Message to the Conference | |
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Keystone Study Group -- Summary of 7/14 meeting
With the grace of God, we recognize that Together We Are Stronger, The Keystone Conference.
The seventh meeting of the Keystone Working Group* took place Friday, July 14, 2023. Guided by the Spirit, we realized that our work has moved from being a “study group” to a “working group” as we build a vision of what a Keystone Conference can be. We have now identified essential functions of a Keystone Conference to support mission, ministry and authorized ministers in diverse settings. These ministry functions are:
- Faith Formation
- Mission
- Generosity and Stewardship
- Search and Call
- Digital Ministry/Technology
- Communication
- Congregational Futures
- Leadership Training for Pastors and Lay Leaders
- Disaster Ministries
- Ecumenism
- Spiritual Revival
- UCC Identity
- Administrative/Legal/ Fiscal Oversight
Together we created a vision for new and stronger ministry. We are now preparing how to engage leaders and congregations in our four conferences this Fall. We will share WHY we are proposing the new Conference and explore WHAT functions we believe will most enhance our churches’ mission and ministries. We want to know how “Together We are Stronger, the Keystone Conference” rests in our hearts. We also seek your thoughts about the proposed functions.
We invite everyone to visit the Keystone Conference Project website hosted by PSEC. You can read how this project came about, our study information and the summaries for each meeting.
We do not have answers for everything. Our work has focused on the WHY and WHAT. We have not yet detailed “HOW will this work?” And there are certainly “What about...” issues to consider. So we are counting on your questions and comments in our fall gatherings to strengthen the project. With the grace of God, we will discern next steps affirming, “Together We Are Stronger, The Keystone Conference.”
You are invited to connect with us by email: Keystone.Conference.Project@gmail.com. You may also use the postal service and direct mailing the Keystone Working Group through your own area Conference Office.
Conversations in Fall 2023 and Winter/Spring 2024 will guide us to a “Mini Synod” of our four conferences, June 6-9, 2024. Save the date for this magnificent opportunity to share, learn and experience what God is doing in and through us all. Outstanding national and regional speakers and leaders will be with us. We will also provide for video sharing of this “unity conference.” At this gathering we will determine if we stand in agreement to move forward toward being a unified conference in our boundaries and structure. Our goal is to work toward a resolution for becoming ONE Keystone Conference at the Fall 2024 Conferences. We will share more soon.
We recognize through each phase of our work that God is still speaking. We rely on the grace of God in the next steps of our journey in the assurance that “Together We Are Stronger! The Keystone Conference.”
Sharing our progress in grace and hope,
KSG Communications Team
Steve Davis, St. John’s UCC, Fullerton (PNEC)
Heather Kurtz, Zion UCC, Arendtsville (PCC)
To be selected (PSEC)
Deb Long, First Trinity UCC, Youngwood (PWC)
*A study and discernment group of the 4 PA area UCC Conferences – Penn West, Penn Central, Penn NE, and Pennsylvania SE
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Scheduling notes:
August 6 - Zion (Goshart's) UCC, Lebanon - Rev. Rick Luciotti
August 13 - September 4 - Rev. Dr. Nora Foust on sabbatical
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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...
First UCC, Carlisle
St. Matthews UCC, Carlisle
Salem Stone UCC, Carlisle
Trinity UCC, Cashtown
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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 and Kelly Shiflett.
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, | |
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Carol Dieffenbach Kantner of Bernville will speak at Himmel’s Church, 107 Covered Bridge Road, Dornsife on Sunday, August 6, 2023 at the 9:00 a.m. service. Kantner is a church organist and a direct descendant of Christian Dieffenbach who was an organ builder from Berks County. In 1818 after the stone edifice was built at Himmel’s, there was $800 left in the building fund. That money was used to purchase a pipe organ for the church. Because no other local churches at that time had an organ, Himmel’s became known as the “organ church.” That organ was in use until about the 1940s and was destroyed in the 1959 fire in the frame church at Himmel’s. Kantner is also a member of the Dieffenbach Organ Preservation Society.
The Dieffenbach family came to America and settled in Schoharie, New York in 1709. In 1723 along with ancestors of the Kobel, Reed and Schneider families at Himmel’s, they sailed down the Susquehanna River and settled in the Tulpehocken area of Berks County. John Jacob Dieffenbach built his first organ between 1776 and 1778. He made wagons, furniture and coffins and wanted to build an organ. When he heard that a pipe organ had been purchased by a church in Philadelphia, he stuffed his pockets with dried beef and bread, a notebook and measuring stick and walked 75 miles to Philadelphia to learn about it. Thus began the Dieffenbach Organ builders’ story. Christian Dieffenbach was a son of John Jacob Dieffenbach. Ms. Kantner will share the story of the organ builders during her talk. For those who cannot attend in person, you can watch later on the Himmel's Church Facebook page.
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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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This week is Hartman Center Homecoming week! Campers and volunteers have returned as guests of the Hartman Center Campgrounds for a week of making new memories. See below for some pictures and watch our Facebook page for even more! | |
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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UCC Trailblazer, the EPA, and New Grant Programs
Charles Lee, the lead author of the UCC’s landmark report on toxic waste and race as well as the lead organizer of the historic First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit, will be one of two featured speakers on environmental justice at the EPA. Lee is now the Senior Policy Advisor for Environmental Justice at the EPA. He will be joined by Jacob Burney who directs the Environmental Justice Grants Division at the EPA. In the past year, the EPA has been in the news due to significant institutional changes that have prioritized funding and staffing for environmental justice. Even if you cannot make the webinar at its scheduled time on August 9th at 2 pm ET, still sign-up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it. Register now!
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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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2023 Festival of Biblical Storytelling
AUGUST 2,3, AND 4, 2023
At the Maritime Conference Center near BWI and Baltimore, MD
Learn more and register here.
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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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