Philadelphia’s WPVI-TV News featured Eastern PA Conference Lay Leader William Thompson in a recent story about his decades-long business of teaching basic computer skills to seniors. It’s part of the ABC station’s series “The Art of Aging.” “Love them or …
4 new Certified Lay Ministers bring EPA current total to 70
Four new Eastern PA Certified Lay Ministers (CLMs) “graduated” in a Service of Recognition June 11, at Asbury United Methodist Church in Allentown. In its 14th year, the conference program now has 70 active CLMs, and 16 of them are …
Retired 50-year church organist gets to share her gift once more
Celebrating the Creator’s gift of music on Sunday, May 21, enabled Covenant UMC in Lancaster to also celebrate a much-beloved, retired musician who shared that gift with the church for 70 years, including 50 years as its organist. Dolly Kepner, …
Hear God speak at Laity Academy #2, August 4-5
After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice. – 1 Kings 19:12 United Methodists of Eastern PA may hear God’s still, small voice speak to …
Tools for Ministry returns to onsite learning for leadership
The Eastern PA Conference will close its 2023 Tools for Ministry toolbox when the trio of leadership development events ends this Saturday where the sun sets, in the West District. It’s the first major, in-person training to occur there in …
Saturday is Leadership Academy Planning Day
While the Philadelphia Eagles will spend Saturday preparing to win Sunday’s Super Bowl, about a hundred EPA&GNJ church, district and conference leaders will gather to prepare for something far more important and more lasting: a new and improved Leadership Academy …
Holding on together
Cabinet epistle prescribes remedies to clergy stress, burnout
“In the midst of deeply felt challenges to our health, our churches and our society, it is normal for stress and anxiety to increase.” Thus begins a letter sent recently by the joint EPA&GNJ Cabinet to all clergy and chairs …
Laity Sunday: Rise Up and Testify to God’s Grace!
Laity Sunday is observed on the third Sunday in October (October 16, 2022). Each year The United Methodist Church celebrates the ministry and witness of laypersons everywhere through a special service. The Greater New Jersey Conference’s Breakthrough Resource is offering …
New Conference Lay Leader wants to first listen, then lead
William Preston “Bill” Thompson, our new Eastern PA Conference Lay Leader, wants to speak up for the concerns of laity. But first he wants to listen. He likes to share a favorite maxim of his dad’s about having two …
17 laity complete North District cluster’s regional academy
Eastern PA Conference churches in the northwestern part of the North District resumed their annual, regional Laity Academy at Elysburg UMC in September after a two-year hiatus caused by the Covid pandemic.