Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
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Last Call for These Up-Coming Events & Deadlines |
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The Extraordinary Give
Join the Lancaster Theological Seminary community - Hosted by the Lancaster County Community Foundation. This Extraordinary 24-hour giving campaign will be held on Friday, November 19.
Gifts to Lancaster Theological Seminary
will support financial aid &scholarships at LTS. Thank you for making a difference for our LTS students!
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The State of Housing in Scranton, PA
Please join us for a special seminar on "The State of Housing in Scranton" on Wednesday, November 17 from 9-10:30am at The University of Scranton. This event is part of the University of Scranton's ongoing "State of Scranton" seminar series and a special collaboration with Neighborworks NEPA and the Scranton Area Community Foundation. Attendees must register at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ScrantonHousing.
Julie Schumacher Cohen, MPA, Assistant Vice President, Community Engagement & Govt Affairs
Chair, Community-Based Learning Board, The University of Scranton
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John W. Hatch Lecture Series
NOVEMBER 30, 2021
Mental Health—An Expanded Landscape
A Free Virtual Event
Nov. 30, 9:30 am – 2:30 pm EST
Registration will be required. Just click on the Register Now button below. More information on how to connect to the webinar will be sent to all registrants closer to the event date.
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Annual Scranton Ministerium Multifaith Thanksgiving Service
Our theme this year is “Giving Thanks for the Earth.” This year, people can attend in person but we ask is that all coming to be vaccinated, remain masked while inside [except when leading a prayer or song] and respect social distancing. You are all welcome to participate in the service through a reading, song, etc. that is appropriate for this year’s theme and/or the general theme of Thanksgiving. Please email me at rabbidaniel@comcast.net if you’d like to particpate, and please indicate what you’d like to do. Email me with any questions, or text or call me at 570-877-3454. Rabbi Daniel Swartz
Spiritual Leader, Temple Hesed
570-344-7201
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Transgender Day of Remembrance
The annual Transgender Day of Remembrance is coming up on Saturday, November 20 @ 4pm at Payrow Plaza (10 E. Church St. in Bethlehem). Your supportive presence is warmly welcomed and encouraged. Posters are attached to inform your communities and here is the link to more information via the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/3145248955704325?active_tab=about
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Crossroads Courses this Fall
Looking ahead:
-Missional Leadership, Mondays 1/3 - 2/21/2022 Dr. Jill Peters
-Road Hazards (Congregational Ethics), Thurs 1/6 - 2/24/2022 Rev. Derek French & Dr. Jill Peters
-Story of Christianity, Mondays 3/7 - 5/2/2022 (Except Holy Week 4/11) Rev. Dr. Bill Falla
-My Journey (Formative Spirituality) Thursdays 3/10 - 5/5/2022 (Except Holy Week 4/14) Rev. Maggie Wellert
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Bonnie's Letter
Dear Friends,
Many of us attended, either in person or virtually, the Fall Conference Meeting on November 6. You will recall that we began with a Service of Lament and Healing during which Anthony Newett and Robert Gutekunst shared wonderful music and I anointed chaplains for their work, always difficulty but exceedingly hard during the pandemic. In addition, others were invited to come forward and be anointed. I was honored and touched that so many sought this blessing. It was just one of the things I was thankful for that day.
In my State of the Conference presentation, I thanked the conference staff, always wonderful and often overlooked. I also thanked our ministry teams (134 members and chairs), our Conference Board, and our wider church partners: Christian Communities of Northeast Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, the Lehigh Valley Conference of Churches, and our partners in ministry Phoebe Ministries. We honored Lisa Fichera for her 43 years of service to our community through her various roles with Phobe.
Ministry Teams, at least three, shared: Racial Justice, Mental Health and Search and Call. They updated us on their work. I also addressed the challenges facing the Conference. I mentioned:
· Financial constraints will require decisions about new fund development, increased participation in the Friends of the PNEC Campaign, and congregational commitments.
· Membership declines across the nation require us to look at outreach, mission, worship, and structures differently.
· Focus on technology will continue as hybrid meetings and worship will be a part of our regular practice into the future.
· The stress of continuing through a pandemic and its challenges may necessitate more coaching and conflict resolution practices.
The Barn offered us wonderful contemporary worship and helped us move from Lament to Joy and we are so grateful for their leadership and spirit, as we moved through worship.
As we conclude 2021 with our thankfulness for Veterans, our thankfulness for all things as we celebrate Thanksgiving Day, and the advent and celebration of the birth of Jesus, let us remember the challenges ahead. And let’s know we are never, ever alone. God is always present with us. Jesus is born in us every day. The Holy Spirit surrounds, nudges and comforts us.
When we work together, solutions can be found to address our challenges. When we work together, we share our sorrow and multiply our joy. May it be so for each and all of us. Blessings, Bonnie
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Save the Date!
Please save the date for a virtual celebration, as we commemorate more than 30 years of ministry at the Church House, live from Amistad Chapel, on Saturday, December 4 at 2:30 PM ET. We'll honor our first three decades in Cleveland, as we prepare to transition from 700 Prospect to our new downtown location in early 2022. Look for more details in the coming weeks.
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Continuing Education for Authorized Ministers - Advanced Boundary Training
Retirement: Transitions and Boundaries in Ministry
Thursday, December 9, 2021
8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Jordan UCC, 1837 Church Road, Allentown
Cost: $35 per person, in person (no Zoom option)
Led by Rev. Dr. Becky Beckwith
Click Here for detailed flyer and registration information.
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Staying Sane in Todays’ World of Covid-19
A helpful look at increasing resiliency
“This new normal doesn’t feel normal.”
Wednesday, December 1, 2021 – 10:00 to 11:30am via Zoom
COST: $10 (payable to PNEC and mail to 431 Delaware Avenue, Palmerton, PA 18071)
Zoom link will be sent upon your registration.
A practical and helpful webinar dealing with ministry, stress, and self-care in todays’ world. Focus points include assessing your current stress impacts, implementing self-care resources in multiple arenas, strengthening resiliency, and caring for those around you. The course length two hours. (Authorized Ministers earn two continuing education hours.)
It is taught by Chris Farrand & Rev. Fred Meade and been used in UCC conferences around the country.
Rev. Fred Meade Rev Meade is an ordained minister of 36 years. He has taught for the New York Disaster Interfaith Services as well as the National Disaster Interfaiths Services and the American Red Cross for about the last six years and has also been deployed many times around the country. He has also served as a local fire chaplain and a member of the CISM Team.
Chris Farrand Chris Farrand is the Regional Coordinator of Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) for The Salvation Army in MA, CT, and RI. Chris has worked for The Salvation Army for 12 years and oversees both the development and operations of the EDS program including Immediate Response, Long Term Recovery, and Emotional and Spiritual Care. Chris has responded to many regional and national disasters.
Key subjects introduced and discussed includes:
- Defining emotional and spiritual care
- Personal stress assessments
- Understanding trigger points
- Cognitive “reframing”
- Post Traumatic Growth
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Penn Central Conference History and Polity Class
This class begins in early 2022. PLEASE NOTE – the cost for the class is $150, not $300.
Rev. Carrie Call, PhD; Conference Minister, Penn Central Conference, United Church of Christ
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November 2021 Wish List
ProJeCt believes that education is key to helping people help themselves and to providing opportunity and advantage to underserved populations. We serve over 5,000 low income adults and families by providing them with evidence-based, rigorously that prepares them to succeed in work, school, and life. Our full range of services includes Adult and Family Literacy, School-Based Youth Development programming, and Safety Net Support. Click Here for list.
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Want justice?
As Christians we are called on to stand up for compassion and in opposition to injustice. But it can be difficult to know how and where to get started and be effective. The Jubilee program exists to inform, equip, and inspire people to act for social justice. The 6-month virtual program is for adults who want to increase their understanding of social justice, deepen their faith, and gain the skills and confidence to take meaningful action while building relationships of support with a community of their peers.
Accepting applications now for our program starting in January.
Facebook/Instagram: Justice Leadership Program
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From Convergence Weekly...
Preaching Advent
Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, & Justice
In this on demand resource you will hear from Rev. Jacqui Lewis, Brian McLaren, and Rev. Jim Keat as they spark new insights and ideas for you to explore throughout the upcoming Advent season.
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What Buddhism Can Teach Christians about Gratitude?
When we think about gratitude, we think about what we are receiving. For many of us, receiving gifts and grace from others is uncomfortable. Our ability to receive is influenced by cultural messaging about selfishness.
We are taught that:
- It is selfish to take care of themselves before thinking about others.
- Giving is better than receiving
- Personal sacrifice brings spiritual understanding.
Therefore, we become confused about how to receive, or even if it is OK to receive. This can leave us feeling empty. It is helpful at the time of Thanksgiving to look at not only at what we have received but how will we know how to receive. Join Buddhist teacher, Rev. Dr. Isa Gucciardi, as she explores what Buddhism can teach Christians about giving thanks and receiving grace. The session will be hosted by Christian minister, Rev. Cameron Trimble, and include a dialogue between these two faith leaders to deepen our experience of gratitude. REGISTER NOW FOR $35
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Justice Update: Tuesday, November 9
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Infrastructure/Build Back Better: The House and Senate are in recess this week – back next week and then out again for Thanksgiving, so not much time to do legislating. After a long back and forth last week, the House passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and has a path forward for passing Build Back Better (reconciliation) imminently. The House had initially aimed to both bills on Friday; however, at least five House centrists indicated they were unwilling to vote without a score (cost estimate) from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO.) Waiting for that score may slow things down. While the infrastructure bill represents important funding for our physical infrastructure, the bill still needs to be coupled with the Build Back Better Act to deliver the full transformational benefits of both social programs and climate action. For timing – look for the House to try to move on it next week and the Sen. Maj. Leader has said the Senate would aim to consider the bill before Thanksgiving – but that goal is slipping each day.
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COP26: Global leaders are still gathering in Glasgow to outline steps big enough to stave off a catastrophic rise in global temperatures. Here’s the growing list of commitments from attendees. Here are some powerful pictures of the protests around the world centered on the gathering, including hunger strikers in D.C.
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Rescind Wounded Knee Medals of Honor: Senators Sanders and Warren called on President Biden to revoke the Medals of Honor awarded to those who participated in the massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890.
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Voting Rights Bill: The Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA) failed to garner enough votes to break a Senate filibuster last week. Senate Dem. Leadership is engaging in conversations about what it would look like to change Senate rules to allow for passage of these critical voter protection laws- including filibuster reform. Back in 2006, when there was a vote on the VRA, the bill passed 98-0.
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Immigration: Yesterday was the first day that the border opened to individuals who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and have appropriate documentation. Unexpectedly, lines have not been as long. Also, the Administration formally ended the Trump-era ‘metering’ policy in a memo following the District of California’s decision in Al Otro Lado v. Mayorkas back in September. It was requested that the Administration engage with the local ports. That way, NGOs can plan with the ports how asylum seekers should actually be processed.
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Iraq: On Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi was attacked by three armed drones at his home residence in what many see as an assassination attempt. No one claimed responsibility for the attack, but world leaders, including President Biden, are condemning the attack in the strongest terms and encouraging de-escalation of tension in the region. This latest use of armed drones adds to the growing calls for the U.S. and other nations to abandon the use of armed drones as a weapon of war. Just last week, a Defense Department investigation found that the botched drone strike in Afghanistan that killed ten civilians was not deemed criminal negligence to the dismay of many, including some members of Congress.
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Vital Conversations
Every fourth Monday of each month at 7 PM, clergy and lay leaders are invited to attend a Zoom conversation where they can talk through situations with other leaders, learn, and brainstorm together. On November 22nd, the topic of conversation will be the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and the challenge of balancing tradition with creative freshness. How do we tell the old, old story in new, new ways? Join us for discussion and idea sharing!
Meeting ID: 817 9668 4439
Passcode: 292474
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PA Academy of Ministry
Introduction to Pastoral Care, Tuesdays Jan. 6 – Feb. 10, 2022, via Zoom. 2.5 CEUs. $325. Register by December 21.
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Lombard Mennonite Peace Center Workshop in December
Healthy Congregations will be held on Thursday, December 2 (8:30am-4:30pm Central Time).
Register a group of four or more and save $15 apiece! For your convenience, feel free to use this LMPC Registration Form to compile the names and contact information for your group. Questions?
Call 630-627-0507.
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Clergy Convocation 2022
with Rev. Dr. Emily C. Heath
May 3-5, 2022
Double Tree by Hilton, 2400 Willow Street Pike, Lancaster, PA 17602
Qualifies for 10 Contact Hours
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DISASTER MINISTRIES UCC
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