•  THIS WEEK IN PNEC                  March 26, 2020
Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
www.pnec.org   610-826-3113; 610-826-5464 FAX
Conference Minister, Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates    bonnieb@pnec.org        
Rev. Gilberto Garcia Rodriguez    hispanicucc@rcn.com
Rev. Christian Creyer     christianc@pnec.org       
Barbara Jennings    barbaraj@pnec.org
Patty Rehrig    pattyr@pnec.org
   SEND ARTICLES TO BE INCLUDED TO   pattyr@pnec.org
I apologize if "This Week in PNEC" is a little out of sorts. Working from home to update and some things weren't working for me. I could not update Church News or Announcements. Sorry for that inconvenience. I will work on the issues throughout the next couple of days. Thanks, Patty
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Dear friends and colleagues: 
 
I share with you today a reading from Philippians:   “I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.” 
 
This is truly how I feel about all of you as you lead your congregations, either as clergy or lay folks, in these days of the global pandemic. We are walking on a path, taking a journey that is unfamiliar to us. Yet, you are all leading with grace. I hope you are feeling the presence of God as you are helping others feel the presence of God.  
 
I am sorry to tell you that based on the “stay at home” orders for Lehigh and Northampton counties, and the daily changing environment, the Conference Office will be closed until Monday, April 13. I am also encouraging our churches not to meet until after this date. As updates come from the CDC, the PA Health Department and the Governor’s Office, we will adjust these dates. The CDC is recommending that no groups of 10 or more gather until after May 10, and now with “stay at home” orders in many of our counties I hope you will all comply with those instructions. We will watch the pandemic’s progression and make decisions accordingly. 
 
This means that many of you will have an on-line Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter worship services. I echo the words of our General Minister and President John Dorhauer who said after visiting on-line worship services across the nation over the last two weeks, “we have the capacity to endure and thrive in times such as these.” We can do this; we are the church. While the atmosphere is challenging, we lean on the grace and love of God as we are the church in these days. We are discovering that the church is not the building. Rather the church is the people, connecting in ways unfamiliar but essential to our health and the health of our communities. My friends, I give thanks for you and your ability to “Be the Church.” 

Blessings, Bonnie 

You may reach the Conference Staff by emailing:
We are all working remotely and are here to help in any way we are able.
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COVID-19 Updates - From Bonnie Bates
 
Friends, 
Over the last weeks, and in the days to come, we will have a lot more information to share with you. We are looking at ways to share the information without inundating your e-mail boxes. Watch for a new Tab on the PNEC website (pnec.org) that lists the updates we are receiving from the Disaster Response Team, the national setting, the CDC and other sources. We will continue to update you as we are able. 
 
Additionally, there is new information being released from the office of the UCC General Counsel about the Families First Act. This act goes into effect on April 1 and does apply to all 501c3 agencies, of which churches are a part. There is information about a webinar and Department of Labor information will also be distributed.  
 
It is our hope to keep you as informed as possible. Please check with reliable sources before making decisions. We, as a nation and as a church, have not faced these kinds of challenges in a very long time, if ever. Together we will weather the storm. 

Blessings, Bonnie 
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Regarding PA Sales Tax Exemption Certificates
For those churches who submitted their PA Tax Exemption information to us and we filed for you, here’s an update from the State received Thursday, March 26, 2020:

Subject: Sales Tax Exemption Extension Letter
Due to recent events with COVID-19, we are unable to issue your Sales Tax exemption.  Attached is an extension for your current exemption that can be used by you and your subsidiary churches.
Suzanne Tarlini | Director
Registration and Taxpayer Management
PA Department of Revenue
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IMPORTANT DATES RESCHEDULED…
Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates will be installed as our fourth Conference Minister on
Sunday, June 28, 3:00 p.m. at UCC Greenawalds .
(The original date of Saturday, April 4 has been cancelled.)
  The April 24-24, 2020 Spring Meeting of the Penn Northeast  has been postponed until April 16-17, 2021 at The Chateau at Camelback
If you registered through Tithe.ly or sent a check to the Conference Office
a refund will be issued.
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Prayer Pause...Week #2
The Penn Central, Penn Northeast and Pennsylvania Southeast Conferences
of the United Church of Christ invite you to a  
 
Daily Prayer Pause  
Monday, March 30 - Friday April 3rd
 12:00 – 12:30 PM Monday - Friday 
The plan for each gathering includes:  
Check-in: Offer 1-2 words to describe how we are feeling; Share our prayer requests; Contemplate a scripture for the day; Join in quiet time for reflection and prayer; Closing prayer 
 
Each afternoon will be hosted by a different conference staff person.  
 
Please plan on joining us, using the following Zoom link for attendance. 
 
Join Zoom Meeting:  https://zoom.us/j/493786797  
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PNEC Spiritual Renewal Partners Spring Retreat 2020 
Theme : " Be Still and Know that I am God." 
Place and Time: The comfort of your own home and the time of your own choosing.
"Perhaps in this current time of imposed stillness, it is most important to take moments to quiet our souls."
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Please be aware that you can find continuous updates on the Coronavirus on the Penn Northeast Conference website. Just click on the COVID-19 tab. Thank you.

Continuing Updates on the Coronavirus

The Partnership Center - Center for Faith & Opportunity Initiatives
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Dear Friends:
To support your leadership and your efforts, the Partnership Center created the COVID-19 Recommended Preventive Practices and FAQs for Faith-based and Community Leaders  — which is available on our website HHS.Gov/Partnerships
 
In it you’ll see that we point to primary buckets for guidance and information:   

  • Coronavirus Guidelines for America for slowing the spread of the virus includes the request to avoid social gatherings of 10 people or more. 
  • For updates on COVID-19, refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) dedicated website (which are also available in Spanish). 
  • For information and recommendations on LOCAL community actions designed to limit exposure to COVID-19, check with your state and local public health authorities.
  • For specific guidance and instruction relative to your community’s tradition and practices, please refer to your national and regional denominations.  

Warmly, Shannon Royce, JD Director
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From the PA Council of Churches
I wanted to share the link to our resources page again:  https://www.pachurches.org/covid-19-coronavirus-resources/ . Since last week, many more resources have been added, including links to:
  • Commonwealth of Pennsylvania sources
  • Federal sources
  • Reliable partner sources
  • Faith sources
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New Guidance from the CDC on large gatherings ... For the new guidance from the CDC go to 
Request from the PA Council of Churches
(Friends, I received this request from the PA Council of Churches but rather than simply share your information, I wanted you to have an opportunity to make the choice. Please note the information below. - Bonnie Bates)
“We have thought for some time that we would like to build our database of contacts for congregations of our member bodies. This coronavirus pandemic has renewed this thought, as we are trying to provide information as quickly as possible from our state contacts and others. We would also like to be able to share information about events--though obviously that won't be happening for quite some time. We respect that no congregations want to get inundated with e-mails. For us, they would only be used for the purpose of information-sharing--including information around COVID-19, or things like the US Census, or events. This information would not be shared with anyone else.
Would you be willing to share a list of congregations in your conference along with the appropriate office e-mail? If you have further questions, I would be happy to speak with you or respond via e-mail. I'm working from home, and you can reply to this e-mail.
Thanks for considering.
Blessings, Sandy
Rev. Sandra L. Strauss
Director of Advocacy & Ecumenical Outreach
Pennsylvania Council of Churches

s.strauss@pachurches.org
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Extravagant Generosity
Considerations for Congregations During the Pandemic
(from the UCC)
In the Extravagant Generosity videos, we reflect on how the practice of generosity impacts our communities, touches our hearts, and works for a more just world.  Read More.. .
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2020 Boundary Training
offered by Lehigh Presbytery
(3 different sessions)
PLEASE NOTE: These are the only boundary training being offered in 2020
Click here for the flyer for three sessions of Boundary Training Offered by the Lehigh Presbytery in 2020. These sessions will be led by David Olsen.
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UPDATE: 
Lehigh Conference of Churches has extended the Executive Director search. We will now be accepting resumes through April 15. Please update this in your weekly emails and thank you for your support.
Rev. Dr. Becky J. Beckwith,
LCC Board of Directors
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NAVIGATING CONGREGATIONAL CONFLICT & CRISIS
(from PA Academy of Ministry - Lancaster Theological Seminary)
 
Grace and peace to you in this time of uncertainty and anxiety!
We are learning, as never before, how to be church in time of crisis. Church leaders are being forced to improvise and retool. Many of us wish we had been better prepared. 
To that end, I am pleased to announce a new continuing education class in church leadership - Navigating Congregational Conflict and Crisis - will start this summer as part of the Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry at Lancaster Theological Seminary.
SIGN UP NOW for the 2.5 CEU class that features one on-campus meeting - Saturday, June 27 from 9am-3pm - followed by five convenient online classes for just $325.
Rev. Dr. Brunilda "Bruny" Martinez, a UMC pastor with expertise in congregational mergers and emergency response to congregational disruptions, teaches the class. Bruny has a PhD in Administration and Leadership Studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Designed for lay ministers, individuals in discernment, and other church leaders, PAM offers ecumenical classes focused on leadership in the local congregation
 
F or more information, please see the attached flyer and reach out to Lancaster Seminary at admissions@lancasterseminary.edu or (717) 290-8741 .
Blessings, Rev. Dr. Darryl Stephens, Director
Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry at Lancaster Theological Seminary
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Latest Mission Newsletter
March is the month when we remember the many, many people who died on account of the great disaster in northeastern Japan.

Meanwhile, Japanese society is noticeably quiet because of the corona virus. We are hoping that Japan's quick response and measures have helped to contain things, but we still need a week or so to see where we are. I pray for the US, and for wise and informed leadership.
Click Here to read Newsletter.
-Jeffrey Mensendiek, Missionary
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The Story of Worship
June 11, 2020
9AM to 4:30PM (Registration 8:30AM)
Jordan UCC, Allentown -- details TBA
(This will count for 7 hours of continuing ed.)
Stories are powerful. But harnessing the power of story in worship requires more than a few film snippets or sermon illustrations. Whether we realize it or not, most people make sense of their lives in terms of a life story. Every Sunday, when people gather in our churches to worship, it is an opportunity for peoples’ life stories to be woven into the fabric of God’s story and the story of the church. This workshop will look at how we better seize that weekly opportunity by being more attentive to the story our worship tells and presenting a more holistic view for incorporating story and storytelling practices into our worship.
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ITEMS OF INTEREST...

-- March 31, April 14, April 28, May 12, May 26 - All Conference Book Study "White Fragility" Zoom Conversations - We will be reading and discussing the book, White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin Diangelo. This book examines the emotions and behaviors which impact our ability, as Caucasian or Euro-American individuals, to talk about issues of race. The Conference will be sponsoring 6 Zoom conversations about the book. (Please see the attached flyer for dates, times and Zoom links.) If you looked at the flyer previously, please look again as the information has changed. We have cancelled the March 17 meeting, which was to be the first meeting. You are welcome to join us as individuals, congregational groups, or Area Mission Councils. We welcome your active participation. For authorized ministers, attending all 6 sessions will qualify as the completion of the triennial anti-racism training requirement.

--May 5-7 - Clergy Convocation 2020 with Rev. Dr. Emily C. Heath - Double Tree by Hilton, 2400 Willow St. Pike, Lancaster - (qualifies for 10 contact hours). Click here for full flyer, schedule, and how to register - Deadline April 1, 2020
--May 30 - Valley Over The Edge - Lehigh Conf. of Churches is hosting, to help those most in need in the Lehigh Valley. Read more...
DISASTER MINISTRIES UCC

Our Disaster Response Coordinator, Karl Jones, has been working from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Office in Harrisburg for the last couple of weeks. During our Zoom conversation last night, he made the following request:
 
Would those congregations who are continuing to reach out in mission to the broader community please send Karl at his email kjones275@comcast.net a list of those activities and the population you are serving? Additionally, please identify to him any additional resources you might need to continue those ministries and missions.
 
It is important in these days to stand together, to serve our communities, and to consolidate resources as much as possible
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Shalom, Karl Jones, Disaster Response Coordinator; cell: 570-617-4018
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**You can find more information & updates at UCC Disaster Ministries: www.ucc.org/disaster