Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
|
|
This Event is FAST Approaching...Sign up NOW
Congregational Leadership Training
Saturday, February 5, 2022 - 9AM to 4PM via Zoom
This training is for congregational boards, councils, consistories
$25 per person or $100 maximum/church
|
|
Calling ALL Pastors & Congregations
The Susquehanna Area Mission Council of the Penn Northeast Conference is asking
All churches to provide the following information to their members regarding the
HIGH FIVE for DISASTER RELIEF CAMPAIGN
The following provided LINKS include:
Your assistance is greatly needed and appreciated
to support the efforts of our joint Disaster Relief Team
|
|
Bonnie's Letter
“We saw the star in the east and came to worship Him” Matthew 2:2
Dear friends
Yesterday afternoon I participated in an Ecumenical Celebration of the Word of God at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton. My participation was through our conference’s partnership with the Christian Communities of NE Pennsylvania. The scripture above was the theme for the service, whose components were written by the Middle East Council of Churches, which originates in Lebanon.
Bishop Joseph Bambera shared the sermon message and expanded our understanding of “the light of the Star” as a means of bringing people from across cultures and beliefs together – the Magi were not Jews after all. They never became Christians. We don’t know the religious background of the shepherds, but we do know they were the disadvantaged of their culture. The Light brought all these people together.
Sometimes we in the Church get a little closed, we fail to include those who don’t think the way we do, leave conversations across differences in anger, fail to communicate about issues of ethics that are important to us. We forget that we are called to be Light in the world. Yes, from our belief structure we see Jesus as the continuation of that Light. Yet, how can we engage in conversation, move into relationships with those with whom we disagree, unless we worry less about common belief and worry more about love and light?
A portion of the Prayer of Praise and Confession from this service included these words:
“We confess before you that we have turned away from your ways and disobeyed your ordinances. We have disfigured your good creation and squandered its resources through our consumerist practices. We have polluted your rivers and seas and poisoned your air and soil and contributed to the extinction of many species.
We have acted selfishly towards our brothers and sisters. We have allowed our own needs and desires to prevail over our commitment to justice. We have built walls between us and planted the seeds of distrust towards the other.
We have separated people based on ethnicity, religion and gender and we have claimed Jesus on our side in any war we waged. Forgive all these thoughts and deeds, O Lord, as we come before you in repentance.”
The assurance of grace included the call for us to shine as a glorious image, a beacon of hope in the troubled world. What a concept – us as the glorious image of God’s love, us as a beacon of God’s hope in the world.
It is my prayer that we will be light and love and a beacon in our time and place.
Blessings, Bonnie
|
|
In celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, PNEC Conference Minister, Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates participated in “An Ecumenical Celebration of the Word of God” at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton, PA, on Wednesday, January 19. This is a photo of the worship leaders at that service. They are:
Front Row: Monsignor Vincent J. Grimalia, Coordinator for Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Diocese of Scranton, Coordinator of the Ecumenical Celebration; Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Scranton; Reverend Rebecca Barnes, Pastor, Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church, Scranton, President, Scranton Area Ministerium; Reverend Dr. Bonnie Bates, Conference Minister, Penn Northeast Conference
United Church of Christ, Palmerton; Most Reverend Anthony Mikovsky, Prime Bishop, Polish National Catholic Church, Scranton.
Second Row: Pastor Dave Twiss, Assemblies of God Lead Pastor, Green Ridge Assembly of God Church, Scranton, Presbyter, North East Section of the Pennsylvania Delaware Ministry Network of the Assemblies of God; and, Reverend Rebecca Tanner, Presbyterian Church, USA
|
|
COVID Information
Several congregations have announced break-through COVID cases and so, as your Conference Minister, I feel it is vital to make the following recommendations which align with the CDC suggestions.
1. If your congregation has the capacity to worship and meet virtually, please opt for this. People need to be more isolated, especially if they have any health conditions or are immuno-compromised.
2. If you cannot meet solely as a virtual congregation, reinstitute masking (and the CDC is recommending double-masking) at all times.
3. Consider eliminating congregational singing or move congregational singing (only done masked) to the end of the worship service so those more immune-compromised individuals can leave. Utilize recordings or videos of worship music to ease this transition.
4. Maintain clear attendance records of who has been present at worship and meetings so you have a contact map should someone test positive.
5. Utilize social distancing, moving back to a minimum of six feet.
Remember acting with an abundance of care is one way to love our neighbor. So many new cases, especially among young people and children, have been reported in the past weeks that our hospitals are again full. Please, please demonstrate your love of neighbor by following as many precautions as possible.
~Bonnie
|
|
“Why Don't Christians See Eye-to-Eye?"
Symposium of Churches in Conversation
Join us as we explore the differences in theology, views on justice and social issues, and church life. Pastors and Laity are welcome to attend.
When: Saturday, Feb. 5, 12, 19 and 26, 2022
9:00 – 10:00 am, except for the 26th which will last until 10:30
Register, by providing your name, email address, phone number, and church name/location and affiliation to pattyr@pnec.org or call 610-826-3113 no later than January 28, 2022. A Zoom link will be forwarded to you. Click Here for an inventory to complete prior to the training for discussion purposes.
Cost: Free, funded by the PNEC Strengthen the Church Fund
Pastors in the Penn Northeast Conference will receive 4.5 hours of continuing education credit which may be counted as Cultural Competency Training.
Conversations facilitated by Dr. Lee Barrett - BA, Yale University, MDiv, Yale University, MA, Yale University, Religious Studies Dept., PhD, Yale University, Religious Studies Dept. Lee Barrett has taught at Lancaster Seminary since September 1993. Prior to this, Lee taught theology at the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia. Lee’s interests include the relationship between the doctrinal traditions of the Christian churches and contemporary culture. He is the author of essays concerning the present-day implications of the theology of the Reformed tradition, as well as the thoughts of Søren Kierkegaard. Lee is particularly interested in the theological significance of literature and the visual arts. Lee and his wife, Betty Snapp-Barrett, a pastoral counselor in Lancaster, make their home in Lancaster.
This event is sponsored by Good Shepherd UCC (Slatedale), First UCC (Hellertown), Mt. Sinai Baptist (Baltimore), Dille Parish UCC (LeRaysville), New Covenant UCC (Baltimore), Memorial Baptist Church (Baltimore), Friendship Baptist (York, PA) St. James PCUSA (Harlem, NY), and the Penn Northeast Conference.
Click Here for list of Sponsoring Churches and their Websites.
|
|
Continuing Education for Authorized Ministers
Please remember to enter all of your 2021 continuing education hours, etc. into your Breeze profile no later than January 31, 2022, so as not to be listed as out of compliance with MESA.
|
|
Basic Boundary Training (through PSEC)
will be offered January 26 from 9:00a-3:00p on Zoom. The cost is $40
for UCC participants ($50 for non-UCC participants). To register, click here
|
|
 |
FYI For Authorized Ministers
The Oversight Working Group has a
"Continuing Education Timeline Out of Compliance" document they would like to share with all Authorized Ministers. You can find it on the Penn Northeast Conference website. www.pnec.org
|
|
|
|
FYI For Authorized Ministers
The Exempt Standing Covenant has been revised. You can find a copy on the Penn Northeast Conference Website.
|
|
|
|
Last Call for These Up-Coming Events & Deadlines |
|
The UCC Pension Boards is Working Towards Creating a Credit Union
to provide banking services to all UCC members, not just clergy and lay church employees. The effort is in response to a Synod resolution that a credit union would benefit the UCC community, including those for whom traditional banks often don’t serve justly.
Part of the process for obtaining a credit union charter is a survey of potential users. That survey has been circulated (you may have already received the invitation), and we’ve had good response from clergy, but we need to hear from laypeople.
Would you be willing to fill out the survey attached which will be open into February, but the sooner the better.
The Rev. Dr. Jonathan B. Lee, Director, Church Relations and Operations; Email: jlee@pbucc.org
|
|
Fundraising Fundamentals: Churches and Other Non-Profits
Feb. 22 – March 29, 2022
This class provides essential fundraising tools for lay leaders, pastors, and other ministerial leaders. Whether working in a congregation or not-for-profit, all ministerial leaders need to be able to raise money. Taught by an experienced fundraising consultant, this class helps participants hone their skills in developing the fundraising “ask,” writing letters for fundraising, and leveraging networks to grow your ministry.
|
|
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Sponsored by Lehigh Conference of Churches...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders
June 13-17; August 1-5; November 14-18
For details please refer to MSTI Brochure. 9AM to 5PM Central Time
|
|
Workshop - Sharing Leadership
A United Church of Christ Way of Being in Community
by Sarah B. Drummond
Saturday, March 5, 2022 - 9:30AM to 2:30PM via Zoom
Cost: $35
FOR LAY LEADERS AND CLERGY
|
|
Lehigh Conference of Churches
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic and Testing
Lehigh Valley Health Network will be at Lehigh Conference of Churches location, 457 W. Allen Street, on Monday, January 24 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to provide COVID-19 vaccinations. No appointment is needed! All three vaccines will be available, Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. First shots, second shots, and booster doses are available as well as pediatric doses for children 5 and up.
SELF! is also providing COVID-19 testing every Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Conference. The test is free. It is a PCR test and results will be mailed/emailed within 24-48 hours. This is not a test for people who have COVID. It for those people who would just like to be tested.
|
|
Have YOU signed up?? --- Last chance!
Community of Practice for Authorized Ministers
PNEC Communities of Practice Are accepting participants for 2022. 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: Reading Various Theological Books: Facilitator: Rev. Heather Kurtz - 2 vacancies
Topic: (focus for recently-retired clergy) - Facing Up to Retirement (What else matters besides money?): Facilitator: Rev. Steve Engelhardt - (STARTS IN MARCH 2022) - Vacancies
Topic: Practices of Ministry and Church’s Legacy: Facilitator: Rev. Jane Hess - 2 vacancies
Topic: Newly Called Ministers and MIDs: Facilitator: Rev. James Robison - 1 vacancy
Topic: Prayer: Facilitator: Rev. David Quinn - 5 vacancies
Topic: Solo & Sr. Pastors of Larger Churches & General Ministry: Facilitator: Rev. David Charles Smith - 3 vacancies
Topic: Multiple Church Pastors: Facilitator: Rev. David Charles Smith - 3 vacancies
Topic: Licensed- studying lectionary Texts: Facilitator: Rev. Dennis Schappell - 3 vacancies
Topic: Chaplaincy: Facilitator: Rev. David Charles Smith - NEW - Vacancies
Topic: New Models of Church: Facilitator: Rev. Jeff Brinks - 3 vacancies
Topic: Spiritual Disciplines/Practices: Facilitator: Rev. Al Bastin - 3 vacancies
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
|
|
The Mental Health Ministry Team is Offering a Book Study
beginning January 26 at 3PM
From the Amazon Web Site: “Rambo draws on contemporary studies in trauma to rethink a central claim of the Christian faith: that new life arises from death. Reexamining the narrative of the death and resurrection of Jesus from the middle day-liturgically named as Holy Saturday-she seeks a theology that addresses the experience of living in the aftermath of trauma. Through a reinterpretation of "remaining" in the Johannine Gospel, she proposes a new theology of the Spirit that challenges traditional conceptions of redemption. Offered, in its place, is a vision of the Spirit's witness from within the depths of human suffering to the persistence of divine love.”
This study will begin on January 26th *Wednesday* at 3:00 PM.
Meeting ID: 892 5735 2821 Passcode: 1234
Although we are not asking you to register for this – please let Emily Hall @
|
|
NACHW CHW and Partner Access
To Free COVID-19 At-Home Rapid Tests
|
|
Register for Spring Crossroads Classes
All of our classes are offered in real-time, distance learning via Zoom, with tentative in-person learning (masks required) for classes beginning in March 2022. To register, check dates, see the textbook lists, and look at the course schedule for the rest of this academic year, please visit our website at moravianseminary.edu/crossroads or email to Dr. Jill Peters at petersj2@moravian.edu.
STORY OF CHRISTIANITY
(8) Mondays, 6-9 pm -- March 7 - May 2, 2022 (except Holy Week 4/11)
Instructor: Rev. Dr. William Falla
Tentative in-person (Bahnson Center) and Real-time Distance Learning via Zoom
Price: $240
MY JOURNEY/OUR JOURNEY
(8) Thursdays, 6-9 pm -- March 10 - May 5, 2022 (except Holy Week 4/14)
Instructor: Rev. Maggie Wellert
Tentative in-person (Bahnson Center) and Real-time Distance Learning via Zoom
Price: $240
|
|
Trauma Training Program
Trauma Trainings for Clergy and Ministry Leaders
in the United Church of Christ [UCC]
A partnership between The Welcome Project PA, Lakeside Global Institute, & the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference
Saturday, February 26th, 9:00am-2:00pm
The Welcome Project PA [WPPA], in partnership with Lakeside Global Institute and the Pennsylvania SE Conference of the United Church of Christ [PSEC], is pleased to offer professional trauma training modules for ministry leaders in their respective contexts, so as to prepare them to better assist their constituents who have suffered trauma. The purpose of this program is to assist professionals in their caring for people who have suffered various forms of trauma, to create an awareness of the causes and consequences of trauma, and how it affects our human relationships and social interactions. Finally, this program strives to enable those who have suffered/continue to suffer from trauma, a path forward to progress and a way out of destructive cycles.
|
|
Lehigh Conference of Churches
Tackle Hunger: Super Bowl of Caring
In 1990 a simple prayer: “Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat” was delivered to a small youth group in Columbia, SC.
This gave birth to an idea. Why not harness the energy and enthusiasm of Super Bowl weekend, a time when people come together for football, food and fun, to unite us for a higher good?
Please consider designating a Sunday between now and February 13 as Souper Bowl Sunday and challenge your congregation to donate to The Lehigh Conference of Churches either through a special offering or a food drive.
The Lehigh Conference of Churches reaches out to the working poor, the homeless, people between jobs, and those who have nowhere else to turn.
Please mail or deliver the money raised to The Lehigh Conference of Churches, 457 W. Allen Street, Allentown, PA 18102 by February 28.
Thank you for your generosity and willingness to share your blessings with those who struggle with hunger.
|
|
|
Funeral assistance for COVID-19 victims
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
during Black History Month. This candid and insightful conversation features Lancaster Seminary's distinguished civil rights advocate and adjunct professor, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Nathan Baxter, and a nationally known leader in theological education, The Very Rev. Canon Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas, dean of the Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary.
Black students bring many gifts to our seminary classroom discussions, communal worship, and social witness that have not always been appreciated since they began enrolling in theological schools in greater numbers in the 1970s, '80s, and '90s.
At times, Black worship and preaching styles, biblical interpretation, and even academic rigor were disregarded, diminished, and even demeaned.
Theological schools need to be attuned to the voices, gifts, and needs of Black students and seminarians of color, who come to us from diverse Christian traditions, geographical locations, and theological perspectives.
Register here by Feb. 14 and plan to join us for an enlightening and relevant discussion that expands our understanding of and appreciation for authentic diversity and inclusion.
The Rev. Dr. Vanessa Lovelace
Associate Dean and Chief Academic Officer
Lancaster Theological Seminary
|
|
|
|
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. Join us for discussion and idea sharing!
But, we will resume sessions on January 24th at 7 PM to discuss the life-giving potential of sacraments, and then on February 28th to talk about Lenten plans/ideas.
Meeting ID: 817 9668 4439
Passcode: 292474
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Clergy Convocation 2022
May 3-5, 2022
Double Tree by Hilton, 2400 Willow Street Pike, Lancaster, PA 17602
Qualifies for 10 Contact Hours
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friends of the Poor
Volunteers Needed
There is an ongoing need for a volunteer at our full time pantry at Jackson Terrace, 148 Meridian Avenue in West Scranton. Volunteers are needed Monday through Friday, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. You can volunteer one day a week or multiple days. Whatever may work with your schedule. Duties involve lifting…such as stocking shelves, filling food bags, carrying food bags outside to the tables or to the clients vehicles. All volunteers must be fully vaccinated. Masks are required and will be provide. Social distancing guidelines are followed. Please let me know if you can help on a regular basis or as your schedule permits.
Ann Montoro Williams
Stewardship Manager
Friends of the Poor
Office: 570-340-6086
Cell: 570-892-8038 call or text
|
|
|
|
DISASTER MINISTRIES UCC
Here are some snapshots and links that can be useful for our churches to use as they become more prepared.
1. The CYBERSECURITY & INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY AGENCY (CISA)'s Power of Hello guide promotes staff and volunteer vigilance for our churches. The guide shows how alert personnel can spot suspicious activity and report it. It is important to keep our churches safe and secure while sustaining the open and welcoming environment that the United Church of Christ is known for. It takes a holistic approach to security. Learn more about the Power of Hello Resources | CISA.
2. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) aims to provide a first stop for guidance and resources that will inform our churches' security-based decisions. CISA maintains a library of resources, including a Guide and Self-Assessment Tool, which provide building blocks for effective safety and security programs. The resources include assessment, training, planning, exercises, and other materials focused on a wide range of threats (e.g., bombing, active shooter, vehicle ramming, etc.) that could be used against the church. Obtain resources for Faith Based Organizations - Houses of Worship | CISA. Learn more on protecting Houses of Worship | CISA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Willing to Respond - A New preparedness tool for congregations
Dear colleagues– We have an exciting new online resource to share with you to help local congregations prepare for and respond to disasters!
Willing to Respond is designed to link a network of congregations who have expressed a desire to be ready for disasters–both to protect themselves and their members and to help their neighbors in a time of need. It is an easy tool to use - a congregation registers, name a primary disaster contact, and then has access to a whole host of resources, as well as being connected to denominational, ecumenical, and other disaster response organizations, Willing to Respond provides congregations with practical tools, training, and relationships.
The UCC and Disciples of Christ are partnering with The Church Responds to present this unique tool. They are providing a brief introduction to this resource on February 10, 2022 from 1:00-1:30pm Eastern. I would ask, if you are available, check out this resource and then let me know what you think. Here is the zoom information -
Meeting ID: 854 3584 4266
Passcode: 817769
One tap mobile
+13462487799,,85435844266# US (Houston)
+12532158782,,85435844266# US (Tacoma)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Disaster Ministries Team at the UCC national setting is now accepting applications for the newly forming Emotional and Spiritual Care Team. Interested persons can find the application at https://app.smarterselect.com/programs/77248-United-Church-Of-Christ . Please feel free to share this link with others who would have the skills and interest to join the team. The Rev. Martha Jacobs serves as the Team Facilitator.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council is offering grants of up to $5,000 to community organizations, including churches, to assist individuals with disabilities in response to emergencies and disasters. The support could be access to information that will educate, prepare, and decrease the negative impacts of the emergency situation, and ensure your programs and resources are accessible and inclusive to all. All projects funded through this effort must be in direct relation to responding to an emergency situation. Activities must serve the purpose of providing resources or education. And activities must be developed and implemented with the assistance of individuals with disabilities. More info and Application
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bulletin insert for the High Five for Disaster Relief - Click Here
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Active Shooter Preparedness Webinar - February 23, 2022 - 1PM Eastern - CLICK HERE for flyer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Pennsylvania Governor’s Office of Homeland Security (GOHS), in partnership with the U.S. DHS, PEMA, PA State Police, the three Fusion Centers (PaCIC, WPAHFC, DVIC) across the Commonwealth, Faith-based Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (FB-ISAO), and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), is offering a quarterly virtual learning series to Faith-based Organizations. This learning series will provide valuable information to religious leaders, security personnel and members of houses of worship to enhance security and resilience. The first quarterly event will be held on Thursday, January 27, 2022 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm, with keynote speaker Director Shawn Brokos.
Director Brokos, is a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent and current Director of Community Security at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. Director Brokos will be providing a case study on the Tree of Life Synagogue tragedy and lessons learned. This presentation will review the importance of security procedures in houses of worship, and how to best implement these procedures based on national best practices and potential funding sources.
David Kohanbash, Security Committee Chair, Shaare Torah Synagogue, in Pittsburgh, will also speak about building a security committee and the significance of having a security team. Guidance and further resources will be provided via handouts, and there will be time set aside at the end for Questions & Answers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It will take time to identify volunteer opportunities for rebuilding in the most recent tornadoes, but you can be a great help right now in Philadelphia and Dayton.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
