Bonnie's Letter

“So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.”  Matthew 5:23-24

Dear Friends,

As I contemplate the resurrection season of our Christian calendar and contrast it with the world, I wonder where the hate comes from – where the violence is birthed. 11,500 people died so far in 2023 from gun violence.

This week we held a Cultural Competency Training on “Repenting of the Unforgiveable” & “Beyond Lament: Movement Towards Repair” which focused on the American Indian Boarding Schools history in our nation, the abuse of native peoples, children torn from their families and indoctrinated to abandon their heritage and assimilate. Many of us asked how we begin to talk with our congregations about difficult justice, racial, economic, and theological issues. How do we begin? My response was that we begin with the most difficult conversations, the most challenging topics, and open our hearts, minds, and spirits to discuss these topics – to move into the most difficult places first.

So, again my question, where does the hate come from? Where is the violence birthed?

It seems, we have forgotten how to talk together, how to wrestle topics together, how to listen to one another, rather than simply speak. We do not engage in dialogs. Rather we engage in diatribes. We shout at the top of our lungs the opinion that we hold – without acknowledging that someone else’s opinions might also be true and be deserving of our attention. Hate comes from denying the humanity of another, the importance of another. Hate is the evil that permeates our world. Yet, our response to hate can be repentance, fear, pain, and sorrow. Feeling hate or anger doesn’t mean we have to be violent.

Violence as a response injures us all – not just the 11,500 people who were killed through gun violence and their families; not just the 91,000 victims of domestic violence; not just the more than 618,000 children who suffered abuse. Violence injures us all. Our culture does not always encourage peace and reconciliation. Rather we respond with anger, frustration, avoidance, and even violence.

And we come to church, professing to be followers of Jesus, and not changing, not working to change or transform, and perhaps not even lamenting at the state of the community and the world. Jim Bear Jacobs, our presenter at the training I mentioned, reminded us that we need to encounter the lament and the pain and live into that lament. We do not get to feel innocent of the pain and the actions done on our behalf, in the name of the church, or in the name of Jesus. We do not get to forget our history, our inactions, or our ignorance. Once we have spent time in lament and the recognition of our failings and failures, we can then move into actions.

So, if we have not lamented the violence done in our midst, the hate expressed in our midst, we are not yet ready to act. But if we have lamented, if we have learned about violence, and if we have sought to understand the roots of the hate, we can begin to act. My friends, take this season of time to lament the actions which bring about violence and hate. And then ACT. Prayer and reflection are important, but they are not actions.

I will reflect and lament. I hope you will join me in doing so. Then I hope we will be prepared to act. 

Blessings, Bonnie

Ceremony for Retired PNEC Clergy

On April 11, Conference Minister Bonnie Bates presented Anniversary of Ordination Plaques to:

• Rev. Russell Heintzelman, celebrating 65 years of ordained ministry
• Rev. Edgar Roosa, 60 years
• Rev. John Hoff, 50 years
• Rev. Donald Snyder, 50 years

Click Here to View Photos

Our thanks to Phoebe Ministries for hosting the event, supplying refreshments, and providing extravagant hospitality.

Call to the 2023 Spring Meeting of PNEC

 Saturday, April 29, 2023

In Person or Virtual

St. Thomas United Church of Christ, 902 East Macada Road, Bethlehem, PA

Theme... Health, Renewal, Restoration

 Scripture

          “…be transformed from the inside out by renewing

             your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern

                what God wills and whatever God finds good,

                    pleasing, and complete.”  Romans 12:1-2

 Keynoter:      Rev. Cindy Garis August; Senior Pastor at Colonial Park UCC, Harrisburg

Click Here for Registration Form OR

register online with Tithe.ly at: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/6786464

Moravian Theological Seminary

Moravian Theological Seminary is hosting an information session entitled Meet MTS: Spiritual Direction on Monday, April 17th, at 6 PM via Zoom. This session will focus on MTS's Spiritual Direction and Formative Spirituality certificate programs and cover program details, the application process, tuition, and more. There will be plenty of time to ask questions as well. To Register Click Here

Register here for Third Tuesday Talks held on April 18, 2023 at 7:00pm ET, where Lancaster and Moravian Theological Seminary alumni will discuss navigating seminary and what comes afterward.

Pennsylvania Council of Churches

Community Summit on Policing

May 10, 2023 - 5:30PM

Harrisburg High School, 2451 Market St., Harrisburg, PA

Keynote Speaker - Paul Butler, Criminal Justice Professor at Georgetown School of Law and frequent legal contributor to MSNBC; Author of Chokehold

In addition to Professor Butler, they are also inviting Governor Josh Shapiro to join for opening remarks.

Click Here for detailed fliers

2023 Lancaster Climate Summit

The 2023 Lancaster Climate Summit is taking place on Earth Day, April 22, 2023 and is for anyone that can attend-near or far. Please see the attached flyer and share with your contacts and share with those you know would be interested in attending.

It is free and there is no registration. The programs and workshops are excellent and will cover a wide variety of issue impacting climate.

Please attend if you can and bring others to the table on this important issues. Thank you.

Sincerely,

B. David Smith, Crossroads and Connections: Building Relationships and Community

717-371-1516

Ecumenical Advocacy Day

Join UCC staff and advocates at Ecumenical Advocacy Days 2023, a virtual conference to worship, educate, and advocate for the innovative and courageous policies needed to realize the prophet Micah’s vision: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”

The conference this year will again be virtual, and will start with worship at 10am ET on Tuesday, April 25. All worship, plenaries, and workshops will be recorded for later viewing.

Registration is $50 and scholarships are available. Register today!!

UCC Webinar

This online event will take place on Saturday, April 22nd at 11 am ET. The theme is “What’s Possible?: Earth Day Stories of Hope.” This two and a half hour summit will feature a keynote from the Rev. Jim Antal, a panel of inspiring speakers, the presentation of the Dollie Burwell Prophetic Action Award, and a video showcasing the uplifting story of Mayflower UCC in Minneapolis. Even if you cannot make the event at its scheduled time, still sign-up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it. Register now!

[Hyperlink: https://UCC.zoom.us/webinar/register/2016629471927/WN_cynbWmViR8ui7WLu_zgkDQ

ROBERT K. CAMPBELL MEMORIAL LECTURE SERIES ON CHRISTIAN UNITY FEATURING SISTER JOAN CHITTISTER

April 20 from 6:30 to 9PM (doors open at 6:30PM - Lecture at 7PM)

University Center at DeSales University, 2755 Station Ave., Center Valley

Join us for The Lehigh Conference of Churches’ Robert K. Campbell Memorial Lecture Thursday, April 20, featuring Sister Joan Chittister.

Joan Chittister is one of our most influential religious and social leaders. For over 50 years she has passionately advocated for peace, human rights, women’s issues, and monastic and church renewal. A much sought-after international speaker, she is also a best-selling author of more than 60 books, hundreds of articles, and an online column for the National Catholic Reporter. She has served as president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and president of the Conference of American Benedictine Prioresses. For 12 years, she was prioress of her community, the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Pennsylvania. Sister Joan is the executive director of Benetvision, a resource and research center for contemporary spirituality, and animator of the online movement, Monasteries of the Heart. She holds a doctorate in communications from Penn State University.

On Thursday evening, April 20th, at 7:00 p.m., at DeSales University, we invite interested individuals to join Sister Joan’s lecture

Register for Campbell Lecture, Register Today

Sponsorships available for the 25th Anniversary CPE Event at Phoebe

Dear Friends of Phoebe,

The Clinical Pastoral Education program at Phoebe Ministries is designed to offer clergy, seminary students, and qualified community members of all faiths the opportunity to practice ministry to senior adults in a variety of settings under supervision. This program has been accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education since 1998. To date we have trained over 200 students who now serve in various pastoral roles and ministries.

On June 15, Phoebe will celebrate the 25^th Anniversary of our CPE program with current students, alumni, staff, generous donors and members of the community. Click Here for Flyer. The Reverend Naomi Washington-Leapheart, currently Director of Faith-Based and Interfaith Affairs for the city of Philadelphia will be speaking at the event. She is a graduate of Lancaster Seminary and an ordained UCC minister. The event will take place at the Lehigh Country Club, at 2319 S Cedar Crest Blvd, Allentown, PA 18103. 

If your church, business or organization would like to be a sponsor for the event, I’m attaching a form which explains the various levels that you can sponsor at. Our UCC Churches, Associations and Conferences and Phoebe have been partners in preparing people for ministry for many years. Your support of this significant milestone in our history will help the CPE endowment fund as well as make this event possible. Our CPE endowment at Phoebe now ensures that any student wanting to do CPE with us, can do so regardless of their ability to pay. 

Here is the link to the sponsorship page on our website: https://phoebe.org/cpe-25-years-sponsorship-form/ If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to be in contact with me. Peace, Scott

Scott Brooks-Cope, D. Min.

Regional Director, Pastoral Care and Education

Phoebe Ministries, 1925 Turner Street | Allentown, PA 18104

Chaplain in the Park Opportunity

Do you love the outdoors? Do you enjoy worshipping surrounded by God’s beautiful creation? Consider becoming a campground minister this summer at Locust Lake State Park!

Every summer, chaplains lead Sunday worship in many Pennsylvania State Parks through the Campground Ministry program of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches. Chaplains can be but need not be ordained ministers. Duties include the worship service as well as visiting campsites to lend a listening ear and invite campers to worship.

Wonderful ministry comes out of this ministry! If you are interested, you can learn more and apply here: https://pachurches.org/ministries/campground-ministry/

You can also contact Rev. Maureen Duffy- Guy for more information: mduffyguy@hotmail.com or text her at 717 619-8337.

Disaster Ministries

The Pension Boards joins with United Church of Christ leaders in prayer for communities in mourning for the 50,000 people killed in the devastating earthquake on the border of Turkey and Syria in February. The UCC has issued an appeal to assist those affected in the region. Please support this response with your gifts and designate International Emergency on this donation page

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March ReadyPA Monthly available online now

This month's PA Emergency Management Agency's ReadyPA Monthly includes info on flooding and flood plans. Click here for the newsletter. Please share this information with your congregations to help keep everyone safe and prepared.