WPAUMC e-news for September 1, 2010
Greg Cox Selected as DCM: Join our Conference leaders and staff in welcoming the Rev. Greg Cox as our new Director of Connectional Ministries. He was recommended for the post by the Personnel Committee and approved by the Conference Connectional Network last Thursday night. He will wind up his duties as pastor of College Hill UMC this month and begin his new appointment on October 1. Read more and offer comments.
Skimming WPAUMC: If your mobile device can access the Internet, check out www.wpaumc.org/skimmer/mobile. It will link you to a great summary of Conference news, classifieds, featured events, obituaries, and the latest e-news. You can also view the site skimmer on your computer. It’s part of our latest efforts to connect with you
Want Face(book) Time or Tweet Talk? Learn how to connect with WPAUMC breaking news, events, and more. Click here.
Help Spread the Word: Rumor has it that at least one ministry rooted in Western PA and a
Training for New Candidacy Mentors: Three dates have been set to train clergy who are new to mentoring candidates and provisional elders. They are: Monday, Sept. 28, 1-3 p.m. at St. Paul’s UMC in Allison Park; Tuesday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. – noon at Fairmount City UMC in Franklin District; and Wednesday, Oct. 6 from 10-noon at Grace UMC in Somerset. Sign-in begins half-hour before start time. Register online or send your name, church, e-mail address and phone number to Faith Geer at fgeer@stpaulsumc.com.
Mission Barn Ministry Growing: Some projects seem to take on a life of their own—they seem to be Spirit-led and rapidly grow beyond expectations. That’s the case at our Eastbrook Mission Barn, writes Volunteers in Mission Director Diane Miller in a new blog post. Read more.
Hurricanes: The hurricane season is upon us and it appears that Hurricane Earl will affect the East Coast. There could be significant rain and flooding.
Greg Forrester, the Northeastern Jurisdiction VIM Coordinator, recommends that trained Early Response Team leaders be sure their equipment and
volunteers are prepared. FEMA has already sent a notice to disaster organizations along the eastern seaboard asking for preparations to be made.
How Do We Protect People from Poverty? Thirty-seven million Americans including 13 million children live in poverty. Prayer and action is needed to achieve a society where “all sit under their own vines and fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid” (Micah 4:4). How do Christians help restore the social safety net that protects people from poverty? Sojourners offers a downloadable PDF discussion guide entitled A Vision for Overcoming Poverty. Learn more.
Imagine No Malaria Tip of the Week: Step Out in Faith! See what’s happened since the congregations of one
Spending Labor Day on the Links? Round up a foursome, or just a friend, to join you the following Monday, Sept. 13 to play in our annual outing at Grove City Country Club to benefit Imagine No Malaria. The Bishop’s Cup, which now resides at Ingomar UMC, is up for grabs. Call the Rev. Beth Nelson at 800-886-3382, ext. 228 or click here to register.
Fighting Casinos: Steve Drachler of UM Advocacy in PA was front and center in the latest battle against casinos in Pennsyvania. Read Post-Gazette story.
Ministering to Families Affected by Autism: In every community, Autism Spectrum Disorder affects 1 in every 110 children. As Jesus calls us to welcome all children, we need to learn how we can offer the love of Jesus in appropriate ways to families affected by ASD who often feel isolated and rejected by the church. The West Ohio Conference is offering training Sept. 19-21 for Christian educators and other church leaders to learn how to minister to those affected, as well as an Oct. 1-3 retreat for families. Both are at the
Prayer Request for Peace Talks: Conference Missionary Tina Whitehead asks that you pray for the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks that began today in
God as Divine Therapist? Kenda Creasy Dean of Princeton Seminary says American teenagers are embracing what she calls "moralistic therapeutic deism." Translation: A watered-down faith that portrays God as a "divine therapist" whose chief goal is to boost people's self-esteem. Dean is the author of Almost Christian, a new book that claims many parents and pastors are unwittingly passing on this self-serving strain of Christianity. Read CNN report.
The N Word: Black Methodists for Church Renewal (BMCR) has gone on record opposing use of the “N” word in ANY context. A resolution forwarded to
Racism Seen in Obama Attacks: More than 90 Christian clergy and laity have signed a letter calling for church members to speak out against racially motivated attacks against President Obama. The Rev. Gil Caldwell, a retired UM pastor in
New UMC Survey in the News: The AP is running a story on our denomination’s new survey aimed at addressing membership decline. Read it on Google News.