Drive-Through Christmas Light Show at Mount Asbury

By Sandii Peiffer

For twelve nights between Thanksgiving and Christmas, over 1300 visitors enjoyed the 2nd Annual Christmas Light Show, a drive-through experience at Mount Asbury Retreat Center in Newville, Pa.

Over the course of a few work weekends in the fall, camp staff and around 30 volunteers helped set up five large displays depicting the Nativity story in addition to many smaller displays of Christmas joy along a drive-through path in the woods on the site. "There were too many lights to count!" said Patty Weidman, Center Director. 

A total of 90 volunteers helped during the event nights as more than 400 cars drove through the Christmas Light Show, with some of the guests stopping to enjoy refreshments of hot chocolate (127) and cookies (235).

The event relies heavily on volunteers and donations of Christmas lights or money for lights and other supplies to make the displays.

For more information contact Patty Weidman at pweidman@susumc.org.

mountasbury.org

 

 

Thank You For Supporting Mission Central

As a monumental year comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to thank all the Susquehanna Conference United Methodist Church churches for your support throughout 2021! We recognize that this year continued to bring many challenges, and we are incredibly grateful for the support that has been shown to Mission Central. 

Every item, every prayer, every dollar and every shared gift has assisted us in fulfilling our mission of ‘connecting God’s resources with human need.’  We are thankful for each of you and appreciate you sharing your gifts with us. 

This was a record breaking year for Mission Central and, while numbers aren’t final, we assisted close to 4 million people with over $15 million in resources. We couldn’t have done this without your support!

Our medical ministry continues to be the fastest growing ministry and grew by 300% this year over 2020 (which was a record-breaking year as well). Our school program quadrupled and we continue to assist students and their families with medical equipment, food, clothing, school supplies and hygiene/cleaning items. Mission Central continues a big focus on disaster relief and are still the largest warehouse for UMCOR. 

Next year is a big year for us – we celebrate 20 years of this important work! Check out our end-of-year Mission Link for ways that you and your church can support us as we work toward another 20! If you have the opportunity, please follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our MissionLink (a weekly eNews letter). 

Also, please make sure you “Save the Dates” for a few Mission Central events of 2022: 

• Mission Central Gala: May 15, 2022 (at Liberty Forge)

• Mission Central Monster Mash and Dash (our virtual run): October, 2022

We wish you a Happy New Year filled with many blessings. 

Thank you for everything you do for Mission Central! 

www.missioncentral.org

Susquehanna LINK, November issue

 

Download or view the PDF at www.susumc.org/link

Susquehanna LINK, July 2021

 

View or download PDF at www.susumc.org/link

The College of Bishops Northeastern Jurisdiction

To the United Methodists of the Northeastern Jurisdiction from the College of Bishops of the Northeastern Jurisdiction

Grace and Peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ,

We thank God for you and commend the clergy and congregational leaders for your leadership. These have been difficult and isolating times for many and yet you are leading our most vital ministry, congregations and community ministries with conviction and determination. You have demonstrated the gifts of courage, leadership, innovation and grace. Thank you.

On March 29, 2021, we announced the coverage of Episcopal Areas in the Northeastern Jurisdiction effective September 1, 2021.

The pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges in the life of the church. One area of challenge has been our ability to conference together in the General and Jurisdictional Conferences. General Conference sets the policies for the church, elects new general agency leadership and sets the global direction and budget for the church. The Jurisdictional Conference elects new bishops and assigns bishops to episcopal areas.

Due to the 2020 General Conference being postponed a second time, it has meant the continual postponement of the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference. Two of the Northeastern Jurisdiction bishops, Bishops Peggy Johnson and Jeremiah Park have requested and been granted voluntarily retirement starting September 1, 2021 under paragraph 408.2 (b) of The Book of Discipline.

Bishop Johnson will move to Virginia in August of 2021 to employ her gifts and experience to serve in ministry with congregations and provide consultation with deaf and disability ministry in the NEJ and across the connection.

Bishop Park will move to New Jersey in August of 2021 to employ his gifts and experience to serve in ministry as the Presiding Bishop with both the Northeastern Jurisdiction Korean Mission and the United Methodist Mission in Mongolia.

The 2020 postponed General Conference will gather in person August 29 through September 6, 2022 in Minneapolis, MN followed by U.S. Jurisdictional Conferences to be held in October of 2022 for the election and assignment of bishops.

Because two bishops will retire this year, effective September 1, 2021, The Book of Discipline authorizes the College of Bishops to provide coverage of open episcopal areas until new bishops are elected and assigned by the Jurisdictional Conference. This coverage will be for 16 months from September 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022.

The College of Bishops after consulting with the Northeastern Jurisdiction Episcopacy Committee and individual bishops, and after prayer and meeting several times about coverage during this interim period, announces the following bishops will provide episcopal leadership and coverage within the Northeastern Jurisdiction.

Bishop Moore-Koikoi

Bishop Steiner Ball

Episcopal Areas: West Virginia Area (West Virginia Conference), Pittsburgh Area (Western Pennsylvania Conference) and
Harrisburg Area (Susquehanna Conference), Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi and Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball.

Episcopal Areas: Washington Area (Baltimore-Washington Conference) and Philadelphia Area (Peninsula Delaware Conference) – Bishop LaTrelle Easterling.

Episcopal Areas: New Jersey Area (Greater New Jersey Conference) and Philadelphia Area (Eastern Pennsylvania Conference) – Bishop John Schol.

Upper New York Area (Upper New York Conference), Bishop Mark Webb.

Boston Area (New England Conference), Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar.

New York Area (New York Conference), Bishop Thomas Bickerton.

These are temporary arrangements and configurations to provide coverage. The next in-person Jurisdictional Conference will set the episcopal areas and assignments of bishops for the next quadrennium.

We thank you for your continued ministry and service within The United Methodist Church and the world. We invite you to pray for the church and our leadership as bishops as we serve together to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

In Christ,

Boston Area
Sudarshana Devadhar

Harrisburg Area
Jeremiah J. Park

New Jersey Area
John R. Schol

New York Area
Thomas J. Bickerton

Philadelphia Area
Peggy A. Johnson

Pittsburgh Area
Cynthia Moore Koikoi

Upper New York Area
Mark Webb

Washington Area
LaTrelle Easterling

West Virginia Area
Sandra Steiner Ball

Retired
George W. Bashore, Violet L. Fisher, William Boyd Grove, Susan W. Hassinger, Neil L. Irons, Clifton S. Ives, Alfred Johnson, Ernest S. Lyght, Marcus Matthews, Jane Allen Middleton, Susan M. Morrison, Forrest C. Stith, Peter D. Weaver, Joseph H. Yeakel

Thank You for Your Support at Mission Central!

Thank You for Your Support!

As a monumental year comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to thank all the Susquehanna Conference United Methodist Church churches for your support throughout 2020! We recognize that 2020 brought many challenges and we are incredibly grateful for the support that has been shown to Mission Central. 

Every item, every prayer, every dollar and every shared gift has assisted us in fulfilling our mission of ‘connecting God’s resources with human need.’  We are thankful for each of you and appreciate you sharing your gifts with us. 

As we look ahead, we want to make sure you “Save the Dates” for a few Mission Central events of 2021:

• Mission Central online auction: March 4-7
• Mission Central (Virtual) Monster Mash and Dash: October 24-31
• Mission Central Gala: November 13

If you have the opportunity, please follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our MissionLink (a weekly eNewsletter). 

We wish you a happy new year filled with many blessings. Thank you for everything you do for Mission Central! 

Baskets for Mission Central Fundraising in 2021! 

In 2021, Mission Central will be hosting two events - an online auction and our annual Gala. These events raise a significant percentage of our operating revenue each year, and we have always been grateful for UMC support! 

This year, we will be hosting a silent auction for themed baskets at both events and would love your support! Baskets can be put together completely or you can send materials for a basket to be made here at Mission Central. You can even send some basket materials (to go with others to make a basket.) 

Here are a few basket ideas but please feel free to create your own! 

• Family Game Night - games, movie gift cards, popcorn
• Coffee and Tea - mugs, coffee, tea, spoons
• Chocolate Basket - all things chocolate
• Kid’s Favorite Library (great for adults too!) 
• Hot Off the Grill - marinades, skewers, grill supplies 

This is a great activity to be put together by your business, work group, kids of all ages, church youth, confirmation classes, UMW or any group of family/friends AND a great way to support Mission Central! These baskets will be auctioned off at either our online auction or our Gala. The baskets/basket materials are due February 1, 2021. Please sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040f49afa82ca1fc1-baskets. 

If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Titzel by phone at 717-766-1533 or email stitzel@missioncentral.org. 

Thank you in advance for any consideration that you can give these requests. We are looking forward to lots of fun in 2021!