April 2016


THE CHURCHES OF THE SUSQUEHANNA CONFERENCE, THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH A WITNESS TO MAKING DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE WORLD


Call to Annual Conference D


ear sisters and brothers in Christ, I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, Healer of our Brokenness, and Hope of the World! We will gather for the Seventh Session of the Susquehanna Annual Conference from June 9 thru June 11 at Messiah College. For many of us this yearly gathering of God’s people called United Methodists is very familiar. We have been to numerous Annual Conferences, and we know the routine and how to navigate the college campus. For others, this year’s Annual Conference will be their first experience and everything will be new and unfamiliar. Whether this Conference is your first or your fiftieth one, it is good to remember the purpose of the Annual Conference.


According to paragraph 601 of the “2012 PHOTO: SANDII PEIFFER


Bishop Jeremiah J. Park opened the first business session of the 2015 Annual Conference with praise and woship.


Shares of Ministry Video Series is released


G


Shonyah Hawkins-Cottman records African-American spiritual, “Give Me Jesus,” in the Susquehanna Conference studio in Mission Central.


A The


new video series has been released by the communication team of the


series,


Susquehanna called


Conference. “Better Together,”


is designed to build engagement with Shares of Ministry by answering some of the “why, what, how, and who” of this important part of our connection. The introductory branding video has as a centerpiece a single stanza of the song, “Give Me Jesus,” made popular by Fernando Ortega. “In this case we have used the original rendering of the song as


an African-American spiritual. Shonyah Hawkins-Cottman


of Harrisburg was


invited to record the song, which gives voice to a broken world that pleads with us as a church, ‘give me Jesus’,” says Jerry Wolgemuth,


conference communicator.


Shonyah is a host for a digital radio station (thevoice17104.com) that is housed at Derry Street UMC in Harrisburg. For more details on “Better Together,” see page 3 and visit susumc.org/ bettertogether.


Book of Discipline”: “The purpose of the annual conference is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by equipping its local churches for ministry and by providing a connection for ministry beyond the local church; all to the glory of God.” Whether we are in a business session, a worship service, Bible study, or in fellowship, it is important for


us to remember that purpose statement. In all that we do as an annual conference we need to have the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ and transforming the world in mind. The theme of this year’s Conference


is: Alive in Christ Together … Creating New Places for New People. Our adaptive challenge is: How will we be partners together in birthing a new and exciting, as well as faithful and fruitful, way to reach more people for Jesus Christ? To be a church that creates new opportunities to connect with new people in our communities is not an option for such a time as this.


Among those who will lead us: the Rev.


Lori Steffensen, State College District Superintendent, will be the preacher for the Memorial Service. Mr. Joe Castillo, a


world-renowned SandStory artist


who appeared on the show America’s Got Talent, will be the presenter for the Celebration of Ministry Service. He will also lead the Bible study. Bishop Ernest Lyght, who served the New York and the West Virginia Conferences, will be the preacher at the Ordination Service.


CONTINUED ON PAGE 6


GC2016: How General Conference works


Excerpts from the


Guide to General Conference 2016 eneral


Conference, the top


legislative body of The United Methodist Church, meets May


10-20, 2016, at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. The center is billed as the largest convention facility in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Some 864 delegates, elected from around the world, will gather to set policy and direction for the church, as well as handle other important business. Meeting every four years, General Conference is the only entity that speaks for the denomination. “The


United theme Methodist of the Book of


Discipline,” updated every four years, incorporates changes made by General Conference. The


Conference is “Therefore The


Commission on the General Conference selected the theme in 2013. United Methodist Communications


2016 General Go.”


developed


the logo as an action-themed graphic that ties to the roots of The United Methodist Church in the “Great Commission” (Matthew 28:19-20). That passage reads, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”


Mobile App and Online Coverage The 2016 mobile app is available for


both Android and iOS devices. The iOS app, available on the iTunes store, will work on all Apple devices running iOS 7.1 or above. The Android app, available on the Google Play store, works on all Android devices running Android 2.3.3 or above. The apps will help interested people keep up-to-date on the latest developments


as General Conference


nears. Additional features will be added [such as] maps, schedules, and petition tracking. The final update is scheduled for April 2016. Delegates and others can follow the proceedings on the General Conference Web site at umc.org/gc2016. You can also follow General Conference on Facebook and Twitter using #UMCGC. Features will include news coverage in multiple languages, with daily summaries, feature stories and videos, such as interviews with


delegates, volunteers and other


key individuals. All plenary sessions, worship services, episcopal, and laity addresses, and other special events will be live streamed. Users can track petitions and obtain general information about the legislative process. Plenary transcripts and consent calendars


will


post each day. In 2016 the Advance Daily Christian Advocate will also have a digital component


and be available in the CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 susquehannalink.blogspot.com


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