This Week in PNEC --- July 27, 2017 - August 4, 2017

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

 

UCC Insurance Board announces

Upcoming free Webinars for Churches 

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL DETAILS

 
The Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry...
is proud to announce the first of a four class series in Old & New Testament studies.  The first class, Old Testament 1 is schedule for August 12th from 9am to 4pm at First UCC on Route 61 in Schuylkill Haven. The Rev. Dr. Debra Winters of Palmer Theological Seminary will be teaching the series.  Old Testament II is scheduled for Oct 21st, New Testament I is Dec. 9th and New Testament II is on Jan. 13, 2018.  Our UCC History & Polity class normally scheduled for this Fall has been rescheduled for the Fall of 2018.  Please go to www.paacademyofministry.org to register online or print off the PDF registration form attached to this announcement. Reading assignments and pre-class writing assignments can be found on the 2nd page of the registration.  Deadline for registration is August 5th. These classes are excellent forms of continuing education for our Licensed Ministers or for laity interested in expanding their biblical knowledge.  We hope you will take advantage of this educational opportunity close to home.
Click Here for Flyer and Registration for August 12!
 
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 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
     Please email Rev. Heather Kurtz at revgraceucc@rcn.com  with the date you are available to take the bagged lunches to Christ Church UCC, located at 75 E. Market Street, Bethlehem. (There will be a sign on the door at Christ Church, Bethlehem instructing where to drop them off.)  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.  
 
 
Mark your calendars.....                           

PNEC MINISTRY DAY
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Faith UCC, Center Valley
9AM - 3PM
Guest Speaker:  Lee Barrett
Lee Barrett is the Mary B. and Henry P. Stager Professor of Theology at Lancaster Theological Seminary where he has taught since September 1993. Prior to this, Lee taught theology at the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia. He holds B.A., M.A., M.Div., and Ph.D. degrees from Yale University.
More info to follow...
 

PNEC SleepOut for Homelessness 2017

September 23 (6PM) -24 (8:30AM), 2017

St. John's UCC

1415 Rising Sun Rd., Laurys Station

for YOUTH in grades 7th through 12th

 ALL adult chaperones MUST complete the Safe Child Disclosure Form.  Those adults who are sleeping over must apply for and provide copies of PA Child Abuse and Criminal Background checks.

 

Please CLICK HERE for a flyer and also a registration form and sponsor form.

 

BAND CONCERT SERIES AT

PHOEBE ALLENTOWN

 
Phoebe Allentown, 1925 Turner St., Allentown, will hold a Band Concert Series in the band shell on the front lawn of their West Allentown campus. The events are free and open to the public. Attendees are asked to bring their own lawn chair or blanket. 
The 2017 schedule is as follows:
  Saturday, August 5 from 3 to 5PM - Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps
  Saturday, August 12 - at 2:30PM - Good News Traveling Band
  Wednesday, August 23 from 7 to 8PM  - Sock Hop with Robin and Jim Seip

      Wednesday, September 6 at 7PM - Royalaires Big Band 

 

The concert will be moved indoors in instances of inclement weather. For more information call 610-794-6601.

 
Children's Sermon
for July 30 (Based on Mt. 13:31-33, 44-52)  Items Needed: unsweetened chocolate; regular chocolate, some sugar in a clear container, wastebasket with plastic liner.  Keeping the two different kinds of chocolate slightly separated, show to kids and ask what it is.  If you have a child who is a good  sport, ask them to eat a piece of the unsweetened chocolate. If not do it, yourself.  After they've put it in their mouth and started chewing, offer to let them spit it out into the wastebasket.  Ask them how it tastes-yucky!  Then give them a piece of the regular chocolate and ask them to eat.  How does that taste--good!  Why does this (unsweetened)chocolate taste yucky and this (regular) chocolate taste yummy?   Here is why--hold up the sugar.  The yucky chocolate does not have sugar in it, the yummy chocolate does.  But when you look at the chocolate, you don't see the sugar that is in it.  In today's Bible reading, Jesus says that God's Spirit is kind of like the sugar in the chocolate: you may not be able to see it, but it makes a real difference.
- Rev. David Quinn
 
announcements ANNOUNCEMENTS
 & CLERGY CONNECTIONS
 
July 30 - 3PM - ORDINATION - Jameson Baxter - Grace UCC, 902 E. Lincoln Ave., Northampton.  Clergy should rest with red or rainbow stoles.
 
Installation - September 24 - 10:45AM - Rev. Kenneth Hess will be installed as pastor of Flicksville UCC, 1337 Lower South Main St., Bangor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jameson and Cecilia Baxter have accepted calls to serve as the Pastors of New Creation UCC in Easton. For the past three and a half years, Cecilia has served Christ UCC, Bethlehem. Her final Sunday leading worship there is August 20. The Baxters' first Sunday at New Creation UCC is September 3, 2017. Jameson will be ordained on Sunday, July 30, 3 p.m., at Grace UCC, 902 E. Lincoln Avenue, Northampton. It will be Alan's last official duty as PNEC's third Conference Minister.

While on vacation at the Jersey shore, Rev. Stacy Weaver was stricken ill and spent several days in intensive care.  He is now in rehab and hopes to return home by the end of the week.  Cards of get well may be sent to him at P.O. Box 183, Conyngham, PA 18219. Stacy is a retired PNEC pastor.

 
UPCOMING DATES  calendar
JULY
30 - 3PM - ORDINATION - Jameson Baxter - Grace UCC, 902 Lincoln Ave., Northampton. Clergy should vest with red or rainbow stoles
 
AUGUST
14 - 10AM - (sub-committee) of Licensing/Commissioning MID Committee - Conf. Office
16 - GEM Fund Applications due in Conference Office
22 - 9-11:30AM - Joint Conflict Resource Team - NE PA Synod
23 - 9:30AM - Faith Formers/Educators - City View Diner, Whitehall
30 - 4PM meeting starts - Board of Directors - (covered dish supper at 5:45PM at St. Matthew's UCC Grove, Kunkletown

                      FOR THE FULL LIST OF DATES...
Crossroads Lay Leadership Program
CROSSROADS
 
On Saturday, August 12 at 10 am at Moravian Theological Seminary, 60 W. Locust Street, Bethlehem will be an Info Session for our Crossroads Lay Leadership program.  Interested in gaining a quality education to help you in your congregational life, come join us and find out about our classes and how they can help you as a layperson.  Contact is Jill Peters at petersj2@moravian.edu   Join us!
 
Meet Jamie Blaine   
 
Pleasantville UCC, 3424 Limekiln Pike, Chalfont, PA (part of the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference) is hosting an event on
 September 17
Meet Jamie Blaine
Author of the book "Midnight Jesus"
This event is free and open to the public
for more information contact
 
SGwilym Williams ScholarshipCHOLARSHIPS
  
     If you are a college or graduate student who is preparing for a career either as a/an ordained minister, certified teacher or educator, doctor of medicine then you may qualify for a scholarship grant from the Gwilym T. Williams Scholarship Fund
     This Trust Fund, created over a generation ago by a now deceased PNEC benefactor from Scranton, is administered by the Penn Northeast Conference of the United Church of Christ. The purpose of this Fund is to provide financial assistance for post-secondary students enrolled in accredited institutions of higher learning, and who are preparing to embark on a career either as an ordained minister, a certified teacher or educator, or a doctor of medicine.
     Grants are limited by stipulation of the Trust to students pursuing one of these three career options, and who are also currently members in good standing of a PNEC congregation. Financial assistance will be awarded only to help pay the institution-stipulated costs of tuition and/or housing.
     You are required to submit to the PNEC office all application materials (your application, certification of an acceptable program of study, your school's financial bill) before your request will be considered. Application materials must be in our office by October 1st in order to be considered for a grant for the (preceding) summer and/or (current) fall terms, and by March 1st in order to be considered for a grant for the (preceding) winter and/or (current) spring terms. Reimbursement checks will be issued directly to successful applicants. Even if you have received a Gwilym T. Williams scholarship in the past, you must reapply in order to be considered for a new grant. Applicants are awarded a maximum ten grants for undergraduate work, and ten (more) grants for post-graduate studies.
    Please go to www.pnec.org to obtain the application packet.
     Please note: your application will not be processed until all three application materials are received in the PNEC office.
 

SAVE THE DATEucc logo

2018 REGIONAL YOUTH EVENT

July 19 - 22, 2018

California University of Pennsylvania

CALU

Participating Conferences...

Penn West, Penn Northeast, Pennsylvania Southeast, Penn Central, New York, Central Atlantic, Connecticut, Maine & Rhode Island

 

The 2018 RYE Vision...

#SELFLESS

Selfies make us focus on our physical appearance and what other people think of it.  We must focus on our gifts to build the kingdom of God.  The idea of #selfless means moving beyond the selfie culture and its obsessions to a place where we can focus on Christ's call for us to love one another.

Watch your emails for future information !!!

 
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR THE PHOEBE MINISTRIES GOLF TOURNAMENT
 
    The Phoebe Ministries Golf Tournament will take place on August 14, 2017 at Saucon Valley Country Club, 2050 Saucon Valley Road, Bethlehem, PA 18015.
    The tournament begins with registration and brunch at 9:30 a.m. and a shotgun start at 11:00. Cocktails, a grazing-style dinner and award presentation will begin at 4:00 p.m. The tournament will feature several skill contests, including an opportunity to win a car. Registration includes brunch, greens fees and cart, and dinner. Individual registrations or foursomes are now being accepted.
     The helicopter golf ball drop is returning this year. Participants can win up to $2,500 by purchasing a "golf ball" chance for $20 and do not need to be a golfer or present to win.
    Phoebe thanks the Title Sponsor of this year's tournament, Warfel Construction. Additional sponsorships are still available.
     For more information, to purchase a ball for the golf ball drop, or to sponsor or register, please visit www.phoebe.org/golf or contact Molly Driscoll at 610-794-5163 or mdriscoll@phoebe.org
 
 PNEC Boundary Training Workshops
October 4, 2017
Rev. Diane Wheatley, Presenter
8:30AM Registration; 9:00AM to 3:00PM Workshop
St. John's UCC, 183 S. Broad St., Nazareth
Host Pastor:  Rev. Jeff Brinks
Cost:  $20/person
Make checks payable to PNEC and send to
PNEC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA  18071
The cost includes lunch and a workbook that will be handed out at the workshops
  AND   
October 5, 2017
Rev. Diane Wheatley, Presenter
8:30AM Registration; 9:00AM to 3:00PM Workshop
Faith UCC, 21 Faith Drive, Hazleton
Host Pastor:  Rev. Jane Hess
Cost:  $20/person
Make checks payable to PNEC and send to
PNEC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA  18071
The cost includes lunch and a workbook that will be handed out at the workshops
To register for one of these events, please email Patty Rehrig at pattyr@pnec.org  or call the Conference Office 610-826-3113 

Boundary Training needs to be done once every 4 years
 
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