Bonnie's Letter

Dear Friends,

We provide so much information to you in This Week, it is easy for some things to get lost. I want to highlight several projects with you and share immediate ways to gather information. I hope this, in addition to our weekly e-newsletter, website, and announcements are helpful in your ministry.

KEYSTONE: The Keystone Working Group has been meeting since October 2022 to outline a process for a possible merged conference. We post monthly information from the communication team in This Week, but you can find all the historical information at www.psec.org/Keystone This site is hosted by Pennsylvania Southeast Conference but is up to date with our work. Please become as informed as possible and submit your questions to our Conference Staff.

HOW TO CHURCH Videos: The Congregational Vitality Team along with the Local Congregational Support Working Group of the Committee on Ministry has produced three informational videos. We hope these are useful in exploring how to be a lay leader on a consistory or council, information about participating in the Wider Church of the UCC, and how to engage in the community for mission and outreach. You can access these at:

How to Church! I Wish I Knew... How to Be a Good Consistory Member (youtube.com)

How to Church... I Wish I Knew More About the “Wider Church” (youtube.com)

How to Church... I Wish I Knew More About Community Engagement (youtube.com)

STAR Church Coalition: Across the United Church of Christ over 67% of our churches identify themselves as small town or rural churches. In 2021, at General Synod, Rev. Roberto Ochoa and I began conversations about how to support our small town and rural churches. Since that time, we have formed a STAR Church Coalition which meet monthly online to talk about and resource one another, to explore some best practices to serve us, to support digital access, and to share our expertise. We invite you to join us. The STAR Church Coalition meets on the second Tuesday afternoon from 4 pm -5:30 pm on Zoom. If you are interested, please email Barbara Jennings at barbaraj@pnec.org to be added to the invitation and attendance list.

FRIENDS OF THE CONFERENCE: The Generosity Team of the Conference Board began the Friends of the Conference campaign several years ago. This is an opportunity for individuals, rather than churches, to donate to Our Churches Wider Mission. We remind our friends and colleagues about giving to this campaign around Pentecost and in November. The Generosity Team also provides the Ambassadors Program which allows congregational representatives to link to communication tools for sharing Conference programs and events with each church, in a way that allows you to cut and paste information into church bulletins and newsletters. If you would like to identify a Church Ambassador, please email Tracy Whitehead at tracywhitehead82@gmail.com

There is so much going on in our Conference and in our congregations. We have much to celebrate, many gifts to acknowledge, and a lot of hope and joy found in working together. I am grateful to all the staff and volunteers, all the authorized ministers and lay people, who make the work of the Conference possible. Praise God…we continue to find ways to support one another.

Blessings, Bonnie

2024 Summer Conference Meeting

REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED! Room registration (for our special rates) ends May 6, attendance registration ends May 31.

Our joint mission project for the Spring conference meeting is to make Period Packs. 

A link to the sign up is on the registration which you can visit even if you are not actively registering.  The goal is supplies for 200 kits. As of 4/18 we have enough for 50. Help us make our goal.

For the first time, all four Pennsylvania conferences of the UCC will be gathering for a shared Meeting on June 7-9, 2024 at The Penn Stater in State College, PA. We will have shared worship, workshops, meals and meetings as well as each conference's separate business meeting.

Below is a letter from the four PA UCC Conference Ministers

about this year’s Summer Meeting:

The planning committee for the Keystone State UCC Conference Summer Meeting has been working diligently to prepare for our June 7-9 meeting. The Keystone Working Group in collaboration with the Conference Ministers have been seeking grants and additional funding to assist with the costs of the meeting.

We want you to know that YOUR attendance is vitally important to us. We need you to help us plan for the future of our conferences. Our General Minister and President, the Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson will be with us on Saturday and Sunday, and we hope you will be with us to meet her and worship with her on Sunday.

Please click here for June 9 order of worship to use while their pastor is at the Summer Meeting. Please click here for sermon message for congregations to use while their pastors are at the Summer Meeting. 

The costs for this meeting will be significantly higher than our usual conference meetings. For one thing, this is a 3-day meeting and incorporates the extensive use of technology and the Penn Stater multiple room assignments for our gathering. We do not want the cost of the event to prevent anyone from attending.

Therefore, we are increasing our scholarship funds to cover ½ the cost of the registration. The registration materials (which are forthcoming) include some links for additional hotel locations, should you choose to utilize them.

Also, we want you to know that our meetings as a Keystone Conference will likely be shorter and less costly.

Please make plans to join us in State College in June and celebrate the work we are doing together, because we believe “Together We Are Stronger.”

Registration is open. You should have received a separate email regarding registration. (If you have not received that special email...please let Patty Rehrig at the Penn Northeast Conference Office know - pattyr@pnec.org ) In the meantime, please watch this video (click on the link below) featuring all four conference ministers with more information on this event.

Summer Meeting 2024 Announcement Video (youtube.com)

Celebrating Our Churches

Community service is very important to Zion’s Reformed UCC, Ashland. Every year, the day before Thanksgiving, volunteers gather at the church to cook turkeys, potatoes, and all the trimmings for turkey dinners. On Thanksgiving, the volunteers get together EARLY to prepare full dinners. From 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, anyone who wants a meal can drive up to the church, claim as many meals as wanted, and go home with Thanksgiving in the car. Samantha, the secretary at Zion’s, said the church serves about one hundred platters during those two hours.

Zion’s Reformed UCC, thank you. You are a credit to your town and to the Penn Northeast Conference.

Resiliency, The Biology of Stress and Science and Hope

Greetings, all,

You are cordially invited to attend the upcoming Resiliency, The Biology of Stress and Science and Hope event being held on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at 5:00pm in the Boardroom of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, 900 S. Arlington Avenue, Harrisburg, PA, 17109. This unique program opportunity is being held in cooperation with Dauphin County Systems of Care. This is an opportunity to view and discuss Resilience and the biology of Stress, Science, and Hope. Please feel free to pass along and/or invite others to join as well.

Click the links below to register and further view information on the Pennsylvania Council of Churches website!

Register:

https://forms.gle/tuyKmAKD2L8x5Qsw6

Website:

https://pachurches.org/

Make it a great rest of your day!

Jae Alexander, Administrative Assistant | Pennsylvania Council of Churches

James Lawson Freedom School

We're excited that our open enrollment for Scholars from K-8th grade is now open, click here for the flyer. For a list of classroom supply donations needed, click here.

St John's UCC, Allentown A2A!

On April 12, 2024, I received an email from Robin Stemple from the UCC Disabilities Ministry Board that St. John’s UCC was approved to be certified as an A2A church! A2A, or Accessible 2 All, means that our building and congregation have made the necessary changes and commitments to be considered accessible to people of all abilities and disabilities. This isn’t a ‘check list’ to complete, but a life-long commitment to continuing to make necessary changes and adjustments to ensure that no matter who enters our doors, they have what they need to thrive in our church community! This is a journey that our church has been working on for decades thanks to the hard work and foresight of so many over the years.

St. John’s UCC in Allentown is now an Open and Affirming church, meaning that we are committed to welcoming and including our LGBT+ siblings! We are a WISE church, meaning that we are committed to engaging with those struggling with mental health in our community and wider world! And now we are A2A, meaning that we are physically and altitudinally welcoming to those of all abilities! My fervent hope is that we continue to strive to widen the circle of Christ love in meaningful ways!

Respectfully submitted by Rev. Becky Sausser 

National Day of Prayer

 Siblings, let us join our hearts and zooms at noon on May 2nd. For this National Day of Prayer, let us pause in the unison voice of prayer as we go to the only source great enough to give us strength for journey. Register here. 

Blessings, Paul

C. Paul Keller, Office Manager, Penn Central Conference United Church of Christ

Bethany Children's Home is in Need of Bedding

Each youth that arrives at Bethany Children's Home needs sheets, a pillow case and comforter for a twin sized bed. If you'd like to donate please send donations to 1863 Bethany Rd. Womelsdorf, PA 19567.

Or donate online at https://givebutter.com/BCHeroes and put "bedding" in the notes!

You can also order directly off Amazon using the following link:

Sweet Home Collection 5 Piece Comforter Set Bag Solid Color All Season Soft Down Alternative Blanket & Luxurious Microfiber Bed Sheets, Gray, Twin https://a.co/d/0XYeUI5 Ship it to Bethany Children’s Home, 1863 Bethany Rd., Womelsdorf, PA 19567

Thank you so much for your continued support of our mission. Bethany Development Team

LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP...

Faith Formation Leadership Retreat

May 3 - 5, 2024

Spruce Lake Retreat Center, 5389 Route 447, Canadensis, PA

COST: $$195/person (includes all programming and 3 meals on Saturday and Sunday breakfast)

This retreat for adults involved in Faith Formation provides an opportunity for those wishing to collaborate, rejuvenate, and innovate their approach to Faith Formation! This retreat will provide practical education around faith formation and we4lcomes volunteers as well as folks working in the church to participate and learn. Set in the scenic Spruce Lake Retreat Center, this promises to be a relaxing and informative time! Please click here for the flyer and how to register.

You can also register and pay through tithe.ly using this link:

https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/8424164

Worship Resources for your Mental Health Sunday

Mental Health Sunday is May 19, 2024. The Mental Health Ministry Team is requesting that you use some of these resources – in your worship planning experience for that day! If you have any questions or concerns and would like support for your worship planning that day – please reach out. Although May 19 is Mental Health Sunday this year, we want to remind you that any Sunday is a great Sunday to focus on mental health!

https://www.mhn-ucc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MH-Sunday-Worship-Resources.pdf

Rev. Dr. Emily B. Hall, Pastor - Hope UCC, Wind Gap, 610-863-4474

Cultivating a Culture of Safety

The Penn West Conference is hosting a “Cultivating a Culture of Safety” event on Saturday, September 14, from 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM at First Reformed UCC, 312 S. Maple Ave., Greensburg PA 15601. Lunch will be provided. In this comprehensive workshop, we empower ministries to foster a culture of safety in these critical areas: Active Intruder Response, Emergency Planning, and Abuse Prevention. Our team of experts will help ministries gain essential knowledge to equip them with strategies to address an active intruder event, to prepare for emergencies, and to protect their most vulnerable congregants from abuse. Presenters include: From Insurance Board: Chad Cunningham, Director, Loss Control; Elizabeth Vance, Sr. Loss Control Representative; and Local police and county emergency representatives. To register, please visit 2024 Loss Control Event Registration Form Survey (surveymonkey.com)

PARTICIPATE IN A LOCAL UCC RESEARCH STUDY - GOD IS STILL SPEAKING

Dear PNEC friend:

I am writing to you today to let you know that one of our PNEC authorized ministers, Rev. Kathryn Foster, is conducting a research study on the UCC idea, God is Still Speaking, to complete her Doctor of Ministry degree at Iliff School of Theology in Denver Colorado. We are helping her to identify participants for her study. A qualified participant is a UCC member, active visitor or authorized pastor 18 years of age or older, in good health, and participating in a UCC church in Pennsylvania. I have emailed this notice to you to offer you this opportunity. Please take a moment to consider it and decide if you would like to be included in her research initiative. If you would like to know more about the study, please click the link below and read the description of the study. Actual participation in the survey serves as informed consent. Any data collected will be de-identified for reporting purposes. This study is not conducted by the United Church of Christ, but the Office of Communication (OPTIC) is aware of its creation.

CLICK THIS LINK TO LEARN MORE:

https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7716340/GISS

Click Here for Flyer

If you are not able to access the online survey and would like a paper survey emailed to you, please contact Kathryn directly at kfoster@iliff.edu.

Blessings, Bonnie

2024 Lehigh Valley Pride

SAVE THE DATE

We are so excited to announce that Lehigh Valley Pride will be held on Sunday, August 18th at the SteelStacks in Bethlehem from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m.

This year's Lehigh Valley Pride will be the most inclusive to date with accessibility features such as FREE entry, ASL interpreters, ADA restrooms, large-print Pride guides, alcohol-free experiences, indoor air conditioned spaces, accessible seating for those with disabilities, indoor sensory-friendly area, spirituality space, and reserved parking near the festival entrances.

To include even more community members and vendors, Lehigh Valley Pride will expand its square footage and encompass more of ArtsQuest’s campus, including an expanded baby & tot spot.

Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available. We can't wait to see you there! 

Penn Northeast Conference needs someone who is willing to lead the Pride booth setup at this years event. This includes ensuring a tent is setup and staffed, activities and/or giveaway items, and something that helps us standout among the community. For More information, please contact Rev. Gary Barraco at garybarraco@verizon.net

NEW CHURCH DEVELOPMENT SERIES

Thought About Starting a New Congregation? Does the idea of starting a new congregation intrigue you, even a little? Would you like to learn more? Do you want to reach out to people who have felt excluded from churches in the past because of their race, ethnicity, or language, sexual orientation, age, preference for a different worship style, 'nones' and 'dones,' or those who describe themselves as 'spiritual but not religious'?

The CAC New Church Development Committee of the Central Atlantic Conference (UCC) has created an opportunity for you this spring. The opportunity is co-sponsored by the Christian Church – Capital Area (Disciples of Christ).

On three Thursday evenings you can attend a quick course in new church development and get many of your questions answered by attending three Zoom events from the comfort of your home. The events will be held each evening from 7 to 8:30 pm with an opportunity for Q and A afterward. They are free and open to all interested clergy and laity. 

• April 18 – “How and Why to Start a New Congregation” - Rev. Cean James, Senior Pastor of Salt & Light Church (PCUSA & UCC) and the Associate Conference Minister for Congregational Development, Pennsylvania Southeast Conference, UCC.

• May 16 – “How to Fund a New Congregation” - Rev. Dr. Aaron Wade, Minister for Congregational Leadership Development, Granting and Scholarships in the UCC National Offices and Founding Pastor of the Community Church of Washington, DC.

• June 6 – “Stories from the Front Lines: A Panel of Recent Church Planters” - Pastors of recent successful new UCC congregations or established congregations that recently affiliated with the UCC will share their stories and discuss what worked and what didn't.

To RSVP to attend one – or all three of the workshops, please click here:

NEW CHURCH START WORKSHOP REGISTRATION.

Book Discussion

Are you wondering what is next for the church? Are you tired of hearing words like “revitalization” and “membership growth?” Are you willing to make drastic changes if it means that your children and grandchildren may be interested in participating in a Christian community? In this presentation, author, pastor, and professor, Laurene Bowers walks us through the process of letting go of everything “church.” She will lead a discussion about how to envision and create a new community, based on her most recent book, The Future of American Christianity (Pilgrim Press, 2023): The Future of American Christianity: Bowers, Laurene Beth: 9780829800708: Amazon.com: Books. She will also take questions from those who have read the book. This discussion will take place on Wednesday, May 29, at 6:30 PM, via Zoom. If you’d like to receive Zoom information for the discussion, please email Andrea Kopcak at andrea@pennwest.org by Wednesday, May 22, and let her know that you would like her to send you the Zoom link for the discussion. We will plan to send out the Zoom link for the event on Friday, May 24.

David Ackerman, Penn West Conference Minister

312 South Maple Ave., Suite PWC, Greensburg PA 15601

724-834-0344, david@pennwest.org

he/him/his

Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World

by Katherine Hayhoe

You are invited to a book study on the book Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World, by Katherine Hayhoe. This discussion will be facilitated by Dave Bushnell and Equilla Curry. Participants should come prepared for a thoughtful discussion about climate change and to consider potential solutions to address it. You can register for this book study here:

 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/884342360807?aff=oddtdtcreator.

Dr. Katharine Hayhoe is a climate scientist and chief scientist for The Nature Conservancy. She is also the Endowed Professor in Public Policy and Public Law and Paul W. Horn Distinguished Professor at Texas Tech University.

In Saving Us, Hayhoe argues that when it comes to changing hearts and minds, facts are only one part of the equation. We need to find shared values in order to connect our unique identities to collective action. This is not another doomsday narrative about a planet on fire. It is a multilayered look at science, faith, and human psychology, from an icon in her field—recently named chief scientist at The Nature Conservancy.

The study is intended for people concerned about climate change and who are wanting to do something about it. The group size will be no more than 20 people and it is hoped that participants will come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences.

Time: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM (each session)

Dates and Chapter Discussions: 4 consecutive Tuesdays

1. May 7, 2024 - Read sections 1 & 2 before this session
2. May 14, 2024 - Read section 3
3. May 21, 2024 - Read section 4
4. May 28, 2024 - Read section 5

Pre-work: Please read sections 1 & 2 prior to the first session.

About your Discussion Leaders:

Dave Bushnell is a retired UCC pastor from Lancaster, PA. He chaired the 2023 Lancaster County Climate Summit and has helped to organize the Hamilton Park Climate Action Neighborhood.

Equilla Curry will soon be a graduate of Lancaster Theological Seminary. She recently helped lead a climate elective at Faith UCC, York PA.

B. David Smith, Founder and Organizer, Crossroads and Connections: Building Relationships and Community - 717-371-1516

Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry (PAM) Upcoming Classes and Podcasts

Practices of Church Leadership. May 21–June 25, 2024. Tuesdays, 7–8:30pm EST via Zoom. Instructor the Rev. Sara Hertzog.

This nuts-and-bolts class covers the basics of leadership and administration, with practical application for everyone on the ministry leadership team. Topics include: covenant and authority; conflict; family and congregational systems; vision and mission; handling administrative tasks; spiritual care and boundaries. Clergy, lay leaders, and MIDs are encouraged to register. 2.5 CEUs. $325.

Innovation and New Models of Leadership. July 9–Aug 13, 2024. Tuesdays, 7–8:30pm EST via Zoom. Instructor: The Rev. Dale Davis.

This challenging class engages an array of exciting leadership models and is supported by a podcast series produced especially for the Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry. 2.5 CEUs. $325.

Each class is six weeks online. Information and registration: https://www.lancasterseminary.edu/programs/pennsylvania-academy-of-ministry/