Penn Central Conference Weekly eNews

Weekly Update - May 22 , 2019

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In This Issue...

Conference Events - NEW!

Community and Justice Issues - NEW!

Resources / Calendar

Events/Training - NEW!

Generosity - NEW!

Clergy News - NEW!

Prayers and Devotions - NEW!

Hartman Center

Previous eNews

UNFORTUNATELY, WE WILL NOT HAVE GOLF CARTS AT ANNUAL MEETING THIS YEAR.

Conference Events

Annual Meeting - NEW

Online registration has ended! Please call Laura at the Conference Office to register to attend!

Annual Meeting information is being updated daily. Please see our Web site for additional updates .

Business Agenda Items:

In addition to the budget, we will be talking about endorsing the Green New Deal resolution at Synod. Please familiarize yourself with these important agenda items.

A Few New Additions to Our Web Site This Week:

Advanced Reports - additional Advanced Reports have been added
Here is our agenda. Annual Meeting kicks off at 12:00 Noon on Friday, June 7. We start with lunch and move right into workshops before plenary, worship and our evening activity.
FAQ on Synod Emergency Resolution

Workshops:

This year, we have 5 sessions that can be attended before Annual Meeting even starts! ONA workshop - Creation Justice workshop - Orientation for Annual Meeting - Financial Hearing - Boundary Training.

Plus... Robust workshop offerings are available both Friday and Saturday. This year, sign up will be on site in Degenstein.

Children's Annual Meeting:

Children's Annual Meeting is back for its second year! UCC Homes will be sponsoring this program and Pastor Nate and Kara Druckenmiller are once again running it.

Mission Project:

Our mission project is school supplies for Snyder County Children and Youth Services.

Evening Fellowship:

Thanks to a CHHSM sponsorship, our Friday evening experience involves more of what you have been asking for! Feedback from prior Annual Meetings has stressed the need for additional opportunities for fellowship. This year, we will have games, music and fun on the back lawn (and in Degenstein) to give us all a chance to visit, share and engage with one another.

Experience the Behind the Scenes Fun of Annual Meeting:

I promise you will have fun! We are in need of a Friday photographer and additional stage managers. (We currently have 2 stage managers so this is a great chance to learn the ropes and see backstage without any performance pressure!) Please email Stephanie if you are interested in joining us!

Morsels of Excellence

April: Your Church Mission and Vision

Morsels of Excellence (April) Your Church Mission

Evaluation Form - We greatly appreciate your feedback!

Additional details on Morsels of Excellence

Please Save the Date for Our Upcoming Workshops

August 10 - Deeper Roots/Wider Reach: Nurturing Transformative Faith and Vital Churches

September 14 - Being the Church Today

All sessions are 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. See flyer for additional details.

Community and Justice Issues

St. Paul's UCC, Milton In the News - NEW

WEST MILTON, UNION COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) -- It wasn't your typical commencement -- the caps and gowns were replaced with church music.

On Thursday, seven women stood at the alter of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in West Milton to receive a different kind of diploma.

They graduated from a free program called Circles of Love. It's a 16-week course designed to break the cycle of generational poverty.

The class is about more than just money. Students were also able to build healthy relationships and discover new resources in the Union County community.

"I'm looking forward to the day that I can repay the people who did so much for me," said graduate Suli Goodlief. "I just want to help someone else now."

In July, those graduates will begin a financial literacy course put on by Members Choice Financial Credit Union.

See the video and read the full story...

Creation Justice

Please take a minute to review this interactive quiz. It's about ranking possible solutions to the climate crisis.

If the quiz annoys you too much, just take a look at this ranked chart of the 100 best solutions. The list is also very interactive, with links to definitions of their terms and and with info on the pros and cons of the solutions. Lots of good information about a very complex subject.

DR&R

Are you ready for Hurricane Season? Prepared to Stay Safe Near Dams? Looking forward to National Building Safety Month? Read more in Ready PA Monthly Newsletter

Events and Training

Global Ministries - NEW

In the Gospel of John chapter 14, Jesus challenges His disciples to look beyond the walls of their own mindset to see, understand, and become a living example of the power of God's love. Dr. Njoya has been a consistent reminder and challenge to both church and society on the danger of "mob thinking."

Read more about Pray with Kenya Sunday May 26

Mental Health Sunday - NEW

Did you celebrate Mental Health Sunday this past week?

We'd love to hear from you about the experience!

Planning a Mental Health Sunday in the near future?

We've got resources to help you plan!

PAM

The Ministerial Institute of the Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry at Lancaster Theological Seminary is designed for lay ministers, individuals in discernment, and other church leaders. This is an

ecumenical program of theological education focused on

leadership in the local congregation .

The Ministerial Institute is a three-year, non-degree program with classes in adaptive leadership, Christian theology, church history, biblical interpretation, financial and strategic health, and more. Classes are taught by experienced pastors, each of whom brings expertise and passion to their teaching. Classes are offered online September through April and in-person at Lancaster Seminary for one week each July. Students may sign up for the entire program or take classes a la carte. Participants in the full program also participate in a facilitated, covenant peer group and serve a concurrent ministry placement.

If you or someone you know is seeking education for church leadership, this may be the program you've been looking for! The documents linked below can be used as an article or graphic for your church newsletter and other communications with your community.

For more information, please see the attached documents and reach out to Lancaster Seminary at [email protected] or (717) 290-8741.

Pathways

Pathways has a new Facebook page in addition to some great new courses that coincide with their new Certificates starting August 2019.

CERTIFICATE OF FOUNDATIONAL THEOLOGY

BIBLICAL STUDIES CERTIFICATE

THEOLOGICAL STUDIES CERTIFICATE

PREACHING CERTIFICATE

UCC Church Building and Loan

The UCC Church Building & Loan Fund has been helping churches transform their communities for over 160 years.

The Regional Mission Interpreter can help your congregation:

Dream and explore your future through a guided Visioning Process
Fulfill your mission and raise funds with a guided Capital Campaign
Grow generous givers with a guided Stewardship Campaign
Ensure your resources match your mission Repurposing Consultation
Provide loans for purchasing land and /or structure, construction, and other capital projects

To learn more about these services, contact your Regional Mission Interpreter, Jill White, [email protected] or (216) 736-3820.

Parish Resource Center

Founded 26 years ago, Kairos Contemplative Spiritual Direction Training is a two-year certificate program that teaches the art and practice of spiritual direction.

A new class is registering now, to start Fall 2019! An early bird discount is available for registration by June 1.

For more information...

Insurance Board Webinars

There are many Insurance Board webinars for training and information, including Church Management, Church Property, Church Transportation, Safe Conduct Workbench, Youth Activity and Insurance Board Services.

Mercersburg Convocation at LTS

Registrations are open for the 2019 Mercersburg Convocation at Lancaster Seminary "Mercersburg: Does It Matter?". For more information go to https://mercersburgsociety.org/ and click on Convocation. On-line registration can be accomplished with Windows 10.

General Synod

Matthew 5:16

"In the same way let your light shine before others . . ."

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

June 21 - 25, 2019

General Synod Web Site

Great News - Trinity, 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!

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City - all church read for Synod

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

For Details

Tea with MOM (Manual on Ministry) - NEW, DATE CHANGE

Due to low registration and another event in the life of the Lancaster Association, the Tea with MOM scheduled for Sunday, May 19th at LTS has been postponed until August 25th at 3pm in the LTS Refectory.

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.

CLERGY SABBATH - NEW