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TRANSCRIPT
Weekly Email News
EMAIL ADDRESSES:To reach Alyce – [email protected]
To reach Stacey – [email protected] Office Phone Number: 814.361.2464
District Office Fax Number: 814.361.2465
JOHNSTOWN DISTRICT OFFICE HOURSMonday – Thursday 7:30 am to 1 pm
Wednesday January 4, 2016
510 Locust StreetJohnstown, PA 15901
Johnstown District ofthe United Methodist Church
PASTORS PLEASE SAVE THE DATES!We will be having an ALL Pastors Meeting on Thursday, February 2, 2017 at Arbutus Park Manor in the Community Room. The meeting will begin at 10 am and finish after lunch. Please make arrangements with your schedule so that you will be able to attend this meeting. RSVP to the District office no later than January 25, 2017.
March 17, 2017 we will be having a continuing education event for pastors at Arbutus Park Manor from 10 am to 3:30 pm. Chris Kindle from the WPA Conference Center will hold a seminar on Discipleship. More details to come in the new year!
HELP WANTEDTrinity UM Church Portage is in search of a part time secretary. Applicant must pass criminal background check and child clearances. Computer skills necessary, including Microsoft word. Please call 736-9788 or 736-8651 or email at [email protected].
PRE-SCHOOL TEACHERJohnstown: Bethany United Methodist Church Pre-School is currently looking for a part-time teacher for the 3 year old class. Hours would be Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Applicants must have up to date teaching credentials. For more information and to schedule an interview, please call Karen at 266-9588.
Learn Biblical HebrewThe Johnstown District School of Biblical Languages is again offering to pastors and interested
lay persons a chance to learn the Hebrew of the Old Testament. Students who complete the course can expect to acquire a basic vocabulary of Biblical Hebrew and a reliable grammar. Also, students should have an idea of the best dictionaries and sources, and be able to evaluate English translations of the Old Testament. Please call Beulah UMC and register if you are interested in enrolling in this class.
When: 2 Semesters, Spring and Fall 2017. Thursday mornings, 9:00-10:00am, beginning on January 12, 2017Where: Beulah United Methodist Church, 2nd Floor ParlorCost: Normal tuition has been $300.00 (Free to members of Beulah UM Church). As a Continuing Education project, pastors can apply for grants. Checks are payable to “Beulah UM Church”.Award: 7 CEU’s. 3.5 per semester.Questions: Contact Dr. David Stains, 539-0532 (church) or 539-0044 (home).
Volunteers NeededRISE – a light dinner followed by a contemporary Worship and Praise Service every Thursday night at the Garfield Street UMC at 6 pm. RISE is a shared ministry of the United for God Cooperative and the Ebensburg UMC. This ministry is growing already we are adding more partners, most recently Homestead Ave. UMC.
You are invited to be part of this new ministry! There are opportunities for everyone to share the love of Christ and to use their gifts. Help is needed in cooking, serving, clean up, welcoming, singing,
playing a musical instrument and just worshiping with others. Please let Pastor Carol know if you are willing to help. You do not have to commit to any particular number of times, just as your schedule allows. The Spirit is rising in Johnstown!
Scalp Level Trinity (821 Horn Rd., Windber) invites parents, caretakers, and supporters of children with special needs to a monthly support meeting at 10 am on the last Saturday of every month at the church. The meeting will offer a time of reflection, listening, and community for those whose lives are impacted by physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. As parents of a child with cerebral palsy, Jim and Kristen Sands offer a safe space for sharing the challenges and the blessings that come with special needs parenting. Whether it is Autism, or Down’s Syndrome, or physical challenges; there are others in the community who share in the struggles, and in the joys of this unique calling. Come join us!
W.A.C.K.A free community dinner, served at the Windber Area Community Kitchen, will be held from 4 to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, January 7th, 2017 at Windber Calvary United Methodist Church, 1800 Stockholm Ave.
The meal will be served by H&R Block. The menu will feature: Pork & Sauerkraut, Vegetables, Fruit, Assorted Deserts, Coffee and Punch. All are welcome! The Windber Area Community Kitchen (W.A.C.K.) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization
FOREST HILLS MINISTERIUM “STOP HUNGER NOW”Stop Hunger is a national organization that ships food all over the world. In April 2016, the Forest Hills Ministerium held an event at the Buckhorn Grange. There was 12,000 bags of fortified rice-soy meals packed. The meals needed to be paid for at a cost of $.29 each and we accomplished this by getting donations from churches totaling $4,000. This year we would like to fundraise at least $6,000. We are looking to schedule the next packing event in late spring 2017. To help accomplish this goal, we have set up two fundraisers:
1) First, we are having a Hoss’s Community Day on November 5, 2016 at the Richland Hoss’s. You need an email form with our group number on it. You take it to the restaurant on the 5 th and 20% of your total meal cost is donated to our fund. If this is a success, there will be more dates to follow. If you would like a copy of the email, please contact Stacey at the District office and she will send you a copy of it.
2) We are planning a Delgrosso Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser at First Church in South Fork on December 10, 2016 from 3 to 7 pm. We are looking to make this a big event and would like to sell at least 500 tickets for the dinner. We need people to come to the dinner as well as volunteers to help make the meal a success. We will be needing cooks, servers, cleanup crew, bus people as well as donations of cake. All ages are encouraged to participate. The tickets will be available at the beginning of November and tickets will also be sold at the door. We are going to have a meeting at South Fork: First Church on Sunday, December 4 at 4 pm for all who would like to help.
If you have any questions, please contact Tim New at 814-241-4943.
“SILVER RING THING” OUTREACH AT CONEMAUGH TWP. HIGHSCHOOL My name is Theresa Wolf and I serve as a youth leader down at Kaufman Mennonite in Davidsville. Folks from Common Grounds Outreach @ CT, North Star Youth Outreach, Emmanuel Church, Laurel Highlands FCA, Young Life Johnstown, United Youth Network of Johnstown, Oakland United Methodist Church, Johnstown Christian School, Maple Spring Church of the Brethren, and us here at Kaufman are partnering together to host an event called Silver Ring Thing (www.silverringthing.com) in March 2017. The date is Wednesday evening March 22nd, 2017. The tentative location is
Conemaugh Township High School Auditorium. I hope to connect with you soon, And if you'd like to meet and discuss this or anything, I'd love to!
Below is some info on the ministry
https://vimeo.com/silverringthing/review/140703428/535f7019be
https://vimeo.com/silverringthing/review/172121327/562cae7354
https://vimeo.com/silverringthing/review/167469169/71ddaeca07
HISTORY
The Silver Ring Thing program was created in 1995 by Denny and Amy Pattyn as a response to the escalating numbers of teen pregnancies in Yuma, Arizona, and was moved to Pittsburgh, PA in 2000. Since that time, SRT has hosted more than 1,200 events in 9 countries, reaching 650,000+ total attendees. Of this number, more than 241,000 students have received rings as a symbol of their commitment to remain pure and abstain from sex until marriage. From it's inception, SRT has recognized that behavior change comes through heart change- that the guilt and pain of sexual immorality presents an open door for the Gospel. To date, more than 121,000 students have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior through SRT events worldwide!! Mission “to create a culture shift in America where abstinence becomes the norm again rather than the exception.”
The partnership we are looking for has 4 main elements and we would love to talk with you about any of these that you might be called to:1. Prayer partnership: right now, please specifically pray about the CT board meeting which is on Dec 13th. At that meeting they will make their final decision about allowing us to use their facilities for the event. The superintendent is hopeful for a yes vote. Over the coming 4 months we will be asking prayer partners to pray each week for something specific.
2. Promotion and commitment to bringing students from your ministry. We are asking ministries and churches to make a commitment in a real way vs. just hanging up a poster. That is, saying that we as a youth group or ministry group are attending this event and by helping students to get there. Also, by reaching out to the parents of your students to encourage the parents to attend the special workshop for parents occurring simultaneously at the same venue.
3. financial partnership: the event costs $3000, and we have about $1900 committed so far. We are asking ministries that are able to, to commit any amount. So far, it ranges from $100 -$500 from 5 partners. We continue to reach out for more.
4. Volunteer partnership: we need about 25 adult volunteers on the day of the event. We have about 15 committed so far if you have adults who would like to serve we would love to have them join in! Best in Christ,
Theresa [email protected]
Pastor Jeremy W. BarkleyAssociate/Youth Pastor
Oakland [email protected]
"For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13
Encounter with Christ UMVIMMission to Colombia August 15-23
In August of 2017, the Conference Committee on Encounter with Christ in Latin America has set it focus on Brisas del Mar, Colombia, as the location for a VIM Mission. As always, we have the cooperation of the Conference of the Evangelical Methodist church of Columbia, acting as our guides and hosts.
Brisas del Mar has been a significant center of ministry and mission for some time. Not many years ago, the drug cartels controlled this part of Colombia, and the local population suffered extremely at their hands. The Methodist Church reached out to these people, and even to their oppressors. When this area became pacified, the Church had gained wide respect for its involvement, and used its good name to foster ministries in health, education, and church work.
The purpose of our proposed mission in Colombia is to do construction and improve the facilities in Brisas del Mar. Details of the actual building plans will develop with the ongoing correspondence with the Colombian Church leaders.
Those who are interested in participating in this mission should complete the attached from and mail it to the Mission Team Leader, Dr. David Stains, at 518 Fronheiser Street, Johnstown, PA 15902. If you have questions, you are welcome ot call at 814-539-0044 or 539-0532. Email at [email protected]. Realistically, you can probably expect total expenses to be about $2,000.00.
I hope the Lord opens doors for us to work together. Pastor David Stains
“MESSY CHURCH”Park Ave UMC will sponsor "Messy Church" the last Saturday of every month from 3-5 pm. This is an
event that highlights the family. There is a time of welcoming, a craft or game time, a time for celebration and each month we will be serving a meal and the best part is it is absolutely free. Call
the church for more details at 814-288-4725. We'll see you at "Messy Church".
FLOOD BUCKETSSeveral weeks ago, I put out a request for churches to consider collecting flood buckets, layette kits, and other types of kits to take to the Mission Barn. Graciously, the Elton Zion United Methodist Church at 1089 Mt. Airy Drive, Elton, PA 15934, has offered to collect the kits for our District! If you are planning on dropping off items, please contact the church at (814) 266-1512 to make sure someone can meet you there when dropping off.
CLERGY REMINDER:
UPCOMING DEADLINES:All clergy - please give this your immediate attention. Please check "Required Annual Forms" on the WPAUMC website for more information. Of course, all of these deadlines can be met BEFORE the deadline!
Dec. 15 - a. Charge Conference Minutes. For those conferences where an elder other than the DS presided, please mail a hard copy of the charge conference packet that was used. Include the minutes with the packet. Thanks.b. Mentoring Report. From all local pastors and certified candidates who are enrolled in Course of Study or Seminary. Check the back of the form for persons other than the DS who are to receive the report. This is to be signed and mailed to the DS and the others who require the information. c. Academic Transcripts - From all local pastors and certified candidates who are enrolled in Course of Study or Seminary. This annual transcript (while you are in school) is a requirement for your continuation in the candidacy process and for continuation as a local pastor. This is to be sent to the District Office (307 Freeport Street, Delmont, PA 15626
Dec. 31 - a. Update your church dashboard with current information about your congregation (ministries, worship times, etc) and your newly elected church leadership. This is very important that you keep this list current. b. Update your clergy profile and your church profile. c. Advisory Form for Limited Itineracy is a letter requesting consideration; it is not a guarantee!Complete the form as fully as possible and mail to the District Office. d. 2017 Budget is due in the District Office for each local church.e. Quick Reference Form - please review that form and send to district office with updated information.
Deadline for 2016 Connectional Apportionment payments is Thursday, January 12, 2017. ALL payments must be physically received by the Conference Center by the close of business on January 12, 2017. Any payment received by the Conference Center after January 12, 2017 will be applied to 2017. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Roger White [email protected] 724-776-2300 ext 239 or Holly Sawyer [email protected] 724-776-2300 ext 261 directly.
Jan. 31 – Year-end Statistical Reports (EZRA – GCFA Login Required) (http://ezra.gcfa.org/) All passwords have once again been changed to umchurch Email this report to John Wilson – [email protected]
March 1 – Fund Balance Report – Submit to District Office
Thanks for keeping up with the details of the day!
District Prayer Chain- Robyn Hutchins (upcoming surgery)- Doreen Griffith- Our Country and our leaders- All Pastors & Laity in the Johnstown District
Alyce’s Schedule: January 04 – Alyce at CabinetJanuary 05 – Alyce at CabinetJanuary 06January 07January 08January 09 – Alyce in Office (Stacey out of office)January 10 – Alyce in OfficeJanuary 11 – Alyce in OfficeJanuary 12 – Alyce in OfficeJanuary 13 – Camp Allegheny Dinner w/BishopJanuary 14 – Conference Call @ 9:30 amJanuary 15 – MLK Service @ Garden City UM 4 pm
Save the date! Annual Conference 2017 is June 8-11, 2017
Conference News and Events
Minister's Chorus (Rev. Steve Morse)
Rev. Steve Morse is the director of this chorus and would love for you to join him at one of his upcoming concerts.
Upcoming Concerts
March 16, 2017 Franklin: Shippenville UMC April 20, 2017 Carmichaels UMC May 25, 2017 Combined chorus with Susquehanna Conference- Westside UMC, Clearfield Pa Sept. 21, 2017 Linesville/Harmansburg UMC Oct. 19, 2017 Mount Hope UMC Nov. 16, 2017 Brookville First UMC
SPARK 2017Scheduled for Friday, January 20, 2017 to Sunday, January 22, 2017 at Sheraton Station Square, 300 W Station Square Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Contact person: Renaye Hoffman at [email protected] Station Square, 300 W Station Square Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Learn more.
Speaker: Bob Lenz Worship Band: Sanctus Real
Final registration deadline: January 6, 2017Youth: $210/person (4/room)
Adult: $210/person (4/room)
Update on Prison OutreachKeep up with WPA Prison Outreach Ministry volunteers in their latest newsletter. Learn more about the ministry and how you or your church can get involved at: wpapom.org.
GIVE TO WEST VIRGINIA FLOOD RELIEFGive to WV Flood Relief - The Western Pennsylvania UM Conference, is gathering funds under the designation #WV2016 and encouraging local churches to take up an offering or give online.
Keep Up With Upcoming EventsWPAUMC Conference
The website for upcoming events is: http://www.wpaumc.org/events. The Conference Calendar can now be found on the website under “Calendar” instead of “Events”, to save any confusion.
Follow the Western Pennsylvania Conference on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wpaumcCONFERENCE MISSION OPPORTUNITIESYou can now check our running list of WPA VIM Trip Opportunities online anytime at www.wpaumc.org/opportunities
CLERGY DEVELOPMENTVital ministry requires a plan. Let this be a tool to create your continuing education plan. Opportunities are listed here by areas of focus to allow you to target an area where you need to grow. Our Conference focus for 2016 is Leadership. There are some great leadership development events coming up! Which ones could help strengthen your ministry?
Youth Zim CampApplications are now available for the 2017 Youth Zim Camp. The dates are June 20- July 5, 2017. Get details and application.
Thrive - Ministry on the Edge
April 30 – May 2, 2017Double Tree by Hilton, Pittsburgh, PA, 15205Cutting Edge SpeakersInteractive Breakouts
Travel/Lodging - Book Room nowRegistration opens November 1st Western PA Scholarship Form
EUMA Extravaganza Friday, February 24, 2017. The event will be held at the Bel-Aire Hotel and Conference Center, 2800 W 8th St, Erie, PA 16505. The date change will follow a complete renovation of the hotel and convention center and give the EUMA board and staff an opportunity to complete a strategic planning process – the outcomes of which will be announced at the banquet. We are honored to announce that Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi and members of her cabinet are planning to participate. Additional details will follow and thank you for saving the date. Visit our website at www.euma-erie.org
VIM Connellsville Disaster Response
NEWAs the recovery continues in Connellsville, funds are being requested from local churches, pastors and
individuals to the Conference Disaster Response - Advance Special #DR0000911. Gifts can be made online
atwpaumc.org/online payments or sent to the Conference Treasurer's office at 1204 Freedom Rd., PO Box
5002, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066-0002. While Connellsville Area Community Ministries money will go directly
to the victims, funds contributed to the advance will go to other needs like tools, materials, and volunteer
support for the teams who will be working over the coming months in the flood damaged homes. UMCOR has
already granted funds for PT staffing to manage this recovery, and our Conference Mission Coordinator is
working with others to secure father grants for the response office and staff. Volunteers and work teams are
needed to get people back into their houses before cold weather sets in.
To sign up to volunteer visit www.connellsvillevolunteers.org or call 724-366-0408.
Eastbrook Mission Barn to welcome missionary as new director: We will welcome Katie Peterson on November 6th! Funding support for this new position is through WPA Advance Special #MS002009B. US & PA FloodingGive monetary donations to WPA Disaster Response (Advance Special #DR0000911) for the response, including supplies, administration and volunteer support, and direct assistance to survivors of the Connellsville area.
We are still collecting Cleaning Buckets, Health Kits, and Bedding Kits as well as monetary donations through Advanced Special #wv2016 (West Virginia Flooding). We will continue to receive these at the Conference Center and the Eastbrook Mission Barn and its satellites for the next few months. Items may be dropped off at any time, even after hours, at the UM Conference Center or Eastbrook Mission Barn at your convenience.
Conference teams in October, and beyond are being scheduled. They will be shared via Conference communications and listed online at wpaumc.org/opportunities
Please register your plans to send a team to West Virginia through the www.wpaumc.org/RegisterVIMteams Disaster Spiritual and Emotional Care Volunteers are Needed
MISSION VIMpossible PILGRIMAGE TO GERMANY - Western PA UMs are invited to join a spiritual pilgrimage, On the Trail of Martin Luther, in Germany from Apr 19-30, 2017. The year marks the 500th anniversary of Luther's Ninety-Five Theses and a major turning point in the Protestant Reformation. Collette, the tour company, will support WPA Volunteer-in-Mission Scholarships to help make VIM service possible for all God's people. Highlights… Mainz, Worms, Gutenberg Museum, Erfurt, Wartburg Castle, Lutherhaus, Eisleben, Dresden, Leipzig, St. Thomas Church, Wittenberg, St. Mary’s Church, Berlin --- For more information contact: Stephanie Gottschalk--(724)776-2300 [email protected]
2017 Conference VIM TeamsFind 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, [email protected] . 724-776-2300 ext 241
Texas Disaster Recovery Team – February 2017: In 2015 and 2016, areas of Texas had massive flood damage from repeated storms which made the cleanup and ongoing recovery a struggle. Staying in as local church, this team will continue the recovery work and strengthen the UMC in Texas. Age 16+. Estimated cost: $500.
Mission VIMpossible Pilgrimage to Germany: Western PA UMs are invited to join a spiritual pilgrimage, On the Trail of Martin Luther, in Germany from April 19 – May 1, 2017. This year marks the 500th anniversary of Luther's Ninety-Five Theses and a major turning point in the Protestant Reformation. Collette Tour Company, will support WPA Volunteer-in-Mission Scholarships to help make VIM service possible for all God's people. Cost: 3,990. Luther Trail Webinar: Get details
House of the Carpenter Team – June 18-24, 2017 in Wheeling, West Virginia. Join House of the Carpenter in holistic approach to mission and community development. Volunteers engage the community for mercy, justice and spiritual formation. This team will focus on home repair and other tasks. Age 14 - Adult. Cost $375.
Red Bird Family Team – July 9-15, 2017: In Eastern Kentucky, chronic poverty makes life a struggle for people in this mountainous area of Appalachia. Volunteers enable Red Bird Mission to builds up the community and witness to Christ. Kids age 7-12 with adult, Youth (age 13+) and Adults. Estimated cost: $600 for Youth and Adults. Kids: $450.
UMCOR Sager Brown Team – July 30-August 5, 2017: Join the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) in the work of disaster response and fighting poverty at Sager Brown, their main warehouse and shopping depot. Volunteers engage in local outreach and in preparing relief supply kits as signs of comfort and hop to a community in distress. Age 16+. Estimated cost $2,500.
ZIM Camp – July-August 2017: Despite widespread challenges, the UMC in Zimbabwe has grown and continues in vital ministry and dynamic worship. ZIM Camp offers youth two weeks a chance to build relationships through District partnership projects, all in the spirit of Chabadza. Age 15-18. Cost $2500.
Fiji Team – Fall 2017 (Dates to be determined): Cyclone Winston devastated parts of the Fijian Islands in February 2016. We are working with our brothers and sisters in the Methodist Church in Fiji and the UMC to meet their ongoing needs with solidarity and encouragement. Cost to be determined.