Bonnie's Letter

Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Dear Friends,

As Paul writes in his letter to the church in Rome, we are to seek to be transformed by the renewing of our minds so we can discern the will of God. I understand the concept, but sometimes I think we spend so much time discerning, thinking, seeking to understand, that we forget the mysterious support of the Holy Spirit in our being renewed and transformed.

Last week I was the keynote preacher and workshop presenter at the Penn West Conference Annual Meeting. We explored the whole 12^th chapter of Romans, but the workshops were based on verse 2. I presented and we talked about individual transformation, congregational transformation, and community transformation. In each case we reminded each other that the Holy Spirit was the agent of transformation. We couldn’t think or study our way into transformation.

In the United Church of Christ, we pride ourselves in having a learned clergy and we work diligently to assure that our authorized ministers are well educated and prepared to serve the local church or their ministry setting. Learning is important and I don’t want to discount the need for education. I am a proponent of life-long learning. And yet, sometimes we need to sit in silence and await the mysterious actions of the Holy Spirit. We need to let the Holy Spirit in, to listen to the words of God that come to us, and to spend a little less time analyzing.

Most of you know that I was raised a Roman Catholic and when asked what I missed about the Roman Catholic Church, I said I missed the mystery. I miss the uncertainty about how and when God will act – the acceptance that I can’t analyze my way into relationships with God – I need to let that renewing and transformation come from God.

So perhaps this week, we can each spend a little time silently listening for the words of God and the renewing power of the Holy Spirit. I look forward to that time. I hope you do as well.

Blessings, Bonnie

Notice of Passing of Rev. Dr. Peter B. Doghramji

Rev. Dr. Peter B. Doghramji, Pennsylvania Southeast former Conference Minister from 1985-1991, passed yesterday, June 14, in Philadelphia, PA.

Peter was born in Aleppo, Syria, on 18 June 1929. After his father’s tragic death, he was raised in the Armenian Evangelical community of Aleppo by his grandparents. He completed his schooling in the region of his birthplace, and his higher education and theological training at the American University of Beirut and the Near East School of Theology. Later he continued his education at the Harvard Divinity School (U.S.A.) and earned his Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary (U.S.A.).

Ordained in 1955 by the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, Rev. Doghramji rendered academic and ecclesiastical service in the Middle East as well as in the U.S.A. At Aleppo College he taught theological subjects and later became the College’s first native-born president. As well, he was on the faculty of the Near East School of Theology until his departure for the U.S. in 1970.

Rev. Doghramji began his church ministry in Hasakeh, Syria, and his productive ministry extended as well to the U.S., beginning in Philadelphia, also Los Angeles and New York. He became the first foreign-born Conference Minister in the United Church of Christ. During his tenure, Peter helped the Conference build the Church House that was the Conference’s administrative and spiritual home until 2013. Prior to retirement, he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) degree from Ursinus College.

Peter served as the Moderator and Executive Secretary of the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America and later became the Executive Director of the Armenian Missionary Association of America.

Rev. Doghramji was fluent in five languages, and preached in those languages. He also authored three books and many articles. Often he was invited to lecture on various historical, theological and inter-religious themes. Throughout his life’s work he remained a teacher at heart, and served as he was able until recent months.

He was married to Mary Bedikian, who passed away this year on March 1. They had three children - Karl, Paul and James, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. After a brief hospitalization, Rev. Doghramji passed away on June 14, 2023, in the Philadelphia area, four days shy of his 94th birthday.

A service to celebrate his amazing life and grieve his loss will be held at Armenian Martyrs' Congregational Church, 100 Edmunds Ave., Havertown, PA 19083, on Saturday, June 24 at 11:00 a.m. with a lunch to follow in the social hall. Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing at 10:00 a.m.

To join the service by Zoom, use this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89109626296

In lieu of flowers donations in Badveli Doghramji's memory may be made to the Armenian Missionary Association of America, 31 W. Century Road, Paramus, NJ 07652, or to the Armenian Martyrs’ Congregational Church, 100 N. Edmonds Avenue, Havertown, PA 19083.

Notice of Service for Rev. Wanda Craner

On Thursday, June 1, 2023, Wanda (Dietz) Craner, age 69, passed away peacefully in her home in Boyertown, Pennsylvania after an 8-month battle with cancer. Wanda touched countless lives and was a constant, unwavering presence and example of God’s love and compassion in the world.

Wanda wore many hats: devoted wife, adoring mother, compassionate and enthusiastic pastor, intuitive counselor, respected mentor, and supportive friend. She loved to laugh and brought so much joy to everyone who knew her. No matter who she befriended or pastored, she showed unconditional love and acceptance, one of her countless gifts. Despite her many professional accomplishments, she humbly and unfailingly gave the credit for her success to God. Wanda lived with humility and grace, a living example of God’s love to everyone she encountered and ministered to. Loving her daughters and watching them grow and mature into kind, caring, accomplished adults brought her the ultimate joy!

Wanda was born November 28, 1953, in Columbia, Pennsylvania to June and Ronald Dietz. She had two brothers, Wade and Jody Dietz, and a sister, Tanya (Dietz) Bracken. Wanda grew up in Spring City, Pennsylvania and graduated from Owen J. Roberts High School in 1971. She went on to get her teaching degree at Millersville University, graduating in 1975. Wanda taught science in Spring-Ford School District’s middle school before being called to ministry.

After graduating from Lancaster Theological Seminary in 1986, Wanda broke new ground in the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference (PSEC) of the United Church of Christ and beyond by accepting a call to Shenkel United Church of Christ in Pottstown to be the church’s Minister of Wholeness. She credits Rev. Daniel Moser’s persistence and faith in her pastoral vision for this call which opened the door to what would become her lifelong passion: bringing healing through discernment and prayer to all who desired to be whole. She was forever grateful to her dear friend and mentor, Rev. Tilda Norberg, for her guidance and support throughout her ministry.

In 1997, Wanda was challenged to share her gifts with the wider church when she was called to be the Minister of Spiritual Nurture for the PSEC from 1997-2016. Additionally, she served as Acting Conference Minister from 2013-14. In recognition of her extensive work and talents in the area of healing ministry, Lancaster Theological Seminary awarded her the 2013 Moss Award for Excellence in Specialized Ministry.

Wanda had a gift for being with people in their deepest pain. She was a Gestalt Pastoral Care (GPC) Minister and Spiritual Director from 1986-present. Since 2016, the main thrust of her ministry was in spiritual direction and as a GPC Minister and Trainer. She loved to preach and continued to be a supply pastor when needed. She was one of the founding members of Gestalt Pastoral Care Associates, most recently serving as President.

Wanda was predeceased by her parents, June and Ronald Dietz, brother Wade, and sister Tanya (Dietz) Bracken. She is survived by her devoted husband, Steven Craner; loving daughters, Tesia Craner and Michaela Craner; loving brother Jody Dietz; nieces and nephews, and many friends and colleagues who remember her joy-filled, loving, compassionate spirit.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for July 8, 2023, at Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, 35 W. Philadelphia Avenue, Boyertown, Pennsylvania at 11:00 a.m., with visitation starting at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to Shenkel United Church of Christ, 1580 Shenkel Road, Pottstown, PA 19465, or Gestalt Pastoral Care Associates, Inc., P.O. Box 140636, Staten Island, NY 10314, in memory of Wanda Craner.

Ecclesiastical Council Announced

(An Ecclesiastical Council is the final step in the ordination approval process for a 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 Janet Newett at 9:30am Saturday, July 15, at Greenawalds United Church of Christ, 2325 Albright Avenue, Allentown, PA 18014. You may also participate via Zoom. 

To register to attend, please email Patty Rehrig at the Penn Northeast Conference Office (pattyr@pnec.org) to let her know if you will be attending in person or via zoom. You will receive a copy of Janet's Ordination Paper upon registering. Janet is pastor at Greenawalds and has been an associate chaplain at St. Luke’s since 2019.

Lehigh Conference of Churches - 2nd Annual Supplies Drive

📚🎒 Join us for the 2nd Annual Back-to-School Supplies Drive! 🎉

 We're thrilled to announce that our community is coming together once again to support students in need through our Back-to-School Supplies Drive

The collection of items will be held from June through July!

This donation drive is all about making a positive impact on the lives of local students and ensuring they have the tools they need to succeed in their education. Education is a fundamental right, and we believe that every child should have equal access to quality learning opportunities.

Please consider picking up supplies when shopping, hosting a donation drive at your organization, or visiting our Walmart Spark Good registry to purchase supplies and send them directly to the Conference.

Print Flyer Supplies Registry

Faith-Based Coalition for Affordable Housing

June Meeting

(Lehigh Conference of Churches)

Next Meeting: Thursday, June 27 at 4:40PM

St. Timothy Church, 140 South Ott St., Allentonwn

Across religious traditions, there’s a shared interfaith commitment to loving God and caring for our neighbors. As we remember that our neighbors, especially those in need, bear the image of God, we ask ourselves: how can we contribute to the regional tapestry being woven together to offer housing and support to those facing poverty and homelessness? 

Some of our congregations may have underutilized buildings that could undergo adaptive reuse projects for housing. Others may have undeveloped land on which affordable housing could be built. Still others may have members ready to join local and state advocacy or volunteer alongside nonprofit partners providing support services. There is a role for all of us to play!

Lehigh Valley Pride

Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center PROUDLY announces that the 30th anniversary of Lehigh Valley Pride will be a FREE event held on Sunday, August 20, at the SteelStacks in Bethlehem from 2 to 8:30 p.m.

We’ve heard your feedback and moved Pride to a more visible and accessible venue. We’re planning for this to be the Lehigh Valley’s most fabulous Pride festival to date! 

• Rev. Gary Barraco reserved space for a unified PNEC booth again. Folks can email him if they want to be part of the planning team. garybarraco@verizon.net
• Want to learn more about becoming a vendor at Pride? Click here..
• Want to learn more about becoming a sponsor at Pride? Click here..

CLICK HERE for other dates/events

Congregational Library & Archives

Virtual Discussion With Author, R.J.M. Blackett, to Celebrate the Release of

Samuel Ringgold Ward: A Life of Struggle

Qualifies for anti-racism training with a written summary of learning after the event

Born on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Samuel Ringgold Ward (1817–c. 1869) escaped enslavement and would become a leading figure in the struggle for Black freedom, citizenship, and equality. He was extolled by his contemporary Frederick Douglass for his “depth of thought, fluency of speech, readiness of wit, logical exactness.” Until now, his story has been largely untold.

Ward, a newspaper editor, Congregational minister, and advocate for the temperance movement, was considered one of the leading orators of his time. After the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 he fled to Canada, where he lectured widely to improve conditions for formerly enslaved people who had settled there. Ward then went to Britain as an agent of the Canadian Antislavery Society and published his influential book, Autobiography of a Fugitive Negro. He never returned to the United States, and he died in obscurity in Jamaica.

Despite Ward’s prominent role in the abolitionist movement, his story has been lost because of the decades he spent in exile. In this book, R. J. M. Blackett brings light to Ward’s life and his important role in the struggle against slavery and discrimination, and to the personal price he paid for confronting oppression.

Mark your calendars now to join us on Juneteenth (June 19th) from 1-2 pm EDT.

The event is free to all, but registration is required via this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_G5MnIK_lRN2wibxeH8TTMw#/registration

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

New Federal Security Resource for Churches

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the FBI have released a new resource titled Protecting Places of Worship: Six Steps to Enhance Security Against Targeted Violence Fact Sheet. This resource outlines actions faith-based organizations can take to increase security, focusing on overarching steps that can help protect places of worship against potential threats in a cost-effective manner that maintains an open and welcoming environment. The product also provides training, exercise and grant resources, and interagency contact points to assist places of worship with protecting their places of worship, obtaining funds for security improvements and recognizing/ reporting potential threats in their areas. These products include a security self-assessment and the Protecting Houses of Worship Video resource that is currently translated into Spanish, Chinese, and American Sign Language. To find out more about the Department of Justice Protecting Places of Worship Program, visit justice.gov/file/1376571/download, and for Hate Crimes Prevention and Enforcement resources, visit US Dept. of Justice-Hate Crimes. 

Click Here for Informational Flyer

Generosity Updates

• Upcoming Stewardship Webinars

Selected 4th Wednesdays

7:30pm - 8:30pm

Eastern Time Unless Noted -- Webinars Are Not Recorded

July 26 - Discover Your Why: How a Clear Purpose Strengthens

Evangelism, Giving, and Impact

Andrew Warner and Kent Siladi will talk about the importance of understanding the "why" of your congregation. You will learn methods to articulate this reason for being of your Church. Together, we will consider how to use the why to motivate and engage people. Registration for Discover Your Why

August 23 – Narrative Budgets: Telling your Story by the Numbers

A narrative budget translates the line items of a traditional budget into a story of how your congregation makes a difference in the world. It can be a helpful tool for a stewardship campaign or annual meeting. By telling the story of our congregations' impact, we can inspire generosity in our donors. Registration for Narrative Budgets

PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc. is a 501c3 program that grew from a program of the Southeast Conference UCC. It remains affiliated with the Southeast Conference. The program offers a full menu of courses for those seeking authorized ministry, for those wanting continuing education, and for those looking for a progressive theology, ethics, or practical church course. The courses are asynchronous, geographically unbound, affordable, and aligned with the UCC Marks of Faithful and Effective Authorized Ministers. Please be in touch with any questions. You may apply online at pathwaystheological.org. Click Here for full listing of classes.

Disaster Ministries

Summer is an excellent reminder that there is more to life than work. Too often, especially to those of us in this business of helping others, we forget that there is a life outside of answering emails, thumbs upping Microsoft Teams chats, and taking phone calls after hours. We might sit in our desk chairs, aimlessly staring out the window at the blooming trees and freshly cut lawns, but our daydream is disrupted by a beep, bing, or ring. Like a reflex, we jump to our phones or computers to see what all the fuss is about.

But summer brings with it its own unique set of ways to distract ourselves. Cookouts with friends and family allow us catch up or just pass the time. Swimming at the lake or pool gives us an opportunity to cool off and relax. Firework shows around the 4^th of July gives us a chance to gaze wondrously at the colors and shapes throughout the night sky with our families.

More than an event, these activities are a moment. A moment in our hectic lives to focus on something, anything else other than work. It’s a time to leave the phone in the car, the computer powered down, and, dare we say it, keep our Friday afternoon calendars just a bit more open.

Yes, of course, we’re going to ask that you share this toolkit with your stakeholders. We want to share these safety tips on grilling, fireworks, and swimming safety. It’s our job to throw a bit of cold water on some of the things that make summer fun. But, when you’re dealing with things like fire and water, you can never be too safe.

At the same time, we’d urge you to do the following this summer:

• Take a couple long weekends
• Leave the top off the car or jeep
• Take the dog on a long hike
• Swim in a creek
• Smoke a brisket
• Camp with friends
• Go to a place with bad phone reception
• “Forget” to bring your computer with you on vacation
• Do a cannonball off the high dive
• Sit outside and stare at nothing in particular
• Sit in the air conditioning and pretend its October

As always, we ask that you share this toolkit with as many stakeholders as you can. The more people you share this with, the more we can get this important information out there. And at the very least, we hope to see more people eating ice cream cones with their phone on mute this summer.  

CLICK HERE FOR FLYER