Rev. Charles R. Fowler, District Superintendent

Office:  814-361-2464     Office Fax:  814-361-2465     Email:  CFowler7@earthlink.net

MISSIONS & OUTREACH

Vision:  To ignite and sustain a passionate, spiritual connection with Christ among all people in Western Pa.

Core Value: We love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength and our neighbors as ourselves.  This value is commanded by Jesus, inspired by our Wesleyan heritage including spreading scriptural holiness over the land, and witnessed through our integrity, accountability and inclusiveness.

• Operation Christmas Box: The Belmont United Methodist Church is making a trip to the Operation Christmas Processing Center in North Carolina to help process gift filled shoeboxes from churches around the country. They welcome others to join them. A bus has been chartered and you can join with them if you’d like. The trip will be from Thursday, December 4th through Sunday, December 7th. For additional information, or to sign up for the trip, contact Belmont UMC in Johnstown.
  
   

• Bruce and Kathy Griffith have returned from Afghanistan. The Board of Global Ministries recalled Bruce and Kathy this past July and they now reside in New York, since August. Due to increasing insecurity in Afghanistan, the decision was made that they should leave. The Griffith’s were on a three year assignment and had completed 18 months of that assignment when they received communications that it was time to return to the states. Please keep them in your prayers as they await news pending future assignments. May we also pray for the people of Afghanistan and our military service people stationed in that nation?
  
  DISTRICT MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
   

• God’s Kitchen: Hosted by the Johnstown District UM Men, a feeding ministry is offered Saturdays in Johnstown. Five congregations provide the space on a rotating basis. Groups are welcome to help prepare, serve, and fellowship with participants. Youth groups are welcomed. Contact Ted Fuge through Franklin Street Church to volunteer or if your local church wishes to make a financial gift to help with the ministry.
  
   

• Pastor in the Park: A Sunday feeding ministry coordinated by Pastor Stan Nixon. Local church groups are welcome to prepare and serve a meal on Sunday afternoon. The ministry is to the community of Johnstown. Contact Stan by phone or email. His address is printed in the Conference Journal.
  
   

• Johnstown Human Services: Volunteers are always appreciated to help with the Food Pantries in New Paris and Franklin Street Church, lay speakers to share in Sunday afternoon worship at Richland Towers, during Advent help is needed to staff the Christmas Wish Tree at the Galleria Mall. Contact the office of Human Services located at First Church, Johnstown.
  
   

• Camping Sunday:  Johnstown District congregations are reminded that Oct. 12th is Camping Sunday or an alternate date of your church’s choice. Your special offering on Oct. 12th will help make financial gifts for “camperships” possible for children and youth to participate in the 2009 Summer Camping Program of our Conference. Please give generously in support of Camping Sunday.
  
   

• District Appeal:  Local congregations received a letter last month asking that prayerful consideration and discussion be held in each church to receive a District Program Offering on Oct. 26th. The suggestion was made to consider a tithe of your average worship attendance. In this newsletter, you can read of the appeal and the purpose behind it. I hope that every church will respond. – Chuck Fowler
  
   

• Johnstown Human Services:  Members of the Board of Directors for the Johnstown Human Services are reminded that the Oct. 6th, Monday meeting of the Directors will be at Ebensburg UMC at 5 p.m.
  
   

• Human Services Banquet:  Saturday, November 1st at the Sunnehanna Country Club, the Volunteer Luncheon will be held beginning at 1 p.m. Each year the Board of Directors hosts a luncheon to thank the many volunteers that help sustain this outreach ministry. We invite you to share in the luncheon, as recognition is given to Cherylann Falsone, former Director of Johnstown Human Services.
  
  
   

• Building a Heart of Faith:  Children Ministry ~ Oct. 18th from 9-3:30 p.m. at New Stanton UMC. Keynote speaker will be Bishop Bickerton. Registration fee is $20, which includes lunch and resource material. Register four people from your church and save $5 each. Registration deadline is Oct. 10th. Attendees will rotate through various learning centers which consist of: Caring in and out of the classroom, Curriculum, and Reaching out to the Community and World. Closing worship will be lead by Linda Varner, worship leader and leader of the Little Praise Dancers of Oakland UMC, Johnstown.

 

• Arbutus Manor:  Volunteers are always needed to help with a variety of jobs around the manor and to help the residents.  Pastors, lay speakers, choirs are welcomed to share with Wednesday and Sunday evening worship services.  Contact Rick Wilson or Chaplain Don Krestar.

 

• Habitat for Humanity:  Cambria County.  Two homes are to be constructed in Johnstown.  One will be built by all women work crews in the Westside of the community and the other in Westmont.  Contact Malcolm Snyder through Franklin Street Church as to how your members can become involved.  Website:  www.franklinstreetchurch.org or www.hhofcc.com.  These projects are weekly, daily or part of the week.  Work around your family and local church committments.

 

• Jump Car Clinic:  A ministry of the JUMP cooperative parish of Johnstown First Church, Trinity/Asbury, and Franklin Street sponsor a Saturday Car Clinic.  Volunteers do oil changes, and offer minor repair to cars for the elderly, single parent, and individuals with limited financial resources.  Congregations can support this mission through financial gifts, volunteers to help on Saturdays at the clinic.  Contact any of the following pastors:  Dennis Zimmerman, Ross Pryor, or Tom Verner.