gumc-admin - Groveville United Methodist Church

Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ,

In the new year, with our new bishop, and in this new season of our lives, we are invited, along with United Methodists from Greater New Jersey (GNJ) and Eastern Pennsylvania (EPA) , into a journey of healing.

Here is the beginning of Bishop Moore Koi-koi's invitation:

“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.” Jeremiah 17:14 NRSVue

Dear United Methodists of Eastern Pennsylvania and Greater New Jersey,

I greet you in the name and with the love of Jesus who is the Christ.

When I first arrived in EPA & GNJ, I quickly became aware of the deep wounds present among us. These wounds have come from many sources: the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; sociopolitical struggles; racial, economic, and systemic injustices; pains arising through division and conflict at every level of our denomination—from the general church all the down to the conference and the local church; and other forms of harm that have caused pain and division. As people of faith, we acknowledge these wounds, but we do not face them alone.

Today, I am excited to invite you into A Journey of Healing: From Lamentation to Praise—a conference-wide campaign designed to walk with one another, through God’s grace, toward healing and ultimately, PRAISE! This journey will unfold over the coming months, culminating in opportunities to praise and celebrate the work of God in our lives during District Conferences and our Annual Conference in May.

Here is our timeline for this journey:

January: Naming the Woundedness
February: Praying Over the Wounds
March: Cleansing the Wounds (Lenten Gatherings with Communion & Healing Services)
April: Protecting the Wound (Prayer Litanies on the Website & Prayer Opportunities)
May: Praise! (District Conference & Annual Conference Praise Opportunities)