One resource will be the re-launch of my VLOG “Morsels of Excellence.” In 2019, this was popular with a number of consistories and the whole playlist is still available on our PCC YouTube page. In this year’s series, I will look at ways to measure the health of a local church. Some of the topics will include discipleship, covenantal accountability, worship, theological reflection, spiritual formation and so much more! The season premiere on “Being a Member” can be found here.

·        Staff are available for online congregational consultations around search and call, coaching, conflict, and leadership training

·        Staff are available for live and recorded participation in worship by invitation

·        Conversations regarding regathering if your church is still gathering via technology

·        Engagement with “A Sure Foundation” that offers resources to keep healthy the local church’s relationship with their pastor

 

·        Weekly emails on Monday with upcoming events like the weekly lectionary discussion, the monthly coffee with conference ministers, boundary trainings and other continuing education events

·        Trained chaplains to meet the pastoral care needs of our pastors

·        A new sermon databank of prerecorded scripture readings and sermons (watch your email for access information)

·        Lenten Liturgies crafted by your PCC staff in addition to the Worship Ways liturgies from UCC writers.

 

Weariness has seemingly become a sign of the times. Hear the prophet’s words afresh this week and greet this new month with renewed vigor and strength for another day’s journey with God!

 

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)

The DataHub is now open through March 3rd for Yearbook reporting! Please learn more on the process here. If you need assistance, please contact Paul.

Make sure you also complete the supplemental survey! Link here.

Penn Central Conference has added a special section on our website for COVID-19 resources, including the times and links for Zoom meetings. Keep checking https://pccucc.org/covid-19-resources/ regularly for updates.

The first anthem from the Penn Central Conference Virtual Choir, Lift Every Voice and Sing, is now available on the Conference's YouTube Channel. Learn more about why this anthem was chosen for Black History Month here.

If you want a downloadable file, contact Julie Holm at [email protected] and she will send a link.  The second anthem, Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus, will be available February 16, just in time for Ash Wednesday, or for use during your Lenten services.  Singers are still welcome!

Sign up here.

The 2021 summer camp schedule is set! There are camps for all ages and interests at both Kirchenwald and Nawakwa. Check out what is offered online. There is an early-bird registration discount if you register before April 3. Also, if you attend the Open House, you can get an additional discount. Full brochure here.

Summer Staff Recruitment -- GOING ON NOW!

Calling all high school kids, college-age young adults, and adults interested in working at camp this summer! Lutheran Camping Corporation is recruiting now for this summer's camp season. Learn more here.

Bring your family or youth group and enjoy an afternoon on Kirchenwald’s award-winning toboggan run, ice-skating on the lake, or simply exploring the camp, visiting the goats, challenge yourself on the ropes course, sit by the fire, or drinking hot chocolate in the lodge. Register here.

Lenten Day Apart sessions will include restorative spiritual practices and restorative soil work. We will learn about the soil on the farm and how we can improve its health. We will plant seeds in our greenhouse in the afternoon. Register here.

More events and information here.

Due to the constraints of Zoom interactions, MEFs will have registration limits. If a registration is full, email Paul to be added to a waiting list. Please let us know if you need to cancel so your spot can be given to someone on the waiting list.

Pastors know the dear ones in our congregations who are beloved yet bristly; loveable and frustrating at the same; and sometimes just a perennial thorn in our sides. We may struggle how to be in relationship with these dear ones, while not allowing their bristle to push us or others away. This two-hour workshop will present a compassionate framing for how to understand these folks and how to relate most effectively with them in effective pastoral ways.

10:00AM registration full

6:00PM registration full

How often have these words occurred to you after a meeting or a difficult conversation? What I could have said. . . . What I should not have said was. . . . What we say to others and how we say it is a complex process. Psychological personality type seen through the lens of Meyers-Briggs (commonly known as the MBTI^©) provides a useful roadmap to engaging others with authenticity and integrity—and care. Come to learn about others and yourself! (Qualifies for Boundary Training.)

More event registration links here.

Lectionary Discussion Group continues in the new year! Join other clergy on Tuesdays at 1:00PM to discuss the lectionary passages. NEW Zoom link here.

Saturday February 13, 2:00 PM - Ecclesiastical Council for Genevieve Beatty via Zoom

These webinars are designed to help you enhance your local church ministries. Most are free to attend. Check out the calendar here.

MLK Day of Service - February 15 & 16, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

General Synod 33 will take place Sunday July 11, 2021 – Sunday July 18, 2021. Pre-Synod events will occur on July 7-10, 2021. Learn more here

Whether your church is just beginning its journey towards an Open and Affirming covenant, or you've been ONA for many years, you'll find a webinar that meets your needs! Our popular webinar series has helped congregations plan for an ONA journey that builds consensus and reduces the risk of conflict, and existing ONA churches have learned how to breathe new life into their ONA commitment. Our services are priced to fit almost any budget, and there are deep discounts when you buy a season pass. Learn more.

Leaders will include Kimi Floyd Reisch, the Coalition's ONA Program Minister, and Andy Lang, our executive director. More details here.

Parish Resource Center is partnering with CHI St. Joseph Children’s Health for a FREE Parenting Webinar Series: Simplicity Parenting - February 11, 7-8:30pm; Unplugged - March 11, 7-8:30pm; Family Communication - April 15, 7-8:30pm. For more information and to register for these workshops, https://parishresourcecenter.org/events/

Parish Resource Center offers basic, stand-alone Technology Webinars: Zoom for Presenters – February 8, 7-8:30pm; Intro to Word – March 1, 7-8:30pm; Intro to Excel – April 28, 7-8:30pm; Intro to Publisher – May 13, 7-8pm. For more information and to register for these workshops, https://parishresourcecenter.org/events/

Details and registration at https://www.auce-ucc.org/50th-anniversary

Fr. David writes, "In a time of division and denial, this is the most important study we can undertake. It provides the framework of understanding what we have in common about repentance and grace in Judaism, Christianity and Islam."

Fr. David continues, "We will explore what Rabbi Sacks describes as “the dignity of difference” that enhances and harmonizes who we are as children of God rather than divides us."

The Brush Valley Fusion of Faith, a small, ecumenical (ELCA/UCC), rural congregation in Central Pennsylvania, seeks a temporary, part time pastor to fill in for 15 weeks while our pastor goes on Sabbatical. Current anticipated timeframe is between mid-July or early August and mid-November, 2021. Worship leadership and supply preaching required, plus 4-5 hours per week to be negotiated, which may include worship preparation, leading Bible Study and adult education, or other pastoral tasks. Visitation of a small number of shut ins, either in person or via phone, also requested. $300 per week, plus mileage. This will probably require you to be in person on Sunday morning only in the area of Rebersburg, Pennsylvania, as we hope to move back to in person worship by then, but may also a simultaneous phone conference option. No housing. Prefer someone who can be designated for this term by the UCC or who is ordained to Word and Sacrament in the ELCA.This may include ecumenical partners of both denominations. Seminarians encouraged to apply, and mentoring can be arranged for a seminarian who serves. Contact [email protected] or call (814) 349-5515 for more information.

Mission Central has a part time Business Administrative Assistant position open. This position functions primarily as the Bookkeeper and Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director but lends clerical and collaborative support to the Development Director. As such, the employee assists in implementing administrative strategies and objectives. Learn more here.

Support PCC with a donation to OCWM or shop using Amazon Smile.

Penn Central Conference Ministry Opportunities Page

If you have future eNews stories, please send them to C. Paul Keller. 

Contact information: C. Paul Keller | email: [email protected] | phone: 717-652-1560