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Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
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“I am the church! You are the church! We are the church together!
All who follow Jesus, all around the world! Yes, we're the church together!”
[1]
During this Lenten season, as well as at other times during the year, it is our challenge to reconnect with the most spiritual parts of ourselves and our community. That introspection can sometimes limit the way we see others who are struggling to nurture their spirituality in ways different from our own. We live in a culture that seems to accent the differences, the variations. While I think the recognition of diversity and uniqueness is important, I also worry that sometimes we put value judgments on those differences – our way or my way is better.
But we are the church together – we who follow Jesus are the church. We who follow the Divine by another name are the church. We who aren’t sure about divinity at all are the church – if we view the church as the family of God in action in the world.
There are so many hurting people, so many folks estranged from family, friends, community, church, and even God. Maybe our goal this Lenten season could be reconnecting with our spiritual selves as an act of grace that we can share with others. Sharing who we are and what we believe, through actions of love and grace, rather than words, might be one of the greatest gifts we could give to God, to our neighbor, to our community and even to ourselves. As we move into the last weeks of Lent, my hope is that we are each strengthened and nurtured so we can care for, strengthen and nurture those around us. As the prophet might say, “Mat it be so.”
Blessings, Bonnie
[1]
http://www.pateys.nf.ca/cgi-bin/lyrics.pl?hymnnumber=475
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Easter Checklist
Whoo, boy, Easter is coming. You can feel the pressure ratcheting up as the big day gets closer. Do you have everything under control? Will you get it all done? What are you forgetting?
That last question may prompt waves of panic—sorry about that. But we can help! We’ve got a
free Easter checklist
of things you need to consider as you approach the final weeks and days before Easter. Take a look, check some things off, and rest easy knowing you aren’t forgetting.
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Call to the Spring Meeting of the
Penn Northeast Conference
Saturday, May 4, 2019
Church of the Good Shepherd
135 Quarry Road, Alburtis, PA
Theme: Rejoice! Rejoice in the Lord Always
COST: $35.00
Registration Deadline: April 15, 2019
Sorry, there’s no refund of registration fees
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Addressing Poverty in America
Meet Pulitzer Prize winner Matthew Desmond, keynote speaker of General Synod 32 and author of the book chosen for the UCC’s 2019 All Church Read.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Matthew Desmond, winner of numerous awards for his book which chronicles the lives of several families in the poorest neighborhoods in Milwaukee, will be the keynote speaker at the the United Church of Christ
General Synod 32 in June. Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, a New York Times Bestseller, will also be the subject of the denomination’s 2019
All Church Read.
For the full article,
click here
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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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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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Invitation to the Ready Responders
Boots on the Ground Exercise (RRN BOG)
April 26
th and 27
th, 300 safety minded citizens, Veterans, and faith-based groups, will come together with first responders to practice their skills in the RRN BOG, a simulated disaster response exercise.
Disaster response and management skills will be practiced, including gas and fire safety; volunteer reception center management; mucking and gutting; mold suppression; and emotional resiliency. We hope that you will join us for one or both days of this free event.
Our esteemed list of partners includes Con Edison; the Metro New York Community Veterans Engagement Board; Contingency Planning Exchange; Ready Rockaway; Rutgers School of Public Health; John Jay College; members of FDNY, NYPD, the Jersey City and Upper West Side Community Emergency Response Teams; and many more.
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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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Disaster Ministries
The Chapel of Four Chaplains invites you to the
3rd Annual Veterans Mental Health, Opiod & Suicide Prevention Symposium
Keynote Speaker: Lisa Thomas Laury - "An Opiod Conversation"
Free & Open to the Public...to read more
click here
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Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
Hazardous Weather and Flooding Preparedness 2019 Course Offerings
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Stop the Bleed: Bleeding Control Training
Event Description: Stop the Bleed is a national awareness campaign and call-to-action. Stop the Bleed is intended to cultivate grassroots efforts that encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives.
April 2, 2019 9:00 am – 10:30 am or April 18, 2019 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm (only need to attend one class)
Location:
Chester County Public Safety Training Campus, 137 Modena Road, Coatesville, PA 19320
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Introduction to Self-Care
Event Description:
This Introduction to Self-Care training will explore the physical and emotional aspects of workplace stress, including working in high stress situations for extended periods of time. The course will also discuss and identify self-care and wellness practices with participants, begin to establish self-care plans, and discuss resources and support options.
This course is 3 hours, and includes small group discussion and interactive exercises. This course is appropriate for anyone who would like to begin to practice self-care in any setting.
Date:
May 21, 2019
Time:
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm (dinner will be provided)
Location:
Chester County Government Services Center, 601 Westtown Rd, West Chester, PA 19380
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Disaster Recovery Challenge: A Poverty Simulation
April 29 from 9AM to 12 Noon
Norristown State Hospital, Building 33 Multipurpose room
Intended Audience: Emergency managers, VOAD & Community Partners
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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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House of Worship Security Seminar - Active Shooter & Security Planning
Saturday, April 13, 2019
St. Luke's Bethlehem - Laros Auditorium
8:30AM - 3:00PM
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Children's Sermon for March 31
(based on Luke 15:12-3, 11-32
)
- by Rev. Dave Quinn
Items needed: red construction paper, shoebox, 6 foot ladder, adult volunteer, tape measure. Beforehand, cut construction paper into a flame shape and tape to shoebox. When kids come up, put this "fire" on the floor near them and tell them this is your pretend campfire. Step towards this and ask them what you feel when you move near the fire--you feel the warmth of the fire. Ask for two volunteers and have them stand right next to the fire. Explain that they would both feel warm, because they are both close to the fire. Ask one of the volunteers to step back a few steps. Ask why they wouldn't feel warm anymore--because they have moved away from the fire. Bring out ladder and put next to the fire. Ask other child to climb up ladder, with adult volunteer to make sure they get up safely. Now, why would this child not feel the warmth of the fire--they have also moved away from the fire, but in a different direction--up! Use the tape measure to measure the distance from each child's heart, to the fire. (Distance should be about same, or child up on ladder even further away.) In today's Bible reading, Jesus tells a story about a father who has two sons. Our fire here is like the love that the father has for both his sons. In the story Jesus tells, one of the sons move away from love,. by leaving home. But the other son also moves away from the warmth of his father's love. He doesn't leave the father, but he goes up the ladder, of looking down and being mad at his bad brother. He ends up being just as far, maybe farther, from the fire of his father's love than his brother who ran away Jesus tells us this story because He wants us to stay close to the warmth of God's. love, and not look down on anybody.
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UPCOMING EVENTS..
--April 5-6 -
A Spring Conference on Addiction Sponsored by IECPA a Local masjid - TRAPPED - from 5:30PM to 9PM - IECPA, 6635 Tilghman St., Allentown. free admission, free dinner, free childcare
--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
--
Sunday,
April 7 from 2:30-5PM - Lehigh Valley Welcomes Immigrants! RALLY AND MARCH
-
7
th
& Hamilton, Allentown - Rally Our Officials to Adopt H.R.6 Including The Dream Act of 2019, AND American Promise Act of 2019 - HELP US STAND AGAINST INHUMANE TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS EVERYWHERE! For more info contact
Ashleigh.strange@maketheroadpa.org
--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
--
Earth Day - April 22 - How we care for God’s creation is intimately intertwined with issues of generational justice. What kind of world are our children presently inheriting? What will the world be like when they get older? The UCC Environmental Justice Ministry joined with the ecumenical Creation Justice Ministries to author and produce reflective materials on generational justice for this Earth Day.
Download a copy of this resource today.
--
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.
DEADLINE to register is April 1
.
TO REQUEST FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CLERGY CONVOCATION
Click Here
for Application
.
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May 8, 2019 -
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.
WHERE:
Northampton Community College, Fowler Center in S. Bethlehem (511 E. 3rd St, Bethlehem)
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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The Lehigh Conference Of Churches--"Valley Over The Edge" --
On June 1 -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 their spot on the ropes. To request more info, 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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Alzheimer's Community Forum Invite
The Alzheimer's Association is conducting various Regional Community Forums throughout our 59 county territory. The forum is designed to have between 15-30 select attendees to give input/feedback regarding the impact of Alzheimer's/Dementia and ways to improve services to our community. We will use this forum to develop a plan for future outreach.
The 2 hour session will include a few updates on the association and a brief education piece. The remainder of the time will be spent getting your input! We will have moderators asking questions of the group and we will be listening and taking notes.
We have selected folks from professional, family, faith based and governmental groups to make up our forum audience. I am happy to extend this invitation to you to participate and provide us with this valueable feedback.
NE Regional Forum
Friday
April, 5, 2019
from 10:00am - 12:00pm
Pittston Memorial Library
47 Broad Street Pittston PA 18640
The Forum is free to attend (of course) but we do need you to RSVP to this email as soon as possible and to use the link below to register yourself. Please let me know if you can attend so we can get our numbers in line
https://action.alz.org/mtg/43333335
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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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Christian White Supremacy
Monday, June 17, 2019 - 7PM
Metropolitan Community Church
of the Lehigh Valley
1401 Greenview Dr., Bethlehem
Rev. Dr. Gregory Edwards
Free and open to the public
www.mcclv.org
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UCC Disabilities Ministries (UCCDM)
UCCDM has a tradition of presenting awards at the biennial General Synod. These awards recognize the contributions of congregations, other church settings, and individuals who have contributed to the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of the life of the church. Nominations are now open...(
see more)
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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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