- THIS WEEK IN PNEC November 30, 2023
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Bonnie's Letter
“I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given to you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 1:4 (NRSV)
Dear Friends,
This week we begin the Advent season as we approach the celebration of the birth of Jesus. It’s designed as a time of preparation, emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually. Yet, sometimes we forget the reason for Advent and use it primarily as the waiting game until Christmas arrives.
According to the dictionary, Advent means, “the arrival of a notable person, thing or event.” It is also noted as the first season of the Church Year. That’s interesting to most of us as Advent occurs at the end of our calendar year. The preparations in the church can include the lighting of Advent candles, the hanging of the greens, the Christmas pageant, and perhaps even a cantata or special Christmas concert. We may focus on helping those in need, collecting toys for children, providing meals for the home-bound, and making additional donations – like to the Salvation Army Santas or to our own church.
My curiosity is whether any of these activities prepare our hearts and spirits for Jesus to be born once again in us? Advent devotionals, special worship, prayer time set aside, may help, and yet, it’s easy to get engaged in the decorating, cooking, gift shopping and wrapping, and forget to stop. We need to stop and think about the coming of Jesus into the world and the difference His birth has made to us and to the world.
In 2020 there were an estimated 2.4 billion Christians in the world. Now there are many denominations, many sects, many theologies, and many beliefs, but ALL of us profess to follow Jesus, to believe in his teachings, and to know him as friend, brother, and savior. How might the world change if this Advent we all, all 2.4 billion of us, took one step in faith to be more like, to act more like Jesus? How might the world be changed? How might we be changed?
This Advent season I plan to take a little more time to pray – an extra 10-15 minutes, and to focus on how Jesus wants me to be and act in the world. I don’t know how much of a difference I will make. Yet, what if all 28,000 of the members of the PNEC congregations also focused on how Jesus wants them to be and act in the world? I’d like to see the change that would make. Wouldn’t you? Will you join me? I hope so.
Blessings, Bonnie
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Keystone Working Group – Communications Summary of Recent Fall 2023 Meetings
We invite you to share this summary widely in ministry settings
Over the last two months, members of the Keystone Working Group* met to further develop recommendations for the proposed merger of the four area conferences into one Keystone Conference. Meeting October 13 by Zoom, we discussed Associations: how to support and strengthen relationships between congregations, as well as clergy support and authorization. Task Groups continue to study issues related to:
· Finance
· Governance
· Legal Issues
· Approval Process
· Staffing Needs
During the Fall, each conference held meetings and conversations for people to ask questions, share insights and express hopes for a transformational kind of ministry. Conference leaders attended many large and small group gatherings to share the Keystone proposal. Great conversations have been had around the relationship and support we want to maintain and build together. “Together We Are Stronger” has become more than a statement of intention. It describes the real and vibrant faith we embody.
On November 17, the Keystone Working Group celebrated the completion of one year together in study, affirmation, prayer, and discernment. Relying on God’s grace, we heard reports, questions and shared hopes from our gatherings that will inform our future discussions. YOU are making the difference by your participation in this process of reflection and sharing together.
We continued to define our theology for creating a new conference. While we recognize the strength of our theological traditions, we also respect our diversity, being a “big tent” region with “deep roots.” We invite your prayers for guidance and hope. And we ask that you share information about our proposed merger with your congregations. Relying on the grace of God, we trust God to lead us, believing Together We Are Stronger, The Keystone Conference.
We welcome your observations and questions as you visit the Keystone Conference Project website hosted by the PSEC. https://psec.org/keystone/ Your questions and comments help us more fully understand how we can help each other work together. You are invited to connect with us by email, at Keystone.Conference.Project@gmail.com. You may also use the postal service and direct mail to the Keystone Working Group through your own area Conference Office.
Remember to Save the Date for the updated joint meeting of all 4 conference areas, June 7-9, 2024 at State College.
We looked at a possible logo to further unite our proposed merger and the commitment to build relationships which help us make our entire area stronger. Looking at the progression of our journey, we have chosen to focus on people — figures uniting. These figures of subtle hearts, joining hands in a circle of collaboration and connection, signify the unity this new Keystone Conference embodies. The addition of the cross on the keystone is a nuanced yet powerful touch, symbolizing our interconnected paths and the meeting point of ideas. The logo and the statement, “Together We Are Stronger” are not just a mark or slogan; they are symbols of our dedication to unity and the collective journey we embark on as the Keystone Conference.
Sharing our progress in grace and hope,
KWG Communications Team
Steve Davis St. John’s UCC, Fullerton (PNEC)
Heather Kurtz Zion UCC, Arendtsville (PCC)
Bob Fogal Zwingli UCC (PSEC)
Deb Long First Trinity UCC, Youngwood (PWC)
*A study, discernment and working group of the 4 PA area UCC Conferences – Penn West, Penn Central, Penn NE, and Pennsylvania SE
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Cultivating Generous Congregations - Spring 2024
The CGC Seminar for pastors and leaders offers an opportunity to explore faithful, practical, and tested ways to promote generosity in our congregations. Be sure to recruit at least a team of two for this program. Changing the culture of your congregation requires more than one dedicated leader.
This is a virtual seminar hosted by the South Central and Southeast Conferences on February 19, March 4, March 18, April 8, April 22, and May 6 from 7:30 to 9pm EASTERN (6:30 to 8pm Central)
The registration fee is $300 (per team of two) and $50 for each additional team member.
Register Today - https://cvent.me/YwOoaz
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PNEC’s 2023 Closing Date will be Friday, January 12, 2024
Please plan your closing so that your final 2023 remittance will be received in the Conference Office by Friday, January 12, 2024. Receipts received after the 12th will be credited to 2024. Do not include 2023 remittances with 2024 and make certain remittance slips are marked for either the year 2023 or 2024.
Thank you for your cooperation and support.
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Last Call...
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 on zoom or 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
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Bridge of Faith
a project of St. John UCC in Riegelsville, PA, and two UCC congregations in New Jersey, helps support orphanages, schools and other social service groups in Awka, Nigeria. You may know us from our Fair Trade sales tables at Conference meetings and other events, where we raise funds to support the project. Recently we have paired with Ghana 4-E, another non-profit in Washington, NJ (Warren County), to create a Fair Trade Gallery at Kathy’s Kove and Kafé, 5 East Washington Ave. (Route 57) in Washington, NJ. During November and December, we are holding a major event, featuring Fair Trade art and craft items from many different countries around the world. The Christmas tree provides details. Cross the Delaware to support our project, shop for a variety of causes, and buy unique items for your Christmas giving!
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2024 Women's Clergy Retreat: Carrying & Carried
Carrying & Carried....the things we hold and who holds us
January 16, 2024 · 4pm - January 18, 2024 · 12pm EST
Mariawald Retreat House
1094 Welsh Road Reading, PA 19607
Join us for the Women's Clergy Retreat! This retreat will be centered around the things we hold and who holds us. Massages will be available for an additional fee.
The retreat will take place at Mariawald Retreat Center, 1094 Welsh Road in Reading, PA. Modest linens/towels and simple meals are provided - you are welcome to bring snacks and drinks to share! Rooms are double occupancy and cost $130 - space is limited! First floor rooms available on request, and be sure to include the name of a roommate if you have a preference. Full vaccination and a negative home covid test required up to 48 hours before the retreat.
Although vaccination proof is not required we do ask if you feel at all unwell and/or are showing any flu/Covid symptoms, that you please stay home for the safety of others.
Questions? Please contact: Kim Berenotto at kimberlyberenotto@gmail.com or
Tammie Wisniewski at tammie@psec.org
When you register, you give your permission to use photos of you or your children for purposes of telling the story of the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference on the website or in video, newsletter and social media posts. If you are opposed to having your picture taken and possibly used in this way, please let us know by contacting the PSEC office at: susan@psec.org including your name (and/or names of your children) and your email and phone contact information.
Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-womens-clergy-retreat-carrying-carried-tickets-767650903517?aff=oddtdtcreator
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On the UCC website, it states,
“Gender & Sexuality Justice Ministries seeks transformative justice for our faith communities and congregations by just action and love for all. ~ We believe in the justice-oriented ministry of Jesus and act with those facing systemic oppression at the intersection of gender & sexuality to offer care, sex positive education & curriculum, gender & bodily autonomy education & programming, policy & advocacy and partnership and outreach opportunities.”
For those seeking greater knowledge and depth in addressing this important justice issue, PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc. offers a course where participants from across the country have a place to gather in online conversations. Go to PATHWAYSTheological.org to register or to find out more about the course, Theology of Gender and Sexuality. There is still time to register for this course as well as UCC Polity and History, and several other courses which begin in early January 2024.
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Celebrate With Us!
From the Ministry Team reports, the following accomplishments were highlighted for celebration at the November Board Meeting:
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Congregational Vitality Team and the Local Congregational Support Working Group’s continued their cooperative effort as they provide resources for local church leadership. They are currently working on the second video in the series, “How to Church; I Wish I Knew.”
- Spiritual Development Ministry Team’s scheduled “Sleep Out” event for homelessness in October (which unfortunately was rained out) and is scheduling a Spring Youth Retreat at Spruce Lake in the Poconos March 1-3 of 2024.
- Conference Meeting Planning Team’s successful Fall Meeting, including the Keystone Presentations.
- GEM Fund Team’s grant for $1,000 to Faith UCC in Center Valley for another phase of their intergenerational natural garden project.
- Gwilym T. Williams Fund Team’s positive review of nearly 17 applications for funding, which will result in a total of $38,000 being distributed to the student applicants.
- Authorization Working Group’s thanks to Rebecca Sausser for her efforts in a Community of Practice for the MID community.
- Generosity Team’s creation of a video to be distributed to the churches for use during Covenant Sunday with help from Anthony Newett.
- Disaster Response Team’s thanks to Karl Jones for his continued assistance to the PNEC Team.
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Penn Central Conference - Outdoor Ministries
Hartman Center Winter YOUTH Retreat
God's Dance Party
January 12-14, 2024
Grades 6- 12
$75 until December 4 - then $100
Meals & Lodging Included
Click Here for Details & Registration
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Apply now: Ministers' Financial Vitality Initiative
UCC authorized ministers interested in joining the Ministers’ Financial Vitality Initiative for the 2024 cohort, follow this link to apply. Spaces are limited and requests will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis. MFVI is a three-year Faith and Finance program of the Pension Boards to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders, which seeks to empower UCC ministers with financial tools and strategies to better manage their personal finances so they can serve their ministries more effectively. To learn more, read our Frequently Asked Questions.
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Third Annual Assamblea 2023
December 9 from 12 Noon to 2PM (ET) - via zoom
Small Steps Make a Difference
Click Here for detailed flyer
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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.
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