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District Conference
Sunday, April 26⋅2:30 – 4:30pm
Paradise United Methodist Church
105 Hoke Rd, Mt Pleasant, PA 15666, USA
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)
KEEP UP WITH OUR DISTRICT CALENDAR HERE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
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Please send your Joy's and Prayer concerns to: connellsville.office@wpaumc.org
Military and their families
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
Details for 2019 Ezra reporting. More information
We are almost there!
Not Started:
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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
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
Lay Ministry School Connellsville District
Location: The First United Methodist Church, 149 W. Patriot St., Somerset, PA 15501
We will be offering the following classes:
Basic Course – will be held on Sundays starting March 1 during our Sunday School hour 9:15 am – 10:15 am
Preaching & Prayer – will be starting Sunday, March 1 every Sunday until Sunday, March 29 at 1:30 p.m.
UM Heritage & Polity – will be starting Sunday, February 23 running every other week from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. with our CLM Classes.
Communication – TBA
Cost: $20.00
Registration: Please contact First UMC by Thursday, February 13
somersetfirstumc@gmail.com or 814-445-5736 Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 1 p.m.-6 p.m.
You may be interested in taking a class in another district in the Spring.
Butler Area Lay Servant Classes:
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
Johnstown Area Lay Servant Classes
The following classes will be offered in our district. Please contact J.R. Virgin, instructor, if you are interested in joining! J.R. can be reached by calling his cell phone at 814-244-5654 or the church office at 814-472-7923.
Basic Lay Servant/Speaking
Ebensburg UMC
February 2 - February 23
1pm - 3:30pm
Cost $30
Spiritual Gifts
Ebensburg UMC
March 1 - March 29
(No class March 22)
1pm - 3:30pm
Cost $15
Upcoming Webinars at ClergyEducation.com
Continuing Education for United Methodist Leaders
Kevin Slimp: Growing Your Church Through Effective Communications
Wednesday, January 29
https://clergyeducation.com/
Phil Schroeder & Kay Kotan: Developing Leaders in Your Congregation
Thursday, January 30
https://clergyeducation.com/
Bishop Sharma Lewis: Preaching During Lent and Easter
Tuesday, February 4
https://clergyeducation.com/
Jim Robey: Clergy Coaching - What is It and Can it Help?
Wednesday, February 5
https://clergyeducation.com/
Rebekah Simon-Peter: Leading Your Congregation to Dream Like Jesus
Monday, February 10
https://clergyeducation.com/
Business Mileage Rate for 2020 has been lowered to $0.575.
2019 Tax Law Changes And The Possible Effects On Churches Recent tax law changes may affect your church's tax filing this year and your church may be eligible for a refund from the IRS. Learn more.
The Ins And Outs Of Tax Exemption For Your Church We have developed an easy and efficient way for you to verify your ministry's tax exempt status. Understand what an EIN is and the ins and outs of tax exemption. Learn more
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
UM Women e-news: This FREE monthly electronic newsletter contains information on many topics. Subscribe
Pre-GC2020 Protocol Briefings: Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, Rev. Alyce Weaver-Dunn, chair of the Western PA Delegation to the General Conference; Rev. John R. Wilson, Conference Secretary, and Donna Vizza, chair of the WPAUMC Connectional Leadership Table, will hold a series of informational sessions on the proposed Protocol for Separation of the denomination at five locations. In addition to the five locations listed below, one of the sessions will be recorded and available on the wpaumc.org website for the convenience of those persons unable to physically attend one of the informational sessions. Details are listed on the March Calendar on the Conference website. The dates and locations are:
Fund Balance Report: These are due in the District Office by Sunday, March 1st. If you need an extension, you must contact the District Office before the deadline.
Wednesday, February 12, 2020 to April 27
Saturday, June 6, 2020 4:00 PM
Saturday, June 6, which is a 4:05 pm game against St. Louis. After the game, fans are invited to stay and see a more personal side of our players and coaches where a large number from the team come back out to the field to discuss how faith has impacted their careers and personal lives. Groups of 10 or more are on sale now, and Groups can be reserved with a deposit. You can reach me directly at (412) 325-4756. Chad Glover, Pirates Account Manager & Seating Sales
Thursday, June 11, 2020 to June 13
The 2020 session of Annual Conference will be Thursday, June 11th to Saturday, June 13th at Grove City College.
Clergy, plan your vacations, weddings, mission trips, etc. around these dates and plan to attend.
1/14/2020
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
2/4/2020
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
1/3/2020
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
1/3/2020
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
12/22/2019
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
Watch new connectional giving videos: A new video series, "Faithful Giving in a Time of Change," features financial leaders from all levels of the church participating in a discussion about connectional giving, including apportioned funds, the current state of funding and giving, and more. Watch now
Glave Featured on Fierce: Rev. Dianne Glave, WPAUMC coordinator of diversity development, is featured in a post on the Fierce: Healthy- Fit-Fabulous website highlighting her advocacy efforts to combat climate change. See post.
Wrestling with Racism Road Trip: The Wrestling with Racism Team, a multi-racial group with members from Pittsburgh First and Warren United Methodist churches and and other communities of faith in the Pittsburgh area, will host a one-day trip to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC on March 14. The cost is $145 and scholarships are available for those who need financial assistance. Get flyer with details.
The Conference Anti-Racism Team (ART) compiled a list of suggestions for Western PA churches to address racism. Download it from the Conference's Discussing Racism page.
View the latest news about Conference Camping and Retreat Ministries HERE.
The Eastbrook Mission Barn is one of six UMCOR Relief Supply Network depots across the United States.
There are a variety of scholarships available at www.umc.org/resources/scholarships and at www.wpaumc.org/scholarshipforms.