•  THIS WEEK IN PNEC                  October 24, 2019
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    bonnieb@pnec.org        
Rev. Gilberto Garcia Rodriguez    hispanicucc@rcn.com
Rev. Christian Creyer     christianc@pnec.org       
Barbara Jennings    barbaraj@pnec.org
Patty Rehrig    pattyr@pnec.org
   SEND ARTICLES TO BE INCLUDED TO   pattyr@pnec.org
NYE 2020 -- July 22-25, 2020

Just an fyi that there is a new NYE website.
Here’s the link   http://www.uccpages.org/nye2020/
It is not completely populated but it has much more information and will be updated regularly.
2020 UCC Medical and Dental Benefits Plan Rate Announcement

For the 2020 plan year, please note the following rate action:
·      Non-Medicare Health Plan: 3% increase; no change to deductibles
·      Medicare Supplement Health Plan with/Rx: 3% increase; no change to deductibles
·      Pharmacy Benefit Plan: no change to co-pays
·      Dental Benefit Plan: no change
·      Life & Disability Income Plan: no change
·      Vision Benefit Plan: on change

Churches/Employees are able to view 2020 rates by visiting the Pension Boards website ( www.pbucc.org ) and clicking on the 2020 Rate Locator         found on the home page.
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to serve since 2011 as the President of Lancaster Theological Seminary. It has been an honor to lead and steward the mission of one of the oldest and most venerable seminaries in the country. With this communication I inform you with deep gratitude to God for this calling, that I intend to retire from the Seminary on June 30, 2020.
There is more information on the Lancaster Theological Seminary   website . I wanted you to know from me that a transition has begun. 
With deep gratitude for you as colleagues and as friends of Lancaster Theological Seminary,

Carol E. Lytch
Office of the President, Lancaster Theological Seminary, 555 West James Street, Lancaster, PA 17603
UP-COMING EVENTS THAT YOU NEED TO REGISTER FOR...
don't wait, register now
Healing Service November 1, 2019 @ 4:30pm - St. John’s UCC, Howertown
(after Tod Bolsinger Event)
As part of the process of moving forward and building relationships with our friends in Pennsylvania Southeast, we will hold a service of healing and letting go. Since our process of unification of our conferences did not move forward, we are still friends and partners in ministry. This service has been designed to be a space to lament, asking for healing, and forgiveness to move forward in relationship. This healing service is a welcoming space for everyone who is in need of healing, not only the folks who were involved in the visioning process. Everyone is welcome to this time of healing prayer.
Cultivating Generous Congregations
How Do You Inspire Generosity?
The Penn Northeast Conference and the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference of the UCC are joining together with the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving to invite you and your ministry teams to participate in a seminar experience that could change the way you and your congregation approach giving and generosity.
January 24-25, 2020
(Friday 8AM to 4PM
Saturday 8:30AM-4PM)
Church of the Good Shepherd, 35 W. Philadelphia Ave., Boyertown
Cost: $350 per church team
(4-5 members made up of clergy, lay leaders, administration and/or stewardship committees)
The cost includes one booklet per team. If a team would like more than one book, there will be an additional cost of $50. Deadline to register will be December 5, 2019.
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  MONEY and MINISTRY
presented by
PNEC & Financial Ministries UCC
  November 9 -- 9AM to 3PM
PNEC Office, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton -- Cost: $10/person
Workshops Topics - Trends in Giving: What Donors Want; Planned Giving: Utilizing an On-Line Tool to Get Started; Roundtable Discussion - Best Practice Sharing
to register, go to
or send names & check to PNEC
by Nov. 1
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Pastoral Leadership in Congregational Systems 201
November 13, 2019 &
March 4, 2020
9AM to 5 PM
Faith UCC, 5992 Route 378, Center Valley
Cost: $220
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Retirees Luncheon
  for Retired clergy, their spouses /partners & surviving spouses)
Wednesday, November 6
11AM to 2PM (Lunch at noon)
Jordan UCC, 1837 Church Road,
Allentown
 Special Guest: Rev. Wanda Craner
“Maintaining Your Spiritual Health”
  Please RSVP by Monday, Oct. 28, to let us know if you will be attending by:calling the Conference Office (610-826-3113) or emailing Barbara at BarbaraJ@pnec.org   
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Zoom Webinar
Tuesday, Nov. 12 th at 3 PM ET there will be a zoom webinar for church pastors and leaders.
The conversation will include options for church buildings, as well as helpful practices for engaging in discernment, conversation, decision-making and planning for church buildings futures. Participants can choose to receive a copy of Facing Your Church’s Uncertain Future resource as part of the registration. click for information
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ITEM OF INTEREST...
--Crossroads Late Fall Semester featuring Road Hazards begins Oct 31 and meets twice a week for four weeks. Taught by Jill Peters, this course explores topics involving congregational ethics including Decision Making, Financial Integrity, Confidentiality, Boundaries, etc. Complete info and registration is on our website at  www.moravianseminary.edu/crossroads or contact Jill Peters at petersj2@moravian.edu.  

-- Friday, November 1 a Spaghetti Dinner to benefit the Daybreak Center (sponsored by Lehigh County Conference of Churches) - Daybreak, a weekday drop-in center, gives people living with mental illness or physical disabilities and those struggling with addiction or HIV/AIDS, as well as the neighborhood’s elderly, a place to belong. Daybreak serves three balanced meals each weekday. The staff teaches life skills and works with members to provide stability and help them reach their full potential. The program provides educational, vocational, and recreational opportunities, such as trips to state parks and hands-on visits to community gardens, that otherwise would not be available to participants. To gain membership, individuals must complete and/or stay active in treatment. Please join us on November 1 to help support Daybreak. Use the flyer to register or contact Christina at cdipierro@lehighchurches.org or (610) 433-6421 ext. 5050. Hope to see you there! Download the flyer here .

--The Lehigh Conference Of Churches Presents A Sing-Along-Messiah -- Advent and Christmas Selections - Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at 7:30PM - Zion UCC, 620 W. Hamilton St., Allentown
Calling All Choirs! We are asking singers to form a gathered choir as we welcome the community to enjoy this inspired work. For a detailed flyer, click here.
Global Ministries
While any gift throughout the year can be made as an alternative gift to honor a loved one on a special occasion, many people have found an alternative gift during the Advent and Christmas season as especially meaningful.
During this year’s Christmas gift-giving season, Global Ministries is featuring Alternative Christmas gifts to support the   Enhancing Climate Change Resilience project of the Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh in order to celebrate the Southern Asia Initiative: Together in Hope.
Global Ministries also offers Alternative Gifts for the specific areas of: 
If you prefer, Alternative Christmas gifts may be given to support any Global Ministries mission co-worker, a specific global partner, or a special project that you or your loved one especially appreciates.
You can browse the complete Alternative Christmas materials and Gift catalog online here , or, to request a copy of the catalog or materials (cards, extra order forms, project description, mission co-worker newsletters, photos) please call 317-713-2571 or email gifts@dom.disciples.org

Disaster Ministries
If your church wants more information explaining the Disaster Ministries opportunities in the Pan Handle of Florida: you can go to https://www.ucc.org/disaster_recovery_florida_panhandle.
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Here is a resource for our churches that are looking for help to become safer and more secure and/or get involved in their community. 
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Clean-up Buckets needed by Church World Service ... UCC provides grants to help churches replenish CWS storm supplies
To learn more about these kits and how to apply for the grant go to https://www.ucc.org/disaster_2018_matching_grants_for_cws_kits_home_page
Take your pictures and record your stories and send them to kjones275@comcast.net, so we can inspire others with your story.  
Click here for a list of PSEC and PNEC congregations that have offered to be drop-off locations for the kits you assemble.
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 October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month.  In the October Ready PA Monthly, read tips on how to be personally accountable and proactive in protecting yourself from common cyber threats. The Ready PA Action Sheet provides information on Cyber Safety for Kids.
   Remember, both tare available at www.Ready.PA.gov .
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You can always check the National UCC Disaster Ministries Web Page