July 17, 2024
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NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEAC welcomes Bishop Bickerton
Learn more about actions taken at Annual Conference
NEAC video series explores Revised Social Principles
Vermont church assembles flood buckets after worship
NE JFON shares 2023 Impact Report
Online worship series with Marcia McFee
Apply now for 2025 Mission of Peace to Hawaii
DON’T FORGET
EVENTS
Register now for Summer Youth Rally
CLASSIFIEDS
UMC News
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Photo by Rev. James Lee, Eastern PA/Greater NJ
NEAC welcomes Bishop Bickerton
As of Sept. 1, the New England Conference, which is now part of an Episcopal Area that includes the New York Conference, will be served by Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton.
Delegates and other members from both conferences met with Bishop Bickerton following the announcement of the assignments on July 12.
Read more and see photos
Graphic by Mary Dalglish, Upper New York Conference. Click to enlarge.
Bishops serving the Northeastern Jurisdiction were assigned as follows:
Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball – Western Pennsylvania Conference
Bishop Héctor Burgos-Núñez – Upper New York and Susquehanna
Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling – Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula Delaware
Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi – Greater New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania
Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett – West Virginia Conference and Holston Conference (Alcoa, TN)
Learn more about what happened at last week’s Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference
Learn more about actions taken at Annual Conference
In addition to the daily news recaps on the website (www.neumc.org/news) we have created this legislative overview to look at some of the actions approved by the Annual Conference and next steps called for in this legislation.
Read more
NEAC video series explores Revised Social Principles
At the postponed 2020 General Conference held April 23-May3, 2024, delegates approved the first overhaul of the denomination’s Social Principles in nearly 50 years. The Social Principles are not church law but are intended to inform United Methodist witness on issues of the day with a biblical foundation. The NEAC Commission on Religion and Race (CORR), Board of Church and Society, and Commission on the Status and Role of Women (COSROW) have created this eight-part video series exploring the revised Social Principles with an invitation to reflect on and actively engage with these principles.
Watch the first two videos
Click the image for more photos
Vermont church assembles flood buckets after worship
Rev. Paul Eyer, pastor, writes: Sunday, July 14, was another "Flood Bucket Sunday" at Williston (VT) Federated Church. Our wonderful congregation (with an assist from the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club) assembled 20 complete flood buckets following the worship service. Charlie Magill organized our "flood bucket" brigade. At Charlie's direction, four of these completed flood buckets were sent to Covenant Hills Camp, which is serving as a distribution point for flood buckets in the Northeast Kingdom. The remaining 16 were delivered to the Town Hall in Waterbury. Our prayers are with all who are affected by the floods.
NE JFON shares 2023 Impact Report
In this publication you will find our 2023 accomplishments, profiles of members of our New England JFON family, information about the current immigration situation, plans for our future, ways to get involved, and more. We remain grateful for the partnership of the Conference, its congregations, and countless individuals, without whom New England JFON could not exist.
View the report
Get a downloadable PDF
Don't forget to share this report with others who may be interested in learning about NE JFON’s work!
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Online worship series with Marcia McFee
Churches of the New England Conference are invited to participate in a series of events called “Small Bites, Big Flavor: Skillsets and Mindsets for M-M-Good Worship (No Matter the Size)” with Dr. Marcia McFee. (Watch a video where Marcia explains the series). This series is especially geared to educate lay persons on worship planning strategies. The NEAC is offering this series at no cost to our churches. Those who sign up will have access to recordings of the retreats.
The three online retreats will take place:
Aug. 16-18, 2024 – Advent, Christmas, Epiphany
Jan. 10-12, 2025 – Lent, Holy Week, Easter
May 2-4, 2025 – Ordinary Time
Learn more and register (NEAC churches must use this link to register)
Apply now for 2025 Mission of Peace to Hawaii
The Mission of Peace (MOP) is a yearly journey of discovery and shalom to nations in our global community sponsored by the Northeastern Jurisdictional Council on Youth Ministries of The United Methodist Church. Youth in grades 9-12 are eligible. At the NEJ Conference it was announced that the 2025 Mission of Peace will be to Hawaii.
Learn more and apply for the 2025 MOP
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DON’T FORGET
Continuing the Conversation: The NEAC will host a series of listening circles where people can express feelings, share stories honestly, and begin and continue the healing process. Listening Circles will be hosted in-person and online around the Conference during July and on Aug. 3. Sessions are for clergy and laity unless otherwise noted. Click the link to learn more and register.
Tackling Difficult Conversations in the Church and Beyond
The New England Annual Conference Board of Church and Society is sponsoring this online workshop from 7-8:30 pm Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.
From choosing a carpet color and balancing the church budget to discussing serious issues facing society, clergy and congregants can benefit from having some tools to help them navigate challenging conversations and disagreement.
Join this workshop to learn tips and techniques to skillfully host conversations. When we build enough trust to work through conflict and talk about issues that matter, our churches become healthier faith communities. We encourage clergy and lay leaders from the same church to register for this experience together. This training will be led by Rev. Barb Lemmel, coordinator of the NEAC Parish Consultants, who has many years of experience helping churches handle conflict in healthy ways. We will also have breakout sessions where participants will practice their skills in handling conflict.
Register
Training: Become a UMC EarthKeeper
Global Ministries seeks U.S.-based United Methodists to lead grassroots environmental projects that are action-oriented, antiracist, bold and entrepreneurial. EarthKeepers is a training and incubator program that provides a collaborative space for United Methodists to develop and grow environmental projects in their communities. Topics include eco-theology, antiracism, community organizing and project planning. All participants plan a project during the training.
The next EarthKeeper training events will be held Oct. 3-6, 2024. Applications are due by Aug. 14.
Learn more and apply
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EVENTS
August 4-6
Register now for Summer Youth Rally
Camp Mechuwana is hosting a Summer Youth Rally Aug. 4-6, 2024, for youth entering grades 8-12. This camp will include all the fun camp activities: swimming, boating, crafts, campfires, and more!
Read more
Get the registration form
September 14
Online Ministry Exploration Summit
The Ministry Exploration Summit is an opportunity to learn about the different paths of ministry in New England. This event, held online via Zoom on Sept. 14, 2024, will especially benefit those in the early stages of candidacy or discerning their call to ministry. Whether considering lay, licensed, or ordained ministry, all are invited and encouraged to come! Participation in a Ministry Exploration Summit is required to become a certified candidate or a certified lay minister. For more info, contact BOM Registrar Deborah Venator at bomregistrar@yahoo.com
CLASSIFIEDS
Minister of Music, South Yarmouth, MA
South Yarmouth UMC is seeking a Minister of Music. This position is responsible for the development of the choir(s) and along with the pastor, organist, and worship committee, implementation of music for Sunday worship, summer worship at the beach, and other special worship and outreach events as agreed upon by the pastor and the Staff Parish Relations Committee. .
Church Administrator
Trinity United Methodist Church in Springfield, MA is seeking a full-time Church Administrator to oversee the day-to-day operation and business-related aspects of the parish. The Church Administrator is in charge of business operations, budget preparation and reporting, vendor relationships, space rentals, technology, purchasing procedures, and supervision of office and facilities staff.
UMC News
Peacemaking urged after assassination attempt
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (UM News) — United Methodist bishops and pastors expressed grief and called for prayer following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. They also urged churchgoers to work to heal divisions both in the church and in the country. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Bishop Moore-Koikoi responds
New study guide looks at racism through theological lens
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Board of Church and Society has unveiled the first Pages for Progress Resource Guide on the book “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together” by Heather McGhee. The guide, structured into three 90-minute sessions for group learning, is free to download. Pages for Progress was established to create spaces for collective learning through shared reading and in-depth exploration of topics from a theological perspective, to become more effective advocates as people of faith.
View resource
UMC News
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