Penn Central Conference Weekly eNews

During a trip to the Middle East, I traveled to Turkey and Lebanon. While there I visited the ruins of Ephesus and sites of temples built in honor of pagan gods; they were quite elaborate.

I stood and sat in open air spaces built into hillsides, similar to where Paul delivered his speech to the aristocrats of Athens in Acts 17. Although the spaces were in open air, they were built in such a way that the speaker could still be heard clearly.

Paul intended to tell the aristocrats about his faith. Since they appealed primarily to logic, Paul used logic to help them understand his faith in the one true God. Paul was taking a great risk sharing his faith considering the aristocrats had the power to have him killed. Nevertheless, he courageously spoke his truth to their power.

For those who are less comfortable speaking about their faith, bumper stickers and T-shirts can be a starting point. One of my favorite bumper sticker message reads:

"Don't keep your faith, give it away. Share it with others!"

On that day, Paul shared his faith and at least two people in the crowd wanted to learn more about Jesus. People are still interested in the good news about our faith and not just people who are in church on Sundays.

Paul's message still speaks to those people who are not connected to the church. It is a message that invites others to:

"...search for Godand perhaps grope for him and find him-though indeed he is not far from each one of us." (Acts 17: 27)

God wants to be known to all people, not just some. So how do we find God? Paul tells us that God is revealed in the one that God has appointed and raised from the dead:

"...by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead." (v.31)

The Resurrected One, Jesus Christ.

May this week be an adventure in faith for all of us! Amen.

Abiding in Resurrection Hope,

Monica

Rev. Dr. Monica Dawkins-Smith

Conference Minister and President

Annual Meeting and Synod

Call to Penn Central Conference Annual Meeting

Walk-in Registration Available June 9!

This is our official call to the 55th Annual Meeting of the Penn Central Conference - June 9-10, 2017 at Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA.

Walk-in registration will be available on June 9.

Details ( agenda, directions, campus map) are available on our Web site.

Two Annual Meeting Outreach Opportunities!

You can make a difference by supporting our TWO outreach opportunities:

Quarters for the Washer/Dryer AND Toiletry Donations

NEW - Bus Trips Now Available for Sunday Worship at Synod!

Bus Trip from Lancaster and Harrisburg Area for General Synod Worship

2 Bus Trip Options for General Synod Worship Service - Sunday, July 2 at 2:30

Leaving from Harrisburg Area:

Bus leaves at 12:00 pm from Penn Central Conference Office

Parking for the bus trip at the conference office is free

Round trip bus cost is $30 per person

Click to Register for Harrisburg Bus

Leaving from Lancaster Area:

Bus leaves from Church of the Apostles at 12:30 pm and returns after worship

All are invited

Cost for the round-trip bus ticket and a sack lunch to eat on the way is $30 per person. ($21 without lunch)

Send this form to register - Lancaster

June 30 - July 4, General Synod

YOUR Church Can Be Featured!

Is your church doing something to help build a just world for all? We want to know! Make a 30-60 second video of you or someone from your church telling us what you are doing.

Your video can show us anything you're doing to make a difference in caring for all God's children and God's creation.

Send your video to jannsoha@ucc.org and your church may be featured on screen at General Synod in Baltimore this summer!

Three things to remember:

Video should be 30-60 seconds long
Shoot the video horizontally (hold phone sideways)
Email your video to jannsoha@ucc.org
Videos are due May 31!

Thank you! We can't wait to see Penn Central Conference congregations and your great works highlighted at Synod!

Events, Training and Resources Available

NEW - Next Generation Project - Penn Central Goes to Germany!

For over 30 years, we have been connected with partner churches in two different parts of Germany-the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland and the Evangelical Church Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia.

From May 19 through 29, six representatives from Penn Central Conference will be guests of our partners for a series of exciting events in Germany, along with delegates from the Southern and Wisconsin Conferences of the UCC.

Our German partners developed this "Next Generation Project" for active UCC members between the ages of 18 and 35 with the intention of insuring the continuity of our partnerships into the next generation and beyond.

Look for more updates and information when our representatives return!

May 21 is UCC Mental Health Sunday

May 21 is the recognized UCC Mental Health Sunday during Mental Health Month. However, you can designate any Sunday during the year to highlight the concerns of mental health in our churches.

To help, there are varied resources in the UCC Web site, and the newest liturgy focuses on "One in Heart and Mind," with a sermon idea, "Jesus Prays for us."

Additionally, there's a link to Mental Health Sunday resources in the UCC's Worship Ways page.

Mental Health Sunday Resources

New Liturgy for Mental Health Sunday

The UCC Mental Health Network intends to provide on-going resources and suggestions. They welcome any of your questions as well as stories of what you have done regarding a focus on mental health in your congregation.

Share these by emailing Alan Johnson, chair of the UCC Mental Health Network,

revalan2004@comcast.net

mhn-ucc.org

UPCOMING CONFERENCE EVENTS

Camp Director Training - moved from May 20 to June 3

Clergy Leadership Series - May 24 - at Colonial Park UCC, Harrisburg - beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Board of Directors Meeting - May 31

Hartman Advisory Council - June 3

Camp Director Training - June 4

Basic Boundary Training - June 9, Susquehanna University

Board of Directors Meeting - June 9, Susquehanna University

Conference Annual Meeting - June 9-10, Susquehanna University

Hartman Center Golf Outing - RESCHEDULED for June 17- 1:30 pm

General Synod UCC - June 30 - July 4 in Baltimore

Click to see our Web site for more details.

SAVE THE DATE!

Mid-Atlantic Regional Youth Event

July 19-22, 2018

California University of Pennsylvania

NEW - The Pollinator: The UCC Justice Blog

The Pollinator is a digital platform of the UCC for the sharing of ideas and inspiration among UCC churches. Its focus is the building of a faith-filled and faith-rooted movement for the care of creation. It can be found here

This month's pollinator ideas include the following:

With a Meal at the Heart of Worship, a small church connects with creation
Climate March/Empathy for the Earth - What if Earth Treated Us Like We Treat Earth
Lessons from Pope Francis - Framing Climate
To revolutionize the Church, Go Outdoors
The Lead in Drinking Water Crisis and Environmental Justice in Indiana

To receive The Pollinator by email, please sign up at: http://www.ucc.org/pollinator_sign_up

P.A.M. Classes for Lay Leaders

June 10, 2017 Pennsylvania Academy of Mininstry will be conducting our Worship Planning & Prep course at First UCC in Schuylkill Have from 9am to 4pm that also includes "rites and sacraments" of the church. This class is an advanced class and "Understanding Worship" is a prerequisite for this course.

If you have any questions or need additional assistance please contact Rev. Steve Hummel, Program Director at paacademyofministry@gmail.com or 484-239-5578

Phoebe Messenger Now Available Online

Visit Phoebe.org/Messenger to read about the latest news and developments at Phoebe Ministries, including stories of residents and donors.

To receive the Messenger either digitally or by mail, contact the editor at 610-794-5124 or pmcconnell@phoebe.org.

Join Our List

Church Vitality

Would You Like a Mystery Visitor to Come to Your Church?

The conference has trained 12 Mystery Visitors who are willing to visit your church on Sunday morning and give you a detailed report. Pastors can request a visitor (and they are the only ones allowed to do so) and they will receive the report to do with it as they see fit.

These visitors will assess the website, curb appeal and hospitality (as well as the coffee!). They will not be evaluating the pastor or the service itself. While most of the mystery visitors are churched, we also have a few seekers. To request a mystery visitor, contact Laurene Bowers LBowers@pccucc.org

Improving Pastoral Transitions

Pastors moving from one church to the next need to focus on how they can effectively conclude their ministry in the church they are leaving...

50 Ways To Improve Pastoral Transitions

5 Mistakes More Likely to be Made by Small Churches

Are you holding on to stale traditions?

Read to find out more...

5 Mistakes More Likely to be Made by Small Churches

Social Enterprises

Could social enterprises bring renewed life to your church?

Read to find out more...

Social Enterprises by Matt Overton

Funding for Next Generation Ministry

Does someone in your Conference have a great idea for next generation ministry, but limited funding to get started? Might they consider a move to the Southeast if the right opportunity arose?

On Easter Sunday, Holy Covenant UCC launched a request for proposals, offering up to $100,000/year for new ministry in South Charlotte.

Click here to visit the dedicated website.

If you would like additional details, please be in touch with Cheri Lovell, Principal at The Strategic Org, 704.564.5049.

Clergy News

May and June

May 21: Steve Ericson Installation at Hill, Lebanon - 3:00 PM

May 21: Lou Ann Jones Installation at St. John's Blyemire, Dallastown - 3:00 PM

May 21: Marian Anderson, Ecclesiastical Council at Dreisbach, Lewisburg - 3:00 PM

May 28: Vernon Baum (Retired Area Conference Minister) SURPRISE! 70th Anniversary of Ordination at Trinity East Petersburg - 10:30 AM

June 4: Melissa Burkhart Ecclesiastical Council at St. Paul's Manheim - 3:00 PM

June 4: Tim Hogan-Palazo Installation at St. Paul's West Milton - 3:00 PM

June 4: Dave Bowles Last Worship at Grace Lebanon

June 4: Barb Albert Installation at Green Ridge Village, Newville at 3:00 PM

June 11: Melissa Eicholtz's Last Sunday at St. Jacobs Stone

June 11: Roger Snyder Farewell and 45th Ordination Anniversary Celebration at St. John's Tylersville

June 25: Dave Longenecker Installation at Homestead Village 3:00 PM

Clergy Breakfast - Save the Date!

The next clergy breakfast will be July 27, 2017 at 9:30 at Hartman Center. See you there!

Memorial Service for Rev. Jim Bright

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Jim's Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving.

June 3rd - 11:00 Visitation, 12:00 Memorial Service

The Church of the Apostles United Church of Christ

1850 Marietta Ave. - Lancaster, PA

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions in Jim's memory to: Trinity UCC, 2340 State St., East Petersburg, PA 17520; or Bethany Children's Home, 1863 Bethany Road, Womelsdorf, PA 19567.

Community Events

Invitation to Marchers Visiting DC

One of our sister UCC churches located just outside of DC is making a kind welcome to "Marchers" who may be coming to the capital to participate in the upcoming marches. June 11 is Equality March for Unity and Pride. They will be offering free sleeping space and basic accommodations -- read more here.

York Revolution Diversity Night Out

On Wednesday, June 14th, 6:30 p.m., the York Revolution supports diversity night. There's nothing more American than baseball and diversity.

Join the Revolution in welcoming the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer fans of our community to PeoplesBank Park in York, PA. It is also PeoplesBank Kids Eat Free Wednesday - Pick up a kids food voucher at any PeoplesBank Financial Center before the game.

Tickets are $8 per person. Tickets must be reserved by Wednesday May 31st. Reserve tickets by emailing Rev. Eva O'Diam at reveso@verizon.net.

$4 of every ticket purchased goes to support the Open and Affirming Ministry Team of the Penn Central Conference.

Can you SING? The ONA Singers (all are welcomed... singers and non-singers alike) will do a rendition of Take Me Out to the Ballgame at the 7th inning. Churches participating will be announced.

Wear your rainbow shirt and join us!

Faith Connection Stories

Read and Share Our Faith Connection Stories!

Redeemer's UCC, Littlestown - 3 congregations, 2 conferences, 1 mission trip

Quentin UCC - Bringing extra sparkle to The Sparkle Box with good deeds and donations

Bethany, Ephrata - Hometown mission trip

Ephrata Manor, UCC Homes - Elder care and food drives

Bethel, Spring Grove - Youth volunteers at Hanover Council of Churches

First Reformed, Lancaster - Serving meals (over 16,000!) and fundraising for MS

Shiloh, Danville - Expanding the welcome and making the church accessible for all

We love to hear stories of Penn Central Conference congregations working within their communities to passionately declare and demonstrate their courageous love of Christ. Share your story today!

Click here to share your own congregation's story

Hartman Center

It's Time to Register for Camp!

Hartman Center Summer Camp has robust full week and half-week camps running June 18 through July 29. (Plus, we have our Labor Day Intergenerational Camp as well!) Branch Out and Connect to Christ with great programs geared for fishing, pioneer adventure, soccer, music, drama, dance and many more!

Join us this summer to make your own memories!

Have you seen the Hartman Center Video?

Check it out here.

SWIMMING POOL FUND - Progress Update!!

Have you seen the new pool? Check out our Facebook page to see the NEW Hartman Center Pool

We now have almost $69,000 promised of the $100,000 needed. You can donate by credit card by going on line to : ww.regonline.com/swimmingpoolfundraisingcampaign

Thank you for your support!

NEW - Hartman Center "Wish List"

There have been lots of questions on how to best support Hartman Center.

Here is a "wish list" of affordable items or projects that an individual, a group, or a church could adopt as a fun way to support Hartman Center.

The Wish List includes:

Passenger or Utility Van - $15,000 - 30,000
Airless Paint Gun - $400
New Hobart 20-30 Qt. Mixer - $5,000
New Hobart 10-20 Qt. Mixer - $1,500
Quilts, comforters, sheets/pillow cases to develop a linen service for Michaux Lodge 32 sets needed x $60-120
Camp benches - 16 wood or composite
Pavilion picnic tables
Shed for program storage

If you can help out, please reach out to Dave Bushnell at abushnell@aol.com or 717-371-2593 OR Zack Hassinger at hartmancenter@uccr.org.

NEW UCC Mission Initiative

3 Great Loves - Love of Children, Creation and Neighbor

"3 Great Loves: Love of Children, Love of Creation, Love of Neighbor" is a UCC-wide mission initiative that will be launched at General Synod 2017 and conclude at General Synod 2019. This initiative invites us to look at our work through the lenses of the 3 Great Loves.

How does our work express a love of children, a love of creation, and/or a love of neighbor?

Every Conference as been invited to participate in this initiative by sharing our Conference stories in written or short video (30 sec) form. We encourage each of our congregations to share their stories of ministry moving us toward a just world.

To curate these stories, we are seeking a volunteer "Just World for All Conference Coordinator" for Penn Central Conference. Please email Wendy at whepler@pccucc.org if you are interested.