The first document linked is the letter from the national setting announcing the RFP for the completion of a racial equity survey. The survey will help us determine if our denomination is moving toward inclusiveness and racial justice as we have been called. More information will be available as the survey takes shape. Click Here for Document

The third document is a Resolution which our Racial Justice Ministry Team is presenting for affirmation at the Fall Conference Meeting on Saturday, November 7. This is in the advance reports for the meeting. The Racial Justice Ministry Team hopes that the affirmation of this resolution by our membership will move us forward into more education and resourcing of congregations as we work to end institutional racism in the church. Click Here for Resolution

It has been a year of abundant grief. On top of the pain and loss we experience collectively in what we used to call “normal” times, this year has added 205,000 (and counting) Saints to the numbers of those who have gone before. This year has added trauma and pain and loss in ways that continue to hold our hearts captive. This year has called a reckoning of systems towards Justice, and the slow pains of growth and awareness and the impact of struggle on people trying to hold it together. And this year has called us to cling fast to faith with clarity and strength and prayer.

So in calling on our faith that all those who have gone before are in community with All Saints, you are invited to join us in honoring those who have passed, especially to COVID-19, for a service of All Saints with music, prayer, and lifting of names. We will gather via Zoom on November 1st at 6pm ET / 5pm CT / 4pm MT / 3pm PT / 1pm Alaska & Hawaii.

To contribute a name to the visual list of people in memoriam, simply fill out this form and the name will be included.

Additionally, if your congregation has done a communal memorial, you are welcome to send photos to UCCPhotos@ucc.org and have them included in the national service.

This book may be of interest to others in the Penn Northeast Conference because it is about Owen Thomas, the son of the late Rev. Tom Thomas and the Rev. Kathy Brearley. "Growing Up On The Gridiron: Football, Friendship and the Tragic Life of Owen Thomas," published by Beacon Press, chronicles Owen's life and his importance in the emerging issue of brain trauma and football. It is also a book about the love of football among young men. Tom and Kathy are both a significant part of the book and I had their full permission and cooperation in writing it. I've attached the news release that my publisher prepared about the book.

I spoke at Union UCC, Neffs on Sept. 13 and my topic was "Writing A Book As An Act of Faith." I also am leading two discussion groups about the book at the church. If any churches in the conference have book groups and would be interested in having me speak or participate in a discussion, I'd be open to do that -- but I will admit that I am only willing to do that if social distancing is observed or it is done virtually.

Vicki Mayk, Author of Growing Up on the Gridiron: Football, Friendship and the Tragic Life of Owen Thomas (coming Sept. 1, 2020 from Beacon Press), Writer, Editor and Teacher -- 610-248-8929

The Meeting’s Theme is Moving Forward

The meeting will begin with the Celebration of Installation of our Conference Minister, the Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates. The Service will include the UCC Conference Ministers from the other five Conferences in the Middle Atlantic Region with special music. The Installation will finish approximately at 10:15 a.m. and the Business portion will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Fall Meeting Registration Link through Tithe.ly: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/2285000

a new book that summarizes the life of over 4,000 Reformed churches, including the majority of churches in PNEC. The book begins with a social and organizational history of the denomination, including six maps, charts, and illustrations. A useful tool for genealogists, its over 700 pages also note about 1,300 Lutheran churches that were in union arrangements with Reformed congregations. The author is the Rev. Richard H. Taylor, who attends Forks UCC near Stockertown, and is the former Chair of the Historical Council of the UCC. He is the brother of Douglas Taylor, current Conference Moderator. To buy a copy of the book contact Rev. Taylor at 610-438-3771 or pilgrimrht@rcn.com. [A discount price of $31.50 is available before the end of the year, including PA Sales tax. Shipping is an additional $5.00.]

Our nation and society are deeply divided. The churches of the Vermont Conference of the UCC invite you to unite in prayer for our country. Beginning on October 15, during the 20 days preceding the presidential election, we urge you to join our prayer initiative as we daily petition God for wisdom, patience, courage, healing, justice and peace. Daily prayers available at:

I am writing to inquire whether you are interested in participating in the Christmas Card Project with our partner churches in Japan this year. This project was started in 2013 in response to the terrible devastation that our partners experienced after the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster of 2011. Each year 35 to 40 UCC and Disciples of Christ churches have reached out globally through prayer, by sending a Christmas card to one or two churches in northeastern Japan. This year, given the global COVID-19 pandemic, we know that churches on both sides of the Pacific are faced with unprecedented challenges. Even as we might feel overwhelmed by our own predicament, God calls us to reach out to care and connect. Read More...

Crisis Cleanup, the tool we use when disaster strikes to help guide our response, is working on a huge push to get 200 phone volunteers to make or return 20 calls each day for five days. Doing so would clean up the maps of both Sally and Delta-Laura-Marco plus handle the wave of inbound calls we anticipate. To get all the details about how you or your church can help, go to http://bit.ly/DeltaCalls. For additional information contact: 

Gina Newby, Crisis Cleanup VOAD rep, gina@crisiscleanup.org, 406-461-2388

Ross Arroyo, ross@crisiscleanup.org, 601-434-4099. 

Update on Puerto Rico Response: UCC Disaster Ministries has invested close to $820k to date in Hurricane Maria recovery in Puerto Rico, including $50k just authorized for roof repair once the COVID-19 lockdown ends. From 2018 until March 2020, 542 UCC volunteers, including nearly 3 dozen from PSEC and PNEC, restored 121 Maria-damaged roofs and performed other repairs. Also pending are repairs following earthquakes early in 2020. No damage is reported yet from the recent earthquakes. 

-Webinar - October 27 from 1 to 3:15PM - Strengthening Relationships Between Law Enforcement & Communities of Faith

-Webinar - October 15 from 2 to 3:30PM - Serving on the Frontlines: The Impact of Faith & Community Leaders Countering Human Trafficking for Over 20 Years

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON ALL OF THE ABOVE

Go to https://t.e2ma.net/webview/nwln9b/8ab6c05a844d746aee1249fc07ac0f74 for the current ReadyPA newsletter. 

Consider assembling CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets and CWS Hygiene and other Kits –  Get guidelines here for safe assembly in groups or at home, and news of CWS's reopening of "Safe Depots." Disaster Ministries continues to offer Matching Grants of up to $250 for UCC congregations assembling CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets and Kits. Get more information here. 

**You can find more information & updates at UCC Disaster Ministries: www.ucc.org/disaster