Greetings from the Board of Directors of the Penn Central Conference,

The board met Oct.19th at the UCC Homes offices in Camp Hill. Our host, Victoria Velez, warmly greeted us and shared a little about the work of UCC Homes. Several of our board members have also served on the UCC Homes board.

We had a very busy agenda for the day ahead of us! We began with the staff reports. It was no surprise from their reports that Carrie, Nora, Dwight, and Paul are extremely busy working with and caring for our conference, our churches and our Pastors. Our committee reports followed: the Strategic Planning committee is waiting anxiously for the Nov. 9th Keystone vote when they will have a clearer direction for future strategic plans. The Finance Committee was excited to announce that 2 Innovation Grants were approved for church requests for technology updates, Two more requests are yet to be reviewed. Finally, our Personnel Committee has been working with the finance committee with budget items and evaluation processes concerning our staff

The heavy work of the board began with a presentation by Mike Price, treasurer, of the proposed 2025 budget. Thoughtful, astute, caring and realistic are some of the words I would use to describe this intense discussion. The realization that our OCWM contributions continue to decline had to be fully realized in these discussions.

Next on the Agenda was a discussion of the Keystone voting process which included voting processes, procedures, timeline and task assignments. Carrie shared there are 7 association locations as well as St Thomas in Linglestown where delegates and pastors can attend the meeting by Zoom. Each site will have members of the board present to monitor the voting process. She shared the keystone vote which will be done at 11:30 AM sharp and will be by paper ballot. She is hoping all churches in Penn Central conference have their delegates selected for this historic vote.

The agenda for the Special Conference meeting on Nov. 9th includes: Proposed budget presentation followed by a vote, presentation of the Star Coalition resolution followed by a vote and finally the Keystone conference vote.

Though all of our work is so satisfying we found joy in voting to accept Mr. David Gingrich of Shiloh Church, Danville as the newest member of the board representing Central Association.

I used the word joy in the previous paragraph, Joy is a very important part of completing what a Christian is all about. Our board meeting/s are joyful gatherings because we are doing the work of God. In Psalm 16:11, David wrote “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Let us all go out and find our JOY!

Carolyn Herman

Moderator of the Board

Penn Central Conference

Printable eNews are available. Pastors and secretaries, please feel free to share with your congregation members that don't get this weekly email. Download and print this PDF with the weekly message to the conference, prayers for Penn Central and brief list of events.

Scheduling Notes

Sunday October 20 - St. Johns Tylersville UCC, Loganton - Rev. Dr. Nora Foust preaching

Sunday October 27 - First Reformed UCC, Sunbury - Rev. Dr. Nora Foust preaching

Prayers for Penn Central Conference

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:18 (NLT)

This week, we pray for each other as we continue to live into God's calling...

St. John's UCC, McKnightsown

St. Paul's UCC, Mechanicsburg

Trinity UCC, Mercersburg

First UCC, Middleburg

The United Church of Christ has established the Hurricane Helene Recovery Appeal and the Hurricanes 2024 Appeal. Your support for these appeals will ensure that communities are supported and accompanied for years as they rebuild. You can donate through your local church, with your gifts going through the Conference to the Appeal. Gifts can be made through PCC here. Under “Directed Gifts” choose “Disaster Relief” and notate “Hurricane Relief”. And you can always mail a check to the PCC offices with the same notation.

October is Clergy Appreciation Month

Penn Central Conference appreciates all of our clergy and thank them for their ministry in central Pennsylvania! We encourage our congregations to show their appreciation for their clergy year round, but especially this month. There are many ways to do that - sending a card or a note, taking time to pray for them, giving them a thoughtful gift, and volunteering to assist in their ministry work are only a few.

Special Fall Meeting

November 9, 2024, 9:30AM - 12:30PM

The special fall meeting of the Penn Central Conference of the United Church of Christ will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at 9:30 am EST. The meeting will be held in the sanctuary of St. Thomas United Church of Christ, 6490 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg, PA 17112, and remote participation will be available via ZOOM. Associations within Penn Central Conference will also be hosting remote gatherings at official sites to allow participation in the meeting via ZOOM.

There are three items of business on the agenda for this meeting.

1. Presentation and approval of the proposed 2025 Penn Central Conference budget

2. Presentation and consideration for recognition of the STAR (Small Town and Rural Churches) Coalition as a self-created group within the United Church of Christ

3. Consideration and voting on a motion to create the Keystone Conference out of the four present Conferences of Penn Central, Penn Northeast, Penn West, and Pennsylvania Southeast.

Read the full call to meeting here.

Register here.

Register now for Keystone Study Group Town Halls

Due to the complex nature of the possible merger, town hall meetings on the subject have been broken into three topics:

1. Timeline, Staffing, Finance

2. Timeline, PA UCC Mission Focus

3. Timeline, Associations.

There are four opportunities to attend a webinar on each of the above topics. They will be hosted by different conferences, but you can attend any. The schedule is below; click the date and time to register. You can also find this information on our website on the Keystone Study Group page under Resources.

If you missed the first two Town Halls, the ones hosted by PCC are available to watch on our YouTube channel.

Pennsylvania Faith Voter Education Webinar

Join PA-based Christian faith leaders on Wednesday, Oct. 23rd @ 7 PM ET for a vibrant discussion on the intersection of faith, voting and civic engagement in the 2024 election cycle. You will also learn about key election deadlines, regulations and how to develop the best voting plan as a Pennsylvania resident. This is an event you won't want to miss! 

Panelists:

Rev. Heather Taylor, Managing Director, Bread for the World and PA resident

Rev. Lee Scott, Laurel Oak Farm, Butler, PA

Rev. Dr. Gregory Edwards, Chief of Staff, Power InterFaith of Pennsylvania

Rev. Dr. Drew Hart, Associate Professor of Theology, Messiah University

Dr. Amy Widestrom, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania

Moderator:

Lisa Sharon Harper, Founder & President, Freedom Road and PA resident

Registration link

Order Four Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests Today 

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests. Testing can help you know if you have COVID-19 so you can decide what to do next, like getting treatment to reduce your risk of severe illness and taking steps to lower your chances of spreading the virus to others.

Ordering tests is easy and takes only a few minutes. Visit COVIDTests.gov and have over-the-counter tests delivered right to your mailbox.

Outdoor Ministries

Rock and Roll With It

Hartman Center Winter Youth Retreat

We will be returning to Hartman Center Campground as guests.

5725 Old US Highway 322, Milroy, PA 17063 

January 17-19, 2025

Grades 6 through College Grad (or age 22)

Meals and Lodging included

$100 until December 2, 2024

$150 after December 2, 2024

Use coupon code PCC2025 if you would like to use a Penn Central Conference Outdoor Ministries scholarship of 50% off your registration fees.

Innovation Grant Applications Being Accepted

In 2018, Penn Central Conference established an Innovation Grant program to assist churches. As originally planned, the window for applying for a grant is from July 1 through October 31 each year. Funding is from the Strengthen The Church offering and the proceeds of the Conference investments which amounts to approximately $25,000 per year and is supplemented as needed from other sources.

The Grant Application can be found here or is available on the Conference website under the Resources tab at the top of the page. The drop down list reveals Documents and Forms and clicking on that enables you to scroll down to the Finance section, then select PCC Innovation Grant Form.

This same application is for use by Lebanon Association churches and groups to apply for a St. John’s, Lebanon grant. These grants are funded through the investment proceeds of monies that were received from the sale of the Building of St. John’s, Lebanon which amounts to approximately $5,000 per year.

If you need or want any further information, contact the Conference Treasurer, Mike Price, at treasurer@pccucc.org or Paul Keller, Office Manager at pkeller@pccucc.org.

2025 Meck and Moss Award Nominations

Nominations accepted through November 30

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2025 Meck and Moss Awards. The Meck and Moss Awards are awarded annually to Lancaster Theological Seminary alumni, of any denomination, who demonstrate commitment to the excellence of ministry. The Alumni Council’s Awards and Recognition Committee will select award recipients.

The Meck Award honors the memory of Allan S. Meck, who graduated from the Seminary in 1911 and served as president from 1947 to 1957. The Meck Award is presented for distinguished service in the practice of pastoral ministry. 

The Moss Award honors Robert V. Moss Jr. ’45, who graduated form the Seminary in 1945 and served as president from 1957 to 1969. The Moss Award is presented for distinguished service in the practice of specialized ministry (i.e., chaplain, administrator, educator, judicatory staff, etc.).

Learn more about the selection criteria here. Submit a nomination by November 30th here.

Local Church

On Sunday, November 3rd at 3:00 pm. St. Luke's UCC in Lititz will be hosting acclaimed writer and comedian Claire Berger, who is asking out loud the question you’ve been silently pondering for years, “How Much Is Enough?” Claire wrote this book and launched live events to start a long overdue conversation. Her innovative mashup of memoir and self help genres invites you to join her in the search of Enough in all aspects of our lives. Health, money, family, success, food and sex are just a smattering of the topics up for discussion in a touching, highly relatable, often hilarious conversation that features thought-provoking questions and creative prompts for deeper personal reflection. You will leave with a renewed appreciation for all that they are and all that they have, which is often more than enough. Please call (717) 626-7100 or email church@stlukesucc.com to let us know how many chairs will be enough.

Quentin UCC invites you to our annual Veteran’s Day Concert to be held Monday, November 11, 7:00 p.m. This musical tribute honors all branches of the military and we hope you’ll consider attending. We are located at 11 E. Main St., Quentin; and, the building is accessible to all.

Association Events

October 26 - Central Association Fall Meeting - 9:00AM

November 3 - Mercersburg Association Fall Meeting - St. John's UCC, Chambersburg - 3:00PM

November 9 - Gettysburg Association Fall Meeting - 9 AM registration, continental breakfast, and brief Association Meeting; 9:30 AM - PCCUCC meeting live streamed; 11:30 Vote on the formation of the Keystone Conference; short meeting with the PCCUCC immediately following the result of the vote.)

November 10 - York Association Annual Meeting - 2:00PM

Educational Opportunities

Registration is important for planning purposes, even for virtual events, so please let us know if you need to cancel your registration so we have the most accurate numbers.

Boundary Training in 2024

Via Zoom - 10:00AM and 6:00PM

These boundary trainings are a repeat of topics covered in the first half of 2024.

Undercurrents and Riptides Online - November 19, 2024

In this session, we will discuss the hidden (and obvious) dangers of ministry in an online world. From Social Media to AI to Pornography, the internet can pull us in many directions and not all of them are good for us. Register here.

Retired Minister Boundary Awareness Training – will take place on Wednesday, November 13, from 1:30 – 4:30pm ET. Registration is here; this three-hour training may meet Association or Conference requirements for boundary training for retired clergy

From New York Conference

This fall, we're offering monthly opportunities to take Refresher Boundary Awareness Training via Zoom:

Tuesday, November 12, from 9am – 3 pm

Thursday, December 12, from 8 am - 2 pm

Glad to have folks from around the UCC. We can give partial scholarships if needed (email mpurnine@uccny.org before registering). For more information:

https://www.shelbygiving.com/App/Form/66f26fe1-8247-4fe4-a60f-11ef73be0bd0

Church Futures Commission

Discover What Coaching Could Do For You: Free Initial Coaching Session for all Penn Central Clergy & Consistory/Council Presidents

The Penn Central Church Futures Commission invites you to experience the clarifying, empowering, and strategic benefits of coaching. Unlike a mentor or a consultant, coaches aren’t there to tell you what to think, feel, believe, or do. Coaches’ deep listening and intuitive questions support clients in their identified growth, problem solving, and strategy implementation, while evoking new awareness. One of the greatest benefits of coaching is that it provides an intentional partner who is there to confidentially support, encourage, and strengthen you in your ministry. The best way to understand what coaching is, is to experience it yourself. Therefore, the Church Futures Commission is providing free initial coaching sessions for all Penn Central clergy and Consistory/Council Presidents. For those wanting to pursue additional coaching, the next three sessions, scheduled over a four-month period, will be available at a 50% discount. Click here to access the Church Futures webpage, where you can learn about our two professionally trained coaches and to schedule your initial session with one of them.

UCC National Setting

UCC Webinars

These webinars are designed to help you enhance your local church ministries. Most are free to attend. Check out the calendar here.

Nurture the Soul: Don’t Be Scared, Be Prepared! What to Expect in the 2024 Election

Oct 31, 2024 | 3:30pm - 4:30pm

Vote with Love: An Election Day Prayer Vigil & Convening

Nov 5, 2024 | 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Our Whole Lives Taking Flight: Celebrating OWL for Grades 10-12, 2nd edition and More!

Nov 6, 2024 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm

UCC Climate Action Assembly: Post-Election Gathering

Nov 6, 2024 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Nurture the Soul – Building Community Connections to Create Resilient Communities Part I

Nov 7, 2024 | 3:30pm - 4:30pm

What Is Owed: International Climate Debt

Nov 13, 2024 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

The 3-month Jubilee program is for adults who are interested in weaving social justice into the fabric of their faith while learning effective tools to build a more just, compassionate world. This online program provides a foundational introduction to boost your knowledge, skills and confidence in working for change. Justice Jubilee begins in October and space is limited - apply today.

Scholarships are available thanks to the UCC's FaithINFO team.

2024 Financial Ministries Webinars

4^th Wednesdays of the Month – 7:30pm Eastern (6:30 Central)

October 23 – End the Year Strong: Making the Most of Year End Giving

https://UCC.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsdemqrz8qGNJJOs_gDoFH2nxcItmlhUGD

November and December can be the strongest months for giving in charities. How can we make the most of this generous time in our culture? The conversation will lift up ideas and messages to promote giving to congregations.

UCC Webinar: What Is Owed—International Climate Debt

While developed countries disproportionately caused the climate crisis, developing countries have disproportionately suffered the consequences. As a result, a debt is owed. Yet, the opposite is happening as developing countries are the ones saddled with the crushing burden of debt payments. According to a report from the IMF and World Bank, 47 developing countries will pay $400 billion dollars to service their debts in 2024. With the risk of default, these countries are not able to devote the money needed to address the climate crisis. As the UN Climate Change Conference takes place in Azerbaijan, we will focus on the enormous moral and financial issues at stake with climate debt. Athena Peralta from the World Council of Churches and Karimi Kinoti from Edeni Platform will discuss these critical matters. Even if you cannot make the webinar at its scheduled time, still sign-up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it. Register now!

Parish Resource Center

Secure Your Church’s Information

November 12, 2024 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Learn how congregations can protect the information entrusted to them, and proactively educate congregants to identify scams and protect themselves. Don’t let the hard work you’ve done building a community of trust be turned against you. This workshop is ideal for pastors, church administrators, lay leaders, and others who are entrusted with sensitive information and the policies around handling it. Register here.

Continuing Education Opportunities with Eden Theological Seminary this Fall! Check out these opportunities and know that Rev. Betsy Bruaw (mission theology global community) and Rev. Dr. Nora Foust (justice-seekers and peacemakers) will be facilitating two of the cohorts. These are for anyone and continuing education credit is available. Most content is asynchronous but there is a monthly synchronous zoom with your facilitator. Each cohort is $250 and grant funded financial assistance is available, just ask Nora. Contact Betsy or Nora if you have questions or check out the website for all the fall options (including UCC History and Polity) and more information.

The Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry has fall courses available in theology with Dr. Eric Seibert. Courses are 6-weeks and include synchronous zooms each week. Courses are $325. Contact program director Dr. Darryl Stephens at stephensd@moravian.edu for more information.

Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry

Explore Our Crossroads Lay Leadership Programs

Our introductory course, Compass, begins October 17 and takes participants through two different paths. First, it is a discernment process to help the participant identify their gifts, passion, and style. Through reading, journaling, and a valuable small group process, participants are encouraged to explore, articulate, and hone their personal sense of call as a lay person in the church and in the community.

PATHWAYS Theological Education Courses are Accessible and Interactive

Our courses have between 4 and 15 participants. This allows for deep and productive discussions in the online forum. We know that a small class size allows the participants to develop learning relationships with each other and for facilitators to push participants to a more in depth learning experience.

PATHWAYS Theological Education Courses are Flexible

Because classes are not bound by geography and have a flexible weekly schedule, PATHWAYS courses are able to fit into the rest of your busy life. Courses typically involve weekly readings and discussion in a facilitated online forum, offering practical, open-minded education and a learner-centered environment where participants can bring their own questions and insights.

The next course offerings begin in early January. Go to the PATHWAYS website to see the course schedule and to sign up for a class or a certificate or continuing education.

Current Openings - UCC National Setting

Philanthropy

Generosity Officer, Great Lakes Region Close Date: Open until filled

Office of the Associate General Ministers

Associate General Minister, Love of Church Close Date: November 30, 2024

Associate General Minister and Co-Executive for Global Ministries, Love of Neighbor Close Date: November 30, 2024

Office of General Counsel

Paralegal Close Date: October 30, 2024

Global HOPE – Humanitarian: Opportunities, Partnerships, Empowerment.

Minister for Refugee and Migration Services Close Date: October 30, 2024

Center for Analytics, Research & Development, and Data (CARDD)

Research Analyst Close Date: October 30, 2024

Cornerstone Fund

Investment Services Manager Close Date: October 30, 2024

Commercial Loan Underwriting Specialist Close Date: October 30, 2024

Penn Central Conference Ministry Opportunities Page