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Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
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To the people of the Penn Northeast Conference
of the United Church of Christ:
Dear Friends,
In 2016, the Penn Northeast Conference began a search process for a Designated Conference Minister. At the time, our Conference Board had been in the process of discernment of the formation of a new Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. In consultation with staff from the national setting of the United Church of Christ, we decided to search for a designated term conference minister. This person would serve with a specific task: to help assist us through the discernment process of the possibility of forming a new conference....
Click to continue reading this letter
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Conversation with the Conference Minister
March 26, 2019
Bonnie Bates is inviting you to a Zoom Conversation with the Conference Minister
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 253 316 980
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Open & Affirming Coalition UCC Welcomes
Trinity Ref. UCC, Bloomsburg
On behalf of the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ, I'm proud to welcome Rev. Steve Hummel and all our family at Trinity Ref. UCC, Bloomsburg as ONA congregation #1590! You are now part of the largest and fastest-growing LGBTQ-affirming church movement in the world!
The Coalition is grateful for the serious work, dialogue and prayer that led you to this day. And know that you're welcome at our National ONA Gathering June 18-20 in Milwaukee, right before General Synod. More information is available at
www.openandaffirming.org/national-gathering.
Blessings as you continue your journey of faith as an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ!
Andy Lang, Executive Director,
Open and Affirming Coalition, United Church of Christ
Your covenant:
We the congregation of Trinity Reformed UCC welcome into our church, with the same rights and privileges of membership, anyone seeking Christ and affirm all peoples regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, and transgender identity.
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Dear Pastor Steve,
It is with great delight and joy I write to share my deep gratitude to you personally, and the leadership and membership of your church for committing to preaching a gospel of love and welcome through an OnA statement. Thank you for taking this seriously - and for opening your doors, hearts, and arms to all God's chidden. Shalom, John C. Dorhauer, General Minister and President
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Summary Notes of the February 11, 2019 Conference Board Meeting
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CONVERSATION WITH RETIRED PNEC PASTORS
A conversation with
our retired pastors
about the changes in the Manual on Ministry, the new Exempt Standing requirements, and continuing education requirements 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.
Bonnie
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Celebrating Their Anniversary
We congratulate the PNEC Pastors who will celebrate a
Special Anniversary of Ordination in 2019
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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 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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Dear friends in Christ,
Greetings from Japan. This email is being sent to all churches that joined in the Christmas Card Project this past year. I wanted to bring you up to date on the realities in Japan. Please read the article below written by a Japanese
politician who works internationally to raise awareness on the nuclear issue.
March 11th will mark the 8th anniversary of the triple disaster that struck northeastern Japan. Our partners have been accompanying the survivors, and facing the unprecedented dynamics caused by the nuclear disaster. Global Ministries has walked with them from the beginning. The attachment I have included introduces the projects that we have supported.
(click here)
The Emmaus Center will conclude its relief activities as of the end of this month. They will be having a special "Time of Remembrance and Thanksgiving" on March 23rd which I will be attending. If you are so moved I invite you to write to the address below with words of solidarity. I will be with them to help translate your message.
As we enter Lent, I pray that our ability to empathize and pray for others will draw us closer to God's love for all of creation.
-Jeffrey Mensendiek
The Emmaus Center
Rev. Nozomi Konishi (Moderator of the Northeastern Conference of the Kyodan)
1-13-6 Nishikicho
Sendai, JAPAN 980-0012
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS...
April 6 - 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
PNEC Spring Conference Meeting will be May 4, 2019
at Church of the Good Shepherd, Alburtis; and the
Fall Conference Meeting will be November 2, 2019
at St. John's (Howertown), 22 Atlas Rd., Northampton
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Resources developed for this year's Break the Silence Sunday
April 28th
Feel free to share as you see fit. We do anticipate a resolution coming to General Synod asking, in part, to name this topic (support for survivors of sexual abuse) in our UCC Liturgical Calendar.
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Disaster Ministries
Spring is in the air. With spring often comes severe weather such as thunderstorms and strong winds. The
March ReadyPA Monthly
provides information on severe weather preparedness. The National Weather Service has declared March 25
th
through the 29
th
as Flood Safety Awareness Week. The State Meteorologist has provided tips on remaining safe during a flood.
The March Action Sheet provides information on Winter Weather Flooding Risks. Remember, Turn Around, Don’t Drown.
You are encouraged to share this newsletter and action sheet with your members and friends. Remember, both the ReadyPA Monthly and the Action Sheet are available at
www.Ready.PA.gov.
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Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
Hazardous Weather and Flooding Preparedness 2019 Course Offerings
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Mission Statement of UCC Disaster Ministries
February 19, 2019 - Update
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U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s, Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Youth Preparedness Council.
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:
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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. 3rd St, 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.
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.
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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Updated Resource Report
Cheryl Joseph Williams, MPA, CFRE
Chief Strategy Officer, Office of General Minister and President, United Church of Christ
Click to see "Equipping The Journey Resources for Mission & Ministry in the Local Church & Beyond... revised March 2019
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Reboot Your Worship Lent 2019 experience
Here is the link so you can each sign up to participate:
Take JUST 7 minutes to
watch this video
recap that will help you plan to continue Reboot at your own pace if you weren't able to keep up!
We know this was a lot of material in this six weeks and life can get in the way. It happens to a lot of people. NO WORRIES, NO SHAME! Here's what to do:
1. Watch the 7 minute video above
2. Decide which Reboot Basic your worship really needs
3. Copy and paste the links below for that Reboot Basic into your calendar program to remind you to spend a bit of time when you can looking further into it (if nothing else just watch the webinar... I go over all the concepts in the materials each week)
You have lifetime access to these materials!
Here are all the links that we visited each week during our Lent 2019 Reboot Your Worship journey. For each week, we've included the link to the web materials page with all the resources for study, a link to the recording from our live webinar for that week, and the slides from the webinar in case you'd like to use them for visual review.
Week 1: Intentional Spiritual Journey
Week 2: Enhance Congregational Participation
Week 3: Sensory-Rich Worship
Week 4: Spiritual Leadership
Week 5: Attention to Flow
Week 6: Politics of Change and Planning Ahead
Keep planning ahead with our Easter webinar! -
On
March 21st
, we're hosting a free get-ready webinar for the Easter season that begins with Easter Sunday and lasts up through Pentecost. We'll explore each of the ready-made series available in the Worship Design Studio and help you find ideas for developing your next series. Go to the
webinar registration page
to sign up for the access info.
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Children's Sermon for March 10
(
based on Luke 4:1-13
)
- by Rev. Dave Quinn
Items needed:
toolbox with some tools, including screwdriver; some object from which you have removed a screw beforehand. When kids come up, show them the object you have, and the screw. Tell them you would like to fix an object, by putting the screw back in. How can I do this? I could try putting the screw back in, just using my fingers (demonstrate) But, what would work better? I could use a screw driver! (Get out toolbox, take out screwdriver, use screw driver to put screw back in place.) Tools help us to do certain works- the screw driver helped me to put in the screw, a hammer would help me put a nail into a piece of wood. In today's Bible reading, Jesus is tempted to do the wrong things. Jesus uses Bible verses that He has memorized, like tools to help Him to do the right thing. One thing we can do, to follow Jesus, is memorize some Bible verses, and use them as tools to do the job of living as a Christian.
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Humanitarian & Development, Global Ministries
Serve at the intersection of faith communities and social justice. Serve local communities throughout the U.S. in long-term disaster recovery, food justice through community gardening and economic equity through children’s enrichment. Reflect on action and be part of intentional community.
Travel, Housing, Living Stipend, and Health Insurance provided. Apply to your college for internship credit.
Become a faith-based justice leader. Join local communities acting for affordable housing, immigration reform, public health and racial justice. Serve at the intersection of faith communities and social justice. Reflect on action and be part of intentional community.
Housing, Living Stipend, and Health Insurance provided. Apply for student loan forbearance.
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UPCOMING EVENTS...
--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.
--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
--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
.
--
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
--
Registration Open for the 22nd Global Youth Justice Training Youth/Teen/Student/Peer Court Diversion Programs -- June 18, 2019 to June 20 2019
in Las Vegas, Nevada
--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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TV Classics Purim Fest
PURIM CELEBRATION
@Temple Hesed, 1 Knox Rd, Scranton
March 16
Re-run Relay Kids Carnival - 5PM (free)
PURIM Re-Past Dinner - 5:45PM - $5
(or $15 family; $1 off if in costume
PURIM Shpiel Musical Comedy - 6:30PM (free)
Sing Along with your Favorite TV Themes from Flintstones to Friends, from MASH to the Monkees
Hamentashen (cookie) Bake-Off - 7:30PM (free)
fun for all ages
RSVP to 570-344-7201 or
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Interfaith Gathering & Dinner
Sunday, March 24
Lehigh Dialogue Center
200 Industrial Dr., Bethlehem
5:30-6:30 Vegetarian Potluck Dinner
(please bring a dish to share with ingredients listed...No meat or alcohol)
6:30-8:30 Panel "Holy Days"
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A Community Seder
focused around the themes of
Freedom & Social Justice
Saturday, April 20 at 6:30PM
Muhlenberg College, Seegers Union
Meal is kosher for Passover but prepared in a non-kosher kitchen. $25/person, $18/students & children. RSVP by April 10 to
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Not By Bread Alone
A Lenten Jazz/Gospel Brunch
March 10 - 12 Noon - 1:30PM
Dubbs Memorial Community Center
457 W. Allen St., Allentown
Join the Lehigh Conference of Churches for fun and fellowship as we celebrate our first ever Lenten Jazz/Gospel brunch. Pastors will provide inspiration and share liturgy of Christian unity and celebration. There will be live music from IC Collective. $25 per person. For more info or to register, visit
lehighchurches.org/events
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PHOEBE INSTITUTE ON AGING BENEFIT: “GENERATIONS COME TOGETHER”
WHAT:
The Phoebe Institute on Aging (PIA) hosts its annual PIA Benefit. The evening includes a celebration of intergenerational music featuring The Girls Next Door, Muhlenberg College’s all-female a cappella group, the Parkland Strolling Strings from Parkland High School and Phoebe’s own resident Piano Quartet. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres start at 6:00 pm, followed by dinner. Music will be presented throughout the evening with a collaborative performance including Phoebe residents and high school students at the end of the night.
WHEN:
Thursday, March 21, 6:00pm-9:00pm
WHERE:
University Center at DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley
For more information about this event, please call (610) 794-5163 or email
dfrey@phoebe.org
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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:
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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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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FREE Workshop on Senior Isolation
We are happy to announce that registration is open for the
free workshop on Senior Isolation which will be held on Saturday March 30 from 10 to 1 pm at the Diocesan Pastoral Life Center, 330 Wyoming Avenue in Scranton.
The workshop is being sponsored by the Ministerium in cooperation with the Office of Parish Life of the Diocese of Scranton, with Financial Support from the Moses Taylor Foundation. Prof. Jim Siberski of Misericordia University will offer an overview of the problem and potential ways faith communities might respond before leading a discussion of local action planning.
Faith communities are encouraged to send teams of 2-4 people who will then be able to mobilize a response for your particular group.
Those who are comfortable on the web can register at
https://www.scrantonareaministerium.org/addressing-senior-isolation
; If you prefer you can call Kay Windels at 570.207-2213 ext 1101. Registration is requested by March 22 so that arrangements can be made for lunch. A flyer is attached to this email to assist with your publicizing the event.
There is no cost for the workshop because of the generous support of the Moses Taylor Foundation.
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Creation Justice Ministries
It's hard to believe that we are already heading into the third month of the year! 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 March. We have enjoyed seeing the tips and tricks you have shared with us on social media the past two months, and look forward to more as the year continues! We hope that you'll share our next four tips from the
March 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).
Looking ahead to March, we also want to highlight Women's History Month, with International Women's Day on March 8th. Like February with Black History Month, Creation Justice will be sharing stories and content on women who have made an impact on caring for our Earth, as well as uplifting voices of women in our community who do this work every day. We look forward to sharing with you (and for you to share with us!) events going on in your communities celebrating the important women doing God's work. Tag us in social media on how the women in your life help to #CareForCreation.
We also encourage you to continue dowloading and sharing our
Earth Day
and
Endangered Species Day
resources. Earth Day is April 22nd, and we know that faith communities will be celebrating throughout the month of April in light of Easter falling so close to Earth Day this year. Endangered Species Day is May 17th, and we hope the bulletin insert can provide some insight to the importance of protecting all of God's creation all year round.
As always, if you find these resources helpful
we appreciate any contribution you can make
. No donation is too small; all of them help us continue to create resources that support faith communities in their #CareForCreation.
Amanda Robinson
,
Program & Communications Coordinator,
Creation Justice Ministires
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Books for Pastors
Rev. Frank Demmy's wife Pat has some of Frank's books which might be of interest to pastors. They are:
--"Word Biblical Commentary" - almost entire set
--"Book of Worship UCC"
--"The Living Theological Heritage of the UCC"
Volumes 1, 2,3
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Webinar: Green Values and Voting
Those who care about the environment tend to vote less than others by a sizable amount. This has enormous implications for the issues that elected officials choose to address and how they choose to address them. Fortunately, there are proven approaches to increasing voter turnout, and faith communities can play a leading role in encouraging more people to vote their values. This month’s
Creation Justice Webinar
will feature the “voting guru” Nathaniel Stinnett as he educates and equips us for this vital role.
Sign-up to join us for this informative webinar!
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A Spring Conference on Addiction
Sponsored by IECPA a Local masjid
TRAPPED
April 5 - 6 from 5:30PM to 9PM
IECPA, 6635 Tilghman St., Allentown
free admission, free dinner, free childcare
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Racial Justice Ministries
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Lake Institute on Faith and Giving
Insights Newsletter
The Fast They Chose
by Anne Brock, Lake Institute Program Manager
Lent
begins with Ash Wednesday, a time of remembering that from ashes we come and to ashes we return. Many Christians use Lent as an opportunity to give up something as a way of sacrificing during this season. I’ve heard anything from giving up chocolate or drinking to, more recently, social media fasts. However, I’ve also known people to take on a practice or spiritual discipline. A few years ago, I took time each day during Lent to send a handwritten note. It was an opportunity for me to say thank you, ask for forgiveness or reach out, depending on the person and circumstance.
Click Here to read more or to sign up for the
Insights Newsletter
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