This Week in PNEC --- April 20, 2017 - April 28, 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
In My Weakness, You are My Strength!          By Alan C. Miller
  
My book has finally arrived.  Book is a bit of an exaggeration; it is more of a devotional.  It is my journal written during the first eight months of my treatments for thymic carcinoma.  It is the story of finding the grace of God in the midst of cancer.  All proceeds from the book are going to Sloan Kettering Hospital for rare cancer research.  You can pick one up at the Conference Office for $10.00, or call  (610-826-3113) or email us ( barbaraj@pnec.org ) and we will send you one for $11.00; make sure you include the shipping address.
               
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
Two Important Reminders about the PNEC Annual Meeting on April 29th
 
1.    The delegates will be asked to act on the resolution: "A Vision for a New Eastern PA Conference of the United Church of Christ."  This resolution comes from the Transition Team that is having conversations about the future of the Penn Northeast Conference and the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference.  The Team is comprised of four members from each conference's Board of Directors.  At our Annual Meeting you will hear a report from the Transition Team and be asked to act on the Resolution.  This same resolution will be going to the Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference.  The Resolution affirms the discussions that are taking place and affirms that we want to continue with conversations about possibilities for the future.  This resolution is not a vote to merge but simply an affirmation to continue the dialogue.  Copies of the resolution have already been sent to all of the churches and will be sent to all of the delegates with the Advance Reports.
 
2.   During lunch there will be five workshop opportunities:
a.    A Question & Answer Session with our Keynote Speaker: Robert Naylor.
b.   Learn more about the Clinic that the PNEC Amigos are building in Guatemala.
c.     Learn more about the work of the PNEC Disaster Response Ministry Team.
d.    Learn more about the discussions taking place between the PSEC & PNEC Conferences. - Led by
members of the Transition Team.
e.   Updates on the work of the wider UCC and what to expect at this summer's General Synod. - Led by Geoff
Brace, a member of our Conference who is on the United Church of Christ Board of Directors
 
"Can you help us make a difference?"
 
The Amigos de Guatemala are desperately looking for two individuals with at least some construction experience to take part in a one-week support trip to Monte Margarita.  These individuals would be asked to work side by side with our partners in Monte Margarita to build walls and help troubleshoot any construction issues that may arise during the week.  The trip will take place either the last week in May or, if necessary, in June.  Given the tight schedule, preference  is for individuals who already have passport.  Additional details and background info will be provided.  If interested, please contact Karen Heim at  rksdheim@rcn.com or 610-481-9704.
 
Do you like to sing?
If you like to sing and you are coming to the PNEC Annual Meeting on April 29th, we have an opportunity for you!  We are having a joint choir during worship at Annual Meeting.  There is a place to sign up for the choir on the Registration Form; however you can also sign up for the choir by texting or calling Rev. Jane Hess at 570-401-2239 or tweet her at HolyJane or email her at jdhess@frontiernet.net    She will contact you regarding music and a rehearsal time.  Thank you!
 
CROSSROADS
Crossroads Summer Book Club
at Moravian Theological Seminary, Bethlehem
highlights four, very different books this year: 

May 23
Just Mercy facilitated by Rev. Cynthia Simmons
June 20
The Book of Joy led by Rev. Maggie Wellert
July 18
Why I Left, Why I Stayed with Dr. Jill Peters and 
August 15
The Morning They Came For Us
with Rev. Dr. Deborah Appler
Professor of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. 
  
Sign up for one night ($10 each) or for the whole series ($30) at
 For more information, contact Jill Peters at
Come and join us for some great conversations -
completing each book is helpful but not necessary.
Dr. Jill Peters
Missional Leadership Developer
Moravian Theological Seminary
 

                             

MARK YOUR CALENDARS....

PNEC SleepOut for Homelessness

September 23-24, 2017

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

More information will be forthcoming!!
 
Children's Sermon
for April 23 (based on John 20:19-31):
Items Needed: blender; Oreos, clean houseplant pot, spoon;(optional extra:) cut flower.  Beforehand, put some Oreos into the blender and blend.  They will look like dirt.  Put this into the potting plant and, if desired, stick a flower in also.  For sermon, have the blender (plugged in) and more Oreos there, but keep them concealed.  Show kids the plant pot with "dirt" in it.  (DON"T call it dirt, just refer to it as, "this.")   Take spoon out and ask,  "Who believes I could eat this?"  Who believes it would taste  GOOD?"  Ask a volunteer to eat some of the stuff. ( If no one volunteers, you eat some. )  How does it taste--good!   Hold up pot and say, "If you just saw this, you probably would not believe you could it eat it, and you probably would not believe it would taste good.  But if you saw THIS (take out blender, Oreos, and blend some, then dump in pot) then you would believe you could eat it, and that it would taste good.  In today's Bible reading, one of the followers of Jesus, a person named Thomas, does not believe that Jesus is alive again because he has not seen Jesus alive again.  It's like you not believing that this (point to ground-up Oreos) could taste good because you didn't see me putting the Oreos into the blender.  But now you know the truth because you have seen it.  Thomas believes Jesus is alive after he sees Jesus  alive.  Jesus says to Thomas, "Blessed are those who have not seen with their eyes, and yet they believe."  I don't know if anybody here in church today has seen Jesus alive with their own eyes.  Most people who believe Jesus is alive believe that, because they have felt Jesus in their heart, or they have seen Jesus through other people.  Sometimes, like with these Oreos that look like dirt, our eyes fool us.  But we can know Jesus is alive in our hearts.
- Rev. David Quinn
 
  ANNOUNCEMENTS &
CLERGY CONNECTIONS announcement
 
Rev. Stacy Weaver, who recently returned home from wintering in Florida, was hospitalized before Easter.  He's currently at home recuperating and doing much better. 

Mildred Carr moved from the Trexler Wing at Phoebe over to the Miller Bldg (assisted living), as she slowly makes progress.  Her new room is Miller 314A and the direct phone is 610-794-4153.
  
 ***************************************************
Services of Interest...
April 30 - 3PM - ORDINATION - Michael Lonergan - Christ UCC, Bethlehem.  During the service all Ordained Clergy will be invited on the altar for the laying on of hands.  Ordained clergy processing should wear a white robe, and if available, a red stole.  Thank you.
 
May 7 - 3:00PM - INSTALLATION - Licensed Minister Sandy Murphy will be installed as pastor at Christ UCC, Conyngham
 
May 7 - 3PM - INSTALLATION - Rev. Michael Lonergan will be installed as pastor at Salem UCC, Pocono Pines. 
 
UPCOMING DATES  calendar
 
APRIL
24-27 - MAAUCE Event - Tuscarora Inn, Mt. Bethel
25 - 9-11:30AM - Joint Conflict Resource Team - NE PA Synod
26 - 4-7PM - Search Committee for Designated Conference Minister - Conf. Office
29 - 9AM-4PM - ANNUAL MEETING of the Penn Northeast Conference - St. John's UCC, Laurys Station
30 - 3PM - ORDINATION - Michael Lonergan - Christ UCC, 75 E. Market St., Bethlehem.  During the service all ordained clergy will be invited on the altar for the laying on of hands.  Ordained clergy processing should wear a white robe, and if available, a red stole.  Thank you.
 
FOR THE FULL LIST OF DATES...CLICK HERE
PNEC 12th Annual Youth Retreat
"GOD First"
May 19-21, 2017
All youth grades 7th - 12th are invited!
Check In Friday 6:30-7:00PM
Pick Up Sunday at 12 Noon
Spruce Lake
5389 Route 447, Canadensis, PA
DEADLINE for REGISTRATION & $50 deposit due April 3rd 2017
CLICK HERE for registration flyer and detailed information
 

        SAVE THE DATE...                           

Retirement Party

for our Conference Minister

Rev. Alan Miller

Sunday, July 23

4:00PM

Northampton Memorial Community Center

Northampton, PA
 
ONLINE  UCC History, Theology and Polity Course
June 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 June 2017. Classes will begin at 9:30am and end at 4:00pm on the following dates: June 3, 10 (we will start at 9am on this date), 17, 24. The platform utilized will be Zoom Video Conferencing (zoom.us) The tuition will be $475. For more information contact the instructor, Reverend David Gaewski, NY Conference Minister, at 
     This polity course is sponsored by the Oneida Association of the New York Conference. Payments should be sent no later than May 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 fifteen 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 June 1st. Please note the last online class reached maximum capacity.
 
The Spiritual Renewal Partners
of the UCC Penn Northeast Conference 
invite you to join them for a Spring Retreat
  
 "GOD GLIMPSES:
LESSONS THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS"
SATURDAY, MAY 6,  from 9 am to 3 pm at
JORDAN UCC, 1837 CHURCH ROAD, ALLENTOWN
 
  Please join us while we meditate on various relationships described in the Bible and explore how God is present in our relationships, giving us opportunities to learn from them.  There will be time for listening, reading, meditating, exploring, journaling, enjoying lunch and snacks together, sharing our revelations if we prefer to do this, and we will end with Holy Communion.  There will be plenty of free time to choose what you would like to do.  Jordan UCC has lovely wooded grounds which we may use.  Spouses and friends are welcome!
COME AND BE RENEWED SPIRITUALLY!!!
We hope you will be able to join us!!!  The accompanying flyer explains the Registration process 
  
Jacqueline Billy,  Spiritual Renewal Partner
jacquibilly@gmail.com
Hope United Church of Christ-Allentown
 
Dear Friends,
 We are celebrating 20 years of CPE at Phoebe Ministries.  Serving over 3,000 senior residents in six counties in Eastern and Central Pennsylvania, we have been in ministry since 1903.  We provide all levels of care for seniors from independent living to skilled nursing.  We have a couple openings left in our summer unit of CPE that will start on June 5 and end of Aug. 10.  For more information about our CPE program you can go to our website at phoebe.org/cpe   Prospective students should forward their completed CPE application as soon as possible.  We deeply appreciate our partnership with our area seminaries and conferences. 
 
Blessings on your work,
Scott Brooks-Cope, D. Min., Director Pastoral Care
       Services
Phoebe Ministries
1925 Turner Street | Allentown, PA 18104
P: 610-794-5119| C: 904-568-2052 | F: 610-794-5414
 
 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
If the above dates do not work for you, please
 CLICK HERE  for other opportunities for 2017.
 
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