First United Methodist Church

From Melissa Herceg…

At 2:28 am, on what looks like might be the hottest Aug 28th in a century, Jack, made his appearance!

Thanks for your concern and prayers.

All is well!

Because I keep getting text messages asking, I have decided to let you know…

After 24 hours of high blood pressure and unproductive labor they have broken Grace’s waters and started her on Pitocin. Here we go.

I know you are holding Grace and John and Jack in prayer. Thanks.

Jet lag has hit! ✈️ ✈️✈️

I don’t know why I think I am going to get back to normal sooner than I do.

So today is a day to prepare for Sunday and try to readjust.

I am excited to preach on Sunday and to see everyone!

Peace.

First leg complete. Now on to Pittsburg.

I just received this small gift from my Yulia Starodubets who is a pastor in the Ukraine. When I preach on August 25th I will tell you about it, the story behind it, and how it feels so holy to me.

Good Friday evening from Gothenburg, Sweden!

Today I gave all three prayer blankets away and I wanted to tell you who got them. Remember Alease made them to say “a prayer blanket for you from First UMC, Parkersburg, WV, USA”

One went to Judy Davis, a friend of mine from my doctoral studies. Judy lives in Geneva, Switzerland and throughout this last year has been battling lymphoma. Her treatments have been successful. I wanted her to have a blanket to remind her that we will continue to pray.

The second one went to a Facebook friend of mine who is a pastor in Ukraine. We have prayed for her and her congregations. Her name is Yulia Starodubets. I was so excited to finally meet her in person! And I wanted her to know we continue to hold them in prayer.

The third one went to our new bishop because on Sunday she will become the President of the World Methodist Council and I wanted her to have a blanket from one of her new churches. She was so pleased.

Keep praying for me please and for the work of the Council. I am praying for all of you.

Peace.

Good Thursday evening from Sweden…

This evening we had a very meaningful worship service that highlighted peace—“the path to peace is a path Of peace.”

When I came into the service I noticed that the cross hanging up front was being used as a screen. The night sky was moving across the cross with dark skies pierced with bright stars. And then, as if just for me, the Northern Lights danced across the that dark sky focused on the cross reminding me that the love of Christ can be seen and felt in unexpected ways.

Those Northern lights spoke to me, telling me to pay attention. Something was about to happen.

The service was powerful and healing for me. We have had a lot of grief in our two congregations for several different reasons. Grief and sadness are not strangers to us.

But I heard distinctly tonight that there is healing as we walk Christ’s path of love and peace.

In my mind I held each of you in my prayer imagining God’s healing and hope surrounding all of you and others who are close to me, as I felt healing and hope surrounding me.

I love you all. God is with us. The world needs us. Our communities need us. We need each other.

Peace.

Good evening from Stockholm!

It is a beautiful evening here and I have been out exploring!
I wanted to let you know I am here and all is well. I am holding you all in my heart as I am away.

Peace.

Here is the next installment of member churches to the World Methodist Conference that I will be attending next month in Sweden. The first installment was posted about 10 days ago. Please pray for all these churches, that we may figure out ways to work together and support each other as we work for justice and peace in the Wesleyan way. Thanks.

Canada, The United Church of
Caribbean and Americas Methodist Church
Central Africa African Methodist Episcopal
Central and Southern Europe Central Conference
Central Congo United Methodist Church
Chile Methodist Church
Chinese Methodist Church in Australia
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Church of the Nazarene
Colombia Methodist Church
Costa Rica Evangelical Methodist Church
Cote de Ivoire United Methodist Church
Croatia United Methodist Church
Cuba Methodist Church
Czech Republic United Methodist Church
Denmark United Methodist Church
Dominican Republic Evangelical Church
East Africa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
East Angola United Methodist Church
Ecuador Evangelical United Church
Estonia United Methodist Church
Fiji and Rotuma Methodist Church
Finnish United Methodist Church
Finland, Swedish United Methodist Church
France United methodist Church
Free Methodist Church—USA
Free Methodist Church of Rwanda
Free Methodist Church of Democratic Republic of Congo
Germany Central Conference (Evangelisch-Methodistische Kirche)

Happy day everyone!

Thanks to everyone for your help in preparing supper for and serving at Latrobe St Mission yesterday. Between both churches we had around 17-20 people involved in some way by providing food, cooking, and serving.

We served around 130 people last evening. And it is always fun to be with the people there!

We will do it again next month!

Peace to all this day.

Please join us next week for livestreaming of our worship service. The gremlins got into our sound system and there was so much static on the recording it was not comfortable to listen to the worship service. We will livestream the service next week, but if you want to be 100% sure to enjoy worship you are invited to attend in person. Then you can stay and enjoy Rich and Deborah's 50th wedding celebration. God Bless you!

Just announced…

We are excited to announce the assignment of Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett, who will lead the West Virginia Conference.

The Northeastern Jurisdiction (NEJ) Committee on Episcopacy has met frequently since General Conference to contemplate the implications of the General Conference actions for our jurisdiction. The Committee affirmed the recommendation of the Inter-jurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy (ICOE), reducing the number of bishops across the jurisdictions.

The ICOE has discerned creative solutions in a spirit of collaboration, leading to the decision that the NEJ will share one bishop with the Southeastern Jurisdiction (SEJ) for the coming quadrennium. This means that the West Virginia Conference will share Bishop Wallace-Padgett with the Holston Conference from the Southeastern Jurisdiction.

We are optimistic about the potential for enhanced collaboration and the sharing of resources and ideas across jurisdictions. We extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to Bishop Wallace-Padgett as she steps into this important role, bringing her unique gifts, vision, and dedication to our Conference. We eagerly anticipate the new season of growth and ministry under her leadership.

At this significant juncture, we also express our deepest gratitude to Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball for her exemplary leadership and unwavering commitment over the past 12 years. As our resident bishop and episcopal leader, Bishop Steiner Ball has guided us with wisdom, compassion, and a steadfast dedication to our mission. Her influence has left an indelible mark on our Conference, fostering a spirit of unity, innovation, and spiritual growth. Bishop Steiner Ball will be moving to the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference, and we wish her a blessed new season of ministry.

As we transition to this new chapter, we look forward to the continued advancement of our shared mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Join us in prayers, support, and encouragement to Bishop Wallace-Padgett as she begins her new ministry. Continue to hold Bishop Steiner Ball in your hearts, celebrating her remarkable legacy and the profound impact she has had on our Conference.

The World Methodist Council will be meeting in Gothenburg, Sweden August 12-19. I am one of two delegates from the WV Annual Conference. The World Methodist Council is made up of 80 Wesleyan based churches representing 80 million members from 138 countries. I would like for you to join me in praying for all these member churches a few each week. Thanks you for joining me on this journey.

Here are the member churches for this week:

African Methodist Episcopal Church
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Albania, United Methodist Church
Algeria/Tunisia United Methodist Church
Argentina Evangelical Methodist Church
Australia Uniting Church
Australia Wesleyan Methodist Church
Austria United Methodist Church
Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church
Bangladesh Methodist Church
Belgium United Methodist Church
Belgium United Protestant Church
Benin Protestant Methodist Church
Bolivia Evangelical methodist Church
Brazil Methodist Church
Britain, The Methodist Church in
Bulgaria United Methodist Church

We have a new picnic table at First UMC!
Under the Linden tree!
Come sit with us!

A poem, a prayer, a thought or two...
As we move toward the beginning of summer.

Peace,
Pastor Alicia

Summer Murmurings Cool, sparkling water surrounding the Island of Iona, Scotland, August 2023 There it is againThe Holy murmurings The indistinct, low, morning whispersOf the Holy One of Sacred SilenceOf the One who…