Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
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Letter from Bonnie
Dear friends,
I was in conversation today about what our conference stands for, what its values are, and what stirs us to action. The conversation was a part of my peer group for my Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising course. It was interesting to share our values with the group. In case you haven’t thought about the conference core values lately, you can find them on our website. Our core values are: The faith that binds us to each other; Christian love; the diversity of God’s children; leadership, and clear and honest communication.
As I reflected on these values, there is one I think we missed: generosity. When I say generosity, I mean not just a generosity that is about money, although the conference certainly needs those gifts. I see generosity as a spiritual gift and discipline. When we read Galatians 5:22-23, we are reminded of the gifts of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (NRSV). To be generous in one’s spirit is to focus on positivity in relationships, in interactions, in understanding, as well as in offering gifts of time, talent, and treasure. To be generous is to give one another the benefit of the doubt in challenging situations and to really listen to the stories and experiences of others those with whom we agree, and most especially with those with whom we disagree.
One of the foci for my Lenten meditations this year, will be on adding generosity to my relationships and interactions, to my sharing of time, talent, treasure and to living into the spiritual gifts articulated in Galatians 5:22-23. I am sure I will fall short of this goal, of being generous at all times. Yet, generosity is a learned behavior as well as a gift of the spirit. Practicing generosity makes it much easier to focus on it in subsequent interactions.
What will you be focusing on in these days? What gifts of the spirit call to you and encourage you? I will strive to be more generous as I live my faith, do my work, and connect in relationships. That is my pledge to you, to myself and to God. May God bless me in this endeavor and pledge. Feel free to share your pledges for spiritual growth and development within your church, your workplace, and your family. I will pray they will be accomplished within you. Blessings, Bonnie
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SCAM ALERT
The scammers are now using texts like they were using emails in the name of clergy to get people to purchase gift cards and send money in other ways. The current text number comes from 610-600-7817. In the text they use your full title. Not sure how they are getting all the numbers to send texts to, but please be aware.
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Friends of the Conference
Dear Penn Northeast Conference Members, It feels like just yesterday we were decorating the Christmas tree and in the blink of an eye we are ready to begin our Lenten season! This year the United Church of Christ has issued a Lenten challenge, Pray, Fast, & Give! Only 3 months ago the Generosity Committee introduced the ‘Friends of the Conference,’ an opportunity to support the Conference and live generously! The support we have already received was amazing! Thank you so much to everyone who gave! As a way to thank our donors we are introducing Recognition Levels! Read More... ,
God Bless!
Rev. Rebecca Sausser, Generosity Committee Chair
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PNEC Offering Boundary Training
(on demand virtually - beginning as early as February 22, 2021)
The Penn Northeast Conference of the United Church of Christ, in partnership with the Lehigh Presbytery, the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference, the Moravian Church Northern Province, and the Northeast Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is pleased to offer this virtual Ministerial Boundary Training. Once registered the individual participants can work at their own pace to complete the five modules. Here are specifics about the course content. Click Here for Details & Registration Info.
Registration Opens January 21 and Closes on February 11 - payment must be received.
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Summary Notes of Penn Northeast Conference Board meeting
January 21, 2021
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Worship Resources
shared by Rev. Jessica L. Hainley, Quentin UCC
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Social Justice/Lecture Series
Each Saturday in February 2021
Sponsored by Dille Parish UCC, LeRaysville
on February 6 from Noon to 1:30PM
What is Social Justice/Injustice? - with Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates
call in (audio only) 1-872-240-8956,,880197884# United States, Chicago
Phone Conference ID: 880 197-884#
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Clergy CE Workshop on QAnon/Cultic Groups
March 3, 2021 - 10AM to Noon
via Zoom
Presenter: Rev. Heather Hunnicutt, LPCMA,MTS
Pastor of Salem UCC, Pocono Pines
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Staying Grounded in the Storm
Thursdays, February 18 & 25, March 4 & 11
9:30-11:30 Central Time - Live Online
At some point, most of us have made plans based on a forecast. Whether it was an outdoor wedding, a sporting event, or a child’s birthday party, the chance of bad weather was probably one of our biggest considerations. It’s never been easier—thanks to the phones in our pockets—to know how likely rain is a week from now and to plan accordingly.
If only the rest of life, especially the figurative storms that come our way, was just as predictable. But that’s not the way reality works, is it?
A lot of us spent last year in what felt like a cycle of frustration and heartache. From a pandemic that seems to keep getting worse to electoral chaos unlike anything we’ve ever witnessed, each month has felt like another wave crashing against the shore of our lives.
Because of that, we have an upcoming course you’re not going to want to miss. It’s called Staying Grounded in the Storm, and it’s designed to help you build resilience, hope, and even gratitude in the midst of difficulty. We think you’re going to love it!
Click the link below for all the details and a chance to sign-up. This course couldn’t be more timely.
Luther Seminary's Faith + Lead Team
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New Communities of Practice Added....
Community of Practice
for Authorized Ministers
PNEC Communities of Practice Are accepting participants. Cost is $250 for the year. Counts for ½ of
your continuing education hours. You can apply to the Longsdorf Fund for continuing education funds.
See below for openings:
Topic: Retirees Group, Facilitator: Rev. Steve Englehardt
Topic: Newly Called Ministers and MIDs Facilitator: Rev. James Robison
Topic: Engaging the World Thru Faith Practices/General Ministry, Facilitator: Rev. Jeff Brinks
Topic: Spiritual Disciplines, Facilitator: Rev. Al Bastin
Topic: Family Systems - Facilitator: Rev. Heather Kurtz
Topic: Theological Study Facilitator: Rev. David Quinn - Our group currently consists of Teresa Martin and Dave Quinn. We meet monthly (ZOOM, for now) for sharing and support. As part of our meeting, we discuss some book that has been chosen and read by the group members. New members are most welcome!
Topic: Variety of Ministry Topics Facilitator: Rev. Jane Hess
Topic: Solo & Sr. Pastors of Larger Churches & General Ministry Facilitator: Rev. David Charles Smith
Topic: Multiple Church Pastors Facilitator: Rev. David Charles Smith
Topic: Church Legacy & Decline Facilitator: Rev. Jane Hess
If interested in any of these topics, please click here for the application and send to Patty at the Conference Office (pattyr@pnec.org or send to 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
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Register now: Penn Central Ministerial Excellence Forum
February 16, 2021
You are invited to register for a monthly "Ministerial Excellence Forum" hosted by the Penn Central Conference on the third Thursday at one of two time slots: 10:00a-12:00 and 6:00p-8:00p.
Feb. 16: Pastoring Challenging Parishioners: A Mental and Relational Health Perspective
Pastors know the dear ones in our congregations who are beloved yet bristly; loveable and frustrating at the same; and sometimes just a perennial thorn in our sides. We may struggle how to be in relationship with these dear ones, while not allowing their bristle to push us or others away. This two-hour workshop will present a compassionate framing for how to understand these folks and relate most effectively with them in effective pastoral ways. (Qualifies for Boundary Training.)
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Introducing Stations of the Cross: Pandemic Hope
One of our former CPE students at Phoebe, Mary Button, is an incredible liturgical artist. Each year she puts together a series of prayer cards for Lent which focus on the stations of the cross and what’s happening in our world as well. This year as you can imagine all of the drawings have to do with our struggle and resilience in the midst of this pandemic. Some are very much connected to our experiences here at Phoebe. I think you could easily use these cards or prints as a way to do groups or worship during Lent this year. You can also use them for your own reflection and journaling. It could easily be a way for all of us to reflect on the trauma and hope we have experienced in this year. She weaves them together with Emily Dickinson’s poem about hope. See her email with the links to order attached.
-Scott Brooks-Cope
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Resources from Spirituality of Generosity training available
The Pennsylvania Southeast, Penn Northeast, and Penn Central conferences co-hosted a seminar on the Spirituality of Generosity. The follow resources were shared and referenced during that webinar:
Resources
Congregational Economic Evaluation Survey (CEE Survey) -- The Wisconsin Conference, Pension Boards, and the Center for Analytics, Research and Development and Data (CARDD) developed a Congregational Economic Evaluation Tool to help leaders understand their congregations better. Use the results to spark reflection among your leadership team - surveymonkey.com/r/HFCLWM3
Generous Preaching Sermon Starters
General
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Family/Church Boundaries training event next month
Sponsored by Pennsylvania Southeast Conference
An Advanced Boundary Training on Family/ Church Boundaries will be held March 11 from 9:00a-12:00p. Sometimes pastors and their families feel like they live in a glass house. Sometimes a spouse and/or children feel imposed upon. Sometimes the lines of being part of the same community as the church make it challenging for the pastor’s family. During this training we will consider ways to be mindful of maintaining boundaries as a clergy family. We will look at a couple of cases and then use the collective wisdom of the group to consider healthy ways to navigate those situations with faithfulness and good boundaries. Click here to register. The fee is $20. Additional advanced boundary trainings will be offered later in the year.
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Cultivating Generous Congregations - for Pastors and Lay Leaders
UCC Stewardship Course in partnership with the Lake Institute
We’ll meet for six online sessions over the course of the spring: 6:30pm to 8:00pm EST on Tuesdays—Feb. 9, Feb. 23, Mar. 9, Mar. 23, Apr. 13, and Apr. 27, 2021.
Stewardship in any season can be stressful for pastors. It can feel awkward—“I’m asking people to pay me!” It can feel unspiritual—“Jesus chased the money changes out of the temple!”
The Cultivating Generous Congregations Seminar for pastors and lay leaders offers an opportunity to explore faithful, practical, and tested ways to promoting generosity in our congregations. We will draw on current research, seek guidance from the wisdom of scripture, and discuss the best practices in church-based fundraising.
The seminar will improve the “bottom line” of your congregation. But I want to be clear that this bottom line is about more than money. Mission and ministry remain the real bottom line of our work. This seminar will help pastors and leaders engage generosity as a spiritual practice.
Please sign up now for the Cultivating Generous Congregations Seminar this spring. The program will be taught by the Rev. Andy DeBraber, Generosity Officer of the national setting, and myself, Andrew Warner, Generosity Outreach Officer. Between class sessions, Andy and Andrew will provide materials to help you analyze the culture of your own congregation and learn how to create change. By the end of the seminar, pastors and leaders will be equipped to lead effective fundraising and you will have a strategy to guide your success moving forward.
Be sure to recruit at least a team of two for this program. Changing the culture of your congregation requires more than one dedicated leader. Success depends on engaging a team of leaders from your congregation.
Register today: The CGC Seminar is $150 per participant. Register here by January 15, 2021: https://cvent.me/87ywNA.
Yours in Faith, Andrew Warner, Generosity Outreach Officer, United Church of Christ
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UCC Webinar—Evangelical Christianity and the Climate Crisis
With its size and its collective power, evangelical Christianity has had a significant presence in the political, cultural, and religious landscape of the United States. As such, it becomes critically important to understand evangelical Christianity today in relationship to the climate crisis. February’s Creation Justice Webinar will feature a panel of speakers who will help us develop this understanding. The speakers will include Dr. Robin Veldman who has authored "The Gospel of Climate Skepticism: Why Evangelical Christians Oppose Action on Climate Change" along with the Rev. Kyle Meyaard-Schaap from the Evangelical Environmental Network and Emily Robertson from Young Evangelicals for Climate Action. Even if you can't make the webinar’s scheduled time on Wednesday, February 10th at 1 pm ET, still sign-up, and we will send you a recording of it. Sign-up now for the webinar!
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An Introduction to the Non-Profit Security Grant Program for
Faith-Based Organizations
Please join us for an introduction to the NSGP. This webinar is intended for the whole faith-based community, and specifically for those organizations that have never applied for the NSGP or that have limited experience doing so. The webinar is designed to provide a basic introduction and overview of the NSGP and what is required to apply.
Thursday, February 11,2021 - 3PM EST
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Keystone Disaster Spiritual Care Network
We recognize that spiritual perspectives can be a source of strength in difficult times. Read More...
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'Supported Decision-Making: A Practical Alternative to Guardianship'
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
7 PM – 8:30 PM EST
Price: Free
Public · Anyone on or off Facebook
Join JFS and the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living (LVCIL) for a presentation about Supported Decision Making (SDM). SDM is a viable alternative to guardianship for young adults with intellectual and physical disabilities.
Presenters from SDM New York will talk about the process of bringing Supported Decision Making to their community and how SDM empowers the lives of young adults with intellectual and physical disabilities to live more independent lives.
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UCC History & Polity Course
Fridays on Zoom
February 12 - March 26, 2021
2 to 5PM -- Cost $100
Brought to you by Penn Central Conference and Lancaster Theological Seminary
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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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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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Educating for a Thriving Bivocational Ministry
Lancaster Seminary is "Educating for a Thriving Bivocational Ministry" this year and in years to come. through a grant-funded project of that name, we are exploring new ways to equip persons for ministerial leadership in a changing landscape.
Bivocational ministry can mean many different things. For a helpful discussion, see my newly published article, featured at http://ethicsconsidered.com.
Through the Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry (PAM) at Lancaster Seminary, we can offer a variety of continuing education opportunities related to bivocational ministry. If you are interested in PNEC offering a continuing ed. opportunity, please email Bonnie at the Conference Office. bonnieb@pnec.org
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Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders
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. Register now for one of these six sessions of our popular and practical Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders 2021: March 1-5, May 3-7, June 21-25, August 2-6, October 11-15, or November 15-19, 2021. The “early bird” rate is $695. Currently we plan to conduct this event online via Zoom. NOTE: After December 2020, online registration will no longer be available via Brown Paper Tickets. To register or to learn more, contact the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center at 630-627-0507 or Admin@LMPeaceCenter.org. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUCE E-NEWS 50th Anniversary Friends Edition (January 2021)
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Ash Wednesday Helpful Suggestions During Pandemic
Rev. Lynne Mikulak, MDiv, MSW
ACPE Certified Educator/APC Board Certified Chaplain, Manager of CPE, St. Luke’s University Health Network, Pastoral Care Dept.
We are in conversation with Infection Control and are thinking of using Q-tips, disposing after each imposition of course, and while wearing gloves. This would limit PPE use and would be safe/hygienic.
Q-tips might not be very liturgical, but we think it is more important to be as creative and connective as possible and do our best to provide this important ritual for so many people. All best, Lynne
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FaithNet, an information resource from National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
This is a program for congregations of all faith traditions to help and understand mental health diagnosis. Click here for more information. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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DISASTER MINISTRIES UCC
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Attached are a couple of items from the national legal team (through the New York Conference).
- 2021 Paycheck Protection Program
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
- Families First Coronavirus Response Act
- Employee Retention Credits
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First Lady Frances Wolf announced One Lens: Sharing Our Common Views, a statewide virtual photo exhibit celebrating Pennsylvania’s resilience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The exhibit will celebrate the hard work and commitment of all Pennsylvanians in the fight against COVID-19. You are invited to share your photographs of your experiences during COVID-19. The exhibit covers three themes:
- Our Heroes, paying homage to the pandemic heroes who cannot stay home;
- Our Lives, looking at how we spend our time when no one is watching; and
- Our Communities, showcasing Pennsylvanians uniting in the face of a global health crisis.
The photo submission period will open on Monday, February 8, 2021 and remain open until Monday, March 8, 2021. The full exhibit will be released on Friday, March 19, 2021. Read more.
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PA DHS has announced that a vendor has been selected for the Resource Information and Services Enterprise – RISE PA. When this tool if implemented, anyone in Pennsylvania will be able to find information about services and resources, and self-refer to participating social services agencies. RISE PA will allow participating providers from local non-profits, health care organizations, local government and faith-based organizations to work together and coordinate care, making it easier for families and individuals to access the help they need. You may access the press release which provides additional information by visiting: https://www.media.pa.gov/pages/dhs_details.aspx?newsid=645
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In their effort to continually provide needed resources that are focused on safety, security, and preparedness, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is happy to announce the release of the CISA Houses of Worship Security Self-Assessment Tool . This new resource provides churches with an easy to use assessment tool that produces a formatted report with resources which can be used to identify and address a church’s security concerns. This tool along with other resources is located on the Faith Based Organization-Houses of Worship (FBO-HOW) resource page . This webpage provides a single point of entry to CISA guidance and resources designed to inform security-based decisions. This continually updated page includes assessments, trainings, planning, exercises, and other materials focused on the mitigation of a wide range of manmade threats (e.g., bombing, active shooter, vehicle ramming) that could be used against churches. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program
Governor Tom Wolf has announced the availability of $5 million in funding for security enhancement projects for nonprofit organizations serving diverse communities throughout the commonwealth. The Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program issues grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that principally serve individuals, groups or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for single bias hate crime incidents as identified by the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics publication . Applicants are eligible for security enhancements designed to protect the safety and security of the users of a facility located in the commonwealth that is owned or operated by the nonprofit organization. “These grants will continue to help our many nonprofits address security needs and any safety concerns that exist for religious, social and other nonprofit organizations across the commonwealth,” Gov. Wolf said. Learn more.
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COVID-19 Alert App - By downloading COVID Alert PA, you can get a notification if you have been in close contact with someone who later tests positive for COVID-19, or anonymously notify other residents if you yourself test positive. The app is a free and voluntary mobile app developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health in partnership with NearForm, University of Pennsylvania, and MIT Lincoln Laboratory using Apple and Google’s Exposure Notification System.
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Ready PA Monthly
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