10/21/08
CONFERENCE NEWS
Great Escape 08: Mission Possible
November 14-16, 2008; The Radisson Penn Harris, Camp Hill, PA.
Contact Amy Wynn: 717-766-7441, or check out the CCYM website: www.ccymspot.org.
God’s Calling Event for Older High School & College Age Students
January 2-4, 2009
Register now for the 2009 God's Calling Event for older high school and college age students. This annual event is for individuals exploring a call to ministry, specifically the ordained ministry within the United Methodist Church. Registration forms with instructions are available online for you to download. Early registration fee of $20.00 includes meals and accommodations at the State College Days Inn. The event will be held at St. Paul's UMC in State College. Go to www.cpcumc.org and link onto God's Call Event. Brochures are also available in the district office.
Insurance Premiums
The local church insurance premiums for 2009 will not be known until December. The Conference Trustees are advising local churches to budget for a 10% increase. A new insurance manual will be sent to each church at the end of the year. Please note that flood insurance is not included with our policy. Individual churches can contact our insurance broker, Engel, Hambright, and Davies, for this coverage.
Bishop’s Retreat 2009 For Clergy Family
The 2009 Bishop's Retreat for Our Clergy Family will be held on Monday through Wednesday, January 19 to 21, 2009 at Willow Valley Retreat Center. Tex Sample will be the speaker on the theme, "Telling the Story." Don't miss this great opportunity to hear one of the most respected scholar/preachers who can point the way to how to witness to people today. Register by December 1 for the lowest pricing. For further information a brochure can be found online at www.cpcumc.org.
Important Message On Video From Bishop Middleton Available Online
Bishop Middleton has recorded an important message regarding the current global financial crisis. It is available from the from yousendit.com at http://tinyurl.com/4v9dpj. The six-minute video in wmv format can be viewed on your computer and can be shown to your congregation on Sunday morning. The file is appriximately 8 MEG in size and may take some time to download. Should you have difficulty with the video, please call 717-903-5881.
Important Insurance Program Information
As a routine procedure, the insurance carrier for the CPCUMC program, Ohio Casualty performs loss control inspections of all church properties approximately every three years. Please be advised that Ohio Casualty has arranged to have some of these inspections performed through a contracted vendor, ISI Insurance Services. ISI Representatives may be contacting the churches directly to schedule appointments for these inspections.
Annual Seminar To The Board Of Global Ministries
February 1-4, 2009; Cost: $395
-The seminar will provide exciting and informative presentations from the members of the staff of the Board of Global Ministries.
-Full day visiting parishes in Manhattan and Brooklyn
-Visit churches in mission to people with all kinds of needs.
-Evening free time
Registration form can be found online at cpcumc.org. Reserve now to assure a seat on the bus. Questions: Call Charlie Keller (717) 566-4136 or email: crkeller@paonline.com.
DISTRICT NEWS
Fall Cluster Church Conference Schedule
2:00 p.m. United Methodist 101 (Open to anyone who is interested in learning more about the United Methodist Church.)
3:30 p.m. Worship
4:30 p.m. Church Conferences
Sunday, September 28: Cowanesque Valley Cluster @ Knoxville UMC
Sunday, October 5: Endless Mt. Cluster @ 1st UMC, Towanda
Sunday, October 19: Mansfield Cluster @ 1st UMC, Mansfield
Sunday, October 26: Troy/Canton Cluster @ East Canton UMC
Sunday, November 9: Wellsboro Cluster @ UMC of Wellsboro
Sunday, November 16: Potter County Cluster @ Park UMC, Coudersport
Two offerings will be received at your Cluster Church Conference:
1) The cash offering will go toward the District Gulf Coast Mission Trip. Checks can be made payable to CPCUMC and noted “District Gulf Coast Trip.”
2) An offering of school and health kits will also be received. 12 clothes baskets will be provided up front for folks to drop these off before the worship service.
LOCAL CHURCH NEWS
Dinner & Concert at Calvary UMC, Lawrenceville
November 1; 5:30-6:45 p.m.
Chicken & Biscuit Dinner, Real Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Coleslaw, Dessert; Cost: Donation
7:00 p.m. Concert featuring STANDING FORGIVEN. An offering will be taken.
Dinner & concert benefit the Wellsboro District Mission Trip III to the Gulf Coast
Fall/Christmas Bazaar & Bake Sale @ Riverside UMC in Roulette
Saturday, November 1; 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Come browse, shop, or just have a cup of coffee with us!
Roast Turkey Dinner @ UMC of Wellsboro
November 7, 2008, 4:30-7:00 p.m.
Menu: Roast Turkey, Gravy, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Cranberry Salad, Coleslaw, Applesauce, Pickled Beets, Relishes, Vegetable Tray, Homemade Pies & Beverages
Adults - $8.00; Ages 4-10- $4.00; 3 and Under – Free
Benefits the UMC Restoration Fund
New Albany Parish Roast Beef Dinner
November 8; 4:00 p.m. until food is gone, in the Fireman's Social Hall behind the Dandy Convenience Store in New Albany. The menu includes roast beef, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, scalloped corn, Harvard beets, a large salad bar with, but not limited, to Coleslaw, pickled cabbage, fruited cabbage slaw, jello salads, fruit salad, and other salads, apple sauce, cottage cheese, rolls, coffee, iced tea, cake and homemade pie.
Price is $8.00 12 years of age and up; Children 6 to 12 years of age $4.00; pre-school children eat free, and all veterans get a $2.00 discount.
Annual Benefit Dinner & Clown/Puppet Children’s Program @ Brookfield UMC
November 9; 1:00 p.m.
Donations are collected and given to the Salvation Army for use in the Brookfield area.
Harvest Dinner @ Whitneyville UMC
November 22, 2008; 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Roast Beef or Roast Pork, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Roll & Beverage
Choice of two side dishes: Corn, Green Beans, Winter Squash, Applesauce, Coleslaw
Adult - $8.00; Children - $5.00
Assorted desserts available – not included in the dinner price
Lawrenceville Women’s Group, Standing Forgiven, will be performing in concert at 7:00 p.m. following the dinner. A goodwill offering will be taken to benefit the Gulf Coast Mission Trip. Proceeds from the dinner will sponsor Steve & Krista Hand to travel with the Gulf Coast Mission Trip.
Holidays in Mainesburg: Mainesburg UMC Craft Show
November 22, 2008; 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Vendors, Church Craft Booth, Bake Sale Table, Luncheon will be available
MISSION NEWS
Greetings From The Mission Central HUB Site Coordinators
Since the opening on May 6, 2008 of the Wellsboro District Mission Central HUB in Westfield, some very real accomplishments have been possible. We have had three groups, a family, and some individuals who have come in to assemble Health Kits and School Kits. More groups are scheduled and more are welcome to schedule. Janet and Kay (the two coordinators) are always scrambling to build up the supply of each item needed for both kinds of kits to be prepared for volunteers. Groups cannot be utilized to their fullest without your constant support. Every item donated is important. If you are unable to shop and would like to support the HUB with dollars, that is gratefully received and equally important. Janet and Kay are very willing and very frugal shoppers!
As coordinators, we are constantly learning. It came to our attention recently that we did not properly share the information that the HUB room is upstairs in the Methodist House. We had a group come one Saturday morning when we were actually upstairs and they left four large boxes of donations downstairs on a table. We felt very badly not to have greeted them, showed them the HUB room, and thanked them face-to-face. If you come by, either come upstairs or come to the bottom of the stairs and call to us, and we will come down.
Also as coordinators, we feel very blessed to be allowed to be involved in God’s mission work at the HUB. With every bag or box of donations that arrives, we feel that we are unpacking blessings and are privileged to pass those blessings along to those who need the kits. Our thanks go to you the donators and to God Our Father for making this effort possible.
Kit contents available on this web site: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies/
Please keep the materials coming and call to volunteer!!
To Contact HUB Site Coordinators
Janet Erway wjerway@netsync.net or telephone (814)228-3480
Kay Hoag khoag4@stny.rr.com or telephone (570) 835-5095
HUB hours are: Tuesdays 1:00-4:00 p.m. & 2nd & 4th Saturdays: 9:00 a.m.-Noon
Good Samaritan Fund Currently Has a Record Low Balance!
Because of the negative economic climate and the higher than usual number of requests, the Good Samaritan Fund only has enough funds left to respond to a couple of requests. November is generally Good Samaritan Month (bulletin inserts attached) and our goal is to have each church raise the equivalent of $1.50 for every church member from every church in the district. Donations should be forwarded by your treasurer to the Conference Finance Office along with your monthly check, but it must be clearly marked “Good Samaritan Fund.”
Our Next Gulf Coast Mission Trip is Coming Up This Winter
Our district’s 3rd Mission Trip to the Gulf Coast will be unlike either of our previous trips. This time we plan to build an entire three bedroom house from the foundation up. The trip actually will be in two consecutive segments of one week each. The first week (January 24-January 31) will involve only about 20 skilled laborers. The second week (January 31-February 7) is for anyone with a desire to join in the work. Cost of participation to cover transportation and meals (except those in transit & when we go out to restaurants) is a non-refundable $350 per person, or $500 for skilled laborers who stay for both weeks. Reservations are being accepted only for the second week. Skilled laborers interested in participating in week one should contact Carl Koch directly (phone: 570-835-5619 or email: cKoch@epix.net) to talk with him about specific needs. We’ll be accepting approximately 40 reservations for week two on a 1st come, 1st served basis. Reservations are made by forwarding a $350 non-refundable check made payable to “CPCUMC” to: The Wellsboro District Office, 35 Fairview Acres Road, Wellsboro PA 16901. The cost of building a three bedroom home will be in the neighborhood of $60,000, so we are again looking to the churches of this district to help us raise the necessary funds. Speakers from our first and/or second mission trips are available to speak at district churches; contact Nancy Lamb (nlamb@zitomedia.net), Carl Koch (cKoch@epix.net), or Chrissy Swanson (cswanson2006@yahoo.com). We’re encouraging every church in the district to hold some kind of fund raiser for the house we’re planning to build—and that you be prepared to share what that is at Church Conference. Perhaps too, there are individuals who can’t participate in the mission trip personally, but they are able to contribute toward a $350 scholarship so that someone else can attend who might not otherwise be able to afford to go. Something we can all be doing is pray: pray for the folks still homeless since Katrina, pray for those who will live in our home, pray for the Lord to call the persons he desires to participate in this mission trip, and pray for the Lord to provide the necessary resources.
1st Gathering of Those Interested in Gulf Coast Mission Trip III will be held Saturday, November 8th, at 10:00 a.m. at Wellsboro UMC at Queen and Main Streets in Wellsboro. Those interested but not yet committed are welcome!
What is Your Church Doing to Support the District Mission Trip to the Gulf Coast?
If you’ll notify the district office, we’ll try to share the word with other area United Methodist Churches.
Mission Central Needs Your Used Cell Phones
Please bring your old cell phones to Mission Central. We recycle the phones and use the funds we receive for recycling for our operating budget at Mission Central. Drop off phones during our regular operating hours: Monday thru Friday: 8:30a.m .to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Mission Central Has Two New Kit Names
Mission Central is pleased to announce two new kits to be used for Mission Outreach. The names for the kits were submitted by QuikLINK subscribers. A committee of three regular volunteers for Mission Central picked the winning names from the many kit names given to Mission Central. The winners are:
- Jennifer Kauffman for the baby kit. The name is "Baby Blessings," Jennifer is a seminary student residing in Delaware, Ohio.
- Jonathon Edwards for the homeless kit. The name is "Warm Heart & Hands Kit," Jonathon is currently a Missionary at Betesda Church and Ministry Center in La Lequa Catacaos, Peru.
