Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
|
|
From the UCC General Counsel on Boy Scouts in churches
A Conference Minister brought to my awareness and that of the Insurance Board that in the aftermath of the bankruptcy filing of the Boy Scouts of America, there have been some changes to their policies. We understand that some of these changes may involve churches hosting troops taking on a greater role of responsibility for them, including certain components of liability insurance coverage. If a church is interested in becoming a host to a Boy or a Cub Scout troop, it is recommended that the church consult with legal counsel and also with their insurance company before signing any agreements to ensure that they are protected in the event of a claim for misconduct related to scouting.
Heather E. Kimmel, General Counsel
|
|
Church Musicians, Pastors and Church Leaders
Is your congregation streaming your services via Facebook, Zoom, YouTube or on your website?
Join us for a zoom meeting on Tuesday June 15 from 6:30 - 7:30 pm about copyright law and how it specifically pertains to churches. Devin McKnight, Esq., a specialist in copyright law, will talk with us about why we need licenses to perform, record, and stream some music.
You can submit questions you may have to Karen Heim at rksdheim@rcn.com and she will forward them to Mr. McKnight.
|
|
Synod Volunteers Needed
One of the greatest current needs for the well-being of our youth is connection.
With so much happening around them and to them, it is important for the adults who care about them to find ways to bring them into community to discuss their world, their faith --- and how to manage.
With a virtual, Special Edition General Synod 33, the planning team has been intentional in creating space(s) for our young people to do just that. The Youth and Youth Adults at Synod Program is a complete week-long program (Sunday July 11th to Saturday July 17th) of workshops, Family Groups, games, and support. Family gatherings on zoom will be a key part of that program, which is where adult leaders from your Conference are needed to provide safe and welcoming online spaces for our youth. Read More...
|
|
From the Mental Health Ministry Team
Mental Health Devotion
In a world bombarded by information and opinions (and misinformation) about any subject you can fathom, it is very easy to become disillusioned. It can also affect your over all mental health. In faith terms we often categorize mental health issues as issues affecting our souls. So, this begs the question, “How is your soul today?” Often times we judge our health by our physical being but not our mental and spiritual health. This week, pause, disconnect, and spend time tending to your mental health. I guarantee your overall outlook on life will improve.
A Prayer of Wholeness-
Gracious God- I ask that you tend to the souls of the weary and overwhelmed. Grant them peace and a renewed a sense of wholeness and wellness. We pray that those who are overwhelmed, may they know there are people who are willing to help and care. Grant us all compassion and empathy towards one another. May we see that your hands and heart work through those who have vocations in the areas of mental and spiritual health. Amen.
Be Well,
Teresa Martin, Co-Chair of the Mental Health Ministry Team
|
|
Pastoring Challenging Parishioners:
A Relational & Mental Health Perspective
June 22 OR June 23, 2021
(each workshop has a limit of 20 pastors)
Counts for Advanced Boundary Training
6 to 8:30PM
Cost: $10/person
|
|
Pennsylvania Southeast Conference Racial Justice Initiative
We are going to begin a six week book study on “Four Hundred Souls” beginning June 1st (3PM & 7:30PM) and would like to invite the folks of PNEC to join us. Please see the attached advertisement
|
|
Heritage Sunday
Rev. Carrie Call, PhD, Conference Minister, Penn Central Conference, United Church of Christ
Dear Colleagues, I trust you all are well as we move through the last weeks of the Easter season! I am writing some information that I hope you will integrate into your worship life next month.
If your church has Evangelical Synod and/or German Reformed roots, then I invite you to celebrate June 13th as Heritage Sunday. The link will provide a liturgy that draws on three of the historical worship books for a service that is true to Evangelical and Reformed roots. General Prayers from the E&R Book of Worship are also included. All language has been updated (except for Trinitarian references). Feel free to check it out via the link below. You’ll also find additional resources for your use. Link includes:
· Full liturgy (with scripture lessons, creed and sermon left open)
· A short video by General Minister and President John Dorhauer that can be included in digital
services. (available May 15th)
· General Prayers
· Bulletin covers
· Bulletin inserts with information about ERHS
· Hymn Suggestions
· QR codes to include for easy donations
· Links to historical German Reformed, Evangelical Synod, and E&R worship books
|
|
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?” These are all revitalization questions, and many of our churches are asking questions like them. And so, the Congregational Vitality Team wants to provide an on-going space for asking and discussing these questions as our churches navigate his 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
|
|
A Letter From The Colectivo de Latinx Ministries UCC
Saludos, Conference Colleagues.
As we get closer to Synod this July, The Colectivo de UCC Latinx Ministries asks for your help. The Colectivo de UCC Latinx Ministries is a regenerated body officially recognized by the General Synod of the United Church of Christ (UCC) in July 2019. A transitional Latinx leadership group created the Colectivo in response to historical events and emergent needs. The Colectivo is a diverse and ever-changing community that has come together to honor our rich history within the UCC while responding to the growing needs of our richly diverse UCC Latinx population. We have grounded ourselves in love, justice, and peace while living within a covenant of interconnection and inclusion. Read More...
|
|
Children's Church
There has been a slight change in time (5pm to 6pm) and date (July changed to August/ the May and June dates remain.). Here is the updated Ad
|
|
Update About the CDC's Latest Guidance on Mask Wearing
Fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to mask and social distance. Wow, just wow. BUT (and this is a big but) before you strip naked (at least your face, that is...) and run through your favor indoor space with reckless abandon, let's break this down a bit.
First, why the change? The bottom line is that more and more research shows us that:
1) The vaccine is pretty darn good at preventing symptomatic COVID infection, especially severe disease, hospitalization, and death.
2) The vaccine is also pretty good at preventing asymptomatic COVID. Translate: It can prevent you from spreading it to others.
So fully vaccinated people are protected from getting infection and giving it to others. Amen! So what does that mean for day-to-day life?
The CDC previously recognized that fully vaccinated people could relax masking and distancing in their private lives; namely, with other vaccinated families and friends and with select unvaccinated individuals. They also said you could nix the masks outside given the low risk for COVID transmission al fresco.
With this update, fully vaccinated individuals can now remove their masks and get a little closer to others in many indoor public places.
So what's the catch? Let's read the fine print...
- Fully vaccinated people must still wear a mask in health care settings, transportation hubs such as airports and stations, and public transportation. That includes planes, buses and trains traveling into, within or outside of the U.S. as part of a federal mask mandate that was extended to Sept. 13.
- Fully vaccinated people must wear a mask or socially distance in places required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.
- Fully vaccinated people may still need to wear a mask depending on where they live and where they go. Some business owners may follow CDC guidelines, but others may be more reluctant to lift their own rules on masking.
Also attached a helpful graphic provided by the CDC. A key take-away from this chart I would especially like to highlight is the left-sided column - namely the activities that are still high-risk for those that are UNVACCINATED. Hint, hint: why haven't you gotten your jab yet???
This is also a good opportunity for me to remind you all that COIVD is complicated and everyone navigates the ongoing fear and anxiety in different ways. Remember to Be Kind. No mask shaming (either to wear one or take it off)!
Kara Mascitti, MD, MSCE, FACP, FIDSA; Medical Director, Healthcare Epidemiology and Infection Prevention; President, Network Medical Staff; Physician, St. Luke’s Infectious Disease Associates"
|
|
 |
Global HOPE Team
The team is finally in place for the Global HOPE Team of the national church. Disaster Ministries, refugee Ministries, and Volunteer Ministries are all a part of this Team. Please keep this information for reference. See More...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Faith + Lead Lutheran Seminary
Rooted: Innovators Planting Seeds for the Harvest - A Panel Discussion
Maybe that was the thought, at least. You had an idea for a church plant that could finally address the needs of a neighborhood,
...or reimagine the ways you felt Jesus had been co-opted,
...or open its doors wider than ever before.
And then things got hard. Creating a new kind of Christian community can be difficult, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible – or that you shouldn’t try. It might simply mean that there’s something to be learned from other workers in the harvest.
If that’s you, there’s good news! We have an upcoming opportunity you’re going to want to be a part of. On June 12, we’ll be hosting Rooted: Innovators Planting Seeds for the Harvest. With a panel discussion format, you’ll have the chance to listen and learn as a diverse group of faithful innovators tackle the questions you’re probably already asking.
Click Here for all the details and a chance to register for FREE.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
|
Faith + Lead Lutheran Seminary
Understanding, Exploring & Managing Bias and Burnout
Thursdays, June 3, 10, 17, 24 - 2:15PM Central Time
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SAVE THE DATE
Congregational Leadership Training
Saturday, September 25
9AM-4PM via Zoom
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UCC Musicians Association
is hosting an online conference this summer, just prior to General Synod? On July 8-10, musicians, pastors and lay leaders are invited to attend a very special conference, filled to the brim with workshops, worship, networking and a concert. Take advantage of the online format and lack of travel expenses! All conference content will be accessible for one month following the event. Click Here for a copy of our conference brochure. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
|
Wednesdays In The Word -- Identity Crisis - I AM
Each Wednesday - (through July 7, 2021) - 1:00-1:30; 7:00-7:30 Weekly
On-Line with the Women of Dille Parish, 903 Main St., LeRaysville -- (570) 744-1637
To remind us of what Jesus said about Himself, what prompted it, and how understanding this might be a blessing to us today.
1:00 p.m. audio only -- Phone: 872-240-8956 -- Meeting ID: 816160944#
7 p.m. audio only -- Phone: 872-240-8956 -- Meeting ID: 158043143#
|
|
|
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UCC Digital Programming
Tuesdays for Nurture - 3:30 to 4:30 (Eastern); Thursdays for the Soul - 3:30 to 4:30 (Eastern)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry at Lancaster Seminary
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
|
Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders (2021)
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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Register now: Penn Central Ministerial Excellence Forum
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mind, Body, Spirit: Linking Lives for Health & Wholeness
In this newsletter you will find information on the following topics: (To Read it All CLICK HERE)
For June:
- National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection & Prevention Month
- National Safety Month
- Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
|
DISASTER MINISTRIES UCC
Across the United States, Americans congregate in faith-based venues to worship, learn, play, and bond as a community. CISA is committed to supporting efforts to maintain safe and secure houses of worship and related facilities while sustaining an open and welcoming environment. This resource page is designed to guide houses of worship through building improved security and safety protocols for their specific organization’s congregants and facilities. These tools help houses of worship identify and report suspicious behavior; build positive community relationships; develop partnerships with law enforcement; and implement emergency operations plans and screening procedures while enhancing security awareness. By utilizing these resources, houses of worship can easily develop a continuing security improvement cycle. To learn more visit, Houses of Worship | CISA.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
