SW District E-alert, February 17, 2016
For our Calendar of Events and the Fine Print about this publication, please scroll to the
end of this email.
This e-alert and past e-alerts are available on the SW District page of the Conference
website.
“Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy." – Pope Francis
Deadline Approaching! March 5, Tools for Ministry at Lititz UMC, 8:30 am. Guest speaker:
Rev. Mike Mather of Broadway UMC in Indianapolis. Click here and scroll down to
download the brochure (which contains the registration form). Registration deadline:
February 24. Payment must accompany registration. Please note that the brochure is
designed to be printed on two sides, flip pages on short edge.
Deadline Extended! Opportunities to Serve in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. The
deadline has been extended for Nominations for Annual Conference Positions. This is the
year the Conference Nominating Committee must find the best leadership to serve this
conference for the next four years. Between now and March 1, 2016, the Eastern PA Annual
Conference will accept Interest Forms from all persons in every district throughout the
Conference who are interested in serving on a Conference Committee, Board or Ministry —
laity and clergy. The EPC Nominations Committee will review and evaluate the Interest
Forms and submit a slate of nominees (new chairpersons and members) to the 2016 Annual
Conference. The Annual Conference will elect the leadership team for the 2016-2020
Quadrennium in June 2016. The newly elected conference leaders will begin their four-year
term of service on July 1, 2016. For complete information, a brochure, the Nomination
Form, and descriptions of the committees and agencies, please click here. Nominations may
also be submitted online.
New! UM Communications’ Rethink Church ministry has new Easter resources for
outreach and worship that focus on the search for meaning and new beginnings. Available
in different designs so churches can select messages that best connect to their communities
the customizable resources include targeted postcards, door hangers, and invitation cards
(order by March 1). Also order free social media graphics and worship materials. Rethink
Church’s national advertising effort will begin March 7, with the message, "If changing how
we think about Easter truly made it a time of new beginnings, that could change
everything." The campaign builds awareness of The United Methodist Church, but it also
seeks to support local churches as they reach out with a message of faith and hope.
Customized video advertisements are available through March 1.
New! United Methodist Women News.
March 23, Day of Giving. On March 23, 1869, eight women gathered at Tremont
Methodist Episcopal church in Boston, Massachusetts, and organized the Woman’s Foreign
Missionary Society, which would become United Methodist women. Those women raised
money to send a doctor, Clara Swain, and a teacher, Isabella Thoburn, to India as
missionaries to serve the women of that nation. Celebrate the dedication and foresight of
our foremothers in mission as we lead up to our 150th anniversary in 2019 by participating
in the Day of Giving on March 23. Donations will go the Legacy Fund, an endowment that
will lay the financial foundation for future generations of the United Methodist Women. For
more info, visit www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/150
April 16, Ingathering/Day Apart, Covenant UMC, 110 N Mulberry Street, Lancaster.
The program begins at 9:30 am. The speaker is Mei-Ling Blackstone who went on the
Mission of Peace to China with Bishop Peggy Johnson. At this event, we will collect new
items for the Lancaster county clothing banks. Underwear and socks are especially needed
in all sizes. Children and youth clothing are needed in all sizes. Quilts and warm blankets
are always welcome.
For more info about either of the above events, please contact UMW District President Ruth
Havercamp at havie1@verizon.net
Reminders
March 30, Prayer Service for General Conference, 6:30 pm at Ruhl’s UMC, 4810
Elizabethtown Road, Manheim.
April 10, 4:00 pm (Please note new time). LUMINA’s “Night of Light,” Dinner, Silent
Auction, & Jazz/Gospel Concert Featuring Robin Work, Columbia UMC, 510 Walnut Street,
Columbia, PA 17512. For more information, please contact Coreen Russo, 394-8412,
Correen.lumina@gmail.com
A Time for Listening and Discernment: General Conference Listening Sessions. Every four
years in preparation for General Conference, the elected General – Jurisdictional
Conference Delegation schedules Listening Sessions, to hear from the members of the
Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference the concerns and understanding regarding
proposed legislation coming before the General Conference for action. Please save the
following dates, choose a site, and plan to attend one of these sessions. Information
regarding resolutions will be published prior to these sessions in the NEWSpirit and
district newsletters. Guidelines and format for the sessions will be published closer to the
dates.
April 11, 7 pm to 8:30 pm, Wesley UMC, 2540 Center St., Bethlehem PA 18017
April 16, 10 am to Noon, Simpson House, 2101 Belmont Ave., Philadelphia PA 19131
April 20, 7 pm to 8:30 pm, UMC of the Good Shepherd, 1500 Quentin Rd., Lebanon PA
17042
One Call in Session on April 23, 9 am to 10:30 am; Call-in number and instructions will
be published in the NEWSpirit and District newsletters and on the epaumc.org website.
April 16, YES Youth Retreat 2016, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Cedarville UMC, 1092 Laurelwood
Road, Pottstown, PA 19465. Youth will spend the day seeking God for the purpose He has
for their life. God is calling youth into ministries – lay, licensed and ordained. Are our
young people tuned into God's voice? At the YES Retreat youth will be exposed to a wide
range of ministry options from pastoral to chaplaincy, youth work to prison ministry, a
foreign mission field to teaching in a college or seminary, yes, and even business, factory,
office and farm. We will worship together and act out some call stories in the Bible. They
will have the opportunity to interact with other young people and enjoy indoor and outdoor
games. Students will get to meet the Bishop, District Superintendents, members of the
District Committee of Ordained Ministry, the Board of Ordained Ministry, and people in
other forms of ministry. It will be a great day with food and lots of fun. This is for youth in
grades 9 to 12. Individual youth or your whole senior high group or class are welcome. Cost
is $10.00. Rev. Matt Heckman will be happy to answer any of your questions:
coastermatt@kochenderfer.org or 717-679-8346. Registration is on-line: please click here.
Wellness Survey 2016. It’s not too late! Deadline: February 22. Please take the short (eight
question) survey. You have two options for completing it: (1) Go to Survey Monkey, or (2)
Complete a written survey and mail to: Nancy Kraft, RN, 34 Kraft Lane
Schuylkill Haven PA 17972. Instructions and a paper survey are available on the EPA
Conference website. Your input helps promote health, healing, and wellness in our
churches and communities.
All clergy and laity are cordially invited to a service of recognition honoring the Certified
Lay Minister Graduates, Spring Class of 2016, Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the
United Methodist Church, on Sunday, April 17, 2016 at 3:00 pm at West Lawn United
Methodist Church, 15 Woodside Avenue, Reading, PA 19609. Bishop Peggy Johnson,
Preaching.
NEJ Souvenir Program Book. On July 11-15 of this year more than 300 leaders of the
Northeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church will gather in Lancaster,
Pennsylvania. A souvenir program booklet is being created for this significant event. Our
professionally printed booklet will include greetings from public officials, our agenda and
organizational information, and appropriate ads in various sizes to promote vendors’
ministries, services and products. We invite you to consider purchasing space for a greeting
or an advertisement. For complete details, please click here and scroll down.
Classifieds
First United Methodist Church in Lancaster is seeking a team member to work on staff in
the role of Finance Manager. The Finance Manager has the responsibility of insuring the
church’s operations are recorded and reported using Generally Acceptable Accounting
Policies and Not-for-Profit Accounting with the utmost integrity. This will include, but not
be limited to, responsibility for the oversight, management, and leadership in the areas of
finance, internal control, and auditing for the entire ministry. The successful
accomplishment of this position supports all of the church’s ministries. This is a full-time
position with benefits. If you are interested in the position please contact the Rev. Eddie
Cameron at First United Methodist Church, 29 East Walnut Street, Lancaster, PA.
17602. 717-394-7231 ext. 311. ecameron@engagegodfirst.org
Calendar of Events
For a schedule of Sexual Ethics Workshops, click here
For information about the Changing Racism training, click here
2016
February 23
Women in Professional Ministry Lunch
T. Burke, 2433 Old Philadelphia Pike, Smoketown
RSVP to Cheryl at dzegers113@comcast.net
March 5
Tools for Ministry, Lititz UMC
Click here and scroll down
UM Night at the 76ers
Faith-Sharing Event, Register now
New Hanover UMC, Gilbertsville, PA
Prayer Service for General Conference, 6:30 pm
Ruhl’s UMC, 4810 Elizabethtown Road, Manheim
March 12
March 19
March 30
April 10
4:00 pm (New Time). LUMINA’s “Night of Light,”
Columbia UMC, 510 Walnut Street, Columbia
May 3
May 10-20
Clergy Workshop and Luncheon, 8:30 am
DoubleTree Resort, Lancaster
$15; Register on-line (deadline: April 12)
Safe Sanctuaries Training, First UMC, Lancaster
No fee but registration is required: please
email swdistrict@comcast.net
General Conference, Portland, Oregon
June 5
June 16-18, 2016
District Conference, Leola UMC. 3:00 pm
Annual Conference, The Marriott, Lancaster City
July 7-10, 2016
NEJ Youth Rally, Lancaster
More details to come
Northeast Jurisdictional Conference
The Marriott, Lancaster City
May 14
July 10-15, 2016
The Fine Print
Editorial Policy of the Southwest District E-Alert. The Southwest District E-alert is published on an
as-needed basis on Wednesdays. Articles will appear once as New information; thereafter, they will
be Reminders or Calendar Items. Spaghetti dinners, fundraisers, concerts, VBSs, bazaars, etc. are
included only on the Local Church and ConneXion Events page.
The E-Alert is sent to Pastors and Church Offices on the Southwest District and to lay people who
have requested having their names added to the distribution list. Please feel free to copy any article
for your church’s bulletin or newsletter. To unsubscribe, please send an email to
swdistrict@comcast.net with the word “Unsubscribe” in the subject line. Appointed clergy may not
unsubscribe.
All articles and announcements should be sent to District Resource Assistant Chris McLaughlin
at swdistrict@comcast.net by 3:00 Tuesday afternoon for consideration. Articles should be in the
body of an email or an attached Word document (please no PDFs). Submissions made by telephone
will not be accepted. Articles may be edited for clarity and space. All decisions regarding publication
are made by the District Office.