Message to the Conference | |
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Greetings members and friends of Penn Central Conference,
“Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
“Yes,” they replied.
Matthew 13:51 (full scripture, Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-52)
The appointed Gospel this week focuses on several Parables of Jesus. Each begins, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like…” They do not begin, “The Kingdom of Heaven is the same as…” The difference may strike you as insignificant, but I believe otherwise.
Who among us has not been confronted by an advertisement or salespersons proclaiming their product is just like… The simple truth is it may be similar and have some of the same qualities, but certainly it is not the same. The differences may be difficult to perceive or appreciate. But they are not the same.
The parables assist us in capturing the attention of the listener by pointing to common objects we see every day and even marvel at, such as a tiny seed becoming a plant that dwarfs everything around it. But ultimately, the Kingdom of Heaven is unique and beyond our ability to fully comprehend or explain. For anyone to think otherwise is to inadvertently promote our own reasoning as having complete knowledge of God’s word. It becomes an act of arrogance or self-entitlement. Frankly, I believe the parables serve to remind us of our constant need for prayerful meditation upon God’s word and of the humble stance any believer should take before God and neighbor.
I fear that we too often glibly pass over the parables and the spiritual and moral truths they describe. With the many agendas we attempt to promote, we simply invest far too little time and effort into teaching and encouraging the study of God’s word for the benefit of our individual lives. There are frequent discussions concerning the need for scriptural and spiritual education, but far more time is invested in promoting a variety of agendas. An equitable balance among study, worship and mission is herein advocated. The final verses from this week’s gospel are instructive, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” The study and dialogue between what has been understood as fact and new insights is essential in preparation for any and all mission.
We must not conclude that the parables are charming, but old news, and that everyone knows their meaning. Let us not assume this to be true, but always encourage ongoing study, meditation and dialogue of scripture.
Rick
Rev. Rick Luciotti
Clergy Care Coordinator
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Scheduling notes:
July 30 - St. John's UCC, Red Lion - Rev. Rick Luciotti preaching
July 30 - Salem (Walmer's) UCC, Annville - Rev. Dr. Nora Foust preaching
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...
St. Paul's UCC, Bowmansville
St. Jacob's (Stone) UCC, Glenville
Salem UCC, Campbelltown
Chapel Hill UCC, Lemoyne
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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 dates to add to your calendars here, registrations links coming soon! | |
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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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This year, the churches of the Northern Association of the Penn Central Conference are hosting an Outreach Mission Event to fight world hunger. The Association is working 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 will be held on Saturday, July 29, 2023 at the Centre Hall Lion's Club beginning around 10 am. WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please consider contributing to this event either by volunteering to help package the meals and/or donating to the event (each meal costs 38¢).
This is a great fun activity and no special skill or equipment is required. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Volunteers can vary in age from 5 years old to 99 years old. The goal is to package 20,088 meals--meaning we need to raise $5,850 to cover the meals and transportation expenses of the Rise Against Hunger Team traveling from Pittsburgh. We will also need approximately 60 volunteers. We are looking to run two shifts 10 am to 12 noon; and 1 pm to 3 pm. and 30 volunteers for each shift. If you feel comfortable you can sign up for both shifts. You may register online at http://events.riseagainsthunger.org/Centrehall2023 or you may contact Susan Rudy at 1-303-349-3028 and provide her your information and she will register you. We are also looking for a few strong arms to lift 50 pound bags when the truck arrives to unload. They would need to arrive around 8:30 am that day July 29, 2023.
To make your tax deductible donation please make checks payable to Northern Association and mail them to:
Trinity United Church of Christ
ATTN: Bob Rumbaugh
PO Box 212
Centre Hall, PA 16828
(please note in memo line "Rise Against Hunger")
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Events with our partners at Lutheran Camping Corporation
Summer Camp with Lutheran Camping Corporation - use code PENNCENTRAL2023 to use a 50% campership from PCC's Outdoor Ministries!
Hartman Center Homecoming week
July 31 through August 5, 2023
We will be returning to Hartman Center Campground in Milroy, PA as guests.
Camping experiences for all ages, including intergenerational camps.
2 night camps - Monday, July 31 at 4PM through Wednesday, August 2 at 4PM
Getting Started - Grades 1 and 2 ($125)
Intergenerational Camp ($125)
3 night camps - Wednesday, August 2 at 4PM through Saturday, August 5 at 11AM
Intergenerational Camp ($190)
Camp of the Heart ($250)
5 night camps - Monday, 31 at 4PM through Saturday, August 5 at 11AM
Elementary - Grades 3 - 5 ($300)
Junior High - Grades 6 - 8 ($300)
Senior High - Grades 9 - 12 plus ($300)
Leadership - Grades 9 - 12 plus ($300)
If you'd lole
For more information, contact Rev. Alice Rauch alirauch07@gmail.com (director)
or Rev. Amelia Price aashivers@gmail.com (registrar)
Register here and print a brochure here
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From our Friends and Partners | |
Representatives from various faiths and denominations, including the UCC, will take part in this interfaith service on July 30th at 5PM. | |
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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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