Join Stone UMC and Bethany UMC for lunch to wish Pastor Kendra Balliet well as she transitions to her new appointment with Harrisville and Forestville United Methodist Churches.

June 7, 2026

12:00 PM

Miller Parlor, Stone UMC

We will be grilling hamburgers and hotdogs with all the trimmings. The Care Team will be providing a cake. Please bring a side dish to share if you are able. There will be sign-up sheets at both churches or you can call or email the church if you plan to bring a dish. Everyone is welcome for a fun afternoon of fellowship.

The worship service on Sunday, May 17, 2026 was "sweet" indeed as Stone United Methodist celebrated and rededicated themselves to their missions and ministries.  Special thanks to all who helped plan and prepare for this day, especially, our Welcoming Committee: Sue DeArment, Armendia P. Dixon, Jan Edmonds, Anne Finney, Jean Shanley and Jane Smith, the Stone Care Team and     Pastor Kendra Balliet.

Pictured above: Church ministry leaders line the altar railing as Rev. Kendra Balliet leads the congregation in a re-dedication to their missions and ministries. (photo credit: Armendia Dixon)

Our geraniums are ready to be planted! 

If you are able to help, we will gather in the yard of the church at 5:30pm on Monday, June 1st.  Please bring your garden gloves and weeding tools.  We will be weeding, planting geraniums and spreading mulch.  

Men's Bible Study meets in Miller Parlor at 6:45pm. Any man seeking a closer relationship with God is welcome to attend.

Upcoming meetings will be discussing the book Wild Places by George Dejong.

Please visit stoneumc.org/events/mens-bible-study for schedule details.

North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church

Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

As believers in a God who loves all persons unconditionally, we are called to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. (Micah 6:8)

In this season of renewed debate surrounding congressional districts and voting rights in the state of Alabama, I write to encourage the people called Methodist to remain steadfast in our commitment to justice, dignity, and the sacred worth of every child of God.

Recent court rulings regarding the redrawing of congressional districts have raised deep concerns for many people across Alabama and throughout our nation. These decisions come amid ongoing legal battles over whether the voices of Black voters and historically marginalized communities are being fairly represented in the democratic process. The rulings could significantly alter congressional representation in Alabama and have renewed conversations about the protections once afforded under the Voting Rights Act.

The right to vote is not merely a political issue; it is a moral issue. Voting is one of the most fundamental ways people participate in shaping the common good. Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly calls leaders and communities to protect the vulnerable, hear the cries of the oppressed, and ensure fairness in the public square. Proverbs 31:8 reminds us: Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute.

As Christians, we cannot be indifferent when any group of people believes their voice is being diminished or their participation weakened. The Church has a holy responsibility to stand alongside those whose rights and dignity are threatened. Silence in the face of injustice has never been the calling of the Body of Christ.

Our United Methodist heritage has long affirmed the importance of civic participation and equal access to the democratic process. From the Civil Rights Movement to the present day, people of faith have marched, prayed, organized, and advocated so that every citizen may have an equal voice. We remember that many paid a great price, and some gave their very lives, so that voting rights could be expanded and protected in the American South.

This moment calls not for division or hatred, but for courage, compassion, and moral clarity. We must resist the temptation to demonize one another. Instead, we must commit ourselves to truth-telling, prayerful discernment, and faithful action. We are called to advocate peacefully and persistently for systems that honor justice, equity, and full participation for all people.

I encourage every congregation and every believer to remain engaged. Pray for our courts, our elected officials, and our communities. Educate yourselves about the issues before us. Encourage voter participation. Support efforts that protect equal access to the ballot box. Stand with neighbors whose voices may be overlooked or discounted.

The prophet Amos declared, Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. May we be people who help justice flow more freely in our communities and in our nation.

In Christ, we affirm that every person matters, every voice has value, and every citizen deserves the opportunity to participate fully in our democracy. The Church remains the place where civic engagement has life. May it continue to bear witness to the Gospel by standing on the side of justice, mercy, and hope.

Grace and peace,

Bishop L. Jonathan Holston
Resident Bishop of the North Alabama Conference
Alabama Panhandle Episcopal Area

When you set up your giving through Tithely, you can give a one-time gift to one designated area or set up a recurring offering.  Recurring offering giving through Tithely saves you the hassle of dealing with offering envelopes each week and helps the church in its' work to plan, budget and be good financial stewards. 

Sharing An Attitude of Gratitude

So many of you give of your time and talents each month at Stone UMC...if you would like to recognize the generosity and service you see at Stone UMC please, visit the office and put a note in our Attitude of Gratitude jar on the counter or send Jen an email at churchoffice@stoneumc.org so we may include the person or group in our next newsletter THANK YOUS.

Stay motivated to earn BIG all year long! Every month brings a new challenge, and a new chance to win a $500 gift card of your choice.
How it works:  Complete any month's challenge to qualify for that month's $500 gift card drawing.

For more information about church activities, please visit our online calendar at stoneumc.org.

CALLING ON FIRE: A Dynamic, Interconnected Approach to Methodist Renewal and Growth 
with Rev. Dr. Chris Heckert

Saturday, June 13, 2026
10 AM - 3 PM
First UMC Butler

In this workshop, Heckert will speak on his co-authored book, Calling on Fire: Reclaiming the Method of Methodism, inviting participants to imagine how implementing the methods of early methodism might foster a renewed Modern Methodist Movement both in and beyond the church building. Register now.

Registration is open!

EmpowHER Leadership Conference

September 28-29, 2026

Jumonville Camp & Retreat Center

The WPAUMC Discipleship Task Force is excited to invite women leaders, laity and clergy, to this leadership conference that aims to bring women together to affirm their call, build grace-filled relationships and mutual support, and equip hearts, minds, and hands to take the next faithful step in their mission and ministry. Read more and register today.

realign district boundaries and leadership structures in response to changing missional realities, clergy deployment needs, and the faithful stewardship of people and resources. Guided by the Bishops vision and in consultation with the Cabinet and Conference leadership, the Task Force has focused on recommending a reduction from ten districts to four supervisory areas; developing district leadership models that emphasize mission, flexibility, and strong lay involvement; and identifying ways to promote greater consistency in required processes across districts, particularly those related to clergy formation and support.
 
In light of this work, I am writing to introduce myself as your newly appointed Superintendent for Northern Area, effective July 1, 2026. Until that time Rev. Lisa Grant, Rev. Sung Chung, and Rev. Deborah Ackley-Killian will continue to provide leadership.
 
It is both an honor and a privilege to serve alongside you in this new season. I come with a deep sense of gratitude for the faithful ministry already taking place across our churches, and with genuine excitement for the journey ahead. The foundation of my ministry is developing relationships. It is out of relationships that we can truly be the Body of Christ to the World. So, I am also very excited to get to know each of you and the ministries of each congregation.
 
As we continue adjusting to this new chapter together, I want to encourage each of you to embrace this transition with renewed vision and hope. Change often brings both challenges and opportunities, and I believe this is a meaningful moment for growth, collaboration, and spiritual renewal within our connectional ministry.
 
To assist in this season of change, a Transition Team for the Northern Area has been formed. The members are:

• Rev. Les Hutchins
• Rev. Jay Tennies
• Rev. Bob Klingler
• Rev. Karen Trask
• Rev. Megan Miles
• Rebecca Miller
• Lisa Clayton
• Mark Schanely
• Jan Clark

This team will work with me to discern the new name of the Area and to nominate Area leadership. An Area Conference will be held in fall, where these items will be discussed and brought forward for approval.
 
We have also launched a new webpage where you can find more information about the Area and our churches. Visit the new webpage at www.wpaumc.org/supervisory-areas to learn more.

A heartfelt thanks to: All who bring joy and order to worship each Sunday morning including ushers, communion stewards, musicians, counters, florists and youth ministry volunteers; to our committee members and laity who serve the church, to all who join us in worship in person or online, and to all who give, pray and serve!

ADDRESS UPDATE: The new address for Pastor Kendra Balliet after July 1, 2026 will be Revs. Kendra & John Balliet, PO Box 364, 309 S. Main St., Harrisville PA 16038.

Pastor

Rev. Kendra Balliet

pastor@stoneumc.org

814-299-9129 cell

Office Administrator

Jennifer Royer

churchoffice@stoneumc.org

Director of Music

Jim Ross

music@stoneumc.org

© 2026 All rights reserved.

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