Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
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Letter from Bonnie
Dear friends,
My vacation time was restful, and I returned this week with renewed energy – which might be challenging for me as I usually have a lot of energy anyway. As I rested last week, I thought a lot about hope and my hopes for the conference as I move toward my fourth anniversary with you.
I could outline my specific hopes, but I really would rather engage us in thoughts about hope in general – especially in these challenging times. Psalm 121 reads:
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
I find that this psalm speaks to where my hope is birthed. My hope is birthed in the confidence that God cares for, protects, and accompanies me in everything I do – in every moment of my life. With that confidence I can hope for energy, knowledge, inspiration, and insight. Where does your hope come from?
When I was in high school, a boyfriend shared this definition of hope. “Hope is a small child feeding honey to a bee with broken wings.” I was thinking about this definition of hope this week. This definition places an emphasis on care, nurture, noticing needs, seeking preservation, and even befriending those who might hurt us. Our limitations, age, or seeming inabilities, do not end our hope.
I ask you again. From where does your hope come? Where does your hope rest? How do you find hope in our challenging, sometimes dangerous, and contentious times? And what do you hope for our conference?
Would you share those hopes with me and others in conference leadership – the conference board, our ministry teams, and the other staff? Would you dream a little about what our conference can be, needs to be, and has the capacity to become? Will you identify your sources of hope in our mutual and covenantal work together?
The gifts in our conference are many. Let’s share our insight into how to strengthen and deploy those gifts. I look forward to hearing from you. Blessings, Bonnie
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Summary of Penn Northeast Conference Board Meeting 7.21.2021
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From the Spiritual Development Ministry Team
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10 Week Book Study on the Book Trauma Sensitive Theology
by Jennifer Baldwin - sponsored by the PNEC Mental Health Ministry Team
Join us for a book study and discussion beginning on August 25 from 2 to 3PM via Zoom. (Please note the time was changed)
This is open to all, not just pastors!
COST - donation to the Conference Minister's Discretionary Fund
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Racial Justice Film Series Conversations
Engaging Antiracism: A Six-Session Faith and Film Study (to be held on Tuesdays from 6:30-8PM
August 24, 2021 - Introduction
September 28, 2021 - 12 Years a Slave discussion
October 26, 2021 - If Beale Street Could Talk
November 16, 2021 - Selma
January 25, 2022 - Do The Right Thing
February 22, 2022 - The Hate U Give
The five movies are to be viewed whenever you are able and discussed monthly. CLICK HERE for detailed flyer and registration - DEADLINE TO REGISTER is AUGUST 14
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Vital Conversations
Every fourth Monday of each month 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.
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.
Meeting ID: 817 9668 4439
Passcode: 292474
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Friends of the Conference Update
Greetings Friends!
First let me say thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Friends of the Conference! So many of you have shared stories of how your congregation moved from feelings of scarcity to generosity, and many of you have contributed financially! Thank you! We are officially 1/5th of the way to our ambitious goal for 2021 with slightly more than $6,000! Wow! That is amazing and should be applauded! With the more than 33,000 individuals that make up the Penn Northeast Conference, we made our goal $30,000 meaning each individual would only need to donate $1 for us to reach and surpass our goal! Whether you have donated before or this is your first time, I invite you to make a donation to the Friends of the Conference, so that the conference can keep doing all the amazing things they do! You can donate using our tithe.ly at https://pnec.org/tithe-ly-on-line-giving/ and designating your gift to Friends of PNEC or mail in a check payable to the Penn Northeast Conference. We are well on our way to reaching our goal, and every gift, even a dollar, makes a difference! -Rev. Becky Sausser
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SHOW UCC PRIDE
Once again, PNEC will have a booth at Lehigh Valley Pride on August 15th from Noon to 6pm - Jewish Community Center, Allentown. All congregations and friends are welcome to help staff the booth so we can all enjoy the day and still show our extravagant welcome to the LGBTQIA+ community. Contact Gary Barraco at 732-241-6635. Here is the link to register for the booth
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Invitation for clergy to participate Sunday, August 15 @ 10:30am
Greetings colleagues, Hope this finds you well in the midst of the summer season.
You are warmly invited to participate in-person at the Bethlehem Interfaith Group's Pre-Pride Interfaith Service on Sunday, August 15 @ 10:30am at the Jewish Community Center which is located at 702 North 22nd Street in Allentown, PA (18104). Rev. Brandan Robertson is preaching (you can learn more about Brandan here: https://www.brandanrobertson.com/). The service will be followed by the Pride Festival from Noon-6pm on the grounds of the JCC.
We hope to assign a speaking part to every participant, but depending on the number of clergy present, there may not be enough speaking parts for everyone. However, all clergy will be asked to serve as Blessers during the Pre-Pride Interfaith Service: there will be a portion of the service set aside for clergy to bless individuals, couples and families who want a blessing. You may use whatever wordage that is consistent with your faith tradition for the blessing. Also, feel free to forward this email to your colleagues.
To participate, the following is needed: Send an email to revbethgoudy@mcclv.info confirming that you will be present on Sunday, August 15 @ 10:30am. In the email list your name, your clergy title and your faith community affiliation exactly as you would like it publicly shared. You'll be kept informed about the details of the service. Lastly, all clergy participants are asked to stay after the service is completed so a few photos can be taken.
Thank you for considering being a part of the Pre-Pride Interfaith Service - I'm looking forward to hearing from you. Blessings, peace, good health,
Goudy (thanks for using my last name, rhymes with "howdy")
Elder, Metropolitan Community Churches; President, Bethlehem Interfaith Group;
Pastor, Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley
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Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
Identify. Understand. Respond.
Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches you how to help someone who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. The training helps you identify, understand and respond to signs of additions and mental illnesses.
Saturday, October 9, 2021
For Laity (non-clergy) Only
9:00AM - 4:00PM at Hope UCC, Wind Gap
(pending current Covid Style: Otherwise it will be online via Zoom)
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Registration is now open for Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders
to be held on October 11-15 and November 15-19, 2021. The two identical sessions will be held remotely via Zoom. This workshop is designed to help church leaders deal more effectively with interpersonal, congregational, and other forms of group conflict. For details consult this MSTI Brochure.
(Sponsored by the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center)
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Crossroads Courses this Fall
Crossroads is pleased to offer the following courses this Fall. All courses are offered in person at Moravian Theological Seminary and online, real time through Zoom. Registration and more information is available at www.moravianseminary.edu/crossroads. Contact Dr. Jill Peters at petersj2@moravian.edu with any questions.
Traditions
a look at world religions and other Protestant denominations
with the Rev. Dr. Bill Falla on Mondays from 6-9 pm, Sept 13-Nov 1, 2021
Creative Worship
with Rev. Maggie Wellert
explores what is worship and how we can bring new life to our worship experiences
Thursday 6-9 pm, Sept 9 - Oct 28, 2021
Unpacking the Scriptures - Discipleship
with Pam Weiss who leads the discipleship program at First Pres Allentown
gives us practical and creative ways to bring people together to explore their faith.
This is our Late Fall Course which meets twice a week (Mon and Thurs) from 11/4 until 12/2/2021
Looking ahead:
Missional Leadership, Mondays 1/3 - 2/21/2022 Dr. Jill Peters
Road Hazards (Congregational Ethics), Thurs 1/6 - 2/24/2022 Rev. Derek French & Dr. Jill Peters
Story of Christianity, Mondays 3/7 - 5/2/2022 (Except Holy Week 4/11) Rev. Dr. Bill Falla
My Journey (Formative Spirituality) Thursdays 3/10 - 5/5/2022 (Except Holy Week 4/14) Rev.
Maggie Wellert
Dr. Jill Peters, Missional Leadership Developer, Moravian Theological Seminary
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Information on federal relief resources for renters & landlords
Linked below are materials in English and Spanish for Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program and HUD’s Emergency Housing Voucher Program.
Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance Program
HUD Emergency Housing Voucher Program
(from the PA Council of Churches)
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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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Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising
Two courses open in 2021:
We’ve had great success and feedback on our online Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising course this year. It offers at-your-pace study through our learning management system, alongside weekly plenary and peer group zoom meetings. Each week you get to apply what you’re learning in your own context and have conversation partners to support you all along the way. There are two courses open this fall. One begins August 10 and the other opens September 21. There's still time for you to register for either one!
2022 Courses
In 2022 we will lead five online ECRF courses. These eight week courses include self-directed coursework in the learning platform, as well as a weekly large group session and smaller peer group calls. Courses will start in January, April, June, August and October.
We are offering the opportunity to apply for a half tuition scholarship. Please apply by October 4. We will notify recipients in early November.
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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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Clergy Clinic in
Family Emotional Process
A Leadership Training Program
sponsored by Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, Lombard, Illinois
October 25-27, 2021
February 14-16, 2022
May 2-4, 2022
OR
November 8-10, 2021
Marcy 7-9, 2022
May 23-25, 2022
This Clergy Clinic is designed to enhance the ability of participants to function as self-differentiated leaders within their own ministry setting. It will provide a safe forum for processing challenging situations in one's ministry, while also facilitating reflection on a way of thinking about the human condition which has implications for all aspects of life. Click Here for a detailed flyer and registration form. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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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DISASTER MINISTRIES UCC
July E-News from UCC Disaster Ministries... Click Here
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The US DHS DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships will present the webinar "Preventing Targeted Violence and Protecting the Safety and Security of Houses of Worship through Faith and Community Based Approaches in the US and in Europe" on August 17 from 2 - 3:15 PM ET. This webinar will highlight faith and community based approaches to ensure the safety of houses of worship in the US and in Europe. Register for Webinar
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Vaccine Resources: Faith & Community Leaders
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