Faith Stronger than Fire

By Rev. Renee Ford

On September 14, 2024, Woodycrest United Methodist Church in the State College District faced a devastating fire that left the sanctuary and older parts of the building destroyed, with significant damage throughout. While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, one thing is clear: Woodycrest’s faith and mission remain unshaken.

The story of Woodycrest UMC began in 1936, during the Great Depression. A small group of 18 charter members came together in their homes to worship and serve. Over the years, Woodycrest grew into a beacon of love and service, known for community events and ministries like the “Free for All” thrift store and the Little Free Pantry. Yet, on September 14, their legacy faced a severe test. The fire destroyed the sanctuary, leaving heavy damage throughout the building. Miraculously, the bushes outside the sanctuary, right next to the place where the fire started, burned but were not consumed—an echo of the burning bush in Exodus, a clear sign of God’s presence.

This moment reminds us of Moses standing on holy ground, confronted by a burning bush that was ablaze yet unconsumed. It was here that God’s voice called Moses into something greater. Today, we, too, stand on holy ground. The fire impacted Woodycrest UMC’s building, but it did not consume their spirit, hope, or mission. The predominantly working-class membership embodies a deep, resilient faith that reflects the spirit of Woodycrest’s people—a congregation that has always been about more than its building.

Less than 48 hours after the fire, Woodycrest gathered for an outdoor service on September 15. Now, as they continue to navigate this season of transition, the church has chosen to hold services in the township’s meeting room when we had several offers to worship in neighboring church facilities. This space is not just a temporary solution; it’s an opportunity to reach neighbors who have shown support and asked how they can help. It’s an invitation to welcome them into the faith community. Just as the Israelites wandered and waited while their temple was rebuilt, Woodycrest is embracing this time as a call to deeper connection and outreach with God and our neighbors.

The church is actively communicating its revitalization plan to the Susquehanna Conference, seeking permission to rebuild. This process is about more than restoring the building—it’s about renewal of faith and mission. As Moses asked, “Who am I to go forward?” and God responded, “I will be with you,” Woodycrest also finds strength in knowing they do not walk this path alone. Isaiah 43:2 reminds them, “When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

Pastors and church members who have faced similar trials understand that recovery is more than replacing walls; it’s about finding God in the flames and being transformed. The fire does not have the last word, and it will not. God’s presence, found even in the ashes and unconsumed bushes, points to a future full of hope and action.

Woodycrest UMC invites your prayers and support as they wander through this wilderness phase. This is not just a moment to rebuild the physical church but to strengthen faith and continue living out the church’s mission of love and service.

In this challenging season, Woodycrest UMC stands as a testament that the fire does not get the last word. God does. And just like Moses, the church responds: “Here I am, Lord.” Ready to rebuild. Ready to follow. Ready to stand on holy ground.

Website: woodycrest-umc.org/

Wood for Good

By Rev. James Jacobs

As Pastor of Greater Buffalo Run Valley United Methodist Church in the State College District, I asked the parishioners to start thinking about out-of-the-box outreach opportunities considering the traditional methods of outreach didn’t seem to be working. 

The congregation wholeheartedly agreed and formulated an outreach team to come up with new, innovative, and different ways to reach out to our community. Two pages of ideas later several of those out of the box projects have been implemented, some worked and some didn’t.

An outreach program idea one of the parishioners came up with is called “Wood for Good”. 

This parishioner approached me with concern for the many people that heat their homes with firewood who either can’t go out in the woods to cut anymore, don’t have the availability of open forest lands to go cut in, or can’t afford to buy firewood. 

The parishioner (Craig) asked, “Do you think this is something we might explore?” Considering I believe that “empowered people do great things” I told the parishioner, “It’s your idea, you run with it and we will support you.”

Within 3 months we now have an established “Wood for Good” program. Craig tirelessly worked to formulate a detailed implementation plan, a safety plan, and wrote a grant to the Department of Agricultural which has a green heating imitative. The project received a $10,000 grant to purchase the equipment needed to implement the initiative.

Craig then formed a team of parishioners that have built firewood storage racks and contacted local landscapers and tree trimming companies that have agreed to deliver trees that have been cut down for use in the initiative.

A group of men and women from the church cut and split the donated wood each month.

We started collecting names of folks that would like to receive wood from the people that come to our church food bank. The need was clearly there and our list of folks that have requested support with free firewood is growing, not only from our food bank visitors but others in the community.

This initiative is a classic case of a parishioner coming up with an out-of-the-box-idea, the pastor empowering the parishioner to take charge, and we now have an initiative that is fulfilling a community need. The hands and feet of Jesus Christ...using a chain saw and wood splitter!

Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope in the State College District

By Pastor Robin Fillmore

From August 31 to September 2, 2024, clergy and laity of the Susquehanna Conference embarked upon a Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope in the State College area. This was the second Pilgrimage hosted as an expression of the Conference’s Commission on the Beloved Community.

On this journey, the participants heard from compelling storytellers who spoke of the injustices faced by BIPOC persons (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) in the past and present day. The intention for holding these annual events is to explore and reflect upon the geography, history and stories of the people they are called to serve—stepping transformed together into a future that is faithful.  

As they traveled through the State College District, they heard first from Kathy Pletcher, an enrolled tribal member of the Band River Bend of Lake Superior Ojibwe and local activist on issues supporting Native Americans on the Penn State main campus and in the community. A guided tour through the Palmer Museum of Art introduced the participants to the work of local indigenous artists, which was followed by a panel discussion with Penn State faculty member, Drs. Tony Leach, SeriaShia Chatters and Darrin Thornton on the racial history of “We Are” for Penn State and how this identification is being lived into currently. The first day's events ended with a spectacular musical presentation by Essence of Joy, a choral group of Penn State students offering sacred and secular music derived from African and African American choral traditions.

The second day began with worship at Albright Bethune UMC, where the pilgrims heard stories of this yoked congregation between predominantly black and white churches. They then traveled to nearby Bellefonte to learn of the area’s history as a stop on the Underground Railroad, the work of residents following the Civil War for school desegregation and racial justice with Matt Maris, a local historian. The day concluded with a presentation by Bruce Teeple who spoke on the history of the KKK throughout the region.

 

 The pilgrimage concluded in State College with storytellers Divine Lipscomb, who had been formerly incarcerated and went on to graduate from Penn State and serve as the first African American Council Member in the State College Borough and Leslie Laing, who has worked to bring justice for Osaze Osagie, a young Black man who was killed in 2019 by police while experiencing a mental health crisis.

Throughout the Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope, there was time for reflection and discussion grounded in the work of Trevor Hudson’s book A Mile in My Shoes. Hudson speaks to the concept of pilgrimage as “coming as pilgrims, not as tourists; as learners, not as teachers; as receivers, not as givers; as listeners, not as talkers.” Throughout this journey, the organizer’s prayer was that through this pilgrimage, all participants would experience together Hudson’s path of Encounter—Reflection—Transformation. 

While learning of the area’s history was important, these Pilgrimages of Pain and Hope also provided an opportunity to grow and sustain the body of Christ. On the journey, the participants foster a community of support that nurtures each other’s courage to live and enables them to lead others in the call of God to dismantle systems of racism, proactively building the Beloved Community together.

For more information, contact Pastor Robin Fillmore, RFillmore@susumc.org, 570-392-9092.

Two Superintendents to transition out from Cabinet

Dear partners in ministry,  

Recently, Rev. Judy L. Walker, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Superintendent, and Rev. Brenda K. Leigey, State College Superintendent, shared with me their intention to retire from active pastoral ministry. 

Rev. Judy Walker

Rev. Walker has served as a pastor in The United Methodist Church for 19 years. During her six-years as a Superintendent assigned to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre District, Rev. Walker has been passionate about parish ministry, especially with small churches. She has faithfully lived her commitment to helping local churches thrive and continue to be in mission and ministry. Rev. Walker served faithfully as the Cabinet Secretary. In 2023-2024, Rev. Walker offered critical leadership engaging pastors and congregations discerning whether to leave or stay in the United Methodist Church. Alongside a team, Rev. Walker helped congregations work through the disaffiliation process. Rev. Walker’s retirement is effective December 31, 2024.  

When Judy retires at end of 2024, she and her husband Dave are looking forward to living close and spending time with the children and grandchildren. 

Rev. Brenda Leigey 

Rev. Leigey has served as a pastor in The United Methodist Church for 35 years. She was appointed Conference Superintendent in 2019, and faithfully and with great commitment served in both the former Lewisburg and current State College district. Rev. Leigey has always shown a commitment to the local church, pastors and churches in the district she serves. She has been a tireless advocate for mission and ministry as well as working to help congregations reach new people. From the smallest, theologically conservative church to the reconciling congregation, Rev. Leigey has encouraged people to be committed United Methodists. Rev. Leigey’s retirement is effective June 30, 2025.  

When Brenda retires June 30, 2025, she is looking forward to spending time with her husband Allen. 

On behalf of the cabinet, I express our deepest gratitude to these two faithful servants for their adaptive leadership throughout the years, especially during their time serving in the cabinet. They have led with integrity, grace, passion, and resilience during an extended season of challenges, conflict, and uncertainty, being agents of hope for those they lead. I look forward to serving alongside them during their remaining time in the cabinet.  

In the coming weeks, I will share next steps regarding coverage for the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre district after the New Year, and the discernment process for selecting the new superintendents. In the meantime, please join me in celebrating the ministry of Rev. Walker and Rev. Leigey and praying for them as they begin this important transition. 

Thank you for living the gospel, embodying God’s love with your neighbors, and nurturing disciples of Jesus Christ who share faith, love, mercy and justice everyday and everywhere.  

Together in the journey, 

Bishop Héctor A. Burgos-Núñez

Resident Bishop
Susquehanna & Upper New York Episcopal Area
The United Methodist Church

New Places - New People: Faith UMC, Bellefonte

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 at susumc.org/portico/.

Faith UMC, Bellefonte, State College District

By Rev. Brenda Leigy, Superintendent

A few years ago, Faith United Methodist Church, Bellefonte, realized they were well positioned to be intentional to reach people outside the church. The people of Faith Church had a heart for the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ and they were willing to use their time, gifts, and treasure to help the mission be accomplished. Not only did new people show up every week; they also joined small groups and began serving.

Faith Church states that it is all about living out the love of Jesus in our everyday lives, both in our relationship with God and with others.

One major way they embrace this journey is through serving others. They believe that by investing their time and resources into God’s work and utilizing their unique talents, they embody the spirit of Jesus. 

They intentionally connect and share the gospel with the people around them, and they continually find ways to make the world around them better by spreading the good news and striving to make a positive impact wherever they go.

Moving forward Faith didn’t know what path God might have for them. With the affirmation of the Administrative Council, Rev. Andy Morgan; Pastor David Carter started collaborating with consultants to assess the church, the people, and the needs in their community. 

Ultimately, they decided the best path forward for the church was embracing that God doesn’t want us to “do life” alone - it’s so much better together! 

So, Faith said YES! and started a network of Fresh Expressions - social groups who would meet around a common interest and provide opportunities to connect and build relationships with others.

In the fall of 2023, Faith launched a Fresh Expression Pioneer Cohort with 25 people from the church. As of spring of 2024, they have 10 Fresh Expressions in the works led by lay people. Some are in the early stages of planning, others have specific dates on the calendar, and others have already started.

Some of the Fresh Expressions that are developing and starting are: ATV riding, Softball, Teens who are bored over the summer, Crafts, Doubts, Running, Writing, neighborhood relationships, and nursing home community. The plans are also in the work to start a Messy Church. All these start with strategic efforts to connect with people outside the church. Faith UMC is looking forward to the fruit this will have in the lives of people in the community as they have said YES to God’s leading.

One Matters Award: Greater Buffalo Run Valley UMC

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.

Greater Buffalo Run Valley UMC, State College District

Rev. Brenda Leigy, Superintendent

On December 4, 2014, the Holy Spirit moved through the Buffalo Run Valley and three United Methodist congregations: Buffalo Run, Filmore, and Valley View. The three congregations, after much discussion and prayer, took a step of faith to merge and become the Greater Buffalo Run Valley United Methodist Church. The newly formed pioneering congregation has worked diligently over the years to ensure that Christ’s presence will continue to be felt, heard, and seen in the valley.

The construction of the new church building has been decades in the making, beginning in 1999. With the growth and challenges of a 1930’s sanctuary the need was evident for a new sanctuary that could support the growing number of children, young adults, and the elderly’s needs.

Even though the transition had its challenges, the one church is now stronger, more proactive, and provides more robust programs and outreach into the surrounding community.

The Congregation believes that many years ago, God gave them a vision, not only to merge, but that the valley needed a facility where people could worship, grow in their faith,  and find fellowship and acceptance. The vision and the prompting of the Holy Spirit weighed on the hearts of many of the members and after many years of prayer and seeking God’s will, the time to begin was before the congregation and, as always in God’s perfect timing, the vision started to become a reality. Even, in the midst of a pandemic the congregation continued to move forward in faith.

When the opportunity to purchase land came about, the church members jumped to secure the space.

On April 15, 2023, Greater Buffalo Run Valley United Methodist Church broke ground on the lot for their new church building. Three crosses symbolically bearing the names of the three churches signifying the beginning of the new church where uncovered, while a cross with stones at its base bear the names of the communities in the Buffalo Run Valley and names of the faithful servants who are responsible for leading, directing and inspiring and believing in the vision and where God was leading.

Together, joyfully, and in the rain and some mud, in one accord we sang:

“I am the church! You are the church! We are the church together! All who follow Jesus, all around the world! Yes, we’re the church together!”

Construction began in May 2023, shortly after the groundbreaking. 

Once the shell of the building was built, members of the congregation used their skills, talents, gifts, time, and hard work to begin the necessary work outside and inside, working together as the vision and reality continued to unfold.

Even though the church has numerous traditional outreach programs the congregation is committed and believes that they can reach out and make a difference in the lives of young adults through “out of the box” programs.

A few of these non-traditional “out of the box” programs that the church has implemented is a kids computer club, (a number of ten and 11-year-olds are now developing their own software programs) and this summer a model rocket club will be formed, teaching engineering design and aerodynamics with actual model rocket launches.

It is through programs like these that an 11-year-old young lady started coming to church and to Sunday school.

Shortly after, the holy spirit was on fire in this young lady. Her newfound love of Christ exuded from her and to say the least, was contagious. Her journey can also be attributed to the nurturing and support of the youth leadership. On her baptism day, the Holy Spirit could be felt throughout the church and she continues to be an inspiration to all around her.

The Greater Buffalo Run Valley UMC is continuing to reach out to the surrounding community and it clearly shows because the congregation is growing and even though they just graced the doorstep of moving into a beautiful new church on April 21, 2024, they may need an addition or a second service sooner than later!