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Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
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Friends,
At its General Assembly the United Methodist Church decided to maintain its proscriptions against same gender weddings and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy. Our hearts go out to the LGBTQ members of the United Methodist church, both clergy and laity. It is difficult to be excluded from full participation in all the rights and rituals of a denomination which you love. Yesterday we shared a letter from the leadership of our denomination extending hospitality and love to those who have been excluded. While not all our churches are Open and Affirming, or maybe not even welcoming of individuals who identify as LGBTQ, we need to remember that we are the church that proclaims, “whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.” More than that we are a part of the Body of Christ, called to love God and to love our neighbor – all our neighbors. As people struggle with acceptance, I urge us, each and every one of us, to extend the hand of Christian love, grace and friendship in these days and all the days ahead. May it be so. Blessings, Bonnie
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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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Dial by your location
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Meeting ID: 253 316 980
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UCC Data Hub is Open
The Data Hub is open and ready to receive your church’s 2018 membership and financial information. The Data Hub will close March 6. If you don’t feel comfortable entering information on the Data Hub, please complete the forms mailed to your church last week. In any event, don’t hesitate to call or email me and I will help you in the process. 610.826.3113 or
BarbaraJ@pnec.org
. Thank you, Barbara
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Thank you to the following churches who contributed to OCWM during the month of January 2019.
Church of the Good Shepherd, Alburtis Emmanuel, Nuremberg
Cedar (Cetronia), Allentown St. John's, Palmerton
Grace, Allentown Trinity Cong., Scranton
Salem (Moorestown), Bath Good Shepherd, Slatedale
Christ, Bethlehem St. John's, Slatington
St. Peter’s (Shumans), Bloomsburg St. Paul's, Swiftwater
Emmanuel, Bowmanstown Grace, Tannersville
St. John’s, Laurys Station St. Peter's, Tatamy
Zion, Lehighton St. John's, Wapwallopen
Union, Neffs St. Mark's (Pond Hill), Wapwallopen
Christ's Church at Lowhill, New Tripoli St. Lukes, Wilkes Barre
St. Peters (Lynnville), New Tripoli Hope, Wind Gap
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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 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
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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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Clergy Communities of Practice
Focus on the praxis of ministry, learn from colleagues, be fed spiritually and physically
There are some available spots for Rev. David Charles Smith's Community of Practice -
General Pastoral Ministry. If YOU are interested in signing up for this Community of Practice, the cost is $250. Please be in touch with Patty at the Conference Office or Rev. David Charles Smith at
therrev@aol.com
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS...
- March 3 - 3PM - ORDINATION - Bob Gutekunst - Forks UCC, 4500 Sullivan Trail, Stockertown
- 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
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:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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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Reboot Your Worship Lent 2019 experience
Here is the link so you can each sign up to participate:
REBOOT: Week 6 Q&A Recording -
Greetings, Rebooters!
Thanks to those of you who joined us live! I loved hearing how Reboot has made a difference already in your worship! Those of you who could not be on live,
watch the recording I've posted on the Week 6 page
HERE
, or go directly to the video
HERE
. We talked about the Politics of Change, staying on a plan-ahead schedule and reviewed the 5 Reboot Basics.
if you have not been able to keep up
with this 6-week intensive "Reboot" -
never fear!
You will continue to have access as long as you want to all the materials. Do set your own reminders to continue moving forward so you can reap the rewards of intentional focus for making your worship better. On Sunday, we will be sending you one more email that will give you access to all the links from Reboot collected in one place so that you will be able to easily reference any of the materials from the past six weeks.
If you are interested in earning 1.5 CEU's for your Reboot participation, please
take our CEU survey
. We will review your answers and send a certificate for 1.5 credits to folks who demonstrate good engagement with the materials.
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 3
(
based on Luke Luke 9:28-36
)
- by Rev. Dave Quinn
Items needed:
Set of window blinds, lamp without shade, two child or adult volunteers. Beforehand, set blinds so they are almost completely closed. After kids come up, ask volunteers to stand, holding either end of blinds. Tell them this is Jesus. Bring out lit lamp, and explain that this is the light of God’s Spirit. Put behind blinds and point how you can see the light, a little, through the blinds. See how you can see the light or the spirit through “Jesus.” Now, this is what happens in today’s Bible reading. Turn blinds handle so slats are open as much as possible. See, now you can see the light much more. In today’s Bible reading, God opens the blinds totally so the followers of Jesus can see how Jesus is full of the light of the Spirit. God wants all the followers to know that the light of Jesus is stronger than any darkness.
Children's Sermon for Ash Wednesday, March 6 (
based on Mt. 6:1-6, 16-21
)
Items needed: tray, fake gold coins you can get at dollar store or party store, sharp knife, gold ring. Show one of the fake gold coins and ask them what it is. Show them gold ring, and ask what it is. Does anybody know, how I could see which is fake, pretend, and which is real? Take out sharp knife, hold fake coin over tray, and use the sharp tip to scrap off, the gold coating. Show everybody how coin is NOT gold, once you scratch away what's on the surface. Hold up gold ring---if I were to scratch at this with the point of the knife, it would still be gold underneath. That's the difference, between fake and real---what's underneath the outside. In tonight's Bible reading, Jesus tells us that God doesn't care about what our outsides look like. God cares about what's INSIDE.
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UPCOMING EVENTS...
--March 7 - 2-3:30PM ET
-
Caring for the Whole Self: MIDs and Authorized Ministers
with Renee Jackson - This workshop will explore the Mark “Caring for All Creation” in the context of considering the mental, spiritual, physical, and emotional health of MIDs and authorized ministers.
--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.
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
.
--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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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.
WHY:
All proceeds from the Benefit support educational opportunities for healthcare workers and the greater community. Phoebe is able to provide educational conferences at low or no cost to attendees thanks to the generosity of the Benefit’s sponsors and attendees.
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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Open Wide Our Hearts
the enduring call to love...
a pastoral letter against racism
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Registration Open
22nd Global Youth Justice Training
Youth/Teen/Student/Peer Court Diversion Programs
June 18, 2019 to June 20 2019
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
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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:
March 1 and 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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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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March 5, 2019. 1 pm Eastern
Live Video.
With experts from leading humanitarian and development organization Oxfam and Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP).
Join CMEP for a live webinar on
March 5th
from
1:00-2:00 pm EDT
on Yemen featuring experts from CMEP and Oxfam America. The war in Yemen is responsible for the largest humanitarian crisis in the world today with the UN estimating nearly 12 million people--half the population-- are at risk for famine. Yemen is also facing the world's largest cholera outbreak, with over one million reported cases. According to Oxfam, since 2015, there have been more than 17,000 civilian deaths or injuries. The impact on children is especially daunting, with nearly 2 million children suffering from malnutrition.
Since 2015, the US has provided support to the Saudi led coalition by providing air to air refueling and logistical support. In February, the House passed a bipartisan and historic resolution calling on the US to end its complicity in the war in Yemen. The Senate is expected to vote on this legislation.
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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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Giving Tuesday
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Letter from Missionary
Jeffery Mensendiek
The Tsubomi Café
Greetings from Tokyo, the largest city in Japan. I have been living here for the past nine-months, gradually settling in to my new role as chaplain of J.F. Oberlin University. My family still lives in Kobe, so I try to get home twice a month by taking the bullet train. The trip is four hours door to door. The Japanese have a word for people like myself who live apart from the family. The word is “tanshin.” It is common for companies in Japan to periodically assign their employees to work in a new branch of the company. In such cases the family may decide to stay in the original location for the sake of the children’s education. As my wife and I have been discussing when to move the family to Tokyo, we have been made aware of just how prevalent the tanshin reality is in our surroundings. Economic success has come at great cost to individual families. To read the rest of Jeff's letter,
click here
.
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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 next week 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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UCC Church Building & Loan Fund
Jill White,
Regional Mission Interpreter
Does your church need help with visioning & strategic planning? Re-purposing existing church resources? A capital campaign? Fresh ideas for generosity programs? Loans for renovations, new construction or endowment support? If so, the UCC Church Building & Loan Fund can help! For more information on services offered to local churches, click
HERE
or contact Jill White, Regional Mission Interpreter,
whitej@ucc.org
.
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