Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
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Letter from Bonnie
For some reason, for the last few days, the words of a Dan Schutte song have been running through my head:
Sing a New Song by Dan Schutte
“Sing a new song unto the Lord;
Let your song be sung from mountains high.
Sing a new song unto the Lord;
Singing alleluia.
Yahweh's people dance for joy.
O come before the Lord”[1]
Maybe it is because we are heading, we pray, out of the pandemic. Maybe it is because worshiping communities are beginning to sing – with masks to be safe – but singing, nonetheless. Maybe it is because music has always been such an important part of my life, in worship and church, and outside worship and church.
I started singing solos in school in the third grade. I sang all through school, in school choirs, as a soloist, in county, state and national choirs. I competed as a singer, sang in church, led singing groups in churches I served. Music has been an essential part of my life – and music still calms me, comforts me, invigorates me in all phases of my life.
Yet, the words of this particular song remind me that we are called to do new things in the world, to do new things and to sing about them. Sometimes it is hard to see the way forward during difficult and challenging times. Sometimes it is hard to see the way forward in good times as well. God is always calling us forward, into the future, on our journey of faith. We are called to move into God’s embrace, help create in the world a place of love and grace, of forgiveness and justice.
That is not always easy to do. We like our comfortable places in the world and moving forward into new or strange places, into uncertainty and discomfort is a challenge for almost all of us. Schutte wrote “Yahweh’s people dance for joy; O come before the Lord.” Wouldn’t it be interesting to dance for joy as we face the days ahead? Even the challenges might not be so daunting if we danced toward them. My friends, let us commit ourselves to come before the Lord with joy in our hearts and dancing feet. Let us sing a new song, rejuvenated song, an energized song before our God.
Blessings, Bonnie
[1] https://genius.com/Dan-schutte-sing-a-new-song-lyrics
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Friend of the Conference
Howdy Penn Northeast Conference,
I hope this finds you in good health and good spirits! July 4th is quickly approaching and with the increased number of vaccinated people that means many of us can come together again safely, sharing in food and fellowship with friends and family!
On July 4th we commemorate the Declaration of Independence, a document stating that all persons are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In considering these unalienable rights, I am reminded that in our independence, we are also interdependent with one another!
The Penn Northeast Conference is made up of roughly 33,000 individuals, each working together to do God’s Work and Be the Church! These independent individuals are also interdependent with one another, as 1 Corinthians 12:12 tells us, “Just as the body is one and has many members… so it is with Christ!”
One way to support the ministry of the Body of Christ in the Penn Northeast Conference is to become a Friend of the Conference! These donations go to support the many ministries of the Conference. As a thank you for your donation, we will send you a Recognition Level Gift! I would encourage you to celebrate your independence by supporting the interdependence of the Body of Christ! You can give online using the Conference’s tithe.ly mail in a donation, or email the Conference for more giving options.
- Rev. Becky Sausser, Chair of the Generosity Team
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Video made for the PA Council of Churches About Getting Vaccinated
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General Synod Workshops
A number of workshops (50) are being offered from Wednesday July 7 – Saturday July 10. If you register for General Synod these workshops are free. If you have not registered for General Synod but would like to attend the workshops, please use this link Meet.ucc to register.
Several folks have asked about pastoral continuing education for these workshops. All the workshops will count as continuing education. If you want credit for Cultural Competency or Anti-Racism training, a minimum of three hours of training and a short summary paper submitted to the conference will be required. I have listed the workshops which would qualify for either of these categories.
Cultural Competency
Extravagant Welcome at God’s Table Wed, July 7 1-2 pm EDT
Beyond Binary Wed, July 7 4-5 pm EDT
Welcoming Transgender Persons Thurs, July 8 1-2 pm EDT
Multiple Religious Belonging Fri, July 9 4-5pm EDT
Multicultural Interfaith Couples Sat, 4-5 pm EDT
Anti-Racism
Community Safety for All Wed., July 7 2-3 pm EDT
Decolonizing Faith Thurs, July 8 4-5 pm EDT
Intersections of Racial Justice Sat, July 10 2-3 pm EDT
Ecumenical Responses to Racial Injustice Sat, July 10 3-4 pm EDT
Reparations: Concrete Steps Sat, July 10 5-6 pm EDT
We hope you will take advantage of any workshops which interest you. Blessings, Bonnie
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UCC Cornerstone Fund Launching a New Program
Creation Care Investment and Loan Program
The UCC Cornerstone Fund has already raised over $2Million in investments from our Founding Investors who include the National Setting and United Church Funds, as well as the Wisconsin Conference, and CHHSM. Penn Northeast Conference is invited to join in becoming founding investors. We are targeting initially raising $3Million in investments. The loan program will provide low cost loans to help churches reduce their carbon footprint/lessen their environmental impact and improve overall operating efficiency in the process. Read More...
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Special Report: The UCC 3 Great Loves Initiative
Contributed by Rev. Dave Sigmund, 3 Great Loves Ambassador, and Rev. Kim Whisler-Vasko,
3 Great Loves Coordinator
3 Great Loves launched at General Synod in Baltimore in 2017 as a way to engage our
denomination in a shared response to our newly crafted Purpose, Mission, and Vision
statements. 3 Great Loves has been us, collectively, as a united church, putting “hands and
feet” to those statements. Living out our love for God, and living and giving Christ’s love, and
seeking to make a just world for all through the lens of 3 Great Loves: Love of Neighbor, Love of
Children, and Love of Creation. And 3 Great Loves shared the stories of how all of us are living
out that love, God’s love, in missional, measurable, and meaningful ways. Read More...
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A New Day Dawning: Leading the Church Toward the Light
FREE Webinar - Thursday, July 1 from 7 to 10PM
How has the Church made it this far? What are the current realities we church people need to know? Want some ideas for how to move forward? Looking for foundational, biblical hope for the future?
Featuring presentations by Lancaster Seminary faculty. We'll also have time to begin important conversations! Register here
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ONA NEWS: National ONA Sunday June 27, Spring T-Shirt Sale
Articles included:
National Open and Affirming Sunday Worship Resources; Last Chance to Buy 'Thrive' T-Shirts; Rural Pride; UCC Mental Health Network is Now ONA, Decision Day on LGBTQ & Adoption Rights;
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Vital Conversations
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. Every fourth Monday of each month (starting June 28th 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.
Meeting ID: 817 9668 4439
Passcode: 292474
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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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UCC News Digest: Turning Swords into Plowshares
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UCCMA Journal Worship, Music & Ministry — Digital Premier!
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You're Invited...Phoebe Golf Tournament
August 9, 2021 - Saucon Valley Country Club
Registration closes on June 30
ladies, men and mixed foursomes are welcome at this scramble format tournament.
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Ready-To-Stream Worship Kit
Summer Edition
In this time of in-person and online worship, Phillips Theological Seminary offers churches a vacation from creating and preparing their weekly worship service. Phillips has created a second, complete digital worship service as a summer gift to pastors and congregational leaders.
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Black Lives Matter and coronavirus worship resources
A year after the murder of George Floyd, a new booklet of praise songs and protests has been published by the United Reformed Church. Sunflowers & Thistles is a collection of songs written by URC minister and hymn writer the Rev. John Campbell, and focuses on the Black Lives Matter movement and the coronavirus pandemic. The free online resources include the booklet of songs, which can be sung to the tunes of well-known hymns, PowerPoint presentations, and videos.
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Stewardship Theme Materials Now Available
We would like to share with you a sample of the new Stewardship Theme Materials now available at UCCresources.com. The materials use the same theme as General Synod - Rooted in Love (see sample graphic). This means that all the inspiring worship resources created for General Synod can also be used in Stewardship campaigns this fall. The materials include several important improvements this year.
- Much of the content came from pastors and leaders across the country such as the attached bulletin insert from Rev. Alex Shea Will.
- My colleagues at national wrote new material explaining how to be more effective with email communication and social media in support of a stewardship campaign.
- We created coloring pages that tell the story of OCWM Basic Support at the conference and national level (sample attached).
In other words: local church voices, effective communication strategies, and a bit of fun.
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The Latest research, resources, and reflections from Faith+Leaders like you
- Are Digital Communities Church?
- Faith Communities Celebrating Juneteenth and Pride
- Creating a Culture of Generosity (E-Book)
- Lord of the Dance: Ballet as Spiritual Practice
- What I'm Reading Now: United States of Grace
- Join us on Wednesdays in July for
- "Mere Science and Christian Faith"
- Wednesdays, July 7 - 28 | 1:00 - 2:00 pm CDT
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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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"The Minister’s Job-Hunting Field Guide: Bivocational and Beyond"
Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry (PAM)
Tuesdays, 6:30–8pm EDT
July 6–August 10, 2021, via Zoom
$100 per participant registered by July 1.
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Wednesdays In The Word -- Identity Crisis - I AM
Wednesdays - (through July 7, 2021) - 1:00-1:30; 7:00-7:30 Weekly
On-Line with the Women of Dille Parish, LeRaysville -- (570) 744-1637
To remind us of what Jesus said about Himself, what prompted it, and how understanding this might be a blessing.
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Special Edition General Synod
From July 11 – 18, 2021
Special Edition General Synod, will include powerful worship, not-to-miss keynote speakers, 50 workshops, youth programming and business sessions. Because it is 100% online, General Synod makes it possible for anyone to attend. Our conference and congregation are participating in the first-ever Congregational Challenge – a friendly competition designed to encourage participation and bring bragging rights home to this conference. Your attendance will allow you to access information and educational resources that will help this congregation in leadership, growth, and giving. General Synod only costs $100 for adult lay members (non-delegates) to attend! Register today at www.generalsynod.org
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Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders (2021)
August 2-6, Oct. 11-15, or Nov. 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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DISASTER MINISTRIES UCC
The Red Cross is offering 🆓 youth disaster preparedness presentations for elementary-aged students. They are designed to help participants understand, prepare for and respond appropriately to emergencies through engaging and age-appropriate curriculum. To schedule a 🆓 presentation, please contact rebecca.gaidrich2@redcross.org .
++ Prepare with Pedro K–2nd Grade A 30–45 min preparedness program for students that follows Pedro the Penguin and his friends as they learn how to be prepared and take action during an emergency.
++ The Pillowcase Project 3rd–5th Grade A 40–60 min presentation that covers local hazards, coping skills and personal and family preparedness through a “Learn, Practice, Share” framework.
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UCC seeks gifts for partners where COVID is far from over
But elsewhere, “the pandemic is far from over,” said the Rev. Josh Baird. He leads the United Church of Christ’s Global H.O.P.E. team, which wants to raise $150,000 to help partners respond to the ongoing crisis.
To that end, the UCC issued a special “COVID-specific relief” appeal May 26. Details are here.
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From FEMA - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Private Nonprofit Organizations
All 50 states, the District of Columbia, five territories, and numerous tribes are working directly with FEMA on a nationwide emergency declaration for COVID-19. Under this emergency declaration, and subsequent major disaster declarations, certain private non-profit (PNP) organizations are eligible to apply for funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance program. This fact sheet provides guidance for determining the eligibility of PNP applicants and work performed in accordance with the COVID-19 emergency and major disaster declarations.
PNP Applicant Eligibility
To be eligible for Public Assistance, a PNP applicant must show that it has:
- A ruling letter from the Internal Revenue Service granting tax exemption under sections 501(c), (d), or (e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954; or
- Documentation from the state substantiating that the non-revenue producing organization or entity is a nonprofit entity organized or doing business under state law.
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