WPAUMC e-news for August 8, 2012

Paint the Town with Delilah! Volunteers from United Methodist churches are among those teaming up with national radio personality Delilah and Glidden Paint on Sept. 8 to help transform the exterior of several buildings in the Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh. Before that, volunteers also will paint a mural and build a dog park. Learn more.

Mission Grants Available: Applications are due Oct. 1 for 2013 grants from the Elizabeth A. Bradley Mission Fund (click here for application), and mission support grants from the Conference Board of Global Ministries.  Get Mission Support Grant application.

Back to School Ministries:  Check out these ideas for back to school ministries from UMC.org and offer some of your own.  The General Board of Discipleship’s Worship website offers a litany to use for blessing school children and their backpacks.

Setting the Pastor’s Salary:  It soon will be time for SPRC committees to set pastors’ salaries for 2013. The Commission on Equitable Compensation offers some instructions and guidelines on how to do it.

Online Training: Learn about Web Ministry, Welcoming, or Connectional Giving through UM Communications’ fall  online courses. Registration is open through Thursday, August  30. Participants may start each course when it best fits their schedule and move at their own pace. Each course includes four to six weeks of instruction. A course facilitator responds to work and answers questions via forums. Learn more or register.

Christian Education Online: Are there staff members or volunteers in your church interested in certification in Christian Ed, youth ministry or children’s ministry? Tell them about E Christian Education – a totally online paraprofessional certification offered by Martin Methodist College. It has been approved by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Get brochure. 

Nyadire Doctor Visits WPA: Dr. Kasombo Tshiani from the Nyadire UM Mission hospital in Zimbabwe was in Western PA during the past few weeks. Drew Harvey and other volunteers from The Nyadire Connection accompanied him on visits to CHOSEN in Erie, Medwish in Cleveland, Global Links in Pittsburgh, Allegheny General Hospital, Jefferson Memorial Hospital and Brothers Brother Foundation. He also spoke at some churches.  Check out the photos of his “Fun Day” in Pittsburgh on The Nyadire Connection’s Facebook page.

Pray for Injured Service Personnel: Craig Forsythe, an active duty Air Force Chaplain, was recently assigned to San Antonio Military Medical Center in Texas. He writes, “It’s a wonderful but difficult ministry.  Please keep all the service men and women we serve here in your prayers.  We receive patients from all over the world on a daily basis. Please pray specifically for our young men and women who suffer from war injuries.” 

GBGM Halts Funding to East Africa: Acting on a recommendation by its independent audit committee, the General Board of Global Ministries has suspended funding  to the East Africa Annual Conference (EAAC). The ECAC is headquartered in Uganda. Read more. 

August 12 Day of Prayer: United Methodists are reaching out in support of their Sikh neighbors after a gunman’s attack at a Sikh temple in suburban Milwaukee that left seven people dead, including the shooter. Bishop Linda Lee is calling for Aug. 12 to be a day of prayer for those affected by the tragedy. She also hopes it can be an occasion for Christians to learn more about the Sikh religion. Learn more.

Good Ideas Aren’t Enough! Writing for the Smartblog on Leadership, Dana Theus gives three reasons why many good ideas never become reality – and what a leader can do about it. The concepts apply in business and other arenas, probably including the church.

What Were They Thinking!?! Saying that congregations use logic in making decisions invites ridicule—or at least sparks debate, says Rev. James P. Wind of the Alban Institute. It depends, he writes, on your definition of logic. Read more from Congregational Logic.

Obituary: A memorial service will be held Friday, Aug. 10 at Wurtemburg UMC in Ellwood City for the Rev. Molly O. Brown, wife of Rev. Victor Brown, who died Aug. 6. Read obituary.

Changes Hurt Poor Families: The Coalition for Low-Income Pennsylvanians today expressed dismay regarding newly issued amendments to the Welfare Code bill that is part of Pennsylvania’s 2012-13 budget.  The group said the amendments will make it harder for poor parents of minor children to obtain Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance from state welfare offices.  The new language requires applicants to apply for three jobs a week while the application is pending, without any provision for child care or transportation subsidies to facilitate the job search. 

 Erie CROP Walk: Rev. Bob Lewis of Lakewood UMC is pictured and quoted in an Erie Times-News report about fighting hunger through the upcoming Erie County C.R.O.P. Walk, set for Sept, 30.  Read more. If your church will participate in a C.R.O.P

Community Meals: The Somerset Daily American ran a story on free community dinners offered by churches such as Calvary UMC in Windber. Read it.

Religious Reflection: Rev. Jeff Bobin wrote the Reflections column for the Erie Times-News on August 4.

Olympian is Allegheny Grad: The Erie Times-News featured an article on Olympic pole-vaulter Jeremy Scott, who is United Methodist and graduate of Allegheny College.

In the News: The Erie Times-News reports that the number of new priests and ministers in the region is steady. The writer used some United Methodists as examples.

Run, Walk or Volunteer! Don’t miss the Mosquito Run for Imagine No Malaria on Sept. 18!