Resource Links |
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PCC UCC Links
Links to Our Partners
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Calendar of Events |
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Penn Central Conference Offices will be closed from December 22 - January 1.
Merry Christmas!
Mid-Winter Clergy Sabbath (formerly Clergy Convocation) - January 22 - 24, 2019
Spring Confirmation Retreat - March 17-19 -- please contact Patty if your church is interested in participating.
Hartman Center Work Weekend - May 2-5
Annual Meeting - June 7-8, 2019, Susquehanna University
General Synod, 2019
- June 21-25, 2019,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Events and Training |
UCC Polity and Theology Course - NEW
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United Church of Christ History and Polity will be taught at Lancaster Theological Seminary during Term III in Spring 2019, beginning Friday, February 22, 2019 and ending Friday, April 12, 2019.
The class will be held for 7 weeks on Friday afternoons from 2:00pm to 5:00pm.
Assignments include reading and writing, resulting in a History and Polity paper that can be used as part of the ordination paper requirement for authorization.
Successful completion of assignments in the class will result in a Certificate of Completion that may be shared with the individual's Committee on Ministry to designate completion of an approved course.
Registration deadline is Friday, February 15, 2019.
Course Dates: Seven weeks - Fridays, Feb. 22 through April 12, 2019, from 2-5pm
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UCC Polity and Theology Course - NEW
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UCC History, Polity & Theology Course
This comprehensive course will meet Mondays from 6 - 9pm from January 28 to April 29, 2019. You may attend in person at Moravian Seminary Bethlehem PA or by video conference. The cost for a certificate of completion is $900. Academic Course Credit is available at regular tuition costs. For more information contact the instructor, Rev. Dr. David DeRemer
deremerd@moravian.edu
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Community and Justice Issues |
Resolution for General Synod - NEW
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Many thanks to the work of Kathy Brown and Trinity UCC, Waynesboro as well as the Creation Justice team. They have submitted a
resolution for General Synod
This is the resolution (re: plastic foam) that was passed at our Annual Meeting in June.
Please let us know how you or your church are living into the resolution by emailing
Stephanie.
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Book Review Coming in January - NEW
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You can buy the book now from Hearts and Minds with a 20% discount! Just go to their order form page and type in the titles you want. Use promo code "UCC Creation Justice" and you'll get a 20% off.
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DR&R Webinar - NEW
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"Care for Clergy in the Aftermath of Disaster"
Thursday Dec. 13
th
4pm-5pm EST
Join UCC Disaster Ministries and Rev. Beth Goss of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for a 1-hour webinar discussing the unique challenges clergy face in the midst of and in the aftermath of natural disaster, and how we can understand their particular needs and offer appropriate support. This webinar is open to the public. Information to log-in is below.
Dial by your location
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 880 108 944
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Hartman Center |
Hartman Center Stone House
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This house was built in the 1830s, survived an 1880s fire and has a wonderfully rich history.
Many of you may be wondering what has happened to the Stone House at Hartman Center since the January 2018 water damage. The good news is the Stone House has had all the damaged walls and contents removed and the insurance claim monies have been received.
At the PCC Board meeting in October, a decision was made to leave the Stone House as is and form a Historical Preseveration Committee. It will the this committee's responsibility to find a way to historically preserve the Stone House by obtaining grants and other funding sources to preserve the house for future generations.
How can you help maintain and preserve this 1830s Stone House?
If you are interested in serving on a Historical Preservation committee or know of someone who has an interest in Historical Preservation and would like to help, please contact the Conference Office at 717-652-1560. Thank you.
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Generosity |
Friends of Penn Central Conference - NEW
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Many thanks, Penn Central Conference, for your generosity!
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So far, we have raised just under half our goal.
$7165
Thank you for your gifts!
Here are 5 suggestions for ways YOU can give:
- Follow this link to our donation page to make a one-time or monthly recurring gift.
- You may also send your donation by check to the Conference Office. (Please make check payable to Penn Central Conference, adding OCWM/Friends of Penn Central Conference in the memo line.)
- Volunteer your time serving in Association/Penn Central Conference ministries. Sign up here.
- Secure a matching gift from your company. You can search this database to see if your company matches - What an easy way to double your gift!
- Invite others to give to OCWM - if you have creative ideas, we would love hear them!
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Your generosity supports the important work we do with our local churches, Associations and the wider church. This enables us to invest in the programs, resources and tools needed to help our congregations flourish.
THANK YOU!
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End of Year Stewardship Article - NEW
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"Unfortunately, our efforts to make fundraising or stewardship more palatable by limiting "money talk" and rarely asking people directly to give may only make the task harder and more uncomfortable. If we want people to be more generous and to engage with the life of the church through financial giving, we need to talk about it more, not less."
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UCC Homes - NEW
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UCC Homes is starting to think about the time of year when people bake cookies, go caroling, spend cherished time with loved ones and most importantly, celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. This time of year people tend to be kinder, warmer and friendlier, exhibiting Jesus' example of giving and helping those who are in need.
UCC Homes does all they can to bring festive joy to as many residents as possible. UCC Homes takes pride in the care and service they provide to those in need. They invite you to share with those who are less fortunate by spreading the Christmas spirit through your compassion and generosity.
In order to provide each resident with a meaningful gift this coming Christmas, they are asking our sponsoring congregations, church groups and individuals to consider donating a monetary donation or gift cards/certificates to be used towards purchasing desired gifts for residents of the communities of UCC Homes, making Christmas a little more special.
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Clergy News |
Jerusalem Tables
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In a moment of great change and growth in the early church, Paul and
Barnabas
went up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem with their testimonies. In Acts 15:7b-9, 12a Paul addressed this body, "Siblings, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.
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God, who knows the heart, showed acceptance of them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as it was given to us.
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God did not discriminate between us and them, for their hearts were purified by faith." The whole assembly became silent as they listened.
The Council at Jerusalem reminds us that from its e
arliest roots the Church had challenging conversations about the Church
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Now
is time for another Jerusalem conversation.
In
Apostolic tradition, let us gather for discussion about
BE-
ing
the
Church in the world today.
Thursday, February 7, 2019
12:00 Noon - 1:00 PM
(Please bring a
b
rown bag lunch)
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Clergy Sabbath: January 22 - 24
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Please register by January 9, 2019!
Building Sacred Relationships in a Time of Conflict and Fear
January 22 - 24, 2019
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Please join us at a new location this year!
Sheraton Hotel, Harrisburg - 4650 Lindle Road - Harrisburg, PA
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To Register -
If you need to register and pay by check, please call the Conference Office.
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Ministerial Excellence Forums, Spring 2019
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Please join us on the following dates from 1:00 - 4:00 at St. Thomas United Church of Christ.
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Light refreshments will be served.
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December |
December 9 - Beth Firme Ordination at Faith, York - 3:00 PM
December 16 - Laura Ramsey Ordination at Christ, Elizabethtown - 3:00 PM
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Church Events |
Annual Meeting 2019
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Save the Date: June 7-8, 2019
Theme: Renaissance Ministry: BE-ing the Church Today!
Verse: Ezekiel 37: 4-6
We invite members of the Penn Central Conference who are called or inspired to create a logo to be used at our Annual Meeting. Please consider our verse and theme and then submit your logo to
Stephanie by February 1, 2019. The PCC Annual Meeting committees will vote and winner will be notified by February 14, 2019.
For details
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General Synod 32, Milwaukee
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SAVE THE DATE
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Prayers for Penn Central Conference |
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Prayers for Penn Central Conference
"Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere, just as it is among you."
(2 Thess. 3:1)
Beginning in 2018, we have created a prayer list to invite you to pray with us as we pray for all. Each week we will list names of various churches in Penn Central Conference hoping you will add them to your prayers.
- Penn Central Conference members
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Open Positions |
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Trinity UCC @ State Line, PA is actively looking for an organist/pianist to cover weekly 9:00 a.m. Sunday worship services. Email
Reeny777@juno.com or call 717-597-0585.
Faith United Church of Christ, 1204 Wabank Road in Lancaster, Pa. is in need of a church organist. For more information, please call Pastor John Rieker at 717-341-1051.
Zion UCC Arendtsville and the Cashtown/McKnightstown Charge participate in an ecumenical partnership called Upper Adams Christians Together (UACT). This partnership is seeking a part-time Youth Coordinator. UACT is a collection of 8 congregations (Lutheran & UCC) in Adams County. Responsibilities include administration, teaching, and future planning. Job description is available on request. Contact Pastor Dennis Probst at UACTpersonnel@gmail.com, or Pastor Kim Blocher at chapkim17325@yahoo.com for more information.
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