This Week in PNEC --- December 1, 2016 - December 9, 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

PNEC's 2016 Closing Date will be Friday January 13, 2017

Please plan your closing so that your final 2016 remittance will be received in the Conference Office by Friday, January 13, 2017.  Receipts received after the 13th will be credited to 2017.  Do not include 2016 remittances with 2017 and make certain remittance slips are marked for either the year 2016 or 2017.  Thank you for your cooperation and support.
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
PNEC-UCC Penn Northeast Conference will be hosting a
Pre-Retirement Seminar sponsored by The Pension Boards United Church of Christ on
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
at Jordan United Church of Christ
1837 Church Road, Allentown.
Registration and additional information will be mailed by The Pension Boards approx. two months before the event.
 
The PNEC will host a day of
Education with Martha Spong
February 14th with a snow date of February 21 St. John's Fullerton
9:00AM to 3:00PM
     "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.
 
ONLINE UCC History, Theology and Polity Course
Winter 2017
     A UCC History, Theology and Polity Course that meets the requirements as set forth by the UCC Polity Teacher's Network will be offered online during January 2017. Classes will begin at 9:00am and end at 4:00pm on the following dates: January 7, 21, 28 and February 4. The platform utilized will be Zoom Video Conferencing (zoom.us) The tuition will be $465. For more information contact the instructor, Reverend David Gaewski, NY Conference Minister, at  davidgaewski@uccny.org
     This polity course is sponsored by the Oneida Association of the New York Conference. Payments should be sent no later than December 20th to: Diana Pelletier, 114 Munro Dr., Camillus, NY 13031. Make checks payable to Oneida Association UCC.
     A syllabus is available upon request.  Laity, Members in Discernment and Privilege of Call candidates are all invited!   Class size is limited to the first twelve to register.  The course will be cancelled if we do not obtain seven registered students. A student is considered registered when full payment has been received. Students who cancel enrollment will receive reimbursements up until January 6.
 
Greetings from the Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry;
On December 10, 2016 from 9am to 4pm at First UCC in Schuylkill Haven, the PA Academy of Ministry will be conducting its BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION (Advanced) CLASS for Licensed Ministry Students, current Authorized Ministers and laity that want to expand their understanding of the Bible.  This is a great refresher for current ministers and is the PRE-REQUISITE class for the upcoming Preaching series in February and April.  Click Here for the registration form or you can go to our website ( www.paacademyofministry.org) and register online.  All necessary documents for the class can be found on the student page of our website.
     Our instructor for the class is Erika Fitz who holds an M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary in New York and a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible from Emory University.
 
Children's Sermon for
         for Dec.4 (can be used for Isaiah 11 reading or Matthew 3 reading.)  Items  Needed: claw hammer concealed in some kind of bag. (Optional extras: some item you can take apart, using the claw end of hammer, and nail and 2 pieces of wood you can hammer together.) Tell kids you have a Christmas decoration in this bag and ask them to guess what it is.  After they make some guesses you show them the Christmas decoration--a hammer!  How is a hammer a Christmas decoration--a hammer is like why Jesus was born.  A hammer can be used to take things apart (optional-demonstrate by using claw to take something apart) and a hammer can also be used to put things together (optional-demonstrate.)   Today's Bible reading (Isaiah or Matthew) talks about how Jesus comes to take some things apart--things like hate and greed  and  unfairness--so the He can build some new things, things like kindness and mercy and ALL people being treated fairly.  So a hammer makes a good Christmas decoration because it reminds us that Jesus comes to take apart evil so He can build good. 
- Rev. David Quinn
 
announcement ANNOUNCEMENTS &
CLERGY CONNECTIONS
 
Rev. Tom Morris  is retiring.  His last Sunday at St. John's UCC, St. Johns, was November 13, 2016.  

Congratulations to Dave and Becky (Knappenberger) Orth on the birth of their daughter, Lily Marie. Lily was born on November 17th. She was 8 pounds, 4 ounces and 21 ΒΌ inches long. Lily's grandfather is retired PNEC pastor, Jim Knappenberger

David Quinn started as the interim visitation pastor at St. John's UCC, Fullerton, Whitehall, on November 16, 2016.  Dave also serves as the part-time pastor of St. John's UCC, Palmerton.
 
Longswamp UCC, Mertztown is pleased to announce the hiring of Rebecca A. Swoyer as the Director of Longswamp Learning Center.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Service of Interest...
January 8 - 3:00PM - INSTALLATION - Licensed Minister, Henry Distler will be installed as full-time pastor at St. John's UCC, Slatington
January 15 -3:00PM - INSTALLATION - Licensed Minister Jim Stanley will be installed at St. John's UCC (Hobbie), Wapwallopen
January 22 - 11:00AM - INSTALLATION - Rev. John Heeckt will be installed as pastor at St. John's UCC (Farmersville), Easton
 
calendar
UPCOMING DATES            

DECEMBER

1- 1130AM-1:00PM - Southwest AMC Clergy Christmas Luncheon - Alburtis Tavern, 106 S. Main St., Alburtis
6 - Easton AMC Clergy
8 - (Thursday) - 6PM - PNEC Board of Directors - Conf. Office
12 - 10AM - Licensing/Commissioning Member in Discernment Committee - Conf. Office
13 - 9-11:30AM - Joint Conflict Resource Team - NEPS Office
14 - 12 Noon - Allentown AMC Clergy
20 - 9:30AM - Licensed/Commissioned Ministry Committee
20 - 11:45AM - Blue Mountain AMC Clergy - Villa Lentini Ristorante, Ballietsville
21 - 9AM - Ordained Church & Ministry Committee - Conf. Office
23 - PNEC OFFICE CLOSED - Christmas Holiday
 
      FOR THE COMPLETE LIST OF "Upcoming Dates"
A Note About Acknowledging Contributions...
bargraph-money.jpg      For itemized charitable contributions, the IRS and the courts have been enforcing the donor substantiation requirements. The receiving organization (churches for example) must provide the donor with a timely written acknowledgement for any contributions which exceed $250 for the calendar year. The written acknowledgement must be provided to the donor at the end of each calendar year and before the tax filing deadline. The letter must contain specific language identifying whether any tangible goods or services were provided to the donor for the contribution(s). Further, it is suggested that the written acknowledgement will be helpful to your parishioners even for contributions which fall below the requirement.
     Below is an example of a written acknowledgement from a church to its contributor.
 
   To the Parishioner:
     XXX UCC thanks you sincerely for your generous support of $$$ to the ministry of the church. Your gifts help us provide the message of Christ's kingdom throughout our community. No tangible goods or services were given in exchange for these contributions.
     This acknowledgement reflects your total charitable contributions to XXX UCC during the 20YY calendar year. A copy of your annual giving statement is included detailing your gifts. This letter should be retained for your tax files.
 
Yours in Christ,
XXX UCC
 

Save The Dates...       

 

Boundary Training Workshops

October 4, 2017

8:30AM Registration

9:00AM to 3:00PM Workshop

St. John's UCC, 183 S. Broad St., Nazareth

Host Pastor:  Rev. Jeff Brinks

AND       

October 5, 2017

8:30AM Registration

9:00Am to 3:00PM Workshop

Faith UCC, 21 Faith Drive, Hazleton

Host Pastor:  Rev. Jane Hess

 

More information will be announced at a later date.
 

23rd Annual Clergy Convocation

May 2-4, 2017

Double Tree by Hilton

2400 Willow Street Pike, Lancaster, PA  17602 

Guest Speaker

Rev. John C. Dorhauer

General Minister & President of the United Church of Christ 

For full flyer and registration information

CLICK HERE
 
Jewish Institute
FIRST FRIDAY
Luncheon Discussion
December 2 @ 12:00-1:00pm
From Immigrants to Settlers:  The Muslim Community of the Lehigh Valley Over Four Decades
Mohamad Rajmohamad.  Member of the Al Ahad Islamic Center and Adj. Professor, Religious Studies, Cedar Crest College
Seegers Union, Rooms 111 & 112 (Muhlenberg College)
 ~Free and open to the public~
(Bring your lunch or buy lunch at Seegers Union)
 
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.  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
 
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
 
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