WPAUMC e-News for July 28, 2010

 Imagine No Malaria Tip of the Week: Children can inspire your congregation to reach out in ministry. Read some examples from Western PA churches.

 

School of Congregational Development on Web: Seven events of this week’s School of Congregational Development will be webcast live starting tomorrow.  A small group from Western PA is attending. For details, click here.

 

Christian Singles Retreat: Christian Singles Fellowship offers a retreat for singles Sept. 3-6 at Jumonville. It’s the 37^th annual event for this Conference group. Always single, separated, divorced or widowed of any denomination are welcome. Speaker is Evangelist Roy Gearhart. Cutting Edge Ministries.Contact Deborah at 412-243-8449 or email at stshane@verizon.net

 

 Resources for Classes or Small Groups: FaithLink, Connecting Faith and Life is a downloadable study and UMC resource published weekly by Cokesbury for mature youth and adults who want to apply their United Methodist beliefs to current faith issues and world events. Each issue contains background and Bible passages, suggested group activities and discussion questions. The subscription price is $8 per issue. Learn more.

 

When Christians Get It Wrong: Abingdon Press says Adam Hamilton’s latest book When Christians Get It Wrong tackles the issues that are keeping young adults away from the church.  A study guide, leaders guide, and DVD are available too. For more info, visit www.AdamHamilton.AbingdonPress.com.

 

State Pastors’ Conference: The PA Council of Churches is accepting registrations for the 2010 State Pastors' Conference, scheduled November 8–10 in Harrisburg. The theme is Gifts of Gospeling and Generosity: Rethinking Evangelism and Stewardship for Today.  Click here for details and registration form. There’s a discount until Sept. 30.

 

Fair Sentencing Act Passed: Faith leaders applauded the U.S. Congress’ approval today of legislation to reduce the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine offenses. The House of Representatives by voice vote approved “The Fair Sentencing Act of 2010,” which passed the Senate in March. The bill now awaits the President’s signature. Bishop Peggy Johnson of Philadelphia area said the passage is a major step in the necessary direction to lessen the U.S.’s ballooning prison population and address the injustice against African Americans inherent in the previous law. Read NY Times report.

 

Women in Ministry: All women in ministry are invited to a book discussion on Thursday, Sept. 30 in the back room of Panera Bread in Cranberry Twp. The group will gather around 9:30 a.m. and discussion will start at 10. The book: This Odd and Wondrous Calling by Lillian Daniel and Martin Copenhaver.   It is available at Cokesbury. Learn more and RSVP online.

 

Red Bird Mission School to Reopen: After almost shutting its doors, the Red Bird Mission School will welcome students in the remote mountains of southeastern Kentucky. The Red Bird Board had voted to suspend classes to build up its cash reserves after years of dwindling donations. But after receiving about $100,000 in donations, the board voted on July 22 to open the UM school to 150 K-12 students for the coming school year. Read more

Peace for World’s Children: The Lake Junaluska Peace Conference, Sept. 18-21, will explore social issues facing children. Leaders at the conference, “Peace for the World’s Children,” include Marian Wright Edelman, Dr. Jeni Stepanek and UM Bishop Kenneth Carder. There’s a weekend session specifically for children, youths and their adult leaders. Learn more.

 

Faith and Fracking: As debates rage in Western PA about the need versus the dangers of extracting natural gas by a method known as fracking, the current edition of Faith in Action features an article about the documentary Gasland. Josh Fox made the film based on what he learned about hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, after his parents were asked to lease their property in Northeastern PA for exploration and drilling. The documentary has won several awards since it debuted at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Read more. The Center for Rural PA has drilling permit data and a map showing all oil and gas drilling permits issued in the state in 2010.

 

Agency Ratings Low: United Methodist general agencies rate below average in fulfilling the church’s mission to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world,” according to a UMNS Report by Heather Hahn. A comprehensive study of church structures also found that agencies often fail to collaborate with each other and their boards are too large and meet too infrequently to provide effective oversight.

 

The Race is On! Reports are filtering into our newsroom that there are some challenges on for next year’s Golden Sneaker Award. Kane District may have to step it up if they want to keep it. In the interests of full disclosure, the Health as Wholeness Team has posted a spreadsheet showing just how many miles were logged in pursuit of the 2010 award. To check it out, click here and look for the link at bottom right.

 

Kairos Palestine-A Moment of Truth is the Christian Palestinians’ word to the world about what is happening in Palestine. Conference missionary Tina Whitehead says the document requests the international community to stand by the Palestinian people who have faced oppression, displacement, suffering and clear apartheid for more than six decades. Go to www.kairospalestine.ps to learn more.

 

In the News: The Pittsburgh Tribune had a story  last week on Baldwin Community UMC’s youth mission work in their own community. The paper included a link online for readers to volunteer to help the church build a house frame for Habitat for Humanity in its parking lot last Saturday.

 

The Rev. Kimberly Greway, new head of chaplaincy services at the Allegheny County Jail, was profiled in the Tribune’s North Hills News. Read more.  

 

The Meadville Tribune had a story about a 67-year-old Meadville native bicycling across the country to raise scholarship funds for children in India. Lauren Brown stopped in Meadville was scheduled to speak at Stone UMC worship services last Sunday. He was inspired by a man he met at a Methodist school in India. Read more.

 

The Valley News Dispatch ran a Sunday feature about the community at the old Pittsburgh-Tarentum Campmeeting Assn. grounds. Read and see photos.

 

The Connellsville Courier noted that Calvary UMC in Champion will hold its third annual old-fashioned Gospel Sing from noon to 7 p.m. July 31. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy several groups.

 

UM Day at PNC Park, Pirates v. Reds, Aug. 4, 12:35 p.m.

Greene County Hymn Sing, Aug.8, 7 p.m., Mt. Pleasant UMC, Waynesburg

Prepare/Enrich Training, Aug. 10, 9 a.m.,UM Center