Butler District News

​Brochure 
Register here
 
An Equipping Helpshop For Church Leaders Who Want to Grow
(Sponsored by the Butler District of the WPA Annual Conference)
 
Crossfire Campus of Butler First UMC
1802 North Main Street Ext
Butler, PA 16001
 
Dear friends on the Butler District,
 
I am hoping that you and some of the other leaders from your church will plan on participating in the Equipping Helpshop that will take place on Saturday, March 7, at the Crossfire Campus of Butler First United Methodist Church. The event will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will conclude by 3:00 that afternoon. Lunch is included and childcare will be provided.
 
Entitled “Visionary Leadership,” this helpshop is an informational and interactive event designed to provide both Biblical encouragement and practical training for church leaders during a time of uncertainty and struggle in our denomination.
 
Our keynote speaker for the event, Rev. Dr. Jacqui King, serves as the Director of Leadership for Congregational Vitality at United Methodist Discipleship Ministries. Dr. King’s passion for helping churches to impact their communities is known throughout our connection, and her dynamism is nothing less than inspiring. She has a heart for churches of all sizes and will cast important vision for us concerning the urgency of building bridges between our sanctuaries and our communities.
 
In addition to Dr. King’s teaching, the helpshop will offer some great breakout sessions that will cover important topics in local church leadership:
 

• Chris Kindle (Conference Director of Discipleship and Spiritual formation) will facilitate a breakout session on developing a discipleship pathway;
• Roger White (Conference Treasurer) will facilitate a breakout session on financial oversight the local church; 
• Tom Hallman (Chair of Conference Trustees) will facilitate a breakout session on the work of local church trustees;
• Tim Goodman (Pastor of Beaver UMC) will facilitate a breakout session on moving toward a single board administrative structure in the local church; 
• Dr. Jacqui King (our keynote speaker) will facilitate a breakout session on expanding the church’s community engagement;
•  And yours truly (Eric Park) will facilitate a breakout session for members of Pastor/Staff Parish Relations Committee (which will be a good refresher for experienced committee members and a good time of training for new committee members) 

My hope is that every church on the district will send leaders to this event. Please make it a priority to have your church’s leadership participate (both clergy and laity). Please be in prayer for all of the leaders and facilitators. And please plan on being present on March 7 at the Crossfire Campus of Butler First UMC as together we strengthen the leadership that God is calling us to offer.
 
 
Gratefully and prayerfully,
Eric Park
Butler District Superintendent

 
BUTLER District
LAY SERVANT MINISTRIES SCHOOL Spring 2020
 
Sundays 2:00pm-5:00pm
March 1,8,15,22,29, 2020
 
COST: $35 covers book and materials
Registration deadline
February 10, 2020
 
Click here for brochure

Join Us for Ash Wednesday Worship! All are invited to join the Conference Staff and Cabinet for an Ash Wednesday service at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, February 26, at the Conference Center. The service, led by the Rev. Amy Wagner, will include communion and imposition of ashes.

Missionaries to Visit WPA: Missionaries Lourdes and Rich Mroczka, who serve in Guatemala, will visit Pennsylvania and other states from April 16 to June 30, 2020. If you’d like them to speak to your congregation or group about Guatemala, send an invitation from your church to richmroczka@gmail.com. 

CommonRoots FCU Newsletter (formerly Keystone United Methodist Federal Credit Union). Read it.

Scholarship Opportunity Visit www.Commonrootsfcu.com for application and requirements. Due March 1^st.
 

At The Lake Ministries has released their open dates for the 2020 season! ATLM offers opportunities for persons with special needs to enjoy fishing and cruising on Lake Erie. To view the dates and for directions on how to schedule a charter for your family or group, visit atthelakeministries.org

Get all of the Youth News here.....
 

Annual Conference: Do you have youth (from 7th grade - 12th grade) who are interested in being a page or youth delegate (voting member) at Annual Conference? They will need to come to Conference on June 9 at 1 pm and stay through June 13. There is no cost. Application forms are due March 30. Contact Amanda Gilligan at the conference office with questions. Get application.

Soul Shop: Ministering to Suicidal Desperation will be held on Feb. 29 at Christ UMC in Bethel Park at 10 a.m. Geared for youth leaders and other church leaders, the one-day, faith-based training is designed to equip people to minister to youth who are impacted by suicide and depression. Cost is $20 and includes lunch. Register here 

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UMC Student Loans: Loan applications for the January to May 2020 period is open until May 5. Students are eligible to apply for up to $10,000 per calendar year from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Click here for eligibility and application information.  
UMC Scholarships: The application period for the Fall 2020 semester will open January 3, 2020, with a deadline of March 5.  Get details at gbhem.org/loans-scholarships/scholarships/

YOUTH INFORMATION: on the web at https://www.wpaumc.org/youthevents

• Resources for Youth Workers
• Explore weekly updates, devotions, games, and lessons on the Youth Worker Collective. Some of the top UM youth workers offer free resources from their real-world ministries. 
• Check out all of the Youth news at https://www.wpaumc.org/Youth

Discussing General Conference 2020 with Youth: For many youth workers, General Conference season can be a confusing time. In 2020, there are many plans that would re-shape the United Methodist Church significantly. General Conference is a representative body, made up of elected clergy and lay people from all over the globe. It is also the only body that can speak officially on behalf of the United Methodist Church! For observations and discussion tips on the “Protocol on Reconciliation & Grace” as well as other legislation and happenings at General Conference, check out the Youth Worker Collective. No matter what happens at General Conference, decisions also get made at Annual Conference meetings and at your local Church Conference. Any youth who has completed Confirmation is a member of your church and has the ability to join those meetings and make their voice and vote heard! Read more  

Feb. 29th: Soul Shop (Christ Bethel Park)
June 9-13th: Annual Conference (Grove City College)
July 10-13th: NEJ Youth Convo (Hunt Valley, MD)
July 20-24th: Uth 4 Missions (Jumonville)
July 22-26th: Youth Mission U (CalU)
Sat., Sept. 19th: National Day of Volunteer YM Training (Dutilh)
Fri, Oct. 30th: Pitt Youth Workers Conference (Grove Farm)
Dec. 27-Jan 15th: Mission of Peace to China

YSF Grants!
Your church can apply for a Youth Service Fund grant! Need some money to help run or launch a youth-led program or mission trip?
Apply at  www.wpaumc.org/ysfapplication.
Applications are accepted all year long.

Looking to connect with other UM Youth Leaders?
Be on the lookout for upcoming Youth Leader Networks! A small group regional program for you as a youth leader to grow and live life in
community with others who “get it.”
More info?     https://www.wpaumc.org/youth        On Facebook: Western Pa UMC Youth Leaders
 

 

• Friday, March 20th, 9 AM to 12 PM
• Friday, March 20th, 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM
• Saturday, March 21st, 9 AM to 12 PM
• Friday, April 17th, 9 AM to 12 PM
• Friday, April 17th, 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM
• Saturday, April 18th, 9 AM to 12 PM

 Churches desiring to schedule a concert for Fall of 2020 or all of 2012 can contact Deb Rogosky
 

Still available..........

Parks Release New CD: Tara and Eric Park share their musical gifts on a new CD with several original songs. It's called Feels Like Home. Eric is the Butler District Superintendent. Sales of the CD will benefit WPAUMC Camping and Retreat Ministries. Learn more


 

    


February
                                                               
26    Gary Hilton
28    Greg spencer
31    Janice Hall

• Sarah Adkins continued treatment and recovery after being hospitalized again.
• David Keppen was hospitalized and is recovering at home with cellulitis.
• Our military and military families.
• Prayers for God’s will to be done, as we navigate the future of the UMChurch.
• Those awaiting test results, surgery and medical treatment.

• Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi and the WPA Cabinet
• Clergy and churches of our conference.

• 2020 General and Jurisdictional Conference
• World Leaders

Prayer Focus This Week

Ambrdge: First-Bridgewater-Economy Charge

Rev Harriet Hutton

UM Women e-news: This FREE monthly electronic newsletter contains information on many topics. Subscribe

• WPA UM Women Stories  ***  WPA UM Women Website 

Mini Mission u – April 19-21
Leader: Rev. Dr. Eric S Park
Cost: $160/person includes class, two-night stay, and all meals
The Gospel of Mark and Radical Discipleship: In Mark’s day and now, Christians are caught in a world of crisis and confusion, a time of uncertainty and fear. There’s a struggle going on and evil appears to be winning: injustice reigns, money and greed measure our living and our dying, divisions deepen and hope is sometimes hard to find. Then and now, part of the crisis is the church’s complicity, complacency, and silence in a world where so much has gone wrong.
 

Spring Women’s Retreat – May 22-24
Leaders: Aimee & Amber Kaple
Cost: $175/person includes programming, two-night stay, and all meals
Sister speaker team Aimee and Amber will lead you in a time of renewal away from the worries of your everyday life. This retreat is designed for you to spend time away focusing on your mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Come and enjoy the beauty of the forest, supportive women, encouragement, space to share, delicious meals, and purposeful relaxation.

February is Black History Month: Find resources and watch for updates at wpaumc.org/blackhistorymonth. Free Lenten Resources: With Ash Wednesday a week away, UM Communications offers free downloadable social media content for Lent and Holy Week. See what’s available Lausters Compile Jones Lenten Devotional: Washington DS Brad Lauster’s life has been so impacted by the writings of E. Stanley Jones that he and his wife Karen compiled a daily devotional booklet with 18-weeks of daily entries drawn... read more

United Methodist Men in Review, the Commission on United Methodist Men created more small groups, released its first study of discipleship and tackled domestic violence. Last year, The United Methodist Church also took the lead among denominations in providing a home base for Scouts BSA. Read story See United Methodist Men by the numbers Keep Up with United Methodist Men: The winter issue of UM Men magazine offers an overview of the ministry partners of the Commission on United Methodist Men. ... read more

General Conference May 5-15, 2020 Delegation Endorses Two for Bishop: WPAUMC's 2020 General/Jurisdictional Conference delegation has endorsed the Rev. Robert Zilhaver and the Rev. Alyce Weaver Dunn as candidates for Bishop in the Northeastern Jurisdiction. Learn more. Online General Conference Training: Does your congregation need a better understanding of the importance and function of General Conference? Check out the free, self-directed Exploring General Conference online training course. ... read more

Mission Volunteer Openings: Mission Volunteers are individuals or couples (ages 18 and up) seeking to build partnerships and serve in communities around the world. Mission Volunteer opportunities are diverse and range from working with refugees, children and youth, serving as a teacher, pastor, camp director or health care professional. The length of service ranges from two months to more than two years. Learn more VIM Awareness Weekend  is Oct. 20/21! Churches are encouraged to celebrate those... read more

Shane Hinderliter, a Western PA native currently serving as director of student ministries at a large-membership church in Houston, Texas, will be the new Conference Coordinator of Camping and Retreat Ministries, effective March 1.  He follows Jessica Gamache, who left the camping coordinator position Nov. 4 to become executive director of the United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries Association. “I am excited to come home,” Shane said. “The camps have always been home to me.”  He was a coun... read more

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I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  ---- John 17:21  As one of our pastors has often said to me, “Bishop, sometimes unity takes on different forms.”  And sometimes to reach unity it takes time, repeated failures, love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ... read more

A 16-member group representing United Methodist advocacy groups with contrasting views and bishops from around the world have proposed an agreement for the separation of The United Methodist Church (UMC) that has the unanimous support of all the parties involved. The agreement, the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation, was reached on December 17, 2019 and announced today. The document’s signers include individuals from Europe, Africa, the Philippines, and the United States, ... read more

The Western Pennsylvania General and Jurisdictional Conference Delegation met on Saturday, December 7, 2019 at the Slippery Rock United Methodist Church.   During the opening worship service, delegates paused to remember the lives of the Rev. Paul Taylor, retired Pittsburgh District Superintendent, and Brady Hunker, a college student who was active with the Conference Youth Ministry Team.  Memorial services for both were being held the same day.   Alyce Weaver Dunn, Chair, presented an ... read more