WPAUMC e-news for June 16, 2010

Here's your post-Annual Conference e-news!

Annual Conference Notes: If you’re looking for a summary of annual conference, photos, news stories or other info for your report to the congregation, check www.wpaumc.org/AC2010. The page received a lot of hits during annual conference, including hundreds who watched the live streaming video each day. Selected video clips will be posted on the website in the coming week. Additional photos are available to download on the Rev. Rich Pearson’s website www.richpearsonpics.com.

Annual Conference Survey: Don’t forget to record your opinions about annual conference through our online survey! Click the link on the left side of the AC2010 webpage or, to go directly to the survey, click here.
Thanks for UMCOR Kits! Mission Barn volunteers are grateful for the 7,183 kits, with an approximate value of $100,102, that were received at annual conference. They also appreciate all of the extra items donated to help assemble additional kits.
Scholarships Available: The Conference Educational Society Committee provides scholarships for children of pastors whose salaries are in the lower income brackets. The lower bracket is defined as the Conference minimum or less for full conference members, plus $500. Applications for the 2010-2011 academic year are available from Sue Hutchins at srh.walker@verizon.net or 412-431-3846. Applications are due July 1, 2010.
Foundation Grant Awards for 2010 Announced: Thirteen churches and five agencies will receive a total of $42,300 to aid United Methodist ministries this year. The Western PA UM Foundation has been able to make these annual awards due to the generosity of their former Board Chair Robert M. Stewart. List of ministries funded
The Media Resource Center Needs Volunteers to conduct an inventory and to purge videos unused in the last 3 years. To help, contact Emma Smith at 800-886-3382, ext. 259 or resources@wpaumc.org.
Hitting On WPAUMC.org : In the past year, our conference website has had 1,621,782 page views. That’s the third highest among the 30 or so conferences that use Brick River Technologies for their site. North Georgia recorded the highest number of views (more than 4 million), and Iowa had about million more than we did. Usage is increasing as new features are added.
New Reason to Visit WPAUMC.org! A new and improved Media Resource Center section is now up and running. Click the “Resources” tab on the top of the home page or click here.
Music Directors and Pastoral Care: Dean McIntyre of the General Board of Discipleship wonders whether pastoral care should be included in the job descriptions of music directors and music ministers. Check out his article, based on a discussion that developed on Methodist Musicians List, a network for those in music ministry.
Choir at Carnegie Hall: Pittsburgh’s First UMC Choir sang in concert at Carnegie Hall in New York last Monday evening.
Looking Ahead to 2011? The official United Methodist Program Calendar – United Methodist Communications’ top-selling resource – is now available for 2011 in 10 convenient designs. Calendars include information on liturgical colors, lectionary readings, Special Sundays, and more. Visit www.umcom.org/calendars .
Research on Congregational Life: In an update from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, Lovett Weems summarizes findings from a study of congregational life in the U.S. The study identified factors associated with growth in spiritual vitality and attendance. Read more.
School of Congregational Development: The annual School of Congregational Development will bring together an outstanding group of speakers and workshop leaders on July 29-Aug. 2 to help UM church leaders learn to develop better disciple-making faith communities. Sponsored by the General Board of Discipleship, Path 1 and the General Board of Global Ministries, it will be held at the Renaissance Hotel and Nashville Convention Center and area churches in Nashville, TN. For details, click here.
Father’s Day Specials: Enjoy a loving remembrance of a father’s guidance written by retired Bishop Melvin Talbert. Learn about the United Methodist influence in the development of Father’s Day. Be encouraged by new research showing parents play a critical role in the spiritual lives of teens and young adults. All three stories are part of a United Methodist News Service
Father’s Day package running Thursday and Friday. Check it out at www.UMC.org.
Zimbabwe Crisis Tested 2010 Africa U Grads: Africa University graduated 300 students on June 12. The students represented 21 countries, the most diverse of the United Methodist school’s 16 graduating classes. Learn more.
Weed, Feed and Listen at Boaz Field: Head over to White Chapel UMC near New Wilmington Friday at 5 p.m. to help tend Boaz Field, an acre planted to provide area food banks with fresh produce. Then enjoy a free meal at 6 p.m. and concert by Dan Schall at 7:30 p.m. Boaz Field is a ministry of the Mercer Area UM Cluster.
You Missed the Deadline!?! Sunday was the last Day to order tickets online for Friday night’s United Methodist gathering at PNC Park for the Pirates’ game against the Cleveland Indians. BUT rumor has it, Beth Nelson may still have a few available. E-mail her NOW at Beth.Nelson@wpaumc.org.
Upcoming Events:
Alyce Weaver Dunn’s installation as Johnstown District Superintendent, Sunday, June 20
United Methodist Center, PO Box 5002, Cranberry TWP., PA 16066-0002 | Ph. 724-776-2300 | 800-886-3382