Susquehanna LINK - April 2015 WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS REV. PHYLLIS


M. BOWERS Executive Director United Methodist Stewardship Foundation


Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but


store up for yourselves treasure in heaven...for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21


OPEN : Monday - Friday 9am - 2:15pm


Susquehanna Conference 303 Mulberry Drive, Ste. 400 Mechanicsburg, PA 17050


1-800-682-2615


e-mail discovery@susumc.org web www.discovery-place.org


JODY ROBINSON Director Discovery Place


Vital Congregations have Vital Small Groups


Power of Personal Perspective A spiritual day of encouragement


Introducing Emory Austin, CSP,


CPAE, member, International Speaker Hall of Fame and Legend of the


Speaking Profession.


Friday, April 24, 2015, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Zion United Methodist Church, 1030 Carlisle Rd., York, PA 17404-4938. Emory Austin, described


as


a “pin drop” speaker, is fun, connecting, and insightful. She takes a unique approach to what this


adventure called “life” is all about. Emory is a confident,


vibrant, and knowledgeable speaker who has shared her stories with hundreds of organizations. Successful Meetings magazine calls her “one of the decade’s best!”


Please join us for a day apart specifically designed for clergy and church leaders.


Seating is


limited. Register now at www. umstewardship.org. Registration fee is $5 to offset the cost of lunch. A free-will offering will be taken.


For more information contact Phyllis Bowers at (local) 717-766-5376 or (toll-free) 1-877-619-5974 or e-mail pbowers@susumc.org


The Annual Conference theme this year is “Alive In Christ Together … Equipping Vital Congregations.” But what is a vital congregation?


The United Methodist


Church lists several markers of a vital congregation. One of those markers states that vital congregations need to have effective small group ministries. Jesus began his ministry by teaching his disciples in a small group. John Wesley began a worldwide movement by creating a system of small groups. And any vital church today must have a system in place that teaches and shapes disciples in close, accountable communities. If you need a little guidance with starting small groups in your local church, Discovery Place has some resources that may help. Below are just a few, but you can find a complete list by going to the online


catalogue on our website and


searching under the subject “Small Group Training.”


Small Groups, Getting Started: This book describes how people who have come to a new or fresh commitment of faith can nurture, extend, and apply their faith by being involved in small groups.


When you are finished reading Susquehanna LINK, please give your copy to someone else who might be interested.


OUR HERITAGE


DR. MILTON LOYER


Conference Archivist


March – 100 years ago On Sunday, March 14, 1915, the Hickorytown Methodist Episcopal


organized after a revival in an abandoned church


congregation United


being Dickinson College supplied was


Evangelical by


student


Raymond R. Brewer resulted in 46 conversions. The Methodists purchased the building and took Salem [now Hope UMC] from the Boiling Springs charge to form a two-point charge. In 1922 the original wooden structure on the south side of Trindle Road was replaced by a brick sanctuary with a full basement on land across the road and to the east. In 1972 a social hall was added to the rear of the property. In 1979 the brick building along the highway was razed and the social hall converted into


the present sanctuary. Student Raymond Brewer went on to serve other conferences for 44 years in the ordained ministry as a missionary to China, college professor, and pastor. The list of persons who served Hickorytown while students at Dickson College includes


longtime Children’s


Home superintendent Vic Hann, Bishop D. Frederick Wertz, and District Superintendents Orville Warner and John Stamm.


April – 50 years ago. April 24, 1965, was the date for the Uniting Session that brought into existence


the Evangelical


United Brethren Men of the newly- formed Susquehanna Conference of the EUB denomination. Over 500 men from the former Central Pennsylvania


Pennsylvania (United Brethren) Conferences


(Evangelical) and gathered


Zembo Mosque in Harrisburg


to adopt bylaws, elect officers, and hear a message on the theme “Man to Man.”


The Zembo Mosque was also the location later


that year for


the first youth rally of the new conference with the theme “Our Way – God’s Way” that was attended by over 1,600 young people and their advisors. That day-long event featured a drama presentation on Jonah, novelty piano entertainment,


group


singing, a boxed lunch, a keynote address entitled “When Love Is Love,” and two unique devotional periods.


Following the EUB-Methodist denominational union in 1968, this


conference became the


Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church, and in 1970 it joined with the area’s former Methodist congregations to form the Central Pennsylvania Conference UMC.


at the


Leading Life-Changing Small Groups: Like nothing else, small groups have the power to change lives. They’re the ideal route to discipleship — a place where the rubber of biblical truth meets the road of human relationships. The unique, ready reference format of this book gives small group leaders, pastors, church leaders, educators, and counselors a commanding grasp of: Group formation and values;


meeting preparation and


participation; leadership requirements and responsibilities; discipleship within the group; the philosophy and structure of


small groups; leadership training.


Building a Church of Small Groups: Our hearts were made for deep, authentic relationships, for community. And like nothing else, small groups provide the kind of life-giving


community that


builds and empowers the body of Christ and impacts the world. Part 1 presents the theological, sociological, and organizational underpinnings of small groups. You’ll discover why they are so vital to church health. Part 2 moves you from vision to practice. Part 3 shows you how to identify, recruit, train, and support group leaders. Part 4 helps you deal with the critical process of change as your church develops its small group ministry.


Starting Small Groups: This book provides tools implementing


a


for designing comprehensive


and and


effective small group ministry which is equipped to meet the various needs of an entire congregation.


Building and Growing Your Small- Group Ministry: This book is designed for churches that are just beginning to consider small-group ministry and those that want to make their ministry more vital.


small-group


ReGroup Training: Groups to be Groups:


The ReGroup™ small


group DVD and participant’s guide will lead you and your group together to a remarkable new closeness and effectiveness. Designed to foster healthy group interaction and facilitate maximum growth, this innovative approach equips both group leaders and members with essential skills and values for creating and sustaining truly life-changing small groups.


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Free resources for your local church can be found at www.discovery-place.org


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