Penn Central Conference Weekly eNews

When I sat with couples to do pre-marital counseling, one of the questions I often asked was "what makes you feel loved?" Nine times out of ten, the response was that they liked random and unexpected acts of love, kindness and thoughtfulness. Hearing their partner say, "I love you" was important but it was the small acts of love that ranked highest.

I was reminded of these small acts of love after reading this last verse from Matthew's gospel:

"...and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple -- truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."

(Matthew 10:42)

We often imagine discipleship as requiring heroic sacrifices or great feats of the adherents. However, discipleship can be as simple as offering a hug to someone who is grieving, or a listening ear to someone who is hurting and confused. Discipleship is volunteering at the local food-bank, pet rescue shelter and planting a tree for eco-justice.

The story of The Star Thrower is about a guy who traveled to the beach routinely to toss starfish into the sea. When asked why, he replied that if the starfish did not get back in the water soon they would dry out and die. The beach was strewn with thousands of starfish. When challenged that he cannot possibly hope to make any difference -- he responded, "to the ones I throw back, it makes all the difference in the world."

Small acts of love can make a big difference to the people receiving the help. When we feel overwhelmed by the problems and pain in our world, remember this story and start where you live. Begin with one person, and offer small acts of love.

Dr. Greg Carey (New Testament Professor, Lancaster Theological Seminary) asserts:

"Jesus has promised to come in time to redeem all in love, to fix all damage, heal all hurts, and wipe the tears from every eye, but until then we can devote ourselves to acts of mercy and deeds of compassion small and large, not trying to save the world -- Jesus has promised to do that --but simply trying to care for the little corner of the world in which we have been placed. It does not matter who receives care, what matters is the care that is offered."

Thank you for all you do, and will do, to care for the world that God still loves! Amen.

In Christ,

Monica

Rev. Dr. Monica Dawkins-Smith

Conference Minister and President

P.S. 3 Great Loves will be launched at General Synod 31 in just a few days from now. It will provide a great opportunity for us to share our small (and big) acts of love!

8.5 x 14 bulletin insert and 8.5 x 11 bulletin insert

General Synod - Baltimore!

NEW - General Synod Information

General Synod Important Info:

Agenda

Resolutions

Get all you need, right on the General Synod app

LAST CALL! Harrisburg Bus Trip for General Synod Sunday Worship

General Synod Community Worship Service

July 2, 2017

Worship at 2:30

Click to Register for Harrisburg Bus

Bus leaves at 12:00

Last day to register is Wednesday, June 28.

Penn Central Conference General Synod Dinner

PCCUCC General Synod Dinner

Saturday, July 1

5:30 - 8:00

The Pratt Street Ale House

206 W Pratt Street

Baltimore, MD 21201

410.244.8900

Buffet dinner includes house salad, BBQ salmon, Chesapeake chicken and prime rib. There will be a cash bar.

Cost $45 per person.

We invite all Penn Central Conference Members, Friends and Guests of PCC to attend.

Last day to register is this Wednesday, June 28.

Generosity

NEW - OCWM Gifts Year to Date

Thank you for your OCWM gifts! Your gifts are having an amazing impact changing lives in Penn Central Conference and the wider church.

With six months left in 2017, our OCWM YTD gifts are only 74% of the 2017 goal and significantly lower than 2016 OCWM YTD giving.

If your church has already sent in your OCWM contribution, thank you very much for your support. If your church has not already done so, there is still time to send in your contribution before the end of second quarter.

Your faith commitment makes a huge difference for God's mission and helps Penn Central Conference achieve its goals. Thank you for your ongoing support!

Church Vitality

Next Vitality Workshop July 16 - Harrisburg

Have you noticed a drop in worship attendance?

Are you wondering how to get more visitors to show up on Sunday morning?

What kinds of changes to worship can be made that will have the biggest impact ?

This workshop walks pastors and leaders through the process of reaching out to the community and attracting new people to attend worship. Once they are attending worship, three changes will be recommended to ensure their return . We will explore Web sites , visitor tabs and using the Smart Phone as a device for evangelism. Key learnings will be around worship days and times, how to make Holy some of the secular Holidays and how to do small groups in the middle of worship.

There is no cost to attend. Please read Transformative Worship: Changing Lives through Religious Experience by Laurene Beth Bowers (available on Amazon). This will prepare you to ask questions and have a conversation about how to incrementally grow your church.

Vitality Workshop "How to Increase Worship Attendance"

All Workshops are from 1:00 - 4:00

July 16 - Colonial Park, Harrisburg

August 6: Apostles, Lancaster

August 20: Dreisbach, Lewisburg

September 24: Hayshire, York

Would You Like a Mystery Visitor to Come to Your Church?

The conference has trained 12 Mystery Visitors who are willing to visit your church on Sunday morning and give you a detailed report. Pastors can request a visitor (and they are the only ones allowed to do so) and they will receive the report to do with it as they see fit.

These visitors will assess the website, curb appeal and hospitality (as well as the coffee!). They will not be evaluating the pastor or the service itself. While most of the mystery visitors are churched, we also have a few seekers. To request a mystery visitor, contact Laurene Bowers LBowers@pccucc.org

Church Leadership Resources

Reasons Church Growth Fails in Smaller Churches (Blog by Karl Vaters)

Be the Church Planning Guide (UCC Resource)

10 Predictions about the Future Church and Shifting Attendance Patterns (Christian Week)

Big Gifts in Small Packages (small church workshop) - COMING SOON

Events, Training and Resources Available

UPCOMING CONFERENCE EVENTS

General Synod UCC - June 30 - July 4 in Baltimore

UEK Partnership - July 11 in PCC Conference Center

Green Justice Team - July 11, Hartman Center

Vitality Workshop: How to Increase Worship Attendance - July 16, Colonial Park UCC

Pastor's Breakfast and Worship - July 27, Hartman Center

Click to see our Web site for more details.

2018

SAVE THE DATE!

Clergy Convocation - January 30 - February 1, 2018

Doubletree by Hilton - Willow Valley, Lancaster PA

Mid-Atlantic Regional Youth Event - July 19-22, 2018

California University of Pennsylvania

2018 Penn Central Annual Meeting - June 8 and 9, 2018

Susquehanna University

Partners in Peace - July 5, 2018

2017-2020 Penn Central Conference Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan

CONNECTED - ENGAGED - TRANSFORMED

Join Our List

Get the latest and greatest eNews from Penn Central Conference... sign up today!

NEW - Disaster Readiness and Response - Assistance Needed

Volunteers needed in Ottawa, IL to assist with rebuilding for families who were impacted by an early 2017 tornado.

This is the site where we (UCC, Disciples, Brethren) deployed our pilot project Disaster Recovery Support Initiative (DRSI) with the goal of shortening the time between response and recovery. We have been successful in doing so but now need volunteers.

The current need is for a small team of skilled roofers (5-6 individuals). Housing is provided and there is currently a skilled DRSI construction advisor on site. If you have a team or team's that can help, please call Tim Sheaffer at 717.713.3834.

NEW - Environmental Justice

Many Christians are familiar with the passage

from 1 Timothy 4:12 which says,

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity."

Twenty-one youth across the United States are currently taking action and setting an example in a profound way. They are doing this through a climate lawsuit.

Read more in The Pollinator...

2017 Loss Control Webinars

The Insurance Board is pleased to present the following upcoming Loss Control webinars, available to all participants and members.

Fire Prevention and Protection for Churches
Wednesday, July 12th, 2pm Eastern (IB - Mary Lammermeier)

Keeping Your Ministries Safe: 5 Things Churches Can Do to Prevent Abuse
Wednesday, September 13th, 2pm Eastern (Praesidium)

How to Avoid Background Screening Litigation

Wednesday, October 11th, 2pm Eastern (Praesidium)

Here's a link to their Web site to register:

https://www.insuranceboard.org/online-learning

NEW - July PAM Webinars

July 10

7:00 - 8:30

What's Working Well In Your Children's Ministry?

For more details and to register

July 24

7:00 - 8:30

Using Visual Arts to Enliven Your Space

For more details and to register

Grants

UCC Grant Opportunities

UCC Grants

Genesis Fund - money for innovative/experimental faith based projects

New Spiritual Communities and Renewing Churches - invest in programs that live the ethos of UCC

Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal - up to $50K to support clergy on sabbatical

Neighbors in Need - innovative grants for justice advocacy

Church News

Toni Buffalo Meet and Greet at Solomon's UCC in Chambersburg

Solomon's United Church of Christ, Chambersburg will be hosting a meet and greet with Toni Buffalo on Thursday, June 29th beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Toni is the executive director of the Dakota Association of the United Church of Christ, and on the board of CAIM (Council on American Indian Ministries) of the UCC. She is a native of and resides on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota, serving with her husband, Pastor Byron Buffalo, at Bridger UCC. Her daughter Tiana participated in the first Partners in Peace Experience in 2013. Toni has been active in the opposition against the Keystone and Dakota Pipelines, and has served in various capacities throughout the United Church of Christ over the years.

She will be here to tell her story and answer your questions.

The evening will begin with a covered dish dinner, so if you're able bring a food offering. Again, it's at 6:30 on the 29th of June.

To let us know that you're attending, or if you have questions email: solomonsucc@embarqmail.com.

Trinity, Mercersburg Celebrates 225 Years!

Trinity United Church of Christ, Mercersburg PA, is celebrating its 225^th Anniversary (1792 - 2017) by hosting a worship service, catered celebratory picnic and program on Sunday, July 23, 2017.

The event will be held at the Lion's Club Park in Mercersburg PA; worship service at 11:30 a.m. and meal and program beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Members, church participants, local clergy, friends and special guests have been invited.

CRN Event "I Wish I Would Have Done Something"

St. Paul's Mechanicsburg invites you to learn how to effectively and sensitively intervene when someone is being verbally or physically harassed.

August 2, 2017 from 6:00 - 8:00 at St. Paul's Mechanicsburg

For additional details.

NEW - Mercersburg Association Clergy and Family Picnic

Saturday, August 26, 2017 from 11:00 A. M. to 4:00 P. M

St. Matthews United Church of Christ - 3240 Spring Road, Carlisle PA

Hot Dogs and Beverage provided but please bring a bring a dish to share and come out for games, fun and fellowship.

RSVP to Pastor Mike Boehm at revboehm@yahoo.com or (717)536-0163

NEW - York Association November Association Annual Meeting

The York Association will host Mr. Mark Lutz, the author of UnPoverty, at their Annual Meeting in November.

In preparation for his visit, Community Outreach members have prepared a study guide for you and your congregations to use as you read this book. Currently the Association has 30 copies of this book you can borrow. As you make your plans for summer and fall, please contact Rev. Cathy Sherry ( CathyLHS19@comcast.net ) to reserve copies for use at your church.

NEW - Partners in Peace, 2018

If you are between the ages of 18 and 25 and would like to be one of three participants for the next Partners in Peace adventure, please see attached flyer

Questions can be directed to Peter Emig at solomonsucc@embarqmail.com.

Clergy News

NEW - Register for Pastor's Breakfast and Worship

We look forward to the Pastor's Breakfast and Worship at Hartman Center on July 27. The event is free. Please register by July 17!

NEW - New Clergy to Penn Central Conference!

Welcome to Rev. Ken Evitts! Ken's first Sunday at St. John's Center, East Earl was June 25^th. He came to us from the Nebraska Conference. We are blessed to have you here, Ken!

And welcome to Rev. Ken Newhook. Ken is starting part-time at Grace, Richland on July 1st. He is coming to us from the Penn Northeast Conference. We look forward to Ken's leadership.

July - August

July 2: Marian Anderson Ordination at St. John's, Lewisburg - 3:00 PM

July 9: Donte Aaron Jones Installation at Wisdom's Table at St. Peter's, Lancaster - 11:00 AM

July 23: Kenno Meko Korssa Ordination at Wisdom's Table at St. Peter's, Lancaster - 3:00 PM

July 30: Jeff Kardisco Ordination at Trinity, Waynesboro - 3:00 PM

August 1: Bonita Zobeck last day at Colonial Park UCC

August 6: Margaret Wise retiring from Zwingli, East Berlin

Hartman Center

ONE More Camper Campaign

For $420, you, your church or a group can sponsor a camper to attend Hartman Center this summer.

We need more than 300 (ideally 350) campers for the summer program to operate in the BLACK. Right now (as of June 26), we have 267 campers registered for summer programs.

Can your church provide a CHRISTMAS IN JUNE OR JULY for a child/youth in your church or in your community?

If every PCC congregation could send just ONE MORE CAMPER that would make a world of difference to Hartman Center BUT EVEN MORE to those children/youth that get to experience the blessings of a week at summer camp.

The best way to experience camp for the first time is to come with a friend, or a parent, or grandparent. Intergenerational camps are offered each week.