Johnstown District of the United Methodist Church

Transcription

1 Wednesday May 3, 2017 Johnstown District of the United Methodist Church 510 Locust Street Johnstown, PA Weekly News ADDRESSES: To reach Alyce To reach Stacey District Office Phone Number: District Office Fax Number: JOHNSTOWN DISTRICT OFFICE HOURS Monday Thursday 7:30 am to 1 pm

2 ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEWS: The appointment time slot for the Johnstown district has be made for Saturday, June 10 during the 9-11:30 am Plenary Session. From John Wilson, for Pastors: Please login to the Church dashboard immediately to make sure the contact information is correct for both the clergy and laity going from the church to annual conference. Especially make sure the 2017 Lay Member to Annual Conference start dates are current in the church dashboard. While online, the readers might as well correct the data on the local church s entire leadership. If someone is unaware of the login information for the church dashboard, then contact the District Office. RETIREMENT DINNER Monday, May 22, 2017 at Red Lobster in Johnstown at 6 pm. Invitations went out last week regarding the dinner. Please join us as we celebrate the retirement of Rev. John Snyder and Rev. Emily Byrd. ATTENTION ALL LADIES Sue Duffield will be at Seward UMC on Friday, May 12 for a Ladies' Night Out. A light supper will be served at 6 PM for those who wish to come. It is free (donations welcome). Sue will be on at 7 PM with a humorous and encouraging message for all women. A free-will offering will be received during the program. UNITED YOUTH MINISTRY NETWORK YES & AMEN But in Him it has always been YES! for all of God s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding YES! and through Christ, our AMEN ascends to God for his glory. 2 Cor. 1: Worship experiences are open to all youth! Time for all events is 6:30 pm to 8:20 pm. - April 26: Forest Hills High School led by Jim Gay from Greater Johnstown Christian Fellowship Church JOIN UM HUMAN SERVICES FOR THE HIGHMARK WALK IN JOHNSTOWN Walk is May 20, 2017 at Central Park. Registration opens at 7:45 am, 5K starts at 9 am, 1 mile walk starts at 9:15 am. To start a Highmark walk team, join a team, or donate directly to our UMHS walk, go to If you start your own team, it's really easy to go from there! All the online resources you need to recruit and raise money are in your account once you sign up. I've attached an incentives flyer you can use to promote. Also attached is a pledge form for collecting donations. (These are super helpful and effective for kids or youth who are walking!) If anyone is doing one of the distance walks, let me know if you need sunglasses or the walk packs. I can't get the Highmark walk tees for distance walkers because you have to pick them up the day of the event and they're one per person. Please see the incentive flyer below and let me know if you have any questions! Joy Baker

3 4th Annual CMC Craft Show and Vendor Fair The Cooperative Ministry Council of Moxham will again host the 4th annual Craft and Vendor Fair, May 20th, 2017 from 9AM to 4PM. This is the event that previously had been held at the Jubilee Grounds in Ferndale but this year we will be hosting it at the Bulldog Arena on Main St in Historic Downtown Johnstown near central Park. Over 30 Vendors are already confirmed for this event. Please join us for a day of unique shopping and fellowship. And if you are a vendor or crafter there is still time to get involved with this show. Call Ferndale UMC at for details.

4 LAY SERVANT CLASS INFORMATION Greetings Pastors and Laity of the Johnstown District! The Lay Servant classes this year will be a little different than in previous years. Rather than have one location with several classes offered at the same time, we have opted to offer classes several times during the year. This will enable those of you that wish to take more than one class per year to do so. There will still be classes available in the Johnstown area as well as in the Northern sub-district area. The first two will be starting on May 7. One is Basic ~ taught by Pastor Paul Demi at the Spangler UMC from 2:30-5 pm. The other one that has been scheduled is Preaching ~ taught by Pastor Darlene Weiwora at St. Johns UMC from 2:30-5:00 pm. I will keep you informed as other classes become available. Please share this information with your churches. Please me with the name, address, phone number and class choice. The payment of $30 should be made payable to the Johnstown District UMC and mailed to Stacey at the District office. Pre-registration is necessary so that the books and materials can be purchased and be available for the first class. I understand that this is a big change from the way things have been. I do feel, however, that this will be beneficial for the laity as well as the Clergy teaching. Please bear with us as the change takes place. I will be stopping in to observe the classes and will be available to answer any questions you may have concerning this change. Remember that there also is the option to take online classes at beadisciple.com. Prices for these classes vary. Scholarships are available through the Johnstown District. Please let me know if anyone needs any more information on this. I am available to come to the churches and speak to the congregations concerning Lay Servant Ministries, or to fill in as needed. You can contact me through my nancydemi@hotmail.com or my cell phone (814) Blessings Nancy Demi

5 THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME TO THE JOHNSTOWN DISTRICT CONFERENCE ON SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 2017!!! The following pastors need to make arrangements to stop at the District office to pick up your Apportionment Certificate and letter from Bishop Moore Koi-Koi: - Kurt Knobel - Don Poole - Greg Stiver - Paul Fields - Stephen Moore - Len Findley - Joy Blackburn - Les Hutchins - Preston Hutchins - Dirk Wooten - Linda Lacovic - Art Black - Brittany Wooten - Darlene Wiewiora - Jon Gulnac - Jim Sands - Terry Trudgen - Adam Dotts - Phyllis Gramling JOHNSTOWN DISTRICT CARD SHOWER FOR TAMMY HAY!!! Please send greetings from your church/youth/children..everyone! Tammy is having a difficult time right now and needs to know she is loved, and lifted in prayer. Tammy Hay, Admin. Assistant for Connellsville District. Tammy is in rehab recovering from a stroke suffered over two weeks ago. Tammy has a 9 year old at home. Cards are helping to lift Tammy s spirits, so won t you take a minute to send a note or care, please. Update - This week, Tammy has been readmitted to the hospital. Cards and well wishes can be sent to Tammy s home: Tammy Hay, PO Box 153, Dickerson Run, PA GROVE AVENUE FLEA MARKET The Grove Avenue United Methodist Church, 501 Grove Avenue, will hold its Semi-Annual Flea Market on Saturday, May 13, from 8 am to 1 pm. ½ Price Sale is Saturday, May 20, from 8 am to Noon. PARK AVENUE UMC IN SEARCH OF MUSICIANS Park Avenue UMC is in search of a keyboard player and/or guitarist for 1 Sunday per month. If you or any of your friends are interested in this, please contact Pastor Len Findley at or Linda at SEVERAL CHURCHES IN SEARCH OF MUSICAL GROUPS A few of our local churches are in search of musical groups who could perform at a Sunday morning service during summer months. If you happen to know of any, please contact Stacey at the District office and give her the proper contact information. Thanks!

6 Volunteers Needed RISE a light dinner followed by a contemporary Worship and Praise Service every Thursday night at the Garfield Street UMC at 6 pm. RISE is a shared ministry of the United for God Cooperative and the Ebensburg UMC. This ministry is growing, already we are adding more partners, most recently Homestead Ave. UMC. You are invited to be part of this new ministry! There are opportunities for everyone to share the love of Christ and to use their gifts. Help is needed in cooking, serving, clean up, welcoming, singing, playing a musical instrument and just worshiping with others. Please let Pastor Carol know if you are willing to help. You do not have to commit to any particular number of times, just as your schedule allows. The Spirit is rising in Johnstown! W.A.C.K. MENU A free community dinner, served at the Windber Area Community Kitchen, will be held from 4 pm-6 pm Saturday, May 6, 2017, at Calvary United Methodist Church, 1800 Stockholm Ave in Windber PA. The meal will be served by the Johnstown Roller Derby Girls. The menu will feature Meatloaf, Au Gratin Potatoes, Salad, Peaches, Assorted Desserts and Coffee/Punch. All are welcome! The Windber Area Community Kitchen (W.A.C.K.) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Johnstown District Implicit Bias Workshop One of the 5 areas of focus of our Annual Conference is Dismantling Racism. We are committed to creating a culture of inclusiveness. We are richer with diversity and we will continue to find ways to witness with full inclusion and the embracing of all our sisters and brothers of color. In order to dismantle racism we need to be aware of those areas where implicit bias might be a part of who we are even when we are not aware of that bias. This workshop will help us become more aware of areas we may not be aware of where our implicit bias makes us less inclusive and thus less able to embrace all people regardless of race. When: Thursday, June 22 at 10am 3pm Registration begins at 9:30am Where: Oakland United Methodist Church 1504 Bedford St Johnstown, PA Cost: $7 per person (.5 CEU for those who attend) Rev. Dr. Dianne Glave is currently a staff member of the Western Pennsylvania United Methodist Conference Center as the Coordinator of Diversity Development. She completed her M.Div. at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. After completing her degree, she served as a local pastor at Crafton United Methodist Church and Ingomar Church in Pittsburgh.

7 Dr. Glave's background, an M.A. and Ph.D. in History with an emphasis on African American and environmental history and experience as a professor in African American Studies and Ethnic Studies, serves as a foundation for her current position. Her publications include Rooted in the Earth: Reclaiming the African American Environmental Heritage and To Love the Wind and the Rain: African American Environmental History, a co edited volume. PIRATES vs. CARDINALS AUGUST 17, 2017 Join Johnstown: Bethany UMC on Thursday, August 17, 2017 for Faith Night at PNC Park for a baseball game featuring the Pittsburgh Pirates vs. the St. Louis Cardinals. Bethany will be taking a motor coach to PNC Park to watch the Pirates take on our division rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals. Please call the church office at as soon as possible to make your reservation(s). Cost is $50 for the ticket and the bus ride! A $20 non-refundable deposit will reserve your seat on the bus and get your ticket for the game (Section 128). Deadline for deposit is May 15 and balance of $30 is due July 10. Price includes $10 for concessions! VOLUNTEERS WANTED! JUMP is looking for retired men and women who are seeking a rewarding experience. PAY: NONE BENEFITS: Investment in your community; serve God by doing ministry to help the less fortunate Current JUMP leaders are aging and dealing with health limitations. They will help with permits, design, materials transport, and paperwork. Priority for jobs goes to handicap needs, followed by home repairs addressing safety issues. Teams are generally 3 to 5 people and most jobs are completed in 2 to 3 days. We need team leaders and team workers, hopefully with some fix-it experience, but we will train any interested individual. This is a part-time volunteer effort. JUMP has tools but bringing your own is encouraged. Access to a small truck or van is also helpful but not necessary. For more information, call Franklin Street UMC at CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF INTEREST Johnstown District Help Shop Saturday, May 6, 2017 "Including Everyone in God's Love"--handicapped accessibility, inclusion, and the local church Grove Avenue United Methodist Church, 501 Grove Avenue, Johnstown, PA $10 per person -- Continuing education credits available. Registrar: Karen Kinkade, Hostetler Road, Johnstown, PA 15904

8 MESSY CHURCH Park Ave UMC will sponsor "Messy Church" the last Saturday of every month from 3-5 pm. This is an event that highlights the family. There is a time of welcoming, a craft or game time, a time for celebration and each month we will be serving a meal and the best part is it is absolutely free. Call the church for more details at We'll see you at "Messy Church". A note from Gary Hale Greetings to all, I would like to invite you to a meeting of the Greater Johnstown Covenant Ministry. We are a group of pastors and leaders dedicated to bringing together pastors and leaders from Johnstown and surrounding communities to bring a new level of unity in Johnstown so we may see revival break out in our churches and community. A friend of mine, Pastor Gary Mosorjak, told a very important story at Bethany UMC prayer breakfast. Back in 1977 Pastor Burns of Oakland United Methodist Church was planning to bring in David Wilkerson for a Holy Spirit revival on July 20, David would only come if there was unity among the pastors and they would all support his coming. Pastor Burns was not successful in bringing the pastors together so David said he would not come. As most of you know instead of getting a flood of the Spirit on July 20th we got a flood of rain and dams bursting that changed our city negatively. Around 80 people lost their lives, millions of dollars of destruction, and it was instrumental in the mills closing. Years ago going down 56 by-pass into the city the Lord showed me His Spirit coming upon the city like a great flood. I know to see that happen we need to work together and as God sees us in harmony and humbling ourselves before Him He will send His Spirit and bring revival to the churches and to the entire community. Gary Hale President of Greater Johnstown Covenant Ministry. GOSPEL MUSIC FESTIVAL Armagh United Methodist Church is holding their Annual Gospel Music Festival on Friday, May 19 & Saturday, May 20, Friday night s activities will be from 6-10 pm and Saturday s activities are from 1-10 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend! For more information, please call Bill & Kim at

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10 CLERGY REMINDERS: UPCOMING DEADLINES: All clergy - please give this your immediate attention. Please check "Required Annual Forms" on the WPAUMC website for more information. Of course, all of these deadlines can be met BEFORE the deadline! March 1 Fund Balance Report Submit to District Office The following churches have not submitted their 2016 Fund Balance Report to the district office: Conemaugh: First Dunlo/Sidman/Beaverdale Charge: Sidman & Beaverdale Glasgow Larger Parish: Utahville Johnstown Ferndale/Faith/Park Avenue Charge: Ferndale & Faith Johnstown: Franklin Street Point Seward Spangler Uniontown May 1 Spring Equitable Compensation Applications Submit, if applicable, to District Superintendent May Clergy Evaluation Submit to District Office May 15 Continuing Education Report Form Submit to District Office May 15 Annual Parsonage Inspection Submit to District Office

11 District Prayer Chain - Pastor Tom Moore - Shawn Negley friend of Rev. Alyce Weaver Dunn - Cheryl Adams - Tammy Hay, Admin. Assistant for Connellsville District - Pastor Penny Adams - Arch Moore, brother of Pastor Tom Moore - Dorothy Weaver - Kathy McKee - Dan Dembinsky - Our Country and our Leaders - All Pastors and Laity in the Johnstown District Alyce s Schedule: May 08 Alyce in office May 09 - Alyce at Cabinet May 10 Alyce at Cabinet May 11 Alyce in office May 12 Alyce at Conference Center May 13 May 14 Happy Mother s Day Save the date! Annual Conference 2017 is June 8-11, 2017 Conference News and Events Continuing Education Events Pittsburgh Pastoral Care Conference Friday, May 5, 2017 at Christ Church at Grove Farm, 249 Duff Road, Sewickley, Pa. Keynote Speaker: Pastor Dave Kornfield, Ph.D., Master of Ceremonies will be Sally Wiggin from WTAE-TV News. Conference Five Tracks will be 1) Addiction & Recovery, 2) Mental Health & Wellness, 3) Family & Marriage Issues, 4) Community Outreach, and 5) Reflections in Ministry DISABILITY RETREAT AT OLMSTED MANOR September 10-12, 2017 The 2017 Disability Retreat We Belong will be at Olmsted Manor on September 10-12, This retreat is for anyone who lives with a disability and their caregivers. Cost is $ per person. *Financial assistance is available. Please contact Olmsted Manor for more information. LIFE-CHANGING MEN S GATHERING

12 About 1,000 men are expected to come together for worship, workshops, service and fellowship at the National Gathering of United Methodist Men on July 7-8. Held at St. Luke s United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, the event will inspire attendees to embrace new possibilities for ministry and discipleship. To learn more, go to UMM event website. March 27, 2017 Dear Members of the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference, Greetings of Grace, Peace and Love in the Matchless Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As our Denomination continues to move forward to reflect a welcoming and inclusive global face, faithful to the mission, vision, core values, and upholding our Five Areas of Focus, as the clergy and lay members of WPA we must continue to celebrate our diversity, build strong relationships with one another which is an important thread in the making of disciples for the transformation of the world. If we are to celebrate diversity and build relationships with one another, it is important that we begin by hearing the rich history of our agencies, boards and caucuses in the United Methodist Church who have worked and continue to be advocates ensuring that there is a place FOR ALL at the table. We invite you to join us at Monroeville United Methodist Church, 219 Center Rd., Monroeville, Pa on May Our National and Jurisdictional Executive Leadership of the historic organization Black Methodists for Church Renewal (BMCR) will be with us to share historic and valuable information about BMCR and other caucus in our denomination. On Saturday, May 20 th we will gather from 9:30am-5:00pm. A catered lunch and dinner will be served on Saturday and conclude on Sunday, May after morning worship with a fellowship lunch. In order to make our time together an enjoyable and informative experience, we have secured hotel accommodations at the Comfort Inn Conference Center, 699 Rodi Road, Penn Township, Pa. at a group rate of $79.00+tax/per night (double or single occupancy) with free breakfast both Saturday and Sunday. You are responsible for making your own hotel reservations. To obtain the group rate deadline for making hotel reservations is Monday, May, 1 st, Laity Scholarships Grants ($ max) are also available. (visit Registration information for program and hotel accommodations is available on line by visiting or This is a conference wide event and is open to all Lay and Clergy. It is our prayer and hope that you will join us for a special and important time such as this. May God continue to Bless you and keep you. Sharon Gregory, Conference Lay Leader, Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference President, Association of Annual Conference Lay Leaders (AACLL) NEJBMCR Chairperson, Nominations conferencelayleader@wpaumc.org (Home) (Cell/Text)

13 Harry Denman Awards At Annual Conference each year, the Evangelism Team honors three persons who possess a desire to increase the Kingdom of God with the Harry Denman Award. The Categories are: Clergy, Youth and Laity. The Team encourages congregations to nominate candidates for these awards now so they may be recognized at our 2017 Annual Conference. What distinguishes a Harry Denman Award recipient is an on-going commitment to introduce others to the good news of Jesus Christ in various ministry settings. They will be recognized for help numbers of people ignite or re-ignite their faith journey. Does your pastor fit that description? Is there a youth or lay-person in your church who needs to be considered? Then please, begin the nomination process. You can download nomination forms from the following website: The Evangelism Team asks for all nominations to be in by May 5. We need time to make our selections and order the awards from the Foundation of Evangelism. If you have nominated someone before and they were not selected, please try again. Help the Evangelism Team honor folks who deserve recognition for the Kingdom-work they are performing. If you have question or trouble downloading the forms, call Pastor Al Kimmel at Submit your nomination via at this address: alk2733@gmail.com or send them to Pastor Al Kimmel, Herminie UMC, 3365 Pike Street, Herminie, PA Please mark Denman Award on the envelope. Family Autism Retreat at Jumonville Camp - September 22-24, This weekend retreat allows families of children living with autism to enjoy a mountaintop experience that will combine coveted parental free time with an opportunity for quality family time. Hope is provided through time for worship, rest and relaxation in a safe Christian setting capable of caring for children with Autism. All ages are welcome! Registration deadline September 15, Brochure/registration form or Register online OLDER ADULT RETREAT Olmsted Manor July 17-21, 2017 (Mon. dinner Friday lunch) Theme: Stained Glass Windows: Letting God s Holy Spirit Shine! Deans: Mrs. Lois Hiles and Mrs. Glenda Merritt Bible Teacher: Rev. Bruce K. Merritt Music Director: Robin Swank Cost: Tuition: $ Room and Board: $264 = $280 Price includes class, 4 nights stay, 12 meals, and evening entertainment Camperships available for first time attendees! For more information: Olmsted Manor P.O. Box 8, Ludlow, Pa info@olmstedmanor.org Glenda and Bruce Merritt 1268 Fells Church Rd, Belle Vernon, Pa

14 Thank you for any publicity that you can give this retreat. It is a week of Bible teaching, worship, fun, good food, and fellowship. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me! Abundant Blessings Pastor Bruce K. Merritt SHORT-TERM MISSION PROJECT OPPORTUNITY AT CHERRY RUN CAMP The Franklin District camp is always in need of adult volunteers to help with the work of the camp. Working and helping at Cherry Run is a great short-term local mission project for church groups or for individuals. Work one day or as many as you are able. Cherry Run Camp especially needs volunteers to help the week prior to camp to clean and prepare the grounds and buildings for camp. They are also looking for volunteers to serve in the kitchen during camp. They have a camp cook who plans and buys for the camp, but he needs extra hands to prepare and to serve the meals. Individual volunteers or a team of four individuals are needed each day to assist the cook. Your help is greatly sought-after and appreciated. For more information or to volunteer, contact Judy McQueen, Cherry Run Camp Meeting Board Member, at or revmac@comcast.net. 5 TH ANNUAL FAITH NIGHT AT PNC PARK Thursday, August 17, Enjoy discounted tickets for the Pirates-Cardinals game at 7:05 pm and stay after the game to hear from Manager Clint Hurdle and many more Pirates Players and Coaches discuss how faith has impacted their lives, both on and off the field. The Faith Night presentation will last approximately 45 minutes. Early bird pricing for groups of 15 or more. Contact Chad Glover at (412) or chad.glover@pirates.com or Ryan Vizzini at (412) or ryan.vizzini@pirates.com 2017 Confirmation Class Tour Schedule 2017 Confirmation Class Tours May 12, Friday - Morning and Afternoon May 13, Saturday - Morning Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. Use the links above to the reservation form for the session you choose. Have a confirmed number of students and adults in your group when you register. Confirmation tour sessions fill up quickly. If you are unable to attend after you register your group, contact Rev. Greg Cox. Registration begins at 9 am for mornings and 1 pm for afternoons. Sessions run from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm respectively.

15 Weather Conditions In the unlikely event of snow or weather cancellations, we will follow the Seneca Valley School Districts for cancellations only. We will also follow up as soon as possible for notices through . In the event of a delay, we will operate on a normal schedule throughout the day of Confirmation Visits. Make sure to: Download the School Release Form Print it out on church letterhead Send it to each student's school to be properly excused from classes on the day of your tour. Minister's Chorus (Rev. Steve Morse) Rev. Steve Morse is the director of this chorus and would love for you to join him at one of his upcoming concerts. Upcoming Concerts May 25, 2017 Combined chorus with Susquehanna Conference- Westside UMC, Clearfield Pa Sept. 21, 2017 Linesville/Harmansburg UMC Oct. 19, 2017 Mount Hope UMC Nov. 16, 2017 Brookville First UMC Preparing for an Active Shooter on Wednesday, May 17 from 10 am 3 pm. From 10 am until Noon it will be at Christ United Methodist Church, 1135 Buffalo Street, Franklin for the classroom portion of the training as well as an outdoor demonstration of the four ways a fire extinguisher can be used offensively or defensively. At Noon it will be one block over at First United Methodist Church, 1102 Liberty Street, Franklin for lunch and the hand's on portion of the training where we will do a building walk-through strategizing options of what to do in a variety of environments as well as running several reset (do-over) drills where you get a second chance to get it right. Discounted price is $39 until midnight on Monday, April 24. Register Have questions about Preparing for an Active Shooter - Franklin, PA? Contact CapozziGroup and SurvivalMindset. New Newsletter Available Now!! Prison Outreach Ministry Keep up with WPA Prison Outreach Ministry volunteers in their latest newsletter. Learn more about the ministry and how you or your church can get involved at: wpapom.org. GIVE TO WEST VIRGINIA FLOOD RELIEF Give to WV Flood Relief - The Western Pennsylvania UM Conference, is gathering funds under the designation #WV2016 and encouraging local churches to take up an offering or give online. Keep Up With Upcoming Events - WPAUMC Conference The website for upcoming events is: The Conference Calendar can now be found on the website under Calendar instead of Events, to save any confusion. Follow the Western Pennsylvania Conference on Facebook: CONFERENCE MISSION OPPORTUNITIES

16 You can now check our running list of WPA VIM Trip Opportunities online anytime at Spring, Summer Volunteers Needed in Connellsville: The Connellsville Flood Recovery Center still has 109 active cases in the aftermath of flooding last August. Volunteer assistance is needed for repair and rebuilding at many of those homes. UM volunteers from several districts, including Erie, Butler, Connellsville, Pittsburgh, Greensburg, and Johnstown have helped. Housing and hospitality for teams serving multiple days is available, but one-day teams are common. One team from Latrobe UMC serves once a month! Volunteers can register online at: connellsvillevolunteers.org/2016/09/08/how-to-volunteer/ or volunteer@wpaumc.org. UMCOR Needs Health, Bedding Kits: Katie Peterson, new executive director of the Eastbrook Mission Barn, notes that UMCOR has put out a call for health and bedding kits. Get kit details at wpaumc.org/missionbarn. UMCOR Kits Needed: Cleaning buckets, health kit, and bedding kit ingredients can be gathered by local communities and congregations. UMCOR kits can be received at Eastbrook Mission Barn, at the Conference Center or at one of the official Mission Barn sub-depots. Eastbrook Mission Barn is on call to deploy their kits through the UMCOR Relief Supply Network through their national system. Kits collected in UMCOR's name are UMCOR property and unverified kits cannot be given out in UMCOR's name by local groups. Can t Wait for Summer Mission U? Check out the Mini Mission U event May 7-9 at Olmsted Manor. Study subjects are from 2016 Mission u. Learn more Uth4Mission Summer 2017: Hands on service, worship and fellowship for Youth grades 6-12 at Pitt at Johnstown. Estimated cost: $ Mission U July 2017: Service and learning for Kids, Teens & Adults at Cal U. Registration s Open for Mission u 2017! Learn about the July event for adults, youth and children and download a flyer to share at wpaumc.org/missionu. UM A.R.M.Y. Your church can be a youth work camp as Youth and chaperones partner with UM A.R.M.Y. to love your neighbors. Eastbrook Mission Barn Ramps, relief supplies and Outreach. ALL ages can serve for one day in the New Castle area. For Mission opportunities, please go to This is the best place to see what is open. House of the Carpenter Team June 18-24, 2017 in Wheeling, West Virginia. Join House of the Carpenter in holistic approach to mission and community development. Volunteers engage the community for mercy, justice and spiritual formation. This team will focus on home repair and other tasks. Ages 14 to Adult. Cost $375. Red Bird Family Team July 9-15, 2017: Volunteers enable Red Bird Mission to builds up the community and witness to Christ. Kids ages 7-12 with adult, Youth (age 13+) and Adults. Estimated cost: $600 for Youth and Adults. Kids: $450.

17 UMCOR Sager Brown Team July 30-August 5, 2017: Join the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) in the work of disaster response and fighting poverty at Sager Brown, their main warehouse and shopping depot. Volunteers engage in local outreach and in preparing relief supply kits as signs of comfort and hop to a community in distress. Age 16+. Estimated cost $2,500. Individual Volunteers in Mission: Change your life by becoming an individual volunteer. Learn more at umcmission.org/get-involved Keep up with UMCOR, Mission News: Effective today, the UMCOR Hotline, which provides updates about the United Methodist Committee on Relief will become a bi-weekly publication. On alternate weeks, UMC Global Ministries Connect n Mission will be published. You can subscribe to both publications. Pastor Rapheal Koikoi on Loan to WPA! Beginning February 1, the Rev. Raphael Koikoi will begin serving a new extension ministry in Western Pennsylvania, but remain a member of the Baltimore-Washington Conference under appointment by Bishop Latrelle Easterling. Read more. CLERGY DEVELOPMENT Vital ministry requires a plan. Let this be a tool to create your continuing education plan. Opportunities are listed here by areas of focus to allow you to target an area where you need to grow. Our Conference focus for 2016 is Leadership. There are some great leadership development events coming up! Which ones could help strengthen your ministry? Youth Zim Camp Applications are now available for the 2017 Youth Zim Camp. The dates are June 20- July 5, Get details and application. House of the Carpenter Team June 18-24, 2017 in Wheeling, West Virginia. Join House of the Carpenter in holistic approach to mission and community development. Volunteers engage the community for mercy, justice and spiritual formation. This team will focus on home repair and other tasks. Ages 14 - Adult. Cost $375. Red Bird Family Team July 9-15, 2017: In Eastern Kentucky, chronic poverty makes life a struggle for people in this mountainous area of Appalachia. Volunteers enable Red Bird Mission to builds up the community and witness to Christ. Kids ages 7-12 with adult, Youth (age 13+) and Adults. Estimated cost: $600 for Youth and Adults. Kids: $450. UMCOR Sager Brown Team July 30-August 5, 2017: Join the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) in the work of disaster response and fighting poverty at Sager Brown, their main warehouse and shopping depot. Volunteers engage in local outreach and in preparing relief supply kits as signs of comfort and hop to a community in distress. Age 16+. Estimated cost $2,500. ZIM Camp July-August 2017: Despite widespread challenges, the UMC in Zimbabwe has grown and continues in vital ministry and dynamic worship. ZIM Camp offers youth two weeks a chance to build relationships through District partnership projects, all in the spirit of Chabadza. Ages Cost $2500.

18 Fiji Team fall 2017 (Dates to be determined): Cyclone Winston devastated parts of the Fijian Islands in February We are working with our brothers and sisters in the Methodist Church in Fiji and the UMC to meet their ongoing needs with solidarity and encouragement. Cost to be determined. Olmsted Manor Upcoming Events: Mission U with Rev. Dr. James Ritchie The Bible and Human Sexuality May 7-9, Pastors Academy with Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi Why Do We Have to Talk About THAT? May 22-24,