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| This Week in PNEC --- January 5, 2017 - January 13, 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 |
| 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. |
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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
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"Flourishing in Ministry"
The United Church of Christ is partnering with Notre Dame University in a project entitled: "Flourishing in Ministry." The Project's Director is Dr. Matthew Bloom and the work is being funded by a Lilly Foundation grant.
The project is a national study on clergy wellness. On February 7, 2017 all ordained, licensed, commissioned, and privilege of call UCC ministers and members in discernment will receive an email inviting them to participate in the project by completing a survey. The survey must be completed by February 17th to be included with the results. Through our participation in this project all UCC conferences, associations, local churches, and ministers will receive the tabulated results of the study.
All of your answers will be kept confidential. For more information go to the following Link: http://www.uccfiles.com/pdf/ucc_clergy_wellbeing.pdf |
Rev. Scott Brooks-Cope will be 
attending the following events and wanted to invite you to join if you can:
The Lehigh Conference of Churches is sponsoring these events which will be held at Dubbs Memorial Community Center, 457 Allen St, Allentown:
MLK Jr. Day Interfaith Prayer Breakfast - Monday, January 16 at 9 a.m.
Robert K. Campbell Memorial Lecture on Christian Unity, Friday, April 7th at 9 a.m.
Speaker: Robert P. Jones speaking on the topic of his book "The End of White Christian America"
I read this book while I was recovering from my recent surgery and I think it's one of the most important books about the current cultural and religious shifts happening in our society. The book is very thoughtful and well-written and lots of statistics to back up his analysis. Jones is the head of the Public Religious Research Institute. I'm looking forward to hearing him in person.
If you can go to one or both of these events let me know and I'll call in a reservation for us.
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A Unique Opportunity to Assist Our Students Preparing for Ministry
Alan C. Miller, Conference Minister
 Phoebe Ministries is conducting a capital funds campaign for their Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Program.
Clinical Pastoral Education
is an education program to teach pastoral care to clergy and others. CPE is the primary method of training hospital and hospice chaplains and spiritual care providers. In addition to learning visitation and caring skills, CPE regularly encourages students to reflect on their work, which helps them to develop their self-awareness.
Phoebe Ministries initiated its Program in 1997 and was accredited by the year 2000. It is one of 300 accredited CPE programs nationwide and one of only five programs in the long-term care setting.
CPE is a requirement for our students preparing to be ordained and licensed ministers. Over the years, 202 students have completed Phoebe Ministries Program, 57 of which have been United Church of Christ students.
The campaign has three goals: 1./ If $100,00 is raised, $4,000 will be available each year for student scholarships; 2./ If $200,00 is raised, Phoebe Ministries will be able to enhance their Program with special speakers and education events for both students and the community; 3./ If $300,00 is raised, Phoebe Ministries will be able to add supervisory CPE education to its Program, the program by which CPE students becomes CPE supervisors. Your congregation should have received a letter from Phoebe Ministries introducing this campaign.
The Church & Ministry Committee of the Penn Northeast Conference is grateful for the quality of preparation that Phoebe Ministries CPE Program has added and continues to add to our students' theological education. Thus we have voted to give the campaign a gift of $5,000 from the Conference's Longsdorf Scholarship Fund. As you learn about this Campaign through your local congregation, we encourage you to help future theological students in their preparation for ministry by making a generous gift to the Campaign.
For more information contact: Adam Marles at Phoebe Ministries, 610-794-5129,
amarles@phoebe.org
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Three Important Opportunities in One Day 
On Monday, March 20th, Heather Kimmel, General Counsel of the United Church of Christ, will be joining us to lead three educational opportunities
#1 10:00 am - "Best Practices for Boards and Councils" - She will help us understand what are the primary responsibilities, the legal obligations, and best practices for governing boards.
#2 2:00 pm - "The New PA State Child Abuse Laws" - This session is designed to speak to pastors, Christian educators, and youth ministers who are employees of a church. Heather will review both the new child abuse reporting obligations and the required background checks for employees. Lay leaders are welcome to attend, however there will be a special event for them in the evening.
#3 7:00 pm - "The New PA State Child Abuse Laws for Volunteers" - This session will be similar to the afternoon session but will address the same issues as they pertain to local church volunteers.
There is no cost for these events. We are going to try and hold them at the Conference Office, unless we have more register than we can accommodate at the Office. In that event we will move to a local church Fellowship Hall. Thus to help us please register early by calling or emailing either Barbara Jennings (
barbarj@pnec.org) or Patty Rehrig (
pattyr@pnec.org), 610-826-3113.
Heather E. Kimmel is the General Counsel of the United Church of Christ. She has been serving in that capacity since December 1, 2015. Prior to that, she served as Associate General Counsel of the United Church of Christ. Before joining the Office of General Counsel, she practiced in the areas of white-collar defense and complex civil litigation at Jones Day and Baker & Hostetler, as well as serving as a federal judicial clerk. She also served as an adjunct professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
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PNEC Disaster Ministries is Looking for Volunteers Who Like to Work with Tools!
Our PNEC Disaster Ministries tool trailers are back in Pennsylvania! We need volunteers who would be willing to inventory, clean, and provide repairs on all tools in both trailers. The garage we will be working in is heated but it is a concrete floor. Our first day of inventory will be Saturday, January 14 beginning at 9 am. The garage is in Bethlehem and if you volunteer we will provide specific directions. We need to do this work to ready the trailers for their next mission. Interested? Please contact Donna Zangari at
dzangari3@gmail.com
or text at 484-357-8399.
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A Note About Acknowledging Contributions...
 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
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| 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 Boundary Training needs to be done once every four years More information will be announced at a later date. |
 The Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry will be conducting its' "Understanding Worship" class Saturday, January 21, 2017 9AM - 4PM First UCC in Schuykill Haven This class is part of the basic series for Licensed Ministry preparation but is also a wonderful opportunity for lay leaders in the church to prepare themselves to assist with worship and be a part of the sacred space we call worship. This is also a great refresher for all current authorized ministers who want to revitalize their worship experience as well. Click Here for a registration flyer or you can register online at www.paacademyofministry.org The class is also LIVE STREAMED and is recorded for those with scheduling conflicts. |
| 23rd Annual Clergy Convocation May 2-4, 2017 Double Tree by Hilton, 2400 Willow Street Pike, Lancaster  Guest Speaker, Rev. John C. Dorhauer
General Minister & President of the UCC For full flyer and registration information CLICK HERE TO REGISTER, CLICK HERE |
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MINICOURSE
(Four Tuesday evening sessions)
January 24 - February 14 @ 7:00-9:00pm
Understanding Power & Prejudice: Building Bridges Across Difference
Jude-Laure Denis, Executive Director, POWER-NE
The Rev. Dr. Peter Pettit, IJCU Director
Seegers Union, GQ Annex (Muhlenberg College)
484.664.3470
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 Save the Date...
PNEC Annual Youth Retreat
May 19-21, 2017
Spruce Lake
More information will be forthcoming!
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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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Penn Northeast Conference will be hosting a
The Allentown Area Mission Council clergy would like to invite those churches who collect a special offering for Souper Bowl Sunday (2/7/17), and if you are looking to support a UCC program providing direct ministry to those who are hungry, Zion's Jubilee Breakfast Ministry to the Homeless certainly would appreciate your support. More info is available at
ANNOUNCEMENTS &
