Bonnie's Letter

Galatians 3:26-28 “for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.”

Dear Friends,

Several people have asked me to speak or write about the wars going on in the world today. For fear of angering some or all of our readers, I feel I must be really clear these are my personal views – not political views, not national views, and maybe not even purely religious views.

My heart breaks when I read about or hear about or see scenes of war. My heart also breaks when I read about, hear about, or see images of gun violence as well but that’s another article.

At the Fall Meeting on Saturday, I expanded on Paul’s dichotomies and proclaimed that there is neither Israeli or Palestinian, Ukrainian or Russian, poor or rich, straight or queer, democrat or republican, Caucasian or Indigenous, African, Asian, Caribbean, or any other nationality, ethnic group or race…for a moment, let us see all of humanity as a very good creation of God, as beloved children of God. When God viewed creation, God said it is very good…all of creation is very good.

Perhaps we do not remember this because there hasn’t been a war on our soil for some centuries, but while soldiers fight and die in wars, the most injured are civilians – men, women, and children of all nations. Over 12,000 people have died in the Israeli-Palestinian war, over 9,600 civilians in Ukraine were killed by September 2023. Whole families, communities, and cultures are obliterated during wars.

Many of my friends would like me to be more sympathetic to the Israelis and less so to the Palestinians. I am afraid I cannot be. While I abhor the terrorism of Hamas, I also abhor the “open-air prison” which Palestinians in Gaza have been forced into over the past years.

I share a quote from my friend Michael Piazza, “What Hamas did, and is doing, is certainly evil, but, as a follower of the way of Jesus, I’m not sure that combatting evil with evil is the best approach. Jesus said repeatedly we have to forgive our enemies. To do that is, of course, to acknowledge we will have enemies.

Dr. King liked to quote Gandhi who said, ‘If we practice an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, soon the whole world will be blind and toothless.’ While it is natural to want to punish, annihilate, and eradicate those who committed these atrocities, my question would be, "Is that effective?"”[1]

I cannot believe that war is the answer, that continuing violence is the answer. How can that be what God seeks for humanity? Perhaps it is time to sit with one another, mothers and fathers, children, aunts, uncles, grandparents – on all sides of the wars – and imagine what we want the world to be like for our children. Maybe that is the answer to the question, how do we forgive and love our neighbor?

Blessings, Bonnie

[1] Piazza, Michael, Liberating Word, October 16, 2023

New PNEC Community of Practice Being Offered

For those currently in an interim setting, or those thinking of doing interim ministry, Bob Stevens is hosting a Community of Practice group beginning in January that will meet monthly on dates and at locations determined by the participants. Participants will choose among topics such as developmental and process tasks of the interim; preaching in the in-between times; and negotiating, contracting and covenanting, depending on their interests. Bob has served as interim pastor and consultant in dozens of churches and formerly was a trainer/coordinator with the national Interim Ministry Network. 

Please contact Patty at the Conference Office if you are interested. pattyr@pnec.org

PBUCC Annuity Plan Beneficiary Designations

Effective Sept. 1, 2023, Recordkeeping Services for the Lifetime Retirement Income Plan for the UCC also known as the Annuity Plan, moved to Fidelity Investments. Existing annuitants are NOT impacted by the transition.

Beneficiary elections did not transfer to Fidelity. It is important to designate your beneficiary at Fidelity. To update your beneficiary designations, go to: PBUCC.org > Member Account > Access Fidelity NetBenefits > Profile > Beneficiaries. You can also contact Fidelity for a form. Contact Fidelity through PBUCC Member Services at 800-642-6543, 8:30a to 12:00a, Monday-Friday

Scam Awareness and How to Avoid Identity Theft

The Church of the Good Shepherd in Alburtis will be hosting an event in cooperation with the Crime Victims Council of the Lehigh Valley on November 13th from 6-8 PM. The focus of the event will be scam awareness and how to avoid identity theft. There will be light snacks and refreshments available. All are welcome to attend. Click Here for Flyer.

Days of Prayer & Action

November 14 & 15

Saving Lives: Ending Gun Violence

Tuesday, November 14 - 5:30 to 7PM - Interfaith Prayer Service, St. Stephen's Episcopal Cathedral, 221 N. Front St., Harrisburg, PA

Wednesday, November 15

7:30AM to 9AM - Interfaith Prayer Breakfast with Legislators

10AM to Noon - Advocacy Appointments with Legislators and staff...OR

10AM to Noon - Recitation of Names of the Lost on the Capitol Steps

12:15PM to 1:15PM - Lunch

1:30 to 2:30PM - Solemn Procession: Witness Walk around the Capitol Mourning the Victims of Gun Violence

3 to 3:30PM - Press Conference in Capitol Rotunda

A block of discounted rooms has been reserved for Tuesday, November 14 at the Penn Harris Hotel, 1150 Camp Hill Bypass, Camp Hill, PA 17011

• Rev. Rhonda K Kruse, Transitional Presbytery Leader 

Lehigh Presbytery & Lackawanna Presbytery

(610) 391-9020, ext 1 (office); (610) 360-8823 (mobile)

Cultivating a Culture of Safety - November 11, 2023

Penn West Conference, working with Insurance Board, is hosting an Active Intruder Response, Emergency Planning, and Abuse Prevention workshop on Saturday, November 11, from 9 AM to 1:15 PM. Lunch will be provided. Registration will be required.

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: Bob Winters, CPP, is the Protective Security Advisor (PSA) in Pittsburgh for the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Winters supports homeland security efforts, serving in an advising and reach-back capacity to the state Homeland Security Advisors. Local police and county emergency representatives. Lisa Gonzalez, Director of Loss Control, Insurance Board, Elizabeth Vance, Sr. Loss Control Representative, Insurance Board

Here is the link to register: Cultivating a Culture of Safety – November 11 Workshop - Insurance Board. Please register as soon as possible; the deadline to register is Wednesday, November 8.  

Israel-Palestine: Recent Developments & Difficulties Ahead

Featuring Dr. Bernard Sabella

(Part of Fr. Drew Christiansen S.J. Holy Land National Lecture Series Hosted by Churches for Middle East Peace)

Monday, November 13 at 6PM EST

The Rose Room, Brennan Hall, The University of Scranton

Click Here for detailed flyer

Meditation and Prayer Gatherings with Kris Snyder

Looking for some peace and ways to decompress? we meet by zoom monthly for meditation and prayer. = Penn Northeast Conference Community

Thursdays at 12noon -- November 9 and 30

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81188127483?pwd=TzdmTFpIaXVtMjRQSHY1K1hOdkV2dz09

Meeting ID: 811 8812 7483 Passcode: 348630

OR

Union UCC Community -- Tuesdays 7-8pm -- November 14, December 12

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87680378046?pwd=QmozYWJFemJOVENCdWJBbzRpbDVIUT09

Meeting ID: 876 8037 8046 Passcode: 954906

Retirees Luncheon

(for Retired Clergy, Their Spouses/Partners, and Surviving Spouses)

 Monday, December 4, 2023

11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

(Lunch at noon)

Jordan UCC, 1837 Church Road, Allentown

Program: Keystone Conversations

 By Wednesday, November 22, please let us know if you will be attending by:

calling the Conference Office (610-826-3113) or

emailing Barbara at BarbaraJ@pnec.org  

OFFERED by Penn Central Conference

Fifth Stream Conversations

Three fall conversations open to the whole church on the recognition of the UCC’s fifth founding stream, the Afro-Christian Convention. This will be exciting learning for us as we explore the Afro-Christian Convention together and refresh our existing knowledge around the Christian, Congregational, Evangelical, and Reformed traditions also present at our founding. The first two sessions will be largely the same with in-person and zoom options available and the November date will be sort of a deeper dive into the Afro-Christian Convention with some of the contributors to the new book Afro-Christian Convention: The Fifth Stream of the United Church of Christ available from Pilgrim Press, Amazon, and your favorite local bookseller.

Zoom

3pm November 12^th ZOOM for all Participants

 Register here: https://penncentralconference.regfox.com/the-fifth-stream

Giving Tuesday

On November 28, people across our country will participate in “Giving Tuesday” by making donations to charities important to them. Our congregation encourages you to make a gift on Giving Tuesday, November 28, to support the climate justice work of the United Church of Christ.   

Gifts made this year will support the UCC’s Climate Hope program which entails a year-long advocacy campaign powered by a full-time lead organizer and 12 young people who will participate in a summer leadership program. Through the voices of the next generation, we will effectively advocate for climate legislation. Our gifts will also support a 2024 Earth Day Summit and all of our UCC environmental justice work. You can learn more at www.ucc.org/givingtuesday. 

These projects effectively combine three of the UCC’s greatest strengths for affecting change: our longstanding commitment to justice, our local roots in communities throughout the country, and our younger generation of inspiring leaders. 

Advent, which begins the same week as Giving Tuesday, celebrates the hope central to our faith. Joining together with people across the United Church of Christ to support climate justice can make our Advent hope burn brighter. It’s in action that hope is found!

Please prayerfully consider a gift to support Climate Justice on Giving Tuesday, November 28, by making a gift at www.ucc.org/givingtuesday.

THE PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMY OF MINISTRY (PAM)

INTRODUCTION TO PREACHING

Connect with your congregation, make Biblical text come alive, and learn breathing techniques for a more compelling delivery. Your congregation will thank you! Six weeks online, Tuesdays, 7:00-8:30pm ET, Jan. 2 – Feb. 6, 2024. $325 for 2.5 CEUs. Information and Registration: https://www.lancasterseminary.edu/programs/pennsylvania-academy-of-ministry/

Darryl W. Stephens, he / him / his, Director, Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry (PAM)

Director, United Methodist Studies, Lancaster Theological Seminary 

Covenant Sunday - November 19, 2023

A Celebration of the Covenant among Congregations and the Conference

Click Here for for Worship Service

Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

November 12-19

Click to See Flyer

Third Annual Assamblea 2023

December 9 from 12 Noon to 2PM (ET) - via zoom

Small Steps Make a Difference

Click Here for detailed flyer

LAY LEADERSHIP CONVOCATION

Sponsored by the Lay Leadership Education Team

of the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ

at Church of the Good Shepherd, 35 W. Philadelphia Ave., Boyertown, PA

Saturday, April 6 -- 8:30 am to 3:00 pm

Cost $40 per person includes lunch

Keynote address by Dr. Sarah Drummond,

Dean of Andover Newton Theological School and author of Sharing Leadership.

Workshops will be offered on a variety of topics relevant to lay leaders.

Registration will be through the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference Office beginning by February.

Upcoming PAM Classes

Convenient. Affordable. Online Learning

Earn CEUs from The Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry at Lancaster Seminary

INTRODUCTION TO PREACHING Starting in January

PREACHING & WORSHIP THROUGH THE YEAR In the spring

Click Here for Detailed Flyer and Registration Information.

Disaster Ministries

Cold & Flue Season Kit - Click to Read

Cyber Safety for Kids - Click to Read

Cyber Security for Older Adults - Click to Read

Ready PA Monthly - Click Here to Read

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