•  THIS WEEK IN PNEC                  May 14, 2020
Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
www.pnec.org   610-826-3113; 610-826-5464 FAX
Conference Minister, Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates    bonnieb@pnec.org        
Rev. Gilberto Garcia Rodriguez    hispanicucc@rcn.com
Rev. Christian Creyer     christianc@pnec.org       
Barbara Jennings    barbaraj@pnec.org
Patty Rehrig    pattyr@pnec.org
   SEND ARTICLES TO BE INCLUDED TO   pattyr@pnec.org
Installation of Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates, PNE Conference Minister
Bonnie’s installation date has been moved from June 28 to November 7 – as part of the fall conference meeting
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Letter from Bonnie...
“Jesus said, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments’ (Matthew 22:37-40)” To read the rest of the letter click here .
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PNEC Recommendations on When to Resume In-Person Worship
It feels strange to make a recommendation about when to resume in-person worship to our beloved congregations. Nevertheless, we feel it is our covenantal responsibility to offer the following recommendations knowing that each of you may well have different considerations and pressures which guide your decision-making process. We offer these in prayerful encouragement as you discern your congregation’s future, knowing that your decisions may include struggling with your future ministry.

Cleaning Guidelines based on CDC recommendations:
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Authorized Pastors...Are You Interested in Joining a Community of Practice?
PNEC Communities of Practice
Are accepting participants for 2020. Cost is $250 for the year. (Can be pro-rated when you join.) Counts for ½ of your continuing education hours. You can apply to the Longsdorf Fund for continuing education funds.  click here for a list of the Communities of Practice and their openings. If interested... click here for application.
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As of May 13, 2020 - Paycheck Protection Program Loans
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Sabbath TIme for Pastors - October 27 - 29
Greetings to One and All! I hope you are well physically and mentally. I want to personally invite you to Sabbath Time for Pastors. October 27-29 at Mariawald Retreat Center, Reading PA .  Thanks to grants the cost is $225 for a single occupant. This registration covers day occupancy, meals and the books.
So what happens- once you fill out an application you will receive the books. This are not “how to do ministry” but rather novels, biographies that take you on a faith journey. You have the summer to read them. Then we gather for a three day gathering to discuss the books, and fellowship and relaxation. This has become my absolute favorite continuing ed. Please email me with.  Application Attached! Please note you do not have to be full time to apply   Be well, Teresa Martin.   RevTeresaMartin@outlook.com . 
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For Your Information - Zoom Bombing Worship
Please see the link from SNEC about a church that did all the things they knew to do in order to keep their Zoom worship safe and yet, their worship was Zoom-bombed. A person named themself as a known person to the congregation, thus was admitted from the waiting room into the worship, and then caused trouble. https://www.sneucc.org/blogdetail/13993937
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Phoebe Connecting Hearts Fundraising Campaign
The Philanthropy Team has put together a fundraising campaign for the month of May (and likely June) to raise funds for COVID-19 support at Phoebe. The goal is to raise $25,000 in unrestricted funds by utilizing a matching gift challenge. 
We are very fortunate that Cura Hospitality and Citizens Bank have both agreed to release their 2020 PIA event sponsorships to unrestricted support for COVID. Their combined gifts total $25,000 and will serve as matching challenge grants for the campaign.
This Connecting Hearts campaign ( https://phoebe.org/connecthearts/ ) will launch today(5/7/20). We will post it on Phoebe’s Facebook and LinkedIn pages. 
 
All of you have made a gift of support to Phoebe – thank you so much! 
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SOLIDARITY AND ACTION : 
Suggestions from the UCC Palestine Israel Network (UCCPIN) Contact David Grishaw-Jones (DavidGJ@CCDurham.org
WEBINAR May 21: TIED IN A SINGLE GARMENT OF DESTINY: A panel of dynamic leaders reflects on how the “triple evils” of militarism, poverty and racism tie together Black and Palestinian stories, and their past and present struggles for justice.
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Justice Update from the DC Office
Here’s a roundup of what’s happening on the Congressional front from the UCC Washington Office. We’re endeavoring to rapidly and robustly respond to the massive economic and public health emergency from the pandemic, while holding up the need to continue advocating for the most vulnerable at all times. And our advocate partners are eager to engage. Over the month of April, through the Justice and Peace Action Network, a total of  3,106 advocates  took action to make a total  of 7,864 legislator connections . Thousands of emails were sent on multiple issues including  racism and xenophobia , the  2020 census ,  sanctions ,  paid sick leave , and protecting the vulnerable amidst COVID. We were also excited to see over 800 first time advocates take action! Read More...
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June 22 Webinar
Equal in God's Eyes: Human Rights and Dignity for All in Israel and Palestine. Panels will cover timely topics like COVID-19 and the Middle East and political engagement in Israel/Palestine in the year of an election.

I plan to take this course and become involved as part of Community Ministries. Is anyone else interested in taking this course on Reaching Out To Faith Communities. If we have anyone perhaps we can create a sub group of people to create a plan for the Lehigh Valley? Judi Painter judi.painter@yahoo.com
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PATHWAYS Announces a New Zoom Webinar Opportunity
Topic: Death, Dying and Grief in Isolation: A Conversation about Ministry in Changing Times 
May 26, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time
(US and Canada)
Hosted by Rev. Traci D. Blackmon, Associate General Minister of the United Church of Christ
Register in advance for this webinar:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
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Important Letter from the Pension Boards, UCC
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ITEMS OF INTEREST...

--May 26 - All Conference Book Study "White Fragility" Zoom Conversations - The Conference will be sponsoring 5 (only 1 more left) Zoom conversations about the book.

--May 18-22 - The Festival of Homiletics -- May 18-22, 2020 -- On-Line and Free The World Needs Good Preaching…Now More than Ever - registration for the virtual conference is FREE! RESERVE YOUR SPOT Already registered? Explore your options .

-- May 20 - Bruce Epperly Book Study via Zoom - PSEC, PNEC and PCC clergy, lay leaders and friends are gathering on line to discuss Faith in a Time of Pandemic by Bruce G. Epperly Wednesday, May 20 th @ 3:00pm via Zoom. ( Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/93481159939 ).
You can download or order the book here:

--May 21 at 3PM - “The Last Pastor: Faithfully Closing a Church” Zoom Webinar – How does closing a church impact pastors? Learn leadership skills that lead to grace-filled transformations and church closure in a zoom webinar with Gail Cafferata, author of  The Last Pastor: Faithfully Steering a Closing Church .   Register  here for T he Last Pastor Zoom Webinar Hosted by Rev. David Schoen and sponsored by the UCC Church Building & Loan Fund.

--May 30, June 6, 20, 27 - ONLINE  UCC History, Theology, Polity Course. Read more for details

--June 27 - NAVIGATING CONGREGATIONAL CONFLICT & CRISIS- (from PA Academy of Ministry - Lancaster Theological Seminary) -  a new continuing education class in church leadership - SIGN UP NOW for the 2.5 CEU class that features one on-campus meeting - Saturday, June 27 from 9am-3pm - followed by five convenient online classes for just $325. Designed for lay ministers, individuals in discernment, and other church leaders, PAM offers ecumenical classes focused on leadership in the local congregation. F or more information, please see the attached flyer

--August 16 - L V Pride 2020 - T he organizers of Lehigh Valley Pride have cancelled the live event for 2020. A virtual event will be held instead. Thank you for your anticipated support. Let’s hope to return with our loving support to the LGBTQ++ community next year. #welcomeall

--October 14, 2020 - Boundary Training - Reading, PA - offered by Lehigh Presbytery Click here for the flyer. These sessions will be led by David Olsen. NOTE: The May training has been cancelled.
DISASTER MINISTRIES UCC

Active Shooter Preparedness Resources Available 24/7 Online
The Department of Homeland Security Active Shooter Preparedness Program remains focused on assisting critical infrastructure partners and stakeholders through a “whole of community” approach, providing a wide variety of training, products, and resources for soft target and crowded places security preparedness. The increase in domestic and international incidents indicates an evolving threat environment. During this extended social-distancing period, the program encourages church leaders to visit the active shooter preparedness websites for a variety of active shooter resources, including:
  • IS-907 “Active Shooter: What You Can Do” training. This online course is hosted on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute website and provides information on how to mitigate the impacts of an incident: https://go.usa.gov/xvGmw.
  • The Active Shooter Emergency Action Plan video, which guides viewers through important considerations of preparedness planning, uses the first-hand perspectives of active shooter survivors, first responders, and other subject matter experts who share their unique insights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pjlr2rrEZc&list=PLyTgR4PDHXBnnl7dd-MyGV3oqq6GalOIb&index=7&t=0s
  • Resources focused on how to develop an emergency action plan, behavioral indicators, potential attack methods, actions that may be taken during an incident, and how to quickly and effectively recover: https://go.usa.gov/xvGPm
  • Posters, pocket guides, booklets, and fact sheets in nine different languages identified as the most commonly spoken foreign languages in the United States: https://go.usa.gov/xvGPp
For more information on the DHS Active Shooter Program, please visit the active shooter preparedness webpage:  https://go.usa.gov/xvGPd .
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To better prepare for public health emergencies facing congregations & faith-based nonprofits such as COVID-19, NY Disaster Interfaith Services is offering a series of online webinars described at the link   https://files.constantcontact.com/ca58663a001/0c692d48-0935-42b8-b08d-8c848ffe3f91.pdf
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Disaster Aid for Burials - Disaster Ministries sending aid to NY Conference UCC to cope with COVID-19.
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UCC Update from Disaster Ministries... Read Lots More. ..
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**You can find more information & updates at UCC Disaster Ministries: www.ucc.org/disaster