2015 Susquehanna Annual Conference approaches

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, Healer of our Brokenness, and Hope of the World as we anticipate gathering at Messiah College, Grantham, Pa, from June 11th thru June 13th for the Sixth Session of the Susquehanna Annual Conference.

I am often reminded of the words from John Wesley’s hymn: “And are we yet alive, and see each other’s face? Glory and thanks to Jesus give for his almighty grace!” What a joy it will be to see each other’s face, to rekindle old friendships, and to meet new brothers and sisters in Christ as one Body of Christ. What a privilege it will be to join in the commissioning and ordination of this year’s class in celebration of who we are and whose we are.

This year we will be coming together in the third year of our quadrennial theme, “Alive in Christ Together… Equipping Vital Congregations.” We come yearning for all of our congregations to be vital in ministry and in reaching out into our communities with God’s grace and hope.

Once again we have several individuals from our conference who will lead us. The Rev. Dr. Dennis Keller in his last year as the Harrisburg District Superintendent will be the preacher for the Memorial Service. The Rev. Jennifer Thomas, Pastor at Dover New Creation, will be the speaker for Ministry Night. The Rev. Arun S. Andrews, Pastor at Trinity Church, New Cumberland, will present the bible study. Pastor Janet Durrwachter, First Church, Williamsport, is organizing a presentation around our conference theme of “Equipping Vital Congregations.” I am especially pleased that Bishop Neil Irons has accepted my invitation to preach at the Ordination Service. One of the highlights of the Ordination Service will be the opportunity for presenting the offerings to Bishop’s Partners in Mission. I am excited by the additional missions and ministries to be made possible because of the generosity of our faithful people.

Each annual conference is unique and special. Yet this year we have the added privilege of electing delegates for the General and Jurisdictional conferences in 2016. Please be in fervent prayer that we might be led by the Spirit throughout the election process and each session.

I know that there is always a lot to accomplish in three days. The meetings can be long and contentious, and at times we might not easily discern where God wants us to go; but we rejoice in knowing that we worship a God who has faithfully led us to this point and will surely lead us in God’s future as we trust anew in God’s grace. As a fellow sojourner with you on this marvelous journey called faith, I look forward to greeting you at Messiah College.

With You In Christ’s Ministry,
— Bishop Jeremiah J. Park.

UMCOR celebrates 75th Anniversary

By Susan Kim (UMCOR) and LINK staff

“...That this Conference create a Methodist Committee on Overseas Relief...We urge our Methodist people to participate fully, heartily and sacrificially...”

These words, excerpted from the proceedings of the First General Conference in Atlantic City, N.J., in 1940, represent the start of the journey of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)—a journey that has helped millions of people across the world.

Seventy-five years later—on March 15, 2015—around 500 people gathered to celebrate the creation of UMCOR during a service at Asbury United Methodist Church—formerly Central Methodist Church, the location in Atlantic City where UMCOR first came into existence.

Congregations from Asbury, Venice Park and Hamilton United Methodist churches, as well as friends from across the country, including representatives from many conferences, UMCOR staff, folks involved with Hurricane Sandy recovery, and the mayor of Atlantic City, gathered with a sense of historical appreciation and future vision. The celebration service lasted about two hours, and there was a reception to follow.

March 15 was One Great Hour of Sharing Sunday, during which churches across the globe collected an offering that enables UMCOR to continue its 75-year legacy of responding to those in need. Donations to One Great Hour of Sharing fund UMCOR’s administrative costs, and allow 100 percent of all other donations to be spent on programs specified by the donor.

“...to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness...” Isaiah 42:7

At the service of celebration, the Rev. Denise Honeycutt, UMCOR deputy general secretary, preached a sermon entitled “Now That’s Worth Celebrating.” She focused on Isaiah 42:5-9.

Jean Norris and her husband Rev. Dave Norris represented Susquehanna Conference and Mission Central.

Jean Norris was touched by the event in a variety of ways. “As a United Methodist, I was extremely proud to be there to see what we have been doing for seventy-five years as a connectional church, to be able to see the help we have been able to provide around the world to folks in need. I’ve always supported UMCOR, but this just kind of cemented my respect for what we are doing as a denomination.” Jean was also grateful for the opportunity to meet and talk with some of the UMCOR leaders.

Secondly, being in Atlantic City on the heels of Hurricane Sandy and hearing them talking about how UMCOR almost immediately gave them a huge grant, which they used to form a partnership organization called A Future with Hope, was very meaningful to Jean. That organization is now responsible for the restoration in Atlantic City and the whole coast of New Jersey. They reported that through February, 2015, they had completed the repairs on 134 homes in New Jersey, returned more than 300 people to their homes, and have been working with more than 9,000 volunteers. The work is still in progress, and UMCOR will stay for the long haul, to the end.

Thirdly, Jean gained greater understanding and appreciation of the tie between Mission Central and  UMCOR. “To be there to represent Mission Central and to know that we are an arm of UMCOR, being one of the seven relief supply depots across the U.S., is pretty impressive.” They also had the chance to meet and talk with representatives from a Mission Central HUB in Northfield, New Jersey; the Good Shepherd HUB, who were funneled all the supplies from Mission Central in Mechanicsburg to aid people who were in need in New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy.

Bishop John Schol of the Greater New Jersey Conference and Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, who currently heads UMCOR’s board of directors, also attended the service, along with United Methodist missionaries, both current and retired, from New Jersey and elsewhere.

 “Bishop Schol personally came up to us and asked us to bring gratitude back, because he knew that the Susquehanna Conference had given $40,000 to aid the folks after Hurricane Sandy. To be there and be part of that was pretty neat,” said Jean.

Jean Norris and Bishop John Schol, episcopal leader of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference.

“It was our pleasure to represent Bishop Park, the conference, and Mission Central at the special service celebrating the 75th Anniversary of UMCOR in Atlantic City. Thank you for the privilege and honor of attending as your representatives.” — Rev. Dave and Jean Norris.

Morgan to lead UM Advocacy in PA

Dai Morgan, a Pittsburgh area pastor who serves on the Pennsylvania Council of Churches’ public witness commission, has been selected as coordinator for United Methodist Advocacy in Pennsylvania.

Morgan is pastor of Swissvale United Methodist Church, a multi-cultural mission church just outside the City of Pittsburgh. He also chairs the Commission on Christian Unity of the Western Pennsylvania UM Conference.

As the denomination’s Advocacy Coordinator in the state, Morgan will bring together advocacy leaders from the Eastern Pennsylvania, Susquehanna and Western Pennsylvania conferences to develop an integrated, collaborative plan for advocacy ministry, including building awareness among United Methodists and others throughout the state.

“Dai Morgan brings passion and the gifts essential to promote the importance of advocacy in living out our faith. Dai will work tirelessly to create a sense of collaboration, cooperation and awareness among the people called United Methodist throughout Pennsylvania,” said Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton of the Pittsburgh Area, speaking for the three United Methodist bishops in the state.
In addition to creating avenues to build relationships with legislators and public officials, Morgan will work to train United Methodists in advocacy and increase practical possibilities for them to get involved.

“Because I have been sitting on the Pennsylvania Council of Churches Commission on Public Witness for the last three years, I am familiar with the work of the church and political advocacy,” Morgan said. “As a gospel and Wesleyan mandate, I believe that promoting advocacy is a critical element for fuller expression of our faith.”

In addition to his appointment as a pastor, Morgan is the lead administrator of a large food pantry, secretary of his local Rotary Club and coordinator of the ministerium in the Borough of Swissvale.

Morgan is married and the father of four adult children. He is a graduate of Carnegie-Mellon University and earned a master of divinity degree at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Engaging Young Adults in Ministry - part 6

The following is part six (and final) in a series about Engaging Young Adults in Ministry. At the 2014 Susquehanna Annual Conference, we began a dialogue about the absence of young adults in the church and about how we can re-establish our relationships and ministry with them. This series is an edited transcript of that dialogue. The video of this presentation, and the full transcript, can be found at tinyurl.com/susumcAC2014.

Pastor Luke Harbaugh
Associate Pastor at First UMC, Hershey

My story is actually the opposite of most millennials.

I’m going to engage with this idea of shallowness that Kinnaman talked about in his book “You Lost Me.” It allowed me to reflect upon a period in my life where shallowness was the essence — the heart — of my faith.

As I was growing up I was given the seed of an evangelical faith by my Mom, who told me at a very young age that you’ve got to get right with Jesus, confess your sin, and make sure that you’re not going to hell when you die! In retrospect, that was a great place to start. It gave me a great foundation.

The problem was that that seed went un-nurtered, unwatered, for almost eighteen years of my life. So what I ended up with was a faith that was very shallow, one that was not engaged in any kind of community, one that never really grew. When I graduated high school I could not have defined discipleship if I tried.

Ultimately what it led me to (from Kinnaman’s work) was this idea of a moral, therapeutic, deism. I don’t know if any of you have heard that term before or not, but basically there’s this idea that the way God is talked about in a lot of our churches, and the way that I certainly grew up thinking about God, is that He is part psychotherapist, part motivational coach, that He is there to help you and maybe make you a little bit of a better person and when you have trouble, that’s when you pray to God and He’s there to help you out and get you out of whatever bind that you’re in. When I graduated high school, that was the faith that I possessed.

What was interesting was, that through some of my friends in high school I saw a different kind of faith take place, and really grow in their lives. When I graduated high school I’d say ‘I’m a Christian’ but I didn’t know what that meant. So, I began to seek out more answers.

The reason I say my story is the opposite of most millennials is that in my post-high school seeking, I went to church. I did not go to church growing up. I had been maybe three or four times in the first eighteen years of my life and all of a sudden I said, ‘You know what? I think I am going to start going. I want to know more about Jesus, and that’s where they talk about Jesus, so that’s where I’m gonna go.”

I started attending a Nazarene church and found that my faith really grew, for a couple of reasons; Kinnaman talks about “apprenticeships,” about the idea of mentoring and really strong relationships with older people in the church, or the pastor. And it was through those relationships that I became grounded in that particular community of faith.

So for me, I look at that shallowness that, unfortunately, we get a lot of the time as Christians, and I think that the way that we overcome that for millennials, and overcome that for the church as a whole, is to really focus on building relationships with people, especially those that aren’t in the church.

I think about millennials in our church, and engaging them with one another in Bible studies and small groups, and engaging them with children, and those things happen a good bit. But one thing I feel that is really lacking oftentimes, is millennial young adults engaging with older people in our congregations.

There is so much wisdom in our churches, so much life experience. There are so many people that have lived decades and decades of Christian faith, walking with the Lord, and all that experience, all that wisdom and knowledge, never gets passed along to the young people that are in our churches.

Relationships were so important, and so vital, for me to connect to the church. Something that I really hope to see are those relationships take place, and have the people that are in our congregations, that are in their forties, fifties, sixties and beyond, go out into the community and start engaging young adults where they are, and showing them what a life lived with Jesus Christ can truly give you in terms of wisdom, in terms of knowledge, and in terms of a faith to really live on as you go through, and grow through, life.

The discussion continues at tinyurl.com/authenticspace6.

Editorial — Thinking it through

By Jerry Wolgemuth, Director of Communications, SUSUMC

Apologist Dr. Ravi Zacharias tells the story of a man stranded on the proverbial desert island for many years. Finally discovered, his rescuers were curious about the three huts the man had built while a resident of the island. Pointing to the first hut the man said, “That’s my house.” Pointing to the second hut he said, “That’s my church.” Pointing to the third hut he said, “Oh, and that’s the church I used to go to.”

It seems that in order to prove ourselves socially adept these days we need to be able to point to a church and say, “we used to go to that church.” The hope seems to be that shopping prowess will be displayed to envious friends, proving the ability to discover the, “best buy for someone like me.”

In truth what is displayed is probably the inability to live collegially in disagreement.

The framers of our country envisioned a community, the strength of which was dependent on coming together in disagreement with many views voiced in debate. How else could good decisions be made without the exploration of the many cases that can be made for many disparate views?

Bill Bishop wrote a book several years ago called, “The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-minded America is Tearing Us Apart.” He offers a compelling explanation for our polarization as a nation, fueled by our proclivity to mingle solely with those who see, think, and act the same as we.

From the history of this editor comes a story from a faith tradition other than United Methodist. A father and son, well-educated, holding highly-respected leadership positions, enjoyed a collegial relationship with one exception. In their religious context there were staunchly-held views about the mode of Christian baptism. Was it immersion, pouring, or sprinkling? Was it children or adults? Father and son strongly disagreed in their conclusions.

Father passed away and many years passed.

A few years ago, in casual conversation with the son, the question arose, “How did you resolve the strong disagreement between the two of you?”

The answer was, “We never came to agreement about the mode of baptism. However, we were at peace. One day Father came to me and said, “It’s all right; I just wanted to know that you had thought it through.”

There is a glimmer of hope through all of our disagreements in the United Methodist Church. There is evidence that persons within the churches of our annual conference and across the denominations are wrestling with their closely-held views and are spending more time thinking it through.

This periodical would like to accommodate that. We welcome Rev. Chuck Sprenkle to the commentary in this issue. It will then join other views that have been posted on the conference blog at susumc.blogspot.com. We welcome any view as long as it is offered in a spirit of love and consideration for those who may hold different views.

JW

The Journey: A Resurrection People!

By Rev. Mike Bealla
Director of Connectional Ministries, SUSUMC

One of the most inspirational and wonderfully empowering moments for me is in the singing of Charles Wesley’s “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” along with others on Easter morning.  What a triumphant moment it is when we, with great assurance and without hesitation, lift our communal voices to proclaim the truth anew … Christ the Lord is risen today! Alleluia!

I think I am so moved by this hymn because wherever it is sung, those voices sing as though they truly believe they are a resurrection people.  They sing with fervor regardless of the their current reality and at least for the moment on that very sacred morning, their hope in Christ feels more like trust than just wishful thinking.  Easter morning assures us that our vision of Christ-centered future is already in place for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear the presence of Christ among us. Yes, there is so much more to be done, but the outcome is sure!

As we break bread together during holy communion we are reminded in the Prayer of Great Thanksgiving that because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, we, the church together, have become the living, breathing, loving, reaching, nurturing physical body of Christ through which others are able to witness God’s presence in our world today. Christ is risen in us!

Often I need to open my hymnal and read Wesley’s great hymn text again. Those without resurrection eyes see little hope for their congregation and tend to live more like a people of the crucifixion than people of the resurrection. Brothers and sisters, while without the crucifixion there would be no resurrection … no hope… no new life … the point of truth is of course resurrection is real … and it is the church’s to own, to proclaim, to live and to share.  Resurrection is the church’s vision to offer to a world convinced there is little hope for a transformed world.

What difference will the season of Easter make in your life this year?  How about in your church?

As we come nearer to our next session of Annual Conference, I long to hear our voices coming together to sing in praise to God!  I long to celebrate again the fact that we are better together as a conference than as separate churches scattered about doing our own thing. I long to hear stories of vital congregations where the resurrection story has happened and is already transforming lives and indeed the world.  And most of all, I look forward to hearing stories of places were resurrection is just beginning to happen in new and exciting ways replacing faded hopes with powerful witness.

For those of you who will be attending Annual Conference this year, listen!  Listen as we sing like the resurrection people we are, hear the stories of vital congregations in mission and ministry, and plan for our future which even now God is breaking forth before us and inviting us to walk with God on the Journey!

Commentary: Two Questions from John 4

By Rev. Chuck Sprenkle, St. Paul UMC, Manchester

In John 4 we see an encounter between Jesus and a Samaritan woman who had been married five times, and was now living with a man without benefit of marriage. By the end of the story the woman becomes an effective evangelist, bringing the town to meet Jesus. As I read this story, there are two questions that come up; one in the story and the other as a result of the story that I think we should consider.

First the question in the midst of the story. The woman asked Jesus why Samaritans worship on the mountains while the Jews say that worship is to be in Jerusalem. The deeper question here is why [are] there divisions among the people of faith? And in effect, Jesus says that location is immaterial. And further, that knowledge is immaterial. (Samaritans worship what they do not know and Jews worship what they know.) But that true worship requires truth and spirit. Spirit is necessary because God is Spirit. To me that says that worship is humanity connecting with God; our spirit to the Divine Spirit. And that connection needs to be honest and open. We have to offer ourselves just as we are, without masks or pretext. We acknowledge that we are incomplete and sinful in and of ourselves, and that we need God, we [need] Christ to be sanctified. It is a most simple concept.

In our world there are a variety of divisions among the people of faith. There are divisions of geography, divisions over sacraments, polity, and understandings of Scripture. But all those things are about what we know and what we don’t know. That is to say that ‘we’ hold this position because ‘we’ know what the Scriptures say, and ‘we’ know what is in the mind and heart of God. But ‘they’ hold that position because ‘they’ misunderstand the Scriptures, and ‘they’ do not know the mind and heart of God. Yet Jesus says that knowledge or lack of knowledge is immaterial. What is important is an honest, truthful, spiritual connection with God.

Is it possible to live as the body of Christ without division? I’m not sure we can. Because we are triune beings – body, mind, and spirit. Even when we have that spiritual connection with God, our mind will interpret that connection. Our mind will decide through our experience what we know and what we do not know. And because we experience not only God but God’s Word in a variety of ways, what one person knows to be true, another cannot. And there will be division. Not because our God is different, but because our experience and connection with God is different.

In Matthew 7 Jesus says, “Do not judge.” Perhaps that is because judgment is based on knowledge. I have always thought that to mean that we cannot proclaim the salvation or condemnation of any individual. We can and do judge actions and attitudes. But all that is based on knowledge, not a spiritual connection. And so our judgments are faulty at best. We are just not able to judge another’s spiritual connection with God. And yet we try to, because our mind and what we believe we know is such an integral part of us. We cannot turn it off.

Our knowledge and lack of knowledge will continually cause division. Unity can only come when we choose to ignore our differences and strive to connect spiritually as we do with God.

Yet some of our knowledge and beliefs are so ingrained, so basic to our spiritual connection to God that we cannot possibly walk with one who rejects or ignores those beliefs.

My understanding of Jesus’ teaching on divorce is that divorce was never intended to be part of the human experience. But because humanity is the way it is, imperfect and broken, division becomes necessary.

There is still one other question I have after reading John 4. Would we ordain the woman at the well? I believe that some would, because she had a personal encounter with Jesus, and as a result of that, she became an effective evangelist. She was the impetus to get many connected with Jesus. It was to the point where this Samaritan town asked a Jewish man to stay with them. And that was unheard of.

Others would say that we cannot possibly ordain this woman because of the lifestyle she is living. Even if we get past the fact that she has been married five times, she is now living as though she is married but she is not. She is living a lie. An immoral lifestyle. And we cannot lift up such a person as being set apart from God. We cannot even appear to endorse her because [of] the lifestyle she is living. It is an improper exempt to place before the world.

I can see a scenario where this woman would be accepted by most, not all, but most of the church. That would be if she can demonstrate that because of her encounter with Jesus that she was radically changed. In part we can see a change in that she apparently came to draw water when she did to avoid the other women in the town. But after Jesus talked to her honestly and openly about the life she had been living, she intentionally went to the people she previously avoided in order to invite them to meet Jesus. But personally, I would have to see a greater change than that. Her daily living arrangements would have to change before I could approve her even becoming a certified candidate. But I also recognize that others may disagree.

I believe that John 4 has some important questions that are quite relevant to the world and the church of today. I have shared my thoughts and opinions on them. But, of course, they are based on my knowledge and experience, which may be immaterial. I [am] interested in hearing the thoughts and reactions of others. For even if there is division among us, we can still discuss the issues, as we all desire to make our personal spiritual connection with God.

Changing of the guard in the Camping Office

On April 15, 2015, Kaye Anderson, Administrative Assistant in the Camping Office, retired. Kaye had served for seven years in this position.

“Kaye has been a strong force with camp registration, a calm voice on the phone, and has added fun and creativity to the office.” said Anne Horton, Director of Camp and Retreat Ministry.

Kaye and her husband Lon plan to do more traveling and enjoy more time with their children and grandchildren.

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The Susquehanna Conference welcomes Patricia Frye as the new face and voice in the position of Administrative Assistant in the Camping Office.

Tricia is from Middletown, Pa. She comes with a background in supervising and managing an office, as well as planning, scheduling, and use of a variety of different software applications.

Tricia has a strong background with the United Methodist Church and is presently a member of Fishburn UMC.

Spirit of Invention: The Giving Garden at Mt. Nittany UMC

By Joanna Jones

The Giving Garden at Mt. Nittany UMC started in 2014. Bob Jones was inspired by a TED Talk about food insufficiency programs in Los Angeles; I had heard Bishop Middleton speak about creating programs based on unique qualities each congregation has. My thought was that Mt. Nittany UMC had a huge, underused yard. I also work for the school district and have seen how many families are struggling to make ends meet. My husband, in particular, was really ready to do something big. (He is not one to aim low!)

So we looked at our empty nest and thought the time had come to stop talking. We met with Pastor Ed Preston all prepared to pitch the idea and argue the point. From the first words out of our mouths, he basically just said, “Absolutely! Let’s do that.” We worried that the trustees might not like the idea, but they were wholeheartedly behind it. The trustees worried that the township had zoning that would prohibit it, but the township supported it wholeheartedly. We worried that we couldn’t afford materials on our small $1,200 budget, but local suppliers donated topsoil, landscapers donated delivery of compost, and a local hardware store gave us a discount on hardscape materials.

That has been the lesson of this garden — people worry, but God makes things happen and moves mountains. Whenever we’ve needed help someone has stepped forward to provide it. The mission of the garden is “to provide produce without condition, continue our faith journeys through His example of service, and create the opportunity for fellowship.”

We have about seven gardeners, with more coming on-board this year. Some have gardening experience, many did not have any gardening experience at all. Some people worked most Saturdays, some of our best helpers were people who came just long enough to weed twice a week during the day or check the fence. The garden was 600 square feet but is being enlarged to about 1000 square feet this year. The raised beds are made of landscape timbers and our seeds/plants are provided by generous donors.

Last year we grew a little of everything: turnips, broccoli, cabbage, beets, chard, celery, lettuces, herbs, peppers, squash, beans, cucumbers, bok choy, cauliflower, carrots, and tomatoes. We began in May and closed the garden up in early November. A total of 971 pounds of produce were given away, plus about 80 pounds of corn and 60 pounds of jack-o-lantern pumpkins.

One partner client is The Mommy Shoppe of Houserville UMC, which is a clothes pantry for families with young children. We also make weekly deliveries to The Women’s Resource Center shelter in downtown State College, where families in crisis have a safe and secure home while situations stabilize. We delivered to the senior citizens at Rolling Ridge apartments near our church. We delivered to shut-ins, we put food out for congregants, and we delivered our ridiculous abundance of swiss chard to the State College Food Bank. We also encourage the church’s neighbors to pick what they can use, but those amounts weren’t weighed. There are no forms, no requirements, no conditions for receiving food. Sometimes people out for a walk carry home a cucumber or a cabbage if we can talk them into it.

This year we’ll be adding asparagus and raspberry beds to the vegetable beds. We are hoping that churches with an interest will come and garden with us for the season before starting their own garden. Long-term, we want to provide “a garden in a box” for any congregation that wants to provide produce without condition — we’ll provide mentoring, seeds, and materials to get started.

I can’t say enough wonderful things about it. Even with the dead plants, the tomato blight, the endless rain followed by scorching sun ... even with too much chard and not enough cabbage, God has been so good. You stand in our garden, knowing all that food is going to land on someone’s table and make their life a little easier, and understand that He is smiling down at our work and blessing it. Our congregation has embraced the whole idea with enthusiasm, reaching out to take food to friends, sending shut-ins names our way, standing around talking recipes, getting to know our neighbors ....

We are very excited to spread the word about the Giving Garden, since one of our goals is to spread the concept to as many churches as are willing to create their own gardens.

Contact mtnittanyumc@comcast.net for more information.

Annual Conference speakers

The 2015 Susquehanna Annual Conference will feature the following special events and keynote speakers;

Bishop Jeremiah J. Park

Bishop Jeremiah J. Park will preach for the Opening Celebration on Thursday, June 11.

Rev. Dr. Dennis Keller

Rev. Dr. Dennis Keller, Harrisburg District Superintendent, will preach during the Thursday evening Memorial Service.

Friday morning, June 12, will feature a special time of dialogue focused on Vital Congregations.

Rev. Jennifer Thomas

Rev. Jennifer Thomas, pastor of New Creation Community UMC in Dover, will share during the Celebration of Ministry service on Friday evening.

Rev. Arun Andrews

On Saturday morning, June 13, Rev. Arun Andrews, pastor of Trinity UMC in New Cumberland, will lead Bible Study.

Bishop Neil L. Irons

On Saturday afternoon, (retired) Bishop Neil L. Irons will preach during the Ordination Service.

What is an Annual Conference?

source: umc.org/who-we-are and The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church

Annual Conferences
When you hear the term “annual conference,” it could be referring to any one of three things. The annual conference is a regional body, an organizational unit AND a yearly meeting.

Many of these yearly meetings happen in the U.S. in May and June. You can read reports from the 2014 Annual Conference sessions on our Annual Conference Reports page.

Regional body
The annual (sometimes referred to as ‘regional’) conference is described by the church’s Constitution and (other parts of the ) Book of Discipline as the “basic unit” of the church.

In the United States, an annual conference may cover an entire state, only part of the state, or even parts of two or more states. There are also three missionary conferences in the United States, which rely upon the denomination as a whole for funding.

The United States has 57 annual conferences, supervised by 46 bishops. There are 76 annual conferences in Africa, Europe, and the Philippines, which are supervised by 20 bishops.

Organizational body
In the U.S., the annual conference has a central office and professional staff that coordinate and conduct ministry and the business of the conference. It likely has a director of connectional ministries, treasurer, directors of program areas (such as camping), communications director, and other staff as deemed appropriate for the annual conference and as required by the Book of Discipline. Clergy and laypersons may also serve on conference boards, commissions and committees.

“The purpose of the annual conference is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by equipping its local churches for ministry and by providing a connection for ministry beyond the local church: all glory to God”  ¶ 601

Annual Conference sessions
Each year an equal number of clergy members and lay members attend their conference’s Annual Conference session for worship, fellowship, and to conduct the business of the conference, which may last 3-5 days. During these sessions, members of the conference hear reports of past and ongoing work; adopt future goals, programs and budgets; ordain clergy members as deacons and elders; and elect delegates to Jurisdictional and General Conferences (every 4 years). The bishop presides over these meetings.

Annual Conference Membership
The clergy membership of an annual Conference shall consist of deacons and elders in full connection, provisional members, associate members, affiliate members, and local pastors under full-time and part-time appointment to a pastoral charge. ¶ 602.1

The lay membership of the annual conference shall consist of a professing member elected by each charge, diaconal ministers, deaconesses, home missioners, the conference presidents of: United Methodist Women, United Methodist Men, Youth and Young Adult Ministries, the conference lay leader and district lay leaders, one youth (age 12-18) and one young adult (age 18-30) from each district, and the chair of the conference college student organization.
If lay membership should number less than the clergy members of the annual conference, the annual conference shall provide for election of lay-equalization members.

Lay members must be members of and active in the United Methodist Church at the time of election (with some tenure requirements) ¶ 602.4

The above-mentioned have voice and vote at the Annual Conference session. Other representatives (¶ 602.9) are given privilege of the floor (voice) without vote.

It is the duty of every member of the annual conference to attend its sessions and furnish such reports in such forms as the Discipline may require. (¶ 602.8)

Young People’s Ministry at Annual Conference

By Audrey Wilder, Director of Young People’s Ministries

YOUTH SERVICE FUND
The Young People’s Ministry (YPM) is excited to continue to be a part of Annual Conference. We will carry on the tradition of raising money for and awareness about Youth Service Fund. Youth Service Fund (YSF) is money raised by youth, administered by youth, for the benefit of youth ministries. If you are interested in applying for a YSF grant, visit igniteyoungpeople.com, and click on the youth tab for more information.

This year you will be able to help us reach our goal for raising $7,000 for YSF by donating to

GIFT BASKET SILENT AUCTION
A variety of amazing gift baskets will auctioned off during Conference. Interested parties will be able to place bids on all baskets at the YSF table in Brubaker Auditorium. Some of last year’s baskets included: Bath and Body, Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks, Hershey Candy, Fun at the Beach, S’more Fun, The Apple Area, Duffle Bag, Great Outdoors Camera, and Healthy Eating for You!

If you, your church, or your business would like to donate a basket for the auction, please contact Audrey Wilder at the Conference Office no later than June 1 to make arrangements.

TABLE SERVICE
Youth members of Annual Conference will provide dish removal service for the gathered community following meals on Thursday from 12:00-1:30pm and Friday from 4:45-6:45pm. Those wishing to say thank you for the service will be invited to drop a donation in a jar as they leave the cafeteria.

POPCORN
Youth will be making popcorn during each working session throughout Annual Conference. Popcorn will not be made during mealtimes or worship services. We will not charge for popcorn, but would appreciate a donation. Those looking for larger portions of popcorn will be able to purchase reusable popcorn containers for $2.00 (supplies limited).

FRIDAY LUNCH & LEARN
Young People’s Ministry will also be sponsoring two lunch and learn workshops on Friday afternoon.

IGNITING YOUNG LEADERS - Young Adults don’t need one more thing to do. But they do need a way to serve God in the local church. Come hear from young adults serving in local church leadership and discover helpful tools for igniting your congregation to empower and support young leaders.

CHANNELING YOUR FIRE - You are not content to sit on the sidelines and watch church happen. You want to be part of the Spirit moving in the local church. Come learn how other young adults channeled their passions into ministry and strengthened their local congregation.

DRESS TO IMPRESS
The Young People’s Ministry will be selling ALIVE IN CHRIST (red & black) and GROW ON t-shirts for $10 each at the YPM table in Brubaker Auditorium. Susquehanna Conference Neck Wallets will also be for sale for $4.00. Funds collected from the sale of t-shirts and neck wallets will go to subsidize new t-shirts for the new quadrennium starting in 2016.

Annual Conference Information

2015 Susquehanna Annual Conference

June 11-13, 2015, Messiah College, Grantham, PA

LIVE STREAMING

The 2015 Susquehanna Annual Conference will once again be broadcast LIVE via susumc.org Verify the streaming schedule at tinyurl.com/susumcAC2015

Annual Conference news, photos and highlights will be posted on

www.facebook.com/susumc

Attention, singers!

The Annual Conference Choir will once again provide music ministry at the Memorial Service at this year’s Annual Conference.

Choirs from several churches and members of Chi Rho Singers will make up the core of this ensemble. However, an open invitation is extend to any singer from our annual conference to join this exciting ministry.

The music for this event will be accessible enough that it can be prepared through individual rehearsal with online practice tracks and in a brief rehearsal at 5:30 p.m. before the service.

Please visit www.zionmusicministry.com to register to participate in this event. The registration information will allow the leaders of this ministry to order the appropriate amount of music, which will be provided by the conference.

If you have any questions or you are unable to register online, please contact Matthew Wensel, musical director for the 2015 Annual Conference. You may call him at 717-451-5990 or email him at matthewwensel@gmail.com.

Please consider being part of this choir. Many will be blessed by your ministry.

Christian Conferencing

Listed below are two examples of how Christians need to relate to one another as we engage in serious dialogue, particularly over issues that often divide us. In a world and in a time where the manner in which we address one another is significant, it is critical that we in the church finds ways to dialogue with each other as people of faith.

Holy Conferencing Principles

• Every person is a child of God.
• Listen before speaking.
• Strive to understand from another’s point of view.
• Speak about issues, do not defame persons. Disagree without 
• being disagreeable.
• Pray, in silence or aloud, about decisions. Let prayer interrupt 
• your busy-ness.
• Strive to accurately reflect the views of others.

“[Make] every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
 – Ephesians 4:3 NRSV

“RESPECT” – Eric H. F. Law

• Responsibility for what you say and feel without blaming others.
• Empathetic listening
• Sensitive to different communication styles
• Ponder what you hear and feel before you speak
• Examine your own assumptions and perceptions
• Confidentiality when requested or appropriate
• Tolerate ambiguity

“Traffickers fish in pools of vulnerability.” UNICEF Official

The Susquehanna Conference delegation to the General Board of Church and Society’s seminar on Human Trafficking, held in Washington, D.C., in February, were challenged, inspired, and equipped to advocate for the voiceless millions who are oppressed, abused, and exploited through human trafficking.

By Christine Caffrey Johnson, First Church, Williamsport

The Susquehanna Conference Mission and Outreach Team sent a delegation to the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) on February 9-11 for a targeted seminar on human trafficking.

Over the two and a half days, Aimee Hong (Director of UM Seminar Program) and her colleague Dave Johnson (UM Seminar Designer/US-2 intern) led us expertly through nine sessions teaching us to connect God’s Word and the United Methodist Church’s Social Principles with human trafficking. We listened, wrestled, engaged, and were equipped to advocate.

Human trafficking is now considered the second largest and fastest growing illegal criminal activity in the world, with an estimated total market value of $32+B (U.N. 2008), and impacts at least 27 million people globally. In addition to sex trafficking, human trafficking (or modern day slavery) includes labor trafficking (i.e. agriculture, domestic, hospitality) as well as land grabbing and child soldiers. The number of children versus adults being trafficked is on the rise (1 in 3) and overall 75-80% of all trafficked victims are female.

We learned there are many causes including, poverty, power, greed, and our prevailing rape culture (pornography, abuse, and exploitation). Rev. Neal Christie (Assistant Gen. Sec. for Ed. & Leadership Form.) challenged us to live out our principles. Taking us through the Social Principles, we saw how human trafficking resulted from sin against the natural world and the breakdown of community (nurturing, social, economic, political, and world).

Susan Burton (Dir. Of Women’s and Children’s Advocacy) and Abby McGill (Int’l. Labor Rights Forum) expanded our view beyond sex trafficking to labor trafficking. We were given homework to determine how many slaves we each individually had working for us (www.slaveryfootprint.org). After our astonishment, the reality that we can’t even reduce our numbers due to a lack of transparency about sourcing gave us pause as to the scope of the problem.

And if counting our slaves were not enough, a photo on the screen became a person in our classroom. The documentary (now available via Amazon) “Not My Life” is a thorough overview of the breadth of human trafficking, and its desperate depths of despair by women and men, girls and boys, all over the world who are voiceless. And while up on the screen one might be able to feel distance, when we came face to face with Barbara Amaya, an adult ‘thriver’ (not mere survivor) of sex-trafficking (leaving her abusive upper middle class home at age 12) all bets were off.

On our final morning in DC on Capitol Hill we met with staff from Senator Casey’s office. We had received training and we had practiced our plan. Then our small delegation met with two (foreign and domestic) staff that led us into a conference room. We shared from the heart four stories and made four requests for action.

We left the Seminar program with a better understanding of human trafficking. The presentations and stories challenged us to work for justice in the areas of sex and labor trafficking. Advocating for: better law enforcement training so victims are not treated as criminals, stronger support systems for victims, a national transparency act so we can combat slave labor for the goods we buy, advocating for a “safe harbor law” for victims in PA, and encouraging our legislators to support existing proposed laws are all things we can do as individuals and as congregations. The delegation left challenged, but inspired to tackle the problem of human trafficking as a witness to our love for God and the challenge to love our neighbor.

Discovery Place Resources: Vital Congregations have Vital Small Groups

The Annual Conference theme this year is “Alive In Christ Together … Equipping Vital Congregations.” But what is a vital congregation? The United Methodist Church lists several markers of a vital congregation. One of those markers states that vital congregations need to have effective small group ministries. Jesus began his ministry by teaching his disciples in a small group. John Wesley began a worldwide movement by creating a system of small groups. And any vital church today must have a system in place that teaches and shapes disciples in close, accountable communities.

If you need a little guidance with starting small groups in your local church, Discovery Place has some resources that may help. Below are just a few, but you can find a complete list by going to the online catalogue on our website and searching under the subject “Small Group Training.”

Small Groups, Getting Started: This book describes how people who have come to a new or fresh commitment of faith can nurture, extend, and apply their faith by being involved in small groups.

Leading Life-Changing Small Groups: Like nothing else, small groups have the power to change lives. They’re the ideal route to discipleship — a place where the rubber of biblical truth meets the road of human relationships. The unique, ready reference format of this book gives small group leaders, pastors, church leaders, educators, and counselors a commanding grasp of: Group formation and values; meeting preparation and participation; leadership requirements and responsibilities; discipleship within the group; the philosophy and structure of small groups; leadership training.

Building a Church of Small Groups: Our hearts were made for deep, authentic relationships, for community. And like nothing else, small groups provide the kind of life-giving community that builds and empowers the body of Christ and impacts the world. Part 1 presents the theological, sociological, and organizational underpinnings of small groups. You’ll discover why they are so vital to church health. Part 2 moves you from vision to practice. Part 3 shows you how to identify, recruit, train, and support group leaders. Part 4 helps you deal with the critical process of change as your church develops its small group ministry.

Starting Small Groups: This book provides tools for designing and implementing a comprehensive and effective small group ministry which is equipped to meet the various needs of an entire congregation.

Building and Growing Your Small-Group Ministry: This book is designed for churches that are just beginning to consider small-group ministry and those that want to make their small-group ministry more vital.

ReGroup Training: Groups to be Groups: The ReGroup™ small group DVD and participant’s guide will lead you and your group together to a remarkable new closeness and effectiveness. Designed to foster healthy group interaction and facilitate maximum growth, this innovative approach equips both group leaders and members with essential skills and values for creating and sustaining truly life-changing small groups.

‘Discipleship Ministries’ is agency’s new identity

NASHVILLE, Tenn. March 4, 2015 /Discipleship Ministries/ – Discipleship Ministries has officially become the new name of the general agency of The United Methodist Church known for years as The General Board of Discipleship, or GBOD.

The name change, which includes new addresses for the website and agency personnel emails, was announced by Dr. Timothy L. Bias, General Secretary (chief executive) of Discipleship Ministries.

“The shift from General Board of Discipleship to Discipleship Ministries was an intentional decision to more clearly communicate the work we do for The United Methodist Church,” Bias said. “On one level, we are adopting a ministry position. We want to listen and develop resources that help leaders make disciples and transform the world. The process of disciple-making is essential as we seek to develop and sustain vital congregations.

“On another level, we are a United Methodist Church agency. Changing our name to reflect our work and using the official United Methodist cross and flame logo helps us to be in alignment with the ministry and mission of the denomination,” Bias said.

The name change was approved during the agency’s board meeting in July 2014 in the Philippines, and has been used unofficially since mid-September.

Now Discipleship Ministries will no longer use The General Board of Discipleship or GBOD and will begin phasing out those names in its communications and marketing. However, the former name will continue to be included in The United Methodist Book of Discipline.

The Uniform Resource Identifier, or URL, for the agency’s website is now www.UMCdiscipleship.org, and email addresses have been changed from [name]@GBOD.org to [name]@UMCdiscipleship.org.

During a transition period, the former URL and email addresses will be forwarded automatically to the new locations.

The mission of Discipleship Ministries is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, Discipleship Ministries is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit www.UMCdiscipleship.org, the Press Center at http://www.UMCdiscipleship.org/about/press-center or call the Communications Office at (877) 899-2780, Ext. 1726.

Iron Shepherd: Meeker looks back on her two years as 1st Armored Division chaplain

1st Armored Division Chaplain Lt. Col. Karen Meeker will be leaving Fort Bliss in February for a new assignment. She is shown with an image of St. George battling a dragon. St. George is the patron saint of armor. (Photo VICTOR CALZADA — EL PASO TIMES)

This article was reprinted with permission. Please read the original article here: http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_27418522/iron-shepherd-meeker-looks-back-her-two-years

2015-2016 Dempster Scholars named

By General Board of Higher Education and Ministry

Ten students have been selected by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry as the next class of Dempster Scholars. The Dempster Graduate Fellowship supports doctoral students who are committed to serving the church by becoming professors who will educate the next generation of United Methodist pastors.

The fellowships are funded by the Ministerial Education Fund through the Division of Ordained Ministry of GBHEM.

“The future of the church depends on its leadership, and we are elated for intellectual gifts that these scholars are bringing to the UMC for the theological formation of new generation leaders,” said Dr. HiRho Park, Director of Clergy Lifelong Learning at GBHEM.

The award is named for the Rev. John Dempster, a pioneer in United Methodist theological education. Converted at a Methodist camp meeting in 1812, he preached in New York, served as a missionary in Argentina, and founded Boston University School of Theology and Garrett Biblical Institute (Garrett-Evangelical Seminary) in Evanston, Ill.

The 2015-2016 Dempster Scholars are young women and men with diverse racial-ethnic backgrounds—Asian American, African, African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Caucasian—attending, Boston University, Claremont School of Theology, Drew University, Duke University, Emory University, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and Southern Methodist University.

Faculty representatives from four of the UMC’s 13 theological schools serve as members of the selection committee each year on a rotating basis. This year’s selection committee was composed of faculty from Claremont School of Theology, Duke Divinity School, Gammon Theological Seminary and United Theological Seminary. Scholars’ fields of study range from Biblical studies to Christian ethics, ecclesiology, historical theology, practical theology, Wesleyan theology, and theology and culture studies.

“2015-2016 Dempster scholars are representing the future generation of leaders—diverse with various interests within theological studies,” Park said.
Awards—based on the student’s academic achievement, their commitment to Christian ministry, and their promise as educators—carry a value of up to $10,000 annually, with a maximum of $30,000 over a five-year period.

The 2015-2016 Dempster Graduate Fellowship recipients are:

• Diana Abernethy (North Carolina Annual Conference), a graduate of Duke University and Duke Divinity School. She is currently enrolled in her fifth year of a PhD program at Duke Graduate School.
• Dustin Benac (North Texas Annual Conference), a graduate of Whitworth University and St. Mary’s University. He is a candidate for enrollment in a doctoral program for the fall of 2015.

Rev. Natalya Cherry

• Natalya Cherry (Susquehanna Annual Conference), a graduate of Georgetown University and Wesley Theological Seminary. She is currently enrolled in her second year of a PhD program at Southern Methodist University. (This year is Natalya’s first renewal of the scholarship.) 
• Justus Hunter (North Texas Annual Conference), a graduate of Asbury College, Asbury Theological Seminary and the University of Dayton. He is currently enrolled in his fourth year of a PhD program at Southern Methodist University. 
• Christian Kakez-A-Kapend (South Congo/Zambia Annual Conference), a graduate of Université dé Lubumbashi, Africa University and Perkins School of Theology. He is currently enrolled in his third year of a PhD program at Drew University, The Theological School. 
• Won Chul Shin (North Georgia Annual Conference), a graduate of Yonsei University and Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He is currently enrolled in his first year of a PhD program at Emory University. 
• Kyle Tau (North Georgia Annual Conference), a graduate of Point Loma Nazarene University and Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He is currently enrolled in his fifth year of a PhD program at Emory University. 
• Michele Watkins-Branch (Northern Illinois Conference Annual Conference), a graduate of Howard University. She is currently enrolled in her fifth year of a PhD program at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. 
• Lisa Beth White (Texas Annual Conference) is a graduate of Sam Houston State University and Southern Methodist University. She is currently enrolled in her sixth year of a PhD program at Boston University School of Theology. 
• Alex Yoon (New York Annual Conference) is a graduate of University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, Princeton Theological Seminary, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Drew University, The Theological School. She is currently enrolled in her first year of a PhD program at Claremont School of Theology.

Society of St. Andrew names top contributors

By United Methodist Men

NASHVILLE, Tenn.––UM Men of the Virginia Annual Conference contributed $21,713 to the Meals for Millions Fund of the Society of St. Andrew, the highest total of all U.S. annual conference organizations.

Wade Mays, national coordinator of the Meals for Millions Fund, listed the top ten contributors to the 17-year-old fund, during a March 7 meeting of conference presidents of UM Men and conference prayer advocates.

Detroit Conference finished a close second with $20,351. Northern Illinois Conference followed with gifts totaling $19,171.

Indiana Conference finished fourth with $18,896; Baltimore/Washington Conference was in fifth place with $13,842, followed by Missouri Conference with $12,108.

Susquehanna Conference finished in 7th place with $9,250 and it was awarded the “Bud the Spud Award” for highest increase from 2013; the conference increased funding by a whopping 311 percent!

North Carolina was in 8th place with $5,707, followed by Iowa Conference with $5,205, and Upper New York Conference with $5,080.

The fund establishes gleaning networks, raises awareness of the extent of hunger in America, and funds hunger relief advocates in 18 annual conferences.

In 2014, hunger relief advocates led 2,320 volunteers into farmer’s field to pick up 748 pounds of produce. Gifts to the Meals for Millions Fund provided another 8.2 million servings of fresh produce to the hungry.

Where Your Treasure Is - Power of Personal Perspective: A spiritual day of encouragement

Introducing Emory Austin, CSP, CPAE, member, International Speaker Hall of Fame and Legend of the Speaking Profession. Friday, April 24, 2015, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Zion United Methodist Church, 1030 Carlisle Rd., York, PA 17404-4938.

Emory Austin, described as a “pin drop” speaker, is fun, connecting, and insightful. She takes a unique approach to what this adventure called “life” is all about. Emory is a confident, vibrant, and knowledgeable speaker who has shared her stories with hundreds of organizations. Successful Meetings magazine calls her “one of the decade’s best!”

Please join us for a day apart specifically designed for clergy and church leaders. Seating is limited. Register now at www.umstewardship.org. Registration fee is $5 to offset the cost of lunch. A free-will offering will be taken.

Our Heritage

By Milton Loyer, Conference Archivist

March – 100 years ago
On Sunday, March 14, 1915, the Hickorytown Methodist Episcopal congregation was organized after a revival in an abandoned United Evangelical church being supplied by Dickinson College student Raymond R. Brewer resulted in 46 conversions. The Methodists purchased the building and took Salem [now Hope UMC] from the Boiling Springs charge to form a two-point charge. In 1922 the original wooden structure on the south side of Trindle Road was replaced by a brick sanctuary with a full basement on land across the road and to the east. In 1972 a social hall was added to the rear of the property. In 1979 the brick building along the highway was razed and the social hall converted into the present sanctuary. Student Raymond Brewer went on to serve other conferences for 44 years in the ordained ministry as a missionary to China, college professor, and pastor. The list of persons who served Hickorytown while students at Dickson College includes longtime Children’s Home superintendent Vic Hann, Bishop D. Frederick Wertz, and District Superintendents Orville Warner and John Stamm.

April – 50 years ago.
April 24, 1965, was the date for the Uniting Session that brought into existence the Evangelical United Brethren Men of the newly-formed Susquehanna Conference of the EUB denomination. Over 500 men from the former Central Pennsylvania (Evangelical) and Pennsylvania (United Brethren) Conferences gathered at the Zembo Mosque in Harrisburg to adopt bylaws, elect officers, and hear a message on the theme “Man to Man.”

The Zembo Mosque was also the location later that year for the first youth rally of the new conference with the theme “Our Way – God’s Way” that was attended by over 1,600 young people and their advisors. That day-long event featured a drama presentation on Jonah, novelty piano entertainment, group singing, a boxed lunch, a keynote address entitled “When Love Is Love,” and two unique devotional periods.

Following the EUB-Methodist denominational union in 1968, this conference became the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church, and in 1970 it joined with the area’s former Methodist congregations to form the Central Pennsylvania Conference UMC.

On to Glory - Death Notices

Rev. Allen F. Acor, of Buckhorn Road., Bloomsburg, Pa., Retired, died Tuesday, February 24, 2015, in Geisinger-Bloomsburg Health Care Center, Bloomsburg, Pa. Memorial Services were held Friday, February 27, 2015, in Dean W. Kriner Inc. Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Bloomsburg, Pa. Interment was in Dutch Hill Cemetery, Madison Township, Pa.

Rev. Dr. Gary W. Bumbarger, of Scenic Drive, Lewistown, Pa., died Saturday, February 28, 2015, at the home of his mother and step-father in Morrisdale, Pa. Among his survivors is his wife, Jean M. (Dole) Bumbarger. Interment with military honors was in Philipsburg Cemetery, Philipsburg, Pa.

Pastor Brian Lee Judy, of Garbrick Lane, Centre Hall, Pa., part-time local pastor, died Saturday, February 28, 2015, at home. Among his survivors are his wife, Laurie (Oakes) Judy, and son Pastor Ross A. Judy, part-time local pastor serving Trinity, New Freedom, York District. Memorial Services were held Wednesday, March 4, 2015, in Mt. Nittany United Methodist Church, State College, PA. Interment was in Graysville Cemetery, Spruce Creek, Pa.

Mrs. Theresa A. Molter, of Indian Run Road, Danville, Pa., wife of Pastor Gregory L. Motler, part-time local pastor serving St. Paul’s-Emmanuel UMC, Danville, Pa., died Saturday, March 7, 2015, at home. Memorial Services were held Saturday, March 14, 2015, in St. Paul’s Emmanuel United Methodist Church, Danville, Pa.

Mrs. Violet C. Willson, widow of Rev. C. Wesley Willson, died Wednesday, February 11, 2015, in Senior Commons at Powder Mill, York, Pa. Memorial Services were held Monday, February 16, 2015, in Chapel United Methodist Church, Red Lion, Pa. Interment was in Heiland View Cemetery, Red Lion, Pa.