Disaster Response: United Methodist Disaster Response Team leaders and volunteers were mobilized after severe rain and flash flooding hit areas of Southwestern PA on the evening of June 20. Among the hardest hit was the borough of Bridgeville south of Pittsburgh, where one woman died and between 60 to 80 homes and businesses were damaged. Learn more.
UMCOR Kits Needed: Although the Eastbrook Mission Barn received a good number of cleaning buckets and hygiene kits during annual conference, more are needed. With flooding in southwestern PA and other areas, the Mission Barn has already shipped 500 buckets and close to 1000 hygiene kits here in Western PA. New kit recipes link is below. See Eastbrook Mission Barn on Facebook.
UMCOR Kit Ingredients Change: Some of the ingredients in UMCOR kits have changed. In hygiene kits, the number of bandaids has increased to 10. In cleaning buckets, instead of including sponges, donors are asked put in $1.50 for purchase of foam sponges. See the new kit recipes.
Journey of a Bucket! When a call went out from UMCOR’s Sager-Brown Depot for flood relief buckets after a series of hurricanes last year, tens of thousands appeared in a few weeks. How did United Methodist do that? Read the Journey of a Bucket in Response magazine.
Joint Team in Puerto Rico: Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi of Western PA and Bishop Tracy Smith Malone of East Ohio are leading a 40-person Volunteers in Mission team of leaders from both conferences in Puerto Rico this week. You can see photos on the WPAUMC Facebook page.
Youth4Mission: July 6 is the deadline to register for Youth4Mission, which will be held July 16-20 at Jumonville. Get details.
Youth Mission u will be held July 10-15 at California University of PA. It’s for youth from 6th grade - high school age. Register now! Get details
Mission u: Time’s almost up to register for Mission u, with programs for adults and children at California University of PA from July 12-15. Rev. Lisa Grant will lead the spiritual growth study. Tina Whitehead will offer a pre-mission u update on conditions in the Holy Land on Thursday afternoon. Learn more and register.
Join in Service of Prayer, Healing, Unity and Hope: The Pittsburgh District will host at Service of Prayer, Healing, Unity and Hope at 3 p.m., Sunday, July 1 at First UMC of Pittsburgh. It will be a time to reflect on the shooting of Antwon Rose, consider ways to advocate for changes to the systems and culture which foster violence against people of color, seek healing, and dream of future with rich multi-racial/multi-cultural relationships. Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi will speak. All are welcome.
Working for Justice: St. Paul’s UMC in Allison Park's Working for Justice ministry will host an interfaith forum and prayer service on Monday, July 2 from 7-8:30 pm. In response to racial and immigrant discrimination, most recently the homicide of Antwon Rose and separation of Latino children from migrant parents, all are welcome for a time of information and prayer. Speakers include Tim Stevens, chairman of the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) and Greater Pittsburgh Coalition Against Violence; Sister Linda Yankoski, CEO of Holy Family Institute, where children whose parents face deportation are housed; and Sister Janice Vanderneck, Executive Director of Casa San Jose.
Disagree, Don’t Demonize: The pastor of the United Methodist Church that Attorney Gen. Jeff Sessions attends in Virginia said in her sermon last Sunday that while she has strong beliefs on current immigration policy, "I will work to let our government know how I feel and I will preach the gospel of Jesus Christ every Sunday … But I will not dehumanize those who are not in harmony with my deeply, passionately held beliefs. I will not write them off as objects or obstacles, but I will remember that they are flesh-and-blood humans ... and I am committed to listen to them." Read more
Pray to #Let Them Leave: United Methodists are asked to join in prayer each day beginning today for the release of three young missionaries in the Philippines. One has been jailed for six weeks because of bureaucratic delays and the others have experienced repeated delays in getting documents required to leave the country. Get details.
Help Camping/Retreat Initiative! Volunteer to visit local church councils in your area to share information about the camping and retreat ministries program and how they can support the Deeply Rooted, Upward Reaching campaign. The training is offered in two locations this Saturday, June 30, and in other locations in July. Get details.
Online Book Study: Young adults are invited to join in an online book discussion on Sunday evenings beginning July 1. They’ll explore When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fickert. Register on the WPA Young Adult Ministry website.
Memorial services are scheduled Friday, June 29 in Spring Hill, FL and at 3 p.m., Saturday, July 28 for Marilyn Wickerham Morris, the wife of the Rev. James J. Morris. She passed away June 19. See obituary.
A Life of Service: Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, the daughter of retired United Methodist pastors, was raised to lead a life of service. Being the first black woman to be a major party nominee for governor is just the latest in her life of “firsts.” Read story
Full Communion with Moravian Church: The Northern Province of the Moravian Church in North America voted June 22 to enter into a full communion relationship with The United Methodist Church, allowing the agreement as a whole to be ratified. Read press release
Read UMNS story on Wesley and Moravians
A Way Forward: The Commission on a Way Forward has released four more videos to help promote understanding of its processes and work. Learn more
Don’t Take Givers for Granted: Chris Willard and Jim Sheppard, authors of Contagious Generosity, explain the importance of developing a system to thank givers to celebrate their spiritual growth through giving and encourage greater generosity. Read about it in Leading Ideas.
Takin’ It to the Screens: Remember “Clay Ride”? The mobile-friendly Wesleys Take the Web series features Bible Moths John and Charles Wesley with an updated history of the UMC. Take a look.
Farewell, Chuck! As we bid goodbye to clergy who are retiring and pastors moving to new appointments, it is also time to say goodby to Chuck (who) Knows Church. For more than six years, a team from Discipleship Ministries has produced 103 episodes of Chuck Knows Church, The Committee web series, and Christmas messages. The production team will be working on new projects. BUT you can still watch, download, or purchase DVDs by going to ChuckKnowsChurch.com