WPAUMC e-news for April 28, 2010

Here, belatedly, is your e-news for Wednesday, April 28.

Bishop Back in ‘Burg: Bishop Bickerton has returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he participated in nets distributions and other efforts to help residents cut the risk of malaria. Read last installments of his Congo Journal. On the way home, after some 31 hours in the air, he stopped in Austin, TX for the official kick-off of Imagine No Malaria. There he announced that $10,031,452 has been donated or pledged to the campaigns of April 25.
Imagine No Malaria-Western PA Style: Several congregations around Western PA held Imagine No Malaria awareness or fund-raising events on Change the World weekend and lots more are planned. Pennsylvania is second only to Texas in the number of Change the World/Imagine No Malaria events held last weekend. The Interlink and www.wpaumc.org will have details and photos of some. Latrobe UMC’s quilters group made 600 mosquitoes that are hanging in nets and other places all over their church as part of a complete campaign. They’ve raised $23,000 for Imagine No Malaria so far through a variety of activities. Check out the videos on their Facebook page.
Leaders Discuss WPAUMC Realignment: On Monday, the Conference Connectional Network considered a realignment plan that would reduce the number of Districts and Superintendents from 10 to 7 and shift many program staff functions from UM Center to six facilitators working in District offices or other locations. The CCN voted to study the issue for a year rather than submit it to the 2010 annual conference for consideration. Read more and comment.
Have an Idea or Suggestion for Us? In a continuing effort to connect with users and improve our Conference website, the Website Ministry Team has added an online Suggestion Box. If you have a suggestion, idea, comment, question, request or technical problem with the site, we want to hear from you. Check it out at www.wpaumc.org/suggestions.
Training to Change the World: Greg Forrester, the Northeastern Jurisdiction UM Volunteers in Mission coordinator, was in Western PA on Change the World weekend to lead training events. On Saturday he worked with those planning to lead local, national or international teams. On Friday, his 26 ramp-building “students” constructed a 62-foot ramp from modules in 4.5 hours. Read more from our UMVIM coordinator Diane Miller.
Appointments: Some new appointments have been posted here. If you are moving or part of congregation receiving a new pastor, attend one of the Transitions seminars scheduled at various locations. Each seminar has separate breakout sessions for clergy and laity. Learn more and find resources to help handle the change on the Transitions page of our website. Next seminars are scheduled May 5 in Edinboro and May 11 in Clarion. Click the links to register online.
Women’s Assembly Live on Web: Experience the UMW’s Assembly 2010 worship, speakers and performances from St. Louis, Mo., on Friday evening and Saturday and Sunday mornings. Connect with viewers through Facebook and Twitter. View the webcast here: http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/assembly/
Power of Prayer and Connection: Tracy Merrick recently had a heart attack in the Philippines, where he was attending a meeting of the UMC Connectional Table. Now on the mend, he said he’s learned that “God's wonderful loving people are everywhere.” For example, the day after his heart attack, a hospital staff member came to his room and said, “I am here from Makati United Methodist Church and we wanted you to know that we prayed for you yesterday during worship when Bishop Schol preached for us, and we will be continuing to pray for you until you are well." She visited Tracy everyday in the hospital and brought her husband on Saturday. Five members of their church and their associate pastor maintained a prayer vigil outside the room where the angioplasty was performed!
Pray for Prayer Connector: Norman Young, who with his wife Janet keeps clergy connected by sharing their Joys and Prayer Concerns in a weekly Thursday e-mail, suffered an apparent stroke and seemed to be recovering Wednesday night at Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Deaths: Funeral services will be held Saturday for the Rev. Kenneth Rutter, long-time Conference secretary. Read obit
Pittsburgh Pastoral Care Conference for clergy and laity is scheduled for May 7 at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, sponsored by Christian Associates and other groups. Click here for brochure.
Clergy Spouse Brunch: The annual conference Clergy Spouse Brunch is set for June 10. Reservations are due May 18. Speaker will be Sue Kolljeski, who does mission work in Ghana, will be the speaker and the group will assemble UMCOR kits. Click here for details.
In the News:
The Daily Courier carried a story about Connellsville Cooperative Parish’s free Saturday soup kitchen.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ran a preview of the U2charist service and Imagine No Malaria
concert at Mr. Small’s Funhouse in Millvale.
The Valley Independent ran a feature on Boy Scout leader Christopher Carroll receiving the coveted Silver Beaver award. He was nominated by the Rev. Mike Milinovich of Monongahela First UMC.
United Methodist Center, PO Box 5002, Cranberry TWP., PA 16066-0002 | Ph. 724-776-2300 | 800-886-3382