Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
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Letter from Bonnie
My friends, What two weeks it has been! Eight killed in Atlanta on the 16th of March. Ten killed in Boulder on Monday! Again, yesterday a shooting was narrowly avoided in Atlanta at Publix as a man was apprehended with 5 guns, wearing body armor. What has happened! How did we get to this place?
We are approaching the time when gathering in person may be possible after more than a year of the COVID pandemic. Now people must be afraid of gunmen, and they have been men, shooting us in public places like supermarkets. The Religion News Service published an article about Christians and guns on March 24, 2021. I excerpt a portion here:
“The gun carnage in this country — seen just in the last few days in the spa shootings in the Atlanta area and a mass shooting at the King Soopers grocery store in Colorado — is not only a horrific social problem, it is also a theological problem, even a theological crisis.
The theological crisis is that white Christian nationalists, in particular, are led to believe that the 'right to bear arms was bestowed upon Americans by God,' as Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association said after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14, 2018.
God did not give Americans guns. The gun manufacturers did.”[1]
Now I have written before about guns and gun owners, sharing my Dad’s experience as a hunter and our shared experience with skeet and clay trap shooting. I am not against people owning or using guns. I do believe in the right to own guns. What I cannot accept is the blatant disregard for control over who purchases guns and which guns are purchased. Assault weapons are for just that purpose, assault. One does not hunt with, shoot skeet with, or usually target shoot with an assault weapon. This must stop! The young man who killed ten in Boulder had an assault conviction! How did he have access?
While I believe in consequences for the offenders, the rest of us bear some blame as well. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite who wrote this article calls on us, on us Christians, people of faith, to respond. She writes, “Studies show that Christian nationalist beliefs — that is, the merging of right-wing religious and civil ideologies — are the single greatest indicator of opposition to gun legislation reform.” She reminds us that we in the US will not get gun reform bills passes unless “Christians who know that to say God gives Americans guns is heresy need to be strengthened in their resolve to make this a theological struggle.”
You may be angered by this letter. You may think I have become too political. Yet, my friends, if we are to love our neighbors, we are called to make changes in social policy in order to protect our neighbors, not just to feed, clothe, house, and educate them. We need to pray, certainly; comfort, of course; but we also need to act as citizens and Christians in these days….so we can have a free, just, and reasonably safe existence in this nation.
The beatitudes call us to be peacemakers. We are called by the living and risen Christ to love God and to love our neighbors. We are called to turn swords into plowshares. How will you, will we, work to make this hope for God’s realm a reality.
Blessings, Bonnie
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Good Friday Worship Resource
Below is a link to a Good Friday Worship Resource that you might find useful.
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Climate Change Sabbath Toolkit
With the resources compiled in this toolkit congregations have the opportunity to initiate dialogue, education and advocacy regarding the approaching climate crisis. You can evaluate your home energy usage and take a look at your church's usage. To see the resources compiled in this toolkit, click here. |
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YOU ARE INVITED TO A PNEC EVENT!
CVT CONVERSATIONS
(CVT = Congregational Vitality Committee)
Sunday, May 2nd from 2:00 PM-3:30PM on Zoom.
It’s been a challenging year. Let’s talk.
Join the group wishing to move forward and learn by looking back:
Questions we would like to ask and answer:
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What have we lost over the past year that we must take the time to grieve?
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What have we had to let go of that is better off gone?
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What new things have we tried, learned, found helpful?
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What have we gained that is worth keeping as we move into a new “normal”?
Every voice is a heard voice at this event! Come for inquisitive inquiry and/or to share your experiences.
We want to listen. Clergy and Laity welcome. See you there!
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Questions about the COVID-19 vaccine
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Call to the
VIRTUAL Spring Meeting of PNEC
Saturday, April 17, 2021
via ZOOM
9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Theme: Blessed to be the Children of God
Scripture: Galatians 3:26-29
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you
who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female,
for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Keynote Speaker: Robert Jones
Author of White Too Long: The Legacy
of White Supremacy in American Christianity
Robert P. Jones is the CEO and founder of Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and the author of White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity. Jones writes regularly on politics, culture, and religion for The Atlantic online, NBC Think, and other outlets. He is frequently featured in major national media, such as CNN, MSNBC, NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and others. He holds a Ph.D. in religion from Emory University and a M.Div. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of The End of White Christian America, which won the 2019 Grawemeyer Award in Religion.
Spring Meeting = 2.5 hours of continuing ed
Don't wait until the last minute to sign up!!
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Penn Northeast Conference Prayer Ministry Team
We are looking to form a Conference Prayer Ministry Team. No special skills required only an open heart and mind to the movement of the Holy Spirit. This will be a hybrid group gathering both on Zoom and periodic in person gatherings as communal wellness permits. Lay and Clergy members are welcome to join. Please email Teresa Martin at RevTeresaMartin@outlook.com if interested. See the attached proposal.
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Demonstrating Generosity
(even with the restrictions of the past year)
Like most congregations in PNEC, Longswamp UCC, Mertztown has struggled with maintaining a sense of congregational unity, sharing and common purpose over the past year, while seeing each other only on a screen and speaking by phone or electronic words. It has not felt as personally fulfilling or uplifting as we were used to, and it often presented very practical restrictions or stumbling blocks to our missional and outreach work. However, through creativity and commitment, we have found new ways to accomplish mission and strive toward our vision.
Beginning in fall, when ordinarily we would have offered our PA Dutch bazaar to the community - including craft vendors, food and fellowship, we decided to take just one aspect of the bazaar (FOOD!) and focus on that. We advertised our menu for weeks in advance, took orders, and got busy in the kitchen. On the appointed day, all our pews were filled with the boxed food orders and a crew of congregation members greeted a long line of cars at the front door of the church for a friendly, open air conversation with our patrons, and we handed out dozens of boxes of homemade treats the bazaar has long been known for. The financial reward from this effort, was several hundred dollars to support our Family Ministries, but the opportunity to visit with friends in the surrounding community and reassure them we were still reaching out to them was perhaps an even greater benefit. The photo above was taken at a previous event.
Yes, it has been a challenge to demonstrate generosity this past year, and it has taken extra effort, but we are determined to show it is alive and well and drives our mission!
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Moravian Seminary...We Hope You'll Join Us!
Wisdom Way of Knowing Gatherings
Fridays, March 26, April 30
3:00-5:00pm
Leader: Marcella Kraybill-Greggo, MSW, LSW
Online via Zoom Video Conference
Contact Hours: 2 per session
Price: $20 per session (you must register for each date separately) Register Here!
Moses Lecture in Moravian Studies
Tuesday, April 20 • 10:00–11:30am
Topic: When the Moravians Returned to Georgia: A Forgotten Mission During the American Revolution
Speaker: Dr. Jon Sensbach
Online via Zoom Video Conference
Contact Hours: 1.5
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Two Important Events - Pennsylvania Council of Churches
Women’s History Month Service—March 28 -- 7PM
Download and share this flyer. As part of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches’ new era of diverse leadership and recommitment to Christian discipleship and advocacy, the Council will celebrate the role and contributions of women with a public Zoom worship service at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Mar. 28. Options to register and view the service are provided below:
The Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates, Conference Minister of the Penn Northeast Conference of the United Church of Christ, will be the featured preacher. She will be joined by the voices of numerous church body leaders as well as clergy and lay leaders.
The worship/installation service takes place in the important context of March as Women’s History Month. In its recent reorganization, the Council focused on ensuring that its leadership more fully reflects the diversity of the broader community in Pennsylvania.
This service is a first for the Pennsylvania Council of Churches. At a time when most of the public conversation has involved issues of systemic racism, xenophobia, and verbal and physical attacks on people of color, what is lost is that women, particularly women of color, have suffered most as a result of the pandemic.
The Council’s Director of Advocacy and Ecumenical Outreach, the Rev. Sandra Strauss, said, “Women typically earn less than men, and are often the first to lose jobs in a crisis. Many are working hard to keep their families above water without the recognition and help they deserve. This service is a time for us to lift up the achievements of women throughout history and to celebrate the efforts millions of women who have engaged in superhuman efforts both during this pandemic and every day.”
The service is open to the public on Zoom, though registration is required. Click here to register.
The service will also be streamed on Facebook Live. Click here to access the Council’s Facebook Live page and will be recorded and uploaded to the Council’s YouTube channel.
Virtual Screening: Philly D.A. Episode 1, with Panel Discussion
April 1 -- 7 to 9PM
About this Event - We are excited to bring this exclusive screening of the first episode of the Philly D.A. docuseries to local, regional and national partners across the country. Post-film Q&A discussion will include Tarrah Callahan (Founder and Executive Director, Conservatives for Criminal Justice Reform), Kris Henderson (Executive Director, Amistad Law Project), Pamela Metzger (Director, Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center and Professor of Law, Southern Methodist University), and will be moderated by Alissa Marque Heydari (Deputy Director, Institute for Innovation in Prosecution at John Jay College of Criminal Justice).
About the series In 2017, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania had one of the highest incarceration rates of any major city in the United States. And it’s become the epicenter of a historic experiment that could shape the future of prosecution in America for decades to come. When civil rights attorney Larry Krasner mounted a long shot campaign to become District Attorney, he ran on a bold pledge: to end mass incarceration by changing the culture of the criminal justice system from within. He shocked the establishment by winning in a landslide. Now, the bureaucrats he spent his campaign denigrating are his co-workers; the police he alienated are his rank-and-file law enforcers. Pressure comes from all sides of a system resistant to reform. Krasner’s unapologetic promise to use the power of the D.A.’s office for sweeping change is what got him elected; now that he’s in office, that same stubbornness threatens to alienate those he needs to work with the most.
The Philly D.A. docuseries will premiere on April 20th on your local PBS station, and on PBS Passport.
How will I access the screening? The screening will occur on the OVEE website. Once you register we will automatically send you a link to access the streaming. This link will be sent a couple of days prior the event.
What device can I use to watch the live stream? A computer or large screen device that you use to watch movies is ideal. As long as your device is able to stream video from the internet you are all set. A tablet or phone that can stream video will also work.
Screening Partners:
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Ecumenical Bilingual Good Friday Service
April 2, 2021
I am Rhina Ramos and lead the program Encuentros Latinx at UCC National. I am part of the Health Wholeness Advocacy Team. My program aims to create inclusion of Latinx LGBTQI folks within UCC congregations.
I have two opportunities that I would love for you to share with Conference Ministers.
The first one is access to our toolkits. They will help congregations to start conversations of inclusion and acceptance for both Latinx and LGBTQI in the mix. I am happy to train conference ministers and clergy on how to use them. However, they are designed for easy use.
One more thing, we are having an ecumenical bilingual Good Friday Service on April 2nd ( See flyer ).
Many thanks, Rhina
National Coordinator Proyecto Encuentros Bienvenida y Gracia
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Recently Released Announcements from the Governor's Office
we thought might be of interest to you and your congregations:
Hoping that you continue to stay well and safe as we continue to live with the pandemic (but with hope!).
Blessings and peace,
Sandy -- Rev. Sandra L. Strauss, Director of Advocacy & Ecumenical Outreach
Pennsylvania Council of Churches
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Introduction to Worship Leadership & Liturgical Practices
April 10 - May 15
On-line via Zoom
Lancaster Theological Seminary
Worship leaders will learn to plan, prepare, and practice congregational worship, rites, and rituals, especially baptisms, weddings, and funerals/memorial services.
Taught by the Rev. Dr. Marty Kuchma, this six-week online class runs from Saturday, April 10 through Saturday, May 15. Five of the classes meet Saturdays from 10:00 am until noon. One class will be held on Thursday, May 6 from 6:00-8:00 pm. Earn 2.5 CEUs. Just $325 all inclusive. Register now!
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Veterans' Moral Injury and Suicide Prevention
Lebanon VAMC Clergy Virtual Training Event
April 13 or May 11, 2021 from 9AM to 11:30AM
To register and receive the link call: 717-272-6621 ext. 5085 or
Veterans are at higher risk for suicide than the average population. Moral Injuries can have an underlying effect upon the Veteran, as the Veteran feels overwhelmed with shame and guilt. Faith community leaders are encouraged to join us for this virtual training event to learn more about how to help Veterans who may be contemplating Suicide and/or suffering from moral injury.
Guest Speakers include: Chief of Chaplains, Dean Luther
Suicide Prevention Coordinator, John Lucas
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Age of Conspiracies & Disinformation
(from Rev. Teresa Martin, Coopersburg)
For those who may have joined the recent continuing ed on "The Age of Conspiracies and Disinformation" this is an additional list of resources on these issues. The taped zoom discussion was offered by the Wisconsin Council of Churches and once again featured Reverend Heather Hunnicutt.
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Advanced Boundary Training
(Basic boundary training must be completed first. If you have already taken a basic boundary training, this advanced training will cover your Boundary Training requirement and a certificate will be provided.)
Social Media & Boundaries for Ministry
Friday, May 14 & Friday, May 21, 2021
(series of 2 sessions)
Zoom training from 1 to 2 PM
Cost: $25
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Good Leave-Taking Boundaries
May 22
(from Pennsylvania Southeast Conference)
details coming soon.
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Inauguration of Deborah Krause as Eden Seminary's 14th President
Eden Seminary next month, we are celebrating the inauguration of Deborah Krause as the seminary’s 14th president. April 6th at 5:30 pm CDT. We hope that you might be able to join in this online worship and that you can invite your conference’s congregations. Registration for a Zoom webinar link is here. The Worship Service with the Inauguration will be part of a week-long series of online events that is this year’s Eden Spring Convocation, April 5-9, 2021. “This is What Theology Looks Like – Public Ministries of Resilience and Solidarity. A Celebration of Eden Seminary in the Progressive Christian Movement.” Find details at www.eden.edu
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Build a Hybrid Worship Experience
The Indiana-Kentucky Conference of the UCC is hosting a two-session YouTube presentation about preparing for hybrid worship. If, like so many churches, you are trying to figure out who you'll need to push the buttons, what tech to buy and build, and how to do both in-person and live-on-screen worship at the same time, this is the series for you.
Session Two: Tools and Tech, premiering April 29th at 6 pm EDT, helps you with gadgets and go live. Find it here: https://youtu.be/czsobF8w6KY
Watch them both during the live premiers, or return to the Indiana-Kentucky Conference YouTube channel at your convenience and get the information and help you need to plan and host a hybrid worship service. It's free!
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Making the Most of Offline and Online Ministry Opportunities
Our 6-week Co-Lab will give you the date, structure, support and support you need. Since this is a real-time, interactive experience, seating is limited. You can participate with your team and get everyone on the same page for just $399 ($349 early bird). Or, you can enroll as an individual for just $249 ($199 early bird). But remember, early bird pricing is only available until Friday at midnight.
We hope you’ll join us for Barna CoLab | Leading Hybrid Church, starting on April 13, 2021.
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Looking for a Chaplain to Serve at Locust Lake State Park
There is a summer ministry opportunity open at Locust Lake State Park for this summer. The PA Council of Churches has supported a program of chaplains in PA's state parks for 60 years. The Schuylkill Association of the PA Southeast Conference supports the chaplain at Locust Lake State Park.
The Committee is looking for a lay or ordained chaplain to serve at Locust Lake State Park on weekends from Memorial Day, May 31, through Labor Day, September 6, 2021. It is a part-time position. Duties of the chaplain include leading Sunday worship in the park, and walking through the campground, visiting campers in a socially distanced manner on a Friday or Saturday. All ministry takes place outdoors, so it is among the safest ministries!
Training is provided.
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9th Annual Freedom Seder
March 30 - 7:00PM
Hoping you will consider joining us for the 9th Annual Freedom Seder. The theme is "From Fear to Freedom." Click Here to see the flyer. The link to register is https://bit.ly/3rGGYQx
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Pastor's Conversations
Bonnie Bates is inviting you to a scheduled semi-monthly Pastors’ Conversations Zoom mtg, held on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 2 pm. Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 829 4709 0481
Password: 235909
One tap mobile
+16468769923,,82947090481#,,,,0#,,235909# US (New York)
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Intro to Worship Leadership & Liturgical Practices
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MORE 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. There will also be opportunities for sharing our personal experiences with conflict and working on leading through difficult conflict using case studies and role playing.
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UCCMA Conference 2021 - Registration is now open!
Conference 2021
July 8-10, 2021
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Mental Health First Aid
May 8 and 15
Mark your calendar and watch for details
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UCC History, Theology and Polity Course
May 1, 8, 15, 22, 2021
9:30am-3:30pm EST
The platform utilized will be Zoom Video Conferencing ( zoom.us) The tuition will be $495. Electronic payments preferred (PayPay, Zelle, Venmo). For more information contact Rev. David Gaewski, davidgaewski@uccny.org This polity course is sponsored by the Oneida Association of the New York Conference. Payments should be made no later than April 25th. A syllabus is available upon request. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders (2021)
May 3-7, June 21-25, August 2-6, October 11-15, or November 15-19
Does your congregation experience conflict? Does it harm your Christian fellowship and distract from your church’s mission? Learn to transform conflict from a negative force into an opportunity for reconciliation and growth. Contact the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center at 630-627-0507 or Admin@LMPeaceCenter.org. The summer session of
Mediation Skills Training Institute for Churches will be conducted in person in the Chicago area on August 2-6, 2021. The exact site has yet to be determined, but it will be within driving distance of O’Hare Airport. Should circumstances force us to revert to an online-only presentation, registrants will have the option to attend remotely, apply full credit towards a future LMPC event, or receive a full refund. A final decision will be made by the end of May. Online registration is now open at https://lmpeacecenter.org/ticketspice/.
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Save the Date! June 13th is ERHS Heritage Sunday
The Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society looks forward to partnering with you in celebrating the continuing legacy of our historic E and R churches throughout PNEC on Sunday, June 13th. Additional details are forthcoming. In the meantime, you can always visit us at erhistoricalsociety.org and follow us on Facebook @erhistoricalsoc and Instagram @erhistoricalsociety. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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DISASTER MINISTRIES UCC
Resource Information and Services Enterprise – or RISE PA
As you may be aware, the Commonwealth recently announced ( click here to access the press release) the selection of a vendor for the Resource Information and Services Enterprise – or RISE PA – the upcoming statewide resource and referral tool. When fully implemented, anyone in Pennsylvania will be able to access this tool from their personal computers, tablets, and mobile devices to find information about services and resources and self-refer to participating social services agencies. Read More...
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United Way of Pennsylvania (UWP), has launched their 2nd COVID-19 Impact Survey!
Their first survey was a 6 month look at the impact of the pandemic on Pennsylvania families. Now UWP is conducting a second survey to help inform advocates about the experiences of Pennsylvania communities. This survey asks about childcare, food insecurity, housing, healthcare, and employment status. Here are the links to the survey: English: http://bit.ly/UWPsurvey Spanish: http://bit.ly/UWPEncuesta
UWP is asking that individuals complete this survey and push it out far and wide over the next two weeks. If you have any questions, please contact: Rebecca O’Shea, UWP Advocacy Engagement Coordinator(717) 238-7365 x204 roshea@uwp.org.
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2021 CWS Kit Booklet that explains all of the details of the CWS kit ministry:
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