Weekly Update - February 6, 2019
This communication is paid for by Our Church's Wider Mission
In This Issue...

News from Penn Central Conference - NEW!

Resources 

Calendar

Justice and Community Issues 

Prayers and Devotions - NEW!
OtherResolutionNews from Penn Central Conference
A Reflection on Clergy Sabbath -   NEW 
 
There are a few times in life where one can go, "That went well. What it was meant to be. Good...right...and true."

The Mid-Winter Clergy Sabbath held at the Sheraton in Harrisburg (held January 22-24, 2019) was one of those times.  We had over 60 participants from Penn Central Conference taking advantage of the opportunity to step-away, breathe, learn and connect with God, others and themselves.  From our evaluations, the time met the needs of almost all participants (yay for 4s and 5s on a 1-5 scale!).

Our theme for this year was "Building Sacred Relationships in Times of Conflict and Fear." It may sound obvious, but one of the pieces I was reminded of... building sacred relationships requires showing up .

On occasion, some ministry settings (e.g. congregations) will say, "Why should we send our pastor to a hotel for 3 days?"  Or clergy will say, "meh, the topic does not interest me" or "taking that time away puts me even further behind." And yet, despite all of the learning we can do through books, the internet and videos, it is when we can be with one another that we learn more, receive more, grow more -- maybe in ways only our spirit knows. And for all of the reasons that congregations can guard (and focus) our time, the truth is that when we are able to step away (as Jesus did), to clear our heads and connect with a few others, to worship with others, to pray, and have space to simply "be," we become more connected to God and better servants and followers of Christ. Who would not want that for their pastor or for themselves?

Our worship services were led by different people and drew on various skills and styles. Our self-care times offered everything from swimming and naps, to massage and art.  Our learning sessions this year helped us to understand conflict and tensions within ourselves, our ministry settings, our communities and our culture. Our presenters included Dr. Lee Barrett from Lancaster Seminary and Dr. David Brubaker and Dr. Roxann Allen Kioko from Eastern Mennonite University. However, we also learned from one another...in break-out sessions and in the dining room.

It was blessed, sacred space, my friends.  I was tired coming into the week, and also felt a little like "should I really take this time?"  The answer is YES! I am so glad I did. I came away more renewed and relationships strengthened. Thanks be to God! And thank you to our presenters, facilitators, worship leaders, and participants...for showing up and being the amazing children of God that you are!  A special thank you to Rev. Eva O'Diam (chair) and her planning team. Well done, good and faithful servants.

I have the unique opportunity to chair the 2020 Mid-Winter Clergy Sabbath planning team.  I welcome your feedback, input and participation. If you wish to give your reflection from Clergy Sabbath please send it to Stephanie and complete the evaluation form, and if you wish to participate in the 2020 planning (topics, pace, logistics, etc.) our first meeting will be via Zoom (no need to travel) on Tuesday, February 12 at 10am.  Please let me know of your interest at cgaris@cpucc.org.

Blessed to be on the journey with you,
Pastor Cindy
 
 Clergy Sabbath - NEW

We are very grateful for the leadership of the Clergy Sabbath Planning Committee - Eva O'Diam (Chair), Cindy Garis, Scott Siciliano, Tom Caruso, Christina Fidanza as well as the worship leaders for Clergy Sabbath - Scott Siciliano, Amelia Price, Alice Rauch, Tony Fields, Christina Fidanza and Cindy Garis.  Thank you for your work!  The clergy Sabbath was very well received (per the evaluation forms and anecdotal feedback.)  

 

Please double click the picture to see more from 2019 Clergy Sabbath:

 
2019 Clergy Sabbath

 

 
 Article on Conflict - NEW

"Rather than being avoided, conflict is, for Christians and the church, precisely what ought to be engaged."  Read more...

 
 Conference Updates

 

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 is open.   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

 
CalendarofEventsCalendar of Events
 
   
      
 
Annual Meeting - June 7-8, 2019, Susquehanna University

General Synod, 2019 - June 21-25, 2019, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 
Join Our List
Join Our Mailing List
ResourcesResource Links
 
EventTrainingEvents and Training
Morsels of Excellence


JANUARY: A Sure Foundation: resources for the relationships between pastors and congregations or d ouble-click the picture for the January Morsels video:
Morsels of Excellence: January

Discussion questions:  Morsels Discussion

Evaluation Form - We greatly appreciate your feedback!

Healthy Church - NEW
 
Please Save the Date for Our Upcoming Workshops
March 2 - Creating Small Group Ministries at Your Church
May 4 - Shared (Cooperative) Ministry Conversations
September 14 - Being the Church Today
All sessions are 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM.    See flyer for additional details.
Convergence Leadership Project - NEW
 
The UCC's Center for Progressive Renewal just opened registration for the next cohort of an online leadership development program called the Convergence Leadership Project. 

Author and national faith leader, Brian McLaren, is the director of the program, supported by Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis from Middle Collegiate Church in NY, Diana Butler Bass, Bruce Reyes-Chow, Lindsay Andreolli-Comstock, Jim Keat and others. Living in the age of intersectional movement building, we need leaders and congregations prepared to lead the way. After two years of development, CLP has proven to be a very powerful program for helping congregations make the transition from being "organized churches" to "organizing churches."
 
Leaders (lay and ordained) must be nominated, interviewed and accepted into the program.  They are looking for congregations with imagination, courage and capacity. Church size or location doesn't impact the outcome of the experience - it's more about an openness to change and awareness that a new kind of imagination is needed to move the progressive faith movement forward. 


Women's Summit - NEW!
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 5, 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
CJIWebsiteCommunity and Justice Issues
Rescheduled: In the Executioner's Shadow
Rescheduled for March 17, 2019
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

St. Paul's UCC, Mechanicsburg
626 Williams Grove Road - Mechanicsburg

Please RSVP to stpaulstaff@outlook.com. There is no cost to attend; however donations are accepted to cover pizza and speaker costs. Flyer

Creation Justice Feedback Requested
Creation Justice wants to know how your church is living into the Resolution Regarding the Use of Plastic Foam.  We know it is a big step for many churches to find alternatives to using styrofoam.   
 
We want to get a google doc started where churches can share what practices and products they have found which work for them.  If there are no more blank rows to fill in, just right click in the last row and choose add a row below.  Thanks for taking the time to share with your sister Penn Central Conference Churches.
 
 
Does "All are Welcome" Really Mean ALL? 
Open and Affirming Ministry Team 
2019 Winter Gathering
Saturday, February 23, 2019
9:30 AM - 2:00 PM
St. Paul's UCC - 626 Williams Grove Road - Mechanicsburg, PA

CNWebsiteClergy News
Hellos and Goodbyes - NEW
Welcome ... new Pastors!
Dale Thomas - David's UCC, Hebe (a shared ministry with St. Matthew's, Spring Glen)
Jes Kast - Faith UCC, State College
Sue Oelrich - Locust Grove UCC
Brian Damrow - Penbrook UCC
Diane Kinley - St. John's UCC, Bellefonte
 
Rick Pulling (Interim) - Emmanuel UCC, York
   
Farewell ... and thank you!
Brett Myers (Interim) - Faith UCC, State College
Karin Stork-Whitson (Interim) - Penbrook, UCC
Rick Pulling (Interim) - Emmanuel, Freysville
 
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
----
Light refreshments will be served.
 
Cutting Edge Faith Formation Conference 

Join us at MA-AUCE's annual Cutting Edge Faith Formation Conference and learn more about how to be anti-racist with Dr. Jennifer Harvey!  


Prayers1Prayers for Penn Central Conference
 
Ephesians 6:18 (NLT): 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Beginning in 2018, we created a prayer list to invite you to pray with us as we pray for all. We will continue this each week in 2019 as we list names of various churches in Penn Central Conference and hope you will add them to your prayers.
 
  • Salem Stone, Carlisle
  • Trinity UCC, Cashtown
  • Trinity UCC, Centre Hall
  • Saint John's UC, Chambersburg
HCWebsiteHartman Center
Confirmation Retreat - NEW

Hartman Center Golf Outing
Hartman Center 12th Annual Golf Outing
May 11, 2019 1:30pm start

Fairview Golf Course,
Quentin (Lebanon), PA 2399 Quentin Road, Lebanon, PA 17042 in memory of Rev. Lee Lawhead

Registration
Hartman Center News 
Historic Preservation Committee Needed -
Pastors, please make an announcement in your church.  

  • 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.

 
Hartman Center Legion

Lots of people committed to many different opportunities to serve in many different ways. And the organization of such a group needs "called out".  And so in 2019, we are announcing a Hartman Center Legion.  For details...



Love Offering - February 17!

This year's Hartman Center Love Offering will be February 17.  Here are the 
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Next confirmation retreat planning -  1/31 at 10:30 in the  PCC office

ArchiveBookCornerBook Corner
Staff Picks 
Of course, we love the 2 books featured in the eNews ( The Power of Habit and Climate Church, Climate World) but we also think you might enjoy... 

Canoeing the Mountains by Tod Bolsinger
(Note: The hardback book comes with a study guide)


14th Annual Outreach Magazine Resource of the Year, Leadership

Explorers Lewis and Clark had to adapt. While they had prepared to find a waterway to the Pacific Ocean, instead they found themselves in the Rocky Mountains. You too may feel that you are leading in a cultural context you were not expecting. You may even feel that your training holds you back more often than it carries you along. Drawing from his extensive experience as a pastor and consultant, Tod Bolsinger brings decades of expertise in guiding churches and organizations through uncharted territory. He offers a combination of illuminating insights and practical tools to help you reimagine what effective leadership looks like in our rapidly changing world. If you're going to scale the mountains of ministry, you need to leave behind canoes and find new navigational tools. Reading this book will set you on the right course to lead with confidence and courage.


If you have a book recommendation that you would like to share, please send it to Stephanie.

ArchiveOpen Positions
Lebanon Association Seeks Minister for Youth and Outreach - NEW
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Contact information:      Stephanie Rader-Titzel
email: srader-titzel@pccucc.org   phone: 717-652-1560                fax: 717-652-4769
web: http://www.pccucc.org