January LINK 2018

Find downloadable PDF here: http://www.susumc.org/files/news/suslink/2018/Jan_2018_LINK.pdf

Christ UMC Selinsgrove rises from the ashes

On Monday night, May 4, 2015, at 9:45 p.m., a report came to the 911 center that Christ United Methodist Church in Selinsgrove was on fire. Nine companies responded to the scene. The whole community gathered beside members of the congregation who watched their beloved church building burn until nearly 2 a.m. But church members had a solid understanding of the following: The last thing is never the worst thing. The church is the people. God gives beauty for ashes and a future with hope.

By Shawn Gilgore

On May 5, 2015, Rev. Ryan Gephart returned home after praying with a church member, when his phone rang.

“The church is on fire!” the caller said.

Gephart responded, “No, the church can’t be on fire, I was just there!”

He raced to the church and found that it was in flames.

“That night was rough,” Gephart says. Firefighters arrived and began working on the building. Gephart was struck by what he noticed in the chaos of that night. “The one thing that was evident right away is, people were praying. Praying for the firefighters, praying for everybody; and we didn’t know what was going to happen next for a while. But we knew God was with us.”

After the chaos of that night and through the past two years, the community and congregation of Christ UMC worked to rebuild. Jaime Carpenter is Christ United Methodist’s Director of Lay Ministries. She has been with the church for 13 years and says that the fire, in a certain way, helped propel them into action. “We were all part of the dream and the vision to build a new church. To buy the property, and then to construct the outdoor worship center. But we never would have expected that a fire would be what propelled us to really get serious about moving forward.”

The construction process brought together volunteers from across the congregation and the community. “Every time I think of this place, I can’t help but see hundreds of people who labored here.” And even on Sunday mornings when Gephart leads worship services, he feels a special connection to all those who helped.

“What I always remember when I walk up here to preach — and this is the neat thing — is that, through the dedicated people in this church, there were Volunteers in Mission who came from all over the country and they built this stage … that’s what sticks in my mind. This is a labor of love for God.”

That process of moving forward brought the congregation to November 19, 2017, when their new building was consecrated by Bishop Jeremiah J. Park.
Hundreds of worshippers attended the rededication service, which set Christ United Methodist Church on a new path forward.

As Carpenter says, “I would like to say it’s a completion of a vision, but I feel like we are only getting started. So, I think as the church grows and as we are gaining hearts and we’re making disciples of Jesus Christ, I think there’s a possibility we could even go more from here. Build more. And whether it’s through the building, or it’s through just building systems in the community to help people, so they can hear the hope of Jesus Christ.”

Hearts Strangely Warmed: Rev. Karen Weiss

God calls us to tell our story so that others may come to know Jesus Christ. “Hearts Strangely Warmed” was created to share these stories about transformational encounters with the Living God.

Rev. Karen Weiss

A little series of yeses.

I, like many people, was very reluctant to answer God’s call to professional ministry. In June 2007 I had what I call my ‘zapping moment’ or ‘come-to-Jesus moment’ where Jesus asked me if I was going to follow Him. And not some kind of half-hearted thing that I had been doing before, but a true commitment that would transform my life in ways that I couldn’t imagine.

So I said ‘yes’ to Jesus, albeit reluctantly.

And after June 2007, in July and August I felt the nudge to learn more about Scripture. So I wandered into my church office and found Eric Shaffer, who led me to the library and gave me a commentary. “Here you go, Karen, read this.”  I wondered what I was in for. Then I said ‘yes’ to Disciple Bible Study.

Six months after getting zapped I felt the not-so-gentle nudge to go back to school. Let’s be clear – I had less than zero percent interest in going back to school. I was an engineer, I’m fine, I thought. So I tried to escape. I looked at all kinds of other different things, but after a couple months I was reminded that I had said ‘yes’ to Jesus, and I wasn’t willing to go back on my word. And then my senior pastor, Rev. Dr. G. Edwin Zeiders, said, “Karen, you are on my calendar.” I couldn’t escape meeting with him.

He asked me to consider that not only was I being called back to school for spiritual formation – I didn’t know what that was at the time – but also to deacons orders. I am pretty sure, as I remember it, that I laughed out loud at him! But he convinced me to start the exploration process, and he assured me that at any time if I was not interested or felt that this is not for me, that I could back out.

So I said ‘yes’ again.

What it came down to was, that even though I had a super-long list of objections, the commitment I made to Jesus in 2007 overruled them all. I have come to understand that in answering my call to deacons orders I was saying ‘yes’ – yes to freedom in Christ, yes to my authentic God-created self, that was buried under the scars from, and  expectations of, both myself and the world.

If I wanted to experience the freedom that we all have in Christ, I had to live into the call to be a deacon. So I said ‘yes’, over, and over, and over again.  I wouldn’t change my choices for anything. I am overwhelmingly grateful for every step and misstep I have had along the way.

I leave you with this, and hopefully you can answer yes to this as well – there’s a song from Bethel Music called “No Longer Slaves,” and the chorus goes like this: I’m no longer a slave to fear. I am a child of God. That’s what we say ‘yes’ to.  It’s not about the fear, it’s about saying ‘yes’ to Christ. It’s not ‘yes’ to the bishop, or your district superintendent, not even to your pastor, who’s dragging you kicking and screaming. You’re saying ‘yes’ to Jesus and the amazing freedom and love that he offers. Amen.

Bishops uphold values of mission, unity, space, contextuality in interim report on Way Forward work

By Rev. Dr. Maidstone Mulenga, Director of Communications 
Council of Bishops

Placing emphasis on the values of unity, space and contextuality - all for the sake of mission – the Council of Bishops is exploring sketches of three models as possible directions for a way forward for The United Methodist Church over LGBTQ inclusion.

With the mission of God through the risen Christ at the core, the bishops, in November, received an interim report from the Commission on a Way Forward that offered three sketches of models that would help ease the impasse in the church, noting that the power of the Holy Spirit trumps and guides all the church’s activities. The commission serves the COB, helping prepare the COB to fulfill its mandate to make a recommendation for a way forward to the General Conference.

Just as the commission did not express a preference for any of the models in its interim report to the COB in order for the bishops to fully do their work, the COB is also not now expressing a preference for any model, while engaging deeply with them and the implications for their church and their leadership. This will provide the space bishops need to teach and engage leaders in their episcopal areas.

After receiving the interim report of the sketches of the three possible models, the bishops engaged in prayerful discerning and offered substantial feedback to the commission, but did not take any vote on any of the sketches.

The moderators of the Commission on a Way Forward noted that the values highlighted in any one model also live within the fabric of the other models. Values expressed by any one model are not exclusive to one or absent in another. The values that may be associated with the identity of any one model are there because it may be a value lifted to a higher level of preference or differentiation among the models.

“Operate with a heart of peace and an openness. All three models grew out of mission, vision, and scope. Each one of these models connects to a story and experience that is represented in this body,” Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball, one of the moderators told her fellow bishops.

She added: “As we talk about it, let’s be respectful of each model. When we speak about one of the models in a less than respectful way, we are speaking of someone’s experience or someone’s conscience. How we talk about these models is important because they are representative of where people are standing and how people are experiencing the church.”

The commission and the COB acknowledge the interaction between the values of unity, space and contextuality, and the tension this interaction often creates, as part of what completes the UMC as a denomination rather than what divides it.
The commission shared sketches of three models, with the awareness that the commission and the COB are not restricted to these sketches and are open to learning, listening, and improvement. It is likely that additional models or sketches may emerge as this process continues. Here is the summary about the sketches of the models presented to the bishops:

One sketch of a model affirms the current “Book of Discipline” language and places a high value on accountability.

Another sketch of a model removes restrictive language and places a high value on contextualization. This sketch also specifically protects the rights of those whose conscience will not allow them to perform same gender weddings or ordain LGBTQ persons.

A third sketch of a model is grounded in a unified core that includes shared doctrine and services and one COB, while also creating different branches that have clearly defined values such as accountability, contextualization, and justice.
Each sketch represents values that are within the COB and across the church.
Each sketch includes a gracious way of exit for those who feel called to leave the denomination.

The values underlying these proposed models are found in two documents: The Mission, Vision, and Scope document, which was affirmed by the COB; and the Status Report of the Commission, released in July 2017. As part of the ongoing discernment within the church, resident bishops are being equipped to lead discussions in their episcopal areas by emphasizing the values of the proposed models as found in these two important documents.

The commission will process the feedback received from the bishops at the Lake Junaluska meeting and will continue to welcome further input from members of the church through conversations and discussions with their respective bishops on the strengths and limitations of each model. The basic resources for these conversations were shared in a handbook with the bishops, and this handbook will be available on the Commission on a Way Forward’s website as a PDF.

The COB and the commission have a series of meetings scheduled for early 2018 designed to continue the preparations for the Special Session of the General Conference in 2019. This includes commission meetings in January and March; an additional COB meeting in February before a final report is discussed at the May meeting of the COB.

The COB is committed to prayerfully seeking God’s future for the UMC and continues to invite the entire church to be engaged in praying for a way forward.
“Pray for the work of the commission and for the bishops as they continue to discern God’s plan for the future of the UMC; a future that shows love for all of God’s people and a future with hope,” said COB President Bishop Bruce R. Ough.

For a booklet with information about the three proposals visit tinyurl.com/ybjd7vuo

Behind the Scenes: In awe of God’s work

By Shawn Gilgore, Director of Communications Ministry

Several weeks ago, my wife, Meghan, and I were spending time with both sets of our parents and my maternal grandmother. It was a great day. We had breakfast at the same hotel that we were married. We got to spend time together, catch up, and really look forward to the future. It was a day neither of us will forget.

Now, I know, you might be thinking, ‘Meeting family for breakfast, that’s not the most exciting or memorable event!’

But it was after breakfast that we all got to share in finding out something amazing.

Meghan and I are having a daughter.

Through the past few months, I’ve found myself struck by how incredible God’s work is in each one of us. Our daughter started out as two fundamentally different cells that fused together and started growing all on their own. Over time we could see all these distinct parts that were developing and forming. Each one built to serve a specific purpose.

And as I’ve said before, I really feel God moving in small ways over periods of time, instead of those ‘A-ha!’ moments that others experience. And nowhere has that been clearer than watching our daughter grow. She’s growing, literally in her mother’s care, but also in God’s care, too. We could try to watch her grow using an ultrasound, but the changes would be far too slight for us to comprehend if we watched her constantly.

But every day we check in on her.

Meghan has an at-home doppler that allows us to hear the baby’s heartbeat. And it’s in those moments where it feels like everything else melts away and we are just in awe of God’s work and His blessing for our family.

So I encourage you to listen out for God’s work in your life. It may not be the loudest sound, or even the one that captures most of your attention. But He is there. And especially in moments where you may feel like you don’t know what you are to do or where you should go next.

Like each part of a body, YOU were made for a distinct purpose. All you have to do is listen carefully.

From Where I Sit: How many visitors does your church have? How many return more than once

By Rev. Dr. Tom Salsgiver
Director of Connectional Ministries

A few months ago I was talking with another director of connectional ministries. We were talking about visitors and hospitality, and I discovered that even though this person was in another conference, and a different jurisdiction, many of our churches shared some of the same issues about visitors.

Talking, we discovered a couple of things. Many of our churches do not regularly have first-time visitors, nor can they count many even in a one-month or three-month period.

Another issue is that many churches have first-time guests who don’t ever return after one visit. Or maybe they return for a second or third time, but then stop.
If churches notice at all that they don’t have visitors, or that second-, third-, or fourth-time visitors don’t stay, they think it must be the visitor’s problem, not theirs. Maybe churches think that the visitors just didn’t fit in, or they just weren’t committed enough.

Rev. Larry Leland, District Superintendent of Lewisburg, said that he heard a great saying: “If a church doesn’t have enough first-time visitors, there is an evangelism problem. If a church doesn’t have enough returning visitors, there is either a hospitality,  a worship, or a connection problem.”

Does your church track the number of first-time guests who come to your church? If you do, what if anything does your congregation do to contact them after the worship service? Do you even have a way to get their names and contact information?

Do you know whether they come back more than once? How many times do they return as guests? Do they ever move from being a guest to being an active participant and committed Christian?

If your congregation has very sporadic and/or very few first-time visitors, I wouldn’t hesitate to guess that the issue is indeed an evangelism problem. The evangelism problem is that no one is inviting people to come. If we don’t invite, if we don’t advertise, if we don’t have a concerted effort to invite people, they just aren’t going to come. But they very well may go to another church that takes evangelism seriously.

If the guests don’t come back, or only come back a few times, then there really is a hospitality, worship, or connection problem. Before you write letters saying, “our church is the friendliest church in our town,” ask yourself, “if we’re so friendly, why don’t people return?” or “why don’t they move from a guest to a committed follower of Jesus Christ?”

Karen Greenwaldt, who was the General Secretary of the General Board of Discipleship (not Discipleship Ministries), used to say that being a first-time guest is like going to someone else’s family reunion. Could that be your congregation?

There might be a connection problem in that there is no way or no one who connects with visitors except to hand them a bulletin or pass the attendance pad. Connection is critically important, not just as people walk into the worship space, but as people set foot on your church property, and even as they leave.

There might also be a worship problem in that the visitors didn’t find worship meaningful or helpful. That’s a hard thing to write and think about, but it is important. If we really care about making disciples we must make sure that our worship, our music, and our worship space is the best it can be. We must make sure that the sermons, whatever liturgy we use, and the music we choose will speak to contemporary people and contemporary issues. The entire worship service must connect us to God but also help us live in these difficult times.

Joanne and I visited a church, and three days after worship we received not only a letter, but a postcard as well asking us to tell the church what we thought of worship. It included such questions as: did people greet us?; how was worship and the music? It also asked for our feeling about the sermon and if it spoke to us in our daily living. If I remember, there was also a place for us to talk about what might have improved our worship experience.

As the new year unfolds, my hope for our churches in the Susquehanna Conference is that we will take seriously our mandate to make disciples of Jesus Christ. One of the ways we make disciples is through evangelism and working to make sure that not only do we have first-time guests often in our church, but that they return regularly until we can help disciple them into committed Christians.

God’s blessings — Tom

Creative Insights: New year, new connections

By Janelle Walker, Assistant Director of Communication Ministry

How much time did you spend with God this week? A friend of mine would always ask that when I was too busy for small group. I always had a tough time answering that question. In many ways, it seemed immeasurable and in others I knew I would always come up short. It’s not like I wasn’t putting in the time. Yeah, sometimes my prayer life was lacking and my time in the Bible seemed scarce. But for the most part I was able to keep myself on track. However, I think the real question was and is, “Am I connecting with God?”

Reading the words on the pages of my Bible seemed like enough. I could check it off my list and move on with my day. I understood what I read and always had the greatest of intentions to put it into practice in my daily life. What was missing was a clear connection to what God was telling me; not just discernment and application, but wholehearted belief and sacrifice; thanking God for His Word and the knowledge He had given me; asking God to show me how to use this in my life and the lives of those around me; truly speaking with God regularly and listening to His response.

Making connections with people in your life can be achieved in similar fashion. Sincerely speaking with individuals and actively listening to their responses; thanking them for their time and sharing their thoughts. Imagine approaching relationships with family, friends, congregations, and communities in the same way. Communicating with purpose, honesty, and reverence to individuals and groups can change the dynamic of many disconnected relationships and give them new life to grow into true connections.

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Happy New Year from the Office of Growing Effective Churches!

By Kay Kotan, Director of Congregational Development

There is much buzz and excitement as we head into 2018. Great momentum is building, and there is a bunch of things to share. First, let me suggest you put April 28 on your calendar for the first Navigate. You will not want to miss this top-notch, conference-wide event. Mike Schreiner and Ken Willard, authors of “Stride,” along with some other awesome workshop leaders, will be bringing us a jam-packed day of equipping disciple-makers. All attendees will encounter a worship experience demonstrating how to weave discipleship throughout the entire worship experience. They will also learn how to create a discipleship pathway for their size of church. This event will be held in the brand-new Lewisburg High School. We are expecting a large crowd for this can’t-miss event, and there is limited seating. So grab a team from your church and register today.

Here are some other really exciting things going on here in the Office of Growing Effective Churches. Keep your eyes peeled for some of these equipping opportunities:

1. Basic Coach Training. Don’t miss out on gaining this essential tool of learning the coach-approach to ministry. Whether or not you ever use coaching in a formal coaching relationship, knowing how to use the coach-approach to ministry is a must-have tool for today’s leader. Think “coach approach” to supervision, pre-marital coaching, and coaching your ministry/leadership team. Both laity and clergy are encouraged to attend. Sign up for this indispensable training to be held February 20 at Christ Community, Selinsgrove.
2. A variety of pre-Conference workshops will be offered at Trinity, Hummelstown, Wednesday, May 30, from 1-5 p.m. Workshops on hospitality, worship planning, small church vitality, Fresh Expressions, vital mergers, re-starts, visioning, youth, finance, and more will be offered. Registration for these workshops will be available when you register for Annual Conference. Watch for more details to come. 
3. M3 – Moving from Maintenance to Missional is a local continuous learning community for your church leadership. The training is available on demand, led by your own people at your local church. All the tools (agenda, handouts, video, etc.) are provided. This is a great way to set aside the ever-important time, space, and opportunity to learn together and share insights. M3 will walk your leadership through how to evaluate the effectiveness of your ministry, in ten different areas of ministry including: mission, vision, worship, hospitality, discipleship, strategic ministry planning, leadership development, community connection, staff evaluation, and structure. If you are interested in learning more, contact the Office of Growing Effective Churches.
4. We have been working with a Visioning Team to provide direction for a renewed focus and priority on “creating new places for new people.” There have been four key strategies identified for the Susquehanna Annual Conference to create new places for new faces: vital mergers, re-starts, multi-site, and fresh expressions of faith. You will hear more about this in the upcoming months and how to become a part of this movement. Stay tuned.
5. Many of the equipping workshops conducted in the past six months have been captured on video. They are being edited and will be eventually provided online, on-demand for local church equipping. Some of these workshops include Simplified, Accountable Structure, Gear Up: Nine Essentials for the Optimized Church, and Necessary Nine: Nine things Effective Pastors do Differently (and two traits of effective churches).

As you can see, there is a load of equipping opportunities provided by the Office of Growing Effective Churches where we are called to “equip congregations for vitality and create new places for new people.” We are so pumped for what God has in store for all of us in 2018. How will you and your church plug into one or more of these equipping opportunities to be an even more vital congregation and/or do a new thing to reach new people in new places in 2018? The harvest is bountiful, but the workers are few. Let’s be about the Kingdom in 2018, reaching new people for Christ.

Register now for Summer Camp!

Volunteers In Mission

Mission Opportunities

VIM Training

February 10, 2018

Trinity UMC

210 W. Main St.

Hummelstown, PA 17036

8 a.m. - 2 p.m.   

Refreshments and light lunch provided. No Fee.

 Ken Mengel - Facilitator   

To register, send an e-mail to jrexrode43@gmail.com 

or call 717-215-7047

2018 VIM Trips

March 15-26

Where: Haiti

Contact: Jodi Crimmel

t_crimmel04@gmail.com

Work: Construction

Sponsor: Haiti Partnership

October 20 - November 3

Where: Tarapoto, Peru

Contact: Curt Knouse

cknouse@susumc.org

$2,400

Work: School and construction

Sponsor: Susquehanna Conference

www.susmb.org

Young People's Ministry

2018 Youth Service Fund grant recipients

Over $9,000 was raised for Youth Service Fund at Annual Conference 2017. Such wonderful generosity has led to the ability of the Young People’s Ministry Council to give grants to six Susquehanna Conference congregations, and two Susquehanna Conference youth attending Global Convocation. Award amounts for these eight applicants equal $4,388.11. The YPMC also voted to send $250 to the following Annual Conferences devastated by natural disasters in 2017: California, Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico. The stipulations on these funds is that they be used to assist in rebuilding youth ministries devastated by the natural disasters. Per UM Discipline guidelines, the YPMC will also be sending 30 percent, or over $2,800, to the National YSF to assist UM youth nationally and internationally.

We are overjoyed with the prospect of being able to impact so many lives through the ministries of these congregations and individuals because of our Annual Conference’s generosity.

2018 Grant Recipients:

• St. Paul’s UMC, Mountain Top: Congolese Youth Group Start
• First UMC, Millersburg: Mission Trip
• Runville UMC Charge: Mission Trip
• St. Paul’s Calvary UMC, Williamsport: Kid’s Club
• Hershey and Hummelstown UMC’s: UNITE Youth
• Eatonville UMC, Tunkhannock: Youth Rising Afterschool Program
• Hannah Carter: Global Young People’s Convocation, South Africa
• Alex Clark: Global Young People’s Convocation, South Africa

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Youth leader certification retreat

Perkins School of Youth Ministry is partnering with Susquehanna Young People’s Ministry to offer an intensive training weekend for youth leaders. During the three-day retreat, attendees will participate in 15 credit hours of hands-on learning lead by youth ministry experts from Perkins School of Theology. Some of the 12 teaching modules offered will include: Organizing Your Ministry, Trips & Event Planning, and History of Youth Ministry. After completing the courses, youth leaders will receive a certificate in Foundations Youth Ministry from Perkins School of Theology.

The certification retreat will be held Friday, August 17, through Sunday, August 19, 2018, at Mt. Asbury Retreat Center. Cost for the event, covering training, personal workbooks, lodging, and meals, will be $300 per person. Those interested in more information or attending should email Audrey Wilder, Director of Young People’s Ministry, awilder@susumc.org. 

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Northeast Jurisdiction Council on Youth Ministry Mission of Peace

The Mission of Peace is a yearly journey of discovery and Shalom to nations in our global community, sponsored by the Northeast Jurisdictional Council on Youth Ministries. Each year, every annual conference in the Northeastern Jurisdiction may select up to four youth to share in this experience. On each MOP, participants worship in churches, meet youth in churches and civic organizations, and share with people who have a similar longing for peace and understanding.
The Mission of Peace for 2019 will be to the Philippines, December 28, 2018 - January 15, 2019. This trip promises to be an outstanding experience. It is the hope of the NEJ CYM that each conference of our NEJ will participate in the Mission of Peace 2019. The Susquehanna Conference last sent a youth on a Mission of Peace in 2012. We would love to send some in 2019. If you have a youth that is interested, please contact Audrey Wilder, awilder@susumc.org, for an application. Applications are due March 1, 2018.

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Top youth ministry resources for the new year

As we begin the new year, why not add a few of these great books to your reading list this year. While maybe not hot off the presses, these are helpful books to add to your libraries and to practice in ministry.

Growing Young: Six Essential Strategies to Help Young People Discover and Love Your Church, by Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, and Brad Griffin, Baker Books 2016. A game changer in youth ministry. This is a great book to read with as a youth leader team, discipleship team, or even small group. While it’s a good book to read solo, it is more powerful and effective when you’re able to work through it with a ministry group.

One Body: Integrating Teens into the Life of Your Church, by Sam Halverson, The Youth Cartel 2014. I very often hear, “We don’t have enough youth for a youth group.” Despair no more! Halverson’s book is a great answer to small churches with few youth, or large churches with siloed ministries. This inclusive and practical way of doing youth ministry points out all the intuitive things you’ve been doing and gives you incentive to try more.

Thriving Youth Ministry in Smaller Churches (2009) AND Smaller Church Youth Ministry (2016), both books are co-written by Stephanie Caro and explore ways of doing youth ministry in a smaller context. Both offer practical, real-life examples of effective ministry done in the unique culture of smaller churches and ask helpful challenging questions to improve your ministry with teens.

Conference students earn college scholarships from UM Higher Ed

Congratulations to the following Susquehanna Conference students who were awarded college scholarships for the 2017-2018 academic year from our General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) in Nashville:

Lisa Aronson - First Mechanicsburg UMC - Evangelical Theological Seminary
Alecia Bender First UMC, Mercersburg - Indiana University Of Pennsylvania
Wyatt Bumbarger - Faith Chapel UMC - Pennsylvania State University
Emily Buonocore - Bethany UMC, Dover - Asbury College
Ashleigh Clarke - Lake Winola UMC - Marywood University
Rebekah Forshey - Grace UMC - Messiah College
Peter Gingrich - First UMC, Hershey - Moravian College And Moravian  Theological Seminary
Gillian Hamsher - First UMC, Chambersburg - Albright College
Rayanne Hawk - Grace UMC - Lebanon Valley College
Kacie Hopkins - Avis UMC - University Of Denver
Rebecca Hosier - Nauvoo St. Pauls UMC - Lycoming College
Jacey Johnson - Camp Hill UMC - Wesley Theological Seminary
Hanna Jones - Grace UMC - Saint Francis University
Darby Kasper - Roseville UMC - Pennsylvania State University
Kimberly Klick -  of Christ Uniting - Misericordia University
Tiffany Manning - St. Paul UMC, Manchester - Fuller Theological Seminary, CA
Christian McBride - Montoursville Faith UMC - Messiah College
Gloria Montgomery - Towanda First UMC - Wesley Theological Seminary
Tanner Rodarmel - Bethel UMC, Catawissa - Regent University
Brian Sevison - Bethel UMC, Catawissa - Susquehanna University
Rachel Shaffer - Donnally Mills UMC - Lebanon Valley College
Abigail Stoner - Camp Hill UMC - Lebanon Valley College
Dennis Wilt - Wehnwood UMC - Juniata College

Special congratulations to Rayanne Hawk, Kacie Hopkins, and Rachel Shaffer, who received the Susquehanna Annual Conference Merit Award directly from funds collected through Susquehanna Conference offerings.

Thank you for your support in recognizing United Methodist Student Day, World Communion Sunday, and Native American Ministries Sunday, which help fund a portion of these loans and scholarships. The remaining funds for these awards come from gifts, annuities, and endowments GBHEM has invested and administered for decades.

GBHEM offers United Methodist students better options for funding education

By GBHEM

Student loan debt is not always avoidable for those pursuing higher education. Interest rates for educational loans can vary from lender to lender, and federal student loan interest rates have been increasing year-over-year. Thankfully, United Methodist students do not have to worry about increasing interest rates. Through its Office of Loans and Scholarships, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) offers United Methodist students the lowest interest for student loans in the U.S.

GBHEM loan interest rates range from 3.75 percent to 5 percent (pending the deferment option chosen) compared to federal loan interest rates that range from 4.45 percent to 7 percent. “GBHEM is proud to offer United Methodist students lower loan interest rate options to minimize debt levels. Higher interest rates and lengthened repayment periods for lower monthly payments increases debt levels,” explained Allyson Collinsworth, executive director of the Office of Loans and Scholarships at GBHEM.

United Methodist loan rates are:

• 3.75% fixed for the Smart Loan non-deferred rate, in which the student begins repayment within the month after the loan is disbursed.  
• 4% fixed deferred rate for students attending a United Methodist college or university. No early repayment is required for this rate.
• 5% fixed deferred rate for United Methodist attending a non-United Methodist institution with no early repayment required.
• Current Federal Student loan rates (based on loans disbursed between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018) are: 
• 4.45% fixed for Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans (Undergraduate Students)
• 4.45% fixed for Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans (Undergraduate Students)
• 6.00% fixed for Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans (Graduate or Professional Students)
• 7.00% fixed for Direct PLUS Loans (Parents and Graduate or Professional Students)
• 5.00% fixed for Perkins Loans (Undergraduate and Graduate or Professional Students)

Under legislation passed in 2015, federal student loan interest rates are tied to the annual 10-year U.S. Treasury note auction and will be adjusted each year.
“We strive to maintain scholarships and low-interest loans through church offerings, donations and endowments from forward-thinking members to ensure our students have an opportunity to pursue the educational track they choose,” Collinsworth said.

U.S. students owe more than $1.45 trillion in student loan debt—spread out among about 44 million borrowers. Student loan debt even outranks credit card debt by $620 billion. On average, class of 2016 graduates have $37,172 in student loan debt, up nearly six percent from $35,200 in 2013. 

“We encourage all students to research and understand what options are available to them through loans and scholarships,” said Collinsworth. “Knowledge is power and making wise financial decisions concerning your education can relieve future financial burdens and stress.”

Students may borrow up to $5,000 per calendar year for a maximum total of $20,000 during a four-year college career. United Methodist student loan rates for 2017-2018 academic year are no more than 5 percent, with the lowest rate at 3.75 percent.

Spring loan applications are open December 13, 2017 to May 2, 2018. Scholarship applications for the 2018-2019 academic year open January 3, 2018 - March 7, 2018.

For more information about the low-interest student loans and scholarships available through GBHEM, visit www.gbhem.org/loansandscholarships.

Preaching with Power 2017 graduates honored

Left to right — front row: Pastor Christine Mastin and Kelly Kocher-Ross. Second row: Pastor Brian Sandell, Rev. Ryan Gephart, Dottie Hararas, and Rev. David Shultz. Third row: Pastor Calvin Miller and Tony Crocamo. Back row: Dr. Dilip Abayasekara, Rev. Lori Steffensen and Rev. Larry Leland Jr. 

On December 6, 2017, six pastors and a lay leader completed the eighth Preaching with Power program offered by Dr. Dilip Abayasekara and his associate, Tony Crocamo. The graduation luncheon program was held at the site of the fall PwP, Christ UMC in Selinsgrove, with Lewisburg District Superintendent Rev. Larry Leland Jr. and State College District Superintendent Lori Steffensen present. 
This rigorous 36-hour program takes preachers through the theory and practice of preparing, constructing, and delivering sermons. PwP’s key tenets are that it is grounded in biblical theology, led by the Holy Spirit, offers spiritual sustenance to the congregation, and is based on solid sermon construction, organization, and delivery.

The 2017 PwP graduates are: Rev. Ryan Gephart (Christ UMC, Selinsgrove, Lewisburg District), Dorothy (Dottie) Hararas (First UMC, Mt. Union, Altoona District), Kelly Kocher-Ross (Bethel UMC, Catawissa, Lewisburg District), Pastor Christine Mastin (White Deer Charge, Lewisburg District), Pastor Calvin Miller (Greater Buffalo Run Valley UMC, State College District), Pastor Brian Sandell (Second Avenue Altoona, Altoona District), and Rev. David Shultz (Port Trevorton Charge, Lewisburg District).

A video message from Bishop Jeremiah Park was well-received, and so was an address by District Supervisor Rev. Larry Leland Jr. Each of the graduates gave a five- to seven-minute sermon prior to receiving certificates of completion and CEU certificates. Commenting on the quality of the participants, Dr. Dilip Abayasekara said, “The conference should be very proud of each of the participants who went through the program. They are committed to their call and applied themselves diligently to their vital task – to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.” Shawn Gilgore, Director of Communications Ministry, was present to take photos.

Continue Your Mission at Albright: Sue Jamison

The Rev. Sue Jamison Receives Servant Leadership Award

Each year at Albright Care Services’ Annual Meeting, the Best of the Best staff awards are presented. In 2012, the Seneca S. Foote Servant Leadership Award was created in honor of Seneca Foote who served as Albright’s president and CEO from 2004 until 2011. This award honors an employee who demonstrates compassion, moral authority and a collaborative work style on a daily basis.
This year, the Rev. Sue Jamison was the recipient of this award. Sue is an ordained Elder in the Susquehanna Conference and is in an Extension Ministry appointment as the Annual Fund Director at Albright Care Services, a position she has held since 2006.

In her introductory remarks, Vice President of Fund Development Fran Ashby commented, “A servant leader at her core puts people first. Leading by example, showing compassion, listening, appreciating diversity of thought – these are the qualities of our 2017 servant leader.”

Shaun Smith, President & CEO of Albright, stated, “Sue’s friendliness, cordiality and cooperation are widely recognized. Her dependability in accomplishing her responsibilities has gained the respect of residents, co-workers and management. Her positive attitude towards her job and her loyalty to the organization are noted as an example for her co-workers. Her willingness to ‘go the extra mile’ is an outstanding quality. Sue represents the initiative, enthusiasm and dedication which make Albright Care Services’ communities a special place for our residents and guests.”

In accepting the award, Sue expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to support Albright’s mission. “It takes a team to tackle all that we are tasked with doing in order to meet the mission of ensuring that everyone who is part of the Albright family is taken care of, regardless of their ability to pay. I continue to do this work because I value that mission,” said Sue. She ended her remarks with this advice: “Be kind. Find something to be grateful for every day. And when you hear music, get up and dance!”

Albright, celebrating 100 years of service to the Susquehanna Valley, invites you to continue your mission by joining us at one of our six locations. Visit www.albrightcare.org for information on senior living, day programs, giving or volunteering.

Rev. Sue Jamison (center), Annual Fund Director at Albright Care, was the recipient of the Seneca S. Foote Servant Leadership Award in 2017. Pictured with her are Vice President of Fund Development Fran Ashby (left) and Shaun Smith (right), President & CEO of Albright.

Community Garden and Blessing Box

By Noelle Long

Passersby may have noticed a few new things growing by Christ United Methodist Church in Northumberland last summer. A community garden was started to simply share God’s bounty with everyone. There were no income restrictions and no limit to the amount people could take. Produce was placed on the stand near the flagpole on the King Street side of the park, free for the taking for anyone who would like some fresh veggies at their meal table. Last year’s harvest included sweet corn (which some claimed was the best they ever had!), eggplant, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, hot peppers, green peppers, banana peppers, tomatoes, cilantro, dill, basil, green beans, and fresh-cut flowers.

This year’s plans for the garden have been in the works for months. The CUMC family and community partners have worked on or plan to:

• Preparing the beds for composting during the fall and winter months.
• Signage to be installed with the CUMC kids’ artistic touches.
• Install brick pathways.
• Handcrafted stepping stones will be made to be included in the paths throughout the garden.
• Garden expansion. The new footprint will double the garden’s current size, allowing for a more diverse crop selection and more produce.
• A stone prayer wall will be built for anyone to utilize, complete with lighting, a bench, and landscaping.

The CUMC Blessing Box has also been added as yet another outreach to the community. Blessing Boxes come in many different sizes offering a variety of items such as non-perishable food goods, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene products, diapers, and more. CUMC encourages anyone in the community to “Take what you need and leave what you can.”

If you want to learn more, contact the CUMC office at 570-473-8543.

Yeun honored for years of ministry and service

By Rev. James Fox

Upon his retirement, Rev. Dr. Paul Yeun was honored October 14, 2017, at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Chambersburg for his 18 years of service as a chaplain at Summit Health Pastoral Services, which includes all the health agencies of Summit Health and Chambersburg and Waynesboro Hospitals.

Yeun has trained one of the largest groups of pastoral services volunteers in the U.S. over his 18 years in Chambersburg. At the retirement dinner, Paul received honors from the volunteers, the Summit Health Community, and from the State of Pennsylvania.

Representative Rob Kauffman and Representative Paul Schemmel presented Rev. Yeun with a citation honoring his ministry to his country and to pastoral services. The citation is entered into the records of the State of Pennsylvania.

Summit Health Service honored Chaplain Yeun with a paver, which now is on the wall at the entrance to Chambersburg Hospital Chapel.

Rev. Yeun is an adjunct professor at three seminaries, and prior to his hospital chaplaincy, served 20 years as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force.

Rev. Yeun is available as a guest preacher and to teach congregations how to do pastoral care and counseling, particularly hospital and nursing visitations. “Being a Healing Presence: I Want to Help, but Teach me How,” is a short course on teaching laity to visit patients effectively in hospitals and health care institutions. He has taught and trained hundreds of lay people and local pastors over the last 18 years at the Chambersburg Hospital. Their pastoral care program received the first ever Achievement Award from the Hospital and Health System Association in Pennsylvania.

His doctoral concentration was on pastoral care of the older persons, and he also has a presentation entitled, “Ministry to the Spiritual and Emotional Needs of the Aging.”

Contact Rev. Yeun at pyeun@summithealth.org or call 717-360-1616 for more information.

What are the Four Areas of Ministry Focus?

The Four Areas of Focus express the vision and yearnings of the people of The United Methodist Church. Narrowing our focus to these four areas allows churches to use their resources effectively as they live out God’s vision for the church.

1. Engaging in Ministry with the Poor —Christ calls us to be in ministry with the poor and marginalized ... standing with those who are regarded as “the least of these,” listening to them, understanding their needs and aspirations, and working with them to achieve their goals. It also means addressing the causes of poverty and responding in ways that lift up individuals and communities.
   
2. Improving Global Health — Knowing that poverty and health are intertwined, The United Methodist Church has been a key player in fighting diseases such as malaria and AIDS and promoting initiatives that improve well-being. The church is nearing its goal of raising $75 million to provide education, infrastructure, communication, and prevention measures to defeat malaria. A new “Abundant Health” campaign for the denomination would reach one million children with lifesaving interventions by 2020.
   
3. Developing Principled Christian Leaders — The church needs leaders rooted in Christ, who have a vision for changing the world. Today’s young people have fearless hearts, vibrant ideas, and a passion for ministry. Their talents should be nurtured to shape the church’s path into the future. The church must recruit young people — including women and people of color the world over — for ministry, equip them to be effective leaders, and be open to where they want to lead us. We also must strengthen lay members, who are ministering at every level of the church.
   
4. Creating New and Renewed Congregations — Around the world, United Methodists are innovating with what it means to be the church, planting new congregations, and revitalizing faith communities in every kind of setting. United Methodists seek to re-evangelize the world so that we can reach more people, especially the young and those from diverse backgrounds.

For more details visit www.umc.org/how-we-serve/four-areas-of-focus-overview

UMW learn about Uganda missions

By Laura Shaffer

Town Hill UMC hosted the 2017 Lewisburg District United Methodist Women Annual Day on October 7. We were truly blessed to have Lori Ssebulime and Joanne Kerstetter from Christ Community UMC’s Uganda Mission team come and share with the United Methodist Women of the Lewisburg District. Lori and Joanne’s abundant love and compassion for the people of Uganda is so inspiring. After a wonderful presentation and slide show from Lori Ssebulime, the women all shared in a luncheon. May God continue to richly bless this worthy cause, Unite for Uganda.

Lori Ssebulime (left) and Joanne Kerstetter (right) from Christ Community UMC’s Uganda Mission team shared about their experiences with the Town Hill UMC UMW.

Conference-wide Bishop’s Partners in Mission 2018 fundraisers

By Dr. Dilip Abayasekara

We are excited to announce to the Susquehanna Conference that in April-May 2018 we will hold a conference-wide Bishop’s Partners in Mission fundraiser in the form of a Walk-a-Thon/Run-a-Thon. Bishop Jeremiah Park and all seven district superintendents will be involved in this effort, which will be the first-ever such event held since BPIM was launched to save lives and restore hope via funds raised for Imagine No Malaria and to reduce the debt burden of Mission Central.

Each district will form an organizing team during the months of December and January. Details about the Walk-a-Thon/Run-a-Thon, including sponsorship forms, will be on the BPIM Web page (http://Tinyurl.com/BishopsPIM) on the conference website. Flyers and posters are available on the web page as well as the BPIM Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/BishopsPIM).

Dates for the district events are:

• April 7, 2018: Altoona
• April 15, 2018: York
• April 29, 2018: State College
• May 5, 2018: Lewisburg
• May 6, 2018: Williamsport
• May 12, 2018: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
• May 19, 2018: Harrisburg

We are calling people of all ages to participate in this activity by either being a walker/runner or by being a sponsor. Please download a sponsorship form from the Web page and tell your friends about it. More information will be coming soon. Let’s make every step count in our campaign to eliminate malaria and enable Mission Central to be free of its debt so that it can do what it does best: provide God’s resources for human need.

For more information, contact Dilip Abayasekara, BPIM Field Coordinator, at DAbayasekara@susumc.org or 717-648-1080.

Where Your Treasure is: The wisdom of the Magi

By Rev. Phyllis Bowers, Executive Director United Methodist Stewardship Foundation

The Magi were wise for recognizing Jesus and journeying to find him. As stewards, they, in their wisdom, lay the very best they had at his feet. At the end of Nate Berneking’s book, The Vile Practices of Church Leadership, he admonishes the church not to be the servant that buries its talent or carelessly wastes it. This is the antithesis of the Magi, something we don’t wish to be.

As Berneking argues, burying the riches one is given can not only be out of fear of risk but can also be out of convenience. It is easiest not to try, simpler to not take the journey into the unknown. This is a waste of opportunities. It might be easiest to stay inside our comfort zone, protecting one’s past and holding onto one’s present at the expense of the future. But we are called to do more.

Yet there is a lack of wisdom in the other extreme too. It is not wise to spend without an intentional plan or to travel without an envisioned destination. It is easiest to say we’ve tried and risked much as our ready excuse when our lack of thoughtfulness in the past or present sets up our failure in the future. It is a waste of resources. It might be easiest to buy into the superficial, glamorous quick fixes without focusing on the depth of devotion one needs to recognize Jesus and journey to find him. But we are called to do better.

This Epiphany season may Jesus find us to be wise as the Magi, seeking to lay the best, our very best, before him. May the church dig up its buried and lost talents too, courageously and intentionally taking the wise route to follow the Magi’s example on the long and rewarding road to worshipping our King.
Start the new year right and let the Light of Jesus guide our hearts and actions.

Discovery Place Resource Center: Time to start thinking about Lent

By Joni Robison

As we approach Lent, one of the most meaningful seasons of the church year, consider one of these studies for small group or church-wide use.

Two resources that are new to Discovery Place (reserve early, as copies are limited):

What Makes a Hero? The Death-Defying Ministry of Jesus – Looking at pop culture heroes through the lens of faith, author Matt Rawle shows how Jesus turned the concept of hero on its head. Learn how Jesus redefines what it means to be a hero.  (6 sessions. Includes DVD, book, leader guide. Children and youth books also available.)

Restored: Finding Redemption in Our Mess – Author Tom Berlin encourages us to reflect and meditate on our own brokenness, showing us that it is only when we focus on the cross as a place to surrender control that we can leave our mess and find true redemption. (6 sessions. Includes DVD, book, leader guide. Youth book also available.)

Other studies available include:

Final Words from the Cross – Adam Hamilton examines Christ’s dying hours and His final words as seen and heard through the eyes and ears of those who stood near the cross. (6 sessions. Includes DVD, book, and leader guide.)

24 Hours that Changed the World – We travel to the Holy Land with Adam Hamilton, to visit the sites where the earth-shaking events of the last 24 hours of Jesus’ life took place.  Each session is designed to help us experience and understand the significance of Jesus’ suffering and death in a new way. (7 sessions. Includes DVD, book, leader guide, and 40 Days of Reflection booklet.)

The God We Can Know: Exploring the “I Am” Sayings of Jesus – Author Rob Fuquay explores the “I am” statements of Jesus found in the Gospel of John, to help us answer the most essential question in the Christian faith: “Who do you say I am?”  (7 sessions. Includes DVD and book.)

Creed: What Christians Believe and Why – Adam Hamilton believes that for Christians and others seeking faith, powerful answers are contained in the Apostle’s Creed. In this study we learn not only what Christians believe, but why it matters. (6 sessions. Includes DVD, book, and leader guide.)

Renegade Gospel: The Rebel Jesus - Jesus didn’t come to start a religion. The rebel Jesus came with a renegade gospel to start a revolution. We are invited to be a part. In this study, author Mike Slaughter presents Jesus and his challenging message. (6 sessions. Includes DVD, book, and leader guide.)

Complete descriptions of these and all our other resources can be found in our online catalog on our website: www.discovery-place.org.

Our Heritage

By Dr. Milton Loyer, Conference Archivist

January – 100 years ago

 The Christian Advocate for January 24, 1918, carried the following article from the Wyoming Conference: “A whole charge revived! The successful revival at Rendham [Stewart Memorial] was followed by one at Old Forge, the other appointment on the charge. The Mealing party, after finishing at Rendham, stayed for three weeks at the other appointment and more than 50 conversions are reported.”

 Evangelist William Cyrus Mealing (1874-1946) of Williamsport, Pa., had just completed revival meetings at Forty Fort, which reported 207 conversions and 80 re-consecrations. He and he wife, who organized the music and did vocal solos, had conducted very successful Billy Sunday-type campaigns in the Harrisburg area the previous spring. During their four weeks at Derry Street United Brethren, for example, it was reported that “an augmented choir of 125 voices sang the gospel songs made famous by Billy Sunday, under the direction of Mrs. Luella Page Mealing.”

February – 50 years ago

The Boards of Evangelism in our predecessor conferences sponsored two renewal events in 1968. A February 19-20 Conference on Preaching Evangelism at Faxon-Kenmar Methodist Church in Williamsport led by G. Ernest Thomas of Birmingham, Mich., attracted 120 pastors. A February 29 Lenten Retreat at First EUB Church in Mechanicsburg led by James Singer of Washington, D.C., was attended by 160 clergy and lay persons. In addition, pastors F. Louis Barth and Paul E. Myers represented the conference at the February 5-7 biennial meeting of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches and were elected chairman of the Committee on Community Evangelism and executive secretary of the Division of Evangelism respectively.

For questions about the history of the Susquehanna Conference and its predecessor conferences, contact Dr. Milton Loyer at loyer@lycoming.edu

January 2018 Susquehanna LINK