Penn Central Conference Weekly eNews

The curriculum for this year's Summer Camp at Hartman Center is Beyond Belief, The Universe of God. Activities, songs crafts and Bible study will help campers move from recognizing God's love for them as an individual to sharing God's love with the world. Our day two focus, based on Mary's song in Luke chapter one asks: "What if God is bigger?" Just as Mary, the mother of Jesus, sang "My soul magnifies the Lord," we can recognize that God chooses each one of us to make God's love bigger.

The youth and children who come to retreats and to camp are eager and interested in making a difference. They express care and concern for creation, for people and animals in their community and in the world. As adults we are called to empower their caring, and to walk alongside them as they magnify God's love.

I am amazed and grateful at the members of Penn Central Conference who have shown their desire to help make God's love bigger through support of our Outdoor ministries program. As of the last week in March, gifts from individuals, churches and Associations total nearly $12,000! We have also received some great gifts in response to the "Wish List" posted on our website. The Hartman Center Advisory Council and friends are still willing to come to your church to make a presentation. Call or email and we will be happy to schedule a visit.

Please look at all of the links posted below for the many ways you can continue your support and participate in the programs of Penn Central's Outdoor Ministries at Hartman Center. And ALWAYS feel free to contact me. Program@Hartmancenter.com or 717-50Cabin

Peace and Blessings,

Pastor Patty

Patty Dodds

Coordinator of Camps/Retreats/Youth Ministry

Hartman Center News and Resources

2018 is shaping up to be another epic summer at Hartman Center! In addition to popular weeks like Fishing Camp, Soccer Camp and Water World, we've expanded our popular MADD Camp theme into a whole week of arts camps for all ages! Plus, we have added a music-focused Getting Started Camp, Arts and Crafts Camp for grades 4-6 and Creative Writing Camp for grades 7-10.

As always, activities will include hiking, climbing, swimming, arts and crafts, music, theatre, campfires, games, rafting, archery, fishing and navigating the co-op trail obstacle course. Hartman Center is a great opportunity to grow in God's love, form friendships and make memories that will last a lifetime! View our Camp Schedule ! To register

Nurses Needed:

Nurses (LPN/RN) needed for summer camp as well as for the retreat weekends. If you are able to assist, please reach out to Patty.

Snacks:

This year we are providing our own snacks for campers. Please contact Pastor Patty if you can help with food items OR with grocery store gift cards (Dollar General, Weis, or Giant)

Hartman Center Work Weekend:

Please join us May 4 and 5 for Hartman Center's annual work weekend as we descend upon the camp to undertake various projects to repair and upgrade Hartman Center for summer camp. We need assistance with several projects.

Click on Work Camp Assignments to see the kinds of things we hope to accomplish if people with the right skill sets can come. To sign up or for more information, please contact Dave Bushnell

Hartman Center Golf Outing - May 12, 2018, beginning at 1:30 PM in Fairview Golf Course in Quentin

Hartman Center Golf Outing Poster

Hartman Center Golf Outing Registration Form

Hartman Center Golf Outing - Sponsor Form

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And don't forget these other upcoming events:

May 4-6 Elementary Retreat

Summer Camp June 24 - July 28

Youth and women's retreats November 16-18

Hartman Center Wish List

----Elementary Retreat - May 4-6, 2018

More details on the Hartman Center Web site!

Thank you for your continued support!

Annual Meeting - June 8 and 9 at Susquehanna University

Mark Your Calendars!

The call to the

Fifty-Sixth Annual Meeting

of the Penn Central Conference of the United Church of Christ

ALIVE IN CHRIST

Re-visioning Key Vital Signs

(Colossians 2: 6-19)

This year, opening worship begins Friday at 2:00!

We are excited to see you there!

This year we will focus on equipping local churches with practical tools and resources to thrive.

What are real ways that participation connects individuals to that which is holy?

How can churches collectively reflect on that?

How is the church a community connected spiritually in their missional work?

Annual Meeting will seek to answer these questions and also provide opportunities for fellowship, education and an opportunity to worship together.

Display Application and Workshop Application now due April 30!

Other Annual Meeting details on our Web site!

Costs:

Friday Registration - $35

Saturday Registration - $35

Friday Dinner - $13

Saturday Breakfast - $6.50

Saturday Lunch - $10.50

Double Occupancy - $40 OR Single Occupancy - $50

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**REGISTER FOR EVERYTHING, SAVE $10!

TO REGISTER

(We will have a robust Children's program this year - Children's Registration Coming Soon!)

Annual Meeting Mission Project

This year's mission project is 3 Great Loves!

We want to collect and lift up the stories of Penn Central Conference churches. Please tell us about the knitting clubs, the food pantries, the community meals, protest, letter writing campaigns and anything else your church or organization may be doing to create a just world for all.

NOTHING IS TOO SMALL. Please send your church's stories and pictures to Stephanie.

Thank you... the work that you are already doing is significant and greatly needed.

Read other stories from Penn Central Conference churches!

Justice and Community Issues

Creation Justice - NEW

NEW Creation Justice Churches (since last Annual Meeting) - please reach out to Stephanie if you have new Creation Justice churches or Libby Loser if you are thinking of becoming a Creation Justice church.

Has your church started a community garden, planted a rain garden or a tree, switched to renewable generated electricity, learned about the Flint Water Crisis or another environmental issue or celebrated Earth Sunday? We are looking for pictures of your church involved in Creation Care activities. The Creation Justice Team is collecting pictures of churches and their members as they do creation care activities. Please email to Libby Loser.

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The Pollinator has a NEW Facebook page! Be sure to check it out Penn Central has their own special guest writer every Tuesday and Thursday - Tom Hocking.

Check out the video of why Creation Care: A Story of Three Great Loves.

Resource Links

Join Our Weekly eNews Mailing List

PCC UCC Links

Association Links

Hartman Center

UCC Weekly Seeds

Daily Devotional

The Pollinator

Links to Our Partners

Phoebe Messenger

Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry

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Lancaster Theological Seminary

Calendar of Events

Link to Our Web Site Calendar

Printable Calendar

PLEASE SAVE THE DATE!

Annual Meeting - June 8-9, 2018, Susquehanna University

Nat'l ONA Gathering - June 27-29, 2018, Dallas, TX

Partners in Peace - July 5, 2018

Mid-Atlantic Regional Youth Event - July 19-22, 2018

California University of Pennsylvania

Widening the Welcome (Disability Ministries) - November 1-3, 2018, Niagara Falls, NY

General Synod, 2019 - June 21-25, 2019, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Church News

Church Events

April 15 - Gender Revolution (Movie and Pizza)

April 21 - PSEC Workshop, Necessary Endings: When Does Closure Become an Option - 9:00a-12:00. For more info and to register,

May 1 - 3 - Penn Northeast and Southeast's 24th Annual Clergy Convocation

May 1 - 3 - UCC Clergywomen Leadership Event

Organist/Choir Director - NEW

First Reformed UCC in Sunbury is looking for a Organist/Choir Director. Please reach out to Bill Unger.

Events and Training

PCC Classes and Resources

Ministerial Education Forums - Join us April 18 and May 16 at St. Thomas UCC on Linglestown Road in Harrisburg for Workshops that will impact your ministry at the moment!

Money and Ministry - Join us April 28 (along with the National Church and UC Funds) for a workshop on generosity. Topics include Trends in Giving: What Donors Want and Planned Giving: Utilizing an On-line Tool to Get Started. We will conclude with Best Practice Sharing.

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work - Join us April 28 or May 12 for a workshop geared to support you in your life beyond ministry to learn new principles to enhance your relationship.

Communities of Practice Groups Sign up for a place where the focus is ministry and shared knowledge is practice and experience based. These communities covenant to offer care, support and accountability while they nurture practices of spiritual discipline.

Sabbaticals can be such a crucial part of healthy ministry for pastor and people. Intentional planning, knowing what resources are available to support the sabbatical (grants, supply preaching, pastoral care, etc.) and activities for the congregation during sabbatical are just a few things to consider.

ZOOM - NEW

The Conference has been using ZOOM for some time now. It is a great tool for video and web conferencing. For those new to ZOOM or those in need of a refresher, here are some great video tutorials as well as webinars.

If you would like to schedule your own ZOOM meeting, please reach out to Janice or Wendy.

Pastoral Care Class

Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry is offering its PASTORAL CARE class on Saturday, May 12, 2018 from 9:00am to 4:00pm at First UCC in Schuylkill Haven.

For more information.

ONLINE Polity Course

ONLINE

UCC History, Theology and Polity Course

June/July 2018

A UCC History, Theology and Polity Course that meets the requirements as set forth by the UCC Polity Teacher's Network will be offered online in June/July 2018. The instructor will be Rev. David Gaewski, Conference Minister of the New York Conference, UCC. Classes will begin at 9:30am and end at 3:30pm on the following dates: June 16, 23, 30 and July 7. The platform utilized will be Zoom Video Conferencing ( zoom.us ) The tuition will be $475. For more information contact course administrator, Ms. Diana Pelletier,

Rural Ministry Workshop

The Uniqueness of Rural Ministry

May 18 - 19

Orchard Hill, Millerstown

Generosity

Strengthen the Church - NEW

The suggested offering date is

Pentecost Sunday, May 20, 2018.

The Strengthen the Church offering supports the expansion of ministry and growth of UCC local congregations. Your support of this offering will help the UCC fulfill on its commitment to creating a just world for all by investing in new ministries and practices that meet the emerging needs of local communities.

As God calls our congregations to be the church in new ways, your generosity will plant new churches, awaken new ideas in existing churches and develop the spiritual life in our youth and young adults.

Promotional items for the 2018 offering:

2018 Strengthen the Church Worship Insert

2018 Strengthen the Church Facebook Post

2018 Strengthen the Church Twitter Post

Clergy News

Hellos and Goodbyes

Hellos

Bonnie Whittier begins as Settled Pastor at Grace, Hanover on April 22nd
Robin Keating begins as Interim Pastor at Bethany, Ephrata on May 1^st
Caroline Saxton begins as Settled Pastor at St. John's, Chambersburg on May 1^st

Goodbyes

Laverne DiNino retiring from Salem, Rohrerstown, last Sunday is April 15^th
Bonnie Whittier last Sunday at Christ, Codorus is April 15^th
Joel Risser last Sunday at St. John's, Jonestown is April 15^th

April - May - June

May 6 - Ecclesiastical Council for Donald Snyder, Jr - Trinity UCC, Watsontown - 3:00 PM

June 3 - Installation of Bonnie Whittier - Grace UCC, Hanover - 3:00 PM

Prayers for Our Churches

Prayers for Penn Central Conference Churches

"Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere, just as it is among you." (2 Thess. 3:1)

Beginning in 2018, we have created a prayer list to invite you to pray with us as we pray for all of our congregations. Each week we will list names of various churches in Penn Central Conference hoping you will add them to your prayer list, and hold them in prayer throughout the week.

Colonial Park UCC, Harrisburg
Penbrook UCC, Harrisburg
St. Thomas UCC, Harrisburg
Salem UCC, Harrisburg