YEARBOOK INFORMATION DEADLINE TODAY!
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Message to the Conference
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Dear Friends of Penn Central Conference -
There is an old Asian proverb that says, “The mind makes a wonderful servant but a terrible master.” The proverb speaks to the common human experience of suffering created by the thoughts people sometimes find marching through their brains. The point of the proverb is that the mind can be a wonderful problem-solving tool, but also a tyrannical ruler of a person’s mood, emotions and wellbeing. In some sense, the happiness we all seek is significantly related to the thoughts or stories we tell ourselves about the reality we experience. There is no doubt that real suffering occurs when hurtful things occur in our lives. In acceptance therapy this is called “clean” pain. “Dirty” pain however, concerns the thoughts about how bad life is. In this view unhappiness occurs not simply as a result of a painful situation, but because of painful thoughts or the stories we create around the event.
If you think about any issue that has troubled you for a while like a spouse’s addiction, a child’s misbehavior, or your own physical health, you can see how worrying about the problem has been to no avail. Martha Beck, author of
Finding Your Own North Star
states, “No doubt you have tried valiantly to control this issue but are your efforts working? The answer has to be no; otherwise you would have solved the problem long ago. What if your real trouble isn’t the issue you brood about so compulsively but the brooding itself?”
Beck notes that “acceptance, detachment and surrender are the pathways to freedom and healing”. Acceptance, detachment and surrender are traditional Christian practices that are now being adopted as viable psychotherapeutic devices. Practices such as mindfulness training or focusing teach us to detach by paying attention to our thoughts in non-judgmental and compassionate ways. For example Beck states, “When we find ourselves using words like
should
or
ought
we’re courting ‘dirty’ pain. Obsessing about what should be rather than accepting what is, we may try to control other people in useless, dysfunctional ways. The result is an emptiness that we usually blame on our failure to get what we want. Actually it comes from refusing to accept what we have.”
During this time of Lent, preparations for Easter and the assault of media pronouncements, take time to compassionately observe the stories you tell yourself about family members, co-workers or government officials. Loosen their hold and feel the joy, peace and love available to all as children of God.
Julian of Norwich, a 14
th
Century mystic who lived during the Black Death, was quite familiar with personal and societal suffering. Yet she is one of our foremost teachers of detachment and compassion in the midst of suffering and yet she affirms for us again today that all shall be well. Hers is an optimism that is not born of naïve idealism, but an ongoing trust in the mysterious and providential love of God. Her affirmation of faith is as apt today as it was in her own day:
“All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.”
Scott M. Watts, M.S., M.Div., LPC, NCC
Penn Central Conference
Facilitator of Care to Clergy and Clergy Families
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Conference Minster Travel
March 23-28 - Council of Conference Ministers and United Church Board meetings - Cleveland, OH - Rev. Dr. Carrie Call
March 31-April 1
- UCC Historical Council - St. Louis - Carrie Call
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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...
Christ Church UCC, Elizabethtown
Salem UCC, Elizabethtown
Bethany UCC, Ephrata
Zion's Reformed UCC, Ephrata
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A word from Rev. Traci Blackmon on coronavirus
"The faith community has a special responsibility to care for our fellow congregants and communities, said the Rev. Traci Blackmon, UCC Associate General Minister, in her introduction to a selection of resources on coronavirus. "When we are prepared, we are in a better position to help others."
Click here to read her statement
.
We especially commend to your attention:
FLYER/BULLETIN INSERT
for congregants, including health and hygiene tips, and a reminder of our special responsibilities as people of faith to care for our neighbors.
PANDEMIC PREPARATIONS
. This excellent resource from UCC's Southern New England Conference offers church leaders a succinct pandemic preparation checklist covering community relations, worship services, communications, fiscal concerns, key leadership backup and pastoral care.
More useful resources:
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The Perfect Blend: Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations
A day with author Bishop Robert Schnase
Saturday, September 19, 2020
Lancaster Theological Seminary, Santee Chapel
Come spend a day in conversation around how these practices can help your church live out the Gospel and be a missional presence in your community.
We will hear 3 presentations from Bishop Schnase and have a few guided, small group discussions along the way.
See a full flyer here. Seating is limited, so registration is required. $25 per person, or a discounted rate of $100 for groups of 5 people.
Register here!
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Pastoral Colloquy 2020
Penn Central Conference, United Church of Christ
Evangelische Kirche Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz
Penn Southeast Conference, United Church of Christ
Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland
Southern Conference, United Church of Christ
Wisconsin Conference, United Church of Christ
in cooperation with
The Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies
Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
26 to 31 July 2020
“Building a Just Peace in an Unjust World:
Learning with and from Our Anabaptist Colleagues”
Who?
Pastors from all the church bodies listed above
What?
A week of learning, discussion, and fellowship
Where?
Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
When?
Sunday, 26 July, through Friday, 31 July, 2020
Weekend visits before and after the colloquy are
available for our German guests.
Why?
“All we are saying is ‘Give peace a chance!’”
~John Lennon, 1969
Welcome and Hospitality are major themes of our UCC culture. You have the opportunity to provide welcome and hospitality to a guest from German during the weekend before and/or after the PCC/UEK Pastoral Colloquy. Hosts are needed throughout the conference to host German visitors, primarily single individuals and couples, from July 24 -26 and/or from July 31 to August 2. If you have a guest room, an open heart and a passion to share yourself with new friends, contact Julie Holm (
julie@bvfof.org or 814-349-5515). Join us in providing a warm welcome for our overseas guests.
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UNITE! Purdue University
July 22-25, 2020
Who’s headed to NYE this summer? I remember my first NYE at UT Knoxville where I realized just exactly what this Church I am a part of was all about. I remember how so many of the conferences sat together and had matching t-shirts and cheers as we would transition from one stage event to the next. Singing, praying, and worshiping with so many gave me glimpses of a different way to be church. Workshops with youth and leaders from across the country helped me get outside the box of the “way I had always done it.” Hopefully, your church youth are already fundraising for this exciting time! If you are planning to join the more than 3000 youth at Purdue University, please contact
Rev. Nora Foust
so we can UNITE! our Penn Central presence!
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Has your church starting filling out your yearbook information? The Data Hub is now open! All the links are below.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION IS MIDNIGHT MARCH 4 - TONIGHT!
If you need assistance - reach out to the conference office and we will be glad to assist.
If you cannot access the DataHub and want to submit the paper forms to the office, please find those
here
and
here
. Email them to Paul ASAP!
Church Officer Reporting
In addition to your online Yearbook reporting via the Data Hub, PCC will still be collecting the voluntary Church Officer reporting. Please complete
this form
and
email to Paul
at the PCC office.
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Installations, Ecclesiastical Councils & Ordinations
June 7
- Ordination of Gary Nottis at St. John's UCC, Lewisburg - 3:00PM (Rev. Nora Foust attending)
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Association Meetings and Ministeriums
March 9
- Mercersburg Ministerium–Spiritual Care in the Congregation with Rev. Nora Foust - 9:00am
April 19
- Central Association’s Spring Meeting - Trinity UCC, Centre Hall
April 25
- Harrisburg Association Meeting (Rev. Carrie Call attending)
April 26
- Central Association Meeting with Rev. Nora Foust
April 26
- Gettysburg Association Meeting and Town Hall with Rev. Carrie Call
April 30
- York Ministerium with Rev. Nora Foust
May 3
- Lancaster Association Meeting (Rev. Carrie Call Attending)
May 3
- Mercersburg Association Spring Meeting
May 11
- Mercersburg Ministerium (Rev. Carrie Call Attending)
May 14
- Gettysburg Ministerium with Rev. Nora Foust
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Association Special Events
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Outdoor Ministries at Hartman Center
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Pride Retreat for LGBTQ Folks & Allies
- May 29-31 (details to come)
SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
Early bird pricing for those who pay in full before March 31, 2020.
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May 13
- Ordinary Time Worship Planning - Colonial Park UCC -
register here
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Boundary Training & MEFS
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Free Choir Robes - Emmanuel UCC, Hanover
Emmanuel UCC has 36 choir robes (made in the US by E.R. Moore.) They are green, in a traditional style, gathered yoke, front zip with stoles.
(See picture here.)
Call Emmanuel UCC at 717-632-8281 for details.
Looking to borrow
-
A congregational set of "Unbinding Your Heart" by Martha Grace Reese. If your church has a set to lend, contac
t
Hamilton Park UCC, Lancaster
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Is your church 5 for 5? The next Special Mission Offering is One Great Hour of Sharing - which takes place on the 4th Sunday of Lent, March 22, 2020.
OGHS channels resources for international programs in health, education and agricultural development, emergency relief, refugee ministries, and both international and domestic disaster response, administered by Wider Church Ministries, Global Sharing of Resources.
For more information on the 5 for 5 offerings, click
here.
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Annual Meeting
- June 12-13, 2020
Recognition Dinner
- September 19, 2020 (info to come!)
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From PCC Partners & Friends
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Music Sundays - Singing Our Lives: From Joni to Gaga
- Liz Fulmer - Santee Chapel, Lancaster Theological Seminary - March 22, 4:00PM
Tuesday Topics - Women Who Speak for God: Females Among the Prophets
- Dr. Julia O'Brian - Lancaster Theological Seminary - March 24, 10:00AM
WISE Conference - UCC Mental Health Network in partnership with Penn Northeast Conference - Jordan UCC, Allentown - May 16
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Mercersburg, York and Gettysburg Association Churches
Rev. Richard Gordon
717-940-8345
Northern and Central Association Churches
Rev. Sally Dries
570-850-6062
Harrisburg, Lancaster and Lebanon Association Churches
Rev. John Fureman
717-274-5981
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Rev. Carrie Call, PhD
Transitional Conference Minister
Phone: 717-652-1560 ex. 12
Rev. Nora Driver Foust
Associate Conference Minister
Phone: 717-652-1560 ex.13
Zoë D'heedene
Coordinator of Camps/Retreats
Phone: 717-652-1560 ex. 16
Scott Watts
Facilitator of Care to Clergy & Clergy Families
Phone: 717-652-1560 ex. 15
C. Paul Keller
Office Manager
Phone: 717-652-1560 ex. 14
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If you have future eNews stories, please send them to
C. Paul Keller
.
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