Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
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Letter from Bonnie
Dear Friends,
Pastors all around Facebook are discussing how to lead worship this Sunday, as it is July 4, America’s Independence Day. How do we remain close to the Gospel and yet acknowledge the celebration? It is a challenge for us, and we will each and all manage the challenge in our own way. I was reading a weekly news article from one of our pastors, Rev. Steve Engelhardt, and asked his permission to share a portion of his letter with you.
“…the latest copy of Christian Century arrived in the mail. The Editor/Publisher, Peter W. Marty’s column has the first word in each edition. This week’s title: An American Bible?”
Here is the first paragraph: “When an ad recently announced that the God Bless the USA Bible would be available this September, the American flag emblazoned on the cover came as no surprise. Whenever the Bible gets wrapped in the American flag, we can pretty much assume that a misuse of our nation’s history is at play. The conflation of Christianity and American patriotism has never done any favors either for the integrity of faith or for national character. The use of scripture to promote American exceptionalism always takes me back to Jerry Falwell Sr.’s claim that Isaiah’s prophecy of a ‘nation tall and smooth, a people feared near and far, a nation mighty and conquering’ is actually God championing the United States.”
For me, this approaches Christian nationalism and worries me deeply. We are called to be followers of Jesus – primarily and completely – to love God with our whole hearts, minds, spirits, and strength and to love our neighbors, ALL our neighbors. Yes, the US should be blessed, but all nations should be blessed. Americans should be blessed but all people on the planet should be blessed. Are we edging toward worshipping the United States as an idol?
Steve said, and I agree, “This new edition of the NIV bible is a crass play to the nationalistic fervor among us. The flag and the cross are seen as of equal importance. The Church is lumped in as part of the Americana we love: football, family, faith. Sadly, there are pastors and churches who are bowing to the golden calf of exceptionalism.”[1]
Now, on Sunday, I will be celebrating our nation’s independence, for I am proud of our nation’s move toward the freedom that is exemplified in the Declaration of Independence, even though it was not independence for all people living in our nation at that time. I will be praying for our nation on Sunday – and for nations all over the world. And I will be dedicating myself to love God, to follow Jesus and to move into the direction the Holy Spirit leads. Blessings, Bonnie
[1] Steve Engelhardt; A Posting from the Pastor; The First Presbyterian Church; June 29, 2021
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"Tough Conversations:
How to Have Them in Church and Keep Talking to Each Other"
WHEN: Thursday, July 8, 1:00 PM CDT | FREE Admission
Talking to your congregation about tough topics can be stressful, divisive, and counterproductive. Learn to make these conversations more manageable and effective—hear from experts and find out how during Faith+Lead's July Book Hub discussion.
Pastors and authors Elizabeth Hagan and Rosalind Hughes will take on topics that church leaders need to approach with confidence. From domestic violence to gun violence, miscarriage to trauma-informed formation, there is nothing we can’t address with love, mercy, justice, and the gospel. See their books below.
You'll gain:
- An authentic framework for entering into—and staying in—difficult conversations
- Fresh perspectives on topics you may not be as familiar with
- A deeper way of thinking about your church’s role in navigating these discussions
- New ways of showing hospitality in a culture that’s often isolated and afraid
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Friend of the Conference
Howdy Penn Northeast Conference,
I hope this finds you in good health and good spirits! July 4th is quickly approaching and with the increased number of vaccinated people that means many of us can come together again safely, sharing in food and fellowship with friends and family!
On July 4th we commemorate the Declaration of Independence, a document stating that all persons are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In considering these unalienable rights, I am reminded that in our independence, we are also interdependent with one another!
The Penn Northeast Conference is made up of roughly 33,000 individuals, each working together to do God’s Work and Be the Church! These independent individuals are also interdependent with one another, as 1 Corinthians 12:12 tells us, “Just as the body is one and has many members… so it is with Christ!”
One way to support the ministry of the Body of Christ in the Penn Northeast Conference is to become a Friend of the Conference! These donations go to support the many ministries of the Conference. As a thank you for your donation, we will send you a Recognition Level Gift! I would encourage you to celebrate your independence by supporting the interdependence of the Body of Christ! You can give online using the Conference’s tithe.ly mail in a donation, or email the Conference for more giving options.
- Rev. Becky Sausser, Chair of the Generosity Team
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Video made for the PA Council of Churches About Getting Vaccinated
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General Synod Workshops
A number of workshops (50) are being offered from Wednesday July 7 – Saturday July 10. If you register for General Synod these workshops are free. If you have not registered for General Synod but would like to attend the workshops, please use this link Meet.ucc to register.
Several folks have asked about pastoral continuing education for these workshops. All the workshops will count as continuing education. If you want credit for Cultural Competency or Anti-Racism training, a minimum of three hours of training and a short summary paper submitted to the conference will be required. I have listed the workshops which would qualify for either of these categories.
Cultural Competency
Extravagant Welcome at God’s Table Wed, July 7 1-2 pm EDT
Beyond Binary Wed, July 7 4-5 pm EDT
Welcoming Transgender Persons Thurs, July 8 1-2 pm EDT
Multiple Religious Belonging Fri, July 9 4-5pm EDT
Multicultural Interfaith Couples Sat, 4-5 pm EDT
Anti-Racism
Community Safety for All Wed., July 7 2-3 pm EDT
Decolonizing Faith Thurs, July 8 4-5 pm EDT
Intersections of Racial Justice Sat, July 10 2-3 pm EDT
Ecumenical Responses to Racial Injustice Sat, July 10 3-4 pm EDT
Reparations: Concrete Steps Sat, July 10 5-6 pm EDT
We hope you will take advantage of any workshops which interest you. Blessings, Bonnie
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UCC Cornerstone Fund Launching a New Program
Creation Care Investment and Loan Program
The UCC Cornerstone Fund has already raised over $2Million in investments from our Founding Investors who include the National Setting and United Church Funds, as well as the Wisconsin Conference, and CHHSM. Penn Northeast Conference is invited to join in becoming founding investors. We are targeting initially raising $3Million in investments. The loan program will provide low cost loans to help churches reduce their carbon footprint/lessen their environmental impact and improve overall operating efficiency in the process. Read More...
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Special Report: The UCC 3 Great Loves Initiative
Contributed by Rev. Dave Sigmund, 3 Great Loves Ambassador, and Rev. Kim Whisler-Vasko,
3 Great Loves Coordinator
3 Great Loves launched at General Synod in Baltimore in 2017 as a way to engage our
denomination in a shared response to our newly crafted Purpose, Mission, and Vision
statements. 3 Great Loves has been us, collectively, as a united church, putting “hands and
feet” to those statements. Living out our love for God, and living and giving Christ’s love, and
seeking to make a just world for all through the lens of 3 Great Loves: Love of Neighbor, Love of
Children, and Love of Creation. And 3 Great Loves shared the stories of how all of us are living
out that love, God’s love, in missional, measurable, and meaningful ways. Read More...
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A New Day Dawning: Leading the Church Toward the Light
FREE Webinar - Thursday, July 1 from 7 to 10PM
How has the Church made it this far? What are the current realities we church people need to know? Want some ideas for how to move forward? Looking for foundational, biblical hope for the future?
Featuring presentations by Lancaster Seminary faculty. We'll also have time to begin important conversations! Register here
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COVID-19 Liability Considerations for Clergy
On July 15 at 2:00p, the Insurance Board will host a webinar on "COVID-19 Liability Considerations for Ministers," providing guidance on current COVID-19 HR and liability considerations.
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UCC News Digest: Still wiping out medical debt
Click Here to read full article...plus other interesting articles.
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Vital Conversations
As the light at the end of the COVID tunnel grows brighter, our churches and our people are excited to “get back” to some sense of normal ministry. However, our excitement is not without some apprehension: “How do we regain the momentum that was halted by closures? How do we decide what to restart and what to leave ended? How do we re-ignite the congregation’s passion for worship and service?” The Congregational Vitality Team wants to provide an on-going space for asking and discussing these questions as our churches navigate this exciting season of new beginnings. Every fourth Monday of each month (starting June 28th at 7 PM), we are inviting interested clergy and lay leaders to attend a Zoom conversation where they can talk through situations with other leaders, learn, and brainstorm together.
Meeting ID: 817 9668 4439
Passcode: 292474
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Wednesdays In The Word -- Identity Crisis - I AM
Wednesdays - (through July 7, 2021) - 1:00-1:30; 7:00-7:30 Weekly
On-Line with the Women of Dille Parish, LeRaysville -- (570) 744-1637
To remind us of what Jesus said about Himself, what prompted it, and how understanding this might be a blessing.
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CONFLICT TRAINING DATES ANNOUNCED
This training is particularly effective for leadership councils, Sessions, Vestries and curated congregational groups. This 1.5 day online workshop will walk your group through how to become skilled in conflict transformation. You will learn skills that will reshape your interactions with present and future congregational conflict and equip you for managing conflict in your work and personal life.
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SAVE THE DATE
October 19, 2021
9AM to 3PM
Ministry Day - Jordan UCC, Allentown
and via Zoom - watch for details
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Hope, Healing and Recovery Across the Family System
Thursday, August 26, Treatment Trends is hosting a full-day, in-person conference entitled “Hope, Healing and Recovery across the Family System”. It will be held at Homewood Suites in Center Valley. Click Here for flyer which has the link to register for this event. More details will be posted to www.treatmenttrends.org before the conference.
The conference is for both professionals as well as adult family members who’ve been impacted by a loved one’s addiction are invited to attend the conference. Seating is limited!
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Advanced Boundary Training
August 19, 2021 - 1:00 to 4:00PM
Faithfully Fulfilling Covenant Beyond the Local Church
Sponsored by Pennsylvania Southeast Conference - $20 -online
Facilitator: Rev. William Worley
Boundaries are not just behaviors lines that we don't cross, they also mark areas included in our practice of ministry. In this boundary training workshop, we look at what it means to minister in a system that prizes autonomy with expectations like “actively participates in the Covenantal Life and Work of all Settings of the United Church of Christ.” This, with other sections of “COVENANT WITH THE UCC TO” from UCC Ordained Ministerial Code, invite us into conversation about what it means to be the wider church and how that impacts the role and function of the local church pastor. Click Here to register
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Ready-To-Stream Worship Kit
Summer Edition
In this time of in-person and online worship, Phillips Theological Seminary offers churches a vacation from creating and preparing their weekly worship service. Phillips has created a second, complete digital worship service as a summer gift to pastors and congregational leaders.
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Black Lives Matter and coronavirus worship resources
A year after the murder of George Floyd, a new booklet of praise songs and protests has been published by the United Reformed Church. Sunflowers & Thistles is a collection of songs written by URC minister and hymn writer the Rev. John Campbell, and focuses on the Black Lives Matter movement and the coronavirus pandemic. The free online resources include the booklet of songs, which can be sung to the tunes of well-known hymns, PowerPoint presentations, and videos.
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Stewardship Theme Materials Now Available
We would like to share with you a sample of the new Stewardship Theme Materials now available at UCCresources.com. The materials use the same theme as General Synod - Rooted in Love (see sample graphic). This means that all the inspiring worship resources created for General Synod can also be used in Stewardship campaigns this fall. The materials include several important improvements this year.
- Much of the content came from pastors and leaders across the country such as the attached bulletin insert from Rev. Alex Shea Will.
- My colleagues at national wrote new material explaining how to be more effective with email communication and social media in support of a stewardship campaign.
- We created coloring pages that tell the story of OCWM Basic Support at the conference and national level (sample attached).
In other words: local church voices, effective communication strategies, and a bit of fun.
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DISASTER MINISTRIES UCC
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The Red Cross is offering 🆓 youth disaster preparedness presentations for elementary-aged students. They are designed to help participants understand, prepare for and respond appropriately to emergencies through engaging and age-appropriate curriculum. To schedule a 🆓 presentation, please contact rebecca.gaidrich2@redcross.org .
++ Prepare with Pedro K–2nd Grade A 30–45 min preparedness program for students that follows Pedro the Penguin and his friends as they learn how to be prepared and take action during an emergency.
++ The Pillowcase Project 3rd–5th Grade A 40–60 min presentation that covers local hazards, coping skills and personal and family preparedness through a “Learn, Practice, Share” framework.
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