900 S. Arlington Avenue - Room 227A - Harrisburg, PA 17109
www.pccucc.org  717.652.1560
Like us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/penncentralconferenceucc
 PENN CENTRAL CONFERENCE
Connected - Engaged - Transformed
  Weekly Update - August 9

This communication is paid for by Our Church's Wider Mission
In This Issue...

 

Message from Our Conference Minister and President

Generosity - NEW

Church Leadership Resources - NEW

Church Vitality 

Community Needs and Justice Issues - NEW

Church Events - NEW
Faith Connection Stories  - NEW Story! 

Hartman Center - NEW

Previous eNews

Share Your Story

 

 
MonicaMsgMessage from Our Conference Minister and President
That Sinking Feeling (Matthew 14:22-23)   
 

In a commentary about Matthew 14: 22-33, Fred Craddock writes, "On a dark night of fear and helplessness, Christ comes to his disciples." When Jesus realized the disciples were afraid of the storm raging around them, he quickly called out to them to ease their fears. While the other disciples remained stunned and silent, Peter sought more certainty and said to Jesus, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." (v.28) In taking one step out of the boat, Peter risked his faith to trust in Jesus. Subsequently, Peter defied the odds and walked on water.
 
After this commendable feat of faith, Peter lost his nerve and started second guessing himself. This is when he got that sinking feeling.
 
Jesus [He] said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" (v.29-30)
 
Peter began sinking into fear. He got the kind of sinking feeling you get when you decide to get out of your metaphorical boat to seek change. It can be a change of careers, the decision to end a troubled relationship or the fervor to pursue a dream deferred, but was too afraid.
 
Peter stepped out of the boat with an informed trust in Jesus, having just seen him miraculously feed about 10,000 people and cure the sick. In Matthew 8, Peter saw Jesus heal his mother-in-law and cast out demons with only a word. When Jesus spoke the word "come," Peter got out of the boat trusting that he could walk on water and that Jesus could save him. We can step out because we have a God who is mighty to save.
 
Ernest Campbell, former pastor at Riverside Church, asserts that "the reason that we seem to lack faith in our times is that we are not doing anything that requires it!" I am so pleased that several of our congregations have "stepped out of the boat" to use Facebook Live or other video recordings to make their Sunday worship services available to all. An increased number of our churches are using social media and technology to spread the gospel in other ways!

Peter's story reminds us that fear can lead to a deeper trust and faith in Jesus Christ. According to Will Willimon, we "prove God's promises through trusting God's promises, by risk and venture."
 
May we go and do likewise.
 
In Christ,
Monica
Rev. Dr. Monica Dawkins-Smith
Conference Minister and President
 
p.s. We want to hear from you. Please take 1-2 minutes to complete this brief survey.
 
 
 
OCWMGenerosity
UCC OCWM Resources - NEW
 
In the previous eNews, we have looked at narrative budgets and UCC financial resources.  Here are some great resources available for OCWM on the UCC Web site (and many of them are FREE!)
Check out the site at http://www.ucc.org/ocwm/

 
Generosity Resources - NEW
Leadership for Giving (Lewis Center for Church Leadership)
New Ecology of Generosity (UCC Giving Task Force Report to Development Committee, 2016)

LeadershipChurch Leadership Resources
Resources - NEW
Missions as the Emerging Entry Point for New People (Lewis Center for Church Leadership)
                                                                            
Big Gifts in Small Packages - Church Vitality in Small Churches Workshop Please join us October 28, 2017 with Rev. Dr. Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi, Director of the United Church of Christ's Center for Analytics, Research and Data (CARD). More details to follow!

Applications Being Accepted - 2017 Partners in Building

 
Partners in Building (PIB) is an annual training event that educates new and renewing congregations on ways to reinvent the concept of church through innovative uses of buildings and space. PIB is designed for church leaders who want to learn how to build, purchase, develop, manage, renovate, re-purpose or refinance church-owned properties. PIB is the best first step a church can take to understand the products and services offered by CB&LF.
 
A $100 registration fee is required.  PIB will cover travel and meal expenses.
 
If you are interested, please reach out to Stephanie at srader-titzel@pccucc.org.
 
WHEN:  September 22-23, 2017
WHERE: Cleveland, Ohio
For more details

Lancaster Seminary News 
 
 
 
Lancaster Seminary opens key courses for audit
Because in ministry you never stop learning, Lancaster Seminary is opening some popular courses for audit, taught by esteemed faculty. Lee Barrett presents Knowing God, Julia O'Brien presents Gender, Sexuality and the Bible, and Greg Carey teaches Luke and Acts.
 
There also are courses just for pastors - like Ministerial Ethics - and courses for spiritual practice - like Writing as a Spiritual Practice. Term One starts in August, Term Two starts in October, and Term Three begins in February. Come, learn with us! Details at lancasterseminary.edu


JusticeCommunity Needs and Justice Issues
Disaster Ministries - NEW
 
Nearly three dozen Daytona Beach-area homeowners are waiting anxiously for volunteer work teams to help them repair damage from Hurricane Matthew last October. 
0000
These two Web sites will provide you with all the necessary information needed to sign-up and volunteer with the disaster rebuilding needs in Volusia County, Florida:   


 
VitalityChurch Vitality
Next Vitality Workshop August 20 - Dreisbach, Lewisburg
  Have you noticed a drop in worship attendance?
Are you wondering how to get more visitors to show up on Sunday morning?
What kinds of changes to worship can be made that will have the biggest impact ?
 
This workshop walks pastors and leaders through the process of reaching out to the community and attracting new people to attend worship. Once they are attending worship, three changes will be recommended to ensure their return . We will explore Web sites , visitor tabs and using the Smart Phone as a device for evangelism. Key learnings will be around worship days and times, how to make Holy some of the secular Holidays and how to do small groups in the middle of worship.
 
There is no cost to attend. Please read Transformative Worship: Changing Lives through Religious Experience by Laurene Beth Bowers (available on Amazon). This will prepare you to ask questions and have a conversation about how to incrementally grow your church.
 
REGISTER TODAY with Janice Mountain at jmountain@pccucc.org.
 
  Vitality Workshop "How to Increase Worship Attendance"
All Workshops are from 1:00 - 4:00
August 20: Dreisbach, Lewisburg
September 24: Hayshire, York
 

Would You Like a Mystery Visitor to Come to Your Church?

The conference has trained 12 Mystery Visitors who are willing to visit your church on Sunday morning and give you a detailed report. Pastors can request a visitor (and they are the only ones allowed to do so) and they will receive the report to do with it as they see fit.

These visitors will assess the website, curb appeal and hospitality (as well as the coffee!). They will not be evaluating the pastor or the service itself. While most of the mystery visitors are churched, we also have a few seekers. To request a mystery visitor, contact Laurene Bowers   LBowers@pccucc.org

Events1Events, Training and Resources Available
UPCOMING CONFERENCE EVENTS

Vitality Workshop: How to Increase Worship Attendance - August 20, Dreisbach, Lewisburg           
  
General Synod Delegate Meeting - August 26 - 10, Penn Central Conference Room              
    
Labor Day Holiday - September 4 - Penn Central Conference office closed                                              
 
Advancing Healthy Ministry: Boundary Bites - September 7 - 9:30-12, St. Paul's UCC, Selinsgrove                                      
 
Green Justice Team - September 12 - 10-12, Penn Central Conference Center (East Room)                          
     
Boundary Training for Leadership Teams (and Pastors that Work with them) - September 16, 10-3, First UCC, Carlisle                                     
      
Commission on Ministry - September 18 - 9:30 - 11:30, Penn Central Conference Center (East Room)                                                
   
Finance Committee - September 21 - 7:00 - 9:00 PM, Penn Central Conference Center (East Room)               

Vitality Workshop: How to Increase Worship Attendance - September 24, Hayshire, York                                  
 
UEK Partnership - September 26 - 9:30 - 11:30, Penn Central Conference Center (East Room) 
       
Clergy Leadership - September 27, Colonial Park UCC, 1-4                    
----  
Bi g Gifts in Small Packages, Church Vitality in Small Churches Workshop - October 28 with Rev. Dr. Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi               
----                    
Hartman Center Fall Festival - October 7, 10-3            
----                               
Retired Clergy Boundary Training - October 18, Christ UCC,   Elizabethtown, 9:30 - Noon    
-----                   
Authorizing Ministry in the 21st Century - October 23 and 24, Clarion Hotel, Essington (event at capacity, no longer receiving registrations)      
-----
Clergy Leadership - October 25, Colonia Park UCC, 1-4
                                                       
            
2018
SAVE THE DATE!
 
Clergy Convocation - January 30 - February 1, 2018
  Doubletree by Hilton - Willow Valley, Lancaster PA

  2018 Penn Central Annual Meeting - June 8 and 9, 2018
Susquehanna University
 
National 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

General Synod, 2019 - June 21-25, 2019
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
 
Please check out the SAVE THE DATE Section Under Hartman Center too!
Boundary Training - NEW

 
Boundary Training for Leadership Teams
(and Pastors that work with them)
 
Church Leadership Teams (Consistories, Pastoral Relations, etc.), and their pastors are invited to Lay Boundary Training  in Penn Central Conference.
 
Saturday, September 16th
10:00am-3:00pm
First UCC, Carlisle

PAM Classes

The Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry announces the first of a four class series in Old & New Testament studies. 

Old Testament 1 - August 12th from 9am to 4pm
 at First UCC on Route 61 in Schuylkill Haven.
The Rev. Dr. Debra Winters of Palmer Theological Seminary will be teaching the series. 

Old Testament II - Oct 21st
    New Testament I - Dec. 9th
  New Testament II -Jan. 13, 2018. 

Please go to www.paacademyofministry.org to register online. Reading assignments and pre-class writing assignments can be found on the 2nd page of the registration.  Deadline for registration is August 5th.
 
These classes are excellent forms of continuing education for our Licensed Ministers or for laity interested in expanding their biblical knowledge. 

2017 Loss Control Webinars

The Insurance Board is pleased to present the following upcoming Loss Control webinars, available to all participants and members.
 
Keeping Your Ministries Safe: 5 Things Churches Can Do to Prevent Abuse
Wednesday, September 13th, 2pm Eastern (Praesidium)
 
  How to Avoid Background Screening Litigation
 Wednesday, October 11th, 2pm Eastern (Praesidium)
 
Saturday, November 11, 1-4, Live Webinar at Shiloh, Danville UCC
 
  
Here's a link to their Web site to register:
 
Join Our List

Get the latest and greatest eNews from Penn Central Conference... sign up today!

 

Join Our Mailing List
Follow Us!

Like us in the eNews?  Our Facebook page has daily updates and allows us to share some of the great programs going on in our Associations and churches.  You'll find stories, UCC national news, pictures and fun.  Connect with us on Facebook Today! 
Association Links
ChurchNewsChurch News
General Synod Reflections - NEW
 
Rev. Julie Holm shares her reflections of General Synod, including our shared worship, the ways we manage ourselves (bylaw changes and prudential resolutions) and the ways we choose to witness around us (Resolutions of Witness.)  
 
 
PA Council of Churches Position Open - NEW
 
Pennsylvania Council of Churches Campground Ministry Committee is accepting applications for the

Choral Directors and Music Staff
 
Penn Central Conference's German Partnership (UEK: Next Generation) trip in May generated excitement and energy for events that would continue to strengthen our relationship. Music is certainly a powerful medium, so an idea for partnering UCC and UEK music groups in the future has been born. To that end, Penn Central Conference would like to be in touch with choral directors and music staff from our congregations to make them aware of this and other possibilities for collaboration.
 
Please sign up to stay in touch to get information on music news, events and updates.
 
 
Mercersburg Association Clergy and Family Picnic
 Saturday, August 26, 2017 from 11:00 A. M. to 4:00 P. M
St. Matthews United Church of Christ - 3240 Spring Road, Carlisle PA
 Hot Dogs and Beverage provided but please bring a bring a dish to share and come out for games, fun and fellowship. 
RSVP to Pastor Mike Boehm at revboehm@yahoo.com or (717)536-0163  
Northern Cluster Church Hymn-Sing - NEW
On Sunday, August 27, at 5pm, the community is invited to join the UCC churches of the Northern Cluster for an inspiring hymn-sing.  Please meet in the pavilion at St. Peter's UCC, Lykens, located on the South Crossroads, just below the Gratz Auction. 
Guest musicians this year: St. Paul's UCC Joyful Sounds Handbell Choir!  Following the hymn-sing, we will enjoy homemade ice cream and other tasty desserts.
All are welcome - bring a dessert to share, and join us for great music and fellowship!
For more information, call 570-682-9828.
   
125th Anniversary and Homecoming - St. Paul, Lemasters
 Happy birthday to St. Paul's, Lemasters who celebrates their 125 th Anniversary this year!
On September 17 at 4:00 p.m. they have scheduled a "Homecoming Celebration"  
Central Association Town Hall
The Central Association will host their Town Hall on November 5, 2017.  Rev. Dr. Monica Dawkins-Smith will review Penn Central Conference's Strategic (Missional) Plan.  For details.
 
 
York Association November Association Annual Meeting
The York Association will host Mr. Mark Lutz, the author of UnPoverty, at their Annual Meeting in November. 
 
In preparation for his visit, Community Outreach members have prepared a study guide for you and your congregations to use as you read this book.  Currently the Association has 30 copies of this book you can borrow.  As you make your plans for summer and fall, please contact Rev. Cathy Sherry ( CathyLHS19@comcast.net ) to reserve copies for use at your church.   
 
Partners in Peace, 2018
If you are between the ages of 18 and 25 and would like to be one of three participants for the next Partners in Peace adventure, please see attached flyer
Questions can be directed to Peter Emig at solomonsucc@embarqmail.com.
OrdinationsClergy News
August - October
 
August 13: Art Grahe retiring from St. Stephen's UCC, York
August 27:  Gene Edwards last Sunday at Trinity Roth's in Spring Grove
August 27: Priscilla Denham's last Sunday at Hummelstown
 
October 1: Ken Evitts Installation at St. John's East Earl - 3:00 PM
October 1: Will Whitmore Ordination at Mercersburg Academy - 3:00 PM
October 23: Jackie Lingelbach's last Sunday at Quentin
October 29: Elizabeth Nocheck Installation at Hamilton Park, Lancaster - 3:00 PM

 

HartmanCenterHartman Center
Hartman Center News and Resources - NEW
  
Swimming Pool Fund -  You can donate by credit card by going on line here . 
 
Camp Schedule - Intergenerational Camp runs Labor Day Weekend!
 
----
NEW - Save the Date for Upcoming Hartman Center Events:
  • Fall Festival - October 7, 2017
  • Women's Retreat - November 17-19, 2017
  • Youth Retreat - November 17-19, 207
  • Confirmation Retreat - March 16-18. 2018
  • Elementary Retreat - May 4-6, 2018

Additional details will be coming!

 
 
Thank you for your continued support!
 
FaithConnectionStoriesFaith Connection Stories
Our Faith Connection Stories! - NEW
 
We love to hear stories of Penn Central Conference congregations working within their communities to passionately declare and demonstrate their courageous love of Christ. 
   
Faith Connection Stories (collection of PCCUCC Faith Connection Stories)
 
 
Share your story today!  Click here to share your own congregation's story  - please send to srader-titzel@pccucc.org.

 
ArchiveArchive
Our Previous eNews
 

August 2, 2017, July 26, 2017,  July 19, 2017, July 12, 2017, July 5, 2017

June 28, 2017, June 21, 2017, June 14, 2017, June 7, 2017,

May 31, 2017, May 24, 2017, May 17, 2017, May 10, 2017, May 3, 2017

 
ShareYourStoryHave a Story to Share?!
We would love to hear from you!
 
Please email Stephanie at srader-titzel@pccucc.org if you have a story to share or something to add to our eNews.
 
Contact information:      Stephanie Rader-Titzel
email: srader-titzel@pccucc.org   phone: 717-652-1560                fax: 717-652-4769
web: http://www.pccucc.org