Weekly Update - July 25, 2018
This communication is paid for by Our Church's Wider Mission
In This Issue...

Update On Our Strategic Plan - NEW!

Resources 

Calendar - NEW!

Events and Training - NEW!

Clergy News 
 Church News 

 Generosity- NEW!

Hartman Center 

PCC-Bay - NEW!
OtherResolutionA Message from  Board of Directors
Update On Our Strategic Plan - NEW!
   
Dear Friends,
For those who were not in attendance a few weeks ago at Annual Meeting for the 2018 update, I thought a rundown of our progress, our listening to a Still Speaking God, would be helpful.
It has been a year since the 3-year PCC Strategic Plan was approved by the Board of Directors and presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting gathering. Here is an overview of the Strategic (Missional) Plan.
New programs like the Architects of Excellence program is designed to reach out to congregations, large and small, to assist with strengthening them for ministry and mission. Also new is an Innovation grant
to provide seed money (up to $5,000) to congregations trying new community outreach.
Lay leadership training and development programs are being presented around the Conference. There are also workshops and events to help our clergy to refresh and renew. With the use of new technology like ZOOM for some presentations, there is an effort to involve more people without having to travel. The PCC staff has been and will continue to work to strengthen all in the Conference with programs and resources designed to address the needs of our churches within today's changing religious landscape.
The Board of Directors, through ongoing group discussions, is inviting Associations to explore a collaborative approach to working together to strengthen our congregations. Realigning from eight (8) to four (4) Associations, using Plan B, is at the heart of this discussion. The Plan B proposal combines the following Associations:
Central and Northern                               Lancaster and Lebanon
Harrisburg and York                                Gettysburg and Mercersburg
 
Since last fall, the Northern and Central Associations have begun working together. By sharing the duties and responsibilities of various committees and outreach projects, different approaches to issues, our community strengths and personal talents, hopefully everyone can become better at meeting the needs of our congregations.
The Strategic Planning Committee of the PCC Board of Directors is encouraged by your openness to the Strategic (Missional) Plan and will continue to hold the Conference in prayer. Here is an excerpt from a prayer I shared at our most recent meeting with Association leaders on June 26, 2018:
"We are from small rural communities and populated cities and suburbs; from the woodlands and farmlands and paved urban sprawl. We have different histories and life experiences and views of how things should be. We are again at a moment in time when drugs, guns, and violence are everywhere; when skin color and lifestyle determine a person's worth; when words become weapons of hate and division. We ask in prayer for guidance through our everyday wilderness, for grace and understanding as we listen to each other and allow us to find common ground upon which to build and grow. Help us Be the Church; Penn Central Conference where congregations passionately declare and demonstrate the courageous love of Christ."
May it be so.
Kendra
 
Kendra Snyder, Chair
Strategic Planning Committee
PCC Board of Directors
  

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.

 
The Uniqueness of Rural Ministry - NEW
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 - NEW
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
  • July 29 - Rev. Andy Wilson's last Sunday at Hamlin UCC - 10:15 AM
  • 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
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
Culture of Generosity - NEW
Every church has a culture.  It's a combination of the mission, vision, values, beliefs and behavior of the church.  Creating a culture of generosity isn't easy.   In his blog, Gary Rohrmayer talks about Creating a Culture of Generosity with 5 steps:

1. Pray for It!   2.  Model It!   3. Teach It!   4. Reinforce It!  
5. Celebrate It!   Read More...

JusticeGenerosityCommunity and Justice Issues
 
Creation Justice
From the Creation Justice Workshop given by Dr. Alan Peterson:





UCC Creation Justice Churches  is a new designation for UCC churches who want to make Creation Care and Creation Justice part of their DNA.   Following 6 Steps, each church designs how they want to be a Creation Justice church based on their unique community, interests and energy level.  Information can be found on these two web pages:  Check it out!   Creation Justice Churches and  How It Works:  Becoming a Creation Justice Church in 6 steps.


September 1 - October 4

Annually between September 1 and October 4, 2.2 billion Christians worldwide celebrate The Season of Creation. During this time, the global family is united to share one purpose - praying and celebrating God's creation.

From seasonofcreation.org...

2018 theme: Walking Together

This year's Season of Creation has the theme of "walking together". Although this theme does not need to be incorporated into your celebration, using it is an easy way to unite with celebrations around the world.

In walking together, we follow the role of Jesus, who walked with friends on the roads around Jerusalem.

As he traveled the byways of his community, Jesus invited us to encounter God through God's presence in creation. Whether by considering "the lilies of the field" or the "grain of wheat that falls to the earth," the spiritual journey of following Jesus is closely tied to the everyday wonders of nature that He experienced in His earthly journey.

This Season of Creation, we strive to more deeply understand the lessons Jesus taught us through creation, to more authentically honor our Creator, and to share fellowship with brothers and sisters along the way. As pilgrims together, we welcome the opportunity to awaken anew to the wonder of the Earth, our common home, and to protect the web of life it shelters.

Resources:

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
  
Summer Camp at Hartman Center

  
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
 
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.
  • Trinity Reformed UCC, Mountville
  • Zion UCC, Mt. Zion
  • Myerstown UCC, Myerstown
  • Emmanuel UCC, New Berlin
ArchivePCC-Bay
Bibles Available - NEW
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