Connellsville E-news MAY 2018

Transcription

1 Connellsville E-news MAY 2018 District Superintendent Pastor Robert Zilhaver Now Thank We All Our God A good friend of mine Rev. Thomas Butts wrote and reminded me, that some of you have worked hard to do good and help people, but you have been mocked and misunderstood. Some of you have been stricken with life-threatening illnesses, or you have stood by helpless as you watched a loved one die long before you expected they might die. Some of you have tried to make it financially, but suddenly you have found your life savings gone. View the Calendar I want to encourage you with this thought. Any good that you have done or intended to do will be remembered. Isaiah writes these words that God speaks to us: "I will never forget you. See, I have engraved your name in the palms of my hands." (Isaiah 49:16) In the traditional ritual for "The Burial of the Dead, when the minister reads the closing words of the committal, there is this reassuring sentence: "I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth, yea says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works will follow them." The good that you have done, which may have gone unnoticed will not be forgotten. The only thing that God forgets is your forgiven sin, but the good you have done follows you. There is not much you can take with you when you leave this world. You cannot take money or fame, or land and houses, or worldly honors, but the good you have done is yours forever because God remembers. In a world of injustice and pain, where good people suffer and evil often seems to win, we need the hope and assurance that God, who remembers is watching. There is a verse from a poem by James Russell Lowell that says it well: "Though the cause of evil prosper, yet 'tis truth alone is strong; though his portion be the scaffold, and upon the throne be wrong. Yet that scaffold says the future, and behind the dim unknown, standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own." If we remember that God remembers, we can always say a proper, "Thanks be to God." One of the great hymns of the church was written by Reverend Martin Rinkart. It was during the terrible "Thirty Years War, which seemed to go on forever. He was a Lutheran pastor serving a small church in a little town that became a haven for thousands of refugees fleeing the war. Famine and disease always come with refugees. In one-year Pastor Rinkart buried 4000 people who died of the pestilence and famine. Many of those he buried were friends and family members. Surrounded by poverty, need, and want on every hand, hounded by death and destruction and lacking in everything save his faith, Martin Rinkart wrote these words to sing as light in the darkness. "Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices, who wondrous things hath done, in whom this world rejoices; who from our mother's arms has blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love and still is ours today." God Bless, Pastor Bob

2 PRAYER CONCERNS AND JOYS PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR: MINISTRY: Connellsville Cooperative Parish Steven M. Lamb Douglas A. Johnson Robert E. Kifer Leona Logan Mark A. Sholtis Michael Brinker Donald Kephart Bev Gross Appointment Changes: See the list. General Conference in February HEALTH: Wyatt Fitzgibbons Tammy Hay John and Leona Logan s family Nation: Continue National Day of Prayers the month of May. Schools and youth If you have a prayer request, joy or concern please me at Connellsville.district@wpaumc.org IMPORTANT DATES MAY Forms that are Due: Evaluations May 15, red_annual_forms/2018- discussion+only+annual+evaluation+of+pastor al+and+congregational+performance.pdf Annual Conference: June 6-9 Registration will open on the Conference website Monday, April 16. The annual event at Grove City College will be a bit different this year, with the first Bible study session scheduled for Wednesday evening, June 6. Things wrap up late Saturday afternoon, June 9. See the Pre- Conference Journal (schedule on P. 13) and get other details at wpaumc.org/ac. CLERGY-ETHICS TRAINING June 16 (Make-up Session) UM Conference Center 323?month=6&year=2018&day=1&display=m Obituaries LOCAL ANNOUNCEMENTS From: Pastor Roger Howard - We at Paradise UMC are looking for, and in need of 2 clergy pulpit chairs. From: District Office -If you or someone you know can use a printer in good working order, contact the District Office. SHOE DRIVE Good news! We have more shoe bags at the District Office. Please stop by and pick one up today. KENNYWOOD DAY - RIDES, FUN, FOOD AND LAUGHTER Saturday, June 23, :30-close PRICE: $40.00 Per Person Registration on Brick River until Monday, June 18, 2018

3 BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES HAPPY ANNIVERSARY HAPPY BIRTHDAY Leila Brinker Spouse 2 Joshua Hay Child 4 Sharon Stollings Spouse 5 Marlene Gotjen Spouse 5 Andrew Penrod Child 6 Clara Rose Penrod Child 6 Joyce Brant Spouse 12 Christina Noel Helsel Child 13 Cathie Lester Spouse 15 Mardiann Vincent Pastor 21 Elmer Reamer - Pastor 22 Kim Raygor Spouse 25 Ann Watson Spouse 31 Bruce & Glenda Merritt 27 Jeffrey & Kim King 29 Bill & Beth Blair 31 Please let me know if I overlooked your special connellsville.district@wpaumc.org. Thank you. CHURCH HAPPENINGS AROUND YOU The Cochran UMC, in Dawson, is hosting a men's Breakfast at 7 AM, every 3rd Saturday of each month. All men are welcome and encouraged to attend. Any questions, Please call the office at (724)

4 CONFERENCE: Prayer Walk May 24, Annual Conference June 6 9, 2018 Grove City College 100 Campus Dr Grove City, PA JOB OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE WESTERN PA CONFERENCE go here CLASSIFIEDS wpaumc.org/classifieds.

5 KATIE PETERSON, DEACONESS, CHURCH & COMMUNITY WORKER Katie coordinates the donations and distribution of UMCOR relief supply kits. She assists New Castle UM Churches to enhance ministries in poverty alleviation. This includes building handicap ramps. How to support Katie: 1. Pray Our prayers are welcome and strengthen her ministry 2. Stay in contact Ask to receive her newsletter and follow her website or Facebook site 3. Seek to participate in the ministry Katie serves. Ask about ways to help with missionary support 4. Donate to Katie s Advance # % of your gifts are used to support missionaries and they powerfully contribute to the continued health and vitality of United Methodist missionary outreach Contribute through your local church, online at or by calling FAITH IN ACTION: The UMC Board of Church and Society has a new useful and user-friendly website. Check out umcjustice.org. KEYSTONE UNITED METHODIST FEDERAL CREDIT UNION We are your credit union. People helping people! Many services offered. Phone: VISITORS FROM THE PAST Returning to ministry September 1, Available for church services, revivals, Christian schools, Christian Women s Clubs, spiritual renewal services and much more. For bookings, contact Luella Krieger at or luellakk@gmail.com. INTENTIONAL DISCIPLESHIP new resource to help congregations develop an intentional discipleship system includes WPAUMC s Road to Discipleship map and an article by Rev. Chris Kindle, our director of discipleship. Get free Intentional Discipleship guide. See WPAUMC Discipleship Map. OLMSTED NEWS At Olmsted s Pastors' Academy, you will experience excellent, relevant teaching, learn and share with other pastors, and enjoy all the comforts of an Olmsted retreat - all while you earn continuing ed credit! Your leader, Dr. Jennifer McBride, will teach on the social and political character of the good news that is proclaimed in the Gospels, and utilize the liturgical seasons as a framework for engaging social evils like mass incarceration, capital punishment, and homelessness. Not a pastor? Invite yours today! Register on line: Pastor's Academy 2018 w/ Dr. Jennifer McBride Radical Discipleship, Public Witness, & Liturgical Politics: The Social &Political Implications of the Gospel May 21-23, 2018 Dinner Monday - Lunch Wednesday Tuition: $180 Stay & Meals: $132 May 4-6, 2018 & June 15-17, Fly Fishing Retreats - with Gary Kell May 21-23, 2018 Pastors' Academy with Dr. Jennifer McBride May 21-23, 2018 June 24-28, Music & Worship Workshop - with Don Besig & Nancy Price September 14-16, Fall Women's Retreat - with Dr. Amy Oden

6 CAMP NEWS ADULT WRANGLER WEEKEND May 18-20, 2018 Arrival: starts 4:30PM Friday; Departure: 1:00PM Sunday Adults can enjoy a weekend in God s Creation on one of God s most noble creatures! Trail rides, spiritual formation, other camp activities, and free time to enjoy rest, relaxation, and recreation are all a part of this wonderful weekend. Renewal, refreshment, and a whole lot of fun are what you can expect! Cost is $150 per person and includes 2 nights, 4 meals, and at least 6 hours of horse time. Guests are welcome to stay for our Open House which will starts at 2PM on the 20 th. Contact camp for more information or to register! (info@campallegheny.org; ) OPEN HOUSE AND ALUMNI PICNIC May 20, :00PM 6:00PM Music, fun camp activities, reconnecting with friends, a picnic dinner, or information about our Summer Camp programs; whichever it is that brings you out to Open House you ll get to experience them all! This completely free event will also feature an Alumni tent, including photos from across the decades in our Camp Allegheny Memory Lane. Camper and Staff Alumni can reconnect with old friends and remember how blessed they were by their time at Camp Allegheny! Contact camp for more information or to RSVP your group! (info@campallegheny.org) The new 2018 summer camp brochure is ready for you! You can either see it here online, or get one in the mail. If you attended camp in the last couple of years, your family will get a brochure in the mail very soon. And if you need extra copies of the brochures for either your family or your friends, you can call the Jumonville office (724) and we will mail them to you, or we can send them directly to your friends if you give us their contact information. Brochures are also being sent to the churches if you need extra copies. Feel free to check out the 2018 summer camp schedule on the Jumonville website. Remember you can register online, so you don't have to wait until you get your brochure in the mail. Friday Night Rock Climbing! Join us at Jumonville for an evening of indoor rock climbing! Have you ever wanted to learn to rock climb, or are looking for something to do when the weather is too wet or cold? Come for an evening of rock climbing on the second and fourth Fridays of the month, on May 11th, and May 25th from6:00-9:00 PM. It's good exercise, and promotes confidence and teamwork. Have no fear, no experience is necessary! Open for ages9-adult. (Ages 9-15 must be accompanied by an adult.) Cost is $10 and includes all equipment and instruction. A release of liability waiver is required for all climbers, and must be signed by an adult over 18 years old. You can download the form here. For more info please rebekah@jumonville.orgor call

7 to Wesley Woods! To make visitors feel more welcome and at home, Wesley Woods wants to replace all of its signs with some that easier to read, accurate and more exciting. You can help by making a financial donation or sharing your ideas, resources or talents. To do so, contact Kira Argot, Wesley Woods program director, at program@wesleywoods.com At Wesley Woods we provide events that have the Gospel of Jesus Christ at their heart. All of our programs will be guided by the desire for faith creation and faith formation. It is our goal to create a welcoming environment that is an echo of the embrace we receive from Jesus. We desire to be a place where our guest and partners feel at home, and strive to have a culture of service and excellence which fosters passion and dedication. Summer Camp is a place for kids to find themselves, meet new friends, and above all connect with God. With programs like horse and pony camp, adventure camps, and sports camps and well as special interest camps, li l camps for our junior campers, and exceptional persons camp, Wesley Woods has something to offer everyone. So please, take a look at our catalog and REGISTER TODAY! GENERAL/JURIDICTIONAL CONFERENCE WPAUMC Disability Concerns: How accessible is your church? Find out using the Accessibility Audit for the local church under the Forms and Resources heading at wpaumc.org/disabilityconcerns General Conference: A new Commission on the General Conference met last week and preparations have begun for a 2020 worldwide legislative gathering in Minneapolis. Learn more CONTINUING EDUCATION Upcoming Learning Opportunities: Download the new flyer of continuing ed opportunities, open to laity and clergy, here. Online Lay Servant Ministries advanced courses offered by BeADisciple.com Schedule of classes For Clergy Continuing Education & Formation events click here: CCEF EVENTS See full list of upcoming webinars at gbod.org/webinars Continuing Educators e-news for Clergy: Keep up with news in clergy continuing education. Sign up for a new e-newsletter from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Learn more. The Turner Center for Church Leadership at Martin Methodist College offers online training for church leaders in Christian Education, Youth Ministry, Older Adult Ministry and Children s Ministry. Learn more. From the Well Podcasts: The Upper Room's Academy for Spiritual Formation invites United Methodists and others to listen to From the Well, a podcast that draws from spiritual content gathered and shared at academies over the years. Listen and learn more. Growing in Discipleship: Encourage your congregation to get into the Wesleyan pattern of daily prayer and scripture reading with A Disciple s Journal Download a sample and/or purchase from the Upper Room. WPA Black Methodists For Church Renewal (BMCR) Program GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS SCHOLARSHIPS There are a variety of scholarships at and at SEMINARY FINANCIAL AID Applications for the academic year are available at

8 SYSTEMS LEADERSHIP IN MINISTRY + APPLYING BOWEN SYSTEMS THEORY TO PASTORAL WORK + Directed by The Rev. Robert C. Spilman, Retired CPE Supervisor Association for Clinical Pastoral Education SYSTEMS LEADERSHIP IN MINISTRY - WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY TO JUNE 2018 Systems Leadership in Ministry is a pastoral seminar that utilizes Bowen Family Systems Theory and theology to strengthen leadership and self-awareness in any ministry setting with a primary focus on work in the church. The seminar is an outgrowth of the program of Congregation-Based Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) that Rev. Spilman directed in Western NY and PA until his retirement in Pastors and lay ministers strengthen their pastoral and leadership skills, address conflict in the church, and work on their personal growth in ministry. The program focuses on systemic change and leadership development in the church. Seminar in Western PA Location to Be Determined Two Days a Month - Late February to Late June 2018 Tuition cost: $700 ($550 for CPE program alumni) Systems Leadership in Ministry includes these creative components: Emphasis on pastoral and leadership issues and use of self in ministry. Family of origin work, consultation on ministry, and theological reflection. Application of Bowen Theory to ministry in the church and world. Participants explore family and church relational patterns using the systems theory developed by Murray Bowen and applied to church life by Edwin Friedman and Roberta Gilbert. They reflect on their family of origin and its impact on their use of self in ministry. They work to manage anxiety and grow in defining a self. A primary text will be Roberta Gilbert s book: Extraordinary Leadership. For further information and application, contact Rev. Spilman. The Rev. Robert C. Spilman, 363 Darwin Drive, Amherst, NY Tel: (cell); rcspilman@roadrunner.com CLERGY CORNER LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Both lay and clergy will find information about events, ongoing programs, online learning opportunities, as well as scholarship applications on our newly updated Leadership Development webpage. If you have an event that you d like to see listed, contact Rev. Susan Moudry at susan.moudry@wpaumc.org. NEW UMC HANDBOOK The new United Methodist Church Handbook for the next four years is available, providing a detailed overview of the denomination s beliefs, mission, structure and history. The handbook is a free, go-to resource for anyone in search of information about the church and is helpful for leaders and new members. Learn more Get handbook UPCOMING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES: Download the new flyer of continuing education opportunities, open to laity and clergy, here. GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS - can also go to Conference Website at SCHOLARSHIPS Scholarships There are a variety of scholarships at Seminary Financial Aid Applications for the 2018 academic year are available on the conference website at wpaumc.org/boom. MISSION NEWS/OPPORTUNITIES Here is a link to the Winter Newsletter for 2018 Western Pennsylvania Prison Outreach Ministry: We are a mission sponsored and supported as an Advanced Special of the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. David Bunnell, Chairperson WPA Prison Outreach Ministry

9 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. Mission Barn Update: See what s happening at the Eastbrook Mission Barn in their latest newsletter. Name Change: Stop Hunger Now, the organization that has partnered with the Conference and several churches in packing nutritious meals to feed the hungry across the globe, officially became Rise Against Hunger in January Learn more. 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 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. Helpful links Mission VIMpossible? What s that? Watch video Find out how to apply for a team and see new teams as they are announced at wpaumc.org/opportunities. Costs include travel, housing, most meals and VIM insurance. Contact Rev. Stephanie Gottschalk for more information, stephanie.gottschalk@wpaumc.org ext. 241 Western PA UM Conference - Connellsville District - In Focus Publication - Joyful Noise - Subscribe to Publications - Conference Resources - Reflections! wpaumc.org/blogs. Keep up with United Methodist news from around the connection with a free subscription to the News Service Daily Digest. Subscribe at umc.org/news-and-media/umns-subscription-form Discipleship Ministries has officially become the new name of the general agency of The United Methodist Church known for years as The General Board of Discipleship, or GBOD umcdiscipleship.org. Learn how to update your Find-A-Church profile. People are looking for a church to visit during Advent. Help them find you! update-your-find-a-church Pastors and Churches, there is a lot of information here to enhance your advertising and evangelistic efforts. For more information on all of umcom grants and resources, please visit their website: The United Methodist Church invites you to check out our new biweekly e-newsletter specially created for all church members. United Methodist Now will highlight examples of Christian living, share inspirational messages and focus on what it means to be part of our connection. Subscribe for free.

10 CLASSIFIED There are a few new positions advertised on our website. Visit wpaumc.org/classifieds. New accounts available at the UM Foundation may be of interest to churches in your area. The UM Foundation of Western PA has added two new funds management accounts for their Account Holders. An Aggressive Account and an Income & Growth Account have been introduced to augment the previously available Core Balanced Account. Benefits for your church as an Account Holder would be added flexibility in meeting your investment objectives and managing the distribution of funds. If you are interested in learning more about any of these three accounts, see the For Churches and Agencies section of or call the Foundation at Connellsville District Important Links District Calendar Required Annual Forms Church Dashboard Login Clergy Dashboard Login Churches in this district DISTRICT CONTACT INFORMATION Connellsville District Office 232 North Pittsburgh Street, Suite B Connellsville, PA Phone: Fax: Connellsville.DS@wpaumc.org (Rev. Robert Zilhaver) Connellsville.Office@wpaumc.org (Marianne Skvarla)