WPAUMC e-news for Sept. 16, 2009

Here's your e-news for Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009!

Swine Flu and the Church: Common communion cups and passing the peace transmit germs. But rather than overreact to the H1N1 pandemic, church leaders can develop thoughtful, temporary policies that preserve community, writes Daniel Sack for Duke Divinity’s Faith and Leadership website. Read The Church as Petri Dish.
UMC on Swine Flu: Click here for some United Methodist comments on the Swine Flu and follow the links at the bottom of the page for more.
Pray With Africa: Two teams of young people will visit 30 U.S. cities this fall to build a worldwide community in support of African Christians working daily with the poor, sick and hungry. Pray With Africa, a new Upper Room Ministries initiative, seeks to inspire people to connect across continents, to pray each other's prayers and put those prayers into action by giving their time, energy and resources to address key issues facing the African people, says Cary Graham, project director. Read more. To learn how you can host a screening of their video production, connect individuals in your church with prayer partners and more, go to www.praywithafrica.com.
Zimbabweans Step Up to Support Africa U Students: Grace Muradzikwa, a successful executive in Zimbabwe, responded when she heard more than 300 Africa University students didn't have the money to go back to school this academic year. Muradzikwa turned to the business community of Zimbabwe and raised $100,000 for scholarships. The effort gave some 60 students the opportunity to continue their education, and showed how a nation could come together to provide a better future for the next generation. Read more.
Paraguay Update: Thanks to all who have prayed and contributed financially to retire the $35,000 debt that forced the doors of the Korean Methodist Hospital in Paraguay to be locked. Additional funds to help the Methodist Church in Paraguay are still needed. For example, construction/expansion work at the Methodist seminary slowed as resources were redirected to the hospital debt repayment. Dr. David Stains leads our Conference connections in Paraguay.
Strides for Health! You can still sign up for the eight-week Strides for Health program that launched Sept. 14. Click here.
Bishop Invites You to Prayer: Bishop Bickerton will participate in a G20 Interfaith Prayer Service at 7 pm, Monday, Sept. 21, at St. Paul Cathedral on Fifth Ave. near Pitt’s Cathedral of Learning in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. You’re invited! The Bishop says it’s important that United Methodists “show our support and join our prayers with those of our interfaith partners across this region.” He recommends using a Guide to Prayer for the G20 For traffic restrictions and other G20 info, go to www.pittsburghg20.org.
G20 U2charist Worship with music performed by The Reply, led by the Rev. Bruce Stollings of Little Hill UMC, will be at Smithfield United Church in downtown Pittsburgh at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 22. Admission is free, but an offering will be received to ease world poverty. For info, visit www.smithfieldchurch.org. To read a news story on the church’s Labyrinth for Peace and a sidebar on the U2charist, click here.
G20 People’s Tribunal: Calvary UMC on Pittsburgh’s Northside will host a G20 People’s Tribunal in which “the economic development priorities of the G-20 will be put on trial.” It’s from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Sept. 24 and is one of several related events, including lectures and seminars, sponsored by Pittsburgh United For more info, click here.
Small Donations Play Big Role in Saving Children! Public Radio’s Marketplace mentioned “$10 mosquito nets” in a feature last week based on UNICEF’s report that the number of children dying before their fifth birthdays has fallen below nine million a year for the first time on record. While UNICEF credited donations from big groups and governments all over the world with helping to prevent hunger and illness, the report noted that small donations played a big role, too. Marketplace's Stacey Vanek-Smith said that role is getting even bigger. Read or listen.
Bishop’s Nets Golf Outing: The weather was beautiful and course in great shape Monday for this annual event at Grove City CC. A great day was had by all, but some did better on the course than others and many “Beat the Bishop.” Last year’s champs from Ingomar UMC took home the Bishop’s Cup again. Watch wpaumc.org for complete details later this week.
Good News, Bad News: Gambling’s down but the states and casino operators are doing their best to increase it. Read more. Pennsylvania’s lawmakers apparently are in on the efforts. The latest budget proposal to end our budget stalemate relies on a significant revenue from allowing table games and higher stakes “small games of chance.”
Cost Reduced for Sexual Addiction Recovery Group: The Rev. Mark Ongley reports that the price has been reduced to $125 for the 24-week faith-based recovery group for those hooked on porn or other forms of sexual addiction. He will lead the group through RESTORED: A Personal Journey, by Dr. Terry Wardle of Ashland Theological Seminary. The group will meet at First UMC of Beaver Falls For more info, call 724-944-1616 or e-mail ongley1@yahoo.com by Sept. 19.
Christian Theology and Undoing Violence: Strategies for Peace that Work! This course will be offered from 7-8:30 pm Wednesday evenings in October by Pittsburgh Seminary’s continuing ed office at three locations. Leader is the Rev. Dr. Ronald Peters, director of the seminary’s Metro-Urban Institute. For details, click here. Deadline to sign up is Sept. 23.
Planning Ahead:
International Day of Prayer for Peace is Sept. 21. The World Council of Churches recommends focusing on the Caribbean. Click here for a Collection of Prayers for Peace from the Caribbean. For info on the International Day of Peace, click here.
A Man After God’s Own Heart is the title of District Superintendent Eric Park’s message to the Conference-wide United Methodist Men’s gathering on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Dutilh UMC in Cranberry Twp. For details, click here.
Bishop Keynote for Appalachian Assembly–Appalachian church leaders will gather for Bible study, leader training and networking at the Appalachian Assembly Oct. 28-31 at Mountainside Conference Center in Bethany, WV. Bishop Thomas Bickerton will be the keynote speaker. Sponsored by the United Methodist Appalachian Ministry Network, the assembly will focus on eradicating poverty and equipping leaders. Deadline to register is Sept. 30. For info, visit www.appalachia-umc.org.
Culture and Your Congregation: That’s the theme of the 2009 Conference gathering for laity, scheduled for 9:30 am to 4 pm, Saturday, Nov. 14, at Ingomar UMC. The Rev. Gil Rendle of Alban Institute will be the keynote speaker and Bishop Bickerton will lead communion. For details and online registration, click here.
Advent Candle Lighting Meditations: Check these brief mediations and liturgies for lighting advent candles during worship or at home. They’re from the General Board of Discipleship worship website.
In the News: Somerset Area will have a CROP Walk this Sunday for the first time in about 10 years. Rev. Dale Shunk is coordinating for Somerset Area Ministries and the Somerset Daily American reports that the Rev. Art Black of Pleasant Hill UMC will be using an unusual alternative mode of transportation during the walk. Check it out.
Classifieds:
TechShop Deal of the Month: Microsoft Expression Studio 2 is $122 via TechShop vs. $699 retail! It’s a suite of tools to build websites and manage digital assets. Learn more. For free shipping, through Sept 25, Use coupon code TS090209EP during online check out or if ordering via customer service at 888-346-3862.
Need Sound Equipment? Christ Community UMC in Butler replaced their sound system with some larger capacity equipment and would like to sell their old mixer and two speakers to a good United Methodist church home. For details, click here
Items Needed: Fellowship UMC in Ambridge is seeking items for a new community center space. For details, click here.
FREE! Johnstown’s Calvary UMC has some church “furniture” available for free. Check it out!
United Methodist Center, PO Box 5002, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066-0002 | Ph. 724-776-2300 | 800-886-3382