Message to the Conference
|
|
Dear Friends of Penn Central Conference -
“Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide; When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.”(Henry Lyte, c.1847)
These are the days that make winter especially hard. Grey skies, short days with few signs of life, complemented by cold rain and occasional snow – but not enough snow to close school or create excitement. I know T.S. Eliot thought April was the cruelest month, but when I find myself mired in February, I disagree.
However, I also know that this time is crucial for the natural world. This is a time of incubation and rest, of renewal and buried hope. The season of grey can remind us that God works in the hidden places in our lives, behind the scenes and in ways that we cannot see. There is a trust born from experience that winter passes. Even though there were days as a child growing up in cloudy Ithaca that I despaired of the return of spring, it did eventually come. Flowers rose eventually from the earth (and then were inevitably covered with snow at least once) and trees turned suddenly green.
The seasons of our faith lives can turn in similar ways. One of the common struggles among believers is that their faith does not protect them from the grey days - or the blackest ones - and they often feel guilty for “not being joyful at all times.” In fact, the experience of depression among clergy is especially trying because of the expectation that our faith should somehow protect us from a downward spiral. Expectations for clergy manifest themselves in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, from words shared in passing—“Don’t look so blue, you’ve got God on your side”—to denial of sabbaticals, clergy coaching, or spiritual direction because “they are a luxury.” There is a prevailing perspective that faith is a protective coating that somehow makes one’s spirit shiny and bright at all times. This is not an authentic description of faith.
Faith grants us the solidarity of Christ as we walk through landscapes of despair and suffering. Yet we still must walk through them. We are not promised protection – only presence. After all, right after he was baptized, Jesus was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness and underwent the most wrenching experiences of temptation and deprivation. If baptism cannot protect the one from Nazareth from suffering, why do we imagine it will protect us?
Solidarity with Christ is what allowed the early disciples to move through their times of desperation and persecution. Paul exhorts us to rejoice in our suffering – how can this be? Because in the midst of that suffering we will rely more on the presence and reality of Christ, and by doing so we will experience the power of God in our deepest vulnerability.
The grey days come. And the times of despair, grief and pain come. Depression is real and draws us under. But the presence of Christ reminds us that we are not alone. And the church – at its best – reaches out its hands to guide and walk beside those who are in the midst of their cruelest month, no matter what the cause. Pay attention in these grey days – and should you see a brother or sister in despair, do not explain it away. Instead, say “God is with you” and walk beside them in love, keeping your eyes open for signs of spring.
Peace,
Carrie
|
|
Preaching Around the Conference
February 9
- Faith UCC, State College - Rev. Dr. Carrie Call - 9:00AM
February 16
- Trinity UCC, Centre Hall - Rev. Nora Foust - 10:45AM
February 23 - St. John's UCC, Columbia - Rev. Dr. Carrie Call - 10:00AM
February 23 - St. John's UCC, Red Lion - Rev. Nora Foust - 10:00AM
March 1 - Heidelburg UCC, York - Rev. Dr. Carrie Call - 10:00AM
|
|
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...
Zion Reformed UCC, Chambersburg
Christ UCC, Codorus
Salem UCC, Columbia
St. John's UCC, Dallastown
|
|
I am 52 years old, and have spent
truly the better part
of my life out-of-doors
but yesterday I heard a new sound above my head
a rustling, ruffling quietness in the spring air
and when I turned my face upward
I saw a flock of blackbirds
rounding a curve I didn't know was there
and the sound was simply all those wings,
all those feathers against air, against gravity
and such a beautiful winning:
the whole flock taking a long, wide turn
as if of one body and one mind.
How do they do that?
If we lived only in human society
what a puny existence that would be
but instead we live and move and have our being
here, in this curving and soaring world
that is not our own
so when mercy and tenderness triumph in our lives
and when, even more rarely, we unite and move together
toward a common good,
we can think to ourselves:
ah yes, this is how it's meant to be.
BLACKBIRDS by Julie Cadwallader Staub from Wing Over Wing. Paraclete Press, © 2019. Used by permission of Paraclete Press in Brewster, Massachusetts. (
buy now
) Photo Credit:
S. Hermann & F. Richter at pixabay.com
|
|
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!
|
|
Climate Justice
From the Pollinator:
Recently, while locating past and current sources of environmental pollution in a Cleveland neighborhood, I came across the mural pictured here. It instantly became my favorite work of art for reminding me of why many of us do the work of environmental justice. We urgently want to protect the future of our children. This matter will be a core concern in an upcoming webinar entitled
Ground Zero in the Struggle for Environmental Justice
. The webinar is about communities in this country—often predominantly of color and low-income—that suffer from high concentrations of toxic air pollution from industrial facilities. One of the featured guests will be Bobby Taylor who is waging a struggle to protect children attending a school next to one of these facilities.
As we continue to focus on the
Kairos Call to Action
which urges churches to undertake an all-out mobilization to address climate and inequality, the focus on toxic air pollution is especially relevant. This week’s suggested kairos action focuses on the goal of churches becoming carbon neutral or carbon negative in terms of their own emissions. It notes the importance of thinking not just about the carbon footprint of your church, but also whether your current sources of energy harm public health, especially in ways that reflect inequalities of race and class. Moreover, we know that the developing, small bodies of children are particularly vulnerable to toxic air pollution from sources such as coal plants.
Look at your church’s energy use and remember to protect the future of our children.
With gratitude for your ministry,
|
|
PCC finished the year strong with an 23% increase in December OCWM giving versus 2018. However, we still ended 2019 behind budget by 15% and behind 2018 OCWM giving by 2%. Despite that, we are thankful for your generosity! May 2020 be full of blessings for our churches and our conference - financial and otherwise. Prayerfully consider ways you can support your local church and the conference in 2020 and beyond.
|
Pledge Forms
We are grateful for the monthly OCWM gifts and appreciate those churches that added OCWM as a line item in their 2020 annual budget. Please let us know what you have pledged to OCWM in the coming year by completing and submitting this
online pledge form
or by sending this
paper form
into Paul via email or mail.
|
|
Has your church starting filling out your yearbook information? The Data Hub is now open! All the links are below.
If you need assistance - reach out to the conference office and we will be glad to assist.
Church Officer Reporting
In addition to your online Yearbook reporting via the Data Hub, PCC will still be collecting the voluntary Church Officer reporting. Please complete
this form
and
email to Paul
at the PCC office.
|
|
Salem's Closet
located at Salem UCC, 231 Chestnut St., Harrisburg, Pa. will be open on February 15th from 10AM to Noon.
The Closet is in need of blankets, pillows and socks, but it is in desperate need of Children's clothing. We give clothing not only to those who come on open days but also to various shelters such as the one for Abused Women. Many children are at these shelters and some only have the clothing on their back. If you have anything to donate please call Sandy Sgrignoli at 717-635-0569.
|
|
Installations, Ecclesiastical Councils & Ordinations
February 9
- Installation of Pastor Ron Heagy at Trinity Roth’s UCC, Spring Grove - 3:00PM Clergy are invited to wear a favorite stole. (Rev. Nora Foust attending)
February 22
- Ordination of Amy Fishburn at Grace UCC, Lancaster - 2:00PM (Rev. Carrie Call attending)
February 23
- Installation of Craig Munnel at Trinity UCC, Lewistown - 3:00PM (Rev. Nora Foust attending)
June 7
- Ordination of Gary Nottis at St. John's UCC, Lewisburg - 3:00PM
|
|
Association Meetings and Ministeriums
March 9
- Mercersburg Ministerium–Spiritual Care in the Congregation with Rev. Nora Foust - 9:00am
April 25
- Harrisburg Association Meeting with 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 with Rev. Carrie Call
May 11
- Mercersburg Ministerium with Rev. Carrie Call
May 14
- Gettysburg Ministerium with Rev. Nora Foust
|
|
Association Special Events
|
|
Outdoor Ministry Retreats 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.
|
|
Boundary Training & MEFS
May 13
- Ordinary Team Worship Planning - Colonial Park UCC - More info to come
|
|
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 for Bells - Church of the Apostles, Waynesboro
Narda Druckenmiller is looking for a 2 Octave set of Handbells that another church may not be using or willing to sell. Contact Narda at 717-994-4614
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
|
February 22
-
ONA Winter Gathering
at Colonial Park UCC, Harrisburg PA - 9:30AM-3:00PM - register by emailing
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
: The Rev Dr. Beverly Dale - an ordained minister, a playwright/performer/author, sex educator, teacher, educator, and spiritual director.
Steven Roush, Penn Central Conference’s ONA Consultant and Bethany Sweger, ONA Team Member on
ONA 101A
|
|
From PCC Partners & Friends
|
Tuesday Topics - Women Who Speak for God: Females Among the Prophets
- Dr. Julia O'Brian - Lancaster Theological Seminary - March 24, 10:00AM
|
Annual Meeting
- June 12-13, 2020
Event with Bishop Robert Schnase & Recognition Dinner
- September 19, 2020 (info to come!)
|
|
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
Scott Watts
Facilitator of Care to Clergy & Clergy Families
Phone: 717-652-1560 ex. 15
C. Paul Keller
Office Manager
Phone: 717-652-1560 ex. 14
Laura Dalton
Administrative Assistant/Search & Call Assistant
Phone: 717-652-1560 ex. 10
|
|
|
|
If you have future eNews stories, please send them to
C. Paul Keller
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
