Weekly Update - June 12, 2019
This communication is paid for by Our Church's Wider Mission
In This Issue...

A Message from Rev. Dr. Carrie Call - NEW
Penn Central Conference Updates - NEW!

Community and Justice Issues - NEW!
Clergy News  - NEW!

Prayers and Devotions - NEW!
A Message from Our Soon-to-Be Transitional Conference  Minister, 
Rev. Dr. Carrie Call - NEW
 
Last weekend at the PCC annual meeting I experienced a wide range of emotions. The most important and most overwhelming was gratitude: for all of you and your heartfelt welcome to me as your Transitional Conference Minister. I consider this position a tremendous blessing and challenge and I am eager to work beside all of you to draw us closer together as a covenanted people.

I have come to know the conference in the past three years while working at the Seminary and I love what I've learned. You have a strong sense of your own history and the rootedness that it provides to churches, communities and individuals. Central Pennsylvania is home to a wide range of histories and narratives - both heartwarming and heartbreaking - and we are the stewards of those narratives and legacies. I treasure the way you are aware of this responsibility and take it seriously.

You are also a people who care deeply about clergy and the importance of empowering the local church. This commitment should remain at the forefront of our work and it plays itself out through decisions about authorization, compensation, education, search and call, and innovation. The issue of church vitality is a critical one as well and deserving of careful and thoughtful discussion. I look forward to having those discussions (among others!) with you.

I am also aware of the financial challenges that we have as a conference. I happily anticipate conversations and discernment about what we need to do in order to remain flexible and effective while adapting to the new reality that faces our denomination these days. Our current position in the mainline churches is nested within a complex mix of sociological changes, demographic shifts, changing cultural patterns, and individual engagement trends. I will ask for and rely on the experience and ideas of all of you as we move forward in facing our challenges with transparency and honesty.

Finally, I am grateful in particular to the excellent work being done every day by Nora, Scott, Wendy (and Paul), Patty, Stephanie, and Laura. I cannot wait to join this excellent team. Thank you again for your warm welcome!

Peace,

Carrie
Rev. Dr. Carrie Call
Transitional Conference Minster, Penn Central Conference
Annual Meeting Business - NEW
    
Many thanks to all those that attended Annual Meeting as well as those that worked so hard to make Annual Meeting a success!  
  • Our Mission project was a huge success!  Thank you to the over 60 churches that participated!  You are getting many students off to a great start for the school year.
  • The budget passed. Also the endorsement of the emergency Green New Deal resolution going to Synod passed as well.  Please review the Green New Deal and FAQ for additional details.
  • All decks (including Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer's sermon and Dale Mease's finance presentation) have been shared on the PCC Web site so you can follow along on your device if you would like.
  • Please continue to share photos using #pccren on social media.  Please also email them to [email protected].
  • Evaluation forms are still being accepted. Please send yours in to Stephanie.
  • A full Annual Meeting recap will be coming tomorrow! 
Welcome, Paul! - NEW
 
Hopefully you had a chance to meet Paul at Annual Meeting.  (He was busy working the registration table on his second day on the job!)

We are thrilled that C. Paul Keller has been hired to take over as Office Manager when Wendy Hepler retires at the end of June. He will begin working part time during June and will become full-time the first of July. He is known as Paul and comes with a wealth of related experience in business and in the church.
 
 
Morsels of Excellence 
 
 
 
Morsels of Excellence (Hospitality) 
Morsels of Excellence (Hospitality)
 
 
Evaluation Form - We greatly appreciate your feedback!
 
EventTrainingCommunity and Justice Issues
DR&R - NEW
Due to several years of back-to-back hurricanes, Church World Service's inventory of Emergency Cleanup Buckets and other Kits is at an all-time low in CWS warehouses.

United Church of Christ Disaster Ministries is stepping up to help by offering $250 matching grants to qualifying UCC congregations assembling these life-giving supplies. 

Creation Justice
At our General Synod in June, there will be five resolutions pertaining to the pursuit of a just and sustainable world. Learn about them in a webinar. Then, engage others in your church on important conversations about the Green New Deal, nuclear war prevention, forced migration, and Styrofoam use. Register today: bit.ly/GeneralSynodResolutions
General Synod - NEW

Matthew 5:16 
"In the same way let your light shine before others . . ."

Annual Meeting just concluded and the United Church of Christ's 32nd General Synod is starting next week, June 21-25. Even if you're not going to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, there are plenty of ways to prepare for Synod and learn what's happening in the UCC.
 
Check out the General Synod website . This includes biographies for the speakers and preachers, schedules, materials, and other valuable information.
 
Take some time to review the . T rinity, Waynesboro and Creation Justice's  resolution on Plastic Foam is headed to Synod!  Thank you to Kathy Brown, Gail Landers, Bill Lochstet, Wendy Anderson, Tom Hocking and Libby Loser for all your work on this!  We will also be endorsing the Green New Deal resolution.


All Church Read - UCC
All Church Read - UCC

Walking with Joy 
Walking with Joy
Giving Thanks for the Healing Ministry of Gestalt Pastoral Care

HOST CHURCH: Zwingli United Church of Christ
350 Wile Avenue, Souderton, PA 18964

Saturday, June 29, 2019

Registration/Gathering: 9:00 AM, Program: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Suggested Donation: $65/person
Tea with MOM (Manual on Ministry)
August 25th: How Shall We Approve Individuals for Ministry?
3:00-4:30 PM at Lancaster Theological Seminary Dietz Hall Refectory (Gypsy Kitchen)
 
Join us for a facilitated discussion about how the preparation for authorization might be changing in light of the new Manual on Ministry. We will explore the possibilities of multiple paths and how they work. We will also discuss the potential new assessment committee to be formed at the Conference setting for assessment of all Members in Discernment. 
 
We promise great food from the Gypsy Kitchen and stimulating dialog with colleagues! Please register in advance and we look forward to hearing your reflections on this critical topic for the church.  
CalendarofEventsCalendar of Events
 
      
General Synod, 2019 - June 21-25, 2019, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 
 
2020 Clergy Sabbath
SAVE THE DATE - January 21-23

Annual Meeting 2020 
SAVE THE DATE - June 12 and 13
Join Our List
Join Our Mailing List
ResourcesResource Links
 
CNWebsiteClergy News
Installations, Ecclesiastical Councils and Ordinations - NEW
June 9 - Ecclesiastical Council of Garret Book at Christ UCC, Annville - 3:00 PM
July 20 - Ordination of Rev. Scott Siciliano at Colonial Park UCC, Harrisburg - 3:00 PM
September 21 - Installation of Rev. Tony Fields at Christ Church UCC, Annville - 3:00 PM
HCWebsiteHartman Center
Hartman Center Snacks Needed 

Once again we are hoping to provide all our camper snacks through your generous donations. 

Suggestions: cookies, brownies, rice crispy treats, Goldfish crackers, cheese puffs, salty snack mix, pudding cups, 100% juice drinks.

Bulk packages are preferred as they create less trash.
Also needed - Gatorade powder

Gift cards to Weis, Giant or Dollar General are also greatly appreciated

**PLEASE note: Hartman Center is a nut-free facility 

Prayers1Open Positions
NOW HIRING - NEW
Minister of Music - St. Peter's Lischey's UCC, Spring Grove, is seeking an individual to lead an inspired music ministry. The position would require an organist/choir director for our vibrant music ministry with our adult choirs, children's choir and chime choir. This individual would be responsible for rehearsing with these groups, as well as providing the music for our one-hour Sunday Worship Service. Minimal special services and events during the year would also be an expectation. Qualifications include an individual excited to share Christ's mission through uplifting music in our worship service. Interested individuals should contact the church office (717-225-3935) and complete an application by July 31, 2019.
Youth Leader to minister to the youth at Colonial Park UCC. Organize, facilitate and encourage youth activities, teach Sunday School and attend Worship. We are looking for someone to be a Christ-like example for the youth, help them explore and grow in their faith, and communicate God's message in a way that makes it relevant for them. Position is 10 hours per week for a salary of $4,800. Send resumes to [email protected] by June 17, 2019.
Church Choir Accompanist for the Colonial Park UCC Sanctuary Choir.  Candidate must demonstrate proficiency playing traditional and contemporary sacred music on both the piano and pipe organ and have experience accompanying a church choir.  Bachelor's degree in Music desired.  Responsible for all choir rehearsals, Sunday Worship and special church holidays (evenings on Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday).  Position is approximately 6 hours per week for salary of $4,560 per year. Sanctuary Choir season is 9.5 months.    Send resumes to [email protected] by July 22, 2019.  
Full Time Organist/Pianist - Shiloh UCC, Danville is currently looking for a full time organist/pianist.  Applicants should send a resume to the church at: 512 Bloom Street, Danville, PA 178231.  Shiloh is an open and affirming congregation.
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.

This week, we pray for each other as we continue to live into God's calling...
 
  • Hill UCC, Lebanon
  • Saint John's UCC, Lebanon
  • Saint Mark's UCC, Lebanon
  • Saint Paul's UCC, Lemasters
Prayers1Support the Conference
 Support Penn Central Conference 
with a donation to OCWM or shop using Amazon Smile.
Contact information:      Stephanie Rader-Titzel
email: [email protected]   phone: 717-652-1560                fax: 717-652-4769
web: http://www.pccucc.org