Week-long Programs and Services on 'God's Square Mile at the Jersey Shore'

Sunday, July 29 - Sunday, August 5, 2018

Contact: David Lotz, OGCMA, 609-203-2342, lotzflash@gmail.com

OCEAN GROVE, New Jersey, July 26, 2018 /Christian Newswire/ -- Celebrating its 149th season, OGCMA will host a cherished and anticipated tradition of every summer: the Annual Camp Meeting Week: Sunday, July 29th – Sunday, August 5th. This event offers sun-up to sun-down opportunities for spiritual growth. The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association is located in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. Camp Meeting Week activities are free and open to the public; all venues are handicapped-accessible. For more information, call 732-775-0035 or visit www.oceangrove.org.

When OGCMA was founded in 1869, the Camp Meeting Movement (camp grounds to which Christians came from miles around to hear a series of traveling ministers) was in full swing from coast to coast – especially in rural areas and around small towns that didn't have a formal church, resident minister, and the support of a spiritual community. Ocean Grove has blossomed since its humble beginnings and is now the longest-active site of its kind in the U.S. "Today we stand on that same shore to celebrate our wonderful heritage and commit ourselves to continuing the founders' vision," says OGCMA President Michael J. Badger.

There are many opportunities for worship during Camp Meeting Week. Bible Hour is held at 9:00 a.m. daily at The Tabernacle, with periodic services throughout the week at the Beach Pavilion, Thornley Chapel, Youth Temple, and The Great Auditorium. For a complete schedule, visit www.oceangrove.org.
 
Camp Meeting Week Highlights Include:

Sunday, July 29 – Founders Day Worship Service
Rev. Dr. Thomas Tewell will preach at 10:30 a.m. (Boardwalk Pavilion) and 7:00 p.m. (Great Auditorium)
 
Monday, July 30 – Sunday, August 4
Dr. Chris Bounds will preach at 9:00 a.m. (Bishop Janes Tabernacle). At 8:00 p.m., the Ocean Grove Summer Band will perform Hymns of the Faith on the Boardwalk Pavilion.

Sunday, August 5
UMC Bishop Peter Weaver will offer communion worship at 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. in the Great Auditorium.

About Camp Week's Participating Faith Leaders
 
Rev. Dr. Thomas Tewell has been an ordained pastor for 40 years and has served congregations in Bethlehem PA and New Providence NJ, as well as the 5,100 member Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston, TX and the 3,500 member Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. Currently, he is the Founder and Executive Director of Macedonian Ministry, a position he has held since 2008. This ministry gives Dr. Tewell the privilege of serving as a pastor to pastors.

Dr. Chris Bounds is Professor of Theology and Scholar in Residence at Asbury University in Wilmore, KY. Bounds has published widely on the doctrine of Christian perfection in the early church fathers, in the Reformation, in the 18th-century Methodist revival and in the 19th-century American Holiness movement. Most recently, he published on article in the Wesleyan Theological Journal titled "Tertullian's Doctrine of Christian Perfection in Its Theological Context."

Bishop Peter D. Weaver was born into a parsonage family in Greenville, PA. Following his education at W. VA Wesleyan (BA), Drew University (MDiv) and Boston University (ThD), he served United Methodist Churches in Pittsburgh, PA for 25 years, focusing on "Making Disciples of Christ" through ministries with youth, young adults, seniors, the homeless, workers and executives with his weekly radio broadcasts. He was a founder of "Bethlehem Haven" for homeless women and "One Voice Against Racism." In 1996 he was elected Bishop and served in the Philadelphia and Boston areas. During this time he served a term as President of the global Council of Bishops of the UMC and served on many community, church and ecumenical boards. He has been engaged in mission and preaching on five continents and has taught in four seminaries. From 2012-2016, Bishop Weaver served in Washington, DC as Executive Secretary of the UM Council of Bishops and now serves as Bishop-in-Residence at Drew University Theological School.