- THIS WEEK IN PNEC September 28, 2023
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IMPORTANT: There will be NO issue of "This Week in PNEC" on the following Thursdays:
October 5, 12, & 19
We will resume publication on October 26.
Thank you for your understanding.
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Bonnie's Letter
Jesus said to him, ' “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39, NRSV)
Dear Friends,
If someone, who didn’t know you, asked you to describe yourself, what would you say? I might say I am a plump woman of European descent, with gray streaks in my dark brown hair, an easy smile, a strong personality who is ordained into the ministry in the United Church of Christ. I could say I am a cis-gender heterosexual middle-class woman of European descent who loves to learn and seeks understanding and respect. I could say I am a beloved child of God, who seeks to follow Jesus.
All these descriptions are partially true, except the last one. No matter what else I am, I am a beloved child of God. That is the core of my identity. This is the identity all else rests on. This is the identity that defines my worth.
No matter how anyone else might describe me, if I can cling to the identity of beloved child of God, I am sustained. The challenge is to see everyone else as a beloved child of God as well. That means I need to see the guy who cuts me off in traffic as a beloved child of God. That means I have to look at the one who acts bigoted as a beloved child of God. That means the criminal or the one who skates out of conviction as a beloved child of God. That means I have to look at the one who insults, denigrates, and spews vile at me as a beloved child of God.
I don’t know about you, but loving everyone and seeing them as a beloved child of God is really hard. But then, maybe it’s hard for some people to see me as a beloved child of God. To love our neighbor is to obey the commandments of God.
Sometimes we view love as a feeling that we either have or don’t have, but love is more than a feeling. Love is a commandment to see God in each living person. It doesn’t mean I have to agree with them or approve of what each one of those persons do, but I do have to love them as children of God. That is what I am commanded to do as a Christian.
As we closed our book study on “How to be an Antiracist” by Ibram Kende we ended with this prayer:
Each time we grasp the hand of another,
you are there, Loving God, in the flesh entangled.
In our hands holding hands show us:
a prayer too rare
a site of the holy
where the reaching out and the receiving,
the grasping and being grasped,
the need to be held and the needing to hold,
all get perfectly mixed up.
Make this hand-holding prayer
a returning to that which is always true
but so rarely spoken to in the language of flesh.
We need each other to survive.
We need each other.
Amen.[1]
Let us remember that we need each other, and we are commanded to love each other. For my part, I will continue to ask God for the strength to do so. I hope you will also. Blessings, Bonnie
[1] Adapted from M Jade Kaiser, enfleshed
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Ministry Day 2023
Thursday, October 19, 2023
8:30AM - 3:00PM
UCC Greenawalds, 2325 Albright Ave., Allentown
$35/person
Click Here for Detailed Flyer & Registration Information
To Register and Pay through Tithe.ly, click on the link below:
https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/7704329
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Synod Seconds (Penn Central Conference)
You are invited to participate in a zoom conversation about how we bring synod resolutions to life back here in our local communities on October 16th at 6:30pm. This 90-minute session will discuss the resolutions on Guns to Gardens (#6) and the Church's relationship to Indian Boarding Schools (#2). If you were a delegate serving on one of these committees and would be willing to share a brief reflection, please contact the discussion facilitator at nfoust@pccucc.org. Register to join us at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/m?oeidk=a07ejwzwkvm7b00893b&oseq=&c=&ch=
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PNEC Folks are Invited to Attend PSEC's Annual Bookkeeper/ Treasurer Training (no cost)
Saturday, Oct. 14, 9:00-11:00 on Zoom
Do you have questions about 1099 reporting? How about financial reporting to your Board or Consistory? Do you understand housing allowance? Cash basis vs accrual basis? Do you have Balance Sheet or Income Statement questions?
Email tammie@psec.org your intention to attend and bring your questions! Click here for a flyer to share.
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Announcing...Episode One of our new series
"How to Church: I Wish I Knew... 'How to Be a Good Consistory Member"
“This video series is a cooperative project between the Local Congregational Support Working Group and the Congregational Vitality Team. The aim is to help our local PNEC churches by addressing and answering some of the frequently asked questions of congregational life and ministry, so that pastors and church leaders can utilize the videos for education and encouragement. This is the first of more to come, so be sure to subscribe to the conference’s YouTube page to stay up-to-date on new videos.”
Here's the link: https://youtu.be/oBqdiVgrMAE
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Call to the 2023 Fall Meeting of PNEC
Saturday, November 4, 2023
In Person or Virtual
8:15 Registration; 9:00 Worship
Ben Salem United Church of Christ, 1965 Church Road, Lehighton, PA 18035
Theme: Together We Are Stronger, The Keystone Conference
Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient,
bearing with one another in love. ...
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit
through the bond of peace.
Keynoters:
Rev. Bill Worley, Pennsylvania Southeast Conference Minister
Rev. David Ackerman, Penn West Conference Minister
Rev. Nora Foust, Penn Central Associate Conference Minister
CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION FLYER & DETAILS
Click Here to Register through Tithe.ly
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Cultivating a Culture of Safety - November 11, 2023
Penn West Conference, working with Insurance Board, is hosting an Active Intruder Response, Emergency Planning, and Abuse Prevention workshop on Saturday, November 11, from 9 AM to 1:15 PM. Lunch will be provided. Registration will be required.
In this comprehensive workshop, we empower ministries to foster a culture of safety in these critical areas: Active Intruder Response, Emergency Planning, and Abuse Prevention. Our team of experts will help ministries gain essential knowledge to equip them with strategies to address an active intruder event, to prepare for emergencies, and to protect their most vulnerable congregants from abuse.
Presenters include: Bob Winters, CPP, is the Protective Security Advisor (PSA) in Pittsburgh for the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Winters supports homeland security efforts, serving in an advising and reach-back capacity to the state Homeland Security Advisors. Local police and county emergency representatives. Lisa Gonzalez, Director of Loss Control, Insurance Board, Elizabeth Vance, Sr. Loss Control Representative, Insurance Board
Here is the link to register: Cultivating a Culture of Safety – November 11 Workshop - Insurance Board. Please register as soon as possible; the deadline to register is Wednesday, November 8.
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2023 PNEC YOUTH Sleep-Out for Homelessness
When: October 14-October 15
Time: 7:00 pm-7:00 am
Where: UCC Greenawalds, 2325 Albright Ave, Allentown
WHAT IS IT?? Youth in grades 7th -12th will sleep outside in a large box (or tent) during this overnight homeless simulation. Engaging activities will not only be fun but provide valuable lessons on homelessness that gently confront harmful stereotypes and misunderstandings about who might become homeless and why. This is also a fundraiser for Family Promise of Lehigh Valley.
(PS: This is an excellent Confirmation activity!)
Click Here for Up-Dated Detailed Flyer
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OFFERED by Penn Central Conference
Fifth Stream Conversations
Three fall conversations open to the whole church on the recognition of the UCC’s fifth founding stream, the Afro-Christian Convention. This will be exciting learning for us as we explore the Afro-Christian Convention together and refresh our existing knowledge around the Christian, Congregational, Evangelical, and Reformed traditions also present at our founding. The first two sessions will be largely the same with in-person and zoom options available and the November date will be sort of a deeper dive into the Afro-Christian Convention with some of the contributors to the new book Afro-Christian Convention: The Fifth Stream of the United Church of Christ available from Pilgrim Press, Amazon, and your favorite local bookseller.
3pm October 15th St. Paul’s at the Farm, Lewisburg In-Person and Zoom
3pm November 12th ZOOM for all Participants
Register here: https://penncentralconference.regfox.com/the-fifth-stream
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Celebrating the Work of PNEC”s Teams and Committees
These notes of celebration were taken from the written reports sent to the Board of Directors for their meeting on 9/20/23:
· Coaches Group – This group underwent a reorganization under their new chairperson and are ready to continue supporting our congregations with their coaching expertise.
· Congregational Vitality Team and the Local Congregational Support Working Group- These groups have combined forces once again to launch a new series of instructional videos for congregational leaders. The first video, entitled "How to Church, I Wish I Knew”, was just launched and has met with a positive reception.
· Spiritual Development Ministry Team – Wishes to celebrate co-chair Janet Newett’s recent ordination and the plans for this year’s “Sleep Out” event to be held next month.
· Committee on Ministry - Celebrates the continual dedicated work of all three Working Groups which make up the Committee.
· Conference Meeting Planning Group - This group is celebrating their efforts toward planning both the Fall Conference Meeting in November as well as the late Spring Conference Meeting in 2024 to be held jointly with the other three Conferences.
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Allentown Crop Hunger Walk
October 22, 2023
1:30 p.m., with registration beginning at 1:00 p.m.
at St. Timothy Lutheran Church, 140 S. Ott St., Allentown, PA 18104
REGISTER, DONATE, or find more INFORMATION about the life-saving work of Church World Service: www.crophungerwalk.org/allentownpa
The CROP Hunger Walk is a great intergenerational fellowship and service event for families, youth groups, adult groups, businesses, organizations, and congregations. Two routes from which walkers may choose: a 10K route (with refreshments available at the Allentown Ecumenical Food Bank, Lehigh Conference of Churches, St. James UCC, and St. Timothy LC) and a "Golden Mile" route (through the Hamilton Park neighborhood, with refreshments available at St. Timothy LC).
The Greater Allentown CROP Hunger Walk helps food-insecure neighbors locally through the Conference Kitchen and the Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank.
Our CROP Walk funds also support Church World Service’s life-saving disaster assistance, displacement assistance, and long-term development assistance with our neighbors in need throughout the United States and around the globe, including victims of the humanitarian crises in Ukraine, Turkey, and Syria.
Walkers who raise $150 or more by 10/22/23 earn a FREE T-SHIRT.
T-shirts will also be available for purchase at the 10/22/23 CROP Hunger Walk.
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How do you “ring in” the New Year these days?
If you’re like me, I might make something special to snack on around 930 p.m., buy a bottle of something sparkling to pop the cork at midnight and fall asleep over the droning of the dreadful musical performances on TV.
I decided to impact someone else’s less-than-happy New Year celebration this year. The Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering is an established mission that provides free housing, food and support to homeless men and women in downtown Bethlehem. Reverend Bob Rapp and a mini-army of volunteers are at the helm of this non-profit, and their work is amazing. http://bethlehememergencysheltering.org/
Every night from November to April, they provide a warm bed and a hot dinner meal. I’m sure many of you have helped in the kitchen at the facility (Christ Church UCC on Market Street), so you know the difference you make.
I hoped to make this upcoming December 31st meal more special, so I signed up to plan, procure, prepare, serve, and clean up for the roughly 75 folks who will spend the night at BES. In addition to dinner and dessert, I would love to have something special for the morning of January 1st. While they no longer serve breakfast, a takeaway snack would be a wonderful reminder of God’s never-ending love that is made new every day.
If you find it in your heart to join me and my small family on New Year’s Eve, or if you wish to contribute by donating or preparing something for the meal or morning, please email me at garybarraco@verizon.net.
Peace be with you….Rev Gary M Barraco
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Quarterly Virtual Learning Series to Faith-Based Organizations
The Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security (OHS), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Pennsylvania 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 on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. This learning series will focus on cybersecurity and developing your emergency action plan (1st of a 6-part learning series).
AGENDA
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Current Cyber Threats, Best Practices to Deter/Detect Cyber Incidents
and Review of Cyber Services Provided by CISA - Derek Mueller, Cybersecurity Advisor, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm: “Developing a Safety & Security Program for Your House of Worship”
Allen Shoff, Homeland Security Program Manager
Guidance and further resources will be provided via handouts, and there will be time set aside at the end for Questions & Answers.
Registration is now open: Please see the attached flyer for additional information.
Billie J. Kauffman I Administrative Officer
Pennsylvania State Police I Office of Homeland Security, 1800 Elmerton Avenue I Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone: 717-214-1290 I Fax: 717-214-1298; bkauffman@pa.gov I ra-homelandsecurity@pa.gov
www.homelandsecurity.pa.gov
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Racial Justice, Diversity, and Cultural Competency Training for Church Leaders
October 17 & October 21, 2023
9AM to 3PM
The Northeast Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) invites and encourages all rostered and lay leaders to an Anti-Racism Training hosted by the NEPA Synod Racial Justice Team. This training is required for all ELCA rostered leaders, and made available to lay leaders and full communion partners for mutual enrichment – Registration is $25 per person and includes lunch –
Tuesday, October 17 at The Lutheran Center, 2354 Grove Rd., Allentown (Registration Closes 10/7)
Saturday, October 21 – Trinity Lutheran, 527 Washington St., Reading (Registration Closes 10/7)
A small amount of pre-work in the form of online videos and readings will also be required. These will be emailed to you following registration. For questions, please contact Rev. Samantha Drennan at sldrennan1@gmail.com -- Click Here to Register
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Desert Garden UCC invites all clergy and laity to a free webinar on the topic of prayer on Saturday, October 14 from 10 a.m. to noon Arizona time
The Rev. Rachel Hackenberg will deliver the lecture Imaging God, Imaging Ourselves: The Exercise of Prayer. She will follow the lecture with a Q &A segment open to all registrants. The Rev. Hackenberg is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, serving as publisher for The Pilgrim Press. She is the author of several books, including Denial Is My Spiritual Practice and Writing to God. She regularly posts reflections and prayers at rachelhackenberg.com. The webinar will also feature Tina Datsko de Sanchez reading original poetry. She is the author of several collections including Swimming in God.
Save the date now. You can register by going to the church’s website at wwwdesertgardenucc.org. This is the fourth Sawitski Memorial Lecture in recognition of the Rev. Dr. Samuel Sawitski and his passion for teaching. Attached is a flyer. This event is approved through the Southwest Conference UCC for 2 hours of Continuing Education time available when registration opens later this summer. www.desertgardenucc.org
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Hunger and Homelessness Week
Lehigh Conference of Churches
Click Here for Information
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Defy The Trend Retreat
Want to feel energetic, creative and passionate about ministry again? The Defy the Trend anti-burnout coaching community combines group coaching, mindfulness practices, calendar planning and spiritual direction to empower you to beat burnout and start living your best life and doing your best work again. Join the free Seeker community. Click Here for Flyer
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Join Us for Upcoming Webinars and Events from the UCC
Nurture The Soul Thursdays - 3:30-4:30PM Eastern - Creation Justice
CLICK HERE for Full Listing and details
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Local Church Security: Resources and Best Practices
The UCC General Counsel, Heather Kimmel, posted a blog post last week on Local Church Security: Resources and Best Practices. This post compiles a number of resources available for Local Churches to assess their physical security. In the past year the UCC has had a number of churches experience property damage and vandalism as attacks on their theology. We’ve also had several pastors experience having their conversations recorded, heavily edited, and posted to extremist websites, resulting in threats to the church and the pastor. We hope this post helps.
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Justice Resources for You & Your Church
Click Here for Information
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2023 Stewardship Theme Materials
Click Here for details...
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Project Newsletter
Click to Read
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UCC News Digest
Click Here to Read
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Disaster Ministries
Ready PA Monthly - Click Here to Read
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