Message to the Conference | |
Photo credit: Addison Bender | |
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Members and Friends of Penn Central Conference,
"It is not possible to capture everything that is in my heart right now," wrote Rev. Betsy Bruaw in her Saturday Facebook post at the close of the HC Spirit Homecoming week of camp. She spoke for many with those words. I, too, have found myself working harder than expected to describe the week for others.
We are just starting to look over evaluations, but one camper remarked that "vespers were excellent. One of the best spiritual experiences I've had!" Another commented that the "meals were excellent and delicious," with great variety. Camp Director Rev. Alice Rauch added, "my heart is filled with joy and gratitude! We had a wonderful group of volunteers and campers who made our HC Spirit Homecoming week full of fun, activity, spiritual growth, and deepening faith; all in community."
I am passionate about outdoor and camping ministry, a passion that was born in the summer of 1986 along the banks of the Johns River in Collettesville, NC. I believe there is so much to be learned in intentional Christian community under God's natural cathedral. Leadership skills, spiritual grounding, confidence, perseverance, covenant life, among other skills were honed in that river valley over 30+ summers.
The same can be true no matter the camp, if the intentionality is there. Last week at the HC Spirit Homecoming Camp at Hartman Center Campground and Retreat, there was great intentionality among leadership and volunteers to center and prioritize the camper experience toward similar goals. More than 100 campers and volunteers arrived at our former camp to find both new and familiar comforts and challenges. I watched young campers find voice in worship and study, find confidence in rising to challenges, and I peeked in as volunteers found ways to adjust on the fly and make plans work in a new way. There were certainly learnings from this first time back that will inform our planning and preparation for future events at the campground.
Our volunteer workforce from cooks to nurses, lifeguards, program directors, and cabin counselors to adventure coordinators were invaluable and "thank you" just doesn't feel like quite enough to recognize your gifts. Yet, again I offer thanksgiving for each of you who made the week possible with gifts of time, talents, passion, and presence.
"Nostalgia is not vision," Rev. Dr. Chris Davies offered in an outdoor ministry planning workshop and it is true for us in Penn Central Conference as we find new ways to camp at Hartman, Nawakwa, and Kirchenwald. Camp memories cannot be recreated, but we need to invite a new generation of campers and leaders to create their own experiences and memories to share with generations of the future.
Shalom,
Nora
Rev. Dr. Nora Foust
Associate Conference Minister
Penn Central Conference
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Camp Director Pastor Alice shares, "please mark your calendar for next year's HC Spirit camp at Hartman Center Campground and Retreat Center - Sunday, July 28th through Saturday, August 3rd, 2024. In addition to the cabins and lodges, the new owners are working on RV sites that should be ready before next summer. We would love it if lots of Penn Central Conference folks are able to reserve and use those sites while we are there."
Wondering how your congregation might engage in outdoor ministry? Camps and retreats aren't the only recipients of grant funds. Kayak church, fire pit fellowships, community gardens, and solar projects are just a few of the ideas discussed for funding. The application window is currently open with applications available here.
Thanks again to all who made our HC Spirit Camp a great success! We hope to see you, and more, next summer July 28-August 3.
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Scheduling notes:
August 9 - September 4 - Rev. Dr. Nora Foust on sabbatical
August 20 - St. Paul UCC, Sacremento - Rev. Rick Luciotti preaching
August 27 - St. Thomas UCC, Harrisburg - Rev. Dr. Carrie Call preaching
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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...
Trinity UCC, Centre Hall
St. John's UCC, Chambersburg
Solomon's UCC, Chambersburg
Zion UCC, Chambersburg
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Printable eNews are available. Pastors and secretaries, please feel free to share with your congregation members that don't get this weekly email. Download and print this PDF with the weekly message to the conference, prayers for Penn Central and brief list of events. | |
Synod Reflections
Penn Central Conference's Synod Delegates are excited to share more about their Synod 34 experiences.
There are two ways to hear directly from our delegates in their own words. First, you can check out written reflections from Kathy Brown, Andrew Boyer, Jerry Thomason, Kelly Shiflett, Rev. Caroline Saxton and Gail Landers.
Second, Synod Seconds – A Keystone-wide Conversation – Join conference staff and delegates from across the keystone state as we explore implementation of General Synod Resolutions and looks at snap-shots of wider-church life. We’ll be starting with 3 zooms this fall, September 11, October 16, and November 13 from 6:30-8 pm. All are welcome. Please register (registration link to come.)
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Fifth Stream Conversations - Rev. Dr. Nora is planning three fall conversations open to the whole church on the recognition of the UCC’s fifth founding stream, the Afro-Christian Convention. At Synod the Historical Council made a formal report that the Afro-Christian Convention has been named the “fifth stream” alongside the Congregational, Christian, German Reformed, and Evangelical Synod. The Convention was always a part of the denomination but had been lumped in with the (white) Christian stream. There were, as Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer put it in his official apology, “always five.” He shared his grief of how so many children and adults had learned that there were only four theological streams/traditions present at our founding and this fifth tradition had been willfully subjugated, rather than lifted up for recognition.
This will be exciting learning for us as we explore the Afro-Christian Convention together and refresh our existing knowledge around the Christian, Congregational, Evangelical, and Reformed traditions also present at our founding. The first two sessions will be largely the same with in-person and zoom options available and the November date will be sort of a deeper dive into the Afro-Christian Convention with some of the contributors to the new book Afro-Christian Convention: The Fifth Stream of the United Church of Christ available from Pilgrim Press, Amazon, and your favorite local bookseller.
3pm September 24th Mt. Zion, York In-person and Zoom
3pm October 15th St. Paul’s at the Farm, Lewisburg In-Person and Zoom
3pm November 12th ZOOM for all Participants
Register here: https://penncentralconference.regfox.com/the-fifth-stream
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Full slate of fall educational options, including Boundary Awareness and Anti-Racism Training, Synod Seconds and Ministerial Excellence Forums is now available. See the full listing with registration links to add to your calendars here, | |
SEAS MAY GET ROUGH: What Your Church Can Do About Climate Change is a 10 session Christian Ed elective created by the Rev. Dr. Dave Bushnell. Dave will share a 100 page PDF file with any congregation interested in offering the elective. He also offers to Zoom with pastors and lay leaders who might plan to offer the course. Each 90 minute session includes: a talk and a time for small group sharing, as well as recommended video presentations available on the internet. The elective offers an abundance of “next steps” options for individuals and congregational climate action plans. If you are interested email Dave at abushnell@aol.com | |
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This year, the churches of the Northern Association of the Penn Central Conference hosted an Outreach Mission Event to fight world hunger with the organization "Rise Against Hunger", a group striving to end world hunger in our lifetime. Rise Against Hunger is a program that packages nutritious dehydrated meals of rice, soy, vegetables, and 23 essential vitamins and minerals. The packaged meals are then sent to developing countries and areas affected by natural disasters as needs dictate.
The Association meal packaging event was held on Saturday, July 29, 2023 at the Centre Hall Lion's Club.
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From our Friends and Partners | |
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Bethany Children's Home
Celebrating 160 Years
Summer Concert Series
August 19th - Anniversary Day Returns: Raffles, Live Music, Carnival Games, Food & Ride - $5.00 per car & additional costs for activities
Jeff Krick Jr: Elvis Tribute - 12:00PM
The Celtic Martins - 3:00PM
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Vintage Brass Quintet offers sacred, secular and other music.
Our newest program: “Songs for Re-union of a Divided Nation,” a timely petition for Divine grace for a divided people seeking a path for re-union.
The program features Luther Henderson’s “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America”, Otis Redding‘s “Respect,” Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” Bobby McFarrin’s “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah,” and more.
Contact David Rutman @ vivaldi55@yahoo.com or 717-216-3027
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Rev. Dr. Aaron B. Wade, Minister for Congregational Leadership Development,
Granting & Scholarships, is delighted to share the exciting news that the 2023 Justice and Local Church Ministry Common Application is NOW OPEN. I encourage you to share the link provided below with individuals and churches who may be interested in applying for Operational support, Neighbors in Need, CASA New and Renewing Church, and Pension Board New Church Start Benefit Support grants.
Link to the application: https://app.smarterselect.com/programs/89418-United-Church-Of-Christ
This convenient link allows applicants to either print the application or start filling out the common application for any of our four grant offerings. Please note that all applications will require a reference from their respective Conference Minister.
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Our Whole Lives training
In addition to an increasing number of in-person trainings across the country, Our Whole Lives trainings will continue to be offered online in 2023 for UCC and UUA members, at a cost of only $250 plus curriculum.
Registration applications will be accepted from Aug 21-Sept 5 for an Elementary (Grades K-1 and 4-6) Training in October
Registration applications will be accepted from Sept 11-Sept 25 for an All Adult Levels Training in November
More information about these trainings, in addition to information about upcoming in-person trainings, can be found here.
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From our friends and partners | |
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PATHWAYS’ Fall Schedule of Courses
UCC History & Polity
● HT21206 UCC History & Polity (12-weeks) (Sept 6- Dec 8)
Fall I: 6-week Courses Begin August 21, 2023
● TH10603 Variety of Belief within Christianity Today (6-weeks) (Aug 21-Sept 30)
● TH10601 Making Sense of Theology (6-weeks) (Aug 21-Oct 2)
● MP10605 Spiritual Care of Self and Others (6-weeks) (Aug 21-Sept 30)
● MP20603 Small Church Administration (6-weeks) (Aug 21-Sept 30)
● TH30607 Contextual Theology (6-weeks) (Aug 21-Sept 30)
Fall II: 6-week Courses Begin October 2 or 9, 2023
● BF10602 Understanding the Bible as a Progressive Christian (Oct 9-Nov 10)
● BF20602 Old Testament Hermeneutics (Oct 9-Nov 19)
● TH30605 Ecological Theology (Oct 2-Nov 12)
● MP30609 Practicing Our Faith in the Public Square (Oct 9-Nov 19)
● HT10604 Stories of Christian Saints and Sinners (Oct 9-Nov 19)
Learn more here and register here.
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Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
- Taught by Rev. Roberta Kearney on Monday evenings from 6:00-9:00pm ET
- Sept. 11, 18, 25 and Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
- This class is available online. 2.5 CEUs available. $275.
Even if you are not a teacher within your congregation, the understandings of different learning styles, the relationship between age and learning, the importance of identifying teaching moments, and the actual practice of teaching are valuable components of this class. From children’s chats to adult education, teaching can take so many forms that require a range of skills.
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Phoebe Ministries is hiring a Full-time Regional Director of Pastoral Care and Education for our Allentown Campus.
Responsible for directing the pastoral care program and clinical pastoral education program. Promotes the relationship of Phoebe Ministries with its supporting churches and conferences.
Conducts and supervises a variety of religious activities and provides for the spiritual needs of residents, families and Phoebe staff; coordinating this work within the department as well as with other departments. Responds to inquiries and requests from residents, families, and staff.
Reports pertinent information to the ED of Marketing and External Relations. Hires, directs, and supervises pastoral care staff, and provides periodic reports. Develops, implements, and achieves annual goals and objectives as established in the annual coaching form.
Read more here.
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Directory
Rev. Dr. Carrie Call, Ph.D.
Conference Minister
email: ccall@pccucc.org
Phone: 717-433-3196
Rev. Dr. Nora Driver Foust
Associate Conference Minister
email: nfoust@pccucc.org
Phone: 717-433-2587
Rev. Rick Luciotti
Coordinator of Care to Clergy & Clergy Families
email: rluciotti@gmail.com
Phone: 717-433-6306
C. Paul Keller
Office Manager
email: pkeller@pccucc.org
Phone: 717-652-1560
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