This Week in PNEC --- July 6, 2017 - July 14, 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

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.  
 
 
Parish Secretaries' Seminar
"Bridge Over Troubled Water"
 October 3-4, 2017
Bird-in-Hand Family Inn
     The Parish Secretaries' Seminar is a one and a half day ecumenical, educational, non-profit seminar designed to provide opportunities to strengthen work skills needed in the modern office, to network with other secretaries/administrators, and to grow spiritually. Originally started by the Northeastern and Southeastern Pennsylvania Synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, we have expanded in recent years. As a result, secretaries, administrative assistants and office support personnel from every denomination are welcome. Scheduled sessions are relevant to the brand-new secretary and the veteran alike. We encourage congregations to provide this event as continuing education for their support staff.
     
Early bird registration ends July 17th!
Click Here for the full flyer & information, and if interested... Click Here for registration
 
Mark your calendars.....                           

PNEC MINISTRY DAY
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Place & Time TBA
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.

 
Make It Plain: Authorizing Ministry in the 21st Century  2017 Regional Events

In order to ensure all United Church of Christ pastors are effectively introduced to the new Manual on Ministry, the UCC's Ministerial Excellence, Support & Authorization (MESA) Ministry Team is hosting four regional events to review the most recent draft of the Manual. Registration is now open for the October 23-24 gathering in Philadelphia. For more information or to register, click here. Authorized ministers, Members in Discernment, and Committee on Ministry members are especially encouraged to attend. Register early, other regional events have filled to capacity!
Register NOW
 
Children's Sermon
for  July 9 (based on Mt. 11:16-19, 25-30) Items needed:  clear glass bowl containing mud; clear glass bowl containing plastic gold coins(get at  party store or dollar store); child or adult volunteer; paper towels for clean up.  At beginning, get a volunteer to stand by kids, holding out her/his hand.    Explain that this stands for Jesus, reaching out with God's Hand.  When Jesus came, reaching out with God's hand, some people were so busy playing in the mud (stick one of your hands in mud) that they wouldn't put their hand in Jesus' hand.  These were what we call the bad people.  And there were other people so busy playing with the medals they gave themselves for being good (stick  other hand in gold coins bowl) that  they also wouldn't put their hand into Jesus" hand.  These were what we call the good people.  In today's Bible reading, Jesus talks about something called repentance.  Repentance means to change what you are busy with.  Sometimes, the people who are busy playing in the mud, the bad people, sometimes they choose to stop playing in the mud, and instead hold on to Jesus" hand(demonstrate.)   And sometimes,  the people busy with their goodness medals, choose to let go of their goodness medals and take Jesus" hand instead(demonstrate.)    Repentance is when we take Jesus's hand and let Him lead us where he wants to take us.
- Rev. David Quinn
 
announcements ANNOUNCEMENTS
 & CLERGY CONNECTIONS
 
 Installation - September 24 - 10:45AM - Rev. Kenneth Hess will be installed as pastor of Flicksville UCC, 1337 Lower South Main St., Bangor.
 
Ted Good, PNEC Licensed Minister has pneumonia.  He and his wife, Margie (also Licensed Minister) are asking for your prayers please.
 
Trinity UCC, Coplay members voted to move forward with closing their beloved church at their July 2, 2017 congregational meeting.  Weekly worship will continue through the month of July.  The final worship service will be held on Sunday, August 6 at 10AM with a covered dish luncheon to follow immediately after our worship service.
 
UPCOMING DATES  calendar

 JULY
  10 - 10AM - Licensing/Commissioning MID Committee - Conf. Office
11 - 12:15PM - PTIM AMC Clergy - PJ Whelihan's at Platz's, Lehighton
19 - 9AM - Ordained Church & Ministry Committee - Conf. Office
23 - 4:00PM - Alan Miller Retirement Party - Northampton Memorial Community Center, 1601 Laubach Ave., Northampton - More information to follow
25 - 9-11:30AM - Joint Conflict Resource Team - Conference Office
26 - 6PM - PNEC AYR Planning Team - St. John's (Fullerton), Whitehall?

FOR THE FULL LIST OF DATES...
Special Announcement: 2018 UCC Medical and Dental Benefits Plan Premium Rates and Plan Enhancements from the UCC Pension Boards  
Dear Colleague,
     Thank you for your participation in the UCC Medical and Dental Benefits Plan. At a recent meeting, the Benefits Committee of PBUCC's Board of Trustees approved the following rates and benefit enhancements for Plan Year 2018:
     Health, Dental, and Vision Rates (effective January 1, 2018)
  • Non-Medicare Plan: 7% increase (no change to deductibles, copays, and co-insurance)
  • Medicare Supplement Plan: 3% increase (no change to deductibles, copays, and co-insurance)
  • Dental Plan: No increase
  • Vision Plan: No increase
     As in past years, churches/employers and individual Plan participants will receive detailed information by mail later this Summer regarding their actual rates for 2018.
Plan Enhancements
     At a time when many of our members are hearing about potential rollbacks of various essential benefits and services under proposed health care legislation, the UCC Plan continues to provide comprehensive health and wellness coverage for UCC employees and their families. We are pleased to announce the following benefit enhancements to the Non-Medicare Plan:
     Please feel free to contact a Health Services Representative with any questions at info@pbucc.org  or by phone at 800.642.6543, ext. 2870.
Sincerely,
  Frank Loiacono --  Director, Health Plan Operations
 

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