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| This Week in PNEC --- February 15, 2018 - February 23, 2018 |
| TO CONTACT US OR TO REGISTER FOR EVENTS 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA18071; www.pnec.org website 610-826-3113; FAX 610-826-5464 Bonnie Bates bonnieb@pnec.org Gilberto Garcia Rodriguez gilbertor@pnec.org Barbara Jennings barbaraj@pnec.org Patty Rehrig pattyr@pnec.org IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO INCLUDE IN "THIS WEEK IN PNEC" PLEASE EMAIL IT TO pattyr@pnec.org |
 Once again our nation is shocked and saddened by violence. Our hearts are broken at the loss of life in Parkland Florida. I share with you this week the message from the Florida Conference Minister, Rev. John Vertigan. Hold the people of Parkland Florida and our nation in prayer this Lenten season. Hold the nation in your embrace this Lenten season. Pray for and act to be a voice of peace and hope and grace.
Thanks, Bonnie
Ash Wednesday Evening 2018
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin. (Psalm 51)
We are desperately in need of mercy. We are painfully in need of knowledge of God's unfailing love. We are a nation in need of forgiveness and the cleansing of our sin.
Today, on a day of repentance, Parkland, Florida experienced a shooting. A school shooting. A massacre. A national sin. Our hearts break at the news of the twelfth (12!) school shooting of 2018 and the loss of life the scope of which is still unfolding.
Our condolences go out to all involved, but our condolences are not enough. That said, the emptiness we feel in the face of this tragedy can easily cause us to shut down, to isolate ourselves, and to turn from the news in despair. I understand the emptiness because I feel it, too. And so, I pray, 'have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love,' and I strive to keep faith with a hurting people, a devastated community, and a nation in need of repentance at our lack of resolve to bring an end to the senseless gun violence that continues to scar the lives of so many young people and their families who start each school day with a hug they hope will be returned later that very same day.
The Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ is a member of the Florida Coalition for the Prevention of Gun Violence and today proves that membership is not enough. Activism and advocacy are essential. It's past time for the Church to act. It's past time to stand up to the gun lobbies and to advocate for Jesus' way of peace that just can't imagine how sisters and brothers or a nation can dwell together in unity while doing nothing to train our common spirit in the ways of justice, while doing nothing to mitigate the availability of weapons that enable such rampant violence, while doing nothing to stand in the public square and shout with a prophet's heart that our prayers are not adequate and our faith demands more. We cannot pray "How long, O God, how long!?" and stand by doing nothing in the face of evil.
Pastors, find your people today and console them. People, find your pastors today and ask them to lead with you in a movement to end violence in our communities. Remember especially the people of Parkland, Florida whose anguish cries out and whose pain demands justice. Help build communities where this doesn't happen. Use your own compassion and power to heal this national sin. And, yes, continue to pray.
Be at peace and be in touch, won't you... John Vertigan, Florida Conference Minister
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ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING -- MARCH 18, 2018
ST. PETER'S UCC - SEEMSVILLE, 8142 VALLEY VIEW ROAD, NORTHAMPTON, PA
610-837-7426
Training given by Master Trooper Marc Allen of the Pennsylvania State Police, Troop M, Bethlehem Barracks.
Program being used is called ALICE: Alert - Lockdown - Inform - Counter - Escape
All are welcome to join us for this FREE training. A pot luck luncheon will be held following the training. If you would like to bring a covered dish please feel free to do so. Please RSVP by March 14, by calling the church at 610-837-7426 or you may contact June Arnold at 610-262-5181. Class will start following the service at 11:15 sharp, and will be held in the sanctuary.
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ACT Now: Unite to End Racism!
The National Council of Churches is sponsoring a rally and a call to action on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Multiple denominations, including the United Church of Christ, are sponsoring this event and participation in it.
ACT Now to:
-Awaken to the truth that racism is evil and hurts us all
-Confront racism through truth-telling and action to right the wrong
-Transform the hearts, minds, and behaviors of people and institutions
ACT Now: Unite to End Racism in the areas of church life and practices, criminal, economic and social justice, civil and human rights, environmental justice, immigration, media, and education.
Join in the clarion call to heal the soul of the nation as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr. King's assassination. Let's finish the work!
Where: At sites across Washington, DC, including the Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall
When: April 3-5, 2018
- Tuesday evening, April 3: Service of Worship in the Orthodox Tradition
- Wednesday, April 4: Rally on the National Mall, 7:00am to 4:00pm
- Thursday, April 5: a Day of Action in the Nation's Capital
We in PNEC are considering renting a van or bus for people who are interested in traveling to Washington DC on Tuesday arriving in time for the worship service and returning back to PNEC on Wednesday evening. Costs will depend on the number of participants attending. Hotels in the area run between $160 and $250 per night. We will evenly split the costs of the van or bus.
If you are interested in joining us, please indicate your interest by e-mailing Barbara Jennings at
barbaraj@pnec.org
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2018 Boundaries Workshops
"Essential Boundaries for Wise Leaders"
The Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod Essential Boundaries for Wise Leaders training program is designed to enrich both our opportunity and responsibility as leaders for Christ's church.
2018 Workshops will be held:
Tuesday, May 22 - Bern Lutheran, Leesport
Wednesday, May 23 - Faith Evang. Lutheran, Whitehall
Tuesday, October 23 - St. Paul's Lutheran, Dallas
Wednesday, October 24 - Christ Hamilton United,
Stroudsburg
God's Blessings,
Mary
Rev. Mary W. Gade, Associate of the Bishop
Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod/ELCA
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| Call to the 56th Annual Meeting  of the Penn Northeast Conference Saturday, April 14, 2018 8AM to 4PM at Union UCC, 5550 Route 873, Neffs Theme: Exploration! Workshop Leader: Rev. Michael Piazza, Spiritual Visionary, Author, Social Justice Advocate, Currently serving as Pastor of Middle Collegiate Church, NYC Guest Preacher: Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates, Conference Minister, PNEC Download a Registration form here Also available for download from www.pnec.org |
 Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry
is proud to announce its
Church Leadership class
(formerly Church Administration)
to be offered March 10, 2018 from 9am to 4pm at First UCC in Schuylkill Haven.
While this class is an Advanced Level class for those seeking Licensed Ministry preparation, it is also a wonderful refresher for seasoned Clergy or laity leadership who are looking for new ways to beef up their administrative and leadership skills. Click for the registration form or you can go to our website to register and pay online. We hope to see you at this educational opportunity that is provided for all our churches.
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Crossroads Spring Courses...
include Mapping the Route (Theology) with the Rev. Dr. Bill Falla on Monday nights beginning Mar 12 and Traditions (Denominations and World Religions) with the Rev. Dr. Walter Wagner on Thursday nights beginning Mar 8. All courses are held at Moravian Seminary, Bethlehem PA. Exact dates, course descriptions and registration info is at
www.moravianseminary.edu/crossroads or contact Jill Peters at
jpeters@moravian.edu.
Crossroads Info Session is on Sat Feb 17 at 10 am at Moravian Seminary, 60 W. Locust Street, Bethlehem. Come and find out if lay leadership education is for you and bring your questions. Crossroads participants are making a big difference in their congregations and their communities. Contact
Jill Peters at
jpeters@moravian.edu for more information.
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 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN...
Eastern Regional Youth Event
The Eastern Regional Youth Event website has been updated to include the band information and the workshops that will be available and what a variety of workshops there are! PNEC has formed a team to help you with any questions you may have. We have been working on any details for the churches in our conference. Have you received an email from the team? If not, please contact Marge Baltz (marjoriebaltz@yahoo.com). We will continue to give updates as they are available!
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On-line Polity Classes
geared towards Ministerial Authorization
2.
New York Conference: contact Conference Minister Rev. David Gaewski at
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Phoebe Wyncote to Hold Organ Rededication
and Concert
Phoebe Wyncote, 208 Fernbrook Avenue, will hold an organ rededication service and concert at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 4, 2018. The event will celebrate the history of the organ and its organists. It will feature The Rev. Dr. Scott Brooks Cope, Director of Pastoral Care for Phoebe Ministries and his son, Taylor Cope, as well as Collin O'Malley, an organist studying at West Chester University, and Bob Masenheimer, conductor of the Phoebe Berks Choraleers.
The concert is free and open to the public and will be followed by light refreshments and fellowship.
Space is limited and an RSVP is required to attend. Seat reservations should be made by Tuesday, February 27 by calling 215-461-2103 or emailing jasmith@phoebe.org
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FINAL CHANCE... GET THOSE REGISTRATIONS IN if you have any youth interested Penn Northeast Conference Presents .... 13th Annual Youth Retreat all youth in grades 7th - 12th are invited! May 4 - 6, 2018 Check-in Friday 6:30-7:00......Pick-up Sunday Noon Spruce Lake, 5389 Route 447, Canadensis $130/person (includes meals Saturday & Sunday breakfast) DEADLINE is NOW!!! We must have all registrations and $50 non-refundable deposit per person. Click for REGISTRATION FLYER |
Disaster Ministries Update
Just a little reminder that all churches are to drop off Church World Service kits (clean-up buckets, hygiene kits, and school kits) to the PNEC office in Palmerton. Having everything dropped off at the Conference office is more convenient for the people who will be delivering to Maryland.
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March 2 - The Opiod Crisis as a Public Health Issue Dr. Chrysan Cronin, Director, Public Health Program April 6 - To BE Announced - watch for further details at http://www.ijcu.org May 11 - Getting the "Other" Right: the Challenges of Doing History Professor Robert Weiner, Jones Professor of History, Lafayette College *Please Note - Location is Seegers Union 108-110 |
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REGISTRATION OPEN
19th Global Youth Justice Training
World's Most Replicated Juvenile Justice Program
TEEN/YOUTH/STUDENT/PEER COURT and PEER JURY
Historic Provincetown in Cape Cod, USA
Tuesday to Thursday -- June 12-14, 2018
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Grief and the Quest for Meaning
Friday, February 23, 2018 * 9:00am-4:30pm
Politics of Religion- Native Spirituality & Christian Practice
Friday, March 9, 2018 * 9:00am-Noon
For details and how to register click URL below
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Polity Curriculum for Local Churches
MESA recently released a new UCC Polity Curriculum designed for local congregations: new member classes, confirmation classes, COM orientations, and congregations considering joining the UCC. The materials can be found online at:
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Pennsylvania lay leader creates traveling road show around UCC's 3 Great Loves...A lay leader of the UCC Penn Northeast Conference is on a spiritual journey, spending his Sundays with several different congregations, and spreading the word about the
3 Great Loves (3GL) initiative.
Click to see full article
3 Great Loves Wants to Come to
Your Congregation
The 3 Great Loves is the denomination's opportunity to express how our Love of Neighbor, Love of Children, and Love of Creation work together to address the inequities in our current world. To move this initiative forward in the Penn Northeast Conference, we have recruited Gary Barraco from Forks UCC to be our '3 Great Loves Ambassador'. Gary has been working with the National representative and Regional Ambassador to prepare our Conference to learn more about the 3 Great Loves program. Gary and others want to come to your church and deliver the Sunday morning message or present to a large group. He has put together a full liturgy for a worship serve, including suggested hymns, so we can come in with a pre-packaged service. To learn more, contact Gary at
garybarraco@verizon.net
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Transforming U.S. Policy Toward a Just Middle East Washington, D.C. | June 17 - 19, 2018
The Summit will highlight women peacemakers from the Middle East. Men and women are invited to hear from speakers who are all women! For full article, please
click here
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 Christian Pilgrims Tour September 20-28, 2018 England, Netherlands & Boston for a flyer with full details, please click here |
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 IN SEARCH OF...
For the complete list of churches who are searching for organists, choir directors sextons, pianist, etc., etc., and also churches who are giving away items, please CLICK HERE |
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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.)
FOR THE COMPLETE LISTING of
"What's Happening in Our Churches"
CLICK HERE |
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for a time of collegiality, spiritual renewal and education for authorized ministries and members in discernment. 
Celebrate with the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ as we welcome our newest Open and Affirming (ONA) congregation: St. John's United Church of Christ, Fullerton; Whitehall, PA. The ONA church number indicates the position of this church in the chronology of all ONA churches listed since 1985.
