Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
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Dear friends,
As I was reading my devotional this morning, Fr. Richard Rohr quoted Pope Francis who spoke about the pandemic in September 2020 (which seems so long ago).
“To emerge from this crisis better than before, we have to do so together; together, not alone. Together. Not alone, because it cannot be done. Either it is done together, or it is not done. We must do it together, all of us, in solidarity…”
There seem to be so many crises in our lives – COVID, not completely under control, shootings in schools and communities, fires in apartment buildings, homes, and forests, flooding from storms, droughts in some areas, the war in Ukraine, domestic and community violence, political and family divides…when will they end? I tend to agree with Pope Francis that we emerge from a crisis better than before when we come together in solidarity. Either we come together and solve problems, or we continue to divide and divide and fight individually against one another.
Solidarity is simply defined as unity or agreement of feeling or action. And therein is the hope and the challenge. Where do we come together in unity? Politically that will be difficult. Theologically that might be difficult. Yet can we focus on the unity Jesus calls for by being those who love God and love our neighbor?
This Sunday is Palm Sunday, marking the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. At least it seemed triumphant. Yet, the week ahead brought betrayal, distrust, arrest, violence, abandonment, and death. Even as Jesus knelt to serve his friends by washing their feet, even while Jesus broke bread and shared the cup in honor and remembrance of the community he had developed and the love he shared, even then there was no real unity or agreement of feeling or action.
When the United Church of Christ took on the motto “That They May All Be One” from John 17, it did so not because we would all become uniform, but because in our striving to be God’s family, following Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we might actually discover and strengthen our commonalities, seek those places where we could agree and listen well to each other, with love and respect, when we have differences of opinion or belief; in other words, seek solidarity.
I don’t know with whom you might disagree, where the crises are in your life, your family, your congregation. What I do know is that you are not alone. God is with you. We are with each other as long as we seek to be better – better followers of Jesus, better siblings in Christ to one another, better listeners, and grace-sharers. May this week, this Holy week, connect you with the depth of your faith, the depth of God’s love for you, and the depth of your call to love one another. Blessings, Bonnie
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Penn Northeast Conference Spring Meeting
NOTE: If attending the whole event this will qualify for Cultural Competency Training
(virtual or in person)
May 13 - 14, 2022 (Friday - Saturday)
The Chateau at Camelback
475 Camelback Rd., Tannersville, PA
Keynoter: Valarie Kaur
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Valarie Kaur is an American activist, documentary filmmaker, lawyer, educator, and faith leader. She is the founder of the Revolutionary Love Project. Kaur's debut book, See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love, was published in June 2020.
Friday, May 13, 2022, 5:00 p.m.
Valarie Kaur Zoom Presentation and Interfaith Worship including Valarie
Saturday, May 14, 2022
Morning: Interfaith Workshops
Afternoon: Business Meeting, Recognition of Pastors and Churches, Installation, Closing Worship
including Communion
Registration is available for Friday evening only or for Friday and Saturday.
OR Click Here for form to mail in registration along with your payment
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Last Call for these Up-Coming Events & Deadlines |
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Lenten Prayer Service
Take a Prayer Break - Every Thursday at noon during Lent join colleagues from the four PA UCC conferences for a short time of prayer on zoom. All are welcome to join. Zoom information is below and is the same for every week. We will end on April 14th.
Carrie Call is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Lenten Prayer
Time: 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 841 7677 4603 Passcode: 260414
Rev. Carrie Call, PhD, Conference Minister, Penn Central Conference
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Webinars Offered
Caste – by Isabel Wilkerson - led by Gerald Simmons
(this would count as Anti-Racism Training)
Monday, May 2, 2021 – 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Mondays – May 2, 9, 16, 23, June 6, 13, 20, 2022
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Pastoral Colloquy 2022
July 24-29, 2022
Penn Central Conference, United Church of Christ
Evangelische Kirche Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz
Penn Southeast Conference, United Church of Christ
Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland
Southern Conference, United Church of Christ
Wisconsin Conference, United Church of Christ
~in cooperation with~
“Building a Just Peace in an Unjust World: Learning with and from Our Anabaptist Colleagues”
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The Rev. Henry (Hank) M. Hansen, 91,
of Palmer Township, PA,
formerly of Phoenix, AZ,
passed away Sunday, April 3, 2022, at his home.
His wife of 52 years, June A. (Morris) Hansen, passed away June 17, 2005.
He graduated from Bradley University, Peoria, IL, and Bangor Theological Seminary, Bangor, ME.
An ordained minister, Pastor Hansen served as an Army chaplain for 27 years including tours in Vietnam where he received a bronze star and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He then served as Pastor for United Church of Christ and retired from the former Memorial United Church of Christ, Easton.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Penn Northeast Conference of United Church of Christ, 431 Delaware Avenue, Palmerton, PA 18071.
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Mindfulness and Meditation Gatherings by Zoom
With Rev. Kris P. Snyder (from Union, Neffs)
Thursdays 12noon to 1pm
April 21, May 5, May 26, June 9, June 23
By zoom only – use the link below.
Using practices from the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) model, Plum Village Thich Nhat Hanh tradition, Centering Prayer, and a little Qigong and movement we’ll gather for an hour of practice.
No experience necessary, lots of experience welcome too. Sign up here if you are interested and available for some or all of these dates:
Or just show up using the zoom link.
If you’re interested but these times and days don’t work, let me know and we can try to offer more.
Zoom Link:
Meeting ID: 811 8812 7483
Passcode: 348630
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,81188127483#,,,,*348630# US (Washington DC)
+13126266799,,81188127483#,,,,*348630# US (Chicago)
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Two-part Adult Spiritual Formation Series in May
Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley is hosting
Part one is "Christian Teaching on Alcohol" meets on Tuesday, May 10 at 6pm ET via Zoom or
in-person at the church at 7pm.
Part two is "Christian Teaching on Gambling" meets on Tuesday, May 17 also at 6pm ET via Zoom or in-person at the Church at 7pm.
Facilitated by Rev. Goudy, the classes are free and open to the public, no registration is needed. The Zoom ID is 876 0624 8826 and the church is located at 1401 Greenview Drive in Bethlehem (18018).
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New Community of Practice Starting...
for pre and post authorized minister retirees
This Community of Practice will be starting in June, 2022 and continue through the end of the year. The cost is $125. The facilitator will be Rev. Stephen Engelhardt and the meetings will be via Zoom. Please email Patty Rehrig pattyr@pnec.org at the Conference Office to let her know if you would like to sign up.
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Strengthen the Church Materials Ready
The Strengthen the Church Offering most congregations will take on June 5th provide resources for our conferences and national setting to build core strength and flexibility in our congregations. Bonnie Bates, Tyler Connoley, Alexis Fuller-Wright, and Phil Hodson created bulletin inserts that capture the good work of conferences made possible by STC funds.
The offering materials are available on the CCM Basecamp (see the project “OCWM Support/Warner” in the folder “Strengthen the Church 2022) and in UCC Resources here. In addition to the materials available for digital download, congregations will be able to order free envelopes, bulletin inserts, and posters.
Please think about ways you can promote the offering in your church. Consider:
All together, we can ensure the Strengthen the Church Offering raises the crucial funds for our conferences and the national setting to help our congregations thrive/grow/flourish.
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High Five for Disaster Relief Exceeds Goal
The Susquehanna Area Mission Council extends deep thanks to all who participated in the High Five for Disaster Relief campaign. We began this project with a goal of $5,000 for the two eastern Pennsylvania conferences. We collected a grand total of $9,191.49, nearly doubling our goal, with $5,479.53 donated by the Penn Northeast Conference alone.
Some of the PSEC funds have already been spent. They have provided seed funding for a car for a family in Berks County that lost its vehicle in Hurricane Ida. This family’s children need to be transported regularly to Philadelphia for medical treatment, so a car is a life-giving necessity. Other PSEC funds have helped resolve life safety issues in a home in the Eastwick project of Philadelphia.
The PNEC funds are standing by to meet similar needs in our own Conference. We know from experience that needs will arise, since our Conference is not immune to natural disasters. Previous funding in our Conference has assisted with storm-related damage to homes as well as provided heat and hot water for homes following Tropical Storm Isaias. Because of the generosity of PNEC churches, we will be ready when the next disaster strikes.
Your participation in this offering enables us to reach out in the love of Christ to those who are suffering.
Thank you again.
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Boundary Training Offered
In this year, 2022, the responsibility for Boundary Training across our churches falls to the Northeastern PA Synod of the ELCA. We have set up three options in the month of May for in-person training in three different locations across the region. See the attached flyer. It can also be found under the EVENTS tab on our NEPA Synod website.
1. Friday, May 13, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Friedens Lutheran Church, 28 Wolf Creek Rd, Bernville, PA 19506
2. Monday, May 16, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
St. Paul Lutheran Church, 474 Yalick Rd., Dallas, 18612
3. Friday, May 20, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
St. John Lutheran Church, 200 S. Broad St., Nazareth, 18064
COST: $35 (includes lunch)
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Justice Leadership Program
next program starting this fall
The Justice Leadership Program is wrapping up its first online 6-month Jubilee program (with five participants, four from UCC) and now is the time to apply for the autumn program. Jubilee is an online program for adults of any age who want to integrate faith and justice work in their lives in a meaningful and transformational way. Program associates meet monthly to deepen their faith within a community of their peers while learning skills for systemic change-making. Join us for the fall program to be informed, equipped, and empowered to act for justice! Apply now for Fall 2022
Jubilee is a booster grant recipient of Volunteer Ministries of the National UCC, supported by GLOBAL H.O.P.E.
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Free Movie Event To Honor Mental Health Awareness Month
Please review the attached invitation to join us on Tuesday May 3rd at Liberty High School in Bethlehem from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. As faith leaders in our Lehigh Valley, we would be honored by your attendance, and also your stakeholders. The event is open to our whole community including youth, parents, and all our neighbors across the Lehigh Valley…this is most appropriate for teens, parents of teens, and anyone working with teens. Following the film, My Ascension, there will be a youth Q & A panel guided by the film’s Director, Gary Dicharry, and Emma Benoit will be in attendance to share her positivity and hope to our community’s youth.
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Process the Pandemic for Ministry
Help for Getting Through the Covid Blahs - Start re-energizing with Faith+Lead's Processing the Pandemic of Ministry. We are all worn down after another year ravaged by the pandemic. The good news is that now - over just two hours a week for three weeks - there's an opportunity to recover, regroup, and get ready for a healthy, hopeful future.
Tuesdays, April 19, 26 & May 3
7 to 8:30 PM Central Time
You will discover:
- Opportunities to prioritize what’s been learned and to process it in a supportive environment
- A safe space for integrating what you’ve learned through the pandemic and gently moving forward in whole and healthy ways
- A sustainable game plan for achieving two goals—unique to you—in the 30 days following this course
- ... and so much more!
It's an opportunity to practice stillness, intentional reflection, and realistic goal-setting—all within a safe, supportive environment. Sign up today!
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World Water Day 2022: Access to safe clean drinking water is a human right
As we mark World Water Day today we remember that over 1 billion people in the world lack sustainable access to freshwater. We know that water is a vital ingredient for life and access to safe clean drinking water is a human right.
Global Ministries has supported the Machaze Water Wells project of the United Church of Christ in Mozambique (UCCM) since the project was created. To date, UCCM has built 11 cisterns to collect rainwater and two boreholes (wells) in different locations across the Machaze district of the Manica province. While these have provided the life-giving resource of water for many years, due to the unprecedented droughts in the past two years, many of these cisterns installed by UCCM are now dry. Therefore, UCCM is preparing to build water wells in two communities: Bassani and Chibuto. These new wells will be installed deep enough to provide water during severe droughts. Continue reading about this project.
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Summer Study at Yale Divinity School
June 6 - June 10, 2022
in an online format. Spaces are going quickly, so please register today. See the list of course offerings below. Full course descriptions are available online at the Summer Study website.
YDS Summer Study features distinguished faculty and is open to anyone interested in theological education, regardless of background, profession, and age. There are no prior educational requirements. Classes are small in size, run Monday-Friday, and engage with various topics designed to enlighten and enrich. Summer Study includes daily worship and a keynote address.
Courses
Morning – 10:00am to 12:30pm
1. John Hare, Faith and Reason (LIMITED SPACES)
2. Ken Minkema/Adriaan Neele, Jonathan Edwards, Race and Slavery (LIMITED SPACES)
3. Laura Nasrallah, The Letters of Paul: Archaeologies and Theologies (SOLD OUT)
4. Markus Rathey, Bach’s Passions and Oratorios: The Life of Christ from a Composer’s
Perspective
5. Jerry Streets, Living a Life of Forgiving: Honoring the Life, Ministry and Legacy of Archbishop
Desmond Tutu
6. Bruce Gordon, The Global Bible
Daily Community Prayer – 12:45pm (20-25 minutes)
Afternoon – 2:30pm to 5:00pm
7. Omer Bajwa, Unity in Diversity: Making Sense of Muslim Culture
8. John Collins, Biblical Values (LIMITED SPACES)
9. Allen Hilton, The Lost Art of Community-Building: A Study of Paul’s 1 Thessalonians (LIMITED
SPACES)
10. David Mahan, Reading Poetry Theologically
11. Kate Ott, Hacking Christian Ethics: Spiritual Resources for Living in a Digital World
12. Braxton Shelley, Black Gospel Music
Keynote Address
Tuesday, June 7 – 7:30pm-8:45pm
Joel Baden, Professor of Hebrew Bible - "How We Teach the Bible - and Why"
Participants receive a YDS Certificate of Completion at the end of the course week. Courses can count towards continuing education requirements for some clergy.
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Vital Conversations
Every one of us as pastors and church leaders longs for new ideas and innovations that will breathe an energizing spirit into our congregations. Well, did you know that there is a forum in PNEC that meets every month just for the purpose of sharing those sort of insights?
On the last Monday of each month, on Zoom at 7 PM, the Congregational Vitality Team hosts a “Vital Conversation.” Our conversations vary on the focal topic—past sessions have centered on subjects like stewardship, Christian education, and defining “vitality”—yet, every session is geared toward thinking together about a particular area of congregational life and brainstorming creative, imaginative, life-giving ways to do ministry. So, whether you’re looking for a spark of inspiration, a new idea, or simply want to talk and share with your colleagues some of the creative things you’re trying, please join us at the next Vital Conversation:
The Zoom Meeting ID is: 817 9668 4439
Passcode: 292474
Upcoming dates and topics are:
- April 25 at 7 PM - Reaching Youth and Young Adults
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Getting Ready for Earth Sunday: Resources for Congregations
With the recently released report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the dire situation faced by our world has never been clearer. In such a moment, leadership from communities of faith is sorely needed. Thankfully, Creation Justice Ministries has created an ecumenical resource that will assist churches in answering the call placed upon us in this moment. The resource is entitled “Weathering the Storm: Faithful Climate Resilience.” It specifically helps churches respond to the question, “How can our churches be hubs of resilience, helping our neighbors weather the physical and spiritual storms of the climate crisis?” The resource can be used year-round and is also particularly useful in preparing for Earth Sunday (April 24th).
The next installment of Creation Justice Webinars will be presented on April 13, 2022 at 1:00 PM ET. It will feature, Avery Davis Lamb, Co-Executive Director of Creation Justice Ministries, who will introduce the resource and talk about specific ways churches can deliver a powerful message and experience on Earth Sunday.
Even if you cannot make the webinar at its scheduled time, still sign-up, and you will be sent the link to the recording. You can download the resource at https://www.creationjustice.org/.
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Break the Silence Sunday
During April many congregations observe Break the Silence Sunday, a day to focus on the devastating effects of sexual violence and abuse in our society and a time to offer prayers and care for survivors. The Rev. Moira Finely and a team of writers has once again created some wonderful resources. The official day for this in our UCC calendar is April 24th.
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2022 Earth Month Events
4.22.2022 - Garden Work Day
4.23.2022 - Parker St. Tree Planting
4.29.2022 - Tending the Tree of Life
4.29.2022 to 5.2.2022 - City Nature Challenge
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Lombard Mennonite Peace Center
May 9-13; June 13-17; Aug. 1-5; Nov. 14-18
Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders
*****
April 7 & September 21
Journey Toward Healing
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May 19 - Leadership & Anxiety in the Church
*****
April 2 - Healthy Congregations
May 7 - Conflict Transformation Skills for Churches
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Five Part Education Series for Families on Mental Health
The Scranton Mental Health Ministry at the Cathedral of Saint Peter is presenting this five-part series for families on mental health and mental illness to reduce stigma and discrimination through education and factual information about mental health conditions.
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Moravian and Mercersburg Traditions: Can These Two Walk Together?
co-sponsored by the Mercersburg Society, Lancaster Theological Seminary and Moravian University
May 23 & 24, 2022
on the campus of Lancaster Theological Seminary, 555 West James St., Lancaster
REGISTRATION DEADLINE -- May 15
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Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry UPCOMING Classes
The Future of Multivocational Ministries -- April 27 to May 17
Instructor Darryl W. Stephens. A Financial Basics class for lay and clergy leaders.
Personal and Spiritual Development -- May 24 to June 28
Instructor Carrie Call. Tuesdays, 7–8:30pm. A Ministerial Institute class on spiritual disciplines, congregational systems, and vocational discernment.
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DISASTER MINISTRIES UCC
The FY 2022 Federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program is opening. PA Emergency Management Agency is hosting webinars to help applicants understand the process. Churches and pastors can go to PEMA.PA.gov/Grants/NSGP for detailed information. Some of the NSGP webinars will be open forums, designed to address any questions relating to the Nonprofit security grant program.
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Recently the HHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships presented an excellent webinar, Protecting Places of Worship: A Religious Observance Briefing on Safety and Security. You can listen or share the recording which highlights multiple ways faith and community organizations can enhance the safety and security of their institutions and communities by taking practical steps ahead of religious observances.
WEBINAR RESOURCES AND REFERENCES:
HHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
DHS Federal Emergency Management Agency, Grants Program Directorate
DHS Office of Intelligence & Analysis
DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
DHS Civil Rights & Civil Liberties
DHS Office of Partnership Engagement
DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
Shalom,
Karl
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The Church of the Brethren Disaster Services (a VOAD partner with the UCC) will present an in-person Children’s Disaster Services Volunteer Workshop on May 13 - 14, 2022. The event will begin on Friday at 4:30 PM ET and conclude at 5:30 PM on Saturday. The event will be held at the Lititz Church of the Brethren, 300 Orange St., Lititz, PA 17543. The CDS Volunteer Workshop is a comprehensive 25 - hour workshop that uses applied, experiential activities to help the participants integrate their learning. The workshop will train you to understand and respond to children who have experienced a disaster. Participants will experience a simulated shelter, sleeping on cots and eating simple meals. Once the training is completed, participants have the opportunity to become a certified Children’s Disaster Services volunteer. Learn more on the attached flyer. Register.
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