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Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
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The Data Hub is open and ready to receive your church’s 2018 membership and financial information. The Data Hub will close March 6. If you don’t feel comfortable entering information on the Data Hub, please complete the forms mailed to your church last week. In any event, don’t hesitate to call or email me and I will help you in the process. 610.826.3113 or
BarbaraJ@pnec.org
. Thank you, Barbara
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Friends,
Several events are planned for early 2019 and I want to make you aware of them:
The first is a
gathering for pastors
who wish to explore resources and support for reaching out to youth and young adults. This preliminary conversation is being hosted by our newly formed Youth and Young Adult Ministry Team. The date is
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at noon at the conference office.
Please contact Barbara Jennings at
barbaraj@pnec.org
to register as we will be serving lunch. The group is limited to 30 participants.
The second is a conversation with
our retired pastors
about the changes in the Manual on Ministry, the new Exempt Standing requirements, and continuing education requirements. This is being hosted by the chairs of the working groups of the Committee on Ministry and will be held on
Tuesday, April 2 at 2 pm at the conference office.
Please contact Patty Rehrig at
pattyr@pnec.org
to register for this event. Light refreshments will be served. The group is limited to 40 participants.
Watch the continuing education calendar
for a variety of opportunities for authorized ministers and church leaders. This calendar is updated frequently.
I hope you will take the opportunity to share with us your hopes, dreams and visions for our conference. We are partners together in ministry and we hope to continue strengthening our partnerships.
Bonnie
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Interim Ministry Network
Effective Transitional Ministry Training
A One-Day Session
May 24, 2019 from 9AM to 5PM
Penn Northeast Conference Office
Registration Deadline: May 6, 2019
Fee: $200 - cost partially underwritten by OCWM gifts to PNEC
Scholarships available from the Longsdorf Fund
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The Lehigh Conference Of Churches
"Valley Over The Edge"
On June 1, Lehigh Conference Of Churches is hosting the second annual "Valley Over The Edge" event in which 76 rappelers will be going over the edge at Two City Center in Allentown. Adventurous participants will rappel down an eleven-story building by raising $1,000 or more to secure theier spot on the ropes.
To discuss participation opportunities or request more information, email
valley-ote@lehighchurches.org or contact Becky LeaShomb at 610-433-7220 ext. 6106
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The Amigos de Guatemala
Don’t leave PNEC’s Amigos de Guatemala out of your congregation’s 2019 schedule! We have the opportunity of a lifetime: You helped build a medical clinic in the hills of Guatemala. We are excited about sharing with you our next steps in this partnership, so invite us to speak at your worship service or other event.
The Amigos de Guatemala
is celebrating the completion of the clinic in Monte Margarita. Please join us for a dinner celebration
April 6, 2019 - 5PM
at Jordan UCC, 1837 Church Rd., Allentown
catered by Don Juan Mex Grill and Cantina
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Professional Portfolio Information Review
Did YOU remember
...
ALL
PNEC Authorized Ministers please fill out your Professional Portfolio Information Review, which can be found on the PNEC website
www.pnec.org
under the Ministry tab.
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Gwilym T. Williams (GTW) Scholarship Fund
Dear friends in Christ,
We are hoping that you can share this scholarship opportunity with those in your congregation that meet the eligibility (see flyer to the left).
next deadline is March 1
In the fall, we were pleased to award a total of $24,072 for fields of study that call people to serve others as we strive to build a community that serves God!
If you have any questions regarding the GTW scholarship fund, don’t hesitate to contact me.
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Clergy Communities of Practice
Focus on the praxis of ministry, learn from colleagues, be fed spiritually and physically
There are some available spots for Rev. David Charles Smith's Community of Practice -
General Pastoral Ministry. If YOU are interested in signing up for this Community of Practice, the cost is $250. Please be in touch with Patty at the Conference Office or Rev. David Charles Smith at
therrev@aol.com
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS...
- February 24 - 11AM - INSTALLATION - Kris Geer - Designated Pastor - First, Milford, NJ
- March 3 - 3PM - ORDINATION - Bob Gutekunst - Forks UCC, 4500 Sullivan Trail, Stockertown
- PNEC Spring Conference Meeting will be May 4, 2019 and the Fall Conference Meeting will be November 2, 2019
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YES, That's our new logo.
CLICK HERE
to download it and to find guidelines for use!
Disaster Response Ministry
UCC Disaster Minister Executive, Zach Wolgemuth, is pleased to announce that Ken Skalitzky has begun serving as the new Disaster Recovery Specialist in the eastern region. Ken is employed through the Southern Conference and will work directly with UCC Disaster Ministries staff as he helps us develop and carry out our collective (National, Conference and Local Congregational) recovery work in response to Hurricanes Florence and Michael as well as subsequent events in the future. Here is the link to the official announcement -
http://www.ucc.org/disaster_ucc_hires_ken_skalitzky
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Now Available: Report of UCC Disaster Ministries' Work in 2018
CLICK HERE
to download an attractive new report of UCC Disaster Ministries' support for the long-term recovery of disaster survivors across the United States and around the world in 2018.
In just a few pages, you'll find facts and figures, project specifics, volunteer and client stories, photos and "what's next" for each location. We are confident this report will be useful to you as you communicate the work of UCC Disaster Ministries in the months to come.
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Still Fleeing Maria: Puerto Ricans in Pennsylvania
UCC Disaster Ministries has granted $10,000 to two UCC conferences in Pennsylvania to continue their pioneering outreach to Puerto Ricans who have fled, and who continue to flee, Hurricane Maria's destruction and ongoing disruption of life on their U.S. island territory.
CLICK HERE for the full story.
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UCC DISASTER MINISTRIES RECORDED WEBINARS
CLICK HERE
for UCC Disaster Ministries recorded webinars, now available to view on demand. Future webinars will be added as they occur. Now available:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
EPIC recorded conference calls and webinars
- The Emergency Partners Information Connection (EPIC) brings together experts from the Centers for Disease Control and partner organizations to discuss emergency-related health and communications topics.
CLICK HERE
for an index.
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COMMUNICATIONS TIP OF THE MONTH
WHEN YOU GIVE A MEDIA INTERVIEW
1.
Jot down your three most important points
. Practice them out loud.
2.
Be brief.
Edit yourself. Media have limited space and air time.
3. Answer the reporter's questions,
weaving in your three points.
4.
Incorporate the question into your answer, and speak in full sentences.
For example, when asked:
"What can families do to prepare for disaster?" answer "Families can prepare for disaster by stocking supplies... " and not just "Stock supplies."
5.
After the interview, evaluate.
Especially, did you make your three points?
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Stay Updated and Involved: Visit our disaster
website
.
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MINISTRY TRAINING UPDATES (Continuing Education)
ALL Authorized Ministers, please note:
We will be identifying these kinds of continuing education opportunities – The policy is effective January 1, 2019. If you have any questions, please contact the Penn Northeast Conference Office at 610-826-3113.
Thank You!
Click
HERE
for list of current and up-coming opportunities!
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FREE Training for Faith Leaders & Lay People
Northampton County Dept. of Drug and Alcohol programs along with collaboration from “Speak Up for Ben”, are hosting a free training for Faith Leaders and lay people of any faith.
WHO:
This seminar is FREE to faith based leaders/staff.
WHERE:
Northampton Community College
Fowler Center in S. Bethlehem (511 E. Third Street, Bethlehem)
WHEN:
The training will held
Wednesday May 8, 2019
.
Training will begin promptly at 9:00 AM and will conclude by 3:30PM. The County will supply a continental breakfast and lunch for attendees! Registration and breakfast will begin at 8:15 AM. To register, please contact Kathy Dilts at Northampton County Drug & Alcohol by calling 610-829-4720 or by email
KDILTS@northamptoncounty.org
.
Out of the Darkness and Into the Light:
Strategies & Tools For Facing the Drug Epidemic For Faith Leaders
This training will provide information and resources to Faith Based Leaders regarding the current Substance Use Epidemic and specifically address the Opioid Epidemic facing Pennsylvania today. The impact of this epidemic on communities of Faith is significant. This day long training will explore how to intervene effectively, how to locate resources, and discuss how to identify substance use concerns. Faith leaders in attendance will be able to identify the full impact of substances on the community and develop an understanding to effectively support those with these issues in the community.
The presenter, Greg Krausz, MA, CAADC, LPC, has extensive experience in counseling and training. A Licensed Professional Counselor and CAADC, Greg is the Director of Mid Atlantic Rehabilitation Services (MARS) in Bethlehem, PA, Co-owner of Monocacy Counseling Associates, Adjunct Faculty member at Moravian Theological Seminary, a Consultant/Trainer with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of PA, and is a DDAP approved trainer. He has been a counselor, and program director in the addiction and mental health counseling field for the past 23 years. He was awarded the 2016 Bishop Kortz award for excellence in the field of counseling from Moravian Theological Seminary.
To register, please contact Kathy Dilts at Northampton County Drug & Alcohol by calling 610-829-4720 OR by email
KDILTS@northamptoncounty.org
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Quick Facts
: *We have only received 60% of the refugee resettlement arrivals we should have received by this date in 2019 in order to resettle 30,000 refugees by Aug, 31, 2019.* *Many refugees from north Africa and the Middle East have not been resettled in the U.S. because of the Muslim Ban, which had its 2-year anniversary on January 27, 2019.*
More News
:
What we just told your Congress Member about refugee resettlement
Last week the United Church of Christ joined hundreds of faith community and advocacy partners to tell our Members of Congress, with no equivocation, that refugees are a blessing to our community, that we want them in our country, and that we stand ready to accompany them when they arrive. It is already more than a quarter of the way through FY 2019, and only 60% of the refugees who should have arrived in the U.S. by now are here. With this pattern, we won’t even be able to welcome the 30,000 refugees we’ve promised to welcome this year – the lowest number ever set in the history of U.S. refugee resettlement – laying the groundwork for further decimation of this critical, life-saving program. Get an update on what’s happening with refugee resettlement in 2019
here
.
February Recess Toolkit – Will you take a meeting? Write an Op-Ed? Hold a vigil?
Our resettlement partner Church World Service and the Refugee Council USA are asking those who want to accompany refugees to do a local Congressional visit or action during the Congressional Recess February 15th-24
th
. Tell Congress to Protect Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Families Seeking Protection. All the resources you need are right here – from how to set-up a meeting with your Member of Congress to how to write an Op-Ed.
RCUSA Advocacy Toolkit for February 15-24th In District Week
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Reboot Your Worship
Marcia McFee allows you to access the recordings of worship webinars
Worship Design Studio, 524 San Anselmo Ave. #122, San Anselmo, California 94960, (888) 725-5202
Thanks to those of you who attended the webinar live! We had awesome participation and conversation! If you couldn't join us live,
watch the recording I've posted on the Week 4 page
HERE
(or go directly to the video
HERE
).
This week you will learn to create scripts for your entire Lent series. Part of doing this involves
paying attention to the flow
and energy dynamics of worship–the fifth Reboot Basic. When we pay attention to transitions, worship really begins to feel like a whole journey, not a bunch of pieces strung together. Interruptions to flow are like little "energy bombs" that distract us from our connection to God in the spiritual journey.
Here are some things you will find in the materials this week:
• making worship flow better - two videos
• how to make a worship script
• how to make your worship guides (bulletins) better
• more specifics about doing a "cue-to-cue rehearsal" of the more complex parts of your worship
A reminder about our weekly rhythm: On
Sundays
, you will receive an e-mail like this one that leads you to a page full of information to focus on for the week. Watch my video message first and then take the next three days to focus on the materials. On
Tuesdays
, you will receive an affirmation in an e-mail along with a reminder about
Thursday's
live Q&A webinar (join us at 9am Pacific, 10am Mountain, 11am Central, noon Eastern). On
Fridays
, you will get the recording of the webinar and a glimpse at what's coming up the next week.
My prayer this week:
God of our Journeys,
we give you thanks for your presence with us.
Place us in your River of Life where we can flow with your Spirit,
letting go into our movement as disciples.
Amen.
Your “Reboot Your Worship” journey continues at
THIS LINK
Paying attention to the transitions and dynamics in worship can help us stay focused on the main thing... the message. And when the message moves with ease from one worship expression to another, we are able to stay "immersed" in an experience of the Living God.
This is your reminder that the Reboot Your Worship weekly
Q&A webinar is Thursday
(9am Pacific, 10am Mountain, 11am Central, noon Eastern). This is your opportunity to learn more about the Reboot Basic and dialogue with me.
Send me
your questions/comments even if you won't be on live!
--
Join the Reboot Facebook group
We created a new closed Facebook group for Reboot. Click
HERE
and ask to join. We'll get you in! This is a place for you all to share experiences, ideas, questions and connect with each other.
If you have a question, comment or idea that you'd like to submit for the webinar, please
CLICK HERE
.
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Children's Sermon for February 17
(
based on
Luke 6:17-26
)
- by Rev. Dave Quinn
Items needed: Play-Dough or modeling clay, two drinking straws, clear glass of some beverage. When kids come up, show them Play-Dough. Who likes Play-Dough? Me, too! Then, show kids straw, and ask them what it is. Explain that you're going to take some Play-Dough, and put it in the straw. (Put dough in one end of straw so straw is clogged) Now, I'm going to use the straw, to get a drink. (Put straw in beverage, clogged side up, and try to get a drink.) Ask kids why straw isn't working--because it's blocked by the Play-Dough. In today's Bible reading, Jesus gives some blessings and some warnings. What Jesus is talking about is that our hearts can be like this straw. Sometimes, our hearts get clogged up by things, even good things. If my heart is clogged up, the love of God gets blocked out, just like this drink gets blocked from getting through the straw. But Jesus says the poor, the hungry, the sad, and unpopular people are blessed, because they're like this empty straw(show other straw)--the love of God can flow through them (Put empty straw in beverage and drink through straw.)
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UPCOMING EVENTS...
--February 24 - The
Awards Banquet of the Greater Scranton Martin Luther King Commission was postponed to
Sunday February 24 beginning at 1:00 pm [still at the DeNaples Student Center of the University of Scranton], and the
Interfaith Service postponed to
Monday February 25 beginning at 7 PM [still at Bethel AME Church.]
--February 26, 7-8:30PM ET
-
Pastoral Relations
with Stephen Boyd - This webinar focuses on the purposes and benefits of a Pastoral Relations Committee, addressing concepts like fostering healthy communication, appropriate and inappropriate roles of a Pastoral Relations Committees, and practical aspects such as setting up and maintaining a healthy committee.
--March 7 - 2-3:30PM ET
-
Caring for the Whole Self: MIDs and Authorized Ministers
with Renee Jackson - This workshop will explore the Mark “Caring for All Creation” in the context of considering the mental, spiritual, physical, and emotional health of MIDs and authorized ministers.
--March 9, 2019 - Crossroads Lay Leadership program at Moravian Seminary is running our Unpacking the Scriptures: Preaching course with the Rev. Dr. Sue Pizor Yoder for eight weeks starting March 11. Learn about constructing a sermon, how to speak to different generations, and polish your public speaking skills. Sue is a gifted pastor, preacher and teacher. Also starting in early March on the 7th is Traveling Mercies with the Rev. Maggie Wellert. This is a congregational care course with Maggie and several other speakers who address issues of communication skills, addictions, teens, spirituality and caring for those at the end of life. Great course for church teams. For exact dates, details and registration go to
http://www.moravianseminary.edu/crossroads or contact Jill Peters at
petersj2@moravian.edu.
April 11-12, 2019 - Lehigh Conference of Churches - The Robert K. Campbell Memorial Lecture on Christian Unity - Author Diana Butler Bass will be speaking on the theme "Christian Unity in a Post-Christian Age". The event will begin at 6 PM on the 11th with an hour presentation followed by a book signing. On Friday breakfast will be served at 9AM followed by a 90-minute lecture. For more information and registration contact Dr. Larry Pickens at
lpickens@lehighchurches.org
--
25th Clergy Convocation
! -
Join us for the Silver Anniversary of Convocation - Rev. Dr. Sarah Lund -
"Breaking the Silence About Mental Illness, Family and Church" --
May 7-9, 2019 -
Double Tree by Hilton, 2400 Willow Street Pike, Lancaster...
Click Here
for flyer and registration information
TO REQUEST FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CLERGY CONVOCATION
Click Here
for Application
.
--Uniting Church & Community Through Music & Art -
June 25-28, 2019 at First Cong. UCC, Madison, WI -- 12th Biennial National Conference of the United Church of Christ Musicians Association
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A New Deal for Climate Justice
UCC executives, environmental advocates and allies are speaking out and lobbying for the Green New Deal resolution.
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Open Wide Our Hearts
the enduring call to love...
a pastoral letter against racism
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Registration Open
22nd Global Youth Justice Training
Youth/Teen/Student/Peer Court Diversion Programs
Tuesday, June 18, 2019 to Thursday, June 20 2019
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
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YOU ARE INVITED..
TO A SPECIAL ART EXHIBIT!
Hope in Hard Times: Prisoners' Art for Social Justice
March 1-April 7, 2019
ArtsQuest’s Banana Factory Arts Center
23 W. 3rd St., Bethlehem
Mondays – Fridays 8:00am-9:30pm
Saturdays & Sundays 8:30am-7:00pm
The Moravian Church’s Eastern District and the Moravian Seminary in Bethlehem invites you to consider how art might engage us in justice and advocacy questions for our time; how do we see the prisoner, and follow Jesus’s call to see him in the lives of the incarcerated?
In this effort, we have partnered with Art for Justice (
www.artforjustice.org
), a non-profit committed to using thought provoking art from certain prisoners in Pennsylvania to promote public dialogue and find ways to reform the criminal justice system. Our hopes are that this art exhibit will remind us of our shared humanity, incarcerated and free, while asking where our own struggles for reform and justice can be found .
We are proud to also partner with and bring this exhibit to ArtQuest’s Banana Factory for free viewing anytime the Banana Factory is open (
www.bananafactory.org
) March 1 - April 7. You are also invited to attend the following special events:
March 1 and April 5, 6 - 9 p.m., First Fridays at the Banana Factory. Special speakers, projects, and engagements.
March 19, 7 p.m., Lecture at Moravian College’s Prosser Auditorium
Speaker: Tyrone Werts, Soros Fellow, PA Lifer commuted by Gov. Rendell.
March 24, 2 - 4 p.m., Vigil for Hope in the Criminal Justice System at the Banana Factory. Our keynote speaker, Chester Hollman, Jr. tells the story of his son Chester Hollman III’s wrongful conviction and sentence of life without parole in PA.
More information? Or if you are interested in special curriculum for your small group, youth group or congregation as a way to engage further in the art, please contact the Rev. Janel Rice at
janelrice3616@gmail.com
, 610-435-6881.
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Justice for God's Planet & God's People
We hope your year is off to a great start! We have had a lot of interest in our
52 Ways to Care for Creation
resource, and we wanted to make sure that you are all ready to hit the ground running this February. We have enjoyed seeing the tips and tricks you have shared with us on social media, and look forward to more as the year continues! We hope that you'll share our next four tips from the
February bulletin insert
with your communities and congregations, as well as your family and social networks! As always, we look forward to hearing how you are working to #CareForCreation - please tag us and share your stories with us on social media (@CreationJustice).
We also look forward to sharing with you all our Earth Day resource soon. In the meantime, please check out our
landing page
for information and
sign up
to be the first to download the Earth Day resource!
Amanda Robinson, Program & Communications Coordinator,
Creation Justice Ministires
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Navigating the River of Grief
Our Conference Minister, Bonnie Bates, has published a book which may be used as a resources for pastors and congregations.
In Navigating the River of Grief, (ISBN: 0788028855) Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates shares the results of her important research into the grief process. Her concept of grief as a river is inspired by several biblical references to water, both its ability to threaten and give life. Bates uses case studies to present grief not as the neat linear progression of stages we'd like it to be; rather, it is a river that sweeps the bereaved along in unpredictable ways. Its choppy waters cause pain and its depths are menacing, but when we understand the flow of its current as a spiritual journey we can better help the bereaved navigate toward new life.
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Take Action
Justice and Peace Network
February Newsletter
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Racial Justice Ministries
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Wise Owl Budgeting
by Dr. William Enright, Founding Karen Lake Buttrey Director Emeritus
It’s the beginning of the year and my mind travels back to the time when I was a pastor. Early January found me sitting down with Susan, our church business administrator, to finalize our budget. We had an array of data available to guide our decision making. We knew who had pledged for the new year and had a record of their giving history; whether or not they met, exceeded or failed to meet their yearly pledge. We had information on the giving patterns of those who did not pledge but regularly contributed. We charted our Sunday offerings by the week keeping a five year record as to weekly and monthly income. We did the same with expenses which meant that we knew what bills – denominational dues, utilities, insurance etc. – were due when.
See More
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Penn Central Conference hosting ONA Winter Gathering
The Penn Central Conference Open and Affirming Ministry Team will hold its Winter Gathering on the topic of "Does 'All Are Welcome' Really Mean ALL?" on Feb. 23 from 9:30a-2:00p at St. Paul's UCC in Mechanicsburg. The event will cover the following topics:
- Why don't LGBTQ? people attend welcoming and inclusive churches?
- Are there actions, signs, symbols that distract from OUR Welcome?
- Graceful Engagement/ONA 101
- Healing Religious Trauma
- Faith Formation for people damaged and hurt by "church"
Register by emailing Shirley Keith Knox at
skeithknox@comcast.net
. There is no cost to attend, but a goodwill offering will be used to cover food costs.
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Muhlenberg College – Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding
Our annual Pre-Lent Workshop
(9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
Reflections on Three Ties that Bind
The first meeting of our four-session
Mini-Course (7 p.m. to 9 p.m.)
Authentic to Self
and
to Religious Tradition
Time is short ... please register ASAP.
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UCC Church Building & Loan Fund
Jill White,
Regional Mission Interpreter
Need to energize and revitalize your church’s strategies for faithful generosity? Does your church find it hard to talk about money? UCC Church Building & Loan Fund would like to make you aware of the Ecumenical Stewardship Center’s (ESC)
“Generosity transformed! your mission*your ministry*your money Conference,
April 30 – May 3, 2019 in Indianapolis
. For complete conference information and to register, visit
ESC’s website
.
Does your church need help with visioning & strategic planning? Re-purposing existing church resources? A capital campaign? Fresh ideas for generosity programs? Loans for renovations, new construction or endowment support? If so, the UCC Church Building & Loan Fund can help! For more information on services offered to local churches, click
HERE
or contact Jill White, Regional Mission Interpreter,
whitej@ucc.org
.
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PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc.
Announces a New Certificate Program in Foundational Theology
Click
here for more information and registration
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History & Polity Course Offered at Lancaster Theological Seminary
the course will run 7 weeks from Feb. 22 through April 5.
Those who complete this non-credit course will receive a
Certificate of Completion
that may be shared with their Committee on Ministry. They also will write a paper that can be used as part of the ordination paper requirement for authorization.
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