Pastoral Transitions: Many new appointments were announced this past week in Western PA. If your church will be experiencing a pastoral transition, the Rev. Rick Vance, director of United Methodist Men’s Center for Men’s Ministry, offers some tips for how churches can support both the incoming and outgoing pastor. Read them
See 50 Ways to Welcome a New Pastor from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership. Read or download
Funeral services will be held Friday at Jennerstown UMC for Cheryl Hildbold, wife of the Rev. Chuck Hildbold, who passed away June 1. See obituary
Annual Conference: You'll find information on legislation, candidates for commissioning and ordination, as well as the link for the livestream on June 17-18 at wpaumc.org/AC.
Summer Spiritual Practice Webinars: Teryl Cartwright, a writer, teacher and discipleship coach from the Susquehanna Conference who cruised the bay with At the Lake Ministries recently, is offering two free one-hour spiritual practice webinars in June.
Conversations about COVID-19 vaccines are opportunities for mission, say United Methodist Global Ministries' leaders. While the vaccine has become more available, in the United States, misinformation, mistrust and lack of access keep some communities at risk. But the church can be part of the solution. See how
UMCOR Disaster Response: In the month of May, UMCOR’s humanitarian response has expanded to include: Distribution of hygiene and dignity kits to people affected/displaced by violence in Gaza;
providing food, water, sanitation, and temporary shelter material to people affected by the eruption of Mt. Nyiragongo in East Congo and meeting the basic human needs of those affected by flooding in western Angola.
While these man-made and natural disasters are impacting Africa and the Middle East, COVID-19 is overwhelming partners in India, prompting UMCOR to reopen its COVID-19 Response Fund . Learn more about UMCOR’s InternationalDisaster Relief
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
Watch Facebook video
6 Steps to Launch Planned Giving: This could be a now-or-never stewardship moment for congregations whose pews are full of older adults, says Ann Michel of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership. She outlines six simple steps for launching a planned giving program to help the Boomer generation faithfully steward their lifetime assets. Read more.
50 Ways to Encourage Faithful Giving: Helping people experience the joy of giving is more than a way of funding the church’s ministry. These 50 ways of encouraging faithful giving will help your church members grow in discipleship through faithful stewardship and extravagant generosity. Read and download
Digital Media Tools: United Methodist Communications is offering Outreach Social free for one year to the first 250 United Methodist churches that sign up. This service provides over 3,000 graphics, a scheduler and reporting. You can even set up automated posts on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for the entire year in a matter of minutes! Learn more or sign up
Act Now for Free/Low Cost Zoom: United Methodist Communications invites local churches who did not receive a Zoom grant last year to be part of its group Zoom Enterprise-level web conferencing license through April 19, 2022! Participation is limited and will be on a first-come, first served basis. Learn more
In Memoriam: Bishop Daniel C. Arichea Jr., a Bible scholar who championed full inclusion in The United Methodist Church, died in the Philippines on June 1 of complications related to COVID-19. He was 87. Read story
Addiction Recovery: Brandon Murphy found help for his struggle with addiction through a ministry called Breaking Bonds. That was in Arkansas, and now he and his wife, Michelle, are bringing the same faith-based recovery program to New McKendree United Methodist Church in Missouri. Read story
Relaunch Playbook with Kay Kotan: Don't forget to register for our June 21 Ultimate Relaunch Playbook with church consultant and author Kay Kotan. It’s from 6:30-8 p.m. via Zoom. Learn more and register