Northeast District Eastern PA Conference of the United Methodist Church e-news DISTRICT NEWS October 19, 2015 BISHOP'S DAY ON THE DISTRICT - Still Time to Register Tuesday, October 20th REGISTER NOW: Bishop's Day on the District, October 20 from 12:00-3:00 pm at Asbury UMC in Allentown for Clergy Session & 7:00-8:30 pm at Covenant UMC for Laity Session. (Register Online) Dewees Application Extension for the NE District, Friday, October 30. (Link for Application) Open Enrollment Meetings, Monday, November 1 at 10am at Emmanuel UMC in Allentown and at 2 pm at Effort UMC. (Register Online - AM) (Register Online - PM) Unveiled, a conference for girls 12-18, on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 9 am-2 pm at Fritz UMC in Bethlehem, PA. (See Article) Congregational Care Training, Saturdays, Bishop Peggy Johnson looks forward to reconnecting with the laity and clergy of the NE District. She will also introduce the new Conference Lay Leader David Koch and the new Conference Treasurer James E. Cruickshank. CLERGY SESSION: Tuesday, October 20, 2015 12:00-3:00 pm at Asbury UMC 1533 Springhouse Road Allentown, PA 18104 The Wesley Center (lower level) Registration begins at 12:00 p.m. with lunch being served at 12:30 p.m. The meal will include sandwich wraps, chips, fruit salad and cookies and cost $7 per person. Please register online in advance by Thursday, October 15th. Late registration is set at $8. Free Spirit, the NE District praise band will lead worship and an offering will be received for Imagine No Malaria. If interested in singing and/or playing in the band, please email Sheila Milz. All appointed clergy are required to attend the Bishop's Day. If you must request an excuse, please email Sheila Milz at nesuper@rcn.com and state the reason for the request in the email. LAITY SESSION: Tuesday, October 20, 2015 7-8:30 p.m. at Covenant UMC 2715 Mountain View Drive Bath, PA 18014
Nov. 7 & 21 from 9 am - 12 pm at Bethany UMC, Wescosville. (See Article) 2015 Adjourned Session, Saturday, Nov. 14 from 9 am - 3 pm at Bethany UMC, Macungie Campus. Bishop Johnson requests that all Lay Leaders attend. All Laity are welcome to attend this free event as well. There is no fee for Laity but we are requesting online registration. New Licensed Local Pastor SAVE-THE-DATES: Clergy Breakfast, Tuesday, February 16, 2016 from 9 am - 12 pm at Asbury UMC in Allentown. Tools for Ministry, Sat., March 12 at Grace UMC in Pen Argyl. District Conference, June 5 from 3-5:30 pm - Location: TBD. Annual Conference, June 16-18 at Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square, Lancaster, PA. Carpenter Gary Dimovitz Receives His Local Pastor's License DS Dr. Irving Cotto along with Bethany members prayed over Gary Dimovitz, who then received his local pastor's license. Pastor Gary is serving part-time as an associate at Bethany's campus in Catasaqua. And yes, during the day, he follows in our Saviour's step as a true carpenter! CHURCH NEWS Quick Links... MISSIONARY CALHOUN TO PRESENT Saturday, October 24 District Website Conference Website Vital Congregations District Office Email DS E-mail HELP WANTED Children's & Youth Pastor Part-time position at Epworth UMC in Bethlehem, PA - Intergenerational church is seeking a called, passionate individual with giftedness in the areas of children and youth in order The Rev. John Calhoun, a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries, will share information on the work of United Methodist missionaries at the Mt. Pocono United Methodist Church on Saturday October 24 from 7:00 to 8:30. Most recently, he was the director of St. Luke's United Methodist Church's Family Center in Kiev, Ukraine. There, he worked with a team of social workers
to support and nurture Epworth's Christian Education program and its volunteers. The ideal candidate will have formal ties to the UMC, embody the Christian virtues of humility and forgiveness, have experience in developing children's and/or youth programs, model servant-leadership, possess a pastoral presence, and be available to support children/youth and families with pastoral care needs. For more information, please call 610-868-5354, or email. Head Custodian Full-time position at Asbury UMC in Allentown, PA - Monday-Thursday & Sunday hours. Must maintain building and grounds by supervising, scheduling, working with part-time staff, and facilitating event set-up and tear-down. Position available immediately. Email resume. PRAYERS and community organizers to provide a wide range of services, including counseling, work and life skills, and educational support to street children, single mothers, and families in crisis. Come out to hear John present. Mt. Pocono is located at 12 Church Avenue, Mt. Pocono, PA 18344. UNVEILED A Conference for Girls Ages 12-18 Fritz United Methodist Church of Bethlehem is sponsoring Unveiled, a one-day conference targeting girls ages 12-18 and the women in their lives. The program is in conjunction with Calvary Church of Souderton, PA. The day will be filled with music by a live band, great speakers, interactive breakout sessions, Q&A, a photo booth, food, and more! We will learn how to seek after God's heart and learn to trust Him. Saturday, November 7, 2015 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Fritz United Methodist Church 303 W. Packer Avenue Bethlehem, PA 18015-1564 PRAYERS: Bishop Peggy Johnson is asking that the pastors and laity of the Eastern PA Conference lift up the Adjourned Session of the Conference in prayer between now and the meeting on November 14th. Pray for God's guidance as we consider our budget and elect 2016 General $12 per person - without lunch $15 per person - with Chick-fil-A Lunch Registration: Online Phone - 610-866-1515 For more information, call Pastor Barbara S. Lee 610-509-4846. CONGREGATIONAL CARE TRAINING FOR PASTORS & THEIR PEOPLE Saturdays, November 7 & 21 (Consecutive Training)
and Jurisdictional Delegates. Look at the ministry and skills of caring for individuals and families within your congregation. Congregational Care is the means by which we reach out to others and love our neighbor. The training will involve tweaking listening skills by learning Holy Listening. Learn the use and abuse of Scripture and Prayer in a therapeutic relationship. Explore how to recognize your own wounds and feelings that come into play when ministering to others. Also discuss the dynamics of ministering during times of hospitalization, aging, and grieving. Trainer: The Rev. Kathryn Wieder, ordained deacon & former hospital chaplain within EPA Conference Date: Saturday, November 7 & 21, 2015 Registration: 8:30 a.m. Program: Location: Cost: 9 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Bethany UM Church 1208 Brookside Road Wescosville, PA 18106 Free To Register: Email Pastor Mike Netznik or Call 610-395-3613 MISSION CONNEXION UPDATE Northern Tier Back Pack Project The Northern Tier Cluster Group joined together from 9am to noon on August 1, 2015 at the Parryville Church to assemble 147 back packs for needy students. We had laity and pastors from almost every church in the cluster (Salem: Slatedale, Emerald: St. Peter's, Lehighton: Ebenezer, Bowmanstown: Faith Alive, Palmerton/Aquashicola: Salem, Parryville: Living Water, Jim Thorpe: Grace St. Paul's and Nesquehoning: Meed's Memorial). The bounty of what all the churches collected for our first time was truly amazing.
The back packs were distributed to seventh and eighth graders in the respective school districts. In a thank you note, the principal of the Palmerton School District noted how much the back packs were welcomed and needed. Next year the cluster will strive to provide back packs for 300 students. BEYOND THE CONFERENCE WALK THRU THE BIBLE Through a live event, the Walk Thru the Bible program motivates people to learn the big picture of the Old or New Testament. The goal is to ignite a passion for God's Word in people's hearts. They learn the major people, places and events and a have fun learning experience getting into God's Word. Many UM churches have taken that "walk" including Tabor and Elverson UMCs. Watch these links to learn more. Walk Thru YouTube Middle-aged Parent High School & College Student To host an event, contact John Fretz at 1-800-345-3803 or email. DISTRICT LEADERSHIP District Lay Leaders: Ken Ghorm, Phone: 610-428-1981, kgorm@jsp.com and Patricia Wilson, Phone: 570-688-4045, mundann@aol.com. Chair, District Committee on the Superintendency: The Rev. William Thompson, Retired, 81 Willow Drive, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229; Phone: 570-325-2121; firerevbill@gmail.com. Chair, District Board of Church Location and Building: The Rev. Eugene Boyer, Black Creek UMC, 158 Golf Course Road, Sugarloaf, PA 18249; Phone: 570-384-4087; revgboyer@frontiernet.net Chair, District Committee on Ordained Ministry: The Rev. Dr. Thomas Robinson III, Green Pond UMC, 4411 Green Pond Road, Easton, PA 18045; Phone: 610-253-2731; pastortom@rcn.com. Registrar, District Committee on Ordained Ministry: The Rev. Blaik Westhoff, Tabor UMC, PO Box 38, Woxall, PA 18979; Phone: 215-234-4852; pastorblaik@taborumc.org. Chair, District Transformation Team: The Rev. Christina Keller, Covenant UMC, 2715 Mountain View Drive, Bath, PA 18014; Phone: 610-837-7517; pastorkeller@hotmail.com. Chair, District Children & Youth Ministries: Mrs. Beth Keretzman, Phone: 570-595-7634;
bethjohnk4@frontiernet.net Chair, District Young Adult Ministries: The Rev. Candy LaBar, Faith UMC, 1160 South Drive, Stroudsburg, PA 18360; Phone: 610-424-0712; revclabar@gmail.com. District Emergency Response Coordinator: The Rev. Greg Ellis, Phone: 484-350-5965, gsellis66@msn.com. Safe Sanctuaries Representative: Kathy Dries,kldries@ptd.net DISTRICT OFFICE The NE District Office is open Mondays - Fridays from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. In case of an emergency or an urgent matter, please contact the DS at 215-470-2234. Please note that the DS and the DRA attend off-site meetings periodically. Therefore, if you are planning to stop by, please call in advance to guarantee that someone will be in the office. Dr. Irving Cotto District Superintendent and Mrs. Sheila Milz District Resource Assistant The Northeast District Office of the EPA Conference of the UM Church 2336 S. 9 th Street, Unit 3 Allentown, PA 18103 610-395-6661 610-395-5117 (fax) nesuper@rcn.com Website