This Week in PNEC

This Week in PNEC --- September 8, 2016 - September 16, 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 alanm@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

2017 Annual Meeting of the Penn Northeast Conference will be

Saturday, April 29, 2017, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. -

St. John's UCC, 1415 Rising Sun Road, Laurys Station, PA

FINAL REMINDER...

For those pastors who have not yet returned their

Periodic Support Consultation Questionnaire...

please do so ASAP. If we do not receive your forms, you will be called by a member of the Ordained Church & Ministry Committee to set up an interview.

Thank you!

IMPORTANT NOTICE

The 2017 Compensation Guidelines are now available for viewing and downloading on the PNEC website at www.pnec.org

MINISTRY DAY

Monday, October 17, 2016

9AM - 4PM

(Registration Begins at 8:30AM)

St. John's UCC (Fullerton)

575 Grape St., Whitehall

TOPIC:

Conversations with

Rev. John C. Dorhauer,

General Minister and President of

the United Church of Christ

Free Will Offering will be taken for lunch

Please email or call Patty Rehrig at the PNEC Conference Office pattyr@pnec.org 610-826-3113

to make your reservation

We have extended an invitation to the pastors in the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference

Please get your reservations in early!

PNEC Sleep Out For Homelessness

at St. John's UCC, Fullerton

575 Grape Street, Whitehall

FOR 7th THROUGH 12th GRADE

Saturday, Sep 17 at 6pm to

Sunday, Sep 18 at 9am

The idea:

- To be the eyes, hands, and heart of Jesus in our community and the world.

- To spend a night learning about what it might be like to be homeless.

- To raise money for VALLEY YOUTH HOUSE which helps abandoned, abused and homeless youth.

Click Here for more Information and Registration

Lay Ministry of the 21st

Century has changed its name to PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMY OF MINISTRY (PAM)

to better reflect our educational mission. We are currently in the throes of launching a brand new website with our class schedule, a listing of new class offerings to churches and associations, ONLINE registration for all classes and ONLINE payment, as well as our LIVE BROADCAST and recorded classes for a more flexible attendance.

Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry's new curriculum with brand new GOALS & OBJECTIVES that are matched to the MARKS OF EFFECTIVE MINISTRY can now be fulfilled within a 2 ½ year fast-track option or a 4 year regular rotation. All classes are held at First UCC in Schuylkill Haven with a new pre & post class assignment format.

PAM is a Pennsylvania Southeast, Penn Central and Penn Northeast conference sponsored training program designed to provide an educational foundation for our laity, our churches and our licensed/commissioned ministry programs aimed at helping our congregations thrive as the body of Christ.

Please visit our website and check out the new classes and registration and for more information please call Rev. Steve Hummel, Program Director or email paacademyofministry@gmail.com

UPCOMING CLASSES:

UCC History and Polity-Sept. 7, Oct. 8, & Nov. 19th

Stewardship-Oct. 15th

Biblical Interpretation Dec. 10th

The Chautauqua United Church of Christ Society is seeking nine UCC clergy to serve as Chaplain of the Week during the summer of 2017. Each chaplain serves during one week, Saturday through Saturday, during the regular Chautauqua summer season. For information about schedules and themes, please see www.ciweb.org. As Chaplain of the Week, you are espected to preach and lead worship on Sunday at the denominational service, briefly share your story during a social hour, lead an evening vesper service and participate in community life with our guests. You will receive housing, two gate passes, and a parking pass. Applications are available on our website at www.cuccs.org. The application deadline this year is November 30.

Children's Sermon for

for Sept. 11(based on Luke 15:1-10.) Theme: Jesus is a "dumpster diver." Materials needed: wastebasket; some paper bags; dollar bills (to put in each bag.) Beforehand, put a dollar bill in each of the paper bags, then wad up each bag, and throw them in the wastebasket. Ask kids what you have--a wastebasket. Then show them the inside--what do they see?--trash. Then talk about how some people are seen as trash, because they are "bad," or "weird." Maybe they know some kids who are seen as trash by others; maybe they themselves are seen as trash. But Jesus doesn't see anybody as trash! (Reach in and take out one of the wadded- up paper bags. Open up the bag and take out the dollar bill.) See, what looked like trash actually has something valuable inside. This is how Jesus sees us. Even the "trash people," the ones who are seen by other people as bad or weird, Jesus knows they each have something valuable inside. Then give each kid one of the wadded-up paper bags from the wastebasket and ask them to look inside--they get the dollar bill. Tell them to take the bag, and the dollar, to remind them that everybody, even the "trash kids," are seen as valuable by Jesus. (Optional extra credit: Get a cross, a piece of paper with RASH on it, and use the cross as the letter "t" to show that Jesus went to the cross for us trash people.)

- Rev. David Quinn

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS & CLERGY CONNECTIONS

Rev. Scott Brooks-Cope had his left knee replaced on Friday Sept 2. Scott is the Director of Pastoral Care at Phoebe Ministries.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Services of Interest...

October 23 - 3:00PM- INSTALLATION - Sharon Frye - Salem UCC, 330 First St., Weatherly

November 6 - Time TBA - INSTALLATION - Rev. Teresa Martin - St. John's UCC, 538 E. Thomas St., Coopersburg

UPCOMING DATES

SEPTEMBER

12 - 10AM - Licensing/Commissioning Member in Discernment Committee - Conf. Office

14 - 6PM (Supper) - Annual Meeting Planning Committee - Conference Office

15 - DEADLINE for YEA Fund Applications

15 - 12Noon - PNEC/PSEC Pastors of Large Steeple Churches - Spinnerstown Hotel

17-18 - PNEC SleepOut for Homelessness - St. John's UCC (Fullerton), Whitehall

20 - 9:30AM - Licensed/Commissioned Ministry Committee

21 - 9AM - Ordained Church & Ministry Committee - Conference Office

23-25 - Women's Retreat - Trout Lake

27 - 9:30AM - Ordaining MID Committee - Conference Office

- 9-11:30AM - Joint Conflict Resource Team - PNEC Office

FOR THE COMPLETE LIST OF "Upcoming Dates"

Click Here

Invites YOU to the Inaugural Chaplaincy Lectures ALIVE INSIDE: A STORY OF MUSIC & MEMORY with Dan Cohen

September 22, 2016 - 9AM to Noon

addressing topics of interest to chaplains in various settings such as hospitals, colleges, continuing care communities & prisons as well as those in local church and other ministry settings.

For registration and more information please go to

https://secure.moravian.edu/sem/continuingEd/registration.asp

ALSO

Learn About Our Graduate Programs

October 1 * November 5

10AM to 12 Noon

Click Here to Register OnLine

IF YOU ARE A LICENSING/COMMISSIONING MID (Member in Discernment)

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

November 19, 2016 - 9AM to 3PM - Licensing/Commissioning MID Day - Place TBA

The Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry (formerly Lay Ministry of the 21st Century) is beginning its NEW curriculum with ALL classes being held at First UCC in Schuylkill Haven on specified Saturdays below from 9am to 4pm with each class being LIVE-STREAMED and recorded. We begin our Fall curriculum with:

CARE GIVING

Part of Christian discipleship, both within and outside the church, revolves around sharing Christ's care with others. This session will consider ways to develop listening skills, visitation guidelines, and compassionate presence .

and THEN

a 3 Session Series

September 17, October 8, and November 19, 2016

UCC HISTORY AND POLITY

"Who are we? Where did we come from? What do we value? How do we work together?

Participants in this class will not only journey through the founding and history of the United Church of Christ, but will develop an understanding of how we live in covenant together, from the local church to Associations and Conferences to General Synod."

and on October 15, 2016

STEWARDSHIP

As God's stewards, we are called to make use of all God's gifts for the growth of God's reign on earth. How do we deepen our own sense of stewardship and encourage good stewardship practices within our churches?

VISIT OUR WEBSITE for registration information (that is under construction) BUT CONTINUING AT www.lm21c.com.

Save the Date...

PNEC Annual Youth Retreat

May 19-21, 2017

Spruce Lake

More information will be forthcoming!

Phoebe - Berks

Assistant Chaplain

Part Time

Phoebe Berks, a premier Continuing Care Community providing skilled nursing, personal care and independent living for older adults is seeking a part time, 24 hrs. per week, Assistant Chaplain to support the spiritual needs of our residents, family members and staff at our Wernersville campus. Responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to conducting a variety of religious activities, volunteer development and community networking. This candidate will provide support for CPE intern chaplains and field education students as well as resident care and counseling as part of the healing team. Pr eferred candidate will enjoy serving a diverse population with varied spiritual backgrounds and beliefs. Candidate will possess Master of Divinity or related degree, two units of CPE and ordination in United Church of Christ or partner denomination. Preferred eligible for certification by Association of Professional Chaplains or moving toward this goal. Please apply

on-line at phoebe.org/careers or forward resume to:

Rhonda Wade, Human Resources

Phoebe Berks, 1 Reading Drive

Wernersville, PA 19565

Fax - 610.927.8400; rwade@phoebe.org

EOE

"WE ARE ONE".... CELEBRATING OUR COMMON HUMANITY

Learning to dialogue for understanding

As our world becomes more contentious and divided, we hope to help people conquer fears of "otherness" by gaining knowledge of others and forging relationships by asking about and sharing issues of concern with serious respect for each person.

Participants are invited to learn and use the tools of dialogue to open ongoing communication throughout our faith and cultural communities. An important part of this dialogue series will be exploring social identities.

We are committed to teaching and learning listening skills that will further respect for the American value of freedom of expression while coming to understand that historical experiences matter... to all people.

Please join us for four initial sessions September 22, October 27, November 17 and December 15, 2016 for the first series of "We Are One" Community Dialogues. Sessions will be held at Muhlenberg College, 6:45 - 8:30 p.m.

RSVP: Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding

at Muhlenberg College, 484-664-3292

There is no cost, but pre-registration is required. Space is limited.