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Important This Week
- Read an Advent message from the Conference Minister
- PSEC is starting a new Community of Practice for Christian Educators
- 2019 Health Insurance rates update from the Pension Boards
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Advent message from the Conference Minister
"Keep awake." Good advice for pastors and longtime church members. It still surprises me, the revelations that come about the Christmas story. I've read it so often I sometimes have very little confidence that I will learn anything new. And then, when I least expect it, there it is. That has become more common as my ministry requires me to travel places far beyond my home. It was true for the Christmas characters as well who traveled well beyond theirs.
Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem to pay taxes. The shepherds were away from home working in the fields when the angels came. Even the angels had to leave their home in heaven. And eventually some foreign wise men, who got lost in their travels, found the Christ child in Bethlehem. The only thing these diverse characters have in common is that none of them was home for the Christmas miracle.
By contrast, who missed the miracle? Caesar the emperor and Quirinius the governor of Syria. Herod the king also missed the miracle, even though he heard the child was born. Herod's priests and scribes missed it, even though they knew Christ would be born in Bethlehem. And the innkeeper missed the miracle, even though it was happening in his backyard. The reason they all missed the miracle was they stayed safely at home.
As the story goes, the only people who see the miracle of salvation, redemption and transformation are those who know they are not in the right place. I'm not saying you need to leave home physically for the holidays. I AM saying that you need to leave the life that is comfortable, but not in the right place.
This year, when you're acutely aware you and the world are not in the right place, you are now ready to leave the home you've built for yourself to find your true home with the family of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; Mother, Daughter, Sustainer.
Because the miracle of the Christmas story is that even God became homeless to find a home in you.
May it be so with all the blessings of God,
Bill
Rev. William Worley
Conference Minister
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UC Funds Planned Giving 101 Webinar Series available now
United Church Funds is the investment ministry of the United Church of Christ. UCF offers a family of socially responsible investment funds to churches, conferences, associations and ministries of the UCC and faith-based organizations. Their goal is simple: to make more money available for ministry. There are a series of short, simple but very informative videos on their website to help your church “make more money available for ministry”. You can see them here:
https://ucfunds.org/planned-giving-church/planned-giving-webinars/.
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Community of Practice for Christian Educators starting
All Christian educators, pastors, teachers, Sunday School superintendents, and those interested in Christian Faith Formation are welcome to join a new Christian Education Community of Practice. While the face of Christian Education changes along with the face of church, the mission remains the same -- share the stories of our faith as we continue to teach the Good News of Jesus Christ and His message to love God and love each other. Strengthening our Christian educators is one way to complete that mission. One way to strengthen our Christian educators is to gather together to share and learn from each other.
Read more.
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St. Peter's UCC in Termont sends thanks for recovery help
Dear Friends:
The congregation of St. Peter's sends its sincere appreciation for your kind gift toward our flood recovery efforts. Additionally, please accept our apologies for delay in expressing our thanks. The business of our church has been impeded due to the impact the floods have had upon many of our church family including damage to the homes of both our secretary and our treasurer.
"After finding the solution to persistent water returning to the church basement despite pumping after the third flood, we are now planning the phases of repairs. A temporary heating solution is in place until we are able to purchase and relocate a new furnace. ..."
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2019 Health Insurance rates from the Pension Boards UCC
The Conference Office has received several inquiries about the rate charts for 2019 health insurance. The rates will increase effective Jan. 1 as follows:
- Non-Medicare Health Plan: 2%
- Medicare Supplement Plan: 2%
- Dental Plan: 4%
- Vision Plan: no change
- Life Insurance & Disability Income Plan: no change
Rate charts are no longer made available from PBUCC, but there is a convenient online
Rate Locator. Enter your church's zip code and the pastor's age range to see the quarterly rate chart for your church.
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Webinar: 'Care for Clergy in the Aftermath of Disaster'
Thursday, Dec. 13 at 4:00p, UCC Disaster Ministries is hosting a webinar: "Care for Clergy in the Aftermath of Disaster." 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. Here is the
link to log-in
. Contact Amanda Sheldon at
Sheldona@ucc.org
with questions.
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ReadyPA Monthly newsletter for December available now
From Disaster Response Coordinator, Rev. Karl Jones: The preparedness tips for December stress the importance of safety during the Christmas season. The
December 2018 ReadyPA Monthly
from the PA Emergency Management Agency provides some tips to help you have a safe and happy time.
Did you know Dec. 2-8 is National Influenza Vaccination Week? The Centers for Disease Control has provided some flu statistics and strongly urges everyone to receive a Flu Vaccine this year. Also included is the ReadyPA Action Sheet which lists easy flu prevention tips for everyone to follow. Don’t forget your flu shot.
Finally, the State Meteorologist has provided valuable information on driving during a snow squall. Be safe and avoid traveling when there are snow squalls in the forecast.
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PSEC 2018 financial giving
cut-off announced
The financial books of the PSEC will close for 2018 as of close of business on Jan. 15, 2019. All OCWM contributions and pass-throughs for 2018 must be received by our office by the close of business on Tuesday, Jan. 15 in order to be counted as a 2018 contribution.
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Register for the PNEC, PSEC rebuild trips to Puerto Rico
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PSEC and PNEC will sponsor two rebuild mission trips to Puerto Rico this spring! The first trip will be April 28-May 4; the second from May 12-18. The cost will be about $800 per person, including all costs: transportation, food, lodging, supplies, etc. Now is the time to register for either one of these trips. The first trip is almost full and the second is filling up fast. Registration requires a $50 deposit. Make the check payable to Penn Northeast Conference and mail along with this
PR Mission Trip Application
.
To learn more about the rebuild site and the work go to
click here
.
The next planning meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 8, at 6:30p at Trinity UCC, 101 S Main St, Telford, PA 18969. Phone: (215) 723-3889. It is projected that you will have the option to join the meeting electronically if you cannot join in person.
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Moravian Seminary offering UCC History, Polity & Theology
This comprehensive course will meet Mondays from 6 – 9pm from Jan. 28 to April 29. You may attend in person at Moravian Seminary in Bethlehem or by video conference. The cost for a certificate of completion is $900. Academic Course Credit is available at regular tuition costs. For details contact instructor Rev. Dr. David DeRemer
deremerd@moravian.edu.
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UCC Refugee Ministries makes Advent yard signs available
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Advent is upon us and God has created for us a kairos moment – a moment when we see images of families and children at our own border asking for safety and shelter, just as we are in a time of remembering the birth of the Christ child and that the Holy family themselves were forced to flee to Egypt to escape state-sponsored violence that targeted the most vulnerable. If there was ever a moment to remind our community that Jesus was a refugee, an asylum-seeker, a migrant – it is now.
There are many things we can do, and you are already doing them, all over the country. Refugee Ministries created this
lawn sign resource
to support you in your ministry of welcome this Advent. Share the story of Jesus’ birth and proclaim to your neighbors that when we welcome refugees and asylum-seekers, we welcome Christ.
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Church Events
Submit Church Events
here
View a complete list of Church Events
here
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Educational Opportunities
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Classified Ads
Submit Classified Ads
here
View a complete list of Classified Ads
here
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Church Openings
Gulph UCC: part-time beginning ASAP
St. Paul's UCC, Pottstown: part-time beginning ASAP
If you’re interested in a position, contact Rev. Sharon Morris:
morris@psec.org
or 484-949-8774 ext. 302.
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Missed a week? Read past eNews here:
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