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Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
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Call to the Fall Annual Meeting of the Penn Northeast Conference
Saturday, November 3, 2018
Faith UCC, 22 Faith Drive, Hazleton, PA
Theme: Transforming
Guest Preacher: Rev. Bill Worley, Pennsylvania Southeast Conference Minister
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Ministry Day 2018
Saturday, October 13, 2018 from 9AM to 3:30PM (Registration begins at 8AM)
Faith UCC, 5992 Route 378, Center Valley, PA
610-282-3939
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr. Jill Peters
- directs and teaches in the Crossroads Lay Leadership Program at Moravian Theological Seminary. Jill lives in Bethlehem, PA with her family and provides congregational workshops and church board retreats on Culture & Change, Contextual Outreach, Conflict, and Vision & Mission
TOPIC: Embracing Conflict in our Churches
COST: $10 to help cost for catered lunch (payable at registration)
Please RSVP to Patty Rehrig at
pattyr@pnec.org or 610-826-3113
by October 1
(let her know if any food allergies or special needs also)
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SCHOLARSHIPS
If you are a college or graduate student who is preparing for a career either as a/an
ordained minister, certified teacher or educator, doctor of medicine
then you may qualify for a scholarship grant from the
Gwilym T. Williams Scholarship Fund
This Trust Fund, created over a generation ago by a now deceased PNEC benefactor from Scranton, is administered by the Penn Northeast Conference of the United Church of Christ. The purpose of this Fund is to provide financial assistance for post-secondary students enrolled in accredited institutions of higher learning, and who are preparing to embark on a career either as an ordained minister, a certified teacher or educator, or a doctor of medicine.
Grants are limited by stipulation of the Trust to students pursuing one of these three career options, and who are also currently members in good standing of a PNEC congregation. Financial assistance will be awarded only to help pay the institution-stipulated costs of tuition and/or housing.
You are required to submit to the PNEC office all application materials (your application, certification of an acceptable program of study, your school's financial bill) before your request will be considered.
Application materials must be in our office by October 1st
in order to be considered for a grant for the (preceding) summer and/or (current) fall terms, Reimbursement checks will be issued directly to successful applicants. Even if you have received a Gwilym T. Williams scholarship in the past, you must reapply in order to be considered for a new grant. Applicants are awarded a maximum ten grants for undergraduate work, and ten (more) grants for post-graduate studies.
Please note: your application will not be processed until
all three application materials are received in the PNEC office.
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Disaster Response Ministry
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As Hurricane Florence continues to make its way toward the east coast, UCC Disaster Ministries has been monitoring the situation through our established networks and stands ready to support our partners, conferences and congregations in Florence’s path.
We are also keeping a close eye on the other hurricanes in the Atlantic and the Pacific. That said, I would like to encourage continued prayer for all the families, individuals, first responders and emergency management staff in the paths of these storms. Additionally, I wanted to share some helpful resources/information that you can easily copy and paste to send to your networks without much legwork.
Blessings to all and prayers for safety,
Amanda K. Sheldon
Program Associate, UCC Refugee Ministries & UCC Disaster Ministries
+1 (216) 736-3210, 700 Prospect Ave. E., Cleveland, OH 44115
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Communications Tip of the Month:
Here are some tips for when you do an audio or video interview with a disaster recovery volunteer or client to make the piece stronger and easier to edit.
- Get as close to your subject as you can while still showing some relevant background. "Props" such as a paintbrush or work clothes also can show context.
- Get out of any wind or breeze, and remove any jewelry that jangles. These will spoil the audio.
- As you begin recording, ask the person to say their name and spell it clearly, even phonetically
- Leave a little space around questions and answers.
- Keep quiet while your interviewee is talking! Give encouragement with body language such as nodding your head, but avoid any "uh huhs." They will spoil the audio.
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Flooding and Long Term Recovery: Construction, Coordination, and Case Management
Saturday, September 29, 2018, 9 – 3 pm
Bear Creek Camp, 3601 Bear Creek Blvd, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
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Your Church Can Prepare for Emergencies
United Church of Christ Disaster Ministries encourages our churches to learn how to prepare for emergencies in September, which is National Preparedness Month.
“It is important for churches to be ready for a possible emergency,” said Eastern PA UCC Disaster Coordinator, Karl Jones, who also serves as the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) vice-chair of the Community Preparedness Committee. “It can be overwhelming to get started, but these simple tips will get you on the right path.”
- There is a fire in your church and you need to leave quickly. What are the best escape routes from your church? Find at least two ways out of each room. Now write it down, educate your people, and you’ve got the beginning of an emergency plan. Perhaps even have a fire drill.
- There is an accident or medical emergency at your church. Make sure you have people who know basic first aid or CPR and empower them to act.
- Learn how to turn off utilities in your church in the case of emergency. Make sure there is nothing blocking access to the shut-off valves and switches.
- Review insurance policies and coverage to ensure it is adequate for the hazards you may face.
- Build up an emergency fund. Could your church operate if you received no income for a month or more.
This year’s theme for National Preparedness
Month is “Disasters Happen. Plan Now. Learn How.” Churches can use this opportunity to train it’s leadership and members how to respond during an emergency and what to do when disaster strikes. The goal of this effort is to increase the overall number of individuals, families, and communities that engage in preparedness actions at home, work, businesses, school, and places of worship.
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES - From the PA Council of Churches
- Information on Solar power to lower bills and build a brighter future.
- Energy Star Pennsylvania Stewardship Tour
- General Assistance Application Open Again - Help for the Poor
- Justice and Gerrymandering - Video Available
- and more...Click Here for flyer and links
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Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry 3-part educational series called Consistory/Council 101
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PNEC Sleep Out for Homelessness
- September 29-30, Forks UCC, Stockertown
Pastoral Leadership in Congregational Systems
- Three Sessions of Learning to Improve Pastoral
Leadership for Authorized Ministers - 3 days of experiential learning - October 10; February 27, 2019;
May 1, 2019 - 9AM to 5PM each day at Faith UCC, Center Valley - COST: $350 including lunch.
Understanding Addiction and Older Adults
- October 11 at DeSales university - online registration will
PNEC Ministry Day
- Saturday, October 13 from 9AM to 4PM, Faith UCC, 5992 Route 378, Center
Greater Allentown CROP Hunger Walk
- October 14 at 1:30PM beginning and ending at St. Timothy's
Lutheran Church, 140 S. Ott St., Allentown - registration starting at 1PM - for sponsor form, info about
2018 Boundary Training Workshops
- "Essential Boundaries for Wise Leaders" - sponsored by NE PA
2018 "Widening the Welcome Conference - Living, Learning, Leading"
- November 1-3 at the
Sheraton Niagara Falls and the Niagara Falls Convention Center - Also, a Mental Health First Aid
class, November 1 - certified course with cont. ed. credit upon completion -
Detailed Flyer
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Dementia Education Presentation
Alzheimer's accounts for 60-80% of all dementias. What about the other 20-40%?
Join Dustin Lukitsch, Certified Dementia Practitioner provides faith leaders with the tools needed to better understand and accommodate individuals with dementia in your community.
During this seminar, Dustin Lukitsch will discuss:
- The different types of dementia.
- The emotional, behavioral, and physical changes that occur.
- How to recognize someone with dementia.
- And, early warning signs to help you better serve your congregations.
When
Thursday, September 20, 2018 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM EDT
Where
The Lehigh Conference of Churches
457 W. Allen St.
Allentown, PA 18102
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Children's Sermon
by
Rev. David Quinn-
For Sept. 13,
based on
Mark 8:27-38
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Items needed
: Block letters from church sign, scissors, cross. Get a "W" and an "E" from the sign letters. Turn the "W" upside down, put next to the "E", to make the word, ME. Put in copy machine and make enough copies for each child. Trim with scissors so each is just the word, ME. When kids come up, give each child a copy of ME. Ask them what it is, and what it means. Then ask for a volunteer. Ask volunteer to give you his/ her ME. Then ask kids what the word, "destroy," means. "Destroy" means to take apart, to ruin. Tell kids you are going to destroy the volunteer's ME. Use scissors to cut right down the middle, right between the "M" and the "E." Let the two pieces fall to floor. But wait, that doesn't have to be the end of it. Pick up two pieces--turn the M over so it becomes W---now it becomes "WE." what does, WE mean----it means being WITH someone else--With God, WITH other people. In today's Bible reading, Jesus talks about the cross (show cross. ) Jesus says, when I try to save my life, I lose it. That's like trying to hold on to my copy of ME. If it's just ME, then I am alone But if I give my life to God, God takes some scissors and takes ME apart, so ME can become WE. Jesus will be the death of me, so the ME can become WE.
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Here is the link to register for the Adventures in Advent Resource Day being held on October 6 (Please RSVP by October 1.)
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PSEC, PNEC planning rebuild Puerto Rico mission trip
A group of members of Pennsylvania Southeast Conference and Penn Northeast Conference met on Aug. 6 to discuss the possibility of the two conferences sponsoring a rebuild mission trip to Puerto Rico in 2019. The dates that we have requested are April 28 to May 4, 2019. PNEC Associate Conference Minister Gilberto Garcia-Rodriquez will be the group leader. Costs will be made available in a few months as we learn more about airfare and other related costs. You can learn more about the on-going UCC work in Puerto Rico by
clicking here
.
If you would like to be on the list of potential participants and receive the trip information directly, please send and email to Gilberto at
gilbertor@pnec.org
and copy Karl Jones at
kjones275@comcast.net
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Click Here
to read a story written by Pastor Priscilla from Shenkel Church in PSEC about their recent trip to Puerto Rico.
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1st Annual National Hussain Service Day
9.15.18 Day of Service
Al Ahad Islamic Center
1500 Ridgeview Dr., Allentown
11Am to 1PM
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Lehigh Conference of Churches
Annual Domestic Violence Vigil - 9.26.18
Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley invites you to join them on Wednesday, September 26 from 5:30 to 7PM for a vigil to remember those who have lost their lives and to empower survivors with hope for the future. Event held at Allentown Masonic Temple, 1524 W. Linden St., Allentown
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A Conversation in our Community about our Country
September 27 - 6:30-8:30PM
Albright Memorial Library
500 Vine St.
Downtown Scranton, PA
Registration required
contact 570-941-4419
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