Penn Central Conference Weekly eNews

I love the Helen Steiner Rice poem "The Christmas Guest." (Read it here) As a child (and even as an adult), I often imagined myself as Conrad waiting to greet the Lord at Christmas. I know the season of Advent is a time of preparation for His coming and that the already here and not yet arrived Savior will be here again on Christmas Day. I decorate my house and I prepare my heart. I listen each week as we hear prophets speak of the coming Messiah and gospel writers announce His arrival. And then like Conrad, all I see are "beggars, crones and lost children" at my door. I set aside my stirring about both physically and spiritually and tend to the needs of the moment: donating food and gifts, praying with the lost and sick, welcoming the stranger and sharing in celebrations here and there and everywhere!

This week's scripture reading takes us with Mary to visit her Aunt Elizabeth who is also with child. Elizabeth shares that her child leaps with JOY when Mary arrives. The child in her womb was filled with the HOPE that Mary and her child promised. Micah prophesies that Bethlehem of Ephrathah will see the birth of the one who will bring PEACE. So, this week as we turn toward the candle of LOVE and enter the final stages of preparation for Christ's in-breaking anew in each and in all of our lives, how do we magnify the Lord through our sharing of God's LOVE?

Emmanuel, God with us, gave endless examples how to share LOVE through the stories of the gospel writers! Will we like Conrad be able to set aside the plans that we have to help the "beggars, crones, and children" that come to us needing LOVE? In the end of the poem {spoiler alert}, after Conrad has spent his day clothing a beggar, sitting at table over tea with a crone and helped a lost child find home, Conrad complained to the Lord about having not visited that day. The Lord's reply was "Three times I knocked and three times I came in, and each time I found the warmth of a friend. Of all the gifts, LOVE is the best, and I was honored to be your Christmas Guest."

So friends across the Penn Central Conference, join me and be like Mary and Conrad! Let our souls magnify the Lord as we welcome Christ this Christmas season (and all year long) by spreading LOVE to "beggars, crones and children," all!

May this season of HOPE lead you to PEACE and JOY so that you might share all in LOVE!

Advent Blessings,

Nora

Rev. Nora Foust

Advent Bulletin Inserts

Advent bulletin inserts focusing on the 3 Great Loves for Advent are now available.

Please share how you and your congregation celebrate Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love this Advent Season; use #3greatloves on social media.

Conference Updates

Year End OCWM

Thank you for your gifts to OCWM. All 2018 donations (OCWM or others) must be received at the Penn Central Conference Office by Monday, January 14, 2019. Any money received after that date will be counted as 2019 donations.

Pledge Forms

We are grateful for the monthly OCWM gifts and appreciate those churches that added OCWM as a line item in their 2019 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 Wendy via email or mail.

Yearbook

DataHub will open January 2 at Noon. It will close on March 6 at Midnight.In the meantime, please continue collecting data and information. As always, are happy to help in any way. Thank you, in advance, for all your hard work!

Conference Office Closed for Christmas

The Conference Office will be closed from December 22, 2018 through January 1, 2019.

Thank you for your support - it has been the best gift to us this year.

We look forward to serving you in 2019 and pray that our continued ministry together in Penn Central Conference will nurture covenantal relationships that connect, engage and transform us into congregations that passionately declare and demonstrate the courageous love of Christ!

General Synod - Milwaukee

General Synod 32, Milwaukee - NEW

I am officially calling all delegates, visitors, and friends of the United Church of Christ, to join us in Milwaukee Wisconsin for the 32^nd General Synod, June 21-25, 2019!

The 32^nd General Synod promises to be an inspiring and engaging event in the life of the Church. Our keynote speaker is Dr. Matthew Desmond, professor of Sociology at Princeton University and Pulitzer Prize winner for the book, "Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City."

The preachers for the worship services are, for Friday's Opening Worship Service, The Rev. Kaji Spellman Dousa, Sunday's Community Worship Service, The Rev. Traci deVon Blackmon, Monday's Worship Service, The Rev. Sharon Mei-Shem MacArthur and for the Closing Worship Service, The Rev. Dr. Amy Butler.

We will also celebrate the ministries of retiring Associate Executive Minister for Global Engagement and Operations, Co-executive of Global Ministries of The Rev. Dr. Jim Moos and Mr. Don Hart, President and Chief Investment Officer, United Church Funds.

We will re-elect the General Minister and President and elect a new Associate Executive Minister for Global Engagement and Operations, Co-executive of Global Ministries.

I invite you to bring a spirit of love, of compassion, of openness and of hope with you. I look forward to seeing you in Milwaukee! Until then, let the light of the living Christ shine in and through you, and be known to all whom you meet along the way.

John C. Dorhauer

General Minister and President

Resolution for General Synod

Many thanks to the work of Kathy Brown and Trinity UCC, Waynesboro as well as the Creation Justice team. They have submitted a resolution for General Synod

This is the resolution (re: plastic foam) that was passed at our Annual Meeting in June.

Please let us know how you or your church are living into the resolution by emailing Stephanie.

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Lancaster Theological Seminary

UCCR

UCC Homes

Calendar of Events

Link to Our Web Site Calendar

Printable Calendar - NEW!

Penn Central Conference Offices will be closed from December 22 - January 1.

Merry Christmas!

Upcoming Events

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

Spring Confirmation Retreat - March 17-19 -- please contact Patty if your church is interested in participating.

Hartman Center Work Weekend - May 2-5

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

General Synod, 2019 - June 21-25, 2019, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Events and Training

UCC Polity and Theology Courses

United Church of Christ History and Polity will be taught at Lancaster Theological Seminary during Term III in Spring 2019, beginning Friday, February 22, 2019 and ending Friday, April 12, 2019.

The class will be held for 7 weeks on Friday afternoons from 2:00pm to 5:00pm.

Assignments include reading and writing, resulting in a History and Polity paper that can be used as part of the ordination paper requirement for authorization.

Successful completion of assignments in the class will result in a Certificate of Completion that may be shared with the individual's Committee on Ministry to designate completion of an approved course.

This class is non-credit. Registration is required. The course fee is $ 300.00.

Registration deadline is Friday, February 15, 2019.

Course Dates: Seven weeks - Fridays, Feb. 22 through April 12, 2019, from 2-5pm

UCC History, Polity & Theology Course

This comprehensive course will meet Mondays from 6 - 9pm from January 28 to April 29, 2019. You may attend in person at Moravian Seminary Bethlehem PA or by video conference. The cost for a certificate of completion is $900. Academic Course Credit is available at regular tuition costs. For more information contact the instructor, Rev. Dr. David DeRemer [email protected] .

Community and Justice Issues

LGBTQ Movie Night

All are welcome to join us for our first LGBTQ Movie Night hosted by the ONA churches of the York Association on THURSDAY, December 27. Dinner and discussion will take place in a community room at Frank Theater following the 6 PM showing. As indicated in the flier, dinner will be provided.

In the Executioner's Shadow

"In the Executioner's Shadow" casts a penetrating look at the consequences of the death penalty through three powerful stories - the rare perspective of a former state executioner who comes within days of executing an innocent person; a Boston Marathon bombing victim who struggles to decide what justice really means; and the parents of a murder victim who choose to fight for the life of their daughter's killer. As the battle to overturn capital punishment comes to a head in the U.S., this provocative film challenges viewers to question their deepest beliefs about justice.

St. Paul's United Church of Christ - 626 Williams Grove Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050

Sunday, January 20^th, 2019

4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

DR&R

Thanks to the many Disaster Ministries Volunteers in 2018 who ventured forth and helped rebuild many homes of victims from this year's natural disasters, last year's natural disasters, and the natural disasters from the years before! Yet there is still a great deal of disaster recovery work that still needs to be completed. The people of Puerto Rico truly can use our help!

So, as you begin to plan your mission trips for 2019 please do consider going to P.R.!

DR&R/Bay Back Mission News - NEW

Please find the Fall edition of the Bay Back Mission News

Book Studies

The Power of Habit - NEW

To Register

Registration deadline: January 20, 2019

Everyone is invited to participate (lay and clergy)!

(Please read the book prior to February 6^th)

A significant portion of what we do each day is not the result of deliberate decision making, but out of habit. Habits have power, and some are good while others are bad for us. Whether as individuals, an organization, or a community, those habits can lead to success or to frustration. In his book "The Power of Habit," Charles Duhigg examines the nature of our habits and how it is possible to change bad practices into good ones.

Penn Central Conference is offering the opportunity for interested pastors and lay people to explore the nature of habits, both personally and as a church (for indeed churches have habits) during the month of February.

The group will focus on how changing habits can lead to more effective leadership and witness within the church.

Date: Wednesdays in February (February 6, 13, 20, 27)

Time: 10:00am

Location: Penn Central Conference Office - 900 S. Arlington Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17109 or via ZOOM

Facilitator: Rev. George Heberling

Book cost: $15.30 (order online)

Creation Justice - Climate Church, Climate World

In January, Creation Justice will be doing a book review on Climate Church, Climate World: How People of Faith Must Work for Change by former UCC Conference Minister, Jim Antal.

You can buy the book now from Hearts and Minds with a 20% discount! Just go to their order form page and type in the titles you want. Use promo code "UCC Creation Justice" and you'll get a 20% off.

Generosity

Friends of Penn Central Conference - NEW

Many thanks, Penn Central Conference, for your generosity!

$8690 of our $15,000 goal

Thank you for your gifts!

Here are 5 suggestions for ways YOU can give:

Follow this link to our donation page to make a one-time or monthly recurring gift.
You may also send your donation by check to the Conference Office. (Please make check payable to Penn Central Conference, adding OCWM/Friends of Penn Central Conference in the memo line.)
Volunteer your time serving in Association/Penn Central Conference ministries. Sign up here.
Secure a matching gift from your company. You can search this database to see if your company matches - What an easy way to double your gift!
Invite others to give to OCWM - if you have creative ideas, we would love hear them!

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Your generosity supports the important work we do with our local churches, Associations and the wider church. This enables us to invest in the programs, resources and tools needed to help our congregations flourish.

THANK YOU!

UCC Homes

UCC Homes is starting to think about the time of year when people bake cookies, go caroling, spend cherished time with loved ones and most importantly, celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. This time of year people tend to be kinder, warmer and friendlier, exhibiting Jesus' example of giving and helping those who are in need.

UCC Homes does all they can to bring festive joy to as many residents as possible. UCC Homes takes pride in the care and service they provide to those in need. They invite you to share with those who are less fortunate by spreading the Christmas spirit through your compassion and generosity.

In order to provide each resident with a meaningful gift this coming Christmas, they are asking our sponsoring congregations, church groups and individuals to consider donating a monetary donation or gift cards/certificates to be used towards purchasing desired gifts for residents of the communities of UCC Homes, making Christmas a little more special.

Clergy News

Women in Rural Ministry - NEW

Thanks to the clergy who gathered for the December WIRM (women in rural ministry) group from Central Association.

Jerusalem Tables

In a moment of great change and growth in the early church, Paul and Barnabas went up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem with their testimonies. In Acts 15:7b-9, 12a Paul addressed this body, "Siblings, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed acceptance of them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as it was given to us. 9 God did not discriminate between us and them, for their hearts were purified by faith." The whole assembly became silent as they listened.

The Council at Jerusalem reminds us that from its e arliest roots the Church had challenging conversations about the Church . Now is time for another Jerusalem conversation.

In Apostolic tradition, let us gather for discussion about BE- ing the Church in the world today.

Thursday, February 7, 2019

12:00 Noon - 1:00 PM

(Please bring a b rown bag lunch)

Flyer

To Register for York

To Register for Lewisburg

To Register for Harrisburg

To Register for Lancaster

Clergy Sabbath: January 22 - 24

Please register by January 9, 2019!

Building Sacred Relationships in a Time of Conflict and Fear

January 22 - 24, 2019

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Please join us at a new location this year!

Sheraton Hotel, Harrisburg - 4650 Lindle Road - Harrisburg, PA

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Flyer - Agenda - Speaker Bios

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To Register - If you need to register and pay by check, please call the Conference Office.

Registration for LTS Students (Wednesday only)

Ministerial Excellence Forums, Spring 2019

Please join us on the following dates from 1:00 - 4:00 at St. Thomas United Church of Christ.

March 7 - Dr. Greg Carey, Pastoring Everyone in Divisive Times

April 11 - Rev. Jes Kast and Rev. Megan Malick, Back at the Table

May 9 - Rev. Dr. Carolyne M. Call, Emotional Intelligence

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Light refreshments will be served.

For Details and Presenter Bios

Church Events

Pension Board Rate Locator - NEW

The Conference Office has received several inquiries about the rate charts for 2019 health insurance. Please use the Rate Locator to find rates. Just enter your zip code and the pastor's age range.

Annual Meeting 2019

Save the Date: June 7-8, 2019

Theme: Renaissance Ministry: BE-ing the Church Today!

Verse: Ezekiel 37: 4-6

We invite members of the Penn Central Conference who are called or inspired to create a logo to be used at our Annual Meeting. Please consider our verse and theme and then submit your logo to Stephanie by February 1, 2019. The PCC Annual Meeting committees will vote and winner will be notified by February 14, 2019. For details

Prayers for Penn Central Conference

Prayers for Penn Central Conference

"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. Each week we will list names of various churches in Penn Central Conference hoping you will add them to your prayers.

Penn Central Conference clergy

Hartman Center

Historic Preservation Committee Needed - NEW

Do you have a love/passion for History? Have you ever worked on a Historic Preservation Committee? Do you know someone who has a love/passion for Historic Preservation?

Penn Central Conference is looking for people who would like serve on this committee. The project is the Historic Preservation of the Stone House at Hartman Center that was built in the 1830's. The house needs a complete restoration on the inside. Please contact the conference offices at 717-652-1560 for more information.

Save the Date - NEW

February Love Offering - February 17!

Spring Confirmation Retreat - March 17-19 -- please contact Patty if your church is interested in participating.

Hartman Center Work Weekend - May 2-5

Positions and PCC-Bay

Hymnals Available - NEW

Paradise UCC has hymnals for a good home -- 64 in good condition and 11 in fair condition as there are some loose pages in these books. If you have any questions, you may call Carolyn Herman at 570-220-8589.

Trinity UCC @ State Line, PA is actively looking for an organist/pianist to cover weekly 9:00 a.m. Sunday worship services. Email [email protected] or call 717-597-0585.

Faith United Church of Christ, 1204 Wabank Road in Lancaster, Pa. is in need of a church organist. For more information, please call Pastor John Rieker at 717-341-1051.

Zion UCC Arendtsville and the Cashtown/McKnightstown Charge participate in an ecumenical partnership called Upper Adams Christians Together (UACT). This partnership is seeking a part-time Youth Coordinator. UACT is a collection of 8 congregations (Lutheran & UCC) in Adams County. Responsibilities include administration, teaching, and future planning. Job description is available on request. Contact Pastor Dennis Probst at [email protected], or Pastor Kim Blocher at [email protected] for more information.