Message to the Conference | |
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Members and Friends of Penn Central Conference,
“Wisdom cries out in the street; in the squares she raises her voice. How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? Give heed to my reproof; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.” Proverbs 1:20-23 (excerpts)
“The Lord God has given me a trained tongue, that I might know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning God awakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.” Isaiah 50:4
“Who is wise and knowledgeable among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.” James 3:13-15 (excerpts)
I think fate may have played a large role in the reflection shared here this week, as Google and I mistakenly looked at the lectionary passages for this week in 2024, not 2023. You may hear words on forgiveness from your pulpits this Sunday, but this Sunday next year you'll likely hear about wisdom, and the lifelong pursuit thereof.
I am a former high school social studies teacher, who also dabbled in elementary music, and community college humanities on my way to full-time service and leadership in the church. My vocation, or calling in life, is to teach. It fuels my leadership and drives my passion for taking, leading, and encouraging continuing education - yes for clergy, but truly for all of us! Our knowledge of scripture wasn't complete after confirmation, nor our prayers fully developed with camp song blessings. Building blocks to be sure, but not the whole of our spiritual selves.
Listening for God's direction in our lives is wisdom seeking. It informs a living that demonstrates God's love. One way to seek wisdom and listen for God is through educational opportunities. Here in Penn Central, we have a number of programs available this fall for both clergy and lay. Learning and engaging knowledge can open each of us to the movement of the Spirit that transforms us and opens us to responding to God’s call, especially when we don’t understand, or maybe even want, that call. Education expands horizons and helps us question our own assumptions about life, scripture, people, and God.
Lay Boundary Training Monday Sept 18 to include discussion on healthy church relationships, power differentials, solid financial practices, as well as self- and pastoral- care.
Justice Conversations for Clergy Tuesday Sept 19 with ELCA Assistant to the Bishop and Heidelberg UCC Pastor, Rev. Carla Christopher
October 11th will host the final sessions of Humility as Spiritual Practice boundary discussion for Clergy.
October 16th is the next helping of Synod Seconds where we gather to discuss practical implementation steps for some of the synod resolutions. Open to all.
I am also hosting 3 introductory sessions for learning about the fifth founding stream of the UCC, the Afro-Christian Connection largely out of the southeastern US. The first is on October 15th and open to everyone.
We will also gather several times for Keystone Town Hall discussions about merging with the other UCC conferences across the keystone state.
This short list doesn't include each of the fall meetings that are planned for most associations or the regular spiritual formation programming at local churches. All of these gatherings are opportunities to situate your mind, body, and spirit to listen for God’s call in our often chaotic world.
Wisdom cries out from everywhere. May it be our prayer that we wake each morning as ones ready to listen as learners so that our lives are lived demonstrating a gentleness and love born of wisdom.
Shalom,
Nora
Rev. Dr. Nora Foust
Associate Conference Minister
Penn Central Conference
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Scheduling notes:
September 17 - Dover UCC - Rev. Dr. Carrie Call preaching
September 24 - Dover UCC - Rev. Dr. Nora Foust Preaching
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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...
Salem UCC, Elizabethville
Bethany UCC, Ephrata
St. John's UCC, Spring Mills
Trinity UCC, Fort Loudon
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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. | |
As cold and flu season approaches, and as Covid-19 infection increase, please keep the following in mind. Anyone planning on visiting persons in care at any one of the United Church of Christ Homes is urged to contact the specific home prior to their visit to learn of possible guidelines for the visit. Conditions can change rapidly, and the various homes may not all require the same guidelines at any given period.
Please help the staff and residents of the homes by observing any stated visitation
guidelines and also refrain from visiting if you are not feeling well.
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PCC Fall Budget Meeting
November 11, 2023
9:30 AM
This year's Annual Meeting included a vote for the Penn Central Conference to have a Budget Meeting in the fall. Each authorized minister is a voting member and each church is allowed two delegates to vote. These can be, but do not have to be, the same delegates as went to Annual Meeting. We do still need to reach quorum.
This meeting will be on Zoom only, and will include a budget presentation and vote. We anticipate it to take no more than 60 - 90 minutes.
Register here.
| Educational Opportunities | |
Synod Reflections
Penn Central Conference's Synod Delegates are excited to share more about their Synod 34 experiences.
There are two ways to hear directly from our delegates in their own words. First, you can check out written reflections from Kathy Brown, Andrew Boyer, Jerry Thomason, Kelly Shiflett, Rev. Caroline Saxton and Gail Landers.
Synod Seconds – A Keystone-wide Conversation
Join conference staff and delegates from across the keystone state as we explore implementation of General Synod Resolutions and looks at snap-shots of wider-church life. We’ll be starting with 3 zooms this fall, September 11, October 16, and November 13 from 6:30-8 pm. All are welcome. Please register.
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Town Hall: Keystone Project
Choose from three in person and one Zoom Town Hall to learn more about the Keystone Project, the current working group's assessments and how they are visioning "Together we are stronger: the Keystone Conference." Register here.
October 11, 6:30PM; St. John's UCC, Lewisburg (in-person only)
October 18, 6:30PM - St. Paul's UCC, Mechanicsburg (in-person only)
November 1, 6:30PM - Zoom Only
November 14, 6:30PM - Quentin UCC, Quentin (in-person only)
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Fifth Stream Conversations
Rev. Dr. Nora Foust is planning three fall conversations open to the whole church on the recognition of the UCC’s fifth founding stream, the Afro-Christian Convention.
3pm September 24th Mt. Zion, York In-person and Zoom
3pm October 15th St. Paul’s at the Farm, Lewisburg In-Person and Zoom
3pm November 12th ZOOM for all Participants
Register here:
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Boundary Awareness and Anti-Racism Training - Intersectionality and Power Dynamics
These sessions on October 25th are open to anyone clergy or lay. Register for the 10am or 6pm Zoom sessions here. Each are 2-hours.
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Lay Leader Boundary Awareness – Healthy Church Relations
September 18 - 6:30pm Register here
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Clergy Boundary Awareness - Humility as Spiritual Practice
This will be the final offering of this high demand topic as Nora explores learnings from her summer 2022 sabbatical and memoir reading. October 11th at 10am and 6pm. Please register here for this 2-hour session.
| A Fall Book Study – Rev. Dr. Nora Foust will lead a two-night discussion on Clint Smith’s 2021 NY Times bestseller, How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery in America. All are welcome to join the discussion on November 6th and 7th 6:30-8pm on Zoom. Register here. | |
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Ministerial Excellence Forums for Clergy Continuing Education Please register. (10am hybrid at 6094 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg and zoom, 6pm zoom only)
· September 19th Rev. Carla Christopher will lead us in the work of Justice Conversations with our congregations. This 2-hour session covers boundary awareness and anti-racism credits. Register here
· October 17th LTS President Emeritus Peter Schmiechen will lead discussion on his book Tradition in Crisis: The Case for Centric Protestants. Pre-reading is not required. Register here.
· November 21st Rev. Rachel Schwab will lead us in discussion around trauma-informed pastoral care. This 2-hour session is considered boundary training. Register here.
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Friends, the Damascus Project of the MN and WI Conferences is offering an 8 week course on lay preaching and worship leadership, open to laity, MiDs, those seeking authorization...covering the basics of sermon prep and delivery, weekly and seasonal worship planning. Send your folks our way, we'd love to have them learn with us! Online, blend of asynchronous content and facilitated zoom sessions. Register here. | |
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Monday, November 6, 5:30-8:30pm ET – Boundary Training for Retired Clergy
By request, we have added another BAT for those considering retirement or who are already in retirement. Join us for a focused conversation on boundary topics faced in retirement – identity, leaving well, exempt status, as well as a refresher on the Ministerial Code, power, and accountability. Led by Revs. Tara Barber, Melanie Oommen, and Anissa Glaser-Bacon.
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Camp Director Pastor Alice shares, "please mark your calendar for next year's HC Spirit camp at Hartman Center Campground and Retreat Center - Sunday, July 28th through Saturday, August 3rd, 2024. In addition to the cabins and lodges, the new owners are working on RV sites that should be ready before next summer. We would love it if lots of Penn Central Conference folks are able to reserve and use those sites while we are there."
Wondering how your congregation might engage in outdoor ministry? Camps and retreats aren't the only recipients of grant funds. Kayak church, fire pit fellowships, community gardens, and solar projects are just a few of the ideas discussed for funding. The application window is currently open with applications available here.
Thanks again to all who made our HC Spirit Camp a great success! We hope to see you, and more, next summer July 28-August 3.
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Our Whole Lives training
In addition to an increasing number of in-person trainings across the country, Our Whole Lives trainings will continue to be offered online in 2023 for UCC and UUA members, at a cost of only $250 plus curriculum.
Registration applications will be accepted from Sept 11-Sept 25 for an All Adult Levels Training in November
More information about these trainings, in addition to information about upcoming in-person trainings, can be found here.
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From our friends and partners | |
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Do you have a passion for helping others? Do you like to drive and explore local areas?
If your answer is yes, The Lebanon Valley Home has the perfect volunteer opportunity for you!
Volunteers play a vital role in the ministry of UCC Homes. They serve in a variety of ways that make life more enjoyable and pleasant for those we serve…the residents!
The Lebanon Valley Home in Annville, PA is seeking an energetic and fun-loving person to serve as Volunteer Van/Bus Driver to transport residents on short local trips in our 14-passenger bus, mostly on weekdays and some early evenings. The hours and commitment will be of your choosing based on your availability and we do offer volunteer orientation and training.
Join our volunteer team at The Lebanon Valley Home in providing residents with weekly grocery trips, shopping trips, lunch and breakfast outings, rides to Indiantown Gap Military cemetery, and seasonal drives to view fall foliage and Christmas lights.
No special license needed! A valid PA Driver’s License is required, and the driver must be 25 to 75 years old. A Department of Transportation physical is required but at NO COST to the volunteer and which the staff at The Lebanon Valley Home will arrange.
If you would like to share your time with the residents of The Lebanon Valley Homes, please contact Amy Tillinger, Director of Activities, at (717) 867-4467.
Thank you in advance for your prayerful consideration of this opportunity to add value not only to your own life but also to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
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Congregational Library and Archives workshop
"What’s in a Collection: The Creation and Publication of an Inventory List" -- A Virtual Workshop with CLA Archivists Zachary Bodnar and Billy McCarthy
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2023
1-2 pm EDT
This event will held live on Zoom with an interactive Q&A
An inventory list is one of the most important items a church can produce to steward their collections. This simple document includes basic information about the contents of a church’s entire collection of records and often includes a clear description of materials in the collection and an indication of how extensive they are. A good inventory makes it easier to keep track of all of the materials within the collection and goes a long way towards expanding accessibility to interested users.
Join us for this next program in the Congregational Library & Archives Church Stewardship Initiative, a series devoted to empowering churches to steward and preserve their valuable records. In this program, the CLA’s archivists, Zachary Bodnar and Billy McCarthy, will walk you through how to create an inventory list, what tools can be used to create the inventory, and how to make that inventory accessible for those wishing to view the archive.
“What's in a Collection” is part of the Congregational Library & Archives commitment to helping churches preserve their valuable historical records. Check out the library’s YouTube page for more videos in the series.
Learn more and register here.
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Join us to celebrate the release of The Historical Directory of the Christian Denomination and Afro-Christian Churches in a virtual discussion with author Richard H. Taylor.
In this important new resource, Taylor explores the history of the first native-born Protestant religious movement in the United States, the Christian Connection. Early America set the stage for a “religion of the people.” Empowered by religious freedom and increasing literacy rates, ordinary people read the Bible on their own. Many sought to free themselves from complicated theologies and arbitrary authorities. Three break outs of these values coalesced to form the Christian Connection, whose heirs united with the Congregationalists in 1931. Closely related to them was an autonomous Afro-Christian movement that drew from their African roots to embody an Afrocentric Christianity. These movements also provided the incubator for many other American religious groups.
Richard Taylor's new book gives a history of their active, but little known, traditions, principles. and activities. It helps local historians to see their impact on their communities, directs genealogists to the lives of nearly 7,000 congregations, and assembles a large body of resources for individual and academic study.
Mark your calendars now to join us on Wednesday, September 27th from 1-2 pm EDT
Learn more and register here.
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UCC Musicians Association
We've all heard about how churches need to be concerned with how they handle copyrighted material, but many questions still linger. Ethically, we need to recognize and appropriately compensate creators of the material we use...art, music, literature. But how can we be sure that we are following the correct guidelines? Join us as we delve into the topic with Siobhán Maguire, the Assistant Manager for ONE LICENSE, a copyright licensing agency. For 25+ years, she served as music director for parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago. She is a former board member of the Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians and is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin (MM, BM).
This is a short one-hour ZOOM session held on Saturday, September 30 at 11 am ET / 8 am PT and is free to all. We plan to pack the hour with useful information and provide a chance for questions. This chat will be recorded for those who can’t attend.
Register for this event to receive the Zoom link and/or the video link.
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PATHWAYS’ Fall Schedule of Courses
Fall II: 6-week Courses Begin October 2 or 9, 2023
● BF10602 Understanding the Bible as a Progressive Christian (Oct 9-Nov 10)
● BF20602 Old Testament Hermeneutics (Oct 9-Nov 19)
● TH30605 Ecological Theology (Oct 2-Nov 12)
● MP30609 Practicing Our Faith in the Public Square (Oct 9-Nov 19)
● HT10604 Stories of Christian Saints and Sinners (Oct 9-Nov 19)
Learn more here and register here.
The Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry at Lancaster Theological Seminary is offering more exciting new programs for the academic year 2023-24.
MORAL INJURY & VETERANS MINISTRY
In November, we'll offer classes on moral injury and ministry for and with veterans of war and survivors of violence. Stay tuned for details!
INTRODUCTION TO PREACHING
Starting in January, we'll offer two great classes on preaching. Introduction to Preaching will help you connect with your congregation, make Biblical text come alive and learn breathing techniques for a more compelling delivery. Your congregation will thank you!
PREACHING & WORSHIP THROUGH THE YEAR
In the spring, our second preaching class, Preaching & Worship Through the Year, will help you tailor your sermons for special Sundays and holiday occasions, use the lectionary, plan sermon series, incorporate music and the arts, and more.
Click the link here for a video preview!
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Phoebe Ministries is hiring a Full-time Regional Director of Pastoral Care and Education for our Allentown Campus.
Responsible for directing the pastoral care program and clinical pastoral education program. Promotes the relationship of Phoebe Ministries with its supporting churches and conferences.
Conducts and supervises a variety of religious activities and provides for the spiritual needs of residents, families and Phoebe staff; coordinating this work within the department as well as with other departments. Responds to inquiries and requests from residents, families, and staff.
Reports pertinent information to the ED of Marketing and External Relations. Hires, directs, and supervises pastoral care staff, and provides periodic reports. Develops, implements, and achieves annual goals and objectives as established in the annual coaching form.
Read more here.
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Christ Church UCC in Elizabethtown, PA seeks a part-time Organist/Pianist to lead worship through music. The successful candidate will possess strong musical skills playing the organ and piano as well as skills in organization and cooperative teamwork. Candidates should have a music degree or equivalent experience and have a broad knowledge of church music repertoire with proficiency in a wide range of musical styles. This position is an integral part of a dynamic and vibrant music ministry program.
Responsibilities of this position include:
- Accompany adult choir rehearsals on Wednesday evenings (occasionally other choirs)
- Play up to two Sunday morning worship services (one during the summer)
- Play for a limited number of special worship services
Christ Church UCC has a Safe Church Policy. A background check for all employees is standard procedure.
Annual salary range is between $13,500 and $15,000, based on experience and education. The position also includes $200 annually in Continuing Education.
For more details, please visit www.etownucc.org.
A letter of application, resume, and two professional recommendations can be sent Attention: Organist Search Committee to either Christ Church UCC, 247 S. Market Street, Elizabethtown, PA 17022 or via email to: GalenRussell@etownucc.org.
A complete job description is available upon request. 08/23/2023
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Directory
Rev. Dr. Carrie Call, Ph.D.
Conference Minister
email: ccall@pccucc.org
Phone: 717-433-3196
Rev. Dr. Nora Driver Foust
Associate Conference Minister
email: nfoust@pccucc.org
Phone: 717-433-2587
Rev. Rick Luciotti
Coordinator of Care to Clergy & Clergy Families
email: rluciotti@gmail.com
Phone: 717-433-6306
C. Paul Keller
Office Manager
email: pkeller@pccucc.org
Phone: 717-652-1560
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