Mission Central Thanks the Churches of The Susquehanna Conference!

 Alexis Pigott, Mission Central Director of Development & Communications

From all of us at Mission Central, thank you to the churches of the Susquehanna Conference for being part of our mission! When we called, you answered! Throughout 2024, your generosity enabled us to provide relief and hope to those who needed it most. 

Mission Central has been a cornerstone of disaster relief in 2024, coordinating recovery efforts with our partners and churches to provide immediate aid and help communities rebuild. Our disaster response efforts remain one of our most impactful, as we were able to support over 100,205 individuals affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. During a year when weather-related disasters were particularly devastating, we distributed all of the Flood Buckets in our warehouse (over 6,000). Supporters far and wide are helping us replenish our inventory so that we can meet the needs of upcoming disaster victims and continue to send resources to those already affected.

This year, we also hosted our first Gala fundraiser since 2019, our largest event of the year. We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of all those who contributed. The evening was filled with inspiring speeches and powerful stories that highlighted Mission Central’s impact. Our live auction energized the room, with attendees bidding generously to support our programs and disaster relief efforts. The silent auction was equally successful, with all items being bid on, thanks to the enthusiasm of our donors and guests. Held at Central Penn College, the event was attended by over 130 supporters dedicated to “Connecting God’s Resources with Human Need.” Thank you for believing in our mission! 

As we reflect on the success of our Gala and the support we’ve received throughout 2024, we are filled with gratitude and anticipation for the future. We remain committed to being a source of support for those in need, and with your help, we will continue to make a meaningful impact.

Our Medical Program continues to be one of our most vital services, providing urgent medical equipment to those in need. As demand for this program grows, we are adjusting our medical program operational hours to ensure efficiency. Beginning in January 2025, Medical Program supplies will only be available for pickup on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM, and must be scheduled in advance.

As we look ahead, we remain dedicated to serving those in greatest need and sharing God’s love to inspire action and support communities around the world. Learn more and discover ways to give at www.missioncentral.org. We look forward to partnering with you in 2025 and beyond. 

Thank you! 

www.missioncentral.org

It’s not what you do, it’s who you serve!

Rev. Jason Schwartzman

For the past 17 years, I have been proud to lead a team to McCurdy Ministries Community Center in New Mexico. What started out as a one-off trip for a youth group in York has become one of my favorite weeks of the year. 

Last year, in collaboration with the Young People’s Ministry Council (YPMC) we brought 22 people (11 adults and 11 youth/young adults) from all over the Susquehanna Conference. The week quickly became one of their favorite weeks too. 

But what is it? What is so magical about McCurdy? Of course, we can talk about the breathtaking scenery that exists in Northern New Mexico. We can talk about the architecture of Santa Fe and the relentless charm of Taos. But that’s not what makes it our favorite week. It’s not our favorite week because of the projects we get to do either. Can anyone really say that they love to pull weeds in the unforgiving New Mexico sun at the start of the hottest month of the year? I doubt it. 

What makes it our favorite week is not what we do, it’s who we serve. McCurdy week is our favorite week because of the relentless mission that this place carries. We were fortunate enough to spend some time with Tiffany, the executive director of McCurdy Ministries. Her vision and passion for McCurdy is contagious! She sees possibilities and she articulates an irresistible vision for the valley. We couldn’t wait to be a tiny part of that incredible plan! We had a chance to spend some time with Manny on this trip. His talent is over-the-top. This man can do anything at all! But his talent is dwarfed by the size of his heart. We couldn’t wait to help Manny do everything he needed to do to make the campus look great. Why? Because we were all-in. And why were we all-in? Because of the passion that exists for this place, from those who work there. 

I have no doubt that the people who work at McCurdy are talented enough to make a lot more money somewhere else. They could be construction supervisors, or they could be the CEO of a fancy company. Instead, they give their lives to the mission…they pour out their professional lives to try to give others a fair shot. The way they live out their faith is more than inspiring. It is a practical example of John Wesley’s call to “Do good…in all the ways you can.” Their passion has ignited hearts for this place. It has taught us the valuable lesson: It’s not what you do, it’s who you serve. I am so proud to lead a team to McCurdy on behalf of Young People’s Ministry Council and in cooperation with Volunteers in Mission. They have the vision, we have the hands. 

I am so passionate about McCurdy that I would love to chat with anyone about leading a trip there! You can reach me by email at jschwartzman@susumc.org. I love this place! It has impacted my faith, my call, and my story. In God’s economy, we give and we give and we give and in the end we all have more. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen that truth in Espanola, New Mexico. 

Michelle Schwartzman

VIM Coordinator

vim@susumc.org

Web: www.susumc.org/vim

Facebook

Young Adult Clergy Leadership Forum

UMC young adult clergy at the Church and Society 2024 Young Adult Clergy Leadership Forum, Washington, D.C., October 2024.

Rev. David Keyworth

From October 28-30, 2024, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Young Adult Clergy Leadership Forum at the United Methodist Building in D.C. It was an opportunity to gather with young clergy across our connection. Clergy from across the United States and one clergy from Southern Germany attended. 

We had opportunities to worship and share in communion, eat together, and have conversation around various issues that were important to us and our ministry contexts. Each day members of the Global Board of Church and Society shared with us their portfolios and the topics that they were passionate about and advocating for. 

We had the honor and the privilege to meet with Reverend Dr. Margaret Grun Kibben, the chaplain for the House of Representatives. She shared with us her call to ministry and how she became the chaplain for the House of Representatives. She explained her role as chaplain in the House and how she strives to care for all people regardless of status and political party. 

We spent the final day together preparing for a visit with our congressional representatives or their staff. Another clergy from the Western PA Conference and I met with three members of Senator Bob Casey’s staff. I shared with Senator Casey’s staff my experience relating to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and how my son, Joshua, was born and is a part of our family because of this medical procedure. I expressed that because of my experiences, I am an advocate for IVF and for the families who struggle through the pains and hurts of miscarriage and loss. I thanked Senator Casey for voting yes on Senate Bill 4445 - Right to IVF Act, which protects families who need this medical procedure to have a family. 

This leadership forum was a great way to connect with other young clergy and to create lasting friendships. There is a group of us that still connect and chat weekly to support, encourage, and give advice to each other. 

I really appreciated hearing from Rev. Dr. Margaret Grun Kibben about how she interacts and works with people across the aisle in a divided space, and how we as pastors in local churches can do the same. I appreciated hearing from the General Board of Church and Society about the hard work they do on a daily basis. 

One new idea that I hope to implement within my ministry is using new ways of having difficult conversations with individuals around difficult topics. This leadership forum gave me tools of how discuss to our social principles in the life the church.

***

Find out more about the Young Adult Clergy Leadership Forum at https://tinyurl.com/38xsezdv 

New Places - New People: 12th St Huntingdon, McConnellsburg, and Mill Creek UMCs

At the 2024 Susquehanna Annual Conference, the New Places - New People Award was given to a church in each district that has experimented with new ways to build relationships and make new disciples. God is calling each of us to be in relationship with others and our churches are commissioned to go to our immediate neighbors as well as the ends of the earth to make new disciples. We celebrate with these churches and the ministries that they are engaging as they offer new places for new people. If you would like to learn more about New Places - New People, there are courses in Portico, our online learning platform that is located on the Conference website. You can access Portico directly here: https://susumc.org/portico/.

Freedom Trail District

Rev. Dr. Joleen Willis, former Superintendent

We celebrate the McConnellsburg, Mill Creek, and 12th Street Huntington United Methodist congregations who have created New Places for New People in creating alternative holiday events. These events provide a way for differently-abled children and adults who have sensory issues, autism, developmental delays, and physical limitations to participate in holiday activities. 

 

The churches provide lower-stress holiday events, with no long lines, no bright lights, no loud noises, etcetera, which can make differently-abled children anxious. Each child has all the time they need meet and greet Santa and the Easter Bunny. These are family-friendly events where siblings are invited to join also, but the focus is the differently-abled. Parents and families are also personally invited to worship and other upcoming events. 

A wonderful example of a specific adaptation was at the Easter egg hunt, where eggs were attached to helium balloons for their wheelchair friend Clayton. Clayton was able to grab the strings to get his eggs. 

We are thankful for the commitment of McConnellsburg, Mill Creek, and 12th St UMCs to designing inclusive experiences for children and adults who often must fit into events that are not considerate of them. They have a future goal to offer an alternative worship experience too. 

Another ministry, birthed by the 12th Street Huntington church, takes place at the Huntington Community Center, during their open gym nights. The church discovered that kids were coming in hungry because there was no one home to provide a meal, let alone any quality family time that happens around the table. So once a month, 12th St. UMC cooks a hot meal and then everyone, volunteers included, sits around the tables with the kids eating and fellowshipping. The church members are sitting side-by-side with the children, talking to them, listening to them, and building relationships with them. They are kind of a surrogate family to these children. In these conversations other needs are often identified, and they may serve to develop further ministry. They also hope to start a youth group with these kids. At Christmas time, a party was planned and in addition to the meals, kids received shirts, socks, blankets, cookies, and candy. Thank you 12th St. UMC for identifying this need in your community and ministering to it. 

One Matters Award: Claysburg UMC Charge

Every year, Discipleship Ministries partners with annual conferences by offering the One Matters Award (OMA) to one eligible congregation at each annual conference. At the 2024 Susquehanna Annual Conference, the One Matters Award was given to one church in each of our districts.

This award has a strong focus on making disciples because, by integrating into the church body, the individual may experience the personal transformation to potentially engage in the church’s mission for the transformation of the world. While most Discipleship Ministries programs focus on existing members, OMA focuses on new members. After all, ONE Matters.

The following congregations received the One Matters Award in 2024: 

Freedom Trail District: Claysburg UMC Charge

Mountain Valley District: Greater Buffalo Run Valley UMC

North Central Rivers District: Mehoopany UMC

Northern Wilds District: Holy Trinity UMC

River Valley District: Fishing Creek Salem UMC

***

Claysburg Charge, Freedom Trail District

Rev. Dr. Joleen Willis, former Superintendent

The One Matters Award is exactly that: one matters. To go from zero professions of faith to one is something to celebrate. It brings to mind John 15 where there is much celebration in heaven over the one who comes into the fold. Accepting the award is pastor Calvin Miller and his wife Trina. Claysburg United Methodist charge is their ministry. 

Claysburg UMC

Claysburg UMC went from zero to one in their professions of faith. On the other side of the spectrum, Weyant UMC went from zero to 13 professions of faith. The third church in the charge Queen UMC also had a profession of faith following additional professions of faith from the previous year. 

Weyant UMC

A couple of the stories: one woman connected through the love of the congregation; the congregation supported her through a number of surgeries; she attended worship; she participated in the ministries of the church; and she could see God working in and through the church as well as in her own life. She especially grew through conversations of doctrine and in her understanding of grace. 

Queen UMC

Another story: a single mom struggled with drugs for years. While on parole, following her arrest and serving her sentence, she entered and encountered the love and acceptance and support of these churches. She is baptized into a new life in Christ and growing in her relationship with Christ, she has gained employment, and the church celebrates that she has gained custody once again of her three children. 

Through conversations, confirmation, and new member classes many are encountering God’s grace, love, forgiveness, and provision and experiencing the love and support of the faith community. 

Some are beginning their journey through the churches outreach events  at Halloween, egg hunts, community days, a wild game dinner. Claysburg  UMC hosted back to school event and in addition to giving away school supplies and refreshments they offer a clothing giveaway and free haircuts. The children of Queen UMC held a spaghetti dinner and raised $900 for Operation Christmas Child. This small congregation also donates over 250 boxes for OCC each year. Weyant UMC kicked off “Building Bridges.” The seeds were planted by the previous pastor and stalled during the pandemic. Now every two weeks a dinner is provided and a study using the Bible Project. 

Here are three churches and three communities doing some of the same ministries and some ministries that are unique to their setting—three churches in love with Jesus and shining bright in their communities. 

Mission Central Disaster Response We Need Your Help!

The United States has been hit hard by weather-related disasters in 2024. We have seen devastation at levels we haven’t experienced for almost a decade. Throughout this year, we have resourced over 6,000 Flood Buckets, valued at almost $500,000. With our latest shipment to those areas hit by Hurricane Helene, we have NO Flood Buckets left in the building. We usually have several thousand Flood Buckets on hand, to be prepared to send at all times. Unfortunately, our shelves are now empty. We ask for your help in replenishing those supplies, as we expect this is not the end of the need and response in 2024.

If you have been around Mission Central for a while, you might have heard us say that we never send items without being asked. This is imperative during a disaster. The organizations on the ground know the needs best, know what they can handle, and know the right timing. 

It’s our human nature to want to help and to help as soon as we can. But, if we want to help in the right way and ensure the supplies and funds are stewarded well, we have to wait for the organizations we work with to tell us when, where, and specifically what they need. It will be done in God’s perfect timing. 

In order to help us handle these tremendous requests, you can: 

Donate funds to help us quickly purchase bulk supplies, and adapt quickly to changing needs – donate here. 

Donate Flood Bucket and Hygiene Kit supplies (seen on our website: missioncentral.org/kits-projects-and-patterns/) by purchasing in-store, hosting a collection, or shopping from our Amazon Wish List. 

Pray for those affected and visit www.missioncentral.org to see other ways to help and to stay up-to-date on Mission Central’s activities. 

New Places - New People: Mainesburg UMC “Messy Church”

At the 2024 Susquehanna Annual Conference, the New Places - New People Award was given to a church in each district that has experimented with new ways to build relationships and make new disciples. God is calling each of us to be in relationship with others and our churches are commissioned to go to our immediate neighbors as well as the ends of the earth to make new disciples. We celebrate with these churches and the ministries that they are engaging as they offer new places for new people. If you would like to learn more about New Places - New People, there are courses in Portico, our online learning platform that is located on the Conference website. You can access Portico directly here: https://susumc.org/portico/.

Mainesburg UMC “Messy Church” (Williamsport District)

In a small town, a small church felt the call to reconnect with its community. This church longed to better establish and reestablish relationships with families in the surrounding area, especially multi-generational families. This is how Mainesburg UMC began its ministry called “Messy Church.”

If you haven’t heard of Messy Church, I invite you to look online where you can find websites, books, and curriculum to help get this intergenerational experience started.

At Mainesburg, Messy Church meets once a month and engages 40-45 people at each gathering. From newborns to people 88 years old, this is a worship gathering that reflects the community around them. Each month families return because their kids insist that they go to Messy Church. 

It is in a gathering like this that a little child can learn about the cross that God used to save her and that this type of church allows for her to wander through all the spaces looking for the different crosses that adorn the church.

It is also in this Messy Church experience that a woman who has been hurt by a church and denied communion was finally able to find healing and receive this beautiful means of grace. Her journey has taken her beyond just Messy Church—she also connects to a weekday devotional group. 

Mainesburg has found a way to take the Messy Church model and make it their own. Through the activities, the worship, the meals and stepping out into this new place for new people, Mainesburg has been able to answer that call to better connect with their community. 

While churches really can be messy, Mainesburg has found a way to redeem the word messy and to help bring the healing and wholeness of Jesus to their community. In a small town, a small church didn’t let their size or the distance to their neighbors prevent them from creating an experience where people could not only encounter God, but that youngest among them would insist they go to worship at Messy Church. Thanks Mainesburg UMC for stepping out in faith to create New Places for New People.

One Matters Award: Holy Trinity UMC, Troy (Williamsport District)

Every year, Discipleship Ministries partners with annual conferences by offering the One Matters Award (OMA) to one eligible congregation at each annual conference. At the 2024 Susquehanna Annual Conference, the One Matters Award was given to one church in each of our districts. This award has a strong focus on making disciples because, by integrating into the church body, the individual may experience the personal transformation to potentially engage in the church’s mission for the transformation of the world. While most Discipleship Ministries programs focus on existing members, OMA focuses on new members. After all, ONE Matters. The following congregations received the One Matters Award in 2024: 

Altoona District

Claysburg UMC Charge

Harrisburg District

Fishing Creek Salem UMC

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre District

Mehoopany UMC

State College District

Greater Buffalo Run Valley UMC

Williamsport District

Holy Trinity UMC

 

Holy Trinity UMC, Troy (Williamsport District)

Rev. Paul Amara, former Superintendent

There are so many mission-oriented churches in the Williamsport Supervisory Area. It’s always difficult to choose one among the many for recognition for the One Matters Award.

This year, Holy Trinity United Methodist Church, located in Troy, was chosen for several reasons. Pastor Ken Brown is their pastor.

This church is growing! In 2023, nine new adult members joined the church with a profession of faith, including one baptism.

On Pentecost Sunday, the church also confirmed eight young people, six of which received membership in the church. This included baptizing three confirmands.

Kathy, the pastor’s wife, was their confirmation teacher, and at the youth’s request, with parental assistance, they started a youth fellowship program to allow the youth to continue to stay together.

On July 1, 2023, the youth met for their first meeting, and decided they wanted to meet weekly, immediately after worship on Sundays. Each week, they now gather with some of the youth members’ parents, who provide them with a meal and lesson.

This Youth group started with 8 members and at the end of 2023 the group had grown to 12 in participation. As a group, they also take part in conducting worship, often performing duties of reading scripture, as well as ushering, serving as acolytes, and playing music. They led the Tenebrae service on Good Friday.

The fellowship performs service projects and takes fun trips together. They have fundraisers and sales to benefit them monetarily, as they agreed to stay financially independent from the church.

The Youth also participate in several other mission activities.

They provide over 150 bags of food for the children in the Troy School District each week. With these programs, the Holy Trinity church is doing its part to help end food insecurity for the children in the Troy area.

The Holy Trinity church is growing and has become a beacon of hope and leader in the local community. With God’s grace they will continue to grow and bring the message of Jesus Christ to the Troy community and beyond.

May God continue to bless their ministries and missions.

One Matters Award: Mehoopany UMC, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre District

Every year, Discipleship Ministries partners with annual conferences by offering the One Matters Award (OMA) to one eligible congregation at each annual conference. At the 2024 Susquehanna Annual Conference, the One Matters Award was given to one church in each of our districts.

This award has a strong focus on making disciples because, by integrating into the church body, the individual may experience the personal transformation to potentially engage in the church’s mission for the transformation of the world. While most Discipleship Ministries programs focus on existing members, OMA focuses on new members. After all, ONE Matters.

Rev. Judy Walker, Conference Superintendent

Mehoopany UMC is a three point charge along with Jenningsville and Forkston. After several years of receiving zero new members, Mehoopany UMC welcomed two new adult professing members, through baptism and profession of faith in 2024.

Pastor George Price had received an email from the Find-a-Church site (a good reason to keep information updated!) that informed him of a couple seeking information. He contacted them quickly to find out their needs. They told him they were very new in their faith. They were new to the area, and had made the decision to give their lives to Christ. They were very eager to learn about scripture and Jesus. 

Pastor George arranged a meeting with them to discuss the next steps. 

They shared that neither of them were from church-going families and they went only for special occasions. They were never baptized and they felt that it was essential for them to experience this since accepting Jesus Christ into their hearts. 

Their meeting was very informative and honest. In the past, they had experienced some people who went to churches who were not very Christ-like and they were unsure about going to church.

Pastor George spoke with them about baptism and acceptance into the family of God. 

He really wanted them to experience worship and expressed to them the need for a church family that could help them in their new found faith. He encouraged them to give it a try. 

He was very happy on Sunday morning to see them in worship. He met with them the next day to find out what they thought about their experience. 

They were very happy with how worship gave them a new opportunity to experience Christ. They were encouraged by the response of the congregation to welcome them, and it turns out that they knew a few people. “They told me that they felt like they found their home and were ready for baptism and wanted to join Mehoopany UMC,” recalled Price. Two weeks later they were baptized and became members. 

In his conversation about the church, they weren’t sure if they would commit to attending every Sunday. Pastor George and the congregation thank God that they have been faithfully attending every week and also helping at some events. Praise God for bringing them to Mehoopany. 

The 2024 One Matters Award for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre District was presented to Pastor George Price and Mehoopany United Methodist Church.

Welcome Bishop Héctor A. Burgos-Núñez

It was announced the morning of July 12, 2024, that Bishop Héctor A. Burgos-Núñez will be assigned to the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Bishop Héctor Antonio Burgos-Núñez was elected to the episcopacy by the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference on November 4, 2022. Bishop Burgos-Núñez is the first Hispanic-Latino bishop in the Northeastern Jurisdiction.

Bishop Héctor (as he likes to be addressed in person) has been the Resident Bishop of the Upper New York Area since January 1, 2023. He will be shared with the Upper New York Annual Conference as part of the new episcopal area configuration in the Northeastern Jurisdiction.

He holds an M. Div. from the School of Theology at Drew University in Madison, NJ, a bachelor’s in business administration with a concentration in Management and Strategic Marketing from the University of Puerto Rico, and a graduate certificate in Information Systems Technology. At the time of his election to the episcopacy, Bishop Burgos-Núñez served as District Superintendent of the Central District of the Greater New Jersey Conference.

Bishop Burgos-Núñez served pastorates at West Creek United Methodist Church 2004-2005, First United Methodist Church, Iglesia Casa de Esperanza 2005-2009, and Oasis United Methodist Church 2009-2014. He also served as Director of Worship and Urban Ministries 2014, Executive Director of NextGen Ministries of GNJ 2016-2018, and Director of Connectional Ministries 2015-2019 for the Greater New Jersey Conference.

A Community Leadership Fellow from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, a certified ICA coach, and an Outward Mindset facilitator, Bishop Burgos-Núñez also served as Director of Communications for MARCHA, the National Hispanic/Latino caucus within The United Methodist Church, 2010-2022.

Bishop Burgos-Núñez envisions the United Methodist Church being a Holy Spirit-led global movement that is:

Thriving and united in the mission of transforming the world by nurturing disciples of Jesus Christ who share faith, hope, and justice

Spiritually alive and culturally relevant

Committed to personal and social holiness, celebrating its rich diversity as a gift from God

A multi-generational network of faith communities that embrace all people as beloved children of God and allow them to live to their full God-given potential.

An organization that is agile, innovative, and creative, and while global in its nature and impact, it is local and contextual in its ministry so that it can reach as many people as possible with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Bishop Héctor’s interests include racial and organizational equity, leadership development, contextual evangelism and worship, and strategic communications in a digital era. He finds joy in playing piano, singing, and writing music, and also in cooking for his family and friends. He claims an obsession with reading and in his free time he likes to play ping pong, disc golf, and pickleball, or go on nature walks with his wife. The bishop also has a blog, Mensajes de Esperanza with more than 150,000 followers throughout Latin America. 

Bishop Héctor shares life with his spouse, Jazelis Adorno, and their children, Fabián, Joel, Marcos, and Valeria.

Please join us in welcoming Bishop Héctor and pray for him and his family in this time of transition and expanded ministry.

Click HERE to view a video introduction and greeting from Bishop Héctor.

Susquehanna LINK, September 2024

A PDF of the September 2024 issue of Susquehanna LINK can be viewed and downloaded at susumc.org/link

 

UM Foundation of PA Laity Leadership Academy

Allemansville UMC pastor Rev. Bob Ford (left) and Foundation of Pennsylvania Director of Relationships and Stewardship Development Rev. Barry Robison (right) presented Alice Brady (center) with a certificate of completion for the Laity Leadership Academy. 

In 2019 the United Methodist Foundation of Pennsylvania launched a Laity Leadership Academy designed to empower laity to lead the churches of our region in the ever-changing landscape of congregational life. Participants read some of the greatest books currently available on the topic, experience seminars led by the finest leaders in our conference, engage with one another in dialogue, and build relationships that provide support for the journey.

Each one of the Academies is structured around two modules. The first module is one year long, experienced together in several weekend retreats held at Mount Asbury in Newville. During these retreats, topics relevant to congregational leadership in the current culture are covered.

The second module is custom designed for each participant, allowing her or him to explore an area of leadership individually for which she or he is especially well equipped. That determination is made after an assessment of the participant’s spiritual gifts and strengths. That module is open-ended; it can be accomplished at whatever pace makes sense to the individual participant.

In total, the entire experience provides 100 hours of training.

Alice Brady, a member of Allemansville UMC in Fallentimber, Pa., was part of the fourth class to experience the Laity Leadership Academy, the first group of participants in the Susquehanna Conference after the merger of our foundations. For her project, Alice wrote a book of devotions drawing parallels between the life of a gardener and the life of faith. She illustrated the devotional thoughts with pictures featuring the adventures she experienced personally as a gardener. Each one of the devotions looked at some aspect of spiritual life and the insights that she discovered while tending her corner of God’s creation. Her pastor and mentor, Rev. Robert Ford, himself a published author, has also found insight into the life of the spirit that can be discovered by being attentive to creation. 

About her experience with the Laity Leadership Academy and her project, Alice writes, “I have been thinking long and hard about all of the topics that we covered. The units that took an in-depth look at our local congregations was extremely helpful, but I think that the most helpful were the ones where we really dug into what it meant to look outside of our local church and area and to be reminded that we are a global church. Looking at how we need to connect with one another allowed me to muse about how to make those connections and from that, came the idea of approachable conversations. Gardening allows for a great deal of connection with all sorts of people, those who have a passion for gardening and for those who admire the results but do not have a background in how it all occurs. Faith needs tending just as gardens do and for some, in the tending of their faith, they have come upon obstacles which have stopped them from growing. Linking my faith walk with my gardening efforts will, I hope, allow for approachable conversations to begin and to flourish.”

Alice is part of a long tradition in the Judeo-Christian faith community, a traditional that sees creation as God’s handiwork; a tradition that understands that knowledge of God can be found by being close to the created world. But it requires some special insight and sensitivity to discover that insight, and some special talent to be able to communicate that insight in words, which is ultimately a wonderful gift to the people of God. Alice possesses both that insight and that talent and has given us a priceless gift. 

UM Foundation of Pennsylvania Director of Relationships and Stewardship Development Rev. Barry Robison presented Alice Brady with a certificate of completion for the Laity Leadership Academy. 

On April 21 at Allemansville UMC, the Rev. Barry Robison, Director of Relationships and Stewardship Development at the Foundation presented Alice with a Certificate of Completion on behalf of Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi and the Board of Directors. Rev. Bob Ford also took part in the presentation.

The Laity Leadership Academy has been retooled to meet the needs of congregations who are experiencing hardship in this season. Now known as the Empowered Church Project, the program is designed to assist churches who struggle due to cultural shifting, the effects of the pandemic, and the dynamics within our denomination. If you would like more information about it, please contact the Dean of the Foundation School of Leadership, Dr. Joseph Patterson. He can be reached jpatterson@umfoundation.org.

Connectional Ministries: Conference Season

By REV. DR. KATHLEEN E. KIND, Director of Connectional Ministries

It is Conference season! General, Annual, and Jurisdictional Conferences have happened, are about to happen, or are just around the corner. Our Conferences are opportunities to reconnect and to do our work of holy conferencing. When we gather, there is business to be accomplished. There is always business. But, the reason we gather to care for this business is so that we have our structure and organization in place so that we focus on our mission of being followers of Jesus who are making new followers of Jesus. 

As we look forward to our Annual Conference May 30 - June 1, I invite us to begin to prepare to make a positive impact on the Williamsport community. Whether we are commuting or staying in area hotels, carrying our meals from home or eating in the local restaurants we do have the opportunity to reflect Christ to everyone we meet. We have the opportunity to extend grace when there are lines waiting to get checked in or get a table. We have the opportunity to be kind as we interact with staff who are serving us in the Community Arts Center, hotels, and restaurants. We have the opportunity to bring contagious joy to one another and those we meet. It is my hope and prayer that during this Conference season that others will know that we are followers of Jesus because of the ways in which we how our love to one another. 

It will be good to see each other at Annual Conference. I look forward to seeing what God is doing among as the harvest certainly is plentiful. 

Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference

July 8-12, 2024   -   Pittsburgh, PA

THEME: OVERFLOWING WITH HOPE

www.nejumc.org

Susquehanna LINK, March 2024

 

Susquehanna LINK can also be viewed and downloaded from https://susumc.org/link/

Susquehanna LINK: January 2024

The January 2024 issue of Susquehanna LINK can also be viewed and downloaded at https://susumc.org/link/