This Week in PNEC --- July 19, 2018 - July 27, 2018

TO CONTACT US OR TO REGISTER FOR EVENTS

431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA18071; www.pnec.org website

610-826-3113; FAX 610-826-546

 

Bonnie Bates  bonnieb@pnec.org    Gilberto Garcia Rodriguez   gilbertor@pnec.org    Christian Creyer  christianc@pnec.org    Barbara Jennings   barbaraj@pnec.org    Patty Rehrig     pattyr@pnec.org

 

IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO INCLUDE IN "THIS WEEK IN PNEC" PLEASE EMAIL IT TO   pattyr@pnec.org

Joint Conference Vision & Development Team Summer Zoom Discussions

 

The JCVDT is inviting YOU to scheduled Zoom discussions on three separate dates with three separate questions to inform our work to create a new Conference.  The last date is Wednesday, August 28.  Click to view the flyer/registration form/instructions for Zoom     The information is also available on our website   www.pnec.org
Governance and Ministry
 
As the weeks have gone by, I am sure you have heard members of the conference board or ministry volunteers talking about our work on Governance and Ministry. Many conferences, local congregations, and in some ways the national setting of the UCC have been moving toward the model of Governance and Ministry as developed by Dan Hotchkiss. First introduced in 2009 and published by the Alban Institute, Governance and Ministry: Rethinking Board Leadership has been used as a tool for aligning mission and purpose.  (Read More) 
In Christ's love, Bonnie Bates
 
Stretch Out Your With
PRIDE !
PRIDE IN THE PARK 2018
Sunday, August 19 - Noon to 6PM
Cedar Beach Park, Allentown
We will have a UCC booth at the event,
but need your help staffing one-hour shifts.
If you are interested, please email Gary Barraco @ garybarraco@verizon.net 
 

PNEC Ministry Day

9AM to 4PM

Saturday, October 13, 2018

Faith UCC, 5992 Route 378, Center Valley

Watch for more details!
 
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CLERGY CONNECTIONS

Services of Interest...
July 29 - 10:15AM - Service of Farewell for Rev. Kevin
Fruchtl - Ebenezer, New Tripoli
August 19 - 9:30AM - INSTALLATION - Rev. Joel Risser -
First, Hellertown
September 9 - Join us for a reception to celebrate Gilberto
Garcia Rodriguez's 20th Ordination Anniversary. We will enjoy cake and other goodies during our "coffee hour" at 10am at New Creation UCC (3730 Nicholas St. Easton, PA 18045). 
September 16 - 9AM - Service of Farewell - Rev. David Ellis
 - Trinity (Great Swamp), Spinnerstown
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rev. Bill Ellsworth will be the Intentional Interim Pastor at Ebenezer UCC, New Tripoli beginning August 1, 2018.

 

Rev. Rebekah Thomas is the Designated Transitional Pastor at Lower Saucon UCC, Hellertown.  She began July 1.
 
SAVE THE DATE
Understanding Addiction & Older Adults
October 11, 2018 at DeSales University
Online registration will be available on Friday, September 7 at phoebe.org
Keynote address by Dr. Joseph Garbely
 
Children's Sermon
for July  22 (based on Mark   6:30-34, 53-56)  
 
Items needed:  Vinegar in a bowl,  open perfume bottle.   Ask kids  to smell vinegar.  Smells bad, sour.  When you smell something bad, what does it make you want to do---get away fast!    Then ask kids to smell perfume.  How does it smell--nice.  When you smell something nice, what does it make you want to do---move closer.  In today's Bible reading, many people want to get close to Jesus.  Jesus is kind of like this perfume--Jesus's kindness  and gentleness  was like a sweet smell to people.  But sometimes people can also be like this vinegar smells--sour, like being mean, rude, or crabby.  One way to tell if a person is trying to become more like Jesus is by seeing if they are becoming more like this perfume--sweet--or more like this vinegar--sour
- Rev. David Quinn
 
MId-Summer update and From the Ground Up Report
On Behalf Of John C. Dorhauer
 
Dear Colleagues,
     I know that we are living in and through a time of transition. No where has that been felt more than here in the National Offices. 
      We continue to onboard new employees and implement new programming. It is early in our time of transition, but I do want to implement a pattern of periodic reports to you about the impact of our transition. What I am including is a mid-summer report of the work and the outcomes of our staff, who continue to thrive while making their own adjustments during this time of transition. 
      I hope this helps; and I will continue to report out to you what is happening as we move through this time. While this report has some length to it, it is far from comprehensive. These are some highlights, and ones that I hope represent the good work we are doing on your behalf as we share with you the call to live out our mission together. 
    Also attached is the report out from the Theological Summit - From the Ground Up. We have now begun to schedule follow up meetings with the small groups that formed, who will continue their work together. Our hope is to have a galvanizing moment around this at Synod - but those plans are only now developing and will be dependent on what happens in the small groups between now and then.
 
UPCOMING DATES  
  calendar
JULY
19-22 - 2018 Regional Youth Event - California University of Pennsylvania
23 - 4PM - Executive Committee - Conf. Office
24 -10AM -COM (Committee on Ministry) Chairs - Conf. Office
25 - 10AM - Authorization Working Group - Conf. Office
26 - 9AM - Young People Making Peace -First Presbyterian Church
28 - 9AM - JCVDT - First UCC, Quakertown
29 - 10:15AM - Service of Farewell for Kevin Fruchtl - Ebenezer, New Tripoli
30 - 10AM - Disaster Response Ministry Coordinators from across the state of PA - Zoom Meeting
31 - 6PM - Youth & Young Adult Ministry Team - Conference Office
Taken from the Maine Conference Newsletter...

"Make plans now to join us October 26-27!  Annual Mtg. 2018 - Spirit ~ Stories ~ Love!
Did They Get it Right Already?    
- Gary M. Barraco
     Have you heard our Good News gossip about this workshop?  
     The United Church of Christ has a vision of creating "a just world for all". With the adoption of new purpose and mission statement last year, the hope is for the vision to become a reality. But the UCC's Christian hearts might find that some ancient cultures tucked deep in the corners of our globe could be models for the "just world" we hope to form. Yes, they have been living in harmonious community for thousands of years! How do we weave their story into ours?
     Join guest speaker Gary Barraco, Three Great Loves Ambassador from the Penn Northeast Conference, as he shares the fascinating cultures that are already embodying the Three Great Loves in their everyday living, and how we can do the same."
 
Summary of
PNEC Board of Directors Actions taken at their
June 13, 2018 Meeting
 
A Statement on the separation of families from the Interfaith Action
Committee of the Lehigh Conference of Churches
 
We're Almost There!
  
     The PNEC Amigos de Guatemala team wants you to know we are close to completing our building project in Monte Margarita. The building is up and all that is left to be done is finish the interior and install a few necessary items such as a back-up electrical generator. However, we need more funds to finish this last phase of the project.
     If your congregation would like to learn how they can support us we have a slide presentation to show you and hand crafted items to sell as gifts.
     You can also donate online on the PNEC website. Click on the events Amigos. Or mail a check with Amigos in the memo line to PNEC, 431 Delaware Ave. Palmerton, Pa 18071
     The Amigos and our partners in Guatemala need your continued support. To learn more, please contact Roger & Karen Heim at rksdheim@rcn.com or phone 610-481-9704.
 
Crossroads Lay Leadership Program
at Moravian Theological Seminary
has two Info Session in early August, both with remote attendance possible through Zoom. Registration is highly recommended; link is:   www.moravianseminary.edu/crossroads   and look for the Info Session Registration link
 
Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry
a 3-part educational series called
Consistory/Council 101
September 15th, October 6th and October 27th
10AM - 12 Noon
We are asking all Consistory/Council Presidents to place this educational opportunity on their upcoming agenda for consideration.  Download your Registration Form 
 
Greater Allentown CROP Hunger Walk
Sun., Oct. 8, 2017
1:30 p.m., with registration beginning at 12:45 p.m.
St. Timothy Lutheran Church, 140 S. Ott St., Allentown,
 
For more information, go to www.crophungerwalk.org

Food Bank Drive
at the Greater Allentown CROP Hunger Walk, Sunday, October 8, 2017
The Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank serves 40-60 families each day. Please help by donating these items desperately in need: tuna fish, beans, canned vegetables, canned fruit, soup, peanut butter, rice, Jell-O, cereal, pasta, pasta sauce.
 A Food Bank truck will be at the CROP Hunger walk to receive your donations. Thank you for your continued support.
 Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank, 534 Chew Street, Allentown, PA 18102 610-821-1332

CROP Recruiters' Pizza Party/Kick-Off
Sunday, August 26; 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Receive materials, ideas, and inspiration for yourself and your congregation at St. Timothy. 
RSVP to Linda Held by Wednesday, August 22 at jucc2441@ptd.net
 
2018 Boundaries Workshops
"Essential Boundaries for Wise Leaders"
                      Sponsored by NE PA Synod 
2018 Workshops will be held: 

   Tuesday, October 23 - St. Paul's Lutheran, Dallas

   Wednesday, October 24 - Christ Hamilton United,
 Stroudsburg
 
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
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