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Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
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My dear friends and colleagues,
In the almost 15 months I have served as your Conference Minister, I have been honored by your support and welcome. I have attended, preached, or led worship in 70 local PNEC churches. When pastoral searches, training or other supports have been needed I have been at some churches multiple times. It is a joy to see the diversity of our congregations, to work alongside our ministers and congregants and to be a part of the whole of the Penn Northeast Conference. I have been, will be, and am committed to the health and well-being of the local congregations. I hope you have been pleased with the support you have received and will share with us joys, needs and issues as they arise.
As your Conference Minister I want to encourage your attendance at the Annual Fall Conference meeting. At this meeting we will be looking at revisions of our conference constitution and bylaws, our motion to move forward in our work with the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference to form a new unified conference and conference council, a resolution to go to the General Synod in June to approve our continuation of this work, and the passing of our 2019 Conference Budget. Your input is needed at this important meeting.
We are in this work, the work of being the church of Jesus Christ, together. We are the conference – all of us – church members and friends, authorized ministers, staff and lay people – we are the conference. Please be with us as we make decisions and move into the future together as one church, one faith, one baptism, and one conference.
In Christ’s love,
Bonnie
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Transgender Day of Remembrance
A Gathering in Memory of Those Lost and Victimized by Anti-Tans Violence
Monday, November 19 - 7PM - Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem
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Dear friends and colleagues,
As a woman who as a teen had to petition a school superintendent for equal rights for female sports and music programs, I am deeply concerned about the recent requests of the current Administration asking the Department of Health to establish a legal definition of sex under Title IX, and to establish as a gender definition of male or female, established by genitalia at birth, and unalterable throughout a person's life.
Title IX was established to safeguard individuals from discrimination and now our government wants to define gender in the narrowest possible way, refusing to take into account the research indicating the fluidity of gender identification over time. To presume to define for an individual, at birth, their gender is to presume no development of the social, psychological, biological, or spiritual development of an individual.
The United Church of Christ has long stood for Imago Dei, the concept that every human being is created in the image of God – every individual, every human being. Whether you completely understand the concepts of gender identity or sexual orientation, I urge you to reject the inherent discrimination in presuming that each individual cannot choose for themselves their identity and gender. Please follow the link below to the statement released by the national setting of the United Church of Christ.
In Christ's love, Bonnie
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Christmas Card Project with churches in Japan
Dear friends
It is that time of year again when I am looking for UCC and Disciples churches interested in participating in the Christmas Card Project this year with churches in Japan. These churches have historical ties to our UCC/Disciples denominations, and have been facing many unprecedented issues as a result of the ongoing nuclear disaster in Fukushima.
I will be asking you to send a Christmas card to one or two churches in early December, AND to lift these churches up in prayer sometime during the advent season. Once I have a firm idea of the number of US churches participating, I will send to you the names and updated information about the Japanese churches to which you will be assigned. If you have participated in this project before, I will try to match you with the same churches that you had before. Our partners in the Kyodan (the UCCJ) have asked that we continue this project, and I am encouraged to see how the Spirit is leading us as brothers and sisters in new patterns of partnership.
This is now the fifth year for the Christmas Card Project. It is one way to reach out globally through prayer. Please discuss this with your congregation and let me know before November 15, whether you will be participating. I will send you the contacts and necessary information by November 15th (THU). This will give you plenty of time to prepare the Christmas cards to send off by the beginning of December. Also, please let me know the name and contact address for the person who will act as contact person from your congregation this year. If you need stories and current information on what is happening in Japan please go to my blog at
http://jeffreyfromjapan.blogspot.com/
This year we were/will be blessed by two visits from churches in the US. In July, Dr. Carol Lytch from Lancaster Theological Seminary PA visited Tohoku Gakuin in Sendai. In November we are anticipating a visit from Altadena Community Church UCC, in Los Angeles, CA. These are precious visits that remind us of our common witness in Christ.
This Project is an opportunity for churches to lift each other up in prayer. The situation in and around Fukushima reminds us that sometimes we are called to live with hope even when our environs are toxic and dangerous. I know your gesture of solidarity means a lot to our partners in Japan. Please do not hesitate also to ask for prayers for what is happening in and around your congregation as well. In this way share mutually in the ministry of God’s mission.
Yours in Christ Rev. Jeffrey Mensendiek, CGMB missionary / serving in Tokyo, Japan
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Collaboration - A Live Stream Workshop
Greetings! The Conference has purchased access to a live stream workshop called "Collaboration" that
focuses on clergy/musician understanding, skills, working relationship and process. We hope you will take advantage of your free access provided by this office. When clergy and musicians work together well, it makes a big difference to the worship life of a congregation as well as the quality of life and longevity for all involved. Whether you have a well-oiled process or need some help, this workshop will deepen your conversations and help you reflect on fine-tuning your work. Dr. Marcia McFee and Chuck Bell bring decades of experience and collaboration to this conversation.
--Bonnie Bates
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Disaster Response Ministry
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Disaster Recovery Specialist Position Description (Eastern Regional)
TITLE:
UCC Disaster Recovery Specialist (Eastern Regional)
(2 year position with possibility for extension)
REPORTS TO:
Conference Minister, Southern Conference UCC
WORK SUPERVISOR:
UCC Disaster Ministries Executive
GENERAL PURPOSE OF POSITION
: The UCC Disaster Recovery Specialist (DRS) supports the efforts of UCC Disaster Ministries regionally and within conferences by taking a lead role following large scale disasters.
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SETCDC Construction Manager Position Description
(Hurricane Harvey Recovery)
Reports To:
SETCDC President
Job Description: T
he
SETCDC Construction Manager
is a full-time salary position that is expected to oversee all aspects of construction projects, including assessments, for SETCDC (in cooperation with UCC Disaster Ministries) as it pertains to the rehabilitation of properties damaged by Hurricane Harvey and/or properties that will be used to house persons/families displaced by Hurricane Harvey.
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Stay Updated and Involved: Visit our disaster
website
.
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The Penn Northeast Conference Presents....
the 14th Annual Youth Retreat
"#REALTALK"
"Sexuality and our Faith"
All youth in grades 6th - 12th are invited
February 22-24, 2019
Blue Mountain Christian Retreat, 1 Christian Ln., New Ringgold, PA
$145 per person (includes meals Saturday & Sunday)
Limited Space...Register Early!
Click here
for Registration Flyer.
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MINISTRY TRAINING UPDATES (continuing education)
ALL Authorized Ministers, please note:
We will start identifying these kinds of links as continuing education opportunities – even though the policy doesn’t go into effect until January 1. If you have any questions, please contact the
Penn Northeast Conference Office at 610-826-3113. Thank You!
Click
HERE
for list of some upcoming opportunities!
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Another Continuing Education Opportunity
BUILD YOUR PRODUCTIVE CONFLICT SKILLS!
Join Our Everything DiSC®
Productive Conflict Virtual Workshop!
November 7, 2018 --- 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
Fee $86.00 - includes your assessment & virtual workshop
We'll show you how to use your personalized assessment results to explore your destructive conflict behaviors, understand how to better manage your responses in conflict and discover communication strategies to engage in productive conflict with colleagues.
ACT FAST AND REGISTER TODAY! Space is limited. Only the first 20 registrants will be admitted
When you register you'll get 2 emails:
1. A link to your assessment that you'll need to complete by Nov. 2
2. A link to the virtual workshop and instructions
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Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering
Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering is a faith-based partnership that provides a network of care and hospitality for the homeless in our community. Beginning December 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019 BES provides a meal and overnight sheltering daily to our homeless neighbors.
The shelter site, Christ United Church of Christ, 75 E. Market St., Bethlehem, opens Sunday through Saturday 5pm and closes at 7am (the following morning).
Having been homeless for a period of time in my childhood, taught me much about life and about God. It is a privilege and humbling experience to be able to be a part of this critical outreach today, and grateful for all who volunteer - churches and organizations and individuals – who help provide care to those who are in need during the coldest months of the year. It is volunteers who make this important ministry possible. If you are interested in volunteering for this outreach, call the shelter at 484-379-6694 or visit
http://www.bethlehememergencysheltering.org/
In Christ’s Love and Light, Pastor Debra, St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem
Volunteer Training Sessions
Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering will host two volunteer training sessions. If you plan to serve as a volunteer this season, please attend at least one of these sessions.
- Saturday, Nov. 3: 9am to noon - Star of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 514 Third Ave., Bethlehem
- Saturday, Nov.17: 9am to noon - Star of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 514 Third Ave., Bethlehem.
To register, visit the BES website and click on BES TRAINING SESSIONS PAGE.
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UPCOMING EVENTS...
Upcoming Courses:
For Everyone:
* Understanding the Bible as a Progressive Christian, 6-week course (Oct 24 – Dec 11)
* Small Church Administration, 6-week course (Oct 24-Dec 11, 2018)
--
Gathering & Dinner -
Saturday, October 27, Trinity Episcopal Church, 234 Spring Garden St., Easton
--UCC’s Office of Philanthropy, Technology, Information & Communications (OPTIC)
is presenting the 2nd in a series of free online discussions featuring pastors who share how they are leading their churches toward meeting financial & membership goals. Questions will also be taken.
Join us!
-- D
ate: Tuesday, October 30, 2018 - Time: 7pm to 8pm Eastern Time -
Please submit the registration form below. You will be provided with a dial-in number when we receive your registration. Latecomers will be placed on a wait list and notified if any slots open up.
REGISTER NOW
--
Creative Worship at Moravian Theological Seminary -
starts Nov 1 and runs eight sessions until Nov 29. Registration and exact schedule on website at
www.moravianseminary.edu/crossroads
.
Instructor Rev. Maggie Wellert has a passion for designing worshipful experiences. This course is part of the Crossroads Lay Leadership Program and is open to anyone including church staff members.
Dr. Jill Peters
,
Missional Leadership Developer
-- Origins, Doctrines & Practices of Islam
- Tuesday, November 6, 2018 - 7:00 PM
AND
Islam’s Relationship with Eastern Orthodox Christianity
- Tuesday, November 13, 2018 – 7:00 PM
at HOLY RESURRECTION ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL, 591 North Main Street, Wilkes- Barre, PA
--
MissionInsite Training with the Penn Central Conference -
Wednesday November 14 from 1-4 pm at the Penn Central Conference office. (717-652-1560)
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Spread the Word... PNEC and PSEC are sponsoring two mission trips to
Puerto Rico
April 28 - May 4, 2019
&
June
12 - 18, 2019
Penn Northeast Conference, UCC, 431 Delaware Avenue Palmerton, PA 18071
Checks should be made payable to Penn Northeast Conference.
*The deposit is not refundable.
Deadline is November 15, 2018.
Please complete a form for each person.
Here are some possible expenses expected per person, including airfare, food, transportation and other expenses: We are considering that the total cost per person will be $1,000.00 for all the expenses. This is a basic estimate so we can plan individually. Other topic discussed was the different documents that every person will need for the project: passport, health insurance, medication rules and releases from UCC. Since is the beginning of the coordination, we are identifying elements needed so everyone can start deciding and clarifying their decision of been part of the project.
If you want additional information, please contact Gilberto Garcia-Rodrigues, PNEC Associate Conference Minister at
hispanicucc@rcn.com.
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Children's Sermon for Oct. 28
(
based on
Mark 10:46-52
)
- Rev. David Quinn
Items needed: roll of toilet paper, some small dolls or action figures. After kids come up, ask one to use her/his foot to hold loose end of toilet paper, while you unroll it down the aisle. Explain that you have just made a path. Put dolls down by the toilet paper. See, I have put these down, so they are sitting by the path. Is that what a path is for--to sit by? No! A path is for moving forward! (Move figures along the toilet paper.) In today's Bible reading, there is a person named Bartimaeus, who is sitting by a path, as Jesus walks by. Bartimaeus is blind, but Jesus heals him, so he can see. Bartimaeus decides to go with Jesus, on the path Jesus is taking, (Move figures forward on the path.) That's what faith is--go with Jesus, on the path He wants to take us on.
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SAVE THE DATE...
Mental Health Awareness Event - November 8 from 7 to 9PM at St. John's UCC, Coopersburg (joint venture with Chestnut Hill, Coopersburg & St. John's, Coopersburg
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2017 Annual Report of the UCC
The National Setting of the United Church of Christ is pleased to announce the availability of the 2017 Annual Report. To manage costs, a very small print run is distributed on a limited basis.
You can download a PDF version here:
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Uniting Church & Community
Through Music & Art
June 25-28, 2019
First Cong. UCC, Madison, WI
12th Biennial National Confrence of the United Church of Christ Musicians Association
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Dear Friends of the UCC Musicians Association
If you are still thinking about music for the Christmas season, please consider adding "The Christmas Silence" to your list.
"The Christmas Silence" is a gentle lullaby for SATB voices with piano accompaniment. It is based on a lovely poem by Margaret Deland.
Laura V. Belanger
Sanbornton Cong. Church, Sanbornton, NH
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Attention youth leaders!
As we take to the task of revamping the youth and young adult ministries of the national UCC setting there are several projects that are in the works. One of those is to offer a 2019 Lenten devotion which will be available for download early next year. I am seeking a total of 46 writers between the ages of 12 and 30 (give or take a year or two) and trying to reserve half of those spaces for youth and young adults of color to highlight our commitment to diversity. I am reaching out to you to see if you can 1) provide names and contact information of individuals who may be interested and able to write a devotion and 2) can circulate this request to those in your networks.
Over the next few weeks I will be working to secure the names of our writers and will then follow up with additional information (particular biblical text, desired length of the devotion and deadline) hopefully by Nov. 1
st and will be looking for devotions to be turned in just after Thanksgiving to give enough time for editing and working with our graphic designed.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out and I thank you for your help in securing these names and making our first devotional a great success.
Peace and Blessings,
Rev. Trayce L, Stewart
Minister for Youth and Young Adult Engagement
Faith INFO
(Faith Education, Innovation, and Formation), UCC -
stewartt@ucc.org ;
216-736-3870
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Global Youth Justice
Registration Open
21st Global Youth Justice Training
Implement, Enhance, Expand and/or Learn
Youth/Teen/Student/Peer Court and Peer Jury
Tuesday, January 29, 2019 to Thursday, January 31, 2019
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
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Antoinette Brown Award Nomination
Celebrate the life & ministry of Antoinette Brown and all women in ordained ministry. Nominees for
Trailblazers should be ordained clergywomen in the UCC who honor Antoinette Brown's vision of women in leadership in church and society. Nominees for
Catalysts are projects, collectives, congregations or organizations that serve as provocative places that advance and empower women in ministry. For a nomination form, please
click here
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Clergy Housing Tax Break Lands in Seventh Circuit
Oral arguments were held yesterday in the clergy housing allowance case that is on appeal in the Seventh Circuit. The report from the Courthouse News Service indicates that the panel of judges appeared to be sympathetic to clergy, which is positive. While we hoped to have a decision by the end of the year, CNS is reporting that early next year may be possible
.
Click here
for a link to the article
- Heather E. Kimmel, General Counsel, UCC
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River Currents
News from Johns River Valley Camp
Johns River Valley Camp seeks to provide, in an outdoor setting, opportunities for persons to experience the presence of God, to discover personal wholeness, and to participate amidst Christian community.
At Johns River Valley Camp we offer meaningful and enjoyable Mission Camp opportunities. Surrounded by the Southern Appalachian Mountains we find ourselves in the midst of beauty and at the same time poverty.
Our mission campers are given the opportunity to build handicap ramps, do small home repairs which help people qualify for Federal funding to have their homes weatherized, do river cleanup, partner with senior agencies to assist the elderly, work in F.A.R.M. Cafe(Feed All Regardless of Means), and more. Beyond what we accomplish we seek to educate our campers regarding our connections to those we serve.
The following weeks have been set aside as Mission Camp weeks for 2019: June 9-15, June 23-29, July 7-13 and July 21-27. Contact us today at
phardy.jrvc@gmail.com
to begin planning your trip. Peace, Phil Hardy
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ONLINE UCC History
, Theology &
Polity Course -- Jan/Feb 2019
Course meets the requirements as set forth by the UCC Polity Teacher's Network will be offered online in Jan/Feb 2019. The instructor, Rev. David Gaewski, Conference Minister of the New York Conference, UCC. Classes begin are 9:30am to 3:30pm on: Jan 19, 26, Feb 2, 9. Platform utilized will be Zoom Video Conferencing (
zoom.us
) Tuition is $495. For more information contact Rev. David Gaewski,
davidgaewski@uccny.org
The course is sponsored by the Oneida Association of the NY Conference. Send payment no later than January 11
th
to: UCC Polity Course, Attn: David Gaewski, 5575 Thompson Road, Dewitt, NY 13031. Make checks payable to David Gaewski.
A syllabus is available upon request. Laity, Members in Discernment and Privilege of Call candidates are all invited! Class size is limited to the first fifteen to register. The course will be cancelled if we do not obtain seven registered students. A student is considered registered when full payment has been received. Students who cancel enrollment will receive reimbursements up until January 15th. Please note several recent courses reached maximum capacity.
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Copyright and the Church
A link has been added at
http://www.ucc.org/worship
for a copyright presentation that Heather Kimmel, UCC General Counsel, recorded for Local Churches. Scroll to the bottom where it says Copyright and the Church and then click on the presentation, which is hosted on YouTube. I hope it is helpful to you
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Lehigh Conference of Churches
Praise Band Showcase 2018
WHAT
- Three Inspiring Bands, One Uplifting
Concert
WHEN
-
Sunday, November 11, 2018 at 3:00 P.M.
WHERE
- New Creation UCC, 3730 Nicholas St., Easton (Palmer) - Phone: 610-253-1541
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Food Items Needed for the Ecumenical Soup Kitchen's Annual Thanksgiving Meal.
Please contact Laura Rowe 610-433-6421 or
lrowe@lehighchurches.org
if you would like to donate. They are also collecting donations during the week of November 12 at the Dubbs Memorial Community Center, 457 W. Allen St., Allentown. Items needed are stuffing mix, packaged grave, canned green beans, canned yams, French fried onions (French's), butter (pounds and pats), iced tea mix. Gift cards to help us purchase these items are also greatly appreciated!
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Seeking “Christmas Heroes” to Sponsor Local Children
The Lehigh Conference of Churches is seeking businesses, organizations, schools, and individuals to sponsor a family this Christmas season through the Pathways Housing Services non-profit program. Families housed through Pathways are low-income, previously homeless, or were on the verge of homelessness. Sponsors will be provided family information, including children ages and wish-lists. Donations are tax-deductible. Please inquire with Christine Rinker, 610-439-8653. Deadline to become a sponsor is November 16, 2018.
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We ThirstTM - Christian Reflections
on Addiction
Join us for a five-part series beginning in January on the epidemic of addiction and our Christian response. This series is presented by author and facilitator, Nina Marie Corona, M.A., C.R.S. On
Thursday evenings from January 29th through February 26, 2019
, these multi-media presentations will explore the importance of mercy, faith, and love.
These sessions are particularly useful for clergy, counselors, nurses, and educators, but all will benefit from the tools and resources that are provided.
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