Letter from our Sabbatical Conference Minister, Rev. Dr. Becky Beckwith

“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Matthew 14:29

This week I finished my Coaching gig with First UCC, Hellertown. We met regularly from July 2022 until January 2023. We formed a Transition Team and worked through some important ministry issues. I am very proud of this church. They agreed to look at themselves and discussed new ways to become a healthier church – the church God is intending them to become.

At our last meeting I asked the Transition Team what it was like to take a deep breath and jump into unknown waters. I shared that I was in the middle of unknown waters having taken on the Sabbatical Conference Minister position. I feel as if I’m paddling as fast as I can without knowing as much as I wanted to or should know about the waters. But here I am – all in! This makes for some interesting times. Times of learning, times of growth are all important times.

The story of Peter getting out of the boat is a story of both faith and action. It is the story of wanting to do something but possibly allowing fear to hold you back. Peter got out of that boat. He was doing so great ‘water walking’ until fear got the best of him. 

So often we are afraid and miss opportunities. Everything in life has a certain amount of risk. If we don’t put fear aside and take a chance, get out of our comfort zone, then we never truly become the person we could become. Sometimes we just need to step out, stay focused, and move forward.

I think all of us can relate to Peter. As an individual maybe you need to take a prayer-filled breath and jump into some new waters. If you do that, remember you will not be paddling those unknown waters alone.

As church members, maybe it is time for us to take some risks. Consider calling someone you haven’t seen in the pews for a while. Call and invite them (if able) to come back to the church community. 

It seems to be the time to take some faithful chances.  What are you being called to do?  Pray about it. Put your faith in the One who is leading you, take some thoughtful chances and know that with God’s help we will all figure it out! 

Blessings for the Journey,

    Becky

Rev. Dr. Becky Beckwith

The IRS has announced mileage rates as follows:

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2023, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be: 

• 65.5 cents per mile driven for business use, up 3 cents from the midyear increase setting the rate for the second half of 2022.
• 22 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes for qualified active-duty members of the Armed Forces, consistent with the increased midyear rate set for the second half of 2022.
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations; the rate is set by statute and remains unchanged from 2022. 

These rates apply to electric and hybrid-electric automobiles, as well as gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles. 

Death of Rev. Dr. F. Russell Mitman

The Rev. Dr. F. Russell Mitman, former Conference Minister for the churches of the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ in Philadelphia and the surrounding six counties, died on Saturday, January 7, 2023.

He was the son of the late F. Russell Mitman and Glenna I. Mitman and lived in Pennsburg, Montgomery County where he graduated from Upper Perkiomen High School in 1958.

He was ordained a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the United Church of Christ in 1965 and began parish ministry as Assistant Pastor of First United Church of Christ, Easton, Pennsylvania. Upon the sudden death of the Senior Pastor who had served that congregation for 35 years, he was elected Pastor and served there until 1972 when he was elected Senior Pastor of First United Church of Christ, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. After a 17-year pastorate there, he was elected Senior Pastor of Broadmoor Community UCC in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Surprisingly he found himself called back home to serve as Conference Minister and President of Pennsylvania Southeast Conference of the UCC in 1993. He served three terms ending in 2010.

Toward the end of his last term he was asked by a staff member, "Are you willing to go to Parkside UCC in Phoenixville for three months to help them to decide about their future?" He responded to the call and found himself staying for a month and eleven years! He retired in 2022 and was given the honorific title of “Pastor Emeritus”. He said, "I have always believed, and having authored five books about worship, that worship is the key component to church renewal and revitalization. The Parkside experience witnessed to what I learned from experience and relationships with the Parkside congregation and others to whom, over the years, I served as a consultant and mentor." Pennsylvania Southeast Conference awarded him the honor of naming him "Conference Minister Emeritus" in November of 2022.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Ruth Hevener Mitman. Upon graduation from seminary – he never liked being addressed by titles – Ruth was awarded humorously with a “Ph.T.: Putting Husband Through”. He said, "In 1962 unfortunately most seminary graduates in the USA were men. Thankfully the situation in mainline churches reversed. Ruth “put me through” and she has been with me through 58 years of ministry in the relocations and changes that somehow only the God who works in mysterious ways has had in mind. I never intended to do what I did. I was going to be a professor of theology, but God spoke to me through my mentor, the late Dr. Franz Hildebrandt, on a night of decision. He said ‘You can be both a pastor and teacher’."

Russ is also survived by his daughter, Lucy Ann Mitman of Collegeville, the mother of his two adult grandchildren, Montana Aubrey Wagner and Bo Morgan Wagner. And his son, Kurt who with his wife Mary Rhigos Mitman lives in St. Augustine, Florida.

A service of celebration of the Resurrection will be held on Saturday, February 4th at 11:00 am at Church of the Good Shepherd, 35 W. Philadelphia Ave., Boyertown, PA, where Russ was installed as Conference Minister in 1993. Clergy are invited to process in robes with white stoles. For online participation please register here. A time for conversation and refreshments will follow in the church social hall. Burial will be private at the family’s resting place in St. Mark’s Cemetery, Pennsburg, PA. If you have photographs of significant moments with Russ, please email them to Susan at the Conference Office at susan@psec.org. Cards of condolence may be sent to Mrs. Ruth Mitman, 362 Carmen Dr., Collegeville, PA 19426. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be directed to UCC Valley Forge (45 Walker Rd.; Wayne, PA 19087); Parkside UCC (505 Main Street; Phoenixville, PA 19460); The Pennsylvania Southeast Conference (1441 Laura Lane, Suite 100; Pottstown, PA 19464).

Committee on Ministry Announces Ecclesiastical Council

(an Ecclesiastical Council is the final step in the ordination approval process for the Member in Discernment pending a valid call and granting them permission to circulate their profile within the UCC.)

The Committee on Ministry of the Penn Northeast Conference Invites you to participate in the Ecclesiastical Council for Monte Schroeder at 9:15am Saturday, January 21, at Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, 3940 Mountain Road, Slatington. To register to attend, please email Patty Rehrig at the Penn Northeast Conference Office (pattyr@pnec.org). Once you are registered, a copy of Monte’s Ordination paper will be emailed to you and if attending via zoom, you will receive the zoom information.

Monte is a member in discernment serving with Friedens United Church of Christ, Slatington.

Next Generation Leadership Initiative

Greetings and blessings in this new year, I’m writing to promote the application season for a transformative leadership initiative for younger clergy offered by the United Church of Christ Pension Boards. The Next Generation Leadership Initiative (NGLI) energizes and empowers younger UCC local church pastors to co-create vibrant congregations that change lives, engage their communities, and further God’s mission in the world.

We are currently accepting applications for our 14^th cohort.  Notice of intent to apply is February 1—so please pass this information along quickly.

The ideal candidate is:

1. 35 years of age or under by June 1, 2023*
2. Served a total of five years or less as an authorized minister in a parish*
3. Authorized for ministry in and on behalf of the UCC by an Association/Conference
4. Hold a called position of 20 hours per week or more in a parish setting
5. Committed to long-term ministry in local churches of the United Church of Christ

(*note, if a candidate meets the last three criteria, they are allowed to be a bit over in one of the first two. We will consider people up to age 40 and/or people with up to 10 years of parish ministry experience. However, if someone is over the ideal range in both of these categories, they are not eligible to apply.)

Those selected to participate in NGLI receive…

1. Six years of advanced training, education, and field trips to hone pastoral leadership skills and gifts for service to the Church,
2. Cohort of colleagues that encourages, challenges, and reflects together on the life of a local church pastor in these rapidly changing times,
3. Financial incentive—a $6,000 seed contribution to the participant’s Annuity Plan account, which should have a value of approximately $45,000 at the end of a 35-year career.

Additional information about the application process and program components can be found here. Please help the Church by getting these materials in the hands of any eligible clergy you may know-- many thanks!

Faithfully,

 The Rev. Krista L. Betz, Director, Leadership Initiatives

The Pension Boards- United Church of Christ, Inc.; 718.685.6776

15th Annual PNEC Youth Retreat

FAITH & ?????

Penn Northeast Conference Presents the15th “Annual” Youth Retreat FAITH & ??? In the gospels, Jesus is asked 187 questions. He answers (maybe) 8 of them. He himself asks 307. Maybe faith isn't about certainty, but learning to ask—and sit in the complexity of—good questions. ~Kevin Nye; writer on theology, homelessness, culture, and grace Exploring our faith through all kinds of questions FYI: This is a technology friendly event – cell phones, IPADS, tablets, etc are welcome!

WHO: All youth in grades 7th-12th are invited!

WHEN: April, 14-16, 2023 Check-in Friday 6:30-7:00/Pick up Sunday at 12:00 pm

WHERE: Spruce Lake 5389 Route 447, Canadensis, PA 18325

COST: $145/per person – includes meals Saturday & Sunday

**Limited space!!! First 40 participants with paid deposit only.

One adult chaperone per church is needed. 

Click Here for detailed flyer/registration

The Greater Scranton MLK Commission

Information about activities this coming weekend as part of the Martin Luther King Commemoration.

1. A Program for youth on Saturday from 4-6 at Scranton High;
2. The Sunday Dinner, beginning at 1:30 at the University of Scranton [reminder we still have one seat available at the Ministerium Table;]
3. In addition, the Multi-Faith Service concluding the MLK Weekend will be held on Monday January 16 beginning at 7 PM at Salvation Apostolic Temple Church, 223 North Main Avenue in West Scranton.

The play The Mountaintop offered over the next two weekends

National Fund for Sacred Places Grant Opportunity

The National Fund for Sacred Places is a grant-making program that provides capital grants ranging from $50,000 to $250,000+ as well as wrap-around support services to congregations undertaking once-in-a-generation preservation projects. To learn more, please visit us at fundforsacredplaces.org.

Join us for an introductory webinar on Wednesday, February 1st at 12:00 PM EST to learn more about the National Fund for Sacred Places and whether your sacred place (or the sacred places in your community or judicatory) may qualify. Register Here

Health & Human Service Sunday

The CHHSM Team

Every year, the United Church of Christ designates a Sunday in January as the time to uplift the many gifts of the Health and Human Service Ministries across the church. This year, Health and Human Service Sunday takes place on January 29, 2023. 

Liturgical resources for observing Health and Human Service Sunday are now available on CHHSM's website. This year's materials were composed by the Rev. Dr. Elyse Berry, and include unique elements such as a Meditation for Mental Health and Beatitudes for Essential Workers.

Especially now, it is worth remembering that the word liturgy means "work of the people," and this special Sunday is a way to celebrate the healing work of our CHHSM members and those on the frontlines in our UCC congregations. 

May your new year be blessed with healing, hope, and a sense of togetherness.

The Coalition for UCC Rural Ministries

PRESENTS

Nourishing the Seeds of Faith

(Isaiah 55:10-11)

A Virtual National Gathering of Rural/small town Churches & Ministries in the United Church of Christ

Save the dates: February 9-11, 2023

Registration to open in January 2023

Hosted by

Faith education, innovation & formation (faith info)

Justice and Local church Ministry of the UCC

For more information contact

Rev. Roberto Ochoa – ochoar@ucc.org

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

Congregational Leadership Training

Saturday, March 4, 2023 - 9AM to 4PM via zoom

A Congregational Leadership Training will be held on Saturday March 4th from 9 AM-4 PM on Zoom. It is a training offered by Local Congregational Support and Congregational Vitality to help lay leaders AND youth leaders appreciate and navigate the many roles and responsibilities of leadership in the local church. It is an ideal learning opportunity for newly-elected Consistory members, Confirmation students, and even seasoned church leaders! Registration coming soon.

PATHWAYS Theological Education

A new year brings new opportunities to learn and grow in faith! PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc. is pleased to announce our January term online, asynchronous courses that are accessible and affordable for curious Progressive Christians. All courses are designed with the Marks of Faithful and Effective Authorized Ministers at their core, and are helpful to anyone who wants to develop spiritual and leadership gifts for use in the church and the world.

—United Church of Christ History and Polity, January 11-April 7; this course is designed according to the content recommendations of the UCC History and Polity Network Teachers group (12 weeks, $625)

—Practicing Our Faith in the Public Square, January 11-February 21(6 weeks, $325)

—Understanding the Bible as a Progressive Christian, January 11-February 21 (6 weeks, $325)

—The Art of Worship, January 11-February 21 (6 weeks, $325)

We will also offer a three week Introduction to Supervised Ministry for student ministers and their site supervisors who are participating in the PATHWAYS Supervised Ministry track.

For more information about PATHWAYS as an organization, our courses, and to register, please visit www.pathwaystheological.org.

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, 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

CLICK HERE for Bulletin Insert