Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
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Letter from Bonnie
Dear Friends, This week is a mix of emotions – from the triumphant entry into Jerusalem to chanting crowds and waving palms, to the preparation of Judas to betray Jesus, to the washing of the disciples’ feet in humility, to the sharing of a Passover Feast which concludes with sharing the communion of bread and cup, to the arrest and scourging of Jesus, to the crucifixion and death of Jesus followed by his burial in a borrowed tomb…and then the waiting….through the night on Friday, through the day and night on Saturday and to the dawning of Sunday morning and the empty tomb.
We wait too. We wait for a return to some sort of normalcy in our nation, to a return of compassion and dialogue rather than diatribes, to a return of hope for peace…
And yet, as people of the Resurrection, as followers of Jesus, we know that Easter morning comes, that Jesus lives. Maya Angelou wrote a poem entitled, “Still I Rise.” Some of the words speak to the hope and energy in rising up in spite of the challenges and the hate.
“You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise…
Out of the huts of history's shame, I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain, I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear, I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear, I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise, I rise, I rise.”
Jesus, too, promised to rise and on Easter Sunday, Resurrection Day, he does, leaving the tomb empty and providing hope for all that is yet to come. Jesus promised to rise, and he appears to the disciples and to many others in the days following the Resurrection. He continues to teach and preach and heal and equip the disciples to keep up his work – to let the people know the Good News of a God that accepts them, forgives them, and loves them.
It is a promise we need to accept and believe in. It is a promise we need to share with others. It is a promise that anchors us in hope, the hope of God’s generosity, blessings, and love. Happy Easter, my friends! Rise up and live in hope. 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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Good Friday Service
We offer this "Service of The Seven Last Words of Christ"
to enrich your Good Friday time of meditation and worship.
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April Worship Service
Here is the link for the April worship service prepared by the national setting. The worship should be completed soon but this be the link, so please share it in This Week. When the service is done, you'll be able to find it on our Tri-Conference Vimeo channel: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8312392
Blessings, Bonnie
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Summary Notes of the March 18, 2021 Conference Board Meeting
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Faith in Action - Spiritual Renewal
April 5-7, 2021
The Faith Forum is the culmination of our Keeping Faith Week of Prophetic Action, April 5-8. We also invite you to a three-day Spiritual Renewal April 5-7 that celebrates the diligent work of federations for racial equity. On Monday we’ll focus on COVID vaccinations, Tuesday we will address gun violence and Wednesday we will call for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented frontline workers. Each day we will spotlight the work of federations and we will do what faith people know how to do well. We will lift up our collective voices through song and prayer so that because renewal should always be a communal action. We’ll also hear from faith leaders about how our work fulfills the call to be people of faith in the world. We invite you to join us each day. Click Here for more info.
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Faith in Action - Faith Forum & Day of Action
April 8, 2021
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has verbally accepted an invitation to attend The Faith Forum and Day of Prophetic Action so we will present our agenda that seeks justice and racial equity for our people. As our country continues to grapple with the far reaching effects of the pandemic that have exacerbated centuries-long racial inequities and injustices, Faith Forum participants representing more than 40 federations from 25 states will hear from directly-impacted individuals whose lives will be made better by meaningful congressional action on equitable pandemic relief, vaccination distribution, gun violence prevention, and a pathway to citizenship for dreamers, TPS holders and undocumented essential workers. The forum will also include an important conversation about the urgent need for a new Voting Rights Act, especially given the new restrictions signed into law by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Click Here for more info.
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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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Adult Mental Health First Aid Course
May 8 and 15, 2021
9AM to Noon - via Zoom
Led by: Rev. Dr. Emily B. Hall, D. Min, BCCi
Registration Required
Click Here for detailed flyer and registration information.
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Trouble the Water
Racial Justice & Reconciliation
May 22 from 9-3 on Zoom
an event through NEPA Synod ELCA that will be about racial justice and reconciliation. It will be a day of worship and workshops helping congregation leaders and members better understand the effects of racism within our churches and how we can help in the reconciliation process.
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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
Friday, 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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Pennsylvania Council of Churches
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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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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Welcome to Hybrid Church
By Rev. Cameron Trimble
A 3-week cohort exploring tips, tricks, and best practices for what it means to be a hybrid church.
Live sessions: April 14, 21, & 28 from 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM ET
COST: $119
A pastor this week, one of my coaching clients, said to me “My church is working on reopening. We have a plan in place to maintain social distancing. I think we are doing everything we can. But, Cameron, how am I supposed to hold services for people in person and keep up with services online? Oh, and by the way, our community food bank just ran out of food and people are literally hungry.” I don’t know of any church leader right now who ISN’T feeling this tension. How do we “do” hybrid church and meet the increased life needs of people in our communities?
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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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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!
July 8-10, 2021
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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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Justice Update from the Week of March 29
Gun Violence, Democracy Protections, Immigration, Police Violence, Budget, AUMF, Palestine, Global Vaccine Access, North Korea
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Women's History Month
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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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DISASTER MINISTRIES UCC
Our assistance is needed by the UCC's Global H.O.P.E., which includes our ministry with refugees and migrants. Below are some links to articles about the emerging ministry.
Churches of our conference are asked to let Joshua Baird know if you are seeing an increased influx of refugees and migrants in your area. Please share your updates with Joshua Baird, Team Leader, Global HOPE, Bairdj@ucc.org 216-736-2182. Thanks so much!
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Attached is the latest from the US DHS Center for Faith-based and Community Partnerships regarding how Houses of Worship can support Vaccine Sites.
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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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2021 CWS Kit Booklet that explains all of the details of the CWS kit ministry:
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