Healing Communities Training is a national model for clergy and congregations to offer restoration and healing for everyone affected by the criminal justice system and become a station of hope. The class is sponsored by the EPA Conference Prison Ministry …
With Gratitude and Welcome
Pocono Plateau Staff Spotlight As the summer winds down and we prepare to say goodbye to Rev. Carmen O’Shea as the director of Pocono Plateau, and welcome to Rev. Jared Stoltzfus, we want to pause to celebrate their ministry and giftedness. …
Filipino Ministry Caucus’ CAMP-PASSION deepens faith, shapes young leaders
From June 26-28, nearly fifty youth, young adults, and volunteers gathered at Gretna Glen Camp & Retreat Center in Lebanon, PA, for the first ever CAMP-PASSION, an identity-faith formation and leadership summer camp hosted by Eastern Pennsylvania and Greater New …
Pressley STEM Boot Camp 2026 concludes with electrifying results
This summer, Pressley STEM Foundation finished its 3-day Boot Camp program which ran from July 7-9 at its Satellite Lab at Mt. Zion UMC in North Philadelphia. The initiative, founded by Carolyn Pressley, Lay Leader of Mt. Zion UMC, is …
Connectional table and contextual ministry plan leaders meet to discern annual conference goals
On Saturday July 11th, as some of the most talented soccer players in the world prepared for the quarter finals of the World Cup, leaders from across EPA & GNJ gathered to make some goals of their own. Leaders from …
Pull up a chair: Why LAPI is for you, too
There is a moment that happens in almost every church.It’s not during the sermon.It’s not during a committee meeting.It’s not even during worship. It’s the conversation in the hallway. The volunteer who notices someone sitting alone. The person who organizes …
Latino Camp 2026: A Week of Faith, Friendship, and New Possibilities
This summer, 73 children and youth from the Eastern Pennsylvania (EPA) and Greater New Jersey (GNJ) Conferences participated in Latino Camp 2026, hosted at Gretna Glen Camp and Retreat Center in Lebanon, PA. This year’s Latino Camp was a joyful …
Chester County Health Department seeks United Methodists’ help amid measles outbreaks
Cases of measles, a highly contagious disease that can have serious, even deadly effects, are on the rise in Pennsylvania and nationwide. The Chester County Health Department is seeking help from United Methodist churches. The call for help aligns with …
Neurodiversity ministries blossom from deep listening
In recent years, awareness and acceptance of neurodiversity—the reality that people’s brains develop and function in different ways—has grown significantly. Often associated with conditions like autism and ADHD, neurodivergence reflects a wide spectrum of human experience. Yet the church has not always embraced these differences …
After 10 years, conference continues Act of Repentance efforts toward healing
This year marked the tenth anniversary of the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference’s 2016 Act of Repentance, a response to the 2012 General Conference “Act of Repentance toward Healing Relationships with Indigenous Peoples.” That small word, “toward,” acknowledges that the work …