Weekly Update - August 1, 2018
This communication is paid for by Our Church's Wider Mission
In This Issue...

Disability Ministries - NEW!

Resources 

Calendar 

Events and Training - NEW!

Clergy News 
 Church News - NEW!

 Generosity- NEW!

Hartman Center 
OtherResolutionDisability Ministries
 
   
Greetings, Penn Central Conference!
 
The newly reorganized Disabilities Ministries Team is proud to share that we have received a $1,000 grant from UCC Disabilities Ministries Board (UCCDM) to help us expand our work of disability justice and inclusion within Penn Central Conference. Stay tuned for information on a series of workshops throughout the conference on the national Accessible 2 All (A2A) Designation and the background of the work of disabilities ministries.
 
If you are interested in joining our team, please email me  or Rev. Christina Fidanza . We are in the process of planning a gathering in late August!
 
Our goal is to have at least one church in each of our 8 associations be designated Accessible 2 All or be in process by Annual Meeting in 2019!
 
As Chair of UCCDM, I would like to cordially invite you to Widening The Welcome 2018  in picturesque Niagara Falls, NY from November 1 - 3. It'll be three days of worship and learning centered around the theme "Living, Learning, Leading!" Please visit the link above for more information!
 
Paul and Christina
 
Paul Fogle
Disabilities Ministry Team Co-Lead
 
Rev. Christina Fidanza
Disabilities Ministries Team Co-Lead

ResourcesResource Links
 
CalendarofEventsCalendar of Events
 
        
PLEASE SAVE THE DATE!
 
Widening the Welcome (Disability Ministries) - November 1-3, 2018, Niagara Falls, NY

Mid-Winter Clergy Sabbath (formerly Clergy Convocation) - January 22 - 24, 2019

Annual Meeting - June 7-8, 2019, Susquehanna University

General Synod, 2019 - June 21-25, 2019, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 
EventsandTrainingEvents and Training
PCC Communities of Practice
 
Communities of Practice Groups  Sign up for a place where the focus is ministry and shared knowledge is practice and experience based.  These communities covenant to offer care, support and accountability while they nurture practices of spiritual discipline.

 
MEF Fall 2018 - NEW
Please save the date for the Fall MEF:

September 19 - Heather Kimmel, General Counsel for the United Church of Christ, Confidentiality and Mandatory Reporting (for Clergy ONLY)
 
October 17 - Scott Watts, Facilitator of Care to Clergy and Clergy Families, Self- Differentiation in your Ministry (for Clergy ONLY)
 
November 14 - X. Peter Wernett , Sr. Vice President, MissionInsite (for Lay and Clergy)
 
All forums will be held at
St. Thomas UCC - 6490 Linglestown Road - Harrisburg, PA
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
 
Light refreshments will be served.
 

Widening the Welcome - NEW
 November 1-3, 2018
Niagara Falls Convention Center & Sheraton at the Falls Niagara Falls, NY

Invited speakers include: Exec. Minister for Justice and Local Church Ministries- Rev. Traci Blackmon, Minister for Disabilities and Mental Health JusticeRev. Dr. Sarah Lund, Still Speaking Devotional Writer- Rev. Jennifer Brownell, and keynote speaker, UCC General Minister and President, Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer.

The Uniqueness of Rural Ministry
The Uniqueness of Rural Ministry

Saturday, September 6, 1:00-4:00pm

At Orchard Hill, Millerstown
  
$35     .5 CEU's  

Active Shooter Training for Centre County
Centre County Houses of Worship Active Shooter Response Training 

WHEN: August 17, 2018 LOCATION: Centre Lifelink, 125 Puddintown Road, State College, PA. 

TIME: 9:00 AM - Noon (first session) 1:00 - 4:00 PM (second session) 

Mid-Winter Clergy Sabbath
Save the Date!

January 22 - 24, 2019

Building Sacred Relationships in A Time of Conflict and Fear

Sheraton Hotel
4650 Lindle Road - Harrisburg, PA
717.564.5511

Registration to follow...
Financial Training
This training is open to treasurers, finance committees, deacons, stewardship committees and anyone that is interested in money in their church.

MONEY MATTERS:
Managing God's Money


ClergyWebsiteClergy News
July - August - September
  • August 5 - Pastor Mario Madden Installation at Trinity UCC, Tulpehocken - 4:00 PM
  • August 26 - Rev. Nora Foust Installation at Christ UCC, Elizabethtown - 3:00 PM
  • September 9 -  Pastor Ron Heagy Installation at St. Stephen's UCC, York - 3:00 PM
  • September 9 - Rev. Caroline Saxton Installation at St. John's UCC, Chambersburg - 3:00 PM
  • September 16 - Ecclesiastical Council Panel for Laura Ramsey & Nilda Roman at Christ UCC, Elizabethtown - 3:00 PM
ChurchNewsWebsiteChurch News
 UCC Medical and Dental Benefits - NEW


 
August 18 - Bobby Jo Valentine at Hummelstown UCC

On August 18, 2018, Hummelstown UCC will host Bobby Jo Valentine in concert. A winner of the West Coast Songwriter's Association "Songwriter of the Year" award, his style is best described as "coffee house meets Jesus" - laid back, but meaningful and with heart.

August 18 at 7:00 PM

Hummelstown UCC
104 E Main Street
Hummelstown, PA 17046

Tickets $15 in advance or $20 at the door.
Flyer for details

Generosity1WebsiteGenerosity
Teaching Stewardship to Children by Minner Serovy - NEW
How can we foster the generosity and compassion we want in children?

We need to get over the taboo of talking about money and money values. We need to be in touch with our own learned money messages, and be challenged by Jesus' teachings about our relationship to money. Children notice when we're silent or uncomfortable. Make sure that Sunday School teachers are aware of the stewardship resources for children.


JusticeGenerosityCommunity and Justice Issues
 Season of Creation Resources - NEW

In the Season of Creation, we will:
1. Celebrate Earth as a sacred planet filled with God's vibrant presence.
2. Unite with all creation in praising the God of creation.
3. Confess our sins against creation and empathise with a groaning creation.
4. Embrace our kin in creation as our extended family.
5. Proclaim the good news that the risen Jesus is the cosmic Christ who fills and renews all creation.
6. Go forth on a mission to be partners with Christ in the healing of creation.

Season of Creation Overview  and What is the Season of Creation

Thanks to Rev. David Tieje for speaking about this at Annual Meeting and providing many of the resources listed above.
HCHartman Center
Hartman Center News
  
  
Upcoming events:
Elementary Retreat (grades 3-6) - September 21 - 23
Women's Retreat - November 16-18 
Middle and High School Retreat (grades 7-12) - November 16 - 18

If you're attending a retreat:

  1. Registration Form and Permission Slip This is the form you send to us one week prior to your participation in a retreat.
Medical Form This is the form you send to us one week prior to your participation in a retreat. We must have this form for all participants.
 
And in 2019...
Spring Confirmation Retreat - dates TBD.  Please contact Patty if your church is interested in participating.
 
May 7-9, 2019 Hartman Center Work Weekend!
---Elementary Retreat - May 4-6, 2018
More details on the  Hartman Center Web site!
  
 
Thank you for your continued support!

 
Prayers1Prayers for Our Churches
 
 
Prayers for Penn Central Conference Churches

"Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere, just as it is among you."  (2 Thess. 3:1)
 
Beginning in 2018, we have created a prayer list to invite you to pray with us as we pray for all of our congregations. Each week we will list names of various churches in Penn Central Conference hoping you will add them to your prayer list, and hold them in prayer throughout the week.
  • Zion UCC, Newburg
  • Saint John's UCC, New Oxford
  • Saint Paul's UCC, New Oxford
  • Incarnation UCC, Newport
ArchivePCC-Bay
Bibles Available
St. Thomas UCC in Harrisburg has about 50 NSRV Bibles available.  If you are interested, please reach out to Jennifer.
ArchiveArchive
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Contact information:      Stephanie Rader-Titzel
email: [email protected]   phone: 717-652-1560                fax: 717-652-4769
web: http://www.pccucc.org