Bonnie's Letter

Dear Friends,

I am on vacation the week of March 4-10. So, I share with you this prayer used at last week’s Council of Conference Minister’s Meeting used at our joint worship with the UCC Board. The scripture text for our worship was:

Joel 2:28b-29 - The Day of the Lord

“I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.”

United and Uniting -

  A Prayer for the United Church of Christ and the World

written by David Long Higgins, Conference Minister for the Heartland Conference

Loving God,

 Form us ever anew

 United and uniting

 Bearing a vision larger

 Than we can imagine.

Form the puzzling

 Predicaments of our day

 Into something precious

 And beautiful and good.

Yes, take all that is scattered

 Embracing every fragment

 And fashion something new

 Beyond what is known

 In a world full of hurt

 Yearning for something more

 That heals, renews, and blesses.

Let no pressure

 Of present predicaments

 Often repeatedly rehearsed

 Be greater than the grace

 You pour out to cleanse.

Ready us for new creations

 Even now beginning to rise

 Through Your connective strength

 Otherwise thought impossible

 Save for Your unrelenting love

 Made known to us in Christ Jesus.

Yes, persistent One

 Awaken us to the truth

 Of being already joined

 By You for a joy unbelievable

 Except as we entrust our lives

 To You who always holds

 Everyone and everything

 In a marvelous mystery

 Not of our making

 Yet urging our consent.

O Love,

 Form and re-form our hearts

 For nothing less than this

 Of Your unifying desire

 To rise ever anew in us

 In some precious proclamation

 Of what You make possible

 When Your people anywhere

 Turn toward each other

 In love, for love, by love

 And say yes again to You, O Love.

Let this be the good news

 Proclaimed through our life

 Formed by Your uniting

 To be united with others

 For the healing of the world,

 That Your joy may rise

 Everywhere for everyone.

                   Amen and Amen.

2024 Summer Conference Meeting

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.

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 opens on Monday. 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)

Faith Formation Leadership Retreat

May 3 - 5, 2024

Spruce Lake Retreat Center, 5389 Route 447, Canadensis, PA 18325

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

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.

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

Israel/Palestine

Upcoming program several departments of the University of Scranton are hosting on Israel/Palestine on Thursday, March 21 at 5pm.

We will be joined by two Middle East experts, Palestinian-American legal scholar Omar Dajani and Jewish-Canadian political scientist Mira Sucharov, via Zoom for a discussion on “Fostering Justice and Peace in Israel/Palestine: Palestinian and Jewish Perspectives on Current Realities and the Path Forward.” Myself and Fr. Michael Azar will moderate in-person on the U of S campus. More information is available in the attached poster and online here..

This event is open to the community – people can join virtually via a Zoom webinar link or come in person for the conversation and Q&A in Brennan Hall (Room 228/Pearn Auditorium), U of S campus (320 Madison Ave.). RSVP here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Israel-Palestine2024. 

Exploring The UCC - Our History, Our Beliefs, Our Identity

Instructor: Dr. Jill Baker, Adjunct Professor of Eden Theological Seminary

March 23, 2024 - 8:30AM to 12:30PM (EST) via Zoom

Click on the link below

https://www.sneucc.org/eventdetail/17524717?month=3&year=2024&day=1&display=m

Link for the new "How to Church"

In the third installment of the “How to Church: I Wish I Knew” video series being produced cooperatively by the Local Congregational Support Working Group and the Congregational Vitality Team, we tackle the topic of Community Engagement. Watch and listen to a panel discuss: how they and their churches serve their respective communities, why it’s an important part of our Christian witness, and some tips for discerning how you and your church may better engage your community.

https://youtu.be/USNUXchNJns

The Annual Robert K. Campbell Memorial Lecture on Christian Unity Presents

Revisioning Faith For The 21st Century

Thursday, April 11, 2024

3:00 to 8:00PM

DeSales University, (University Center), 2755 Station Ave., Center Valley

$20 Registration Fee

featuring author Sue Pizor Yoder and the members of Co.Lab.Inq.

About Event...What will faith communities look like in 2040? What actions can church leaders take to address the new religious context of Gen Xers and Millennials—now representing 40 percent of adults living in America? What do these generations teach us about belonging, adversity, legacy—and faith? Join us for an interactive, multisensory event aimed at seeking a path to revisioning faith for the 21st century.

AGENDA

3:00 – 3:30: Registration

3:30 – 5:00: Lecture and Q&A

5:00 – 6:00: Buffet Dinner

6:00 – 7:30: Interactive Workshop

7:30 – 8:00: Book Signing:

“Hear Us Out: Six Questions on Belonging and Belief.”

Register at: www.lehighchurches.org/events

Re-affirmation of Ordination Vows

March 28^{th -} 10:00 AM

The Conference Ministers of the four Pennsylvania UCC Conferences will host a Service of the Reaffirmation of Ordination Vows for ordained clergy on Maundy Thursday, March 28, at 10:00a via ZOOM.

It’s a long-standing custom in liturgical traditions for clergy to gather on the same day Jesus offered “a new commandment”– to love and serve one another– for the reaffirmation of their ordination. We hope this will be an experience of spiritual encouragement and connection.

Clergy are encouraged to wear a stole received at their ordination, a red stole, or any other stole that has significant meaning. The service includes the sacrament of virtual communion so please prepare in advance.

https://psec.org/event/reaffirmation-of-ordination-vows/

Registration: https://ordinationvows.eventbrite.com



The March Event for Crossroads and Connections

Join Us for a Webinar - Book Banning! What Comes Next?

You are invited to a webinar on the topic of book banning.

Date: Monday, March 18, 2024

Time: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time

Dave Bushnell and Tom Davis- Shappell will facilitate a discussion with our experts - Nikki Rivera, Molly Magro, Parker Webb and Dr. Robert (Bob) Hollister.

Participants should come prepared for a thoughtful discussion about the impact of book banning in our society.

Book Banning has been around for almost as long as books have been published. The presenters for this Webinar are very familiar with the pressures of book banning efforts especially in public schools. Why is this happening and what are ways for school librarians, superintendents, and school boards to respond to the challenges? Our webinar will focus especially on LGBTQ+ literature bans because LGBTQ+ youth are often marginalized and need ‘safe places’ of support and affirmation. After presentations and interactions of the presenters, they will respond to questions from those attending the Webinar.

Who Should Attend? Parents of school aged children; school superintendents; school librarians; school board members; LGBTQ+ community; anyone interested in this topic.

Here is the registration link to the March webinar for Crossroads &Connections: Building Relationships and Community- on book banning. Registration is open.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/830572724377?aff=oddtdtcreator

This is going to be powerful and you do not want to miss it!

Turning Point of Lehigh Valley Upcoming Event

Community Conversations: Zoom Webinar

Virtual Lunch & Learn

The Invisible Epidemic: Traumatic Brain Injury and Domestic & Intimate Partner Abuse

Tuesday, March 19 - 11AM to Noon (EST)

Attendance is at no cost to the community. Certificates of attendance can be provided.

Click Here for Link to Register

For Additional details about this event, including speaker bios, please click the link below

Events from March 7 – May 20, 2027 – Turning Point of Lehigh Valley (turningpointlv.org)

Boundary Training

Not-Your-Average Boundaries Training is tailored to focus on strategies to foster clergy emotional resiliency and well-being. 



While we still cover the "requirements" we believe the best prevention involves encouraging leaders to take steps to manage their stress in order to maintain balance and perspective when temptation to violate boundaries arises.

This live online boundaries training is 5 total hours split over 2 consecutive days (2.5 hours each day). Following the first session, participants are asked to engage in a bit of reflection work in preparation for the second session. This online boundaries training will be conducted via secure Zoom video conferencing

Classes will be offered May 7/8 from 1PM-4PM & October 15/16 from 10AM-1PM 2023

Limit is 40 people per class

Zoom link and workbook will be emailed to all participants 1 week prior to the scheduled training.

$50.00 for PCUSA / $65.00 for non-PCUSA participants

CLICK HERE to Register

Insurance Board is proud to present our 

Safety Central Webpage & Risk Control Guide For Ministries

We encourage you to take a moment to watch the Safety Central Video featuring Chad Cunningham, Director of Loss Control. In addition, please see our new Risk Control Guide For Ministries. This guide has been created to assist ministries by providing safety considerations to protect your ministry.

The Safety Central Video and the Risk Control Guide can be found using the links below.

Insurance Board: Safety Central Video

Insurance Board: Risk Control Guide

DR. STEPHEN TRZECIAK TO PRESENT KEYNOTE “COMPASSIONOMICS AND THE WONDER DRUG” AT “COMPASSION IN ACTION,” A CONFERENCE

PRESENTED BY THE PHOEBE INSTITUTE ON AGING

The Phoebe Institute on Aging (PIA) presents “Compassion in Action” featuring keynote speaker Stephen Trzeciak, MD, MPH, physician scientist, professor, clinical researcher, intensivist (specialist in intensive care medicine), and co-author of “Compassionomics: The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence that Caring Makes a Difference” (2019), and “Wonder Drug: 7 Scientifically Proven Ways That Serving Others Is the Best Medicine for Yourself.”

Presented on Thursday, April 18, from 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at DeSales University, University Center, 2755 Station Ave, Center Valley, Pennsylvania, the conference will examine how compassionate care can support goals like workforce well-being, both long-term care resident and patient experience, safety, quality, and innovation, as well as additional content to support caregivers and leaders during this challenging time.

For more information and registration, go to 2024 PIA Conference or call 610-794-5163. Register by March 1, 2024, to receive the early bird pricing of $35.00. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for health care professionals, social workers, and clergy. 

Congregational Education Day

On Saturday, April 6 from 8:30a-3:00p, PSEC will hold the 2024 Lay Leadership Convocation in Boyertown. This year's theme will be Sharing Leadership. For agenda, workshop descriptions, and registration, click here

The Keystone Project conversation has highlighted a need for more lay leadership learning opportunities as congregations rely more heavily on these volunteers. Pennsylvania Southeast has a long history of offering this learning day and as we continue to explore the possibilities of a Keystone Conference, this is an excellent opportunity for fellowship together with our siblings in Christ. Lay Leaders and Clergy are teaming up to offer workshops on care for older adults, choir spirituality, small Sunday school success, stewardship and so much more!! There’s something for everyone and carpooling with friends from church will help with the early morning drive as things begin at 8:30 with coffee and registration.

Check out this exciting list of workshop opportunities and come, too, for the keynote from Andover Newton’s Rev. Dr. Sarah Drummond on Sharing Leadership

“Differ We Must”: Steps to engage congregations in overcoming differences with Rev. Dr. Carrie Call

The Spiritual Life of the Choir with Ms. Caroline Dunleavy

The Keystone Conference: What it is and what it means for the people in the pews with Revs. Bill Worley and Kevin McLemore

Why Telling our Faith Story Matters with Rev. Dr. Steve Ohnsman

Accompanying Our Aging Selves: Being Present with Older Adults with Rev. Susan Scott

Small Sunday School with Ms. Betsy Majewski

Engaging the Fringes of the Church with Rev. Dr. Charles Maxwell

Stewardship and Generosity Impact with Rev. Bill Worley

Churches Sharing a Pastor: An Ancient Model of Ministry for a Contemporary Church with Rev. Kevin McLemore

Hope to see you there! -- Nora Faust, Penn Central Conference, UCC

Announcing Yale Divinity School’s first non-degree, online certificate program in Youth Ministry Leadership!

This nine-month, digital, cohort-based program will launch in September 2024 focusing on three key areas: leadership theory in church organizations, theological and spiritual care for youth (with an focus on mental health), and empowerment, liberation and justice work with youth. 

Participants will learn from renowned YDS faculty including Willie Jennings, Joyce Mercer, Almeda Wright and more, other select learning institutions and the Yale Youth Ministry Institute network of experts and practitioners.

Applications are currently being accepted. Our inaugural cohort will be limited to 20 participants.

Click here for more information and to apply

Questions? Email kelly.morrissey@yale.edu.

The Institute for Youth Ministry’s Princeton Forum on Youth Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary

This year’s theme is “Craft: The Future of Youth Ministry,” and the event dates are April 30 - May 3, 2024, on the seminary campus. We believe the Forum is a unique opportunity for youth ministry leaders who crave a community of peers seeking to be transformed through theological reflection that meets practical application in ministry with young people.  

Youth ministers are often the ones called upon in the church to cast a vision for how we can build life together with young people in our congregations and communities. Will you please share about this event with those who are doing youth ministry in your congregation? We have also attached a flyer that you can share on social media and in newsletters with the ministry leaders who would find value in our resources. More information can also be found on our Facebook and Instagram platforms.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Thank you for your help in spreading the word!

Building Ministry Together, Barbara Holland 

Barbara Holland(She/her), ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, INSTITUTE FOR YOUTH MINISTRY

Princeton Theological Seminary, Office: 609.497.7914, https://iym.ptsem.edu/

Disaster Ministries

Non-profit FEMA grant intro seminars scheduled

FEMA’s Grant Programs Directorate invites interested organizations to attend webinars regarding the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. The NSGP is a competitive grant awarded to nonprofit organizations at high risk of a terrorist or other extremist attack for the purposes of facility hardening and other security enhancements. It is strongly recommended that you review the NSGP resources found here to maximize the benefit of attendance.

·   Friday, March 8, 2:00p. Register..

·   Thursday, March 14, 4:00, Register.

·   Friday, March 22, 2:00p. Register.

Following registration, you will receive a calendar invitation via email for the webinar. The link to join the webinar will be contained in that calendar event email. 

Ready PA Monthly - Click Here to Read

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