Welcome Sara Shaver – New Disaster Response /Volunteers in Mission Coordinator

Matthew Shineman, Director of Communications

The Susquehanna Conference is delighted to welcome Rev. Sara Shaver as our new Disaster Response/Volunteers in Mission (VIM) Coordinator.

Sara brings with her a wealth of experience in ministry and a heart for serving as the hands and feet of Jesus in practical, meaningful ways. Born in Los Alamos, NM, Sara grew up in a Methodist family — her great-grandfather was a Methodist pastor. Her father worked as a chemist in Los Alamos before taking a position in Oak Ridge, TN, and her mother was a World War II war bride. Sara jokes that she doesn’t consider herself “southern” because she’s lived all over the country, moving almost every four years of her life.

With a background in education, Sara first earned a degree in special education before being drawn into church ministry. When the Director of Christian Education at her church moved away, Sara was invited to apply. That open door eventually led her to pursue an M.Div. at Candler School of Theology. She was ordained in the South Alabama Conference, where she went on to serve seven congregations, one church in our conference (Camp Hill, PA) and later as a District Superintendent. After officially retiring on June 30, Sara felt God calling her to continue ministry in a new way.

Having lived through hurricanes, tornadoes, and flooding in South Alabama, Sara brings firsthand experience of the urgent need for disaster response. “This is a way to be the hands of helping that the community needs,” she shares. “Much of my work as a DS and pastor was administrative. Now, I’m excited for the chance to be more hands-on and see the fruits of the labor.”

Sara prefers to think of them not as “mission trips” but as mission journeys — opportunities that deepen faith as much as they provide help to others. Her favorite scripture is Romans 8:28, reminding her that God can make good of all things.

When asked what wisdom she would share with the Conference, Sara reflected: “Remember that David didn’t put on Saul’s armor. God has created you to be what he wants you to be.”

Outside of ministry, Sara is a hiker who stays grounded through daily devotions and walking. She’s an “extroverted introvert” who enjoys coffee over tea, is a morning person, and loves ’80s and ’90s pop music. Her favorite book is “To Kill a Mockingbird”, her favorite season is fall, and she imagines Sandra Bullock playing her if a movie were ever made about her life. Recent travels took her to England (her favorite place so far), and she hopes to visit Alaska and Greece one day.

Sara brings a unique perspective to the Susquehanna Conference, having served in multiple contexts and seen many different ways of doing ministry. “I love the challenge, and I love to learn,” she says. Her first priority will be to get organized and build strong foundations for this vital ministry of connection and response.

Please join us in warmly welcoming Rev. Sara Shaver to her new role as VIM/Disaster Response Coordinator.

Sara can be contacted via email at drm@susumc.org or by calling 717-766-7441 x3402.

 

Camp & Retreat Ministry Announces New Director for Wesley Forest

Susquehanna Camp and Retreat Ministries is delighted to announce that TayLavor (TayLa) Fugate has been selected to serve as the new center director for the ministry at Wesley Forest Camp and Retreat Center.

Originally from Southwest Virginia, Fugate is a Pennsylvania transplant by way of New Jersey, pursuing her Master of Divinity at Drew Theological School of Drew University. As a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, she has discovered a passion for building relationships with others through her 10+ years of experience in several different ministry areas including worship/arts, children, youth, young adult/campus, and camp/retreat ministries.

While earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Recording Industry at Middle Tennessee State University, she found a home away from home at Cedar Crest Camp in Lyles, TN where she served in different capacities including waterfront director & office administrator. These, among other key ministry experiences, have greatly shaped and influenced her love and passion for camp!

When asked about her own connection to camp ministry, Fugate said, “I deeply believe camp has made every part of me better. It’s helped me learn to slow down, take test, and be WITH that which is around me, all of creation! It’s strengthened my spiritual well-being, my connection with the created, and the creator.”

She continued, “Camping is an incredibly unique experience that invites people out of their comfort zone to be challenged and grow in their faith and spirituality.” Her hope is to bring love and support to all the amazing things Wesley Forest is and all that’s already taking place. She plans to put her best self forward in the form of ideas and passions that may help Wesley Forest grow and expand for the better.

In her free time, you can always find TayLa painting, playing & writing music, at an open mic or a local music show, or out on the water with her pup Zero. She & Zero are overjoyed about heading west to Wesley Forest and can’t wait to meet you and your loved ones!

New Harrisburg District AA

The Harrisburg District is happy to announce that on February 13, 2023, Ms. Ilene Swartz began her employment as the Administrative Assistant of the Harrisburg District. 

A resident of Enola (with her two cats), Ilene is currently a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Hummelstown. In addition to having previously served on staff at Grace Church, Ilene is also currently employed as a Pharmacy Technician at Rite Aid. 

From her previous work experience, Ilene brings skills and experience in customer service, office management, communications, and administrative and clerical work. She has both a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree and a Bachelor of Arts in English/Communication-Journalism degree.

Effective immediately the Harrisburg District Office hours will be 8:15 – 2:45 Monday – Friday. The contact information remains the same at harrisburg@susumc.org and 717-766-8124.

Communications: The Power of Storytelling

By Liz Lennox, Director of Communications SUSUMC & WPAUMC

In February of 2016, I sat facing a group of eight kind faces as I interviewed for a part-time church secretary job at the local United Methodist Church. This was not a job I particularly wanted, but I had recently moved back to the area from a city I loved and missed and I was desperate. I was adrift and College Hill United Methodist Church tossed me the life raft I desperately needed. For the next year and a half, I walked into the wood-paneled church office every morning to answer phones, print bulletins and chat with the church members who would drop in to say hello. I could have never imagined where that job, begrudgingly accepted out of desperation, would lead me. 

Six years and a few months later, I walked into my office in Mechanicsburg as the new shared Director of Communications for the Susquehanna and Western Pennsylvania Conferences of The United Methodist Church. On my desk was a signed welcome poster from the wonderful staff at the Susquehanna Conference. As I stood there reading the kind greetings from my new colleagues, I reflected on the time I’ve spent serving The United Methodist Church and the path God sent me down when I accepted that church secretary position. 

Even as a part-time secretary for a small church, I recognized the vital importance of strong communication. My time spent working at the local church made me deeply value the critical role that communication plays and the relationship between local and conference communicators. I moved on from the local church to work for the Western Pennsylvania Conference as the social media and visual communications coordinator, but I carried with me that deep respect for the local church and the work they do. In my new role, I had the opportunity to work with numerous administrators, pastors and councils to strategize and strengthen their communication plans. It is my hope that I can continue to empower the local churches in the Susquehanna Conference by providing guidance and training around communication. 

Above all, I consider myself a storyteller. I recognize there’s a lot of power in the ability to tell stories—we use storytelling as a way to share news, inform and educate, preserve history and make a difference. Stories have the power to evoke hope, break hearts, speak truth and change lives. The most important stories are often deeply personal. 

Story from District Six Museum in South Africa

One of the more profound experiences of my life was reading the stories at the District Six Museum in Cape Town, South Africa. The museum, coincidentally located in the former Buitenkant Street Methodist Church, is dedicated to a Black neighborhood that was razed during apartheid. The people who lived in that neighborhood were removed from their homes and the entire neighborhood was destroyed. All that was left were various objects and stories. Some of those stories are written and displayed and some are shared verbally by the guides who once lived there. The museum and the stories stand as a gut-wrenching and powerful testament to the horrors of racism. Those profound stories changed my life and made me realize how important storytelling is. 

In my time as a communicator in Western Pennsylvania, I have had the privilege to tell many stories of those I’ve encountered. I profiled the oldest living retired clergy person in the WPA Conference and introduced Quinn, the service dog the conference supports. I shared the heartbreaking story of a Puerto Rican man who lost everything in Hurricane Maria and had been unable to clear the wreckage of his home until our team assisted him. I highlighted an antiracism event that showcased the music of Paul Robeson. All these stories have demonstrated to the world who we are as United Methodists and what we represent. 

Helping in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria

My ability to tell stories is a gift and I am so grateful for the opportunity to share that gift in the Susquehanna Conference. My path has led me here, to this conference, to tell your stories. And I am blessed. 

New Shared Director of Communications for the Susquehanna and Western PA Conferences Hired

Liz Lennox

After an extensive job search, Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi and Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball, episcopal leaders of the Susquehanna and Western Pennsylvania Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church, are “ecstatic to announce that Liz Lennox will serve in the shared position of Director of Communications for the Susquehanna and Western Pennsylvania Annual Conferences.” The new position will create and oversee communications strategies for both conferences and will collaborate with the communications staff in each conference.

 “As we attempt to perceive the new things God is doing and continue to acknowledge the porous nature of annual conference boundaries, we discerned an opportunity to maximize our resources and work more efficiently in our communication offices in the Susquehanna and Western Pennsylvania Annual Conferences,” Bishop Moore-Koikoi explained. “Working through the WPA Personnel Committee and SUS leadership, we developed a joint position for Director of Communications. This shared position will allow for greater consistency in denominational communications across the annual conferences. We also believe that this new position will provide greater opportunity for us to boast in the Lord and all that God is doing through the mission and ministry of each individual annual conference.”

Liz has been serving as the coordinator of social media and visual communications for the Western PA Conference since June 2017. Liz has two Bachelor of Arts degrees, one in Media & Communications and one in English Literature. She also has a certificate in Professional Writing. Liz started the new role of Shared Director of Communications on August 1, 2022.

Bishop Steiner Ball summarized why Liz was selected for the position: “Liz brings a wonderful collaborative spirit and approach to the ministry and mission of communications, as well as a wide variety of skills in written, electronic, visual, social media connections, and strategy. Her continual spiritual growth and formation guides her in building relationships with others, her decision making, and her storytelling. Liz brings an enthusiasm and eagerness for being on the ground in both annual conferences. She will seek to build relationships with lay and clergy leadership and with the congregations of both conferences and the communities they serve, in order to tell the stories of Christ’s mission and ministry throughout the Susquehanna and Western Pennsylvania Conferences.”

Bishop Moore-Koikoi added, “Liz brings to the position a sensitivity to the ways in which the elders of our village prefer to receive information and an expertise in the ways in which young people obtain information.”

“I am beyond thrilled to step into what will undoubtedly be a challenging, yet rewarding new role as Director of Communications,” Liz stated after accepting the new position. “I deeply value connection and collaboration above all else and I am blessed with this opportunity to strengthen the relationship between our two conferences. I am most excited to meet new people and tell their stories in a way that shares the good news of Jesus Christ and celebrates who we are as United Methodists.”

As she begins serving the Susquehanna and Western PA Annual Conferences, we join together in praying with and for Liz.

Welcome to Our New Conference Staff

 By Mark Knecht, Conference Treasurer/Benefits Officer

The new receptionist at the Susquehanna Conference Center is Connie Waggoner. Connie came to us from the Carlisle School District and she is a member of Young’s UMC in Mechanicsburg. Our former receptionist, Molleye Inners, is now the Executive Administrative Assistant to the Episcopal Office.

Kathy Group joined the finance team in April as our new Accounts Payable Specialist. Kathy has an extensive background in accounting and was most recently working for Diakon Lutheran Services as an Accounts Receivable Services Manager. She is a regular volunteer at Mission Central and with Pink Hands of Hope, and she is a lifelong United Methodist from Walnut Grove UMC in Newport. We thank Darlene Eisenhuth for her service in this role and wish her well as she relocates to South Carolina.

News from our Bishops

The United Methodist Church:  Harrisburg Area - Susquehanna Conference

Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi and Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball

Staff Transitions

December 22, 2021

Dear Siblings in Christ,

As we rapidly move toward Christmas Day, we give thanks to God for God’s unfathomable gift of God’s son Jesus the Christ. That first Christmas Day reminds the world that God did a new thing in sending God’s son into this world. We give thanks that God continually does new things – even in this day.

The Susquehanna Conference is in the midst of doing a new thing with the Western PA and West Virginia Annual Conferences. We are starting to explore and discover new ways of working and being The Church.

At the same time God is doing a new thing, we give thanks to God for those staff persons who have served this Annual Conference. As you are aware, Rev. Gary Shockley has discerned that this is the time for him to do a new thing in retirement. Earlier in the fall, Rev. Greg Myers also retired, and Christy Mackey resigned to start a new journey in the world of insurance. Sarah Filizzi, part-time staff in the Episcopal Office, has also decided to submit her resignation. She has accepted a position with the Pennsylvania Council of Churches. We also give thanks to God for Rev. Victoria Rebeck. Victoria will be leaving her position as the Director of Connecting Ministries at the beginning of 2022. Victoria’s last day in the office will be December 31, 2021.

As God continues to move and do a new thing, we know that God will continue to use Victoria, Gary, Greg, Christy, and Sarah.

Please know that as God’s plan for the Susquehanna Conference is discerned and decisions are made, we will keep you informed.

May your spirit be touched and renewed as again you hear the words recorded in Luke:

“Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people; to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2: 10-11)

God’s Christmas Peace,                                                  

Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi

Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball

***

COVID Update 

December 30, 2021 

Dear Siblings in Christ,

Please know that we continue to pray for the health and wholeness of each one of you and for people around the world. In light of the very contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19, we urge you to review your in-person worship and discipleship plans. Keep yourself updated on the latest information for infection rates in your area. Continue to access Center for Disease Control (CDC) and official local health department guidelines for how to best protect yourself, your congregations, and your family. Please know that we support you as you provide on-line worship and gathering experiences. If at any time due to high infection rates, after consultation with the clergy and lay leadership, you determine that the church needs to return to all virtual gatherings until infection rates are lower, we will support your decision.

Laity, we urge you to extend an extra dose of grace to your pastors as they enter the third calendar year of bearing the responsibility of balancing the tension between keeping everyone safe while advancing the mission of the church. Physical and emotional exhaustion is real among our pastors. The best Christmas and New Year’s gifts you can give them are your grace and words of good cheer.

We encourage the following behaviors and procedures recognizing that persons without symptoms can spread the virus. We love our neighbors and need to be intentional about protecting others:

• Please strongly encourage, if not require, mask wearing at all church gatherings and remember masks that do not gap are best. Small children and some persons with particular mental health issues have difficulty wearing masks so exercise good judgment.
• Please encourage members of the church to get vaccinated and boosted when it is time.
• Encourage unvaccinated church and community members to take advantage of on-line worship opportunities.
• Stay away and encourage others to stay away from gatherings if they are not feeling well
• Follow the CDC and local health official quarantine and disinfection guidelines for anyone who has tested positive or been exposed to COVID.
• Practice maintaining distance between persons who are not living together in the same household.
• Pass the peace or greet persons by waving, bowing, a nod of the head. Avoid hugs and handshakes. Do not hold hands for prayer.
• Do not use a Common Cup for Communion. Do not leave water in your baptismal fonts.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces – put sanitizing wipes in your Church bathrooms. Consider pausing childcare and moving children’s ministries on-line when infection rates are high.
• Establish organized ways to check in and check up on persons who become ill for any reason so that your congregation may establish helpful ways of making sure those who are sick or shut in can get access to necessities.

Your Bishops, Conference Superintendents, and Conference staff all desire for all of our church buildings to be places of sanctuary or safety. Please put into practice the actions and decisions – both individually and communally - that will help to keep the coronavirus from spreading.

We join our prayers with yours as we navigate how to share God’s love with the communities we serve in ever-changing circumstances.

Blessings to you,

Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi

Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball

New Administrative Assistant for Harrisburg District

Rev. Barry Robison, Harrisburg District Superintendant

I am happy to announce that Ms. Sheila Y. Noss has accepted an offer to become the next Administrative Assistant of the Harrisburg District. A resident of Harrisburg, Sheila is currently a member of The Journey and has been active at Grace UMC in Harrisburg as well. In addition, Sheila graduated from local pastor’s school this spring where she was trained to be a Certified Lay Minister, which will build upon her certification as a Lay Servant and a Lay Speaker. And, this summer Sheila began her first year as chairperson of the District Lay Servant Ministry Team. 

From her secular work experience, Sheila brings skills and experience in customer service, leading and training staff, improving the production of and exceeding the goals set for her department, and managing offices well. She has both a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Nonprofit Management degrees. We welcomed Sheila into the District family as our Administrative Assistant beginning August 30, 2021.

The new office hours for the Harrisburg District will be Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Email harrisburg@susumc.org