News

Camping Programs Have Come to a Rest for the Summer.

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Our Camping Ministries Board had to make a very difficult decision this week. They decided to rest the summer camping program at the Pinelands and Aldersgate Camps this summer. This means there will be no summer camping ministry at either site while we take time to reassess the camping ministry and identify how we will best serve our young people in the future. Many of us have strong connections to our camps and we understand that this news is difficult...

Vitality Critical for Church's Survival

Bishop John Schol of New Jersey Annual (Regional) Conference in the United States of America says there is great vitality in the church in Zimbabwe. The bishop said this at a one day seminar at Chisipiti circuit which was attended by among other members of clergy in the area, the administration assistant to the bishop DR. Rev. Z. Marewangepo, Rev Allan Gurupira several district superintendents including the host superintendent of Harare East District Rev T. Madziyire and a number of other...

Chatham UMC Winter Fling Event

On February 1st, 2014 the United Methodist Women of Chatham United Methodist Church hosted their third annual Winter Fling. The event was held at the Wyndham Hamilton Park Hotel and Conference Center in Florham Park and featured NYC Metro’s greatest little swing band, Swingadelic. Church and community members as well as local business owners generously contributed to our silent auction, mystery grab bag and free will offering. By the end of the evening, 130 guests had enjoyed dinner...

The Worldwide Nature of The United Methodist Church Study Committee Survey

Since the 2012 General Conference there has been a significant amount of conversation around the world-wide structure of The United Methodist Church. The Northeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church authorized the creation of a task force to create recommendations for consideration and possible action. This task force is asking for our help in this exciting and important endeavor. The task force is guided by the following principles: Be Christ Focused The denominational...

Make a Joyful Noise

Mosaic Ministries made a joyful noise on Saturday to celebrate the reopening of Belmar UMC which was damaged during the Superstorm Sandy. More than 200 people gathered for the event including church members, community leaders, and neighborhood residents. Several A Future with Hope volunteer teams who helped muck out and rebuild the church over the last year, returned to join the celebration which included a worship service, carnival type activities and lunch. Check out these great photos...

Events are a great way to include the church's community...

Friday, March 14, 2014 Events are a great way to include the church’s community in the Mission Fund Campaign and to have fun while raising money for mission: • A crisp, bright, autumn Sunday afternoon – advertising in the local paper and throughout the community – bands, food, games, focus on Sandy Recovery – the 40 member church of North Hunterdon raised more than $3,000 by involving the community in a fun-filled afternoon. • You are turning 60 and what...

Greetings from Zimbabwe!

Today's postcard from Zimbabwe! Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3 Photo 1 - Africa University, premier United Methodist school with degrees in education, agriculture, theology, business. Photo 2  - The Africa University library Photo 3 - A view from Africa University to the old Mutare...

Postcard from Zimbabwe

Greetings from Zimbabwe. My Daughter Kristin and I are in Zimbabwe to teach about vital congregations, look at mission projects and malaria projects in particular. GNJ’s Mission Fund Campaign is raising $2 million to end deaths by malaria. Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3 Photo 1 – Kristin...

This Year's Feinstein Challenge will be Dedicated to the Memory of Pete Bruger

CUMAC would like to announce that this year’s Feinstein Challenge will be dedicated to the memory of Pete Bruger. Pete, son of CUMAC’s Executive Director Rev. Pat Bruger and her husband Carl and brother of CUMAC’s Development Director, Lynne, died suddenly on November 3, 2013. We at CUMAC thought that nothing would be more fitting than to have this year’s Feinstein challenge dedicated to Pete’s memory as an expression of love and support to the Bruger family...

GNJAC Haiti UMVIM Trip

  January 11th - 18th, 2014. Our seventh GNJAC UMVIM Trip to Haiti was a blessing both to the GNJAC UMVIM team members and our Haitian hosts. This was the first conference team to go to Haiti since the end in November, 2013 of the collaborative Haiti Response plan of UMCOR and EMH (Haitian Methodist Church). As was the intention, EMH has taken over the scheduling and hosting of UMVIM teams going to Haiti. The process of scheduling and the logistics of the mission experience...

Peace with Justice Grant Applications: Due April 21st 2014

Have You Applied for a Peace with Justice Grant? Applications for Peace with Justice Grants for the coming year are due on Monday, April 21, 2014 and should be mailed to Ginny Kaiser at the Conference Office. Applications may be submitted by any group related to the Annual Conference - a local church; an agency of the conference, a district, or by two or more such groups in cooperation. If the organization/group received a grant after 2009, the organization/group cannot receive a grant for the...

UMC's Event for A Future With Hope

The UMC in Union, NJ has decided to make a start on its pledge to A Future With Hope in two ways.   First, by dedicating the quarterly project offering envelopes in our congregation's offering envelope packets for 2014 to A Future With Hope, and secondly, to dedicate profits from certain events that raise funds to the cause.  On February 15, 2014 the UMC in Union held its annual Pasta Lover's Supper for both the congregation and all comers from the town and surrounding areas....

Pre - Lenten PowerPoint Now Available

At the Pre-Lenten Service and Fellowship, newly appointed District Superintendents Myrna Bethke (Gateway South) and Drew Dyson (Raritan Valley) joined the Director of Connectional Ministries, Bruce Hartman, in a presentation to outline the next steps in implementing the strategic plan.  The implementation is focused on supporting and resourcing pastors and congregations to help grow vital congregations.   Click here to view their presentation.  ...

Message from Bishop Schol Regarding Resourcing

Sisters and Brothers in Christ, As the clergy and lay leadership in GNJ, I want to share with you about our recent clergy gathering and update you on our next steps in the implementation of the strategic ministry plan. More than 350 clergy gathered for our Pre-Lenten Gathering on February 25. I am grateful for everyone who attended. The worship was spirited, the testimonies were inspiring and the conversation was engaging. I want to especially thank Calvary Korean United Methodist Church in...

Drew University Welcomes Dr. MaryAnn Baenninger as 12th President

Bishop John Schol had the opportunity to serve on the search committee for a new President of Drew University.  The following is the announcement of the board's selection. DREW UNIVERSITY WELCOMES DR. MARYANN BAENNINGER AS 12TH PRESIDENT Dr. Baenninger will be Drew’s first full-term woman president in the university’s 147-year history. Madison, N.J. – The Board of Trustees of Drew University announced today that it has unanimously selected MaryAnn...

Central UMC (Linwood) Wins 2014 Robert B. Steelman Methodist History Award

The Greater New Jersey Commission on Archives and History would like to congratulate the Central United Methodist Church in Linwood, for winning our 2014 Robert B. Steelman Methodist History Award.  To see an electronic version of the winning entry go to: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/60288214/Central%20UMC%20-%20Linwood.pdf. If your church is interested in submitting an entry for either the Steelman Award, Best Ethnic History Award or Best Multimedia History Award, go to our...

Local Church History Awards 2015

Present your Church History via Written, Audio or Visual Media. The History Needs the Following Elements: Historical Dates Memorable /Famous Events & People Images, Former & Present Ministers (contact our archivist at waltretired@optonline.net) Prior Histories must be revised within last five years Deadline January 30, 2014.  Please note that we have moved up the deadline date. The Greater New...

Message from Bishop Schol Regarding Clergy Appointments

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, God may give it to you.  –Jesus, John 15:16 The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant. —Max DePree from the book, Leadership Is an Art February 17, 2014 Dear Sisters and Brothers, Our calling is to make...

2014 History Conference on Colonial Methodism in New Jersey

Did you know that Drew University owns John Wesley’s famous 1791 letter to William Wilberforce about ending slavery? Did you know that Wesley’s image and slavery tract are part of a permanent exhibit housed in George Washington’s Army Headquarters just up the road from Drew University and the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History? Or you may not know that the Episcopal Church parsonage in Newton, New Jersey is where Francis Asbury slept when traveling...

Cokesbury Improves Online Store & Customer Experience

UMPH is the oldest agency of what is now the United Methodist Church having been in continuous operation since 1789. The mission has always been to advance the cause of Christianity by developing and providing inspirational, useful and educational materials that help people come to know and love God through Jesus Christ and learn to live as his disciples and help transform the world. The nature of the materials and means of delivery have continually changed to meet the needs of churches and...