Bonnie's Letter

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

Dear Friends,

Last week I was with Conference Minister colleagues and others for a retreat and the Authorizing Ministers for the 21^st Century (AM21) in Atlanta. My colleagues and I had not been together for this event for 4 years. Seeing people and rebuilding relationships was important. The content of the meeting was important, but the rebuilding of relationships was critical.

I have been reminded in the last few weeks how very important it is to have strong healthy relationships. There have been some recent situations where small, rural churches have begun thriving because they have rebuilt relationships within the congregation and within the community. There have been larger and more prosperous churches who seem to be crumbling from the inside out because relationships are fraught with distrust and anger. Truly size and money is less important than the positive, spirit-filled, loving relationships that congregations are building or, in some cases, rebuilding.

During this Advent season I have been consistently reminded that God became incarnate in the world so we could see the love of God in human form, so that we could be enriched by the presence of God with us, Emmanuel. Recognizing God incarnate is vitally important if the church is to be all it can be. Building relationships based on the fruits of the Spirit is key. We need to learn to let God lead us. When we approach an issue and problem, what is the spirit-filled response? Surely, our response should not be hate or anger. Surely, our response should not be conceit or selfishness. Rather our responses in situations of disagreement or concern are to act in love, with gentleness, with kindness, and with faithfulness to the God who came into the world to teach us how to live and work and be a community together.

This Advent can we make a commitment to seek understanding and connection. The Prayer of St. Francis (my mother’s favorite saint) reads:

“Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is error, the truth;

Where there is doubt, the faith; Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

To be understood, as to understand; To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.”

This Advent and Christmas I wish for you all the blessings of the season: hope, peace, joy, and love.

 Blessings, Bonnie

Services Scheduled for The Reverend Alan C. Miller

Service: Family, colleagues and friends may pay their respects 4:00 pm. – 6:00 pm., Thursday, January 5, 2023 at Jordan United Church of Christ, 1837 Church Road, Allentown, Pennsylvania. A Memorial Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving for the legacy of Reverend Miller will be held 11:00 am. Friday, January 6, 2023 at Jordan United Church of Christ, Allentown.  Child care will be provided during the service for pre-school children. A live steam of the service will be available on the Jordan U.C.C. website by following the link jordanucc.org/online-worship.

The Heintzelman Funeral Home, Inc. in Schnecksville has been entrusted with local arrangements. Online expressions of sympathy may be recorded at www.heintzelman.cares.com.

A special request from The Miller Family:

The Miller Family is looking for volunteers to provide childcare at Alan’s service on Friday, January 6, from 11:00 – 1:00, at Jordan UCC, 1837 Church Road, Allentown. Jordan adheres to a safe church policy which means anyone volunteering to do this will need to present their clearances. Please contact David Charles Smith therrev@aol.com; 610.395.2218



Memorial Contributions: In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of the Piedmont or Habitat for Humanity both in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box # 196, Schnecksville, PA 18078-0196.

Cards of sympathy may be sent to: Candy Miller, 4080 Saint Johns St., Highpoint, NC 27265 

PNEC’s 2022 Closing Date will be Friday, January 13, 2023

Please plan your closing so that your final 2022 remittance will be received in the Conference Office by Friday, January 13, 2023. Receipts received after the 13th will be credited to 2023. Do not include 2022 remittances with 2023 and make certain remittance slips are marked for either the year 2022 or 2023.

Thank you for your cooperation and support.

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

Blue Christmas Service

December 18 – 2PM – Blue Christmas – St. John’s (Mickleys), Whitehall – in person only

December 18 – 3PM – Blue Christmas (2 locations and zoom)

Forks, Stockertown

St. Paul's, Northampton

NEWLY ADDED: December 21 - 7PM - St. Paul's, Trexlertown (in person)

Click Here for Service Bulletin

If you are aware of other locations, please let us know.

Join us for the Women's Clergy Retreat!

The retreat will take place at Mariawald Retreat Center, 1094 Welsh Road in Reading, PA. Modest linens/towels and simple meals are provided - you are welcome to bring snacks and drinks to share! Rooms are double occupancy and cost $130 - space is limited! First floor rooms available on request, and be sure to include the name of a roommate if you have a preference. Full vaccination and a negative home covid test required up to 48 hours before the retreat. 

Click Here for Registration

Please contact Kim Berenotto with any questions: kimberlyberenotto@gmail.com

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

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, January 9 - February 27 from 6 to 9PM

Ministry Journeys of the New Testament with Rev. Dr. Joanne Marchetto

Thursdays, January 5 - February 23 from 6 to 9PM

Mapping the Route - Conversations in Theology with Rev. Dr. Bill Falla

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

DISASTER MINISTRIES UCC

Here is a report on my activities in PNEC on behalf of disaster ministries - 

1. Recently the national setting of the UCC did a story on the work in Eastwick. I did manage to get a picture in the article of the tool trailer and a mention of PNEC. You can read the article here..
2. The tool trailer was also featured in an article put together by PBS' WHYY recently. You can access it here.
3.  This past Sunday it was my pleasure to visit and worship with the congregation of St. John's UCC, Allentown. I made a presentation to their Adult Forum and offered a Mission Moment during worship. Thanks to Pastor Becky Sausser for the invitation and warm welcome.
4. I continue to relate to the Susquehanna County Long-term Recovery Committee and with the Bradford County COAD.
5. I will be taking part in the Monroe County operations exercise of their emergency operations center on December 5.

• Karl Jones

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

**You can find more information & updates at UCC Disaster Ministries: www.ucc.org/disaster