Message to the Conference
|
|
Dear Friends of Penn Central Conference -
With great joy, I announce that on last Saturday, the Penn Central Conference Board of Directors met in a special session and voted to call the Rev. Dr. Marisa Laviola (her name is pronounced Ma-REE-sah) as our new Associate Conference Minister for Congregation Transitions. The Search Committee was unanimous in their recommendation to the Board of Directors. The committee consisted of the Michael Gibbs, Linda Vignati, Marilyn Meech from the Board, and the Rev. Dennis Weidler, Rev. Jes Kast and Jerry Thomason. I am deeply grateful to them for their service. They received 11 profiles for the position and interviewed three candidates in person before making their recommendation to the Board. She will be working with the Search and Call Associates and the Church Empowerment Committee as well as develop programs and ways that will benefit all our congregations. I am personally excited about all the gifts and skills she will bring to Penn Central Conference.
The Rev. Dr. Laviola is presently serving in the Vermont Conference of the United Church of Christ where she actively served in several different roles, in addition to serving 11 years as pastor and teacher of the United Community Church of Morrisville, Vermont. Presently, she is serving as Interim Senior Pastor of The Old Meeting House in East Montpelier, Vermont. During her time at Morrisville, she helped two congregations come together as one - a United Methodist congregation and a United Church of Christ congregation. She enabled them to discover their shared ministry of mission to their community and eventually join together as one congregation, where they have become a focal point of mission to their community.
Marisa holds degrees from Bowling Green State University of Ohio: Bachelor and Master of Music in piano performance and music history. From the University of Kentucky: Ph.D. in Psychology, and from Boston University School of Theology: Master of Divinity. She taught at Asbury College in the early 1980’s before transitioning to a career in psychology. Prior to her ordination to ministry in 2009, she was a psychologist in clinical practice for over 20 years.
She and her spouse Carol will be moving here in preparation for a June 1 start date. They have two grown children, Kristyn and Kathryn. Kristyn is an assistant store manager for the Kohl’s corporation and lives in Vermont and Kathryn is completing her bachelor’s degree at Nazareth College in New York.
It’s clear Marisa has a passion for helping churches identify their mission for this day and time, no matter what size the congregation or where they may be located. She has an engaging personality and brings a wealth of experience and love for the United Church of Christ. Marisa writes that she is thrilled to join our conference ministry team and is looking forward to getting to know and work in partnership with churches and pastors in our conference. She will begin her ministry with us on June 1, 2020.
Rev. Ann Graves
,
Moderator, Penn Central Conference Board of Directors
|
|
Conference Minister Travel
|
|
Prayers for Penn Central Conference
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Ephesians 6:18 (NLT)
This week, we pray for each other as we continue to live into God's calling...
St. John's Union UCC, Spring Mills/Farmers Mill
Trinity UCC, Fort Loudon
St. John's UCC, Fredericksburg
St. Paul's of Hamlin UCC, Fredericksburg
|
|
The Perfect Blend: Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations
A day with author Bishop Robert Schnase
Saturday, September 19, 2020
Lancaster Theological Seminary, Santee Chapel
Come spend a day in conversation around how these practices can help your church live out the Gospel and be a missional presence in your community.
We will hear 3 presentations from Bishop Schnase and have a few guided, small group discussions along the way.
See a full flyer here. Seating is limited, so registration is required. $25 per person, or a discounted rate of $100 for groups of 5 people.
Register here!
|
|
UNITE! Purdue University
July 22-25, 2020
Who’s headed to NYE this summer? I remember my first NYE at UT Knoxville where I realized just exactly what this Church I am a part of was all about. I remember how so many of the conferences sat together and had matching t-shirts and cheers as we would transition from one stage event to the next. Singing, praying, and worshiping with so many gave me glimpses of a different way to be church. Workshops with youth and leaders from across the country helped me get outside the box of the “way I had always done it.” Hopefully, your church youth are already fundraising for this exciting time! If you are planning to join the more than 3000 youth at Purdue University, please contact
Rev. Nora Foust
so we can UNITE! our Penn Central presence!
|
|
Creation Justice
Over the course of 50 days in 2013, the United Church of Christ planted over 141,000 trees as part of Mission 4/1 Earth. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22nd, this year we are seeking to plant over 50,000 trees in ten days from
April 17th to 26th.
Learn more here.
|
|
Installations, Ecclesiastical Councils & Ordinations
May 17
- Laura Ramsey’s installation at Emmanuel UCC, York, service at Hayshire UCC, York - 3:00pm
June 7
- Ordination of Gary Nottis at St. John's UCC, Lewisburg - 3:00PM (Rev. Nora Foust attending)
|
|
Association Meetings and Ministeriums
April 19
- Northern Association’s Spring Meeting - Trinity UCC, Centre Hall (Rev. Nora Foust attending)
April 25
- Harrisburg Association Meeting (Rev. Carrie Call attending)
April 26
- Central Association Meeting with Rev. Nora Foust
April 26
- Gettysburg Association Meeting and Town Hall with Rev. Carrie Call
April 30
- York Ministerium with Rev. Nora Foust
May 3
- Lancaster Association Meeting (Rev. Carrie Call Attending)
May 3
- Mercersburg Association Spring Meeting
May 11
- Mercersburg Ministerium (Rev. Carrie Call Attending)
May 14
- Gettysburg Ministerium with Rev. Nora Foust
|
|
Association Special Events
|
|
Outdoor Ministries at Hartman Center
|
Pride Retreat for LGBTQ Folks & Allies
- May 29-31 (details to come)
SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
Early bird pricing for those who pay in full before March 31, 2020.
|
|
May 13
- Ordinary Time Worship Planning - Colonial Park UCC -
register here
|
|
Boundary Training & MEFS
|
|
Free Choir Robes - Emmanuel UCC, Hanover
Emmanuel UCC has 36 choir robes (made in the US by E.R. Moore.) They are green, in a traditional style, gathered yoke, front zip with stoles.
(See picture here.)
Call Emmanuel UCC at 717-632-8281 for details.
Looking to borrow
-
A congregational set of "Unbinding Your Heart" by Martha Grace Reese. If your church has a set to lend, contac
t
Hamilton Park UCC, Lancaster
|
Is your church 5 for 5? The next Special Mission Offering is One Great Hour of Sharing - which takes place on the 4th Sunday of Lent, March 22, 2020.
OGHS channels resources for international programs in health, education and agricultural development, emergency relief, refugee ministries, and both international and domestic disaster response, administered by Wider Church Ministries, Global Sharing of Resources.
For more information on the 5 for 5 offerings, click
here.
|
Annual Meeting
- June 12-13, 2020
Recognition Dinner
- September 19, 2020 (info to come!)
|
|
From PCC Partners & Friends
|
Music Sundays - Singing Our Lives: From Joni to Gaga
- Liz Fulmer - Santee Chapel, Lancaster Theological Seminary - March 22, 4:00PM
Tuesday Topics - Women Who Speak for God: Females Among the Prophets
- Dr. Julia O'Brian - Lancaster Theological Seminary - March 24, 10:00AM
WISE Conference - UCC Mental Health Network in partnership with Penn Northeast Conference - Jordan UCC, Allentown - May 16
|
|
Mercersburg, York and Gettysburg Association Churches
Rev. Richard Gordon
717-940-8345
Northern and Central Association Churches
Rev. Sally Dries
570-850-6062
Harrisburg, Lancaster and Lebanon Association Churches
Rev. John Fureman
717-274-5981
|
|
Rev. Carrie Call, PhD
Transitional Conference Minister
Phone: 717-652-1560 ex. 12
Rev. Nora Driver Foust
Associate Conference Minister
Phone: 717-652-1560 ex.13
Zoë D'heedene
Coordinator of Camps/Retreats
Phone: 717-652-1560 ex. 16
C. Paul Keller
Office Manager
Phone: 717-652-1560 ex. 14
|
|
|
|
If you have future eNews stories, please send them to
C. Paul Keller
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
