Friday, June 18 – Saturday, June 19 - Hybrid Annual Conference Planned
Annual Conference Update: Clergy session was held via Zoom with members confirming the Board of Ordained Ministry’s approval of 2020 and 2021candidates for ministry. The 2020 class includes five Elders and three Deacons approved for full membership and two Provisional Deacons. The 2021 class includes 14 Elders and two Deacons approved for full membership, four Provisional Elders, and three Provisional Deacons. Ordination and commissioning services will be held on Friday evening, June 18th, at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center with a limited number of guests for each approved candidate. The service will be live-streamed. See candidate videos.
Rich and Lulu Mroczka are coming back to Pa. for about 6 weeks, starting June 1, 2012 and if any church wants them to come and speak about what is going on in Guatemala at this time, you can email Rich directly at richmroczka@gmail.com.........
Mount Olive UM Church in Sidman, Pa, is looking for a part-time Ministry Assistant. Duties would include, but are not limited to, working with youth of the church and community. Specifically, assisting in Sunday School and small groups, encouraging all to meet spiritual, social and emotional needs, and leading them in spiritual commitments and discipline. The Ministry Assistant would also implement community outings, outreach and mission projects while assisting the Pastor. Please contact Pastor Tom Moore if you are interested in this position. Pastor Tom can be reached through email at twmoore1957@gmail.com o4 by cell phone at 814-242-4132.
Upcoming Olmsted Events for Church Leaders
Telling Your Story: Fund Development Training I
May 9-11, 2021
Leader: Rev. Charles Maynard
https://www.olmstedmanor.org/
Pastors’ Academy
May 24-26, 2021
Leader: Rev. Dr. Steven Tuell
https://www.olmstedmanor.org/
Abundant Resources for Ministry: Fund Development Training II
June 13-15, 2021
Leader: Dr. Amanda Stewart
https://www.olmstedmanor.org/
Music & Worship Week
June 27 – July 1, 2021
Clinicians: Sue Garton, Steve Woods, Bryan Timm, Rob Hernan
https://www.olmstedmanor.org/
Church Admin Training
July 18-20, 2021
Leaders: Rev. Donna Doutt, Rev. Sharon Schwab, Liz Lennox
https://www.olmstedmanor.org/
Youth Ministry Training
September 10-12, 2021
Leader: Dr. Duffy Robbins
https://www.olmstedmanor.org/
South Fork First United Methodist Church would like to hire a new secretary/treasurer as soon as possible. Hours are Monday - Thursday, 8 AM - 1PM. Computer Skills in Word, Excel and Google sheets and docs is required. If you or someone you know is interested in this position, please call the church office at 495-9633. Thank you!
I think most all of you are familiar with the Free Store at Grove Ave. UMC in Moxham. We help families with things that cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits like toilet paper, diapers, shampoo, liquid detergent, dish liquid, toothpaste and more.
We would like to ask your church to do a TOILET PAPER AND DIAPER DRIVE over the next few weeks to help us supply our neighbors for a Free Store distribution day on Saturday, April 10. With the Free Store temporarily closed due to COVID, we haven’t been able to supply our folks like we usually do. Would your church like to help the good people of Moxham with this drive?
I am available to pick up donated supplies at your convenience (perhaps Easter week). Just call me and I’ll come over (814) 410-5457.
Natalie Marionneaux
Deacon, United Methodist Church
Calvary United Methodist Church - Johnstown is looking for a pianist! If you can play the pipe organ, that's a plus! Competitive salary with vacation time included. For a detailed job description, please contact the church office at 814-535-1236 or email Rev. Matthew Williams at revmewilliams@gmail.com
Decennial Report Required? Some local churches have received a postcard from the PA Dept of State (Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations) requesting that a Decennial Report be submitted by December 31, 2021. This is a valid request. The state requires a Decennial Report of Association Continued Existence form to be filed every 10 years - in years ending with the number 1. Conference Treasurer Roger White reports that the Conference has received the postcard as well, and will be completing the form and submitting the $70 filing fee to the state. He suggests that churches do the same before the Dec. 31, 2021 deadline. The form and additional details can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of State’s website: Decennial Filing
Camp Allegheny Summer 2021 Registrations are OPEN!
We are ready! We have the experience! Whatever this summer looks like we are ready to provide a safe week of Fun, Faith and Friends for the children and youth of our conference. We operated and served over 600 last summer and are preparing for another exciting summer of ministry.
Summer brochures are in the mail, but you can register now at www.CampAllegheny.org.
“I know a number of people had misgivings about camp this summer (2020), but I was not one of them. I was certain that Camp Allegheny would take every precaution necessary to ensure the safety of all attendees while still providing a great experience. Once again, you all knocked it out of the park.” Parent 2020
Monday, March 9, 2020
The due date for all three evaluations - May 15, 2021
Evaluation links were sent on week of March 1, 2021. Reminder that the links to all three evaluations have been sent to the senior pastor. Please make sure the links are sent to those responsible for completing the 2021 evaluations. If you need help, please don't hesitate to call the district office.
2/10/2020
Cleaning Kit Value: $75.00 per kit Cleaning Kit Materials One five-gallon round bucket with lid (14.35” h x 12.19” w x 12.19” d) o No screw lids o May be used, but must be free from all residual product o Advertisement on the outside acceptable One 32–64 oz. bottle liquid laundry detergent One 16–40 oz. bottle liquid concentrate household cleaner o No spray cleaners One 16–34 oz. bottle liquid dish soap One 4–8 oz. pump spray air freshener One 6–14 oz. pump spray insect repellant (pack of 10... read more
6/5/2020
Conference Announcements Updated Dec. 11, 2020. Our Bishop and District Superintendents urge church leaders to follow current state and local health mandates and guidelines to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus and to consider the risk to the most vulnerable in our churches and communities in determining whether to hold in-person worship services. On Dec. 11, 2020, after Gov. Tom Wolf issued a temporary executive order reducing the number of people permitted to gather both indoors and ... read more
5/6/2020
To assist clergy as they strive to meet the on-going challenges of ministry in the age of the novel coronavirus, the Western PA Conference is offering Coaching on Demand. Trained coaches in the Conference are offering their skills at no charge as a ministry to their colleagues. "Right now, we are each navigating personal and professional challenges, new realities, and unexpected ministry opportunities," said the Rev. Amy Wagner, who took a lead role in organizing the Coaching on Demand ... read more
4/13/2020
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1, NRSV) As our world has become encased in fear and uncertainty because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Western Pennsylvania Conference calls all laity and clergy to an intentional, daily time of prayer. In the midst of the chaos, we need to stand in the power of prayer. On March 24, 2020, Rev. Randall Bain, senior pastor at the Oakland United Methodist ... read more
6/3/2021
Methodist Response to Tulsa Massacre: Bishop Jimmy Nunn, whose area includes the Oklahoma and Oklahoma Indian Missionary conferences, has released a pastoral letter about the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre. It includes the good and bad of local Methodist response to the horrific event. The Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference offers a Facebook video suggesting ways to observe the anniversary. Read the letter here https://www.okumc.org/blogdetail/pastoral-letter-regarding-the-tulsa-race-massacre-15262185
Watch Facebook video here https://www.facebook.com/OIMCUMC/posts/10159838112682845
May 20, 2021
Understanding Other Cultures: The Commission on Religion and Race has designed two new infographics for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to help churches provide information about these cultures. “Ten Things to Know About Asian Americans” and “Ten Honorable Traits of Pacific Islander Culture” are available for download on the GCORR resource library. Download resources here https://www.r2hub.org/library?mkt_tok=MDc4LUpYUS02NDMAAAF9Gxo3JHKJmfRvtlw1VTXRbMgf4zXr9A7oGx51N1_fcSe-8jVgaeEIfWEgsLik_IH-0Vr4BcyQE40lLdC_ZYFNB27zaylH9vyXHlrk1LgN-PGsZA
Latin@s, Hispanics, Latinx: ¡Si! To All of it! Latino/Latinx people in the United States are diverse in many ways, including theologically, writes the Rev. Lydia E. Muñoz. She gives an overview of the rich diversity and cautions against assuming that all Latino/Latinx United Methodists would go in the same direction if the denomination were to split. Read commentary here https://marchaumc.org/voices-latins-hispanics-latinx-si-to-all-of-it/?mkt_tok=MDc4LUpYUS02NDMAAAF9IFvaTaLivyvH4wZ6GoMQxx0ruumVfB0Q4FcBT1ukjZRalYqCmzhOs3DmXxnNlF6g2452bgCuxreCzc_FBsqcGIqPA5idFsZCRThF0eMKW8NqMA
Healthy Village Learning Institute (HVLI) in McKeesport continually adapted through the pandemic to support the community and connect youth and families with needed services. HVLI played a big role in providing PPE equipment and encouraging social responsibility and healthy practices. To highlight the effort, Keith Murphy, HVLI executive director, is featured in the Spring edition of The Pittsburgh Foundation’s quarterly magazine Forum. He’s one of 11 community and non-profit leaders and activists who helped the Foundation develop a grant-making program for racial justice. Read Keith Murphy’s HVLI story here https://pittsburghfoundation.org/keith-murphy
Diversity Linked to Church Growth: A recent study of the United Methodist Church by Baylor University found that racial diversity is linked to church growth. In a UM News story, Dr. Mark DeYmaz and Rev. Chip Freed, leaders of the Mosaix House of Studies at United Seminary, shared why they are committed to growing the multi-ethnic church movement. Read UMNews story
Learn more about Mosaix House of Studies at United
Film Looks at Lives of Korean Americans: United Methodists Julian Kim and Peter Lee didn't see their lives represented in Hollywood films, so they did it themselves. Their film "Happy Cleaners" takes a look at the lives and struggles of working-class Korean Americans. Read UM News feature
Diversity Linked to Church Growth: A recent study of the United Methodist Church by Baylor University found that racial diversity is linked to church growth. In a UM News story, Dr. Mark DeYmaz and Rev. Chip Freed, leaders of the Mosaix House of Studies at United Seminary, shared why they are committed to growing the multi-ethnic church movement. Read UMNews stor here https://www.umnews.org/en/news/racial-diversity-linked-to-church-growth
Learn more about Mosaix House of Studies at United here http://united.edu/mosaix-house-of-studies/
Film Looks at Lives of Korean Americans: United Methodists Julian Kim and Peter Lee didn't see their lives represented in Hollywood films, so they did it themselves. Their film "Happy Cleaners" takes a look at the lives and struggles of working-class Korean Americans. Read UM News feature here https://www.umnews.org/en/news/film-puts-korean-americans-center-stage
Advocate to End Hunger! Learn more about the connections between racial inequity, policy, and wealth at this year’s Bread for the World Hunger Advocacy Workshop on Saturday, May 15 from 9:30 to noon via Zoom. It offers an opportunity to participate in an online version of Bread’s Racial Wealth Gap Simulation. It’s a tool that helps participants understand how federal policies created structural inequalities and how those policies have differently impacted black and while communities in the U.S. The session will also offer details of Bread’s 2021 Offering of Letters, an opportunity for churches to advocate to end hunger by reaching out to elected officials. Learn more and register. here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bread-for-the-world-hunger-advocacy-workshop-racial-wealth-gap-simulation-tickets-149220872647
4/8/2021
Making Room for the Other: A three-part blog series with entries by staff from Perkins Theological Seminary and UM Young People’s Ministries, explores the theological and practical importance of making space for the new, for strangers, for what some might call the “other.” Become familiar with discipleship strategies and processes that can help turn strangers into friends and unfamiliar outsiders into cared-for peers. See posts
Racism in Church Ranks? Anonymous letters criticizing the appearance of an African associate pastor have led to self-reflection for a Virginia congregation and a "Do Not Harm" campaign seeking changes in The United Methodist Church. The hairstyle, clothing and accessories of the Rev. Chenda Innis Lee became an issue at Fairlington UMC. Read story
The Eastbrook Mission Barn is one of six UMCOR Relief Supply Network depots across the United States.
Mission Barn & UMCOR Supplies- Due to Annual Conference in June being cancelled and therefore the UMCOR collection, Mission Barn Director Katie Peterson is looking for a church willing to be the collection point for their district for UMCOR supplies, cleaning buckets, and hygiene kits on a one or two time basis this summer. Preferably they can keep track of what church brought the donations and then store the kits and supplies in a secure location. People can bring the kits and supplies from the collection directly to the barn or the conference center, or she can arrange to send a truck or trailer to pick them up. Contact: Katie Peterson
There are a variety of scholarships available at www.umc.org/resources/scholarships and at www.wpaumc.org/scholarshipforms.