Dutilh Preschoolers Raise Money for Orphans in Zimbabwe: When a group of preschoolers at Dutilh United Methodist Church learned of the long distance that orphans at the Nyadire Mission’s Home of Hope were traveling to school, they agreed to hop into action. In a display of unconditional love for children they had never met, the 3- and 4-year-olds participated in a hop-a-thon titled “Hop for Hope.” They raised enough money to buy seven bicycles, worth $175 each, for the orphaned children. Read ...

In the aftermath of the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, Council of Bishops President Bishop Ken Carter is calling for United Methodists to help end white supremacy and xenophobia which he says is fueling a culture of violence. In a statement released August 6, Bishop Carter commended the statements of Bishop Gregory Palmer and Bishop Earl Bledsoe to the people of their residential areas in West Ohio and New Mexico/Northwest Texas respectively, noting that the carnage ...

UMCOR Kits Needed! With storms and flooding in Western PA through most of July, District Disaster Response coordinators and volunteers have been busy distributing cleaning buckets and hygiene kits. The Eastbrook Mission Barn’s supplies are low, so Director Katie Peterson is asking churches and individuals to put together buckets and kits. Use the recipes at umcmission.org/umcor Visit Mission Barn website Thanks for Relief Supplies! Katie Peterson wants to pass on the “hearty thank you for your ...

Mission u 2019 Wraps Up: About 100 adults, youth and children gathered over the past long weekend at California University of PA for 2019 Mission u. See the photo album.  Olmsted Dedication: This year Olmsted Manor Retreat Center is celebrating 50 years of offering Christian hospitality in a hostile world. On Sunday, July 14, about 75 donors, board members, staff, leaders and friends of Olmsted Manor gathered to celebrate and to consecrate the addition and renovation of Groves Lodge and The ...

The WPAUMC Encounter With Christ in Latin America and the Caribbean is recruiting volunteers  to “spread the love” and grow their faith during a Volunteers in Mission (VIM) trip to Guatemala scheduled for October 31 – November 9, 2019. The team will work with the indigenous Mayan people who live in the Guatemalan Highlands. Although all details of this adventure have not been worked out, plans include: Painting a dormitory and updating the electrical  system at a church camp.   Providing ...

Evangelism Training: Conference Evangelists John and Christine Zimmerman will offer Evangelism Training in the fall for up to 15 people in each of our 10 Districts. The course is a combination of 10 hours of online contact through BeADisciple.com and a daylong gathering in each district. Get details Disaster Response Update: David Kissinger, who had served as Johnstown District Disaster Response Coordinator, is now leading our Conference Disaster Response Team. He officially began serving as ...

While no ministry in the local church is more vital than evangelism, in most congregations it is a scary word -- and its intentional application is rarely found, says the Rev. John Zimmerman, Conference General Evangelist and church consultant.  To address the situation, John and his wife Christine Zimmerman, also a Conference Evangelist, will offer Evangelism Leader’s Training for up to 15 people in each of WPAUMC’s 10 districts this Fall. It will include 10 hours of online class time over two...

This year Olmsted Manor Retreat Center is celebrating 50 years offering Christian hospitality in a hostile world. On Sunday, July 14, 2019, about 75 donors, board members, staff, leaders and friends of Olmsted Manor gathered to celebrate and to consecrate the addition and renovation of Groves Lodge and The Manor House. The work was made possible by the Honoring Our Past- Preparing for our Future capital campaign, chaired Jim and Phyllis McGinnis Willats of Table of Grace church in Erie. Their...

More than 125 people gathered at Butler First United Methodist Church in late June to explore how local churches can respond to those struggling with addiction in their communities. Speakers included leaders in the recovery community, certified addiction counselors, leaders from congregations partnering with those in recovery, and representatives of programs and agencies addressing addiction and prevention.  The overall message was this: The love and support of a caring Christian community ...

The Western PA Disaster Response Ministries Team has been lending assistance on a case by case basis in areas affected by flash flooding and tornado activity this summer.  As of July 1, 2019, David Kissinger of Elton: Zion UMC, who has served as coordinator of the Johnstown District Disaster Response Team since 2015, is coordinating the Conference Disaster Response Ministries Team. Kissinger has been involved in Disaster Response Ministry for several years in Pennsylvania and beyond, including ...

Watch Mollie at Youth 2019! Outgoing Conference Youth Ministry Team President Mollie Landman will be a main speaker during opening worship Wednesday night at Youth 2019 in Kansas City. The service is being live-streamed and Mollie’s scheduled to go on stage about 9:10 p.m. EDT (8:10 in St. Louis). Several members of YMT traveled to the event with Youth/Young Adult Ministries Coordinator Amanda Gilligan and other youth leaders. Watch and learn more at youth2019.com/ See Livestream Read more about...

Serving in a New Appointment? As you settle into your new ministry setting, we offer prayers and two reminders for you: If you have a new address, you must update your clearances. Clearances are tied to your address. Get details on getting clearances at wpaumc.org/safesanctuaries If you have a new email, mailing address or phone numbers, be sure to update your records through the WPAUMC clergy dashboard. Navigate! If you’re ready to go deeper in your ministry, bring a team from your church ...

Addiction Recovery Seminar: More than 120 people gathered at First UMC in Butler last Saturday for the Conference-sponsored Addiction Recovery Seminar. They explored how local churches can respond to those struggling with addiction in their communities. Speakers included leaders in the recovery community, certified addiction counselors, leaders from congregations partnering with those in recovery, and representatives of programs and agencies addressing addiction and prevention. See photo album ...

Global Ministries, the UMC missions agency, will offer its EarthKeepers training in “creation care” at Arch Street UMC in Philadelphia from Aug 8-11. The training, the first of three scheduled around the nation, will equip United Methodists to develop environmental stewardship initiatives in their churches and communities and connect them with others in the church who are actively engaged in such work. Global Ministries will pay all costs for the training, food and lodging, but July 1 is the  ...

In light of the recent news about children in U.S. government holding facilities along the U.S.-Mexico border, the United Methodist Committee on Relief has received numerous requests to respond. "We have heard the plea for action from the church. Unfortunately, the facilities in question are managed in such a way that precludes even UMCOR’s assistance. Access to these government facilities is extremely limited," the relief agency said in a press release on Wednesday, June 26. As the arm of The ...