Bonnie's Letter

Mark 1:35 “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (NRSV)

Dear Friends,

As many of you know I will be leaving for a three-month Sabbatical as we close for the Christmas Holidays on December 23 and through March 31, 2023. Many people have been asking me what I plan for my Sabbatical, and I thought it might be time to share, more generally, some of my plans. This is a rest and renewal Sabbatical, rather than an educational/learning Sabbatical, although there is undoubtedly, some learning that may occur. I am reminded by the reading from Mark, that Jesus, too, went aside to a solitary place for rest. I think we forget that we all need rest.

This is the first Sabbatical I will be taking in my nearly 20 years of licensed and ordained ministry. As the date approaches, I recognize, more and more, the weariness in my spirit. I think this 3-month break will be renewing and restorative.

Since the Sabbatical begins on January 1, I will likely extend my Christmas holidays with my family in North Carolina into the beginning of January. Hugging my grandchildren will be restorative to my heart and soul. As I return to Pennsylvania after the first of the year, I am contemplating taking some watercolor painting classes. I have had the supplies for some time but would like to begin this during the Sabbatical time. I have a stack of recreational books I haven’t read, and I also have some writing I want to do. These will occupy some of my time.

I am taking a 10-day break from my Sabbatical in February to travel to our newest Church of South India partners from February 15-28. This trip was rescheduled from November 2022, and I want to see the task of deepening this relationship through. (I will add the ten days to summer vacation plans.) I have a friend who lives north of Milan, Italy and I will be spending some time with her in March.

Briefly, those are my plans. I have not etched them in stone and remain flexible to what the Spirit might say to me. Being on my own schedule will be restorative, but I will miss you all – writing these letters, visiting congregations, preaching, and teaching. I know that I will need to find places to worship, but I will not be attending any of our UCC congregations during my time away. That would be too much a temptation to work. Rather, I think I will visit the congregations of some of our partners in the ELCA, PCUSA, and Episcopal churches. I will find places and times to worship and will encounter God all along the way.

Next week, I’ll be back to a more regular letter. And Rev. Dr. Becky Beckwith will take over all my work, including these letters, while I am away. Bless you each and all, Bonnie

NEW ENTRY...Caring Bridge Entry by Candy Miller 

dated November 28, 2022

Alan has developed yet another rare syndrome called Steven Johnson Syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis. This is extremely painful rash causing blisters and skin peeling (see more information below). 

He was seen in the ER last night (Sunday, 11/27/22). We had a very hard choice to make. Send him to a burn unit at Wake Forest Burn Center in Winston Salem where he would have skin biopsies and wound care for 4 weeks or send him to inpatient hospice for constant pain management. After painful consideration, we decided on hospice. Hospice has successfully been doing just that. IV pain medication and anti-anxiety medication have been successful. They will start a pain pump tonight giving him constant pain medication. I have personally have not seen him this relaxed and in less pain in months. According to the hospice doctor today, it is too early to tell in what direction this will go. 

Thank you for your continued support and prayers. I will keep you informed. 

Love, The Miller and Lipstreu Families

*What is Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)?

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are serious skin conditions that cause your skin to develop rashes, blisters, and then peel. Your mucus membranes, including your eyes, genitalia and mouth, are also affected. If you get this condition, you’ll likely be admitted to a hospital.

Some people consider SJS and TEN to be different diseases, while others consider them to be the same disease but at different levels of severity. SJS is less intense than TEN. (For instance, skin peeling might affect less than 10% of the entire body in SJS, while skin peeling affects more than 30% of the body in TEN.) However, both conditions can be life-threatening.

Summary Notes of Conference Board - November 16, 2022

Click Here to Read

Blue Christmas Service

December 18 – 2PM – Blue Christmas – St. John’s (Mickleys), Whitehall – in person only

December 18 – 3PM – Blue Christmas (4 locations and zoom)

Forks, Stockertown

Greenawalds, Allentown

St. Paul's, Northampton

Click Here for Service Bulletin

If you are aware of other locations, please let us know.

Beyond Plastics

Dear Friends. I’m reaching out specially to invite you to join Beyond Plastics upcoming free, virtual, 2-part grassroots organizing training in early December that will teach you practical and powerful ways to help end plastic pollution and take your place in a community that’s working to break free from plastic. Our voices are stronger when we use them together. 

After this training, I hope that you will join the growing anti-plastics grassroots movement by starting a Beyond Plastics Local Group, or add your existing organization as an Affiliate. 

You can run your own campaigns in your community to reduce wasteful plastics in coordination with activists nationwide, and we’ll support you to make your efforts more effective and broaden your reach. We will also plug you in to other work happening in your state.

If you can’t attend the trainings or start a local group, you can (and should!) still keep up with Beyond Plastics. There are quite a few ways to do this. First, if you're not already on Beyond Plastics' email list, please sign up here to stay in the loop. You’ll receive announcements about our webinars, initiatives, and publications – all of which we would love for you to engage with. Next, drop in on the Beyond Plastics virtual group, a gathering of activists from all over the country who meet online from 7-8:30 EST on the first Thursday of each month. Email BPVirtualGroup@Gmail.com with questions or to be added to their mailing list.

Big change starts at the local level, and it helps to be well-networked. Please reach out to Megan J. Wolff at meganwolff2@bennington.edu with questions, or to find out how Beyond Plastics can best support your activism.. 

Onward!

Megan J. Wolff, Ph.D., MPH; Policy Director, Beyond Plastics

Join us for the Women's Clergy Retreat!

This retreat will be centered around YOUR NEEDS; so you will be able to choose what activities are beneficial for your well-being and the refreshing of your spirit. There will be opportunities for worship, discussion, engaging in spiritual practices, and more - all centered on the theme of unprogramming ourselves and unplugging from the demands of our day-to-day life. Massages will be available for an additional fee. 

The retreat will take place at Mariawald Retreat Center, 1094 Welsh Road in Reading, PA. Modest linens/towels and simple meals are provided - you are welcome to bring snacks and drinks to share! Rooms are double occupancy and cost $130 - space is limited! First floor rooms available on request, and be sure to include the name of a roommate if you have a preference. Full vaccination and a negative home covid test required up to 48 hours before the retreat. 

Click Here for Registration

Please contact Kim Berenotto with any questions: kimberlyberenotto@gmail.com

Abolition Advent Calendar

Looking for a meaningful way to engage Advent this year? Want to learn more about contemporary Abolition movements? The United Church of Christ’s antiracism initiative, Join the Movement Toward Racial Justice, is offering an Abolition Advent Calendar: www.JoinTheMovementUCC.org/Abolition-Advent-Calendar

Daily offerings include… 

• Artwork – Breathing Praying Meditations by Dr. Yohana Junker

• Advent scripture readings

• Abolition reflections, prayers and practices 

…to keep awake to the ways God’s freedom and love is unfolding in our midst.  

Sign up to receive daily reflections via email, or find them on Facebook United Church of Christ, Instagram @UnitedChurchofChrist or Twitter @UnitedChurch. 

Also check out the Abolition Advent Calendar Discussion Guide for curriculum and ideas about how you might structure a discussion group using the Calendar. https://jointhemovementucc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Abolition-Advent-Calendar-Discussion-Guide.pdf

In the season of Advent, where we await the coming of transformational Love in flesh and bone, connect to contemporary abolition movements and consider how you are preparing the way for Love’s birth.

Rev. Traci D. Blackmon

Associate General Minister, Justice & Local Church Ministries, United Church of Christ 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR...

Beyond Lament; Movement Towards Repair

Wednesday, April 12

9AM to 3PM at Jordan UCC, Allentown

(can be used for Cultural Competency Training for authorized ministers)

Keynote; “Repenting of the unforgiveable” Through the medium of storytelling, Rev Jim Bear Jacobs will share how the legacy of Indigenous residential boarding schools has left a stain upon the church. The sin of complicity in the boarding school has for far too long been ignored or rationalized away. It is time to face this sin head on and enter into a season of lament that can hopefully lead to repair.

Workshop: “Beyond lament; Movement towards repair” In this workshop Rev. Jim Bear Jacobs will explore some tangible and challenging steps that churches might wrestle with as they consider reparations for the traumatic legacy of the boarding school system.

Click Here for Bio for Jim Bear Jacobs

Crossroads 2023 Winter and Spring courses:

Note: All Courses are in person for those who are able AND also real time on Zoom. Your choice.

Mondays, January 9 - February 27 from 6 to 9PM

Ministry Journeys of the New Testament with Rev. Dr. Joanne Marchetto

Thursdays, January 5 - February 23 from 6 to 9PM

Mapping the Route - Conversations in Theology with Rev. Dr. Bill Falla

Mondays, March 6 - May 1 (except April 3) from 6 to 9PM

Traveling Mercies Congregational Care with Greg Krausz and Diane Kareha

Thursdays, March 9 - May 4 (except April 6) from 6 to 9PM

Traditions - Exploring Denominations & Religions with Rev. Dr. Bill Falla

For more information, Contact Jill Peters at petersj2@moravian.edu or go on our website at  www.moravianseminary.edu/crossroads

DISASTER MINISTRIES UCC

Here is a report on my activities in PNEC on behalf of disaster ministries - 

1. Recently the national setting of the UCC did a story on the work in Eastwick. I did manage to get a picture in the article of the tool trailer and a mention of PNEC. You can read the article here..
2. The tool trailer was also featured in an article put together by PBS' WHYY recently. You can access it here.
3.  This past Sunday it was my pleasure to visit and worship with the congregation of St. John's UCC, Allentown. I made a presentation to their Adult Forum and offered a Mission Moment during worship. Thanks to Pastor Becky Sausser for the invitation and warm welcome.
4. I continue to relate to the Susquehanna County Long-term Recovery Committee and with the Bradford County COAD.
5. I will be taking part in the Monroe County operations exercise of their emergency operations center on December 5.

• Karl Jones

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The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program opened November 1, 2022. LIHEAP helps families living on low incomes pay their heating bills in the form of a cash grant. Households in immediate danger of being without heat can also qualify for crisis grants. The cash grant is a one-time payment sent directly to the utility company/fuel provider to be credited on your bill. These grants range from $500 to $1,500 based on household size, income, and fuel type. Remember: This is a grant and does not have to be repaid and you can apply online at https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Assistance/Pages/LIHEAP.aspx

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The Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund helps homeowners cope with financial hardship caused by the pandemic. A homeowner is eligible for up to $30,000 or 24 months, whichever is less. Household income must be no more than 150 percent of area median income; however, priority is given to homeowners who are at 100 percent of AMI or lower and meet the definition of socially disadvantaged. This requirement is part of the guidance from U.S. Treasury. Applications can be submitted online through www.PAHAF.org or call  888-987-2423

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