Bonnie's Letter

Dear Friends,

This week I have spent three days with 100+ ministers from across Pennsylvania at the Clergy Convocation. We explored wholeness and wellness: Spiritual, Vocational, Physical, and Financial wellness. The Pension Board provided the experts for training. The planning committee involved the Conference Ministers in serving communion, offering devotionals, and offering benediction at worship. It was great to be with colleagues – but even more important to focus on wellness in this post-pandemic, still endemic culture. Pastors felt at ease and had time to reflect on their weariness, their anxiety, their struggles as they continue to serve congregations and as chaplains, who give spiritual support to those in medical care facilities. Our lives have been challenging in the past years. We hope the resources we have been given at the Clergy Convocation can be shared and useful to congregational members. We can all do a lot better on taking care of ourselves and moving into health, wellness, and wholeness.

For the first time, the Penn West Conference was with us. It was wonderful to have all four conferences together. We celebrate the unity of doing this event and additional work together. Those of you who attended the PNEC Spring Conference Meeting (thank you to all of you who attended and participated) will recall a report from the Keystone Study Group – the representative group looking at the possibility of our coming together into one conference. We are in the discussion and exploration stages. Watch for opportunities to talk with us about this and other possibilities. My goal is to continue to support our local congregations and pastors, create strong programmatic and education support, continue to provide spiritual guidance and wellness activities, and leave the Conference (you all know I have spoken about my retirement in a few years) in good and strong, healthy shape.

How are you doing? Are you caring for your spiritual, mental, and physical health? Is your congregation moving toward wholeness and spiritual health? Are you worried about the future of your congregation, your pastorate, your personal health? I hope you are focusing on wellness. I have had a sabbatical opportunity to renew and refresh. I have participated in the Clergy Convocation and learned more about wellness. I hope you will do the same.

Take a breath and spend some time with God. Take a breath and focus on wellness in your spirit, in your mental health, and in your physical health. Take a breath. Just be.

Blessings, Bonnie

GEM Fund (Grants for Energizing Mission)

         I want to share with the congregations and pastors of PNEC about a scholarship grant that is offered to boost ministry in local congregations. The scholarship is called GEM (Grants for Energizing Ministry) I do not know how many follow current trends, but some do believe that a gem (or Crystal) will not only increase energy, but also assist in healing. 

         As a pastor, I will admit of a little skepticism of how much a stone can provide energy and healing; however, I do believe that active, creative church ministry can and will accomplish both.

         To assist local congregations, PNEC offers a small ministry grant. To qualify, it must be a ministry that enhances the Spiritual life and extends the Gospel mission to the community. Preferrable it should be a new endeavor, as it is considered “seed money,” but an expansion/upgrade of an existing ministry will also be considered. The grant will cover up to 50% of the estimated cost but not exceed $2,500. It is important that the congregation adds its own support with the limited funds creating the cap.

If you want a few grant examples, GEM grants have assisted with upgrading live streaming, improved technology to improve sound quality, assisted with aging ministries and more.

          To apply for the grant is easy. Go to PNEC website (www.pnec.org) On the top, you will see the link- resources and scholarship info. Click on it, then scroll down to GEM Fund, which is the bottom link. After clicking on the link, a brief description of the grant is written, then at the bottom you will see: Click Here for how to apply for a GEM grant. Then complete the application process.

         Please consider applying for a GEM grant, and hopefully the new ministry will create some needed energy. The GEM fund team looks forward to hearing about your potential ministry.

         Sincerely,

 Dale L. Sattizahn, Chair of the GEM Grant

Keystone Study Group -- Summary of 4/14 meeting

The fifth meeting of the Keystone Study Group* took place Friday, April 14, 2023. This group continues to explore the possibility of mutual or consolidated ministry among the four conferences toward the question, “could we become ONE Keystone Conference?”

To this point in our process, we have explored the needs of our UCC clergy, local congregations and other ministry settings and how we might welcome a process of discernment. From the four conferences, with our unique mission needs and perspectives, we each live into the UCC hope to be a united and uniting denomination, giving life to the prayer of Jesus, “that they may all be one.”

We believe a unified Keystone Conference will better serve, support, challenge and unite our diverse faith communities. Our study group focused on many questions, all grounded in “Do we know our WHY?” Knowing our WHY may mean we choose to leave some other pieces behind in order to move forward. The complexity of the task and all the stakeholders compounds the significance of our WHY! We came to realize that until we knew our WHY we could not fully determine our WHAT and our HOW!

When we studied the options other conferences have taken, and learnings from their experiences, we’ve asked “Is there a way we could do the work with just shared ministries and collaboration between our current conferences? Is there a greater power and voice in combined ministry that can inspire our clergy, congregations, ministry settings and denomination? Can the Keystone Conference offer something better? What can we do better together than we can do separately? Why Now?

We brought together our inspiration of heart and spirit, as well as our intellect and reasoning to give language to what we were all feeling. And finally, the Holy Spirit spoke, and we knew the voice of the One welcoming us to see the “new thing” that God is creating.

“Together we are stronger! The Keystone Conference” and the Spirit is still speaking!

We believe a Keystone Conference can inspire all settings of the Church to thrive in diversity and unity around Christ’s table of love! Our partnered work is greater than our individual efforts. To go elsewhere is to court uniformity, rather than finding our unity through our diversity, to become an agent with God to “answer” Jesus’ prayer, one body with many different parts in Christ.

We are embracing the possibility of our WHY, so we may move forward with WHAT we believe God is calling us to become, and being open to HOW the Holy Spirit will create innovation through us to meet opportunities for ministry and love.

Our ministry continues, empowered and inspired in the hope and assurance that…

“Together We Are Stronger! – The Keystone Conference”

Sharing our progress in grace and hope,

Communications Team

Steve Davis, St. John’s UCC, Fullerton (PNEC)

Sterling Fritz, Redeemer’s UCC, Littlestown (PCC)

Robin Hightower, Peace In Zion UCC, Zieglerville (PSEC)

Deb Long, First Trinity UCC, Youngwood (PWC)

*A study and discernment group of the 4 PA UCC Conferences – Penn West, Penn Central, Penn NE, and Pennsylvania SE

Strengthen The Church Resources Ready

Dear Colleagues, I heard Central Pacific Conference Moderator Cynta Butts sing “On Holy Ground.” Her singing at the conference annual meeting moved me. My mind thought of all the holy ground we touch through the ministry of churches, conferences, and the national setting. Click Here for Bulletin Template.

Cynta’s singing inspired the creation of the Strengthen the Church materials, now available on UCC Resources. I’ve also placed a copy of all the documents on the CCM Basecamp – see “docs and files” of OCWM Support/Warner Project.

The offering provides resources for our conferences and national setting as we work for a multi-cultural/multi-racial, accessible to all Christian movement. In addition to Cynta from Central Pacific, a poem by Dave Long-Higgins and a story about a Wisconsin camp reflect the conference side of Strengthen the Church. From the national setting, Traci and John provided reflections. In developing these materials, I’m trying to reflect the shared conference & national nature of this offering.

Most congregations will take the Strengthen the Church Offering on Pentecost, which falls on Memorial Day this year. I’m hoping you can make an extra effort to promote the offering, perhaps even encouraging congregations to take it on the Sunday before because attendance will likely be lighter over the long weekend.

Please think about ways you can promote the offering in your conference. Consider:

• Create a bulletin specific to your conference that tells what STC funds allow you to do (a template is available on Basecamp and attached here).
• Use the “On Holy Ground” music video in your annual meeting worship service (in Basecamp and here).
• Ask pastors and leaders for quotes about the impact of an STC-supported project of the conference and post these to your social media (Facebook jpeg available in the materials).
• Open a gathering of leaders with John Dorhauer’s reflection (in Basecamp and here).

Together, we can ensure the Strengthen the Church Offering raises crucial funds for our conferences and the national setting to help congregations.

Take care, Andrew

Rev. Andrew Warner, CFRE, Generosity Outreach Officer

OPTIC – Office of Philanthropy, Technology, Identity, & Communication United Church of Christ

“They asked only one thing, that we remember the poor, which was actually what I was eager to do.” -- Galatians 2:10 NRSV

Dear Friends,

We have an opportunity to take action toward addressing period poverty in our communities. The new Period Packs/Menstrual Hygiene Kits recently introduced by Church World Service (CWS), a UCC partner, is one way to help individuals living in period poverty. Unfortunately, many of these individuals lack permanent housing, are in transit or otherwise do not have reliable access to spaces where they can easily clean and sanitize reusable products. The kit provides several products that promote cleanliness and health during a menstrual cycle.

Thank you to all who have already donated to help with purchasing supplies for the General Synod service project, including our sponsors: United Church Funds, Insurance Board, United Church Homes and the Council for Health and Human Service Ministries.

There is still time to give and CWS has pledged to match your donations up to $7,000, so now your gifts will be doubled!

Ways to Give

1. Make a secure gift online

2. Text to give: UCCPERIOD to 41444

3. Mail a check (payable to United Church of Christ with “Period Pack kits” in the memo) to:

United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 71957, Cleveland, Ohio 44194

General Synod delegates and guests can also bring already assembled kits to Synod to drop off in the collection bins that will be available. Whether or not you’re attending General Synod, you may participate by assembling kits at your church using these easy instructions. To assist your efforts, you can apply for a $250 UCC kits matching grant. For more information about the UCC kits matching grants, contact: Craig Hoffman, Program Assistant, UCC Global H.O.P.E., a ministry of Wider Church Ministries.

We are heartened by your emails and phone calls sharing stories about Period Pack parties hosted in homes, and at churches, to assemble kits. If you don’t already have an event planned, consider hosting an event on World Menstruation Day (Sunday, May 28) to increase awareness, take action toward menstrual justice, and/or make a donation to support the Period Packs/Menstrual Hygiene Kit service project at General Synod.

Thank you for your generosity and your eagerness to “… remember the poor.”

With Gratitude,

Rev. Dr. Monica Dawkins-Smith, Executive Associate, Wider Church Ministries, United Church of Christ

UCC DIgital Programming - Nurture the Soul

• Thursday, May 11, 3:30pm ET - Security and Faith: Faithfulness and Vulnerability
• Thursday, May 18, 3:30pm ET - Security and Faith: Abolitionist Perspectives

PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMY OF MINISTRY at Lancaster Theological Seminary

summer online classes

BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION 1

May 23–June 27, Tuesdays from 7-8:30pm on ZOOM

Would you like an introduction or a refresher on biblical interpretation? Clergy and laity are invited to join instructor Kelsey Wallace for an introduction to the art and practice of biblical interpretation. Old Testament / Hebrew Bible. Details here..

BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION 2

July 11–Aug 15, Tuesdays from 7-8:30pm on ZOOM

Instructor Kelsey Wallace. New Testament. Open to all laity and clergy; Biblical Interpretation 1 is NOT required. Details here.

PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc. is a 501c3 program that grew from a program of the Southeast Conference UCC. It remains affiliated with the Southeast Conference. The program offers a full menu of courses for those seeking authorized ministry, for those wanting continuing education, and for those looking for a progressive theology, ethics, or practical church course. The courses are asynchronous, geographically unbound, affordable, and aligned with the UCC Marks of Faithful and Effective Authorized Ministers. Please be in touch with any questions. You may apply online at pathwaystheological.org.

Supervised Ministry Program

PATHWAYS offers a six-course series in Supervised Ministry. The participant finds a ministry site and supervisor. The supervisor oversees the participant’s internship as the participant takes the facilitated asynchronous online courses. There is a four-week introduction to supervised ministry followed by six 9-week courses. The titles and schedule of courses are listed below:

Supervised Ministry 2023-2024 Schedule

Intro to Supervised Ministry (June 3- June30, 2023)

Supervised Ministry I Entering a Place of Ministry (July 10 - Sept 17, 2023)

Supervised Ministry II The Transformative Context of Pastoral Care (Oct 2 – Dec 17, 2023)

Supervised Ministry III The Practice of Worship Leadership (Jan 8 - Mar 10, 2024)

Supervised Ministry IV Faith Formation in the Parish (April 8- June 9, 2024)

Supervised Ministry V Leadership in the Midst of Change (July 8 - Sept 15, 2024)

Supervised Ministry VI Leaving a Place of Ministry (Oct 1 - Dec 17, 2024)

Six-Week Course Schedule through the Early Fall 2023

Summer I: Courses Begin May 17, 2023

• TH10608 Ethics and a Life of Meaning (6-weeks) (May 17-Jun 27)
• BF20604 New Testament Hermeneutics (6-weeks) (May 17-Jun 27)
• MP20611 Preaching for Special Occasions (6-weeks) (May 17-Jun 27)
• HT21206 UCC History & Polity (12-weeks) (May 17 – Aug 8)
• TH30608 Theology of Gender and Sexuality (6-weeks) (May 17-Jun27)
• MP10607 Faith Formation (Children, Youth, Adults) (6-weeks) (May 17-Jun27 )
• MP20601 Introduction to Spiritual Health (Pastoral Care) (6-weeks) (May 17-Jun27)

Summer II: Courses Begin July 5, 2023 

• HT10608 Pluralism and Religion in North America (6-weeks) (July 5-Aug 15)
• TH10610 Living the Heart of Progressive Christian Theology (6-weeks) (July 5- Aug 15)
• BF20602 Old Testament Hermeneutics (6-weeks) ( July 5- Aug 15)
• MP30601 Congregational Ministry and the Future Church (6-weeks) (July 5- Aug 15)
• MP30604 Contemporary Homiletics (6-weeks) (July 5- Aug15)

Fall I: Courses Begin August 21, 2023

• TH10603 Variety of Belief within Christianity Today (6-weeks) (Aug 21-Sept30)
• MP10605 Spiritual Care of Self and Others (6-weeks) (Aug 21 – Sept 30)
• MP20603 Small Church Administration (6-weeks) (Aug 21 – Sept 30)
• TH30607 Contextual Theology (6-weeks) (Aug21 – Sept 30)
• HT21206 UCC History & Polity (12-weeks) (Sept 6 – Dec 5)

ACPE-certified Community-Centered Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)

PATHWAYS will offer a 24-week ACPE-certified CPE course in the Fall 2023. Applications are due by mid-August for a November 2023 course. The course originates with the Sankofa CPE Center but you apply through PATHWAYS. From the website: “Learners can choose diverse learning settings including social justice/activism venues to meet their clinical hours. Digital ministry can also be a focus including tele-chaplaincy and online worship. This 24 week program.

Freedom School Scholar Enrollment is Open!

Dates- June 20, 2023- July 29, 2023

Time- 8am-1pm Daily 

Locations:

• Muhlenberg College- Multicultural Life 2400 Chew St. Allentown
• Easton Area Community Center- 901 Washington St. Easton
• RCDC- 144 N. Ninth St, Allentown
• Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley- 333 Union St. Allentown

Katarah A. Jordan M.Ed

Director, James Lawson Freedom School

484.274.0472

freedomschooldirector@rcdclv.org 

Resurrected Community Dev. Corporation 

144 North Ninth Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18102 

Walk to Combat Family Homelessness

Join us on June 3rd

 Family Promise of Lehigh Valley has been selected to be a participating organization in the Annual Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community. This year the walk will be held at DeSales University on Saturday June 3, 2023. 

The Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community is an annual fundraising walk that benefits local health and human service agencies.  Our participation will help Family Promise build awareness and support for the many children and their families who are experiencing homelessness in our area. 

Highmark Inc. coordinates and underwrites the cost of the walk so that 100 percent of the money raised by our walkers goes to Family Promise.

The primary goal of the Walk is to help participating organizations raise money for their individual missions. The secondary goal of the Walk is to energize community members to have a greater hand in their health by becoming or staying physically active.

• Registration is free! However walkers can fundraise for Family Promise if they wish
• To qualify for the 2023 Highmark Walk T-shirt, you must meet the following requirements:
• Be a registered walker AND have a minimum of $30 credited to your walker account by the walk date. All T-shirts will be given out on-site.

Please consider joining us by doing the following:

• Watch for and share walk information on our Family Promise Facebook Site
• Put together a team to walk on behalf of Family Promise
• Walk as an individual
• 5K Walk begins at 9:00 A.M. - 1 Mile Walk begins at 9:15 A.M.
• Purchase a Family Promise Tee-Shirt for $10.00

For more information or to sign up to walk click below or contact Family Promise at 610-351-1368 or visit our website at www.fplehighvalley.org

Click Here to Register

A Film Showing and Discussion on Nonviolent Activism

Qualifies for Anti-Racism Training with a paragraph or so about your learning

Wednesday, May 17th

4pm Pacific, 6pm Central, 7pm Eastern.

Register HERE for this free online event.

Love & Solidarity is an exploration of non-violence and organizing through the teachings of Rev. James Lawson. This free online event includes a discussion about the film with the filmmaker and a panel discussion on the role of nonviolence in contemporary Christian activism.

Questions? info@justiceleadership.org

Hosted by the Justice Leadership Program and Southern New England Conference of the UCC

Lehigh Conference of Churches 2022-2023 Annual Meeting

Moving Forward Together

May 18, 2023

Please join us for our annual meeting, #MovingForwardTogether. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. with the business portion of the meeting at noon. Executive Director Abby Goldfarb will be recapping the impact we made in our community this past year and what plans the Conference has for the future! 

We will also be recognizing outgoing board members and staff service anniversaries. The Ecumenical Service Award will be presented at the conclusion of the meeting.

Refreshments will be provided. $15 for member churches, and $20 for non-members.

Location: The Barrister's Club - 1114 Walnut St, Allentown, PA 18102

Date: Thursday, May 18th

Time: Doors Open at 11:30 AM

(Advanced Registration is Requested)

Click Here to purchase your ticket today, registration closes May 15th.

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

Disaster Ministries

Disaster information on Mississippi and Alabama

In March 2023, deadly tornados ripped through Mississippi and Alabama. On March 24th twenty tornados touched down in the two states. The town of Rolling Fork, MS was severely damaged. One week later, on March 31st, severe thunderstorms again tore through the U.S. Midwest and Mid-South . These storms spawned dozens of tornadoes across seven states. The town of Wynne, Arkansas was especially hard-hit. In the wake of these storms, lives were lost, downed trees interrupted electrical power, and some towns were almost completely destroyed.

Caring responses have begun through national and regional organizations. Varieties of aid and assistance are needed. People in these communities express hope for rebuilding and restoring their daily lives, even as they are surrounded by destruction. The UCC Disaster Ministries provide physical, financial, emotional, and spiritual care to those affected by disasters and respond through a network of Conference Disaster Coordinators.