PCC ANNUAL MEETING WORKSHOPS Saturday, June 13, 2015 By session

Transcription

1 PCC ANNUAL MEETING WORKSHOPS Saturday, June 13, 2015 By session NOTE: All buildings holding workshops are handicapped accessible Select any 2 workshop times, but plan to eat lunch during the 1 st or 2 nd session. SESSION ONE 10:45 a.m. 11:45 a.m. #1 - Pathways Seminary Follow-Up: What will you take back to your church? DESCRIPTION: Work more closely with Molly Baskette and vitality team leaders on applying the lessons presented during the Pathways Seminar. This will be a hand-on workshop for developing a basic plan for introducing these ideas to the unique setting of your church. Sponsor: Congregational Vitality Team LEADERS: Molly Baskette, Mike Gibbs, Bruce Conrad #2 - Walking & Talking the Labyrinth Heilman Rehearsal Hall DESCRIPTION: The labyrinth is an ancient tool fo prayer. Unlike a maze, you cannot get lost by making a wrong turn. During the workshop we will offer a simple introduction to labyrinth walking as well as have time to walk the labyrinth at your own pace. Sponsor: PCC / Oasis Ministries LEADER: Rev. Cindy Garis #3 - Is Sex Just Sex? DESCRIPTION: Biblical and historical frame-work for Christian Sexual Ethics Sponsor: ONA Ministries LEADERS: Greg Carey, Dottie Book #4 - Sacred Safety DESCRIPTION: To educate and empower congregants (parents and youth) to prevent abuse in the context of child s safe world and within the new PA state law requirements. Sponsor: Samaritan Counseling (Trained Facilitator) LEADER: Gail Landers #5 - Preserving the Bounty of the Harvest DESCRIPTION: Robert Bauer, Master Gardener and Master Food Preserver from Penn State Extension, will be sharing his expertise on canning, freezing, dehydration and cold storage, as ways to preserve garden harvest. Whether you have a church garden, or home garden, or are buying more fresh and more local produce for good health and to support sustainable agriculture in our communities, Bob will have some good and useful information for you. More info: This workshop is intended for people who have church gardens or home gardens, or who buy fresh, local produce when it is in season. Those with church gardens may want to in some way share the information presented with the people who receive the harvest of their garden. As the communities in which our congregations are located, work toward sustainability, knowing preservation techniques and where to get more information, is helpful. Our goal is to give people some new ideas and maybe a new perspective on sustainability. Sponsor: PCC Green Justice Ministry Team 1 LEADER: Robert Bauer

2 #6 - How Does Climate Change Affect Our Health and Well-Being" Description: Dr. Peterson, Emeritus Director of Environmental and Community Medicine at Lancaster General Hospital, will begin with the basics of climate change and then move to the effects of climate change on our health. The World Health Organization says that climate change is the most important health issue of this century, and if we don't act now, by the time the next generation reacts it may be too late! Greenhouse gases now contribute to 4 of the top 5 causes of death in the US. We must start taking action to protect the health of our most vulnerable (infants, senior citizens, those with chronic diseases, and the poor), because climate change is already here and people are already being harmed. Action now is a "win-win' situation for all, as in addition to dealing with climate change, most of these actions will benefit the health of all. Sponsor: PCC Green Justice Ministry Team Leader: Dr. Alan Peterson #7 - Understanding and Being the Church for the Mentally Ill Description: This workshop will provide a brief overview of mental illness, how persons experience the world, and ways the church can create ministries for them. Resources will be available. [ALSO OFFERED AS # 12 IN SESSION 2] Sponsor: Lancaster Pastoral Consl. & Education Leader: Dr. Jeffrey Hamilton #8 - UCC Disaster Ministries Being the church in a hurting world Description: Learn now UCC Disaster Ministries is being the church in a hurting world and how you and your local congregation can engage in the ministry in various ways. [ALSO OFFERED AS # 13 IN SESSION 2] Sponsor: PCC Disaster Readiness & Response Team Leaders: Zach Wolgemuth Bill & Ellen Matten #9 - The Leader s Character: Beyond Tips, Tricks and Clever Techniques Description: Drawing on both classical and contemporary literature, this workshop will explain the significance of local church leadership. [ALSO OFFERED AS # 14 IN SESSION 2] Sponsor: Church & Ministry Comm. Leader: Rev. Thom Webster #10 - Reading as a Spiritual Discipline: Books can help us BE the church Description: Our resident bookstore owner, Byron Borger, of Hearts & Minds (Dallastown) will inspire up to think more seriously about reading as a Christian practice. He will show how books can help us in our faith and discipleship, and can recommend many books that can help us fore faithfully embody the gospel in the church and world. [ALSO OFFERED AS # 22 IN SESSION 3] Sponsor: Annual Meeting Planning Team Leader: Byron Borger 2

3 #11 - Partners In Peace the Adventure Continues! Description: In June 2013, young adults and their advisors from six regions of three continents met at Penn Central Conference to begin to examine the issue of Peace - from Selinsgrove to Hartman Center to Washington DC. But their departure did not mark an end to Partners In Peace. Plans are now in the works for another adventure to be held in August of 2016 on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota. Throughout this ongoing process there has been the hope that bringing these young adults together would help build foundations for peace in the present and future. Hosted by PCC s youth representatives, this workshop will address the specific needs of the Partners In Peace Experience as we plan for our next adventure. [ALSO OFFERED AS # 23 IN SESSION 3] Sponsor: Partners In Peace Experience Leader: Rev. Peter Emig SESSION TWO 12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. #12 - Understanding and Being the Church for the Mentally Ill Description: This workshop will provide a brief overview of mental illness, how persons experience the world, and ways the church can create ministries for them. Resources will be available. [ALSO OFFERED AS # 7 IN SESSION 1] Sponsor: Lancaster Pastoral Consl. & Education Leader: Dr. Jeffrey Hamilton #13 - UCC Disaster Ministries Being the church in a hurting world Description: Learn now UCC Disaster Ministries is being the church in a hurting world and how you and your local congregation can engage in the ministry in various ways. [ALSO OFFERED AS # 8 IN SESSION 1] Sponsor: PCC Disaster Readiness & Response Team Leaders: Zach Wolgemuth Bill & Ellen Matten #14 - The Leader s Character: Beyond Tips, Tricks and Clever Techniques Description: Drawing on both classical and contemporary literature, this workshop will explain the significance of local church leadership. [ALSO OFFERED AS # 9 IN SESSION 1] Sponsor: Church & Ministry Comm. Leader: Rev. Thom Webster #15 - The Water-Energy-Food Environmental Link DESCRIPTION: Workshop will discuss clean water why we need it, where is it, how is it used, who owns it/controls it, where is yours from, how do you get access to it, why we need it, PA s constitutional right to it, who is demanding it (energy-food), and what you do that impacts it? Will include tools and tips for individual and congregational stewardship (to protect it and to share it) through acts and advocacy. SPONSOR: Green Justice Team Leader: Anita Stabile 3

4 #16 - Be a Small Group Leader DESCRIPTION: During this workshop, we will explore best practices for effectively leading a small group in your church. Using the coaching model of group facilitation we will explore the value of group covenants and the top 3 tips for moderating any group discussion from the Church Board/ Consistory to a small group book study and beyond. SPONSOR: Church Development Team Leader: Rev. Matt Hoover #17 Growing a Smaller Congregation DESCRIPTION: We will look at the characteristics of small congregation, and two components of church growth: Growing in discipleship and growing in outreach to the community. Sponsor: PCC Vitality Leader: Monica Ouellette #18 What Can I Do? A look at laity education and calling for the survival of the church Description: To expose local church laity to the educational opportunities available to them right in their backyard and help them to begin the discernment process of how they are being called to ministry. This will be accomplished by reviewing the LM21C course outline for a leadership certificate as well as the courses needed for licensure or commissioning. The workshop will outline the live broadcast opportunities as well as the centrally located classes and relaxed schedule available to a working student. With the local church struggling to stay open this workshop gives hope to those in a local church to obtain the necessary skills to lead a congregation or assist on a council or committee to renew and revitalize their local church. Sponsor: Lay Ministry in the 21 st Century Leader: Rev. Steven C. Hummel #19 Adult Confirmation Description: What is adult confirmation? Why have adult confirmation? We will talk theory and practice around the expansion of confirming adults. Sponsor: PCC Faith Formation Team Leaders: Rev. Rebecca Hoover Rev. Dr. Chris Rodkey #20 To Be the Church, Start with Why Description: In his book, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, Simon Sinek argues, People don t buy WHAT you do, they buy WHY you do it. The key to long-lasting success in any organization, therefore, is to begin by asking WHY you do what you do. Applying this basic idea to the context of churches, this session is intended to raise awareness of the significant impact a clear mission and vision can have on any congregation s efforts to engage the mission field that lies just beyond the church doors. [ALSO OFFERED AS # 24 IN SESSION 3] Sponsor: Congregational Vitality Team Leader: Dr. Michael Gibbs 4

5 #21 Dealing with Change in your Church Description: Practical Thoughts and Dialog on Dealing with Change to Move Forward for Being The Church. This workshop will engage in thought and dialog on dealing with change in your congregation. Change is inevitable so how we deal with it in ways that support growth and positive results is important. Change requires our attention so we can meet the call and energy of your congregation and minimize conflict and divisiveness. [ALSO OFFERED AS # 25 IN SESSION 3] Sponsor: PCC Vitality Team Leader: Dale Mease SESSION THREE 1:15 p.m. 2:15 p.m. #22 - Reading as a Spiritual Discipline: Books can help us BE the church Description: Our resident bookstore owner, Byron Borger, of Hearts & Minds (Dallastown) will inspire up to think more seriously about reading as a Christian practice. He will show how books can help us in our faith and discipleship, and can recommend many books that can help us fore faithfully embody the gospel in the church and world. [ALSO OFFERED AS # 10 IN SESSION 1] Sponsor: Annual Meeting Planning Team Leader: Byron Borger #23 Partners In Peace the Adventure Continues! Description: In June 2013, young adults and their advisors from six regions of three continents met at Penn Central Conference to begin to examine the issue of Peace - from Selinsgrove to Hartman Center to Washington DC. But their departure did not mark an end to Partners In Peace. Plans are now in the works for another adventure to be held in August of 2016 on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota. Throughout this ongoing process there has been the hope that bringing these young adults together would help build foundations for peace in the present and future. Hosted by PCC s youth representatives, this workshop will address the specific needs of the Partners In Peace Experience as we plan for our next adventure. [ALSO OFFERED AS # 11 IN SESSION 1] Sponsor: Partners In Peace Experience Leader: Rev. Peter Emig #24 To Be the Church, Start with Why Description: In his book, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, Simon Sinek argues, People don t buy WHAT you do, they buy WHY you do it. The key to long-lasting success in any organization, therefore, is to begin by asking WHY you do what you do. Applying this basic idea to the context of churches, this session is intended to raise awareness of the significant impact a clear mission and vision can have on any congregation s efforts to engage the mission field that lies just beyond the church doors. [ALSO OFFERED AS # 20 IN SESSION 2] Sponsor: Congregational Vitality Team Leader: Dr. Michael Gibbs 5

6 #25 Dealing with Change in your Church Description: Practical Thoughts and Dialog on Dealing with Change to Move Forward for Being The Church. This workshop will engage in thought and dialog on dealing with change in your congregation. Change is inevitable so how we deal with it in ways that support growth and positive results is important. Change requires our attention so we can meet the call and energy of your congregation and minimize conflict and divisiveness. [ALSO OFFERED AS # 21 IN SESSION 2] Sponsor: PCC Vitality Team Leader: Dale Mease #26 Refugee 101: Crossing Cultures in your Backyard Description: Did you know that refugees from all over the world are building new, safe lives in Central Pa? Come learn about the current conflicts that are causing people to flee their homeland as well as hear stories of local cultural diversity and perseverance. Sponsor: Church World Service, Lancaster Leader: Christine Baer #27 Rethinking Faith Formation in Small Congregations Description: Understanding small congregations often struggle with numbers of participants, available leaders and what the big congregations around them are doing, this workshop is designed to engage lay and pastoral leaders of small congregations around different ways of approaching faith formation ministries. The workshop will have an appreciative focus of leveraging the gifts of small congregations to do creative and relevant faith formation and will involve conversation and idea sharing. Sponsor: PCC Faith Formation Team Leaders: Rev. Rebecca Hoover Rev. Monica Ouellette #28 Healing Service DESCRIPTION: We know many are struggling with issues of all kinds. We want to offer a time to come together with the purpose of offering the struggles and/or issues to God, hoping to reduce the heaviness of each struggle. Sharing a struggle with others often makes it easier to deal with; giving the struggle to God with the support and encouragement of community is what we are called to do and what we can do for each other. SPONSOR: PCC Commission on Ministry Leader: Bonnie Whittier #29 Be the Church s Glue Committees on Ministry in the UCC Description: Here s your chance to take a bird s eye view of Committees on Ministry in the United Church of Christ. Join in a presentation and discussion of the wide varieties of form and functions of these vital committees across our denomination. The workshop will center on a first of its kind research report by the UCC s MESA team studying COMs in all 38 conferences. Sponsor: MESA: Ministerial Excellence, Support & Authorization, UCC National Offices Leader: Rev. Holly MillerShank 6

7 #30 Let s Save our Pretty Pretty Planet (Children s Workshop) Description: This is a hands-on creative workshop for children at the Annual Meeting childcare center. Their parents are encouraged to join them and other adults are welcome. Displayed posters and art by Kevin L. Miller, artist, will inspire us to protect the environment as we celebrate the beauty of God s Earth. Then we will make posters and end by adding them to one big EARTH POSTER to create a large, bold statement about saving the beauty of Earth. Sponsor: PCC Green Justice Team Leader: Kevin L. Miller #31 Socially Responsible Investing Description: The Penn Central Green Justice Team Ministry would like to sponsor a workshop on socially responsible investing. Good stewardship of our financial resources is incumbent upon Christians. We want to invest responsibly but also want to provide for our retirement years and our families. Many people are looking for ways to invest in socially responsible companies but may not be sure how to identify them or which ones are financially sound. A member of the United Church Funds staff will discuss how individuals and churches can invest ethically and prudently. Sponsor: PCC Green Justice Ministry Team Leader: Member UC Funds Staff #32 We re ONA Now what? Description: Panel Discussion with folks from churches who have voted to become ONA about what they are doing now. Sponsor: CPONA Ministry Team Leader: To be Determined #33 Be Present: Exploring Contemplative Spirituality Description: Contemplative Spirituality is not solely for monasteries. This way of life notices God at work in all of life, drawing one to prayer, action and silence. During the workshop we will explore ways we might share and experience the contemplative way in our congregations or ministry settings and take some prayer exercises home. Sponsor: Oasis Ministries for Spiritual Development Leader: Rev. Cindy Garis 7