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Connellsville E-newsApril
Saint Soter
Easter is fast approaching and this high point of the Christian year will certainly be a glorious morning. The music and message always lift one's heart to heaven. Of course the celebration of Easter starts with the resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion and burial. But when you look at the origins of the church's celebration of Easter you will run into Saint Soter.
Soter is the Greek word for Savior. This saint wanted to be like his savior in every way. His life mirrored his savior in such a way that he served as pope from 167 to 175 and is listed in the martyrologies.
Soter is mainly known for three things. First he was particularly known for his personal kindness and his support for those who were persecuted for their faith by being deported from Rome to the mines and prisons. St. Dionysius of Corinth wrote, "From the beginning it has been your custom to do good to all the brethren in many ways, and to send alms to many churches in every city, refreshing the poverty of those who sent request, or giving aid the brethren in the mines....."
Soter also was very interested in the relationship of families. He was convinced that the church had a vital role to play in marriage. As pope, he was the first to really ensure that the church was responsible for conducting marriage ceremonies for believers.
Most importantly Soter was the person who instituted the annual celebration of Easter in the church. Prior to his leadership, Easter was celebrated every Sunday (Sundays are still considered little Easters in the church), but more haphazardly as a church holiday. Soter felt that it needed to be celebrated every year as a special remembrance. Although the exact date of when Easter should be celebrated wasn't worked out until the First Council of Nicaea in 325.
I hope that as we go through the season of Lent and prepare to celebrate Easter, that you will truly have a wonderful Easter celebration. I pray that each of your families will be blessed by the Spirit of our Resurrected Savior and that you will use this time to remember those who are less fortunate and reach out in kindness and mercy. Have a Happy Easter!
God Bless,
Pastor Bob
District SuperintendentPastor Robert Zilhaver
View the Calendar
PRAYER CONCERNS AND JOYS IMPORTANT DATES
FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES
SAVE THE DATES
Pastor Gathering: April 9thand 11th Details below
2019 Connellsville District Conference: Sunday, April 28th, 2:30 PM Jennerstown UMC
Jumonville Spring Dinner: Sunday, May 5th 5:00pm-8:00pm
2019 WPA UM Annual Conference: Thursday, June 6-Saturday, June 8, 2019.
2019 District Picnic: Kennywood ParkSaturday, June 29th
Pease Submit Five Star Church Report before March 25th.
MANDATORY MEETING - Anti-Racism Meeting: has been postponed from April 4 th - Date to be determined.
PRAYERS AND JOY’S
MINISTRY: The Mission Trip to Fiji- August 2019
Missionaries
JOYS: Christ Has Risen!“John Wesley” Sails the Amazonhttps://spark.adobe.com/page/i8T127W5y1UGF/
HEALTH:Terry and Paulette Guiste
Sympathy: Pastor Frank Philpott. His wife Sharron passed away March 13th.
NATION: Abortion
If you have a joy or concern, please contact me at 724.628.3453 or e-mail [email protected]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
April
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
April
FIJI. . . OUR NEWEST MISSION PARTNER
Join District Superintendent Bob Zilhaver, Amy Zilhaver, Robert Zilhaver, Reverend Beverly Roscoe, Bishop Cynthia-Moore Koikoi her husband Rafael along with and Rev. Dr. Renee Mikell.
YOUR CHANGE WILL CHANGE LIVESDo you know? That a 2-liter bottle filled with dimes is worth $600.00!
Do you know? If each church in The Connellsville District fills one bottle we will raise enough money to MAKE A CHANGE IN FIJI!
Do you know? The Connellsville District is home to the only Fijian language speaking congregation in the entire Northeast Jurisdiction!
Details on how to help will be forthcoming.
If I overlooked your special occasion, please contact me. At [email protected].
724.550.4058
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
April
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
April
LOCAL ANNOUNCEMENT’S
ACTIVE SHOOTER PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PRESENTATION FOR ALL COMMUNITIES OF FAITH
Michael O'Brien
Former lead singer of NewsongIn Concert
Jennerstown United Methodist ChurchSunday April 28 @ 6pm
Free Will offering to be takenFor more information, please call
814-629-7430 Visit: http://www.jennerstownumc.org/
Join us: For a family style dinner and concert following The Connellsville District Conference.Dinner: $10.00 per person.Reservation: Dinner Seating is limited - call 814.629.7430 for your reservation.
NEW OFFICE LOCATIONConnellsville District Office
30 East Main Street, Suite 202Uniontown, PA 15401
724.550.4058
PASTOR’S GATHERING
DATE: Tuesday April 9th
Pleasant Hill UMC – 10:00am-12:00pm810 Pleasant Hill Rd, Friedans PA 15541
Asbury Uniontown – 2:00pm- 3:00pm135 South Beeson Ave, Uniontown PA 15401
DATE: Thursday April 11th
Paradise UM10:00am- 12:00pm106 Hoke Rd, Mt. Pleasant PA 15666
CHURCH HAPPENINGS AROUND YOU:
ACTIVE SHOOTER PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PRESENTATION FOR ALL COMMUNITIES OF FAITH
PRODUCE FOR THE PEOPLE
The second Thursday of each month produce is free for Fayette County residence. Location is Fayette County Fairgrounds. Anyone needing produce must have a copy of their electric bill. For more details, contact: Ray Hoffman: 724.929.5587
Security and Emergency Preparedness & Protecting Your Youth
CONFERENCE:
Bishop's Letter: https://wpa-email.brtapp.com/viewemail/2220514
Conference Prayer Ministry: Each month there will be 5 prayer gatherings each month from Jan-May gatherings near the 5 “centers” of our Annual Conference. The five centers (St. Marys, Oakdale, Punxsutawney, Saegertown and Somerset) are all areas that everyone in our AC can reach in an hour (or an hour and half) of driving. If you can, please contact your churches and lay leadership of the following Conference Prayer nights. Each night begins at 6:30 and will run about an hour and a half (6:30-8). May will be announced in February. If you have any questions, please contact Chris Kindle @ 724.630.3965 or Adam Stump @ 412.855.6920
April 1 - Mt. Lebanon UMC, 6:30 May 7 - Grace UMC Somerset, 6:30
April 8 - Brookville Evangelical, 6:30 May 14 - Crossroads main, 6:30
April 2 - First UMC Union City, 6:30 May 15 - First UMC St. Marys, 6:30
April 24 - Bradford 1st, 6:30 May 21 - Grace UMC Punxsutawney,
PAYMENTS CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR THE WPA UMC CONFERENCE CENTERThe Conference now offers a greatly expanded online payment capability! This service will allow churches and individuals to submit payments electronically, instead of mailing checks to the Conference Center. Separate webpages with online payment instructions have been set-up for Camping & Retreat Ministries, At the Lake Ministries, Pension & Healthcare, and Local Church Remittance. More information can be found at the conference website at http://www.wpaumc.org/onlinepayments
Clergy Health Insurance Rate: Thanks to the efforts by the Conference Board of Pensions and Health Benefits, the 2019 rate local churches will be billed for full-time appointed clergy health insurance will be $151 a month less than the amount anticipated earlier in the fall. The 2019 blended rate will be $1385.00 a month for health, vision and dental. Learn more
Security and Emergency Preparedness & Protecting Your Youth
GC2019 OUTCOMES AND CLERGY PENSIONS: Wespath recently updated its FAQs and other website resources related to General Conference 2019 and clergy pensions. See Wespath webpage.
Your Credit Union Can Help! If you have church members struggling financially in situations like the recent federal government shutdown, the Keystone UM Federal Credit Union to wants you to know that they are willing and able to help. Get contact info at keystoneumfcu.org/
Communicator Connection: We have created a closed group for WPAUMC Church Communicators on Facebook to shareresources, inspiration, and advice. It’s for people who manage social media or websites, create newsletters or handleother communications in a local church professionally or as a volunteer. To join, click the "join" button on our main pageor find the group by clicking "groups" in the menu on the left. Go to Facebook.com/wpaumc
Clergy Retirement Seminar : For Clergy Retiring in 2019: Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the UnitedMethodist Center - Hickman Room, 1204 Freedom Rd, Cranberry Twp., PA. Contact Alexis Soohy at [email protected]
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION VIP: We are required to: Have a copy of the deed to your church/charge filed in The Connellsville District Office.
Please send a copy of all your church’s/charge’s property deeds to the District office by May 1, 2019 (including deeds for your church’s campus/campuses, parsonage, and all other properties).VIP: We are required to: Have Clearances filed in The Connellsville District Office. If you're a pastor and haven’t already done so, send copies of your current clearances (PA Criminal History report from the PA State Police, Certification from the PA Department of Human Services, and Federal Criminal History report from the FBI) to your District Office asap. Details on clearances are at wpaumc.org/safesanctuaries. Due Now.
Help Us Connect with Your Church! If the church email listed on your church dashboard belongs to a pastor or other church leader, please create a separate church email, then update the dashboard to reflect the change. Free email is available through Google (gmail) and other providers. A separate email address will make communication easier especially if there are pastoral or leadership changes. To see what email is listed for your church, put your church name in the search box at wpaumc.org/churches Leadership Connections:
WPAUMC Disability Concerns: How accessible is your church? Find out using the Accessibility Audit for the local church under the Forms and Resources heading at wpaumc.org/disabilityconcerns.
FAITH IN ACTION: The UMC Board of Church and Society has a new useful and user-friendly website. Check out umcjustice.org..
JOB OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE WESTERN PA CONFERENCE
CLASSIFIEDSwpaumc.org/classifieds.
CAMP AND RETREAT MINISTRIES
JUMONVILLE SUMMER CAMP a fun, friendly, faith-building sleep-a-way program for all ages located about 50 miles south of Pittsburgh most events are one week long (6 days) for ages 8-18 3 day mini-camps & family camps for younger ages – adults Devotions, Bible study, and worship are an integral part events include sports, adventure, creative & performing arts, mini camps, and all around
camps…https://jumonville.org/summer-camp/
Spring Women's Retreatw/ Jennifer Phillips
"Women Walking By Faith"May 10-12, 2019
Dinner Friday - Brunch SundayTuition: $23.50
Stay & Meals: $126.50
http://www.wesleywoods.com/Welcome to Wesley Woods! To make visitors feel more welcome and at home, Wesley Woods wants to replace all of its signs with some that easier to read, accurate and more
2019 Summer Camp Schedule is here! Open link for schedule.https://jumonville.org/schedule/?display=table
retreats.http://www.olmstedmanor.org/
exciting. You can help by making a financial donation or sharing your ideas, resources or talents. To do so, contact Kira Argot, Wesley Woods program director, at [email protected]
Camp Allegheny
Campership Bike-a-thon: The second annual Campership Bike-a-Thon, a 315-mile ride over six days from Pittsburgh toWashington D.C along the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Trail, is scheduled from Sept. 30 - Oct. 6. It benefits campership.
https://www.wpaumc.org/eventdetail/12758342?month=9&year=2019&day=1&display=m
GENERAL/JURIDICTIONAL CONFERENCE
Members of the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference....We would love to have you as part of the team!
The Section Leaders Ministry Coordinators are looking for members to join our ministry team for the 2019 Annual Conference. Section Leaders serve within a team to facilitate legislation during Annual Conference. You do not need to be a Lay Member to Annual Conference (LMAC) or Equalization (EQ) member to serve as a Section Leader on a legislation team during Annual Conference. Serving on the Section Leaders Ministry team, does not limit you to facilitating a legislation team. We are also looking for members to serve as a team secretary or devotion leader. The Section Leaders Ministry Team will be holding two training sessions. The dates are Saturday, April 6, 2019 and Saturday, May 4, 2019 beginning at 9:30 am conclude by 3:30 pm. This year our training sessions will be held at the UM Conference Center, 1204 Freedom Road, Cranberry, Pa.Pastors, please share this information to your laity and encourage them to be part of such important work in our Annual Conference. Pre-registration is required for the training sessions so that arrangements can be made for resource materials and refreshments.If you are interested in serving please register by contacting Dan Miller ([email protected]) and/or Guinevere (Guin) Gregory ([email protected]). On behalf of the Section Leaders Ministry Team, Thank you and we hope that you will join our team!
Blessings,Sharon
Nathan W. Saccol
Program Directorwww.campallegheny.org
814-754-5122
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Course of Study
Duke Divinity School148 Langford Bldg Duke Box #90968
Durham, NC 27708919-613-5326
[email protected]://divinity.duke.edu/events/advanced-course-study
DISCIPLESHIP LEADER TO TEACH IN WESTERN PA
Online Lay Servant Ministries advanced courses offered by BeADisciple.com —Schedule of classes See full list of upcoming webinars at gbod.org/webinars Leadership Development: Keep up with news in clergy continuing education. Learn more.
https://www.wpaumc.org/LeadershipDevelopment
GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS Apply Now for 2019-2020 Scholarships: Scholarships are available through the UM Higher Education Foundation for
United Methodist students who need help with tuition expenses at UM-related colleges and seminaries. A variety of scholarships are offered to UM students who meet specific designations, such as state or conference of residence, area of study, or career goal, etc. See available scholarships
SCHOLARSHIPSThere are a variety of scholarships at www.umc.org/resources/scholarships and at www.wpaumc.org/scholarshipforms.
CLERGY CORNER
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENTBoth lay and clergy will find information about events, ongoing programs, online learning opportunities, as well as scholarship applications on our newly updated Leadership Development webpage.If you have an event that you’d like to see listed, contact Rev. Susan Moudry at [email protected].
UPCOMING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES: Download the new flyer of continuing education opportunities, open to laity and clergy, here.
GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS - can also go to Conference Website at SCHOLARSHIPS
YSF Grants are available! Local UM youth groups can apply for Youth Service Fund grants from our Conference. Thegrants must be used for a youth-led event or ministry. You can find the application here: https://www.wpaumc.org/Youth
MISSION NEWS/OPPORTUNITIES
Mission of Peace Applications Due: Youth in grades 10-12 can apply to be part of Mission of Peace, a cultural immersion trip to India with other youth from our Northeast Jurisdiction. The trip is Dec. 27, 2019-Jan. 14, 2020. Western PA can send up to four youth. The application is due March 1. Don’t miss out on this life-changing trip! Application and more info can be found at wpaumc.org/mop
UMCOR Sunday is March 31! UMC Giving has an infographic with 5 ideas for celebrating UMCOR Sunday. See infographic.Get more resources in the pastors and leaders’ kit.
Contribute through your local church, online at www.umcmission.org or by calling 888-252-6174. UMCOR Kits Cleaning buckets, health kit, and bedding kit ingredients can be gathered by local
communities and congregations. UMCOR kits can be received at Eastbrook Mission Barn, at the Conference Center or at one of the official Mission Barn sub-depots. Eastbrook Mission Barn is on call to deploy their kits through the UMCOR Relief Supply Network through their national system. Kits collected in UMCOR's name are UMCOR property and unverified kits cannot be given out in UMCOR's name by local groups.
Mission VIMpossible? What’s that? Watch videoFind out how to apply for a team and see new teams as they are announced at wpaumc.org/opportunities .
Costs include travel, housing, most meals and VIM insurance.Contact Rev. Stephanie Gottschalk for more information, [email protected].
724-776-2300 ext. 241
Helpful links
Western PA UM Conference - www.wpaumc.org Connellsville District - http://www.wpaumc.org/connellsville In Focus Publication - http://www.wpaumc.org/infocus Joyful Noise - http://www.wpaumc.org/joyfulnoise Subscribe to Publications - http://www.wpaumc.org/subscribe Conference Resources - http://www.wpaumc.org/resources R eflections! wpaumc.org/blogs. Keep up with United Methodist news from around the connection with a free subscription to the News Service
Daily Digest. Subscribe at umc.org/news-and-media/umns-subscription-form Discipleship Ministries has officially become the new name of the general agency of The United Methodist Church
known for years as The General Board of Discipleship, or GBOD umcdiscipleship.org. People are looking for a church to visit. Help them find you! update-your-find-a-church
Pastors and Churches, there is a lot of information here to enhance your advertising and evangelistic efforts. For more information on all of umcom grants and resources, please visit their website: www.umcom.org/rethinkchurch.
New accounts available at the UM Foundation may be of interest to churches in your area.The UM Foundation of Western PA has added two new funds management accounts for their Account Holders. An Aggressive Account and an Income & Growth Account have been introduced to augment the previously available Core Balanced Account. Benefits for your church as an Account Holder would be added flexibility in meeting your investment objectives and managing the distribution of funds. If you are interested in learning more about any of these three accounts, see the “For Churches and Agencies” section of www.umfoundation.org or call the Foundation at 1- 800-743-2128.
The United Methodist Church invites you to check out our new biweekly e-newsletter specially created for all church members. United Methodist Now will highlight examples of Christian living, share inspirational messages and focus on what it means to be part of our connection. Subscribe for free.
DISTRICT CONTACT INFORMATION
Connellsville District Important LinksDistrict CalendarRequired Annual FormsChurch Dashboard LoginClergy Dashboard LoginChurches in this district
Connellsville District Office30 East Main Street Uniontown, PA 15401724.550.4058
Email: [email protected] (Rev. Robert Zilhaver)
[email protected] (Marianne Skvarla)
