•  THIS WEEK IN PNEC                  February 20, 2020
Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
www.pnec.org   610-826-3113; 610-826-5464 FAX
Conference Minister, Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates    [email protected]        
Rev. Gilberto Garcia Rodriguez    [email protected]
Rev. Christian Creyer     [email protected]       
Barbara Jennings    [email protected]
Patty Rehrig    [email protected]
   SEND ARTICLES TO BE INCLUDED TO   [email protected]
A Request to Bring Items for People in Need to the 2020 Spring Meeting
As a sign of community and unity, we will be gathering items for people in need at the PNEC Spring Meeting. We are asking each church to collect a quantity of one particular item: shampoo, dry shampoo, 3 in 1 shampoo/body wash, body spray, lotion, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, comb, body wipes, soap, socks (men’s or women’s), washcloths, men’s undershirt T-shirts (M, L, XL), men’s or women’s underwear, and pocket packs of tissues. Once your church decides on an item for collection, please email me ( [email protected] ) or Bob Gutekunst ( [email protected] ) to help us coordinate the collection. At the spring meeting, we will work together to put the items in bags to distribute to our many interfaith partners. 
Please bring a small bottle of water from your home church or Conference to use during our water blessing.
Call to the PNEC Spring Meeting 2020
"Growing Together"
Greetings Friends! Our Conference-wide meeting will be a special interfaith event for education, training, and building relationships. We will meet Friday, April 24 through Saturday, April 25 at The Chateau Resort and Conference Center at Camelback, Tannersville.

Attendance at the spring conference meeting, keynote through the conclusion of business on Saturday will qualify for the completion of the triennial cultural competency education requirement for authorized ministers. To read the rest of the Call letter... CLICK HERE

For a Registration Form... Click Here

You can also register through tithe.ly at the following link:
Leading Worship for Lay Leaders
March 28, 2020 - 9AM to 3PM (Registration begins at 8:30AM)
Penn Northeast Conference Office, 431 Delaware Avenue, Palmerton
Note: This is a repeat of the same workshop that was held on Sept. 14, 2019
A one day seminar designed to help lay leaders prepare and lead worship!

Who may be interested?  Congregations who struggle to find supply ministers to lead weekly worship service and lay members who are interested in leading their congregations in worship. Let’s face it, many congregations need a supply minister to fill the pulpit if the minister is away or if the church is in transition between ministers. In order to assist congregations facing this situation, the Local Congregational Support Working Group of the PNEC Committee on Ministry is conducting a one-day seminar designed to help your members develop and present a variety of worship services, using readily available resources from the Conference, the UCC website and other online and paper resources. 
 
Click Here for detailed flyer with registration information. Deadline for registering is March 17.
All Conference Book Study "White Fragility" Zoom Conversations
Dear Friends,
    This spring, as a part of our growth and understanding, the Penn Northeast Conference is inviting people to be a part of an all-conference book study. We will be reading and discussing the book, White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin Diangelo . This New York Times bestselling book examines the emotions and behaviors which impact our ability, as Caucasian or Euro-American individuals, to talk about issues of race.
    The Conference will be sponsoring 6 Zoom conversations about the book . (Please see the attached flyer for dates, times and Zoom links.)
    You are welcome to join us as individuals, congregational groups, or Area Mission Councils. We welcome your active participation. For authorized ministers, attending all 6 sessions will qualify as the completion of the triennial anti-racism training requirement.
    You may certainly opt to discuss this book in small groups within your congregations or Area Mission Councils. I hope you will take the time to read and examine this important book as we walk this journey of faith and justice together. Blessings, Bonnie
Have you signed up...deadline is fast approaching!
The Penn Northeast Conference Presents...the 15th Annual Youth Retreat
"Faith & Foodies!"
ALL youth in grades 7th-12th are invited
May 15-17, 2020
Spruce Lake, 5389 Route 447, Canadensis, PA 18235
Cost $135/person - includes meals Saturday and Sunday
*Limited space - first 40 participants with paid deposit only
One adult chaperone per church
Registration Deadline is March 1, 2020 - please send non-refundable $50 deposit with registration flyer.
CLICK HERE FOR the Registration Flyer and More Details.
Healing the Earth – Our Common Home
A Call to Action – Celebrating the 50 th Anniversary of Earth Day
St. Francis Center for Renewal, 395 Bridle Path Rd., Bethlehem
This workshop will be offered twice on April 20, 2020; 9:30 – 11:30am OR 7:00 – 9:00pm and is for pastors, faith leaders, advisory council members, teachers, school administrators, teen leaders, and interested members of your community. Attendees can choose the time that works best for them. Contact the St. Francis Center for Renewal at 610 867-8890 to register. Contact Marie North, Laudato Si’ Animator, CSBA (Certified Sustainable Building Advisor) at [email protected] or 610 769-0780 with questions about the workshop sessions. Freewill offerings gratefully accepted.
“The gravity of the ecological crisis demands that we all look to the common good, embarking on a path of dialogue which demands patience, self-discipline and generosity, always keeping in mind that “realities are greater than ideas.” Pope Francis, Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’ of The Holy Father Francis On Care for Our Common Home, Chapter 5, Lines of Approach and Action, pg. 145, #201
Preaching for Lay Worship Leaders
Bringing the Scriptures to Life!!
April 18, 2020 from 9AM to 3PM
Penn Northeast Conference Office, 431 Delaware Avenue, Palmerton
Presenter: Rev .Dr. Becky Beckwith
Cost: $15 per individual; $45 for a team of 3 or more from a church
Summary Notes of the
February 4, 2020 Conference Board Meeting... read more
National Youth Event 2020
What are the Foundations of NYE 2020? Leading up to NYE 2020, the planning team has built upon the original pillars of faith, leadership, service and social justice. Adding community building so that youth might be sustained in their faith beyond NYE and expanding justice to include encounter and reflection, ensures our work comes from a place of solidarity and does not reinforce systems of power and privilege. Read More... Who's Going to Be There? (Speakers & Artists) Read More...
Sign up to receive more information here
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2020 Boundary Training
offered by Lehigh Presbytery
(3 different sessions)
PLEASE NOTE: These are the only boundary training being offered in 2020
Click here for the flyer for three sessions of Boundary Training Offered by the Lehigh Presbytery in 2020. These sessions will be led by David Olsen.
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Valley Over the Edge
May 30
The Lehigh Conference of Churches is hosting the third annual Valley Over The Edge on May 30 in which 92 rappelers will be going "over the edge" at Five City Center in Allentown to help those most in need in the Lehigh Valley. Read more...
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FYI... NYC Emergency Management Press Release
outlining the De Blasio Administrations preparedness plans for the novel coronavirus.

Disaster Recovery Challenge: A Poverty Simulation
In this unique session participants will take part in a simulation to experience obstacles that impact low income community members on a daily basis and that are exacerbated during disaster recovery. A hands on exploration of how households prioritize needed services and resources is embedded into the scenario.
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
9:00 am-12:30pm
East Side Youth Center, 1140 E Clair St,
Allentown, PA
Registration is required (class is free), see the attached flyer for details on how to register.
 
All questions should be directed to  Tanya Hook, Lehigh County Emergency Management.  [email protected] or 610-782-4600.
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Care for the Caregiver
A Workshop For Faith Based
Caregivers!
An opportunity to share stories and receive information.
MARCH 12, 2020 - 10: A.M. to 12:00 P.M. 
Jordan UCC, 1837 Church Road, Allentown
click for registration and detailed flyer
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Clergy Convocation 2020
with Rev. Dr. Emily C. Heath
May 5-7, 2020
Double Tree by Hilton, 2400 Willow St. Pike, Lancaster - (qualifies for 10 contact hours)
Click here for full flyer, schedule, and how to register - Deadline April 1, 2020


ITEMS OF INTEREST...

--April 24 & 25 - 2020 Spring Conference Meeting - The Chateau at Camelback, 475 Camelback Rd., Tannersville, PA - The meeting will be one overnight, dinner on Friday evening, breakfast and lunch on Saturday. Starts at 4PM on Friday and concludes at 4PM on Saturday. Please Note: If Authorized Ministers attend the entire meeting it will qualify for your Cultural Competency Training.
--April 27-29 - Educators (MA-AUCE Mid-Atlantic Association of United Church ) 2020 Annual Conference - Holistic Faith Formation:Engaging Our Whole Selves - (This event is for "full time or part time clergy or lay, paid or volunteer.") - Tuscarora Inn & Conference Center, 3300 River Rd., Mt. Bethel, PA - Click Here for Detailed Flyer & Registration Deadline to Register is March 1.
--March 9-18 - New Year New Opportunities & Growth Courageous Faith Summit - launching in March - provides a critical look at what we are now and how we get to a more sustainable and equitable future. Amazing presenters will be paired with innovative ideas and you will come away inspired!
Other courses available at FaithLead.org - (many of these courses are free of charge and will go a long way in challenging the way you lead and grow this year.) From The Center for Progressive Renewal
-- July 22-25, 2020 -- NYE 2020 -- Here’s the link   http://www.uccpages.org/nye2020/ --
**If your church plans on attending, please contact Kayli Freeman [email protected] or Tracy Whitehead twhitehead@IU1 o rg
DISASTER MINISTRIES UCC

  • The February Ready PA Monthly and Action Sheet are available at www.Ready.PA.gov .

  • Information on the coronavirus from the PA Department of Health - FYI - go to 

TRAIN PA is a gateway into the TRAIN Learning Network, the most comprehensive catalog of public health training opportunities for professionals who serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. TRAIN is a free service for learners from the Public Health Foundation. https://www.train.org/pa/welcome

You can find more information & updates at UCC Disaster Ministries: www.ucc.org/disaster