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Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
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SAVE THE DATE
Ministry Day
October 10, 2019 - 8:30AM to 3:30PM
St. John's UCC (Fullerton), 575 Grape Street, Whitehall
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PNEC Fall Conference Meeting - Saturday, November 2, 2019
St. John United Church of Christ, 22 Atlas Road, Northampton
Keynote Speaker: Tod Bolsinger, PhD
Author of
Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory
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Lehigh Conference of Churches
I want to share with you an effort that our Board of Directors is spearheading in an effort to create a partnership between the Lehigh Conference of Churches and the Parish Resource Center. We believe that this is a significant way that we can support congregations in both Lehigh and Northampton Counties. The request is for support of this initiative by the Penn Northeast Conference.
Below is some background on PRC and the discount membership that they are providing for churches related to the Lehigh Conference of Churches.
Below you will also find areas of support and expertise provided by the Parish Resource Center.
2019 Membership Parish Resource Center (PRC)
Since its founding in 1976, the Parish Resource Center (PRC) has served churches of 13 denominations as well as independent congregations by providing congregations with the tools they need to advance their ministries. PRC also helps to create a network of support among faith communities. As a non-profit, we work to keep our rates low so that our services are affordable to even the smallest churches.
Annual Worship Attendance
PRC Annual Fee The Lehigh Conference of Churches Fee
1- 49 $225 $202.50
50- 99 $375 $337.50
100- 199 $525 $472.50
200- 349 $675 $607.50
(Rates for congregations with an average weekend attendance of 350 or more are available upon request.)
This membership includes FREE expert consulting in these areas:
o church growth
o pastoral care
o spiritual direction
o Christian Education
o intergenerational ministries
o Vacation Bible School
o youth activities
o teacher training
o curriculum selection and/or development
o banner creation
o volunteer recruitment
o website design
o social media management
o creating a discipline policy for your church
o setting spiritual goals for your children
o and more.
Affordable training and resourcing from PRC's list of expert consultants, who are specialists in specific
fields and focuses. They provide church and lay leaders with advice, often by meeting them either in
their building; remotely, using practical technology; or at the PRC. These consultants work in:
o conflict resolution
o stewardship
o choosing a sound system
o building a worship team
o Human Resources
o office administration
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NEW MINISTERIAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM DEBUTS
Dear Penn Northeast Churches & Colleagues:
Grace and peace! I am pleased to share news about a
new, part-time program
of theological education for local church leaders. The Ministerial Institute of the Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry at Lancaster Theological Seminary is designed for lay ministers, individuals in discernment, and other church leaders. This is an
ecumenical program
of theological education focused on
leadership in the local congregation
.
The Ministerial Institute is a three-year, non-degree program with classes in adaptive leadership, Christian theology, church history, biblical interpretation, financial and strategic health, and more. Classes are taught by experienced pastors, each of whom brings expertise and passion to their teaching.
Classes are offered online September through April and in-person at Lancaster Seminary for one week each July.
Students may sign up for the entire program or take classes a la carte. Participants in the full program also participate in a facilitated, covenant peer group and serve a concurrent ministry placement.
If you or someone you know is seeking education for church leadership, this may be the program you’ve been looking for!
The documents linked below can be used as an article or graphic for your church newsletter and other communications with your community.
Blessings,
Darryl Stephens, Director, Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry at Lancaster Seminary
(Darryl holds a PhD in Christian Ethics from Emory University and an MDiv from Perkins School of Theology. In addition to directing the Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry, he is the Director of United Methodist Studies and teaches Ministerial Ethics and Healthy Boundaries at Lancaster Theological Seminary. Darryl and his wife, Myka Kennedy Stephens, have been part of the Lancaster Seminary Community since May 2014. Myka is the Seminary Librarian and Assistant Professor of Theological Bibliography.)
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Minor Housing Reconstruction Project in Puerto Rico
It has been a year since IEUPR & UCC Disaster Ministries started the Minor Housing Reconstruction Project in Puerto Rico. 31 volunteer groups, 327 volunteers later, we can say that it has been a very successful year. Thank you to all of you who had made Puerto Rico's reconstruction possible.
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The action of our churches is being requested by UCC Disaster Ministries to help with the devastating disasters that are taking place across the USA! Our time, talents, and financial resources are needed now. Here is how you/we can help:
1.
Make a donation to the
“Emergency USA Fund” online or
make checks payable to United Church of Christ, with "Emergency USA Fund" in the memo. Mail to: United Church of Christ c/o Financial Services office, 700 Prospect Ave., Cleveland OH 44115.
2
. DO assemble Emergency Cleanup Buckets, Personal Hygiene Kits or School Kits.
Click here
to learn more. UCC mini-grants are still available. If you have kits to be delivered to CWS, please contact Karl Jones at
kjones275@comcast.net
. There will be a truck going to Maryland in mid-July.
4.
Volunteer for Recovery Work in eastern and central PA - contact Karl Jones for details.
5. Pray for all impacted by disasters including those directly impacted, their families and friends. Pray for all those involved as first responders such as fire, police, and other emergency management professionals and all volunteers.
Thank you for kindness & generosity, Rev. Karl Jones, PNEC CDC
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Disaster Preparedness Workshop June 22 During UCC General Synod
The tools and strategies presented at this General Synod workshop will form the basis of training experience to be held on Saturday, September 28, at a lace and time to be determined
within Penn Northeast Conference. This training will be led by the PNEC Disaster Coordinator, Karl Jones, and UCC Disaster Recovery Specialist, Ken Skalitzky. Watch for more information about this event coming soon!
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Twisters in Ohio
Every day for the last two weeks, people in some part of the United States have been living under a threat of tornadoes. In Ohio Monday night, a number of twisters touched down, converging on the Dayton area. Tuesday, an extremely powerful storm tore through communities in Kansas. In both ravaged locales, members of the United Church of Christ jumped to action to help impacted neighbors and strangers, soon to be friends.
Click Here for full article!
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UCC Disaster Ministries Hurricane Work Site
A new hurricane recovery work site! Help Hurricane Michael survivors in Florida's Panhandle recover. Click here for full information about this opportunity and the UCC's other work sites in Volusia County, FL; Port Harvey, TX; and Puerto Rico
https://bit.ly/1Ne9m56
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Give Now to Support Recovery from Cyclones, including Idai and Kenneth in Mozambique
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Resources and Links from UCC Disaster Ministries
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Our friends at FEMA have prepared two toolkits for June -
Pet Preparedness and Heat and Drought
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For Up-To-Date Information click the link below
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Niagara Youth Festival
taking place October 25
th
– 27
th
in Silver Spire United Church, St. Catharines. If you would like more information google Niagara Youth Festival. The cost of this event is $25 per person and includes a time of worship, workshops, and getting to know youth from the United Church Canada.
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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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From the Acting Executive Director of Pathways
The biggest news of 2019 for PATHWAYS is the successful launch of our new website! It can still be found at
www.pathwaystheological.org
but check out the new design, updated and easy to read content, and the addition of PayPal as the platform for donations and course payments! This update alone will make payments for our participants from outside the United States much easier.
We have some great new courses that coincide with our new Certificates starting August 2019.
- CERTIFICATE OF FOUNDATIONAL THEOLOGY
- BIBLICAL STUDIES CERTIFICATE
- THEOLOGICAL STUDIES CERTIFICATE
- PREACHING CERTIFICATE
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Theology Matters: Curriculum Resources for ALL Ages
Friends in Ministry,
Have you ever had questions about Faith Formation in your congregation? The PNEC Faith Formation Ministry Team is sponsoring a SPECIAL EVENT for YOU! Please see the flyer below and share it with your Faith Formation team. This event will be geared to assist with planning the 2019-2020 year in the following ways:
- Adult Small Groups, Confirmation, Children, and Youth, and will include multicultural resources, as well!
Continuing Education hours are available for attending.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact your Faith Formation Ministry team. If you have an interest in helping with the event and others, we welcome your input.
Yours in Christ,
Janet Newett, for the Faith Formation Ministry Team
To register and pay, please click on the link below:
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WISDOM SCHOOL: THE DIVINE EXCHANGE
A FIVE-DAY RETREAT
Sunday, July 28-Friday, August 2, 2019
Price: $725 (with overnight lodging), $600 (without overnight lodging)
Moravian Seminary in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
This Wisdom School will highlight teachings on the Divine Exchange from Cynthia Bourgeault, Episcopal priest and Wisdom teacher. Participants will receive Cynthia’s luminous teaching and transmission, and the integration of this teaching will be facilitated by on-site Wisdom leaders Marcella Kraybill-Greggo and Jeanine Siler Jones.
Wisdom School participants will experience the rhythm and tools specific to a "wisdom way of knowing," an integral way of knowing that engages and harmonizes the three intelligence centers: heart, mind and movement.
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The Spiritual Renewal Partners
Spring Retreat
The PNEC Spiritual Renewal Partners are hosting a Spring Retreat on
Saturday, June 8, 2019 at Jordan UCC from 9am to 3pm
. Please
click here
to see the full flyer for complete details and registration form.
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2020 UCC Desk Calendar
This popular, 18-month (July 2019 - December 2020) planning calendar for the UCC is 8.5" x 11" and spiral-bound. The calendar includes complete lectionary readings for every Sunday, special mission offering dates, special observances and a directory of national staff.
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Children's Sermon for June 9
(based on Acts 2:1-21)
- by Rev. Dave Quinn
Items needed: plate, 2 hot dogs, 2 buns, cooler, frying pan, altar candle. Beforehand, freeze one of the hot dogs. On Sunday morning, put frozen hot dog in cooler. Beforehand, brown the other hot dog. On Sunday, put this one in pan. After kids come up, ask who likes hot dogs? Tell them you have a hot dog, . Take frozen one out of cooler, put in bun, and put on plate. Then tell them, here's a frozen hot dog. Then tell them, you have another hot dog. Show them the one in the frying pan, then put pan over altar candle and explain that the flame is warming up the hot dog. Then put this one in the other bun. Which hot dog would you prefer--the cold one, or the warm one. Christians are like hot dogs--warm ones are better than frozen ones. In today's Bible reading, there's something called the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is like that candle on the altar---the Spirit works to warm up people, in their hearts, so they can become warm people, who love more like Jesus loves.
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UPCOMING EVENTS..
--June 8 - 7th Annual Muslim Funday - (Raindate is June 9) - 10AM to 7PM at Covered Bridge Park, 2465 Wehr Mill Rd., Allentown - delicious food, exciting rides - website
http://lvmuslimevents.org
--June 10 -
The 21st Century Church and Volcanic Culture - 9AM-4PM -
Quakertown United Methodist Church - Register:
loribethwagner@gmal.com
or 360.298.8327 - $20 per person includes
continental breakfast and full lunch - Based on Len's long-awaited sequel to the best-selling
Soul Tsunami:
Rings of Fire -
Click Here for Registration/Flyer --
"Fire Up!", Methodist Revival Tent Meeting, Quakertown UMC under the Tent, Guest Preacher: Leonard Sweet, Free Entry for Everyone
8AM to 8PM
--
June 17 -
Christian White Supremacy - 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
--
June 18-20 -
Registration Open for the 22nd Global Youth Justice Training Youth/Teen/Student/ Peer Court Diversion Programs --
in Las Vegas, Nevada -
Registration Information
--June 25-28 at First Cong. UCC, Madison, WI - Uniting Church & Community Through Music & Art - 12th Biennial National Conference of the United Church of Christ Musicians Association
--June 29 - 9AM-4PM - Giving Thanks for the Healing Ministry of Gestalt Pastoral Care - Zwingli UCC, 350 Wile Ave., Souderton, PA --
Click Here for detailed flyer and how to register. If you have questions about Gestalt Pastoral Care, you may call Becca Yoder Stephens at 484-529-8369.
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