Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
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A Letter from Bonnie
Yesterday afternoon the very foundations of our Democracy were challenged as rioters stormed into the Capital Building, destroying property, desecrating the safety and sanctity of our nation’s “house of the people,” sending our elected representatives into hiding and upsetting the work of our republic. I was heartbroken and appalled. Never in my wildest imagination would I have expected this type of insurrection in our nation, a nation which has had peaceful transitions of power since its founding.
Many of you know that I have protested for justice and against injustices in many venues – New York City, Washington DC, Allentown – all peaceful and orderly first amendment demonstrations. This, yesterday afternoon’s mob, was something I never could have imagined. I am grateful that more people were not injured or killed. That this riot happened is more than I can fathom.
Some pastors and I gathered for prayer yesterday afternoon at 4:45 in a hastily called gathering. The Prayers for Our Country 640x360 - YouTube is available for all of you to view. As we gathered, we prayed for peace, for kindness, for justice to prevail. The fall out of these illegal actions by those who claim to be patriots will scar the nation and our hearts for many years to come. Senator Chuck Schumer stated on the floor of the Senate: "It is very, very difficult to put into words what has transpired today. I have never lived through or even imagined the experience like the one we have just witnessed in this capital. President Franklin Roosevelt set aside December 7, 1941 as a day that will live in infamy, unfortunately we can now add January 6, 2021 to that very short list of dates in American history that will live forever in infamy."
I know that my role as Conference Minister is to profess our faith and not political opinions and yet, our faith is freely practiced in this country because of our democratic process and structure of our government. To usurp the democratic process is an attack on our freedom of religion and our faith practices. We are called, as people of faith, to respond to violence with calls for justice and peace, for reconciliation and compassion, and for an understanding of the need to respect our neighbors, all our neighbors. This does not mean we are expected to condone violence or the riots we saw yesterday. Rather, we are called to speak out for justice. Yesterday during our prayer vigil two scriptures were shared, which I now share with you:
Amos 5:24 (NIV) “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
Micah 6:8 (NIV) “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
This is our call from the prophets. I add one more scripture today.
Galatians 5:22 (NRSV) “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.”
Please, my friends, pray for peace. Pray for reconciliation. Pray for justice. Pray the Holy Spirit bless us with the gifts of the Spirit so we can make a difference in this divided and pain-filled nation.
Blessings, Bonnie
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PNEC'S 2020 Closing Date will be Friday, January 15, 2021
Please plan your closing so that your final 2020 remittance will be received in the Conference Office by Friday, January 15. Receipts received after the 15th will be credited to 2021. Do not include 2020 remittances with 2021 and please make certain remittance slips are marked for either the year 2020 or 2021.
Thank you for your cooperation and support.
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The IRS Announces 2021 Business Mileage Rate
Beginning on January 1, 2021, the standard mileage rate for the use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck will be: 56 cents per mile for business miles driven (down from 57.5 cents in 2020).
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Church World Service Kits
We have a volunteer willing to take Church World Service Kits to the CWS warehouse in Maryland. If you have kits and want to include them with the ones in the office, please get them to the Conference Office by January 22. Let us know if you are bringing kits to the Office at 431 Delaware Avenue, Palmerton, by calling 610.826.3113.
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PA Council of Churches Executive says U.S. Capitol Insurrection Stains U.S. History, Reinforces Need to Build Beloved Community
By Rev. Dr. Larry D. Pickens, Ex. Dir. of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches
The anarchy that erupted on the streets of Washington, DC and particularly at the U.S. Capitol Building on yesterday January 6th is a dark stain on the history of our nation.
When people advocate for their political leaders or objectives there is never a rationale for committing violence. The deep divisions in our nation right now are traumatizing tens of millions of people. As people of faith, we must provide the necessary response – through prayer and action – needed to heal a wounded nation. The events at the U.S. Capitol have resulted in the loss of life. Is there no balm in Gilead?
In his “Letter from Birmingham Jail, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote: “In a real sense all life is inter-related. All men (women) are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.” Our destiny as Americans is not separate from the rest of the world; in fact, we are simply a part of God’s human tapestry in which the lives and experiences of all people are sacred. Dr. King also said in this seminal letter, written to Alabama clergy, “whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be.”
As a nation we can never be all that we are called to be unless we are willing to live out the creed that all men and women are created equal and that we are “endowed with certain unalienable rights, chief among them life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Our call compels us to speak truth to power, to galvanize a movement for justice and to challenge our nation and its leaders to pursue the nature of our better angels.
Yesterday was not our best day as a nation but my prayer is that today and the next, we will all rise to the challenge of creating Beloved Community.
On behalf of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches and its members churches I stand on the side of justice with peace. Violence is never an answer in settling our disputes. Aristotle was correct in stating that we are social beings. In our associations, however, we must learn the importance of mutual respect and affirming the dignity of all persons.
Established in 1911, the Pennsylvania Council of Churches is an association of autonomous Christian denominations within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Through their work with thousands of congregations, they engage in ministries of service and witness, and work towards the goal of being unified in love and service to Christ Jesus. The Council’s membership includes the following judicatories: African Methodist Episcopal Church, African American Episcopal Zion Church, Christian Churches in Pennsylvania (Disciples of Christ), Church of the Brethren, Episcopal Church, Church Women United in Pennsylvania, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Greek Orthodox Church, Moravian Church – Northern Province, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Religious Society of Friends, Schwenkfelder Church, United Church of Christ, and The United Methodist Church.
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The Lehigh Conference of Churches
Yesterday, January 6th, was the Christian celebration of Epiphany. A moment to remember wise people who didn’t know exactly what they were looking for, but knew that they needed to make a long and uncertain journey to find it. In the darkness, they saw a star shining, a sign that God’s presence was here - manifest in flesh - in the Christ child. A light was here and even in dark, uncertain and fearful times, we are reminded by Scripture, “A light will shine.”
Yesterday, January 6th, was a dark and terrifying day in our nation’s history. Things occurred that have never occurred in our nation; a violent attempt to overthrow the government and thwart the peaceful democratic transfer of power. There was a Confederate flag, the symbol of terror, hatred, and rebellion, flown in the White House for the first time. Staff and Congress people sheltering in place, terrified by a violent mob encouraged onward by our President of the United States.
A short two miles away stands a monument to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On the North Wall is this inscription, taken from Dr. King’s 1964 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in Oslo, Norway: “I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits.”
On a day when we are waking up stunned and terrified by the events of yesterday, we wonder where peace and justice is found in our nation. We strongly condemn all forms of violence, and especially the violent attempt at a coup in our nation’s capital yesterday. At The Lehigh Conference of Churches, we encourage you to join us in prayer for peace with justice and the preservation of our democracy here. We pray for our elected officials, locally and nationally. At the same time, we will continue to do what we do each and every morning: We will “have the audacity to believe” of the fundamental respect due to every human being that we encounter by feeding the hungry, working to find safe and affordable housing for the homeless, sharing compassionate care for those facing mental health challenges, and providing a place to be respected and welcomed to all in our community. We will continue to unite God’s children, to extend our hand with love to others.
In all times, may the Epiphany Star of our God made flesh guide our work and remind us that God’s presence is always with us. Perhaps this closing thought of the author Anne Lamott in “Bird by Bird” might guide us all: “Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up.”
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GET AWAY FROM IT ALL WITH MINDFULNESS MEDITATION
VACATIONS BY KRIS
Tuesday, January 26th 7-8:30pm
Zoom Gathering. Log in opens at 6:45, please log in by 6:55pm.
Need a vacation but can’t take one? When is the last time you were able to get out of town to a secluded island beach or to a stunning mountain by a lake? Join me as I lead you through a time of refreshment and renewal without leaving your home. Set aside your stress and schedule and share in this mini-retreat. Learn about meditation or take time to enjoy your existing practice. Feel nourished even when you can’t take a real vacation.
Hosted by Rev. Kris Snyder-Samuelson, Union UCC, Neffs
Or call 610-657-6007 Sign ups close on Sunday, January 24th.
This event is free. Feel free to make a donation to the Penn Northeast Conference as a
note of appreciation for their support.
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Spiritual Superheroes Series
Greetings Colleagues, Sending blessings to you for the new year - hope this finds all well and preparing to receive "God's new thing" (Isaiah 43:19) in 2021. Sharing a resource: Over Advent I developed a "Spiritual Superheroes" series for my Instagram account. It's now morphed into a "Spiritual Superheroes" curriculum for children and youth Sunday School. It can also be used with adults, as MCCLV's Wednesday Night Bible Study had a lot of fun reviewing it.
It is quite difficult to find LGBT-friendly Sunday School items and the "Spiritual Superheroes" curriculum aims to provide future generations with LGBT-inclusive Biblical interpretations.
Blessings, peace, good health, Rev. Goudy, Pastor, MCC Lehigh Valley, 1401 Greenview Drive
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Care for the Caregiver Workshop
February 2, 2021 - via Zoom - 10AM to Noon
I am the Rev. Rodney W. Wells, a retired pastor. I live in Allentown and serve as a Chaplain with the Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Department. I have been concerned about the need to help those who find themselves in the role of being or becoming a “Caregiver!” I call it Care for the Caregiver.
Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates has provided her support and encouragement and the Penn Northeast Conference will be holding a “Caregiver Workshop” by zoom on February 2, 2021. The time is 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
To Register, please email Patty Rehrig at the
with your name, email address, phone, church name & town
DEADLINE TO REGISTER: January 28, 2021
I would like to invite those who are interested in discussing ways that as clergy and religious leaders we can help to make our community more aware and focused on this important issue. The presenters on this zoom workshop will be:
Wendy Scott- Fleming Memory Center
Monica McCandless- Meals on Wheels Greater Lehigh Valley
Heather Strohm -Aging and Adult Services, Lehigh Valley
Katie Krum - LVCIL
Kellie Butsack- Alzheimer’s Association
Phoebe Ministries-Vicki Kocis
My cell phone is (610) 360-3027. Sincerely Yours, Rev. Rod Wells
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Community of Practice
for Authorized Ministers
PNEC Communities of Practice Are accepting participants. Cost is $250 for the year. Counts for ½ of
your continuing education hours. You can apply to the Longsdorf Fund for continuing education funds.
See below for openings:
Topic: Newly Called Ministers and MIDs Facilitator: Rev. James Robison
Topic: Family Systems - Facilitator: Rev. Heather Kurtz
Topic: Theological Study Facilitator: Rev. David Quinn - Our group currently consists of Teresa Martin and Dave Quinn. We meet monthly (ZOOM, for now) for sharing and support. As part of our meeting, we discuss some book that has been chosen and read by the group members. New members are most welcome!
Topic: Variety of Ministry Topics Facilitator: Rev. Jane Hess
Topic: Solo & Sr. Pastors of Larger Churches & General Ministry Facilitator: Rev. David Charles Smith
Topic: Multiple Church Pastors Facilitator: Rev. David Charles Smith
Topic: Church Legacy & Decline Facilitator: Rev. Jane Hess (in person or via ZOOM – does not need to
be held in Hazleton.)
If interested in any of these topics, please click here for the application and send to Patty at the Conference Office (pattyr@pnec.org or send to 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
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Central Moravian Church Presents The 2021 Travelers Together Series
Our Racial Awakening and Healing Journey: Join Us at the Table
Zoom Presentations on
Sundays, Jan. 10, 17, and 24 at 12:00 p.m.
(For all of PNEC Authorized Ministers - If you attend all 4 sessions, it will count as Anti-Racism Training - ask for certificate or something written saying that you attended all 4 sessions.)
Jan. 10, 2021 - “The Church’s Hidden Secret: Our (Tacit) Approval of White Supremacy”
The Rev. Dr. Riddick Weber, Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministry, Moravian Theological Seminary
Jan. 17, 2021 - “Racial Justice Efforts in Today’s North American Moravian Church”
The Rev. Sue Koenig, Pastor of Graceham Moravian Church
Member of the Northern Province Racial Justice Team
Jan. 24, 2021 - “The Modern African American Experience in Bethlehem, PA”
and Presenters’ Panel Discussion
Rayah Levy, Head of Adult Services at the Bethlehem Area Public Library
Presentations Will be Available after the Sessions on the Central Moravian Church YouTube Channel
Register no later than the Friday before each presentation.
Question? Call 610-866-5661
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Policy Solutions for Climate Resilience: A Virtual Workshop
from CreationJustice.org
Thursday, January 21 -- 6pm-7pm ET
Be sure to register for these other upcoming virtual workshops:
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Friend of the Conference
The Generosity Committee would like to invite you to become a Friend of The Conference! Within our congregations, we have 33,000 individual! If each member were to donate an additional $10, that would be $330,000. And I know what you’re thinking, another thing I have to donate to, but consider the fact that $10 is less than what the average American spends on coffee in a single week, or roughly the cost of a fast food meal! You can mail your donations to the Conference office, donate at the Penn Northeast Conference website using tithe.ly https://pnec.org/tithe-ly-on-line-giving/ or contact the conference office for more giving options! And Conference Minister Bonnie Bates has issued a match challenge to the first 20 people to donate! Resources for churches like bulletin inserts and graphics are available on the PNEC website! or
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Cultivating Generous Congregations
UCC Stewardship Course in partnership with the Lake Institute
Stewardship in any season can be stressful for pastors. It can feel awkward—“I’m asking people to pay me!” It can feel unspiritual—“Jesus chased the money changes out of the temple!”
The Cultivating Generous Congregations Seminar for pastors and lay leaders offers an opportunity to explore faithful, practical, and tested ways to promoting generosity in our congregations. We will draw on current research, seek guidance from the wisdom of scripture, and discuss the best practices in church-based fundraising.
The seminar will improve the “bottom line” of your congregation. But I want to be clear that this bottom line is about more than money. Mission and ministry remain the real bottom line of our work. This seminar will help pastors and leaders engage generosity as a spiritual practice.
Please sign up now for the Cultivating Generous Congregations Seminar this spring. The program will be taught by the Rev. Andy DeBraber, Generosity Officer of the national setting, and myself, Andrew Warner, Generosity Outreach Officer. We’ll meet for six online sessions over the course of the spring: 6:30pm to 8:00pm EST on Tuesdays—Feb. 9, Feb. 23, Mar. 9, Mar. 23, Apr. 13, and Apr. 27, 2021. Between class sessions, Andy and Andrew will provide materials to help you analyze the culture of your own congregation and learn how to create change. By the end of the seminar, pastors and leaders will be equipped to lead effective fundraising and you will have a strategy to guide your success moving forward.
Be sure to recruit at least a team of two for this program. Changing the culture of your congregation requires more than one dedicated leader. Success depends on engaging a team of leaders from your congregation.
Register today: The CGC Seminar is $150 per participant. Register here by January 15, 2021: https://cvent.me/87ywNA.
Yours in Faith, Andrew Warner, Generosity Outreach Officer, United Church of Christ
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MLK Day Community Event: The Unarmed Truth featuring John Amaechi, OBE
In celebration and continuance of the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., The Greater Scranton MLK Commission will host a live webinar given by psychologist, international speaker and bestselling author Dr. John Amaechi, OBE, on Monday, January 18, 2021 at 12:00pm. This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. To register, visit https://safdn.org/mlk-event/. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Upcoming online Admissions events at Lancaster Seminary
Lancaster Theological Seminary launched a new series called Learn LTS! These online events aim to help individuals who are discerning their next steps in theological education and ministry whether that be pastoral leadership, chaplaincy, social justice organizer, non-profit leader, or in bi-vocational ministry. You are invited to attend one of the upcoming Learn LTS events on Jan. 7, Jan. 19, or Feb. 4. These events are curated to speak to the needs of individuals leaning into their call and vocational exploration. Each event will have a different programmatic focus with diverse presenters that can answer some of your questions. For more information and to register, click here.
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UCC History & Polity Course
Fridays on Zoom
February 12 - March 26, 2021
2 to 5PM -- Cost $100
Brought to you by Penn Central Conference and Lancaster Theological Seminary
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SOLO: Strengthening Older Lives Online
The PA Council on Aging’s Social Isolation Task Force is holding virtual, small-group, interactive sessions designed to help older adults safeguard their mental, spiritual, and physical health. Now more than ever, these tips and reminders are critically important. SOLO can be viewed in a self-guided way from a computer or smart device by clicking here . Session days and times are: Tuesday, 1/12 10:00-11:00; Thursday, 1/21 1:00-2:00
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Crossroads Lay Leadership, Moravian Seminary
Announces our Winter courses. All courses in the Winter Semester are Zoom only. Traveling Mercies (Congregational Care) with the Rev. Maggie Wellert is Mondays from 6-9 pm Jan 4- Feb 22. Topics include caring for others, caring for yourself, active listening, spirituality and the caregiving relationship, etc. Maggie also brings in great guests instructors who present a variety of other topics.
On Thursdays from 6-9 pm Jan 7 - Feb 25 is our conversations in theology course, Mapping the Route, with the Rev. Dr. Bill Falla. Each night features a different aspect of our theology such as Who is God?, Why Jesus?, What does the Holy Spirit do?, etc. Bill leads great discussions on these topics.
Come and join us through Zoom.
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Keeping the Faith: Continuing Connections MA-AUCE 2021 Event
Feb. 5-6, 2021 on Zoom
Friends involved in the educational ministries in our local congregations- this is for you! We have moved the timing up to February, from our traditional late-April. We've changed the dates from a mid-week event to a Friday-Saturday event hoping to make it accessible for more churches' part-time leaders. Workshops will include an opening presentation, small group reaction /sharing, and large group report outs. All of our conversations will include ideas for virtual, in-person, and hybrid situations. This year's price is just $15 for first time attendees and AUCE/APCE members and $20 for all others. Register at https://bit.ly/3pl9KG1 Questions, contact Janet Newett at janetnewett@gmail.com or 610-657-2189 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pastor's Conversations
Bonnie Bates is inviting you to a scheduled semi-monthly Pastors’ Conversations Zoom mtg, held on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 2 pm. Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 829 4709 0481
Password: 235909
One tap mobile
+16468769923,,82947090481#,,,,0#,,235909# US (New York)
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ONLINE
UCC History, Theology and
Polity Course
February 20, 27, March 6, 13, 2021
9:30am-3:30pm EST
A UCC History, Theology and Polity Course that meets the requirements as set forth by the UCC Polity Teacher's Network will be offered online in Feb/March 2021. The instructors will be Rev. David Gaewski, Conference Minister of the New York Conference, UCC, and Rev. Shernell Edney Stilley, Associate Conference Minister, New York Conference. The platform utilized will be Zoom Video Conferencing (zoom.us) The tuition will be $495. Electronic payments preferred (PayPay, Zelle, Venmo). For more information contact Rev. David Gaewski, davidgaewski@uccny.org.
This polity course is sponsored by the Oneida Association of the New York Conference. Payments should be made no later than Feb 15th.
A syllabus is available upon request. Laity, Members in Discernment and Privilege of Call candidates are all invited! 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 February 17th. Please note several recent courses reached maximum capacity. Registration is now open.
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Ash Wednesday Helpful Suggestions During Pandemic
Rev. Lynne Mikulak, MDiv, MSW
ACPE Certified Educator/APC Board Certified Chaplain, Manager of CPE, St. Luke’s University Health Network, Pastoral Care Dept.
We are in conversation with Infection Control and are thinking of using Q-tips, disposing after each imposition of course, and while wearing gloves. This would limit PPE use and would be safe/hygienic.
Q-tips might not be very liturgical, but we think it is more important to be as creative and connective as possible and do our best to provide this important ritual for so many people. All best, Lynne
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Spirituality of Generosity webinar coming next month
January 20, 2021 - 10AM to Noon
On Jan. 20, Pennsylvania Southeast, Penn Northeast, and Penn Central conferences will co-host a seminar on the Spirituality of Generosity. Jesus talked about money second only to the kingdom of God, yet many in the church today treat money as a non-spiritual topic. We can theologically engage questions of money, wealth, and giving. Teaching and preaching about generosity and the use of our financial resources can deepen the faith life of our congregations. For a flyer on this event, click here. To register, click here.
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SAVE THE DATE
The UCC Just Peace Committee is inviting you to the next quarterly Just Peace Webinar to take place on January 27 (7 p.m. ET) Details and log-in instructions will be sent in the New Year but please mark your calendars now and save the date.
Topic: Where do we go from here? How do we engage? What should be our Just Peace priorities in 2021 as individuals, congregations, Associations, Conferences and the National Setting. What might we expect from a Biden Administration and how does that influence our work? And, finally, let’s talk and share ideas and plans.
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A Very UCC Christmas: 2020
Brought to you by the United Church of Christ National Setting
The staff of the national setting is working on a Christmas Pageant and full worship service coming for Local Churches to use as worship for on or around December 27th, or as piece meal. Each piece will be downloadable as a video file from the national setting, with more details released in marketing before November 20th. See full flyer
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Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders
Does your congregation experience conflict? Does it harm your Christian fellowship and distract from your church’s mission? Learn to transform conflict from a negative force into an opportunity for reconciliation and growth. Register now for one of these six sessions of our popular and practical Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders 2021: March 1-5, May 3-7, June 21-25, August 2-6, October 11-15, or November 15-19, 2021. The “early bird” rate is $695. Currently we plan to conduct this event online via Zoom. NOTE: After December 2020, online registration will no longer be available via Brown Paper Tickets. To register or to learn more, contact the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center at 630-627-0507 or Admin@LMPeaceCenter.org. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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DISASTER MINISTRIES UCC
A Bridge for Christmas!
Tropical Storm Isaias dumped seven inches of rain on parts of eastern Pennsylvania on August 4, 2020. Wind damage and tornadoes left hundreds of thousands without power and widespread severe flooding led to injuries and one death. One of the areas receiving the most damage was in Northampton County in Penn Northeast Conference.
The Conference, in cooperation with the Unmet Needs Committee of the Northeast PA Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster apply for and was granted a $5,000 UCC Long-term Recovery grant. A priority of this grant was supporting the rebuilding of a private bridge so that a family with medical issues could have access to and from their home. (See before and after pictures above.)
The bridge is now complete thanks to the expertise and commitment of Team Orwigsburg, an experienced volunteer bridge-building team, from Schuylkill County in PA Southeast Conference. This 44-foot bridge was funded by donations from Team Orwigsburg, payments from the family, and funding from the UCC grant. Watch the attached video that shows the first crossing of the bridge. The wife of the couple is driving and her husband is waiting on the house side of the bridge. Also pictured are members of Team Orwigsburg.
One team member, Susan McCartney, a member of St. John’s UCC in Orwigsburg, shared her joy: “The teamwork we continue to enjoy within our own ranks, and the expansion of some new faces involved for this project have been very heartwarming. We surely DO need to carry this joy and teamwork into a new year. This whacky year of 2020 has brought out the best in our Team and that is truly a gift.”
We celebrate that the bridge is now complete – in time for Christmas - and that there is a very grateful family!!!! Thanks to all the members of Team Orwigsburg and to all the members of the United Church of Christ who support Disaster Ministries with their gifts.
Back Bay Mission was started by the Evangelical Synod of North America (a predecessor to the United Church of Christ) in 1922 in Biloxi, Mississippi. Since then UCC churches, including many from eastern Pennsylvania, have supported this mission with their money and their work teams. Learn more about Back Bay Mission. Work is resuming using safety measures implemented by the mission. Therefore, the Mission Trip Calendar for 2022 is now open and ready for bookings! There are also some small group openings for 2021. To book please email volunteercoordinator@thebackbaymission.org with your preferred dates including your first option and a second option. The email requests are fulfilled on a first come first served basis. To see the weeks that are open you can access the calendar here. Please note that updates to the calendar will take some time. So please be patient.
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Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program
Governor Tom Wolf has announced the availability of $5 million in funding for security enhancement projects for nonprofit organizations serving diverse communities throughout the commonwealth. The Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program issues grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that principally serve individuals, groups or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for single bias hate crime incidents as identified by the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics publication . Applicants are eligible for security enhancements designed to protect the safety and security of the users of a facility located in the commonwealth that is owned or operated by the nonprofit organization. “These grants will continue to help our many nonprofits address security needs and any safety concerns that exist for religious, social and other nonprofit organizations across the commonwealth,” Gov. Wolf said. Learn more. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Continuity Planning for Houses of Worship
Churches are invited to a webinar that will provide them with the knowledge and tools to develop a continuity plan and sustain continuity of operations before, during and after an incident or emergency. The webinar will discuss the essential elements and key planning considerations for a viable continuity capability.
Tuesday, January 26, 2021 from 11 am-12:30 pm ET; (English) English
Thursday, January 28, 2021 from 11 am-12:30 pm ET; (Spanish) Spanish
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COVID-19 Alert App - By downloading COVID Alert PA, you can get a notification if you have been in close contact with someone who later tests positive for COVID-19, or anonymously notify other residents if you yourself test positive. The app is a free and voluntary mobile app developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health in partnership with NearForm, University of Pennsylvania, and MIT Lincoln Laboratory using Apple and Google’s Exposure Notification System.
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Ready PA Monthly
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