Susquehanna LINK - February 2017


3


Call to Annual Conference


Dr. Charles Salisbury, York District Superintendent,


will preach


CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 at


the


Memorial Service on Thursday evening. Pastor Kris Sledge will bring God’s word at Friday’s Celebration of Ministry Service. Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, newly elected bishop of the Western Pennsylvania Conference, will proclaim God’s Word at the Ordination Service on Saturday afternoon. I know that we will be richly blessed by all of our Conference speakers and preachers. Registration starts February 27, 2017. As we are meeting in a new place, early registration would be beneficial to all. Please visit www.susumc.org, click on


the Annual Conference link and register when registration opens. Finally, I would like to invite you to join me in setting aside time each day to be in prayer for God’s blessings upon our church and the up-coming Annual Conference. Indeed, our prayer is the soul’s sincere desire. God will bless us and our witness abundantly.


I look forward to greeting you at the


new, exciting, and “sweetest place on earth” for our time together at the Annual Conference this May. With You in Christ’s Ministry, Jeremiah J. Park


Award nominations open for Annual Conference


D


o you know an outstanding United Methodist clergy or lay person or congregation who you think should be recognized and honored at Annual Conference for their discipleship and achievements? You have the


opportunity now through March 15 to submit nominations for the 2017 Annual Conference awards. Those selected will attend a special awards luncheon at Annual Conference in May. Use the information below to request award nomination forms.


J. Marlene Atanasoff Award


Sponsored by The Center for Spiritual Formation, this award recognizes outstanding advocates of John Wesley’s principles of mercy, justice, and piety.


Contact Rev. Dr. Russell Hart at 717-240-0678 or formation1@embarqmail.com


Bishop’s Award for Christian Unity and Inter-Religious Concerns The Bishop’s Committee on Christian Unity and Inter-Religious Concerns has an award for a lay or clergy person who has demonstrated outstanding involvement in ecumenical ministry.


Contact Rev. Greg Myers at 717-766-7871 or gmyers@susumc.org Howard and Elizabeth Brinton Award


Given by the Conference Missional Board in memory of former missionaries, this award is given in two parts; to an individual and to a congregation showing excellence in mission support and practice.


Contact Rev. John Kratz at 717-534-2262 or jkratz@susumc.org Harry Denman Award


The Foundation for Evangelism sponsors this award in three parts – for one clergy, one lay person, and one youth who show outstanding achievement in evangelism. Contact Rev. Dr. Tom Salsgiver at 717-766-7441 or tsalsgiver@susumc.org


The Flying Dove Award


The Conference Peace with Justice Team presents two awards. One is to recognize the church that contributed the most financially to the Peace with Justice Fund, and the other to a person or church striving to work for peace with justice in their community. Contact Rev. Michelle Bodle at 814-342-3060 or mbodle@susumc.org


Harry Hosier Award


Our Commission on Inclusiveness gives this award to an individual or congregation that moves people from dependence to independence; works with people who are downtrodden to empower them; and helps a congregation move from inactivity to lively worship. Contact Pastor Sarah Kim at 814-505-5094 (cell) or skim@susumc.org


Bishop D. Frederick Wertz Award


Given by Lycoming College in memory of Bishop Wertz, this is given to a clergy or lay person who has rendered exceptional service to God through the church. Contact Rev. Jeffrey LeCrone at 570-321-4112 or lecrone@lycoming.edu


Rev. Dr. Charlie Salisbury, York District Superintendent, will preach during the Thursday evening Memorial Service.


Friday morning, May 5, Bible study will be led by Rev. Dr. Jaime Clark-Soles, Professor of New Testament, Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor at


Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University (SMU).


Sunday, April 2, 2017, 3 - 5 p.m. Hosted by


Audrey Wilder, Director of Christian Education and Young People’s Ministry


Locations


Altoona District McConnellsburg


Second Avenue, Altoona West Side, Clearfield


Harrisburg District Aldersgate, Mechanicsburg Grace, Millersburg Grace, Hummelstown Middlesex, Carlisle


Lewisburg District


Christ Community, Hummels Wharf Mill-Green, Millville Christ, Mountain Top


Scranton/Wilkes-Barre District Elm Park, Scranton


Countryside Community, Clarks Summit State College District


Gethsemane Allport, Morrisdale Grace, Lewistown


Mt. Nittany, State College


Williamsport District Wellsboro


Faith, Montoursville


York District Chapel, Red Lion Christ, Waynesboro


As you probably know, our Annual Conference gathering for the Susquehanna


Annual Conference speakers The 2017 Susquehanna Annual


Conference will feature the following special events and keynote speakers.


Bishop Jeremiah J. Park will preach for the Opening Celebration on Thursday, May 4.


Pastor Kristopher Sledge will speak to us during the Celebration of Ministry service on Friday evening.


Rev. Dr. Kenneth Loyer will lead the Saturday, May 6, morning Bible study.


Saturday afternoon Bishop Cynthia Moore- Koikoi will preach during the Ordination Service. Bishop Moore- Koikoi was elected as a bishop of the


United Methodist Church by delegates to the 2016 Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference meeting in Lancaster, Pa. She began her assignment to lead United Methodists in Western Pennsylvania on September 1, 2016.


Pre-Annual Conference live stream


Conference will be held in a new location at the Hershey Lodge. In addition, 2017 begins the new quadrennial theme of Better Together. With so many new and exciting things on the horizon, the opportunity arose to host a Pre-Annual Conference Live Stream event at various locations across our conference to help Annual Conference attendees prepare for our time together in May. This event is open to clergy, lay members, members at large, visitors to Annual Conference, and anyone else who may be interested in the events of this year’s Annual Conference.


The event will feature Bishop Park and our conference lay leader, John Konieczny, as they kick off our time together. Presentations throughout the live stream will include information on:


• Next Faithful Step for Mission Central • Conference prayer initiative • Resolutions and constitutional amendments


• Conference work with General Board of Religion and Race


• Worship opportunities at Annual Conference


• Spending Plan for 2018


We invite you to come and be a part of this special event as we prepare for our time together as a Beloved Community of Faith at Annual Conference 2017.


Alive in Christ Together


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16