Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
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Bonnie's Letter
“I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19
Dear Friends, Recently I had a conversation with several UCC Interim Ministers, and we discussed that transition abounds in every church – so everyone is an interim or transitional minister in some form. This got me thinking about the kinds of transitions the Conference has been going through in the almost five years I have been here in PNEC.
As I think back here are things that changed:
1. We moved into a new Manual on Ministry and redesigned our own Committee on Ministry into three working groups: Authorization, Local Congregational Support and Oversight.
2. We trained the Search and Call Team on the local church profile, the Marks of Faithful and Effective Ministry and have been consistently working on search committee training.
3. Through the work of Christian Creyer, our former Search and Call Associate, we, and the national setting, now have a new short-form profile used for churches seeking less than full-time pastors.
4. We moved into a new Governance and Ministry model, shrinking the size of the Conference Board and establishing Ministry Teams to create and assist with ministry and mission activities in the Conference.
5. We offered Coach Training for Christian Leaders and are offering coaching to individuals and congregations on topics like transition, conflict management, “Mission InSite” usage, governance, constitution and bylaws revisions, vision and mission statement development, strategic planning, church revitalization, and church legacy work.
6. We developed stronger partnerships with the Lehigh Conference of Churches and the Pennsylvania Council of Churches.
7. We became engaged in wider church and interfaith work. Our partnership continues with the Amigos de Guatemala and Germany, but we have added partnerships with the Church of South India.
8. We have begun to work on issues of institutional racism, mental health, social justice, and supporting the work of individuals and churches in addressing these and other justice and advocacy issues.
I suppose I could go on and on and on. Maybe some time, I will. Really, I want to commend this conference for the challenging work we have done together. I know there are transitions still to come. Thus, we developed a Discernment and Vision Team to look at the work of the Conference in the next 3-5 and 5-7 years. I hope when you asked to contribute to our conversations, you will do so.
I think change is our only constant in these days. God bless us as we address and encounter change – and my prayer is we will move into the change seeking God’s guidance, following Jesus, and allowing the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. May it be so – Blessings, Bonnie
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"Making All Things New" - General Synod 2023
Making All Things New” will be the theme of the 34th biennial General Synod of the United Church of Christ, scheduled for June 30–July 4, 2023, in Indianapolis. The General Synod of the United Church of Christ will get back to business a year from now. And it will do so in person. After an all-virtual experience in 2021, the UCC’s biennial national meeting will require all voting delegates to be in Indianapolis in 2023. That’s according to the Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, the associate general minister who serves as Synod administrator. Delegates and visitors will meet June 30 through July 4 at the Indianapolis Convention Center. For the full press release, click here
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Lehigh Valley Pride
Now that we are getting closer to the 5th year of a unified PNEC booth at Lehigh Valley Pride, I am hoping you will be able to join us with your time and energy. This year’s theme for the event is LOUD and PROUD. We’re going to align with our welcoming message. We will have a beautiful new backdrop (still in progress) for photos and a chance to meet the community with a big smile and God’s loving hand.
Two more doors to go then the lettering – GOD’S DOORS ARE OPEN TO ALL.
Here is a link to sign-up for some time staffing the booth. If you can’t be there but want to help in another way, please send me a note.
Peace be with you…
Gary
Gary M Barraco (he/him/his)
Pastor and Chaplain
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Shaping Generations: Queer Justice and Love in the UCC
2022 National ONA Gathering
Join us Aug. 5-7 for our first National ONA Gathering since 2019! Our virtual event will celebrate the 50th anniversaries of the ONA Coalition and Bill Johnson’s ordination as the first openly gay man authorized to serve an historic Christian church as a minister of word and sacrament.
Leaders include the Rev. Rhina Ramos (worship leader), Bishop Yvette Flunder (closing address and charge), the Rev. Bill Johnson and the Rev. Anne Holmes, and the Rev. Andy Lang (State of the ONA Movement). To register, click here.
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UCC Clergywomen Leadership Event
The UCC Clergywomen’s Leadership Event has been postponed at least twice during the pandemic, and we are excited to be offering the event this September 27-29 in Decatur, GA. “For Such a Time: To Confront, Connect, and Create at the Intersection of Race and Gender” is open to authorized clergywomen* in the United Church of Christ. Registration is now open for the in-person and online gathering. (* This invitation is expansive to include all cis and trans women as well as non-binary people comfortable in a space that centers the experiences of women.)
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Allowing Others to Use Church Property: What Churches Need to Know
Heather E. Kimmel (she/her)
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Boundary Training Opportunities
The PSEC staff has added an additional opportunity to obtain Advanced Boundary Training this year. This new training will take place September 14th and will be held via zoom -- "Keeping TIme for Rest and Renewal" reviews The UCC Ministerial Code call that all authorized ministers commit to “setting aside time for Sabbath and vacation”. Meanwhile, the UCC Call Agreement for a pastor names that “the covenant with our church requires your attention 24/7 to matters beyond your control.” How do you prioritize time for rest while being available to the church 24/7?
This Advanced Boundary Training will address sabbaticals, sabbath, and time off. We will discuss the following topics, to name a few: Is it ever okay to cancel or return from vacation for a church emergency? How long can a pastor be unreachable from their congregation? What to do if the congregation doesn’t want to give you a sabbatical or the benefits of a sabbatical even if you don’t want one.
Register for this new Advanced Boundary Training by clicking here.
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The Advanced Boundary Training "Power and the Office of Pastor" which was scheduled for September 14th has been re-scheduled for October 19th. To register for "Power and the Office of Pastor" click here. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Our Faith Our Vote 2022: Faithful Engagement in a Time of Increased Voter Suppression
Throughout Scripture and in the teachings of Jesus, we hear the faith call to be in just, compassionate right relation with each other. So discipleship draws us to engagement with our common life, what we call the political process, as the way we order our relationships.
Join this webinar and learn how the UCC Our Faith Our Vote campaign can be integrated into congregational life and shape congregational identity, complementing and amplifying other congregational covenants like ONA and Just Peace. Click here to register.
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Bethany Christian Service
Refugee Resettlement Welcome Items
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Save The Date…
WISE UCC Mental Health Network
Welcoming.Inclusive.Supportive.Engaged
Come together...
to Learn about becoming a
Wise Congregation for
Mental Health!
October 22, 2022 @ Jordan UCC
Watch for more Details!
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PA Academy of Ministry
Ministerial Ethics and Professional Development
Aug 23–Sept 27, 2022
Instructor Jessica Young Brown
A Ministerial Institute class. Confidentiality, fiduciary duty, healthy boundaries, and self-care in ministry. $325.
Church Finances
Oct 11–Nov 15. Tuesdays, 7–8:30pm.
Instructor, Lovett Weems. Practical skills for creating/presenting budgets grounded in the church’s mission, expanding means of giving & sources of income, presenting accurate tracking/reporting of giving, proper financial administration of funds, & explore new options for funding ministry. For pastors and lay leaders. 2.5 CEUs. $125.
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Worship on Wednesdays
at St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Allentown
(Lehigh Conference of Churches)
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The Church’s Post-Pandemic Future
September 19 - 21, 2022
Speakers and a format are announced for a September all-church summit.
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October 9, Save the Date!
The Greater Allentown CROP Hunger Walk
(Lehigh Conference of Churches)
We would like to thank everyone who participated in the 2021 Greater Allentown CROP Hunger Walk! $30,720.48 was raised last year to support hunger efforts in our community and around the world. The Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank and The Lehigh Conference of Churches' Kitchen each received a portion of the money raised for their vital ministries; and Church World Service can assist many more of our neighbors in need throughout the United States and around the globe, including victims of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
Please Save These CROP Dates!
Greater Allentown CROP Hunger Walk: Sun., Oct. 9, 2022, 1:30 p.m., with registration beginning at 1:00 p.m. at St. Timothy Lutheran Church, 140 S. Ott St., Allentown, PA 18104
CROP Recruiters’ Pizza Party/Kick-off: Sun., Aug. 28, 2022, 1:30-2:30 p.m. (to receive materials, ideas, and inspiration for yourself and your congregation) at St. Timothy Lutheran Church, 140 S. Ott St., Allentown, PA 18104
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Crossroads Info Session #2 - Saturday, July 23rd, 10 AM
Moravian Theological Seminary
60 W. Locust, Bethlehem
Come and learn about our program, meet others who are inquiring about their next steps, and take your next step in discovering more about your sense of call as a lay person. Participants in Crossroads take active roles in their congregation and in community ministries, some become lay pastors or serve as pulpit supply, and a few go on to more formal theological education such as seminary courses. Whatever your path, Crossroads is a great place to discern the next step. We have been described as the intersection of your call and God's mission. At our Info Session we talk about the program, what is required, the list of upcoming courses and we try to answer all of your questions. If coming in person is not possible, just request our Zoom link at petersj2@moravian.edu. Thank you, Jill Peters. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lombard Mennonite Peace Center Aug. 1-5; Nov. 14-18
Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders
September 21 -- Journey Toward Healing
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DISASTER MINISTRIES UCC
Clean-up Buckets needed by Church World Service - Help replenish CWS storm supplies
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PA 211 Northeast Quarterly Report April 1 to June 30, 2022 - Click Here
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URGENT volunteer need - Brethren Disaster Ministries Waverly TN - We had a cancellation for one of our upcoming weeks at our Waverly, TN project location. We are wondering if you would be able to advertise this need with your volunteer base? It is the week of June 26-July 2. We currently can take up to 14 volunteers. If folks are interested in volunteering, please have them contact me via this email address.
Kim Gingerich, Program Assistant, Brethren Disaster Ministries-Rebuild
A Ministry of the Church of the Brethren, 601 Main St., PO Box 188, New Windsor, MD 21776
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Single Day Volunteer Opportunities
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Who: Volunteers with general construction/carpentry skills & those willing to learn ages 18+
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What: Rebuilding residential homes (insulation, flooring, painting, framing, taping, etc.)
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Where: Eastwick neighborhood of Philadelphia, PA
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When: Saturday, August 6th; Wednesday, September 14th; Thursday, September 15th
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Why: To help our neighbors recover after damage from Tropical Storm Isaias in August 2020
Registration required
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