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| This Week in PNEC --- January 19, 2017 - January 27, 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 |
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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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IRS Mileage Rate Has Changed for 2017
Beginning on Jan. 1, 2017, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:
* 53.5 cents per mile for business miles driven
* 17 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes, down from 19 cents for 2016
* 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations
The business mileage rate decreased half a cent per mile and the medical and moving expense rates each dropped 2 cents per mile from 2016. The charitable rate is set by statute and remains unchanged |
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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:
World Day of Prayer service will be held on Jan. 22 at 3 p.m. at Dubbs.
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 Scott know (904-568-2052) and he will call in a reservation.
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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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| 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 it's 2nd class of the
Preaching Series on
Saturday, February 11, 2017
at First UCC in Schuylkill Haven
from 9am to 4pm.
The Rev. Ronnette Comfort-Butler,
Pastor of Maytown Reformed UCC in Lancaster, Doctoral Student at LTS, and a teaching assistant in Preaching at Lancaster Theological Seminary will be instructing the class. Registration is available online and is attached to this announcement. Please be sure to check the PRE-CLASS assignment for this Advanced Studies Class. For more information or questions please contact Rev. Steve Hummel at paacademyofministry@gmail.com or call
484-239-5578
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| 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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 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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We 
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
The Spirit Alive program at Phoebe Ministries is an innovative way of leading worship with residents who live in Phoebe's memory support neighborhoods. The program uses the five senses and Montessori based-techniques to spiritually engage those with cognitive impairment. 
ANNOUNCEMENTS &
