the title of Andrew Sullivan’s recent piece in Newsweek in which he recommends ignoring what politicians, priests and get-rich evangelists say about Christianity and embracing what Jesus taught.

Religion and Politics: Several columnists and bloggers have written lately that politicians are giving Christians a bad name. UM Communications’ Larry Hollon gave his perspective in a Holy Week post on his Faith, Culture and Media blog.

Faith in Action Features Whitehead Piece:  Missionary Tina Whitehead’s article on the Christ at the Checkpoint conference is included in this week’s Faith in Action newsletter from the General Board of Church and Society.  It’s also on the Conference website wpaumc.org.

Sports and recreation ministries expand opportunities for your congregation to connect with each other and the community. Any church or cluster of congregations can consider starting an exercise class, developing a sports league or serving as a center of recreational activity. Consider these 8 ways to start a sports ministry.

Feeding Hungry Kids:  NPR reported this week that there are schools in all 50 states that now serve breakfast, lunch and dinner to hungry children. Learn more.

In the News: WICU-TV in Erie ran a nice Easter Sunday feature story on Park UMC in North East, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year.  Watch.

The Tribune-Democrat had a story on Somerset First UMC ‘s history and festivities for its 125th anniversary.

Many newspapers ran articles on Easter celebrations at their local churches and several interviewed pastors about their sermon topics. A Post-Gazette story featured a play depicting Jesus after the Resurrection written by two members of Christ UMC in Bethel Park.  It was to be presented tonight. The Erie times-News ran a reflection by Terry Shaughnessy, pastor of First UMC. Rev. Bob Higginbotham represented Bishop Bickerton at the annual ecumenical blessing of the city of Pittsburgh, held on a Mt. Washington overlook.  And in Johnstown, there were several ecumenical Cross Walks, including one in the East Hills with the Rev. Randy Bain of Oakland UMC.

Upcoming Events:

Rich Church, Poor Church Stewardship Training with Clif Christopher, Saturday, April 14 in Cranberry Twp.

Find Your Personal Faith-Sharing Style, Saturday April 14 at Edinboro UMC

Ignite with Mike Slaughter, Tuesday, April 17 at Indiana Grace UMC and IUP. (Note parking info)