This Week in PNEC --- July 13, 2017 - July 21, 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    [email protected]                            Gilberto Garcia Rodriguez   [email protected]   

Barbara Jennings   [email protected]             Patty Rehrig     [email protected]

 

IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO INCLUDE IN "THIS WEEK IN PNEC" PLEASE EMAIL IT TO   [email protected]
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 [email protected]  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.
 
Children's Sermon
for July 16 (Mt. 13:1-9, 18-23)  Items needed: bag of marshmallows.  Show kids bag of marshmallows and ask what it is.  Now how could I SHARE these marshmallows?  I could open the bag (do so) and carefully hand out one each at a time (Give one child one marshmallow.)  OR I could take out a  BIG handful (do so) and throw them towards you (throw at kids)  And I could do the  SAME thing with the people out there (take out several handfuls and throw them out into congregation.  )  In today's Bible reading, Jesus compares God to a farmer who throws seeds all over the place.  Part of what Jesus is saying is that, every day, God throws out blessings all over the place, just like me throwing marshmallows out all over the place (throw another handful at kids and/or congregation)   God is generous in throwing out all kinds of blessings every day, and we can be thankful for that.
- 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.
 
UPCOMING DATES  calendar

 JULY
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
25 - 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 [email protected]  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 [email protected]
 
 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 [email protected]  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