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March 2011 
 Penn Central Conference UCC
 Monthly Mailing
In This Issue
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Join our mailing list!

Greetings!

This Monthly Mailing has information on our 2011 Annual Meeting and the Great Hartman Center Mission Challenge. It's also not too late to register for next week's "Growing Stronger Churches." See the flyer under Quick Links.

Be sure to check the Quick Links in the left column to read info and print out flyers you need.

Please share this information with others in your congregation and remind them they can also subscribe to receive e-news from our conference.

 A Message From Our New Conference Associate Minister, Laurene Bowers
 

Laurene Bowers Hi Everyone! Thanks for the extravagant welcome. If you would like to invite me to your church, please e-mail me at lbowers@pccucc.org. I would be happy to preach and/or spend some time speaking with pastors and leaders about where we see ourselves today and our vision for where we hope to be tomorrow. I look forward to hearing from you.

Laurene

 


 Annual Meeting 2011
 June 10-12, Susquehanna University

The attached flyer gives you information on registration for this year's annual meeting. Online registration will open in early March. Go to www.pccucc.org and look under the Events Tab.

All church information and forms for annual meeting will be e-mailed to our churches next week.

Annual Meeting Flyer 


 Help Us Deliver 600,000 Miles/Steps to the White House
 

As a part of her initiative to reduce obesity in children, First Lady Michelle Obama has issued a challenge to faith and community organizations to get members walking a collective three million miles across the nation by the end of November, 2011. The UCC is joining the effort! The UCC is asking all UCC churches to participate in this walking challenge throughout 2011. Our goal is to join together a minimum of 250 UCC churches and/or 2,500 UCC members committed to walking 5 miles or 10,000 steps a week.

More Information 


 Oasis Ministries Upcoming Events
 

March 22: Spirituality for the Second-Half of Life: This book discussion and retreat will focus on 'living fully and dying well' by using Forrest Church's Love and Death: My Life through the Valley of Shadows. 10am - 3pm, at Kenbrook Camp, Lebanon. Retreat Fee: $35-55. April 5: Group Spiritual Direction Training: This hands-on workshop will introduce spiritual directors to the purpose, process and content of group spiritual direction. St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Lebanon, PA, 9:30am-3:30pm. Retreat fee: $65-95.

More Information 


 Does Your Church Conduct A Blessing of the Animals Service?
 

Aris Fokas, an LTS DMin candidate is conducting research on the growing number of UCC churches that offer this practice. If your church does a blessing of animals/pets service, please contact Aris at aristos64@gmail.com. Attach a copy of the bulletin from the service. Please include how long the congregation has been doing the animal/pet blessing. And describe how the congregation became interested in this service. There will be a additional follow-up questions.

 


 Silent Witness Training
 

Silent Witness Peacekeepers Alliance is an organization of trained volunteers dedicated to providing a non-confrontational buffer between attendees of public events and members of hate groups who come to protest those events. Silent Witnesses are often present at LGBT functions but they also serve at events that promote all kinds of diversity. By their presence they protect everyone's rights of free speech and religion. Silent Witnesses receive significant training in non-confrontation techniques specially designed for the type of work they do.

The next training will be offered at Emmanuel, York on Saturday, April 2, at 10am. Emmanuel is located at 1059 Kelly Drive, 17404. The training session is approximately two hours long. To learn more or register for the training, contact Rev. Kay Rader (717-898-7099 or ksrader@verizon.net).

 


 Campus/Young Adult Minister Position
 

Seeking a full-time Campus/Young Adult Minister in cooperation with United Campus Ministry at Millersville University of Pennsylvania, First United Methodist Church, Grace United Methodist Church and St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church. Primary responsibility is with Millersville students and young adults in the Millersville community. Deadline for applications is March 21, 2011.

Position Description 


 BECOME A FAN OF PENN CENTRAL CONFERENCE'S FACEBOOK PAGE
 

Follow Penn Central on Facebook as we post links to stories and promote events.

Facebook Page 


 UPCOMING DATES
 

  • SPRING YOUTH EVENT - March 4-6, Hartman Center
  • GROWING STRONGER CHURCHES 2011: STRENGTHENING YOUR CHURCH LEADERS - Saturday, March 12, Colonial Park UCC, Harrisburg
  • CONFIRMATION RETREAT - April 1-3, Hartman Center
  • HARTMAN CENTER GOLF TOURNAMENT - Saturday, May 21, Deer Valley Golf Course, Hummelstown
  • CHURCH PLANTER DISCERNMENT WORKSHOP -May 23-24, Lancaster Seminary
  • CONFERENCE ANNUAL MEETING - June 10-12, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove
  • UCC GENERAL SYNOD - July 1-5, Tampa, FL
  • PENN CENTRAL CONFERENCE DAY AT THE HARRISBURG SENATORS - Saturday, July 30, City Island
  • NEW CHURCH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE - August 4-6, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove
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    More information on these events 


    This communication is paid for by Our Church's Wider Mission (OCWM).


    Contact information:
    Brenda Waleff, Minister of Communications

    phone: 717-652-1560
    fax: 717-652-4769