This Week in PNEC --- July 7, 2016 - July 15,  2016 

TO CONTACT US OR TO REGISTER FOR EVENTS

431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA18071; www.pnec.org website

610-826-3113; FAX 610-826-5464

Alan Miller    [email protected]                            Gilberto Garcia Rodriguez   [email protected]   

Barbara Jennings   [email protected]             Patty Rehrig     [email protected]

 

IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO INCLUDE IN "THIS WEEK IN PNEC" PLEASE EMAIL IT TO   [email protected]
               
2017 Annual Meeting of the Penn Northeast Conference will be
Saturday, April 29, 2017, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  - Place TBA.
The UCC is offering assistance to
West Virginia flood victims

     United Church of Christ Disaster Ministries is looking for assistance to help the people in West Virginia recover from historic floods. Thousands are facing a prolonged cleanup effort following deadly and devastating storms that swamped much of the state last week, and the UCC will be there to help long-term.
     "We will be working closely with the Ohio Conference, West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) and other organizations to help coordinate and support the long-term recovery efforts, and will need funds and volunteers to support that work in upcoming months," said Zach Wolgemuth, UCC Disaster Ministries executive.
     Thousands have been left homeless due to the widespread floodwaters, dumped by a series of storms on Thursday, June 23. Twenty-three people have died in the disaster, the nation's highest death toll from flash floods since May 2010, when 27 people died in Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi.
     The UCC Ohio Conference is already delivering 600 cleanup kits and 300 hygiene kits to the area, and has requested additional kits from Church World Service. Wolgemuth stresses that while the UCC is not engaged in the actual clean-up work, Disaster Ministries stands ready to provide funding to fill unmet needs and gaps in services.
     "While UCC Disaster Ministries focus is on long-term recovery, we keep a close eye on early response work and provide financial support to groups and organizations experiencing gaps," Wolgemuth said.
     Torrential downpours, which brought as much as 10 inches of rain, wiped out entire areas of the West Virginia countryside, sweeping away homes and flooding structures, washing away roads and cutting off power to thousands. The National Weather Service called it a '1-in-1,000 year event,' and President Obama has declared the state a disaster area.
     Financial assistance should be sent to Penn Northeast Conference, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA  18071 - clearly marked for West Virginia Flood.  
     Future opportunities to volunteer can be found on the Disaster Ministries Website:    http://www.ucc.org/disaster_disaster-volunteers

 
Children's Sermons  
 
One of our pastors, the Rev. David Quinn enjoys writing Children's Sermons.  All of his children's messages are creative and lectionary based.  He has volunteered to share his messages with you for your use.
 
Due to vacation times, we were unable to get his first message in "This Week in PNEC," however we are sending it along anyway.  As we receive messages from David, we will include them in that week's issue of "This Week in PNEC."
 
Children's Sermon for July 3    (Based on Luke 10:1-11,  16-20)  Theme:   The Kingdom of God is where and when each person is shown the dignity they have as one of God's creations.    Materials Needed:   Ten One-dollar bills.  Some green paper.  Beforehand, use the green paper to block out the big letters,   NE, on the reverse side  of four of the dollar bills.   Then mix them in with the others, making sure one of the regular bills is on top.  Start by showing a regular bill (the Washington's face side) to kids and asking what it is.   Explain the one way to know that this is a one-dollar bill is by turning it over to see ONE, the word "one" on the back.  Then start going through the bills, showing kids the reverse side of each.  When you come to a bill that has the letters "NE" covered over, say:   "Oh look, here is a ZERO here.  This one is worth zero!"  After you've gone through them, pull out one of the "zero bills" and ask, "Is this REALLY worth zero?"  (Hopefully, they say "no.")   Whatever they say, you can say it's still worth One dollar because that's what it is made to be.    Then explain to kids, using one of the "zero bills" that sometimes people get treated like zeros, because they're poor, or their skin is brown, or for other reasons.   But God makes each person to be a ONE, and to have their worth recognized as a ONE.  In today's Bible Reading, Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God.  God's Kingdom happens whenever we take somebody who's being treated like a zero, or who feels like a zero, and we treat them like a ONE (demonstrate by removing one of the green papers on a bill so  O goes back to ONE.   When we treat each person like a ONE, by showing them respect and kindness, we are doing  the work Jesus wants us to do, the work of God's Kingdom.     

Children's Sermon Idea for July 10   (Based on Luke 10:25-37)  Theme:  Faith means both loving God AND the people around us.  Items needed:  Chair, bag  containing a pair of shoes.     Tell kids you have decided to change your shoes.  Sit down in chair, take off your shoes, and take out of bag JUST ONE of the other pair.  Put on that one, stand up, and walk around a little.  Tell kids that it doesn't feel right.  Say that you'll try something different.   Sit down, take off that shoe, put it back in bag.  Take out other shoe, put on, get up and walk around a little. (Again, you're walking around with just one shoe on.)  Tell kids that this doesn't feel right, either.  Ask them what's the matter here.  Then sit down, put on both shoes from the bag and walk around a little.  "There, that feels right"  Explain you need to wear BOTH shoes at the same time because that's the way it's supposed to be.  In today's Bible reading,  Jesus says that faith is kind of like a pair of shoes---faith is loving both God AND the people around us. I need to do both, at the same time, for my faith to be right.         
 
What Makes Your   Sing?
 
Let's find out and let's do it together!
It's happening...the PNEC Women's Retreat and you are invited to be a part of it!    
Friday, September 23 - Sunday, September 25, 2016 at Trout Lake
 
(Click HERE for registration form for details) 
 
Please share this good news among
your sisters in faith.
 
-- The Planning Team
            Becky Beckwith, Jane Hess, Susan Kuder &
Barbara Jennings
 

MINISTRY DAY

Monday, October 17, 2016

 9AM - 3PM

(Registration Begins at 8:30AM)

St. John's UCC (Fullerton)

575 Grape St., Whitehall

Keynote Speaker:

Rev. John C. Dorhauer,

General Minister and President of

the United Church of Christ

 

Watch for Registration Information Coming Soon! 
 
                   2016 BOUNDARY TRAINING
This year the Lehigh Presbytery is sponsoring
the Boundary Training on the following date:
 
October 10  (deadline to register is September 30)
9AM to 3PM
Pennside Presbyterian Church, Reading
 
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CLERGY CONNECTIONS
 
Service of Interest... INSTALLATION - October 23 - 3:00PM- Sharon Frye - Salem UCC, 330 First St., Weatherly

Matt Gorkos is enrolled in a Doctor of Ministry program at Boston University called "Transformational Leadership."  It is three-year program which will require Matt to travel to Boston for a week twice a year, take a multitude of online courses and eventually complete a doctoral thesis.  Matt is the Associate Pastor at Trinity Great Swamp, Spinnerstown.

Condolences to the Family of Shirley Keen, 80, of Allentown, who died early Sunday morning, July 3, 2016, at Phoebe Home. She was the wife of the late Rev. Richard Keen, who died in 2008.  Rev. Keen served Trinity Stone Church UCC, Mt. Bethel and St. John's UCC, Nazareth.

Health Update...Both Lunnett Hilliard and Bruce Stevenson are home from the hospital and recuperating.  We are thankful to report that both are doing very well.

 
Opportunity for Outreach in Bethlehem
 
     During Musikfest some of the homeless are not fed in the Bethlehem area.  If your church is looking for an opportunity to do outreach in August, here's a great way to help!  Needed are 50 bagged lunches that can include non-perishable items.  Dates that are available to help are:  August 5, 6,7,9.10,11,12,13, and 14th.
     Please email Rev. Heather Kurtz at [email protected]  with the date you are available to take the bagged lunches to Christ Church UCC, located at 75 E. Market Street, Bethlehem.  The bagged lunches will be handed out at 12:00 Noon.  Please have your lunches delivered to the church at 11:45.  If you have any questions please contact Rev. Kurtz.  
 
Save the Dates... 
PNEC Sleep Out for Homelessness
St. John's UCC  (Fullerton)
Saturday, September 17-Sunday, September 18
More information will follow in a few weeks...
 
AND
 
PNEC Annual Youth Retreat
May 19-21, 2017
Spruce Lake
More information will be forthcoming!
 
     The PNEC will host a day of Education
with Martha Spong. Save the date on February 14th with a snow date of February 21st. We will gather at St. John's Fullerton from 9 a.m. until 3.
     Power and Place in Women's Stories" will take a deep and wondering look at the stories of the women who anoint Jesus, as well as where we figure in our own stories.
     Mark tells a story in the macro; the woman has revolutionary social courage, performing a political action with global implications. Why, then, in Luke, is her nature changed, her act reduced to subservience, her action's place in the gospel changed entirely? Here we learn what the powers do by misdirection. Then in John, written later, we find the story in the micro - a family story, still subversive, with the previously anonymous act carried out by a known quantity. And what of Matthew's villain?
     We will look, too, at our own lives and place ourselves in our stories.  Where have we been subversive? When have we needed courage? Who do we call villains? Why do we let others tell our stories for us?
     Martha Spong is the Executive Director of RevGalBlogPals and a pastor in the United Church of Christ. A writer and a clergy coach, she has served churches of various sizes and situations as both an interim and settled pastor. The editor of There's a Woman in the Pulpit: Christian Clergywomen Share Their Hard Days, Holy Moments and the Healing Power of Humor (SkyLight Paths, 2015), she is currently at work on a book telling her story of living faithfully with a chronic illness.
 
secretary
Dear Parish Secretaries,
Administrative Assistants, Business Managers, or Office Assistants:
 
You are cordially invited to join us this October 4 and 5 for the annual Parish Secretaries' Seminar, which will again be held at the Bird-in-Hand Family Inn, located in Bird-in-Hand, PA.
 
For a full explanation flyer and registration form,
 
IN SEARCH OF...

Friedens UCC, Slatington, is looking for an
Organist/Pianist (part-time and or full-time).  For more information, please contact Karlene Laub at 610-760-1170

Cedar UCC, Cetronia, is seeking a PT secretary. 
Days/hours are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9am to 3pm.   Responsibilities include: (1) receptionist, (2) preparing worship bulletins, (3) working with the Treasurer to maintain financial records, (4) maintain membership records and mailing lists, (5) prepare monthly newsletter, (6) prepare monthly meeting packets, (7) other office work as needed.   Submit resume to Pr. Schleicher, Cedar UCC, 3419 Broadway, Allentown, PA 18104; or
[email protected]  ; or 610-395-6332.

Church of the Goo d Shepherd UCC, 135 Quarry Road,
Alburtis, PA 18011, is seeking a Choir Director to accompany and lead our Senior Choir of 15 adults; 5 women & 10 men.  Contact the Rev. Scott M. Sanders at the church office: 610-966-2991 or Email: [email protected].
Ziegels Union Church, 9990 Ziegels Church Rd.,
Breinigsville, PA  18031 - Seeking Director of Music Ministries/Organist to serve as church choir director and organist. The part-time position includes playing at two weekly services Sundays at 8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m., direct weekly choir rehearsal, playing for special services and bell and chime choirs. Resumes may be submitted to Pat Elliot at [email protected] or mailed to the church office at the above address.  Additional information can be obtained by calling 610-285-6157.
ORGANIST or PIANIST NEEDED: St. Mark's UCC,
Allentown is in need of an organist for Sunday service and special services throughout the year. Approximately 90 minutes per service. Salary is negotiable. Please respond to [email protected] or mail to:  St. Mark's UCC, 52 East Susquehanna St., Allentown PA 18103;  Att: Consistory Elders
UCC, Greenawalds, 2325 Albright Ave., Allent own, PA
18104  is seeking a Director of Music Ministries to serve as church choir director, organist and/or pianist. This is a part-time position, to play for one worship service at 10:30 am on Sundays, direct weekly choir rehearsal, and play for special services. Pay is based on experience. Resumes may be submitted to Grant Field at [email protected] or mailed to the church office at the above address.  Additional information can be obtained by calling 610-395-0821
 
What's Happening in Our Churches
 
(PLEASE NOTE:  We love advertising the "happenings" in our churches, however the list is getting too long for this publication.)
 
Please  CLICK HERE for the complete listing of
"What's Happening in Our Churches"

 
 
UPCOMING DATES calendar

JULY
11 - 10AM - Licensing/Commissioning
Member in  Discernment Committee - Conf. Office
20 - 9AM - Ordained Church & Ministry
Committee - Conf.  Office
26 - 9-11:30AM - Joint Conflict Resource Team - PNEC
  Office
26-29 - National Youth Event (NYE) - Lake Buena Vista,
Florida

FOR THE COMPLETE LIST OF 'Upcoming Dates"